davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-03-01

spoken behind the footlights. Better
illumination of the stage likewise should
help to the same end.
Certainly, other factors are neces-
sary to provide economic health for the
stage. Probably it is true that COM
petent playwrights and actors are the
primary demand. If so, there must be
some reasonably definite guarantee of
royalties and wages for the artists. The
best brains in the theater will continue
to flock to Hollywood OR Radio City so
long as bread and butter are not
tangibly available elsewhere. The profit
motive cannot be neglected in an era
conspicuously opportunistic in char
acter.
Doubtless the whole problem wants
careful study. If the legitimate drama
ever is to flourish again as 1t once did
in a not altogether forgotten yesterday,
the brains of men and women with
realistic genius must be applied to the
business of its preservation. Such
mental equipment is no more missing
in the world of the stage than it is
elsewhere. A new era in the theater
almost surely could be thought into
being by individuals interested enough
and courageous enough to tackle the
problem determinedly.
Evening star., 1937-03-01
Insanitary Conditions in
Sewerless Sections of ID. C..
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
Recently The Star newspaper carried
an article 800 support drive for Oxon
Run sewer" and briefly mentioned the
seWerleSs communities in certain parts
of the Southeastern section of Wash
ington and the efforts of residents to
get an appropriation in the 1888 Dis
trict supply bill for beginning the con-
struction of the much needed sewerage
system.
The Star could render a great service
to the residents of the communities OF
Washington Highlands, Hillcrest, Con-
gress Heights and Summit Park by
acquainting its many readers with actual
conditions existing in the aforemen-
toned communities due to the absence
of a sewerage system.
Now and then I read about unusual
conditions in poverty-stricken commu-
mites in some States where people lack
the constant flow of water for drinking.
bathing and cooking purposes. and yet
few Washingtonians realize that even
today beyond our beautiful monumental
edif1ces a half a thousand people are
still using the old-fashioned wash tubs
for baths because they lack water facil-
lLleS III tIlelI llOllleS. IL 1911 u IlcCCoodIy
to read about distant communities to
sympathize with people who lack water
system or to even go back to the old
forgotten days. Right here in Washing
ton it is necessary for me to carry water
over two squares for drinking. cooking
and bathing purposes. My children have
to haul water in jars on little wagon
many times each day. A pretty picture
of the Capital that would make for
people in other cities. And yet year
after year I have been 'inquiring of the
District government when action would
be taken to remedy these unsatisfactory
conditions and always am advised that
there is a shortage of funds.
I wonder if the Government officials
and members of Congress in whose
hands this matter rests would pass over
the sewerage system problem for so
many people year after year if their
growing daughters had to use a little
white house" down the path for ladies
room; if their wives and children had
to haul water constantly all day long;
if their health was constantly jeopar-
died due to these and other insanitary
conditions. MRS. M. E. WINES.
Evening star., 1937-03-01

the British crown; sentiment for ma
tional unity triumphed at the close of
the Civil War in 1865; sentiment OF
altruism for the oppressed Cubans and
of resentment over the destruction OF
the Maine rendered the war with Spain
inevitable in 1898, and a sentiment
epitomized by President Wilson in the
slogan Make the World Safe for De-
mocracy" brought about American par
ticipation in the Great War in 1917 and
1918. In only the first of these several
struggles was economic determiniSm"
involved; the others represented emo
tional reactions principally.
The two most important policial
changes within the experience of living
voters also may be explained in line
with the same theory-President Hard
ing was elected by force of public resist
ance to the League of Nations; Presi-
dent Roosevelt defeated President Hoo
yer because majority of the electorate
believed the formers proposals for cur
ing the depression were better" than the
latter's.
And now the Nation again is re-
spending to an emotional urge. Mr..
RooSevelt'S plan to bring the Supreme
Court under political control has Gre
ated storm of angry protest. His un-
fortunate criticism of the mental ca
pacity of elderly persons has hurt the
hearts of numbers of citizens ION the
wrong side of thirty" 1t follows that
the present debate is apt to wax in
creasingly exciting as it proceeds to its
termination in the Senate. Pure rea-
son, it seems, may be forgotten in the
clash of prejudices and enthusiasms
The speeches thus far delivered have
established a pattern of sentimentalism
Evening star., 1937-03-01
Sentiment.

Thirty-six years ago Dr. Hugo Munster
berg, in his american Traits From the
Point of View of a German" wrote:
1.-THE American in politics proves him.
self the purest idealist, the best men
come to the front, the most sentimental
motives dominate, and almost no one
dares to damage his cause by appealing
to selfish instincts" Conditions per-
haps have changed, but the opinion so
expressed remains largely sound and
sane. The people of the United States
are, frankly and without APOLOGY, SEN
timentally inclined.
For example, consider the romantic
character of art. Even the illustrations
for advertisements must be possessed OF
esthetic attraction. Novels, verse.
movies, radio, musical comedy, costume
fashions, the vogue of physical culture
and amateur athletics-all these reflect
the passion of millions for imaginative
ideals. A cult of youth has developed
in recent years. and the average man,
like the average woman, wants to "stay
young" as long as possible.
But DR.. Munsterberg was talking par
ticularly about politics. Therefore, it
may be interesting to check his impress
sions with the record A sentiment for
self government, plainly, promoted if it
did not cause the Revolution which
separated the Thirteen Colonies from
Evening star., 1937-03-01
MIR. Candhi Comes Back.

If British statesmen fancied that the
constitutional regime imposed upon
India would extract from their side that
pestiferous thorn once known as Ma
hatma Gandhi, they have been suddenly
disillusioned. The great ascetic has just
staged a dramatic comeback from pro-
tracted retirement induced partially by
shattered health and by chagrin over
collapse of independence prospects.
Though he recently dropped the title
of Mahatma, meaning great souled,"
on the ground of unworthiness, and
thereby ostensibly relinquished nominal
claims to power and authority which
went with the distinction, Gandhi now
signals his readiness to resume his old
role as a political mentor
To symbolic his return to the firing
line and unimpaired physical strength,
Gandhi on Saturday walked seven miles
from his provincial hermitage to attend
a war council of the working commit
tee of the Congress party. 1t is this
organization, original spearhead of the
independence cause, which continues to
demand complete liberation from the
British yoke. 1t is irreconcilably opposed
to federated government under imperial
control. The enduring strength of the
separatist movement was demonstrated
at the late elections when Congress
candidates, won It's of the 1885 seats
in lower houses of provincial legislatures.
In upper house elections the Constitu-
tionalists triumphed in all provinces
The Congress party has flourished
without Gandhi's leadership since 1884,
when he laid it down to seek life of
meditation unruffled by political strife.
Now he has re-entered the fray at
moment considered crucial in the rela-
tions between India and Britain. The
issue at stake is whether Congressites
should avail themselves of the right
to form ministries in provinces where
they have lower-house control or content
themselves with oppositional strategy.
They prevail in the important central
provinces and in the united provinces of
Madras, Bihar and Orissa. They missed
victory in Bombay by single vote.
Congress leaders are divided on the
question. Some think cabinet office on
a nationwide scale the best way of
wrecking the constitution, which is not
yet fully effective. Others hold that
abstention from ministries is the partys
most potent weapon. That recourse
savors of the passive resistance on
which Gandhi once pinned faith. The
former Mahatma retains strong hold on
the affections of India's underprivileged
myriads. His views on the pending con-
troversy are not likely to go unheeded.
The British Raj, at any rate, has once
again to reckon with the magnetic power
of the unreconstructed old rebel.
Evening star., 1937-03-01
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

we'll within the classification of small
birds
1t has, above all, a crest, which the
chickadee does not.
The chickadee has small black "cap,"
or black band, on Cop of its head. This
Is its sureSt Identification.
The other good point is its very small
size. 1t is altogether about the smallest
bird, with the exception of the ruby
throated hummingbird, which comes to
the small garden.
And surely no finer small bird exists
than the chickadee, whose very name
is caresS.
This is one of the finest of all common
names, or country names" as the Eng
lish call the spontaneous words which
have grown up to designate flower and
flower, bird and bird.
Those who love the chickadee best
often call it chickadee-dee, from the way
its song usually is written.
This is gliding of the lily which
seems eminently appropriate.
Another good nickname is devil
downhead," for the nuthatch.
The species of this bird seen around
here is veritable devil, when it comes
to going up and down tree trunks.
This he does with such aplomb, such
nicely, that he reminds one of human
tight rope walker, although the featS
are different.
Here again there may be confusion, if
one does not look we'll at ones specimen.
Some observers, when first taking up
this sport, think that species of wood
pecker is nuthatch.
Both frequent trees, but that is as far
AS the resemblance goes. except that
both have gray-White markings.
No woodpecker, however. really looks
like a nuthatch, and certainly never
walks head-first down a tree trunk.
+
Once you watch nuthatch for
time you will never mistake him for
any other bird.
He has a way with him.
Like the others of our trio, the nut
hatch is not a consistent feeder at
station. He will not be seen all day
long, as the English sparrows are.
He has no set time for attendance, as
do the gorgeous bluejays, which appear
pIcCIoClg az dill, dlIu SlO llOI SIdy AiOi Z
than IS or 20 minutes.
The members of our bird trio seldom
come in f1ocks. Mostly only pair of
each will appear in any one garden
The only way to check on this is to
count them, of course. If day after day
YOU can count only pair of each, the
likely suppoSition is that there is, of
course. just one pair.
Mostly that is what it turns out to be.
The garden with pair each of chicka-
dees, nuthatches and titmice has plenty.
All three like to seize a seed and fly
away with it. Even the nuthatch. after
he has spiralled his way down trunk,
hastens to grab a seed. and take 1t TO
another tree to crack it.
The querrulous ma ma" of the nut
hatch. the clear whistle of the titmouSe
and the sweet little song of the chicka-
dee add immensely to the garden SYM
phony They will be heard mostly in
the early morning and late afternoon.
Look and listen for these birds, and be
rewarded with some interesting mo-
mentS
Evening star., 1937-03-01
Eternal Vigilance Still Is
The Price of Liberty
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Some time ago President Roosevelt
was reported as desiring "a curb on the
controller general" This occurred after
several years in which much Of the
orderly procedure in our Government
was overturned, and some of the ex-
penditures were so far beyond the limits
set by helter skelter legislation that the
controller general diSapproved them.
When the curb is put on the controller
general, who or what is to rationalize
the "curber"?
We now find that the last restraint
on haSty and illegal changes in Govern
ment is irksome to Mr.. Roosevelt, and
he wants placed in his hands alone a
curb" on the Supreme Court of the
United States.
Since the cause of the proposed curb
is the fact that the Supreme Court has
abided by the Constitution of the United
States in its decisions, we will know that
if the proposed legislation is passed as
formulated by Mr.. Roosevelt, the Con-
stitution will be nullified and controlling
clauses ignored without being legally
amended or superseded, and that
strange, unWiSe and actually injurious
processes of government may be sud-
denly set up over the people on the
motion of one or two contrary to the
wisest counsel of the Nation.
After that, what will prevent denial Of
the rights involving due process of law
and trial by jury and other supposedly
inalienable rights, including the right
of the people to select by popular vote
and secret ballot their legislative rep
yeSentativeS, Governors and President?
What if Mr. Roosevelt or his successor
becomes dissatisfied with the judgment
of the people at the polls? What if he
should have reason to fear beforehand
that the ballot will not be favorable to
him? Why stop with the preliminary
steps already proposed to enable change
of the form of government?
We can only avoid risks of this kind
by insisting on respect for the ConSti-
tuition, and observance of its orderly
course of procedure for amendment,
which is open to the people at all times.
Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty" yet, and there should be heard
popular voice to stop the present
trend to willful despotism.
HORACE L. WOODWARD.
Evening star., 1937-03-01
New Era i'm the Theater?

Thousands of Americans, it safely
may be presumed, love the legitimate
stage and would rejoice to hear of the
promise of a return of prosperity for it.
Movies. radio and the likelihood of tele-
vision have authentic powers of attrac-
ton for vast audiences, but surely the
appeal of the real theater to the i'm
agination of a numerous minority still
exists and should increase rather than
decline in years to come.
An economic problem, however, is in
volved. The operating costs Of the ira
ditional playhouse are heavy, and
enough support to meet them of course
is required. Under present conditions
the price of tickets is, patiently, too
high for the masses. Only small pro-
portion of the population of such a
city as Washington can afford to pay
1920 for an evenings entertainment.
In the so-called "palmy days" orchestra
chairs sold for $1.5O. but the principal
revenue of the house was derived from
the gallery-where the admission fee was
commonly but Is cents.
Perhaps the theory is faulty. yet it
nevertheless would appear to be worth
while to consider the practical feasibil-
ity of theater buildings deliberately con-
structed to accommodate bigger peanut
heaven" crowds. In period when
steel fabrication is the rule, it should be
possible to create playhouses with COM
prehensive gallery facilities. Also, i'm
proved acoustics now might serve to
make it greatly more comfortable for
balcony patrons to follow the lines
Evening star., 1937-03-01
Suppose Street Car Riders
Staged a Sit-DOwn Strike?

To the Editor of The Star
Imagine what would happen if on a
crowded street car-you know, the kind
where the conductor yells Plenty room
up front"-people would suddenly de-
eide to stage a sit-down strike in pro-
test against poor service. overcrowding,
etc. Hard for me to figure out how
people could stage such strike under
those conditions.
Possibly people would be kind and
allow you to sit on their laps. That
wouldn't help much either, for the con-
ductor would leave more people in and
they couldn't join the sit-down strike
standing up! OF course, they could
form a strap-hangers' local and make
their protest through the regular chan
nels.
You would think that with every one
showing their card and being paid up
on their s125 dues that the car COM
pany would see that plenty of seats
would be provided for its commuters.
Hey, conductor, I've stood all I can, I
get off here. SAMUEL TRACER.
Evening star., 1937-03-01
Shooting Stars.
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Dignified Festivities.

The Congressman is not supposed
To sacrifice his dignity.
In gravity he stands opposed
To forces of malignity.
But now and then, like common men,
Hilariously he will draw nigh
And lift jovial chorus when
Occasion seems to justify.
Yet he does not appear to lose
His much-admired authority
If on occasion he should choose
To sing with the majority,
And maybe, join in jesting gay
While mingling in melodious rhyme.
Even a Congressman, they say,
Should not be serious all the time.
Consistency Not Positively Required.
"Of course, you can't be expected to
please everybody"
You are mistaken about that" an
swered Senator Sorghum. "A politician
can please all kinds of different audi
ences with all kinds of different speeches.
One of the things our public appears
especially to admire is versatility"
Evening star., 1937-03-01
County Option Movement
Under Way in Maryland

To the Editor of The Star:
I want, through your columns, to
thank the many thousands of people of
the State of Maryland who are petition
ing the Legislature for the enactment
of law to permit election districts of
all counties of the State to vote for or
against the sale of Intoxicating liquors.
The City of Baltimore has local
option feature which makes it man
datory for the license board to deny
licenses where majority of the property
owners within 200 feet of the proposed
place enter protest against the grant,
ing of such licenses.
In the counties there is no such pro-
vision. The object of H. B. 70 simply
extends to the election districts in the
counties the same principle which now
applies to Baltimore City If the bill
passes elections can be held in the dis
tricts desiring it only at general elec-
tions. WALTER M. MAGRUDER.
Annapolis. Md.
Evening star., 1937-03-01

When attacked because he is distin-
guished as the most youthful member
Of the United States Senate, the Hon
orable Rush Holt might find an elo-
quent defense, ready-made, in the speech
by Pitt beginning, But youth is not my
only crime" and expressing the hope
that advancing years will bring wisdom
and not be wasted in frivolous occupa-
tion. The claim that DR.. Samuel john
son wrote the speech as piece of lit
erary hack work would not render it
less appropriate if MIR. Holt were willing
to borrow phraseology. However, being
strictly live one on his own account,
Senator Holt would disdain ghost
: writer.
Evening star., 1937-03-01

Three musqueteers of bird land are
the chickadee, crested titmouse and nut
hatch.
Every suburban garden is graced with
this trio, because they seem to like each
other and where one is the others
appear.
Not, of course, that they pal" to-
gether in the human sense of the word.
Bird life is not that way; it is solemn,
with the gravity of the animal creation;
there Is no place in 1t for the Damon
and Pythias act.
Nevertheless, the birds mentioned are
often seen together. This propinquity
may or may not be the sole result of
similar food needs
Those who have a special place in
their hearts for the members of this
fine trio will be willing to believe that
this is not all.
for their apparent liking for each other
not the least of which may be a true
fondness. If We use this word we do SO
only in so far as it may fit the case OF
birds and in no sense with the attri-
butes human affection gives it.
X
Perhaps most observers will find the
nuthatch the most interesting of these
birds, the titmouse the handsomest and
the little chickadee the most lovable
Take your choice of three fine birds,
or better, accept them all, for no doubt
they will be together, especially if feed
ing stations are around.
Some persons have great difficulty in
distinguishing between chickadee and
titmouSe, but the birds are not much
alike The difficulty comes because the
observer will not take the trouble to
note definitely the striking features Of
each bird. and to look for them when
he sees them again.
Thus many would-be bird lovers who
scarce know one feathered friend from
another become very excited on seeing
a cardinal or redbird in their yard.
The cardinals have come back" they
declare, innocently not knowing that
these fine fellows Winter here and have
been in gardens all through the cold,
as lively and red as can be.
We had letter from Washingtonian
the other day telling of the 20 redbirds
which he has fed since last Fall.
1t is necessary to look closely, indeed,
when watching birds, with the prime
intention of seeing each physical char
acteristic, not just enjoying the beauty
and interest of the creature.
This close looking really makes the
birds your friends, because when it is
done, each bird is seen afterward as
Just what it is There will never be any
confusion, between bird and bird. no
matter how much they may seem to
resemble each other in the eyes OF the
person who makes no attempt to note
differentiations.
1t is in the noting OF differences that
the real ability lies to grasp each bird,
and TO know it for what it is, and for
nothing else.
Once this is mastered. there is never
any possibility thereafter of confusing
chickadees with titmice, or titmice with
chickadees.
A titmouse is considerably larger
bird than the chickadee, although still
Evening star., 1937-03-01
A Healthful Sign.

Shutdown strikers have directly learned
their unpopularity with the Governors
OF three States in the past few days.
The distaste of Americans generally for
this strike weapon-imported from
Francois growing, and there are signs
that the spread of this kind OF strike
may be checked, despite the declarations
OF certain labor leaders.
Gov. Cross of Connecticut has said
emphatically that there will be no sit
down strikes while he is chief executive
of that State-certainly none that will
be permitted to continue. Shutdown
strikers have already been elected from
one plant in Connecticut. Gov. Hoffman
of New Jersey has also given warning
that he will tolerate no sit-down strike.
Gov. Henry Horner of Illinois said there
Is no warrant in law to justify So
called sit-down strike"
This statement by Gov. Horner does
not run on all fours with suggestion
which emanated some time ago from
q member of President Roosevelt's
cabinet, Miss Perkins, Secretary of
Labor. She implied that such strikes
might be legal So far no law has been
found to justify this kind of seizure of
private property. Nor is it likely that
any State, or the Federal Government,
will enact a law which gives such seizure
legality.
The stiffening of State and local gov
ernments against the sit-down strike was
bound to come Already in California
sit-down strikers have been removed
and placed under arrest. Despite these
evidences of aroused government and
public sentiment, there are today many
of these sit-down strikes in operation,
particularly in Michigan, where the Sit
down strike got its big impetus and
striking employees of the General Motors
Corporation held plants for six weeks
Furthermore, there are threats of more
such strikes to come.
During the progress of the sit-down
strike in the General Motors plants in
Michigan, John L. Lewis, chairman OF
the c. I. O., with which the automobile
union is affiliated, in statement to the
press declared that the time for neu-
trality was past and that the President
whom he and his fellow unionists had
helped to re-elect should support them.
The effrontery of this statement shocked
/. the country. Into it was read, among
.. other things, demand that the Presi-
dent countenance the sit-down strike.
Presidents in the past have been called
upon to intervene in labor disputes and
have used their good Offices to bring
about industrial peace. But they have
not hitherto been called upon to take
sides.
1t is the duty of State governments to
handle violations of the law such as the
seizure of property in sit-down strike.
1t is healthful sign that Governors OF
States are now preparing to do just this
thing.