davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-07-01
Career Appointments.

Because of the opportunities of New
Deal spoilsmen under the benevolent re-
glme Of Jobmaster General Farley, 1t Is
always news-and good news-when high
Federal appointments are withheld from
merely deserving partisans and made
exclusively for merit. In the case of
the foreign service, and especially at a
time of incalculable international ten
sion like the present, the country has
cause for self-congratulation on the
fact that place hunters nowadays ap-
parently aim in vain at key diplomatic
positions. While the exigencies of the
party system require consideration Of
the claims of presidential supporters for
amoassadorial and ministerial plums, the
Roosevelt administration has on the
whole made successful effort to guard
the foreign service against political
ravages.
Two late announcements signalize
afresh the program OF keeping politics
out of our external relations and pre-
serving the career principle. Hugh R.
Wilson, Minister to Switzerland for the
past ten years, has been appointed to
Evening star., 1937-07-01
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

vorable factor in longevity" says the re-
port. The best weight for long life va
ries according to age as follows: Up to
age 30. slight overweight; ages 30 to 80,
average weight; ages 40 to 40, slight un-
derWeight; ages so and over, an appre-
ciable degree Of underweight.
Among overweights the so-called
'pot-belly' variety has the highest NOR
tality. Overweights whose abdominal
girth was more than two inches greater
than chest girth at full expansion were
found to have an extra mortality of
approximately so per cent, over and
above the excess mortality associated
with overweight itself. Tall over
weights, with relatively long trunks and
short legs, did better than other tall
overweights; but among medium height
and short overWeights the reverse is true
The big-chested overweight showed up
less favorably than those with smaller
chest girths, while the large -boned
overweight, as general thing, was
found superior to the flabbier type"
High blood pressure, the study showed,
is more than two and half times as
common among overweights as among
persons OF average build. Most of the
lhlpOl tdHC ulSedScS Ol AQulL HE are
among the specific hazards of the over
weights. Their mortality from cerebral
hemorrhage is nearly one and a half
times that of average weights and nearly
twice that OF underweights For angina
pectoris the mortality of overweights is
more than twice that of average weights
and two and half times that OF under
weights. The diabetes toll of the fat
ranges from 2 to 13 times that of the
lean, depending on the degrees of fat
ness and leanness. Overweights also
are more susceptible to fatal accidents
and are more inclined to suicide than
those OF average weight
The statisticians place the blame for
overweight on the machine age"
"Americans," they say, "are relatively
big eaters. Machines reduce the energy
requirements in labor. Even in sports
we are too often spectators rather than
participants The result is that increase
OF weight with age is common. Although
the per capita consumption of food has
not increased, and may actually have
decreased, 1t has not kept pace with the
decided reduction in the food require
ments OF the average individual"
Evening star., 1937-07-01
Proposed Chain Store Tax
An Equitable Imposition

To the Editor of The STAR
read your editorial June Is lament
Ing the chain store tax. If these chains
are not the proper ones to pay taxes,
pray then, who are? Their method of
business has destroyed both small busi-
ness and farming, especially small or
nearby truck growing.
In destroying small business they add
to the relief burdens. so why not pay
taxes? Their method of turning down
fresh nearby produce to buy distant
half-ripe stuff in carload lots grown
with cheap labor may appeal to some
folks, but If they will reason with them
selves they must understand this buying
away from home certainly must weaken
home purchasing power. There are
nearby farms where dozen hired hands
might find profitable employment were
It not for the chains and who should pay
the tax to give relief to the ex-farmhand
If not the chain stores? I'm reliably
informed that local merchants could
take care of all neighborhood relief were
there no chain stores to clean up the
cash in Summer from those who have
little regard for their credit honor.
Were it possible to take the market
control out Of the grasp Of the chain
monopolies and put 1t back in the hands
Of the producers, prosperity would be
assured overnight.
PERRY F. SKINNER.
Evening star., 1937-07-01
Rudyard kipling a Friend
OF DIR. James Conland
To the Editor of The Star.

10 the Editor OF Ihe star.
Those who enjoy seafaring pictures
and stories and who have recently had
their emotions stirred by Captains
Courageous" may be interested in a
further story which was the genesis of
Mr. Kipling's inspiration.
Back in the 1865 a man from New
England named Conland joined the rush
for California. He was somewhere lost
in that dangerous adventure and he was
never heard from again. His wife,
through the necessity of support for
herself and small son James, became the
housekeeper of Civil War Governor An
drews Of Massachusetts. She died while
in his employ. Through some circum-
stances not known but no doubt inter-
esting the orphan drifted into the fish
ing schooner Lucy Holmes of Kingston,
Mass, and went to the Grand Banks.
This vessel was skippered by Capt.
Elisha NJ Eldridge of Chatham, who
became attached to young James and
took him into his family. Here he lived
and went to school when not at sea-
The boy was provident and ambitious,
two elements in his character which,
backed up by the inspiration he got from
his association with bank fishermen,
started him on professional career.
With money saved he was able to enter
Wilbraham Academy, in the western part
of the State. This, with much diligence
and outside work, was the stepping stone
to medical degree.
DR.. Conland settled in Brattleboro and
was practicing there when Mr.. Kipling
married Vermont lady and lived for a
time in that town. The doctor became
his physician and devoted friend 1t
was on the long drives around those
beautiful hills with Mr. Kipling accom-
pAnyins him that Dr.. Conland enthused
Evening star., 1937-07-01
Negroes in History of
The Prize-Fight Ring

40 the Edltor OF The Star:
Molyneaux and a Bill" Richmond
made great reputation for themselves
in the English prize ring around 1870
Both American ex-slaves, they were
Wined and dined Richmond went into
the liquor business and got rich. Molly
neauX became a bar customer and died
broke. In this country there was no
scientific fist fighting then, and not up
into the forties when the rise of Tom
Hyer stimulated the game. BY defeat
ing the imported yankee" Sullivan. he
became the first American champion.
After that the sport started on its
upsWlng, but. strange to say, we don't
find any Negroes represented until the
eighties of the last century.
Then, up in Boston, certain George
Godfrey cold ChocolateD gradually rose
to the heavyweight championship of his
race. He fought also whites, but John
L. Sullivan drawing the color line
those two never met. Jake Kilrain,
though. took him on and defeated him
IA rounds.
Around 1890 "the great Peter Jackson
came on from Australia. l saw him.
He was all man. He licked George and
then got busy on the whites. Sullivan
being too proud to fight" he disposed
OF the rest Of the headliners. Joe Nc
Aulifte tthe Mission Boy'D, Denver
Ed" Smith. PATSY" Cardiff the man
that Sullivan broke his arm on
Frank P. Slavin tin London, Peter
Maher lin Dublin, l round. But with
James j. Corbett he didn't do SO we'll
81 rounds to draw ono contestD .
Dissipating in England. he returned a
wreck, and James j. JeffrieS put him
away in rounds. Shortly after he
died of consumption.
Jack johnson, of course, was the first
colored man to make the heavyweight
title. After passing his preliminary
exams with Prof Tommy" Burns, he
did some remarkable postgraduate work
with Dr.. James j. Jeffries He didn't
have to extend himself. Swapping wise
cracks with Corbett, who was in Jeffries'
corner, kept him buster than the fistics,
'spntifying and angrifying' with the
comeback" Other black heavies of
renown whom old-timers may still re-
call were Bob Armstrong. Joe jean
nette, Sam McVey, Sam Langford, Harry
Wills. George Godfrey tthe second :,
Young Peter Jackson kid Norfolk"
In the lesser divisions colored men
were seated at the first table quite soon !:
George Dixon became featherWeight
king as early as 1890 Later there was
Joe Cans (the old master, lightweighO, =,
Joe Walcott Barbados Demon, welter)
Sikh, the Senegalese. and Tiger Flowers
night heavy. And now We have the
man from Alabama" who is "Horatius
at the Bridge" who def1es them all. 1t
is claimed that Joe Louis is inclined to
be lazy. Well, he conquered his laziness
until he had what he wanted. Now he
can afford to sleep late. He has it,
FRED VETTER.
Evening star., 1937-07-01
Laments the Passing
OF The Literary Digest
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial of June "a concerning
the disappearance OF the Literary Digest
aWakens resonant chord in the minds
OF the older generation OF readers.
l have been more or less constant
reader of the Literary Digest since its
first issue in 1890 I therefore regard its
disappearance with a sense of personal
loss and deep regret.
The Literary Digest had place
among American magazines that was at
once unique and pre-emnent. The his
tory Of American magazines is an event.
full one.
When I was a college youth. the
Princeton Review was considered the
last word in magazine literature. 1t soon
passed out of vogue for want of an
appreciatve reading public. The North
American Review then came into prom
inence as a leading organ of public
opinion conducted on a high intellectual
level, but for the same reason it. too,
had it's day and ceased to be. When
the Century, which at one time was the
most influential and widely circulated
magazine in America, merged with the
Forum, its identity was lost without
trace.
Then came the Outlook, the Independ-
ent, the Older Forum and the Arena,
as journals Of public discussion on a
high intellectual level. But these IN
turn fell by the wayside for want of a
sustaining clientele. The Forum after
ward reappeared under a modified plan
and policy.
Thomas Lawson of "FrenZied Finance"
fame quickly destroyed a well-known
magazine with his brilliant contributions
after increasing its circulation with un-
canny suddenness.
Harper's Weekly for many years en-
joyed the reputation of being the lead
ing publication in its class, but when
under the editorship of George B. M.
Harvey 1t became violent, political
partisan, 1t soon passed out of existence.
The Atlantic Monthly, which is con-
Quoted on both high-grade intellectual
plane and literary tone, has survived
most of its rivals.
Unlike the British magazines. Amer
lcan periodicals do not seem to thrive
on discussions set forth in essay style
without the novelty of instant news
value, the fascination of the short story
and profuse pictorial illustrations.
Let us all hope that the Literary
Digest. Phoenixlike, will rise from its
own ashes and regain its former influ-
ence and prestige in its own name and
in its original character.
KELLY MILLER.
Evening star., 1937-07-01

the island and placed In a receptive
mood. At given signal a submarine
will rise from the depths of Bloody
Point and proceed to the jefferson
Island dock. The hatch will be removed
and White-clad officer, with mega
phone, will stand by. Gentlemen" he
will shout, Il give you Mr.. So-and-So
He wrote the gold legislation" AS the
applause from the assembled members
of Congress skaters the quiet of Jefrer-
son Island, Mr.. So-and-So will walk the
planks of the dock and join the happy
group. One by one new head will pop
from the hatch of the submarine an
unknown hero will be presented to the
admiring legislators and will be received
in their loving, outstretched arms.
This will not be, strictly speaking a
government or even party affair.
Many of the authors of past laws have
left the Federal service to write columns
in newspapers, edit magazines, go into
the molasses business or engage in other
sticky but lucrative pursuits These OF
course, should be invited, for the alumni
are entitled to the respect and even the
affection of undergraduates They, too
were once only amateurs. But the real
guests of honor will be those heroes who
are yet to win renoWn at earning a living
for themselves and are still toiling away
in Washington Offices, unsung and un-
honored, merely writing the laws for
Congress to pass. What an opportunity
for making acquaintance! What a
chance for new friendships, comrades
all, working shoulder to shoulder!
Evening star., 1937-07-01

Making rats right or left handed" at
will by operations on the motor area
of the frontal lobes of their brains has
just been reported to the American As
socation for the Advancement OF Science
by DR.. George M. Peterson of the Uni
versity of New Mexico.
The animals normally are ambideX-
trous-that is, they use both front paws
with equal facility. DR.. Peterson cut
out portions of the brains of 27 such
rats and observed any changes in the
preferential use of the feet He found
that "a small region in the contralateral
frontal lobe is essential for the control
of handedneSS by the cerebral CorteX."
This area of gray matter. which he To-
Gated with great eXactneSS is buried in
the corteX in the part devoted to Volun-
tary movements. When it is cut out of
the right side Of the brain the rat be-
comes right-handed. Extirpation from
the left lobe makes the animal left
handed
Injuries to other parts of the frontal
lobe, he reported also seem to influence
the preferential use of the hands.
but less markedly than destruction in
the critical area. Injuries in the occipital
and temporal lobes have no such effect.
In fact DR.. Peterson reported, IF
these regions make any contribution to
control of this trait it is an opposite
one to that expected. The animals
use their contralateral hands more often
after such operations That they con-
tribute nothing to the control of the
habit is clearly seen in the failure Of
these occipital injuries to produce q
more less" effect as some of the
frontal injuries did even when complete
transfers did not result. The effect
obtained from such occipital injuries
as were influential can be attributed to
invasion of the critical area of severance
of the fiber tracts which descend from
this area. From the results obtained
the conclusion is drawn that the trait
of handedness Is under the control
of highly localized mechanism in the
frontal region of the cerebral cortex
and large cortical distinctions outside
the frontal lobe are ineffective in pro-
ducing changes in this trait. The re-
suits support a localiZation theory and
are in opposition to current non-locali-
zation theories"
The belt line Is a barometer of
longevity, according to an analysis based
on thousands of cases, just issued by
statisticians of the Metropolitan Life
Insurance Co. They find that statisti-
cally body girth and length of life vary
inversely with each other.
The statisticians report that men
who are 35 per cent or more above the
average weight have mortality one and
one-half times as great-even among
policy holders where obese persons are
given particularly strict examinations.
Higher than average mortality prevails
among overweights generally, they find
Men from Is to "a per cent overweight
have an excess mortality OF As per cent,
while among those from IS to "a per
cent overweight the excess is 80 per cent
After maturity underweight is a IA
Evening star., 1937-07-01
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL,

Grass remains the most perverse thing
about the average garden.
Two weeks ago ones lawn had big
bare patches in it.
The gardener was spurred to the pur-
chase OF fresh seed, many and large
bags of diversified fertilizers.
Along came the rain-and within a
few days, without the use of seed or fer
tilizer, the grass was almost perfect.
What to do, then, with the fertlllzer2
Why, use it anyway you fool!
So says the gardener to himself. He
realizes that what most gardens lack is
fertility.
No matter how much one understands
the theory of garden fertility the per-
fectly human thing is to neglect it.
The leaves grow nicely on trees, shrubs
and Towering plants; the flowers come
along in due time; even the poor lawn
suddenly takes a squirt forward, as
related.
Why should one worry about giving
them something to eat?
The question Of fertilization is large
one in the average garden and can be
answered, in most cases, by a plain
negative.
There is no fertility
Grass plants, trees, shrubs-these are
living on borrowed capital, some OF it
coming down through the centuries.
In the best sense, there is no fertility
present.
All that is left in the soil is sub-fer-
tility, but it seems sufficient to carry the
plants through.
That is WbV cn O1apv rarcnpc ovap
those who know better, seldom if ever
give their gardens any real food
They think it is good policy to let
well enough alone.
x
1t would be better policy of course to
give all living vegetation the benefit of
food.
What the average gardener fails to
keep in mind is the modern urge for
super-cleanliness.
Hedges are cleaned of the leaves which
blow against them; fence corners are
raked clean; no litter is left on the
lawn.
This means that all natural methods
of fertilization are stopped; leaves which
might decay are swept up too soon, all
bits Of plant life, which, acted upon
above and in the soil, might turn up a
complete fertilizer in the course of time
are ruthleSSly removed
The result is that there is no chance
for natural fertilization Of the soil around
most of our trees, evergreens, shrubs,
flowers, vines.
II the gardener insists on super-clean-
illness he must make up for it by buying
and distributing manufactured fer
tilizerS.
Must-that is. if he wants the maxi
mum from his plants.
Otherwise, he must be content with
less. and no doubt will get less
Need it be added that this less often is
very good.
1t is because this is so that many per-
Evening star., 1937-07-01

sons refuse to fertilize their gardens as
they should.
Why should they bother with the ex-
pense Of fertilizer and the trouble Of
putting 1t around when Nature will give
them a certain goodness Of plant LIFE
with or without added materials.
Hope springs eternal in the human
breast" said the poet.
Perhaps the average amateur garden
er's breast holds more hope than any one
elses.
He is forever believing that things
will turn out all right.
The joke OF 1t is-they often do!
The spotted lawn, without one ounce
OF fertilizer, suddenly and almost over
night, grows thick and green (after
heavy RAIN.
A change in the weather and the rust
on the phlox plants begins to lose
ground; the plants which happen to like
hot, dry weather begin to pick up; every
thing has its turn.
There is a hopefulness in gardening
which rests solidly on the foundation
belief that Nature more or less knows
what she is doing.
Even without our help she brings good
grass, fine flowers, trees in good health
n X
The point seems to be that mans help
is very much appreciated by her, never
theless.
II excellent fertilizer is used, whether
natural or artificial, the plants are only
too happy to use it.
One must not expect miracles, how
ever. The average amateur has hidden
notion that all he has to do to get gigan-
tic flowers in his garden is to sprinkle
on few handfuls of some fertilizer
whose manufacturer claims great things
for it.
Often the user will note, if pushed to
1t, that the manufacturer urges the use
OF far more than the average user is
willing to put on. There can be no doubt
that the average gardener is extremely
nlggardly when it comes to plant food.
He expects little to go a long way.
Often the result is simply no apparent
reSult-there is little question that some
good, although unseen, is done by even
the smallest amount of good plant food.
Bone meal, for instance, is an old and
tried fertillzing element. There are two
camps in regard to its use even among
the professional horticulturists Long
and heated verbal warfare RACES among
them still.
The average home gardener will find it
a safe and dependable fertilizer, If he
does not expect immediate and astound-
ing results. In time he will come to be-
lieve that this material does give cer-
tain stability to the plants in his garden.
Two points are to be remembered in
the use OF almost any type Of fertilizer,
complete or incomplete; to run a rake
over the fertilized area, in order to knock
the material off leaves and, second to
use plenty of water Immediately follow
ing the application. There is some dan
ger in using any sort OF fertilizer and
waiting for rain to do the washing in
and dilution.
Evening star., 1937-07-01

the vacant assistant secretaryship OF
state. From Havana comes word that
Cuba has expressed approval of j. Butler
Wright, now Minister to Czechoslovakia,
as Ambassador Caffery's successor. Both
men are typical career officers of the for
eign service. Mr.. Wilson looks back upon
twenty-six years OF association with in
ternational affairs, having begun as pri-
vate secretary to the American Minister
to Portugal in 1911. Meantime he has
served throughout Europe, Asia and
Central America and recurrently in the
State Department. AS Minister at Berne
he had constant contact with activities
OF the League OF Nations, including sue
cessive Geneva conferences in which the
United States participated, acting fire.
quently as Washingtons chief spokes-
man. Through his League experience,
Mr.. Wilson acquired wide acquaintance
with European statesmen, affording him
background which should be of in
estimable value to the department in
the work he now assumes there.
Mr.. Wright, whose formal appointment
to Cuba is doubtless imminent, wears
foreign service stripes representing span
of twenty-eight years. His career has en-
braced duty at various posts through
out Europe and the Western Hemisphere.
Uncle Sans relations with Cuba, always
Of important and sometimes of delicate
nature, will be in seasoned hands in
the care of Ambassador Wright, for he
has long specialized in Latin American
affairs. Not the least of his qualities
is fluency in the Spanish language. AS
Minister to Uruguay from 1880 to 1898,
Mr.. Wright rendered eminent service
in paving the way for the seventh con-
ference of American states at Monte
vldeo. Cuban-American friendship
should flourish anew under his mission
at Havana.
Evening star., 1937-07-01
Annual Events in
The United States

You will like this unusual booklet, which
tells about the big annual event in each
State in the Union. 1t contains page for
every State and the District of Columbia.
with beautiful tinted illustrations and ample
descriptive text. 1t will be interesting to
learn about the celebrations of the various
States, as nothing portrays the personality
of people more than the events which
bring them together. Send in your name
and address, with 10 cents in coin, care
fully wrapped, to The Evening Star In
formation Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin, dl-
rector, and your copy will come to you
promptly.
Evening star., 1937-07-01

the great story writer with the adven-
lures of his youth on the Grand Banks.
Mr.. Kipling became determined to write
book about those fine seafaring men.
He persuaded the doctor to take a
vacation and together they journeyed
to Gloucester. The doctor, talking the
language" was able to introduce Mr..
Kipling into the heart of seafaring ro-
nance. They even made short run
to Boston in the fishing sloop Venus,
but this was all the background Mr..
Kipling had for his immortal story
Young Conland pulling cod lines in
the 70s would have been astonished had
he been able to peep into the future
some so years and see millions of people
stirred deeply over that humble task
which he helped so vitally to faithfully
dramatize. QERSHOM BRADFORD.