davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-06-04
Social and Personal
ST PAIL
S T. PAUL .

fined to bed during the past week,
due to illness.
Eta chapter Of Alpha Kappa AL
pha sorority entertained at a pic
mic Monday, May 81, at the Wright
Farm at Robbinsdale, Minnesota.
Miss Beneta Edwards and Mr..
Elmer Harris are heard over the
air every Sunday at 4:45 on WMIN.
They now occupy the spot created
by Edward Byron Doty. Send
them a card or letter for your re-
quest.
Mr.. Joseph Williams of Chicago
mOtored to st. Paul to spend the
weekend visiting his relatives,
Mrs. Carrie Williams and family,
of 1866 Blair st. Mr.. Williams is
a former resident of st. Paul.
Miss Mamie Coleman, a nurse at
Provident Hospital in Chicago, was
the weekend house guest of Mrs.
Carrie Williams of 1866 Blair st.
The Self Culture Club was host
ess to the inmates Of the Crispus
Attacks Home, Thursday, May 81.
Other guests present were Mrs.
Marie Brashier, Mrs. Catherine
Gray, Mrs. Leantha Porter, Mrs.
Elizabeth Hunter, Mrs. William G.
Hood, Mr.. George Manning, Mr..
James Strothers, and Mr.. William
Jackson. The guests were enter
tanned by Mrs. Dorothy Woodfork,
who directed a group of children
from the Halle @. Brown House in
a folk dance. Those taking part in
the dance were: Ventress Jackson,
Iris Brown, Constance Jackson,
jeanette Woods, Anna Woods,
frankie Lee Woods, Donald Will
son, and Emily Woods. Mr.. M.
Carter and his band of thirteen
boys gave several selections. Mrs.
Hilda Parker of Minneapolis gave
an interesting talk. Mrs. Josephine
Williams, president of the club,
presided. A social hour followed
the very entertaining program.
Mrs. Elizabeth Hall is secretary of
the organization.
Mrs. Qudellis Martyr, nee Ere
donia Blair, was entertained with a
kitchen shower on Wednesday eve
ming, May &c, at the home of Miss
Doris Coins with the Misses Helen
Powell, Delgracia Wright, and Vir-
ginia Williams as joint hostesses.
Mrs. Martyr was the recipient of
many lovely gifts, and an enjoyable |
evening was had.
Miss Wyllie Deane Eastman,
laughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Edward |
Eastman of 953 st. Anthony ave.
hue, will graduate from Manchester |
College in the class of 1887. The
Commencement exercises will be |
held Monday morning, June IA, at |
l0:30 a. m. in the college gymna-
SUM. Miss Eastman has been very
active in civic, club, and social cir
cles during her college career and
is president of the Majestic Club.
Mrs. Lulu Howard of 675 st.
Anthony avenue has issued invita-
tions for the wedding reception of
her daughter, Miss Vontella How
ard, and Mr.. Woodford W. Mills,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. w. w.
Mills of 548 Aurora avenue, on Sat
urday, June IL, from eight to ten at
the family residence.
Mr.. Otis Skinner, son of Mrs.
Aloma Skinner, who was injured in
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-06-04

and Jones, Beverly and Jackie
Hickman, Joyce Vassar, Corky
Kendall, Brewer Lee Clark, Billie
Taylor, Veronica Curruthers, Jean
Durante, Catherine Corum, Rob-
ert Grisby and Richard Schlick.
The color scheme was green and
white.
She was the recipient of many
lovely gifts. Miss Ruth Brown
of Halle Q. Brown willingly helped
entertain the youngsters by lead
ing games and using a camera to
photograph the youngsters.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1937-06-04
Courtesy Mpls. Journal.

Shown above are Minneapolis
Journal Artist Gustav Krolmann's
sketches of child dancers in the Mi
lady Club dance revue staged at
Phyllis Wheatley House last
Thursday, May 81.
Scene below is Krolmann's
sketch Of nursery children playing
and relaxing.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

on Wednesday evening, 28th inst,
when Miss Rosa Rand and Criter-
ion Company, of Baltimore, will
present "a Morning CALI and
Shakespeare celebrated play Tam
ing of the Shrew." This company,
while citizens of character and not
stage professionals, are really art
lists of superior merit, as we evinc-
ed in the rendition of Caste" in
our Opera House some weeks ago
The snow that fell Saturday
would have been a fair sleighing
snow if it had not been so wet, the
temperature at no time on that OF
the succeeding day falling below
the freezing point. Robinson
milk man who loses no opportunity
to get a sleigh ride, broke the way
as he always does, and gave us the
first tin-in abulations for the win
ter on his early Sunday morning
round. Three young ladies bent on
some fun and a ride both before
the beautiful snow" should melt
out of sight, together with William
Polk Cummins, seem to have been
all ready to seize the opportunity
before it fed.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
FIRE AT DAVIS STORE
ON MAIN STREET

On Saturday night last that
most alarming of all cries to a
town was sounded through
our streets and those who heart it,
especially the members of the Cit
izens Hose Company were soon on
the streets in hurried STEPS in an
swer to the call. The place was
the cigar store Of N. M. Davis, op-
posite the Delaware House, and the
time about half past eleven o'clock.
The night was bad one; the snow
had been falling since the after
noon, and was coming down thick
and fast, before a driving north
east wind. The store was in a
bright blaze inside and out and
working its way fast under the
window of William E. Halls store
adjoining. Superintendent Taylor
kept the pressure at the water
works up to the maximum, and a
minutes play knocked the fire
right down, and it was thought
there would be no use of the other
hose, but this proved to be mis-
take. But for the water works the
store of George w. Gordon follow
ed by those of w. T. Beck and Ed
ward Beck, must have gone, and
there is no telling where it would
have stopped. The force Of the
powder explosion was felt in most
all parts of the town in the vibra-
tions of the windows. 1t was mark
ed as a coincidence that the fire in
Christmas week a year ago was on
a similar snowy night, in a cigar
store, and the general talk is that
they ought not to have been.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
SON NAMED AIDE TO LT.-GOV
Thomas CoOch Ranked Lt.-CoI. by
Governor McMuIIen's Appointment

The honor Of becoming the
youngest lieutenant colonel an
pointed as an aide was bestowed
upon Thomas Cooch, son of Lieut.
Gov. and Mrs. Edward w. Cooch.
of Cooch's Bridge, who was com
missioned last week by Gov. Rich
ard C. McMullen. The appointment
was made to assist his father IN
the performance of his many dut-
les as representative of the state
on many occasions in the absence
of the governor. A senior at the
University of Delaware. Colonel
Cooch, who is 81 years of age, is
preparing for further study in law
He completed his military training
at the university last June, and
was named second lieutenant in the
Reserve Corps of the U. S. Army.
Due to his age, however, his COM
mission was postponed but since
that time his appointment has been
approved by the War Department
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
NEED
TOINSURE BANK
Minimum Standard of Operat-
ing Seen BY the Federal
Deposit Group
BULWORK TO BANKING

Completing its fourth year of in
suring bank deposits, the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation has
announced its forthcoming annual
report to Congress would empha-
size the need for minimum stand
ard operating requirements for all
insured banks. Basing its sugges-
tions on unprecedented surveys of
banking institutions, the Corpora
tion will stress the Importance of
fixing uniform regulations for in
sured banks as a means of curtail-
ing insolvency hazards. Minimum
standard requirements contemplat-
ed by the Corporation would be in
tended as a bulwark for state
banking systems rather than as an
instrument for control of state
bangs by a government institution,
Chairman Leo T. Crowley declared.
Since January 1, 1884, when the
Corporation began functioning, 166
insolyent insured banks have been
placed in receivership or merged
with the aid of loans by the Cor
poration, Chairman Crowley point
ed out. The 259,OO depositors in
these banks whose deposits totaled
$68, ,012, 900, were protected to the
extent Of $64 ,467 900, or more than
80 percent of their claims, by in
surance, offset, pledges Of secur-
ity, preferment, or through loans
and purchases of assets by the Cor
poration. All but sos, or less than
one-half of one percent of the de-
positorS were fully protected
against loss, the Chairman said.
Minimum standard requirements
for all insured banks would give
depositors even greater protection,
Chairman Crowley stated.
He said: mo one can challenge
the statement that Federal deposit
insurance has saved many deposit
ors from ruin. Our record is such
that today 1886 banks out of 49,
404 are insured.
''Nor can anyone properly fues-
ton the assertion that since the in
ception of deposit insurance COM
munities have recovered more
promptly from the shock caused by
banks closing than they did in
the years before it was known"
He recalled that 16,800 banks
closed between 1921 and 1888, their
collapse wiping out $4,000, 600, 900
in deposits which were never re-
covered. The Chairman continued:
Closing of those banks and the
loss of that money carried misfor-
tune and hardship into nearly all
communities in the country. How
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
EPISCOPAL CHURCH FUND
FOR DIOCESE

Rev. p. B. Lightner has issued g
letter which contains a forcible
statement Of the condition anC
prospects of the Endowment fund
for the Bishop of the Protestant
Episcopal Diocese of Delaware. II
appears that some $4,000 had
been accumulated for this fund be
fore the Rev. Mr.. Lightner under
took to increase the total fund to
100000. This task he accomplish
ed MISUNDERSTANDING himself to
be the right man for the work. But
special credit is due to him, as ap-
pears from the statements in this
letter, on this ground: that the ad-
ditional $4,000 accumulated under
his hand did not come chiefly from
those who gave of their abundance,
but almost altogether from small
givers. Regarded in this light his
success is very remarkable. The
at present, then, is as fol-
lows: That 100000 have been got
together without making any spec
ial effort among the wealthy mem
bers and friends of tie Delaware
Diocese. 1t is not strange that Tne
recent convention when this fact
became apparent, decided to in
crease the Endowment to $4,000.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

much disaster would have been
averted had deposit insurance ex-
isted is matter of speculation.
we do know, however, that de-
positors' recoveries would have
been much greater. We also know
that had the Federal Deposit In
surance Corporation been in exist
ence and covering any sizeable per-
centage of those institutions that
many Of them would have remain
ed open.
''The Corporation not only pays
off depositors in closed insured
banks but makes loans, wherever
conditions warrant, to banking in
that are in financial diff
fculty but may be rehabilitated.
Thus the Corporation prevents
their destruction and the resulting
business unsettlement in the COM
munities they serve"
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
HYBRID CORN
GROWING HERE
Shall Delaware Farmers Grow
This Crop Here Like
i'm the West
EXPERIMENT QUESTION

Small Delaware farmers grow
hybrid corn ?" This question is
asked by C. E. Phillips, Assistant
Agronomist at the University of
Delaware Agricultural Experiment
Station. Hybrid corn has per-
formed we'll for corn belt farmers, :"
he said. mot only has it outyield-
ed standard varieties but it has
shown remarkable resistance to
drought, insects, and disease. Hy-
brid corn has produced good yields
under the same adverse conditions
that caused standard varieties to
produce only a crop of nubbins."
iowa farmers who grew hybrid
corn last year found it stood up
straight when ordinary varieties
went down in a tangled, fattened
mess" Phillips pointed out.
There are, of course, hundreds
of different hybrids the same as
there are a great number of differ
ent standard varieties. Delaware
farmers, if they are to plant hybrid
seed, must use the same or greater
care in selecting the right hybrid
to use as they would in choosing
an ordinary variety. The fact that
a particular hybrid has given good
yields in one of the corn belt states
does not mean that it will perform
especially well under Delaware
conditions, Phillips said.
Yield test plots, in which the
common varieties were compared
with a number of different hybrids
were planted this year by the Ag-
ricultural Experiment Station. One
such test was run near Delmar on
a light sandy soil and another was
located at the University Farm
near Newark on a heavier silt
loam
Fifty-four hybrids were tested
against the standard varieties com
monty grown in the vicinities of the
test plots. In both tests, the hy-
birds led the standard varieties in
bushels of corn produced per acre.
Samples of the corn grown in
these tests are to be on display at
the annual exhibit of the Delaware
Crop Improvement, Association
which will be held in Old College at
the University of Delaware in
Newark, January 6, Z, and 8, 1888
Phillips will discuss the tests and
give results of the experiments at
the Associations meeting January
Sth.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

IERE am preaching the
: blessed Gospel to you and
there are your damned redcoats
stealing my potatoes!" cried an
Episcopal preacher at Setauket,
l. l., to group OF British officers
in the course of a Revolutionary
days sermon.
Today, Caroline church has the
appearance 1t bore when the man
of God. loyalist. nevertheless, de
fed the marauders. False walls
and ceilings. ornamentatjon of later
times. all recently were torn away
and the building again looks as it
did when 1t was erected in 1929.
Setauket them was a village OF
ship builders. and their handicraft
can be plainly seen in the restored
church. The original beams are
placed like ship timbers. The slaves
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
X. Nj. WILEY, BRIDGEVILLE
Merchant and Former Principal of
the BridgeviIle Scohols, Passes

Merchant and Former Principal of
the BridgeviIle Scohols, Passes
Kendall Martin Wiley, 6s, prom
inent business man, died at his
home on Main Street, Bridgeville,
Saturday morning after long ILL
ness of complication of diseases.
He was a son of the late John w.
and Mary C. Wiley, and was born
near Laurel. He was former
Sussex County school teacher and
was for 16 years principal Of the
Bridgeville public school. After
retiring from teaching, he served
six years in the Office of the secre-
tary of the United States Senate
in Washington. Returning to
Bridgeville, he engaged in the mer-
camille business. Besides his wife,
he is survived by son and daugh-
ter, Virgil c. Wiley, superintendent
of Dover schools, and Mrs. T. j.
Ashe, of Cleveland, o., and the fol-
lowing brothers and sisters: John
w. Wiley, of Secretary, Md, for
mer superintendent of Sussex
County schools; o. Elmer Wiley, of
Bridgeville; M. Benjamin Wiley, of
Seaford; Mrs. ]. P. Outten, of Sec
retary, Md, and Mrs.Martha Hast
ings of Seaford. He was an afic-
ial of the Bridgeville M. E. Church
and active in all movements for the
betterment of the community. Fun
eral services were held in the
Bridgeville M. E. Church Tuesday
at 2 p. m. in charge of the pastor
the Rev. ]. c. B. Hopkins. Inter
ment was in the Odd Fellows Gem
etery, Seaford.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
RESTAURANT MAN ENDS LIFE
Thomas A. Bradley, DispOndent
Puts Bullet Thru Head, Greenwood

Puts Bullet Thru Head, Greenwood
Thomas A. Bradley, 27, owner Of
a restaurant at Greenwood, was
found dead on cot in the rear Of
the building at noon Sunday by his
wife, with a bullet wound in the
head. A rife was found near the
body. After an investigation, Cor
oner Howard E. Hardesty of
Bridgeville, issued a certificate of
death by suicide. He said Bradley
was respondent over business re
verses. DR.. G. Metzler, Jr., Of
Bridgeville, said the man had been
dead from six to eight hours. In
addition to his wife, Bradley is sur
vived by his mother, Mrs. Jennie v.
Bradley, who assisted him in bust
ness. Funeral services We're held
Wednesday afternoon from the
home with interment in Hollywood
Cemetery at Harrington.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
MARRIAGES

Aldrich-Hubbard- At Wyoming
December 18th, at the home of the
brides parents, by Rev. w. M
Green, Henry E. Aldrich and Miss
Laura G. Hubbard, daughter of Ed
ward Hubbard.
Blades-Anderson- At Wyoming,
December 7th, by Rev. w. M.
Green, Willard H. Blades, and Miss
Matte Anderson, daughter of An
dres Anderson.
Woolford-Brothers-In the M. E.
Church in Clayton, by the pastor
Rev. D. F. Ewen, H. Reese Wool
ford, of Oxford, Talbot county Md,
and Miss Rosa Brothers, of Clay
ton, Del.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

gallery. added In 1884. is curved
Like the Gambler of a ship deck.
Amid all the careful restoration,
however, an important modern fea-
ture was deliberately added. Wor-
shippers in the two-centuries-old
church now enjoy the comfort and
advantage of air conditioning,
which, peculiarly, also has served
to improve the appearance of the
beautiful edifice. Radiators could
be banished when air conditioning
was installed. Now the beautiful
details Of the interior can be viewed
without interference.
First known as Christ church,
the name was changed in honor of
Wilhelmina Karoline, Queen of
George II. who gave the congrega-
tion a silver communion service
still In use.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
Sussex Youth Injured Dy Fail

Harry Veasey, IS, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. George Edward Veasey, of
Harbeson, six miles east of George
town, and student in the George
town High School, was seriously
injured Friday while working in
the manual training department of
the school when he fell from some
rafters In the room and ruptured
a kidney. He was rushed to the
Beebe Hospital and is reported in
a serious cnodition.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
Rev. H. L. Paff to Take shore Jot

Rt. Rev. E. Edw. Helfenstein, Of
Baltimore, has named Rev. H. 2.
Paff as rector to a charge on Solo
mons Island, Calvert county. This
charge consists Of two churches
which the new rector will occupy
about January 1st. Rev. Mr.. Paff
married Miss Janet Atwater and
has been assisting in the work at
Emmanuel Church recently in a
most acceptable manner.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
KENTON

A Kenton correspondent wrote
US last week a communication
which we were unable to get in
however because of the pressure of
our space, severely criticizing the
action of the Town Commissioners
who want to straighten and i'm
prove the streets. Our correspond
ent says: THE Town Commission
ers and some Of the citizens are at
logger heads here about the pave
ments. Quite a division has been
produced by some of the rulings of
the Board. They have notified DIR.
tC>auassc or raSs Sx)
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
DEATHS

Comfort Bombay Hook ISL
and, December 18th, Thomas Com
fort, aged 66 years.
Grieves- the residence of his
daughter, in Camden, NJ, Decem-
ber 18th, William V. Grieves, aged
IS years and seven months.
Waters In this town, December
18th, Mrs. Mary J. Waters, aged SO
years, 2 months and Is days.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
Car Fau On Man; Breaks His Leg

Nelson Cecil while employed at
A. S. Turner & Sons plant in Ches-
tertown, Md, last week, met with
an accident. He had a car lifted
up by jack and in some way the
tool let the car down on Mr. Cecil's
leg breaking a bone. He was given
first aid and then carried to the
hospital where the bone was set
and the patient is doing nicely.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
Letter To Santa Clans
SMYRNA, Del, r!

Smyrna, Del, Rec. 16, 1897
Dear Santa Claus:
I am a little girl. nine years old
Will you please bring me a sled
typewriter and some nice games
and lots of good things. Also don't
forget my teacher, Miss Adkins
Bring her something very nice too
Your little girl,
Maxine Leager
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
VALUE M
CROPS s1,'l
81, ,1'S'ooO Incrs.
Over 1896 slo~I
Y. S. Bps'I
. BEST YEAR srDI
BEST YEAR ~

, Delaware .sla crop. h..
years, U. s ~ : '.I
nent econonis,ss 'slSa
TINS return rs2rs,,5:..7 s,..s,.
$I456 900 10 tss 'I.. w
alists over 1895 VII, l., [
them S16.249Ooo T..]
federal economists y
despite bumper cros d
Cd prices America ).
receive a cash ir,,'
COO 600 this ysar-ts. J,
the 1929 boom YEA, /
pfoz-mately twice h. /
q s., ,328OOoOO0 til !,
the Bureau Of Ag-~.
mics first began nail.
II 1924. The psa |.
S10479OoO.Ooo ii Igs
income totaIed 81 s?5r'
1897 estimate fell y
dollars short logeys
ti9ns made earlier \
Wallace But tor Id
level Of farm p1ea, \
prozimateIy Is Pc, n
January ana Deceng
might nave ezceeia s
000 economists SAID. n
was described BY ID
bright spot int he u
ture They ezp.a.1si \
come estimate 1dicas ]
the agriculture poy1gI
chasing power this u
not include, hoTevs, \
produced and corz-.
farm, valued roughly \
600 900. Included i 4
Inmates were goys-l
payments Of S380QllaI
compared with S2g7
year. The bureau a1I
est increases il ca& i
received from whea. u
the more important Il
Wheat, for example i
1867 .0OOO 600 this yea
with S4080O0OO0 l8z
bacco returned S5l5Ml
pared with S235MM
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
SMYRNA DOdNCS
OF so YEARS AGO
Notes of Marriages, Deaths,
and Matters OF Interest
of Half Century Ago
ISSUE OF DEC. 21ST, 1887

Taken from our old eles Of
corresponding week. as near
date of this issue as possible
Fifty Years Ago. This column,
now a regular feature Of the
Times, will call to mind people
and events Of the older genera
ton.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

death for young men and women
between Is md As. Christmas
Seals help to meet everybody's
problem.
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23
Everybody's Problem
tuberculosis is no respecter Of

persons. IL
hitf rich
man. poor
man. beggar
man. thief.
and is still
the leading
ca MS q Of
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

Subscribe to I1e ~
$3.50 per year il avn
Smyrna times., 1937-12-23

N chang
ak klsm o
..>Iaowd
!: :ErHu
oahe'
,lfchang'
hssnh,,
,.Iushc
.'EH not
.Ihcres
nIr
asssn Dal
..,Ecent v
Enerpa
stlnarks
G have
"Epent.
! rInotng
4Eparlso
isIWlmh j
New (
{
| 4, ,,.'
eImany
.,due to
.atew 81
,aEca1efu
.Iacdy !
afeause
but a
II Star
: causes
|. .Fan nj
ma
VI Iul fCS
a
or
THE ca
n ever T
Tsdefecti
u vehicle
yHcau&
Ger
import
Effective
.fglarmg
safe hi
Iful SKI
" avoid :
lis not
The Nome daily nugget., 1937-02-17
Personal Appearances of Queens
 Last Night Witnessed by Packed
 House. New Nominee is Allowed
Lo and Behold if there Was- mt Kougarok LeOna
 As big as Life

Miss Jeanne Mozee again stepp- ed up to first place today with Miss Gertrude Johansen follow ing closely. Miss Marguerite Lee made the most spectacular gain by advancing from fifth place to third, since yesterday & leading Miss Ada Baldwin by a very small margin.
 Today's standings are as follows:
The Nome daily nugget., 1937-02-17
"KOUGAROK LEONA"

bathing suits, which made the audience Ohl and An! and sev- eral of the male sex were seen to wipe their foreheads and re- move mufflers and overcoats.
 Yes-the show was a huge sue cess and every one went away feeling they had certainly receiv- ed their moneys worth.
 Dark Horse Enters Race
 A great deal of excitement was caused when E. K. Johansen rush ed into the show house after a hard drive from the Kougarok and demanded that he be allowed to nominate Kougarok Leona.
 Contest Manager Ed. Steffen who was acting as master of cere monies was terribly fused up as
 (Continued on Page Four)
The Nome daily nugget., 1937-02-17

PORTLAND, Ore, Feb. l7, - The gale-swept Columbia river claimed the Italian motorship Eel tre early today following colli- sion with the freighter Edward Luchenbach which went aground at Cottonwood Island.
 After the crash the Feltre sank up to her promenade deck. Auth oritative sources said "at least" half of her crew of forty had been rescued. The crash took place during one of the worst storms in years. The wind attain ed velocity of from forty five to fifty miles an hour.
 The two vessels crashed about forty miles down river from here and about five miles above Long, view. The Luchenbach's bow was stove in, although it is believed the ship is not damaged otherwise.
 The tug Warrior was towing the Feltre at the time of the crash, and stood by to aid in rescuing the crew. The Coast Guard Cutt- CT Onandaga rushed up river from Astoria toward the scene.
 The Feltre sank in the main river channel.
 Captain of the Luckenbach was Edward Murphy. The crew num- bered 38. The vessel has a. met tonnage of 5O87 as compared to 3773 for the Feltre whose captain is named Raniere.
 The accident took place at a.