davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1937-03-27
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Sparrows and mice are unlimited but
welcomed guests at the National Zoo
logical Park
They act as unofficial scavengers, help
ing clean up bits of grains and whisps
of hay and other fodder.
English sparrows hop around beneath
the feet of the rhinoceros.
Mice share the food with the ugly
warthog.
There are literally thousands upon
grounds. so tame that they fly in and
will.
The Zoo quietly tolerates these in
truders, not only for the good they do,
but also because they help the at
mosphere of the park.
Many visitors little stop to realize that
the universal tameness of the birds is
one of the real charms of the place.
This is Conservation, with capital
&C" good example of tolerance in an
intolerant world.
English sparroWs, much despised little
birds, in many quarters, and mice, also
despised and even feared, here find
make the most of it.
Thus they are exceedingly tame.
The sparroWs, particularly, will fairly
fly beneath your feet as you go around.
This is in direct contrast with their ac-
tions in many home yards, where, de-
spite the fact that feeding stations are
put out for them as we'll as any, they are
very "jittery," flying away each time a
door is opened.
At the Zoo all is different
The whole atmosphere of the place is
protection, and it does not take long
for the welcomed interlopers-not all
creatures are welcomed, of course-tO
get onto the fact.
Shortly they come to look upon the
grounds as for their special benefit.
X
One who watches the wild birds there
for time comes to the conclusion
that the Zoo must be the special sleep
ing place Of uncounted thousands of
birds.
Surely it must be national head
quarters for the sparrow family.
They are there every day by the tens
of thousands.
Not all are English sparrows, by any
AAASs-AAo. A'AAAAy o1C sung SPtdllOWS, WlAIC.
throated sparrows. fox sparrows; and
many others Of this great family not
usually seen in home gardens.
Only the ornithologist is able to
spot" the different members of the far
flung sparrow family. Beginners at
bird study always are amazed at the
number OF species, and how much one
resembles the other, at least to the un-
trained eye.
No doubt thousands Of persons have
song sparrows in their yards, but think
them merely English sparrows, not being
acquainted with the difference in mark
ings and habits.
No one need be "snooty," however, in
regard to the English sparrows
They have many friends among bird
lovers, despite the heroic propaganda
carried on against them.
This i'll will has been carried to such
an extent, indeed, that an inevitable
reaction has set in around the world.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,

In the dim past. in the very begill-
ming of things, before heaven was, when
Ndu and Sse were about to appear, and
the trees were on their way, the rocks
contemplated to come upon the scene
and the earth was about to be born,
there were three shadows which were
to become heaven, and three shadows
to become the earth. The sun and moon
were not yet, but the three shadows of
each existed. The stars and the planets
were as yet not, but the three shadows
of each were. The mountains and VAL
leys, the trees and rocks, the water and
the creeks were as yet not, yet the
three shadows of each existed. From
three things there appeared nine things
and from the latter there came forth a
mother. There came forth something
brilliant and from that something came
forth something brilliantly white. From
the latter came forth a being able to
call. And after that there came forth
something blue and black and from the
latter came forth a being with bad
voice"
Thus, as translated by DR.. Joseph F.
Rock, begins the creation epic of the
Na-khi-a non-Chinese people of
Tibetan origin living in Southwest
China, whose unique Photograph ltera-
ture is now preserved in more than
1900 volumes collected by DR.. Rock for
the Library of Congress.
This is the Na-khi equivalent to the
Hebrew Genesis with it's account of the
origin of all material things and of the
qualities of good and evil, symbolized
by black and white in the Na-khi cos
mology. DR.. Rocks translation has just
appeared in the Journal of the West
China Border Research Society.
The epic goes on to describe a great
flood which wiped out all living things
except one lone survivor who was
warned in time.
The Na-khi Noah had the tongue
twisting name of Tso DE llu ghugh.
Like his biblical counterpart, he was
good man in an evil world. So in the
words OF the mountain epic, N'du spoke
to him and said:
GO and kill nine yak and from their
skin make large drum. Tie the drum
to juniper tree on one side, to fir
tree on the other, to heaven above and
to the earth below. Put into the drum
nine kinds of grains goats, dogs, chick
ems and all useful things"
Ts'o did as he was told. Then he sat
down in the center of the drum. After
three days the mountains, valleys, rocks
and trees screamed like the bowling
OF the wind, rain descended with thun-
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Disputes Evans Figures on
Average Government Pay

To the Editor of The Star:
Several days ago I read an article on
your editorial page signed by Edwin
Evans. His first two paragraphs con-
tanned discussion of section 213 of the
economy act, popularly known as the
marriage clause. These opening para
graphs contained many true statements
with which do not care to take issue.
On the other hand, there is much to be
said against childless couple drawing
two generous salaries when there are
insufficient jobs to enable married men
to support themselves and families and
single women and men to earn a decent
living for themselves and possible de-
pendents.
do take issue with Mr.. Evans on his
statement concerning the high average
salary rate in civil service of $2,4O0. This
does not happen to be the average salary
of the Government employees. 1t is
81 $50 and three-fourths of the employees
get less than $4,000. A survey of six
leading industrial cities in the United
States disclosed the fact that for the
first four grades of classified civil serv-
ice, persons doing comparable work in
the business world were paid slightly
less, whereas from the fourth grade up
ward Government employees received
considerably less than business concerns
paid their employees for similar work.
For the past five or six years Mr.
Evans has been reiterating his same
theme namely, that a salary of 81 300
is ample for a childless married couple
and half that, or 5000, is sufficient for
single person to live on. The main
trouble is Mr. Evans should use the
word "exist" not live. He also states
that civil service employees render less
service today than they did in 1917 when
the average salary was little over half
what it is today" Upon what does he
base this conclusion? 1 understand that
some 20 years or so ago Mr.. Evans occu-
pied some minor clerical position in the
Government and felt himself overpaid.
Possibly he was. But I should like to
assure him that those of us who do
difficult technical work that requires
careful preparation and training and
who work in Offices where hundreds OF
employees render accurate, efficient and
courteous service to the general public,
are giving better service than was even
known about in 1917. And this, I am
sure holds good in many other efficiently
run Government bureaus.
He refers, as do many others, to Gov
ernment employees being supported at
"the taxpayers expense. Pray who is
the taxpayer. if not the Government en-
ploye himself? He pays every sort OF
conceivable tax that is levied on any
other citizen of the United States, and
therefore he helps pay his or her own
salary by paying just as large per cent
of his income in taxes as does any other
citizen regardless of where he works or
lives And, he is not social parasite
living of other mems earnings, but is
efficiently rendering needed public
service for relatively small salary.
INEZ JUSTUS.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

ent is allowed fiat quota of five at
West Point and four at Annapolis-nine
IN all. In the States, however, the
number Is based on congressional repre-
sentation. each member of Congress
being allowed four at Annapolis and
three at West Point. Thus, State with
two Senators and one Representative
tthe smallest degree of representation
is entitled to send twelve boys to An
napolis and nine to West Pointer
twenty-one in all. A State with sufi-
cient population for two Representa-
tives has q total of twenty EIGHT ap-
pointments.
The committees have decided to raise
Washington to the level of the States
having two Senators and one Repre-
sentative, which will raise its quotas
from four to twelve at Annapolis and
from Ave to nine at West Point. SUBJ
stantive law actually authorizes five
for each Congressman at Annapolis and
the District bill is similarly worded, but
the present policy of the Appropriations
Committee is to provide funds for only
four each, which will give the District
twelve for the time being. The only
amendment the Senate committees have
added is that the local appointments be
spread out so that there will be an op-
portunity for some boys to enter the
academies each year, instead of having
a large bloc of vacancies occur in one
year.
With the steady diminution of the
lump-sum payment, equity demands
that the District be included in the
distribution of bounties and subsidies
to the States, from which it has for so
long been excluded. 1t is highly gratify-
ing to the District to note the moves in
that direction.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

"Underdogs" of birds, they find many
human friends rush to their defense,
where before they found enemies only
It is fortunate, perhaps, for many crea-
lures that the i'll will against them is
overdone, and brings this inevitable re-
action. The cat has suffered from it
through the centuries, to a greater ex-
tent than perhaps any other animal,
yet today stands stronger In the worlds
estimation than ever before.
The English sparrows, among birds, as
the house cat among animals, have
many good points, in their own right,
above and beyond their appeal as per-
secuted creatures.
The English sparrow, viewed fairly, is
not only a handsome bird, but very
interesting one as well.
Its duties along the lines of scavenger
are often overlooked. No matter how
dirty city becomes, it is not quite as
dirty as it would be without the spar
rows. The downtown specimens see to
it that few crusts Of bread or other
foodstuffs, including banana skins. apple
cores and the like, escape their eager
bills.
A trip through the Zoo ought to in
clude a lookout for the wild birds
which gather there.
These are birds as we'll as any Of the
larger and rarer specimens which ere
confined in the great cages.
Practically every wild bird which
comes to Washington and environs finds
its way to the Zoo and contiguous Rock
Creek Park at some time or other
Just why they all do not stay there we
have never been able to figure out for
tunately for home bird lovers, they are
content to come to our gardens, and
many to remain the year around, if we
will feed them.
Just little general information is all
that is needed to enjoy bird study in Zoo
and park. Watching these flyers Is good
for the eyes, il one does not concentrate
too long on any one bird.
Fighting its own kind and other birds
is one Of the sins of English sparrows,
If one may judge from the attacks of
their enemies.
Many person who has been intrigued
to watch these sparrows closely for some
length Of time has been amazed to f1nd
them no more pugnacious than most
birds.
Led to expect constant battle from
these fellows, the spectator discovers
them to be simply full of energy, an
admirable trait.
They are "peppy," in other words,
hence constantly jostle each other, and
f1utter their wings for place at the
feeding table.
While more pugnacious than blue
birds, for instance. they do not carry
the trait to the extreme by any means
Nor is it possible to discover that they
really mistreat other species. AS far
as We can see they are willing to live
and let live. II, in this process, they
manage to get the lions share, it is
only what is to be expected, since there
are so many of them
We earnestly hope that all visitors to
our great Geological Park will give some
time and thought to the sparrows to be
seen there, and will regard them as part
OF the exhibits, which they really are
Evening star., 1937-03-27

group that waits at the curb until the
light signals for them to move Moving
with the light, these pedestrians must
take the risk of being sideswiped, or
pushed, or hurried by the car turning on
the red light, and the policeman, stand
ing in the center of the street, looks on
immobile, as though he had swallowed
his tongue!
Ignore the right of the pedestrian to
walk with safety over a street and you
create the jayWalker Perhaps the traf-
flc policeman is not to blame for the
situation. Perhaps his superior officers
have received orders from their superiors
to keep automobile traffic moving as
rapidly as possible through the city.
All these angles could be completed if
the traffic policeman were to keep auto
mobiles in check a minute or two longer
to allow group of pedestrians to walk
across the intersection safely Drivers
can make up the loss of a minute or two,
but they cannot bring back the dead, or
give new limbs to the accident victim.
FREDERIC G.. FROST.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

gone over" by hick cop for failure
almost instantly to solve comparatively
simple problem-not to mention larger
centers which you traversed with ears
red from embarrassment
Cops are kind to QUITO town drivers;
surely you will not let policeman outdo
you in politeness. Let the visitor get
safely out of town with the impression
that Washington drivers, whatever their
faults, are at least tolerant of his ig-
norance and his errors. He has probably
heard We kill and main number of
people here each year. Unfortunately,
we do. But we will not knock off so
many If we 60 little easy with him.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
New Danger in Spain.

BY dint OF great good luck, rather
than as the result Of enlightened states
manship, Europe has thus far contrived to
"localize" the Spanish civil war and
prevent its extension into an interna-
tional conflict. 1t is true that many
foreign nationals, even including Amer
ican citizens, have taken part in the
fighting. Because Of that circumstance.
the sanguinary contest has been called
"the little World War" Nevertheless,
operations have been confined to Spain,
thus permitting maintenance of the
fiction that the strife is purely do
mestic affair
Events of the past few days threaten
more menacingly than at any time since
the outbreak Of hostilities last July to
convert the struggle into a European
war. What suddenly conjures up this
fateful possibility is the crushing defeat
suffered by General Frances italian
volunteers" at Guadalajara in the
desperate insurgent drive on Madrid.
The reverse is An undeniable blow to
Italian military prestige, whether the
divisions that underwent another Capo-
retto' were Fascist army units or merely
soldiers of fortune. The fact that as
many as 10000 Italians are said to have
been engaged has revived demands in
the London Non-Intervention Commit
tee for tighter restrictions against en-
ployment of foreign troops in Spain.
There also arose the fear that in order
to remove the stain from his martial
escutcheon Mussolini might be tempted
to send Italian regulars to the war zone
in force France took the lead in call
ing for sterner restrictive measures. II
international control proved ineffective,
Paris intimated that France and Great
Britain might resort to joint methods of
their own in the form OF a naval block
ade of the peninsula
Meanwhile, developments in London
added fuel to the flame of anxiety, con-
troversy and suspicion. Ambassador
Cirandi stormed, in II Duce's name, that
not single Italian would be withdrawn
from Spain until Franco is victorious.
In the House of Commons Mr.. Lloyd
George accused the Baldwin government
of supineness toward Italy, demanding
that Britain stand up to Mussolini" and
no longer meekly tolerate his pretension
to dominate the empires lifeline
through the Mediterranean. Conscious
that the rearmament program is not
sufficiently advanced to permit showing
British teeth to Italy any more effec-
tually than was possible during the
humiliating Ethiopian crisis, the gov
ernment is preserving an attitude Of
calm, which it evidently hopes will ease
the critical situation that has arisen.
Eastertide finds the Old World once
again in the throes OF terror and alarm
born of conditions alike perilous and
incalculable.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Visitors Welcome!


than another which pleases the old-time
resident of Washington it must be that
OF the growing interest of their fellow
Americans in the Nations Capital. Time
was, not so very long ago, when the
District Of Columbia was a portion of
the country commonly neglected by the
travelling public. The Federal City was
regarded by many as merely an over
grown rural community" Only for in
auguration ceremonies was it considered
worthy of visit The majority of the
people regarded it simply as political
center. Like the train announcer in "All
Points West" the average citizen never
made the journey.
But conditions have changed in the
past twenty years. The World War
brought thousands of men and women
to work in Government departments
whose activity was stimulated by Amer
ican participation in the great struggle
Over might, as it seemed, the population
Of the District doubled And it has been
natural that some of the immigrants"
should remain after the armistice and
that still others should wish to return
on occasion to see again familiar scene
for which they gradually cultivated =
certain affection.
Also, the expansion Of the city under
the influence of the progressive extension
of the Government itself was q matter
OF national concern. The development
OF the physical equipment of Washing
ton rendered imperative by the increased
service which Federal institutions of
every kind were called upon to under
take, appealed to the imagination OF
multitudes. Beautiful new buildings,
publicized in the press and in the movies
from coast to coast, attracted the atten-
ton OF crowds Of tourists glad to respond
to the appeal Of noble architecture. Such
structures as the Lincoln Memorial and
the Supreme Court Building were not
raised in vain.
The lovely cherry blossoms OF the
Potomac shore likewise have justified
their existence season after season. A
gesture OF good will from Japan, they
probably are the most notably famous
flowers in the Western Hemisphere.
Not to have seen them is to have missed
one OF the indisputably grand spectacles
OF the contemporary period Of history.
And like observation may be registered
for the cultural establishments of Wash
1ngton-including magnificent edifices
given by private philanthropy. The
Folger Shakespeare Library, for instance,
Il magnet for scholars innumerable.
But the future will be richer still. A
decade hence the Mellon Gallery and
the projected Smithsonian Gallery, the
Jefferson Memorial and perhaps Presi-
dent Roosevelt's Army and Navy
Museums will have been added. Mean
while, Washington Cathedral and the
Shrine Of the Immaculate Conception
will grow in 1oveliness as witnesses to
Christ; the annex to the Library Of
Congress will be finished; the long
anticipated Municipal Center may be
constructed; the new State Department
Building may be erected; the Museum
Of American History may be authorized; /;
other as yet unguessed monuments
dreamed true"
1t u with these thoughts that the
Capital welcomes this years throng Of
visitors. Washington is their city, and
OF the greeting which bids them to
make themselves at home"
Evening star., 1937-03-27

Maryland is experiencing some anxiety
about road funds It may be inferred
from some Of the social news that
members Of the Legislature who favor
occasional evenings OF relaxation will
Annapolis and Baltimore is as free from
peril as possible.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
MaEnif1ed Experience.

1N@6Hf11C LApCI1CI1Ces
as the life of great financier
happy one?"
1T all depends" answered Mr. Dustin
Stax, ION his luck great f1nancier
has his disappointments like other people.
The difference is that they cost him
more money"
Evening star., 1937-03-27

In Madrid there are still citizens who
yearn for bull fights. Many an I'M
pleasant experience succeeds in finding
liberation under the name of sport.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

The Post Office Department has spe-
cialized in artistic stamps to degree
that may in time establish a collection
combining beauty with patriotism in
gallery.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

A trip to Europe may be relief to Al
Smith in giving him an opportunity to
observe at first-hand the various methods
by which political power may be mis-
managed.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

Rapid transit must have it's expert
ences In politics. Aviation may have to
go through course of lobby agitation
similar to that which railroads en-
countered and with which they are not
yet entirely through
Evening star., 1937-03-27

The extraordinary power attained by
Mr.. John Lewis cannot be fully admired
until events have shown precisely what
he means to do with it.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

Every child hopes for unlimited
wealth and unrestricted authority. Oc-
casionally politician indulges in an
attempt to realize the old day dream.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

One of the evidences Of wisdom in the
United States Supreme Court is the
occasional dissenting opinion which does
not permit 1t to be mistaken for a self
constituted brain trust.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
A Rhyme at Twilight
By
Gertrude Brooke Hamilton
Hearts of Men.

IlcdrIS Oh Mfn.
God, looking into human hearts,
Sees more than evil there;
He sees the deep, fine, hidden things
Of which we're scarce aware
To bring them out into the light
Is His especial care.
II men but let Him work His will
Developing the fine,
The devils would go out of them
Into herd of swine
For in each human heart there lurk,
A vein somehow divine.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

A fireside chat makes possible the use
Of q rocking chair in connection with
radio without involving any possible COM
PARSONS to sit-down strike.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
A Statue in the Park.

A man of goodness far from small,
The world could never doubt him.
They put him on pedestal
And then forgot about him.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

Appearances are still deceptive. The
bigger and heavier an airplane is, the
more safe and substantial it may ap-
pear to the inexperienced eye.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

Some of the most serious complications
arise from the literary urge which causes
people to write letters when they should
have used the telephone.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Practice and Theory.

Our cares in honest work we sink
And are but little fused.
We sit around and try to think
And get our minds all mussed!
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Reminder.

From the Charleston wv. Va) Mail.
Miss Sonia Henie, the skating star,
was caught In a Detroit hotel sit-down
strike. Did it remind her Of her earliest
skating days?
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Esop or Not Esop?

From the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Esops fables were not written, we are
now told, by Esop. Which makes Esop
the greatest of his fables.
Evening star., 1937-03-27

Base ball fans are privileged to point
with pride to evidences of national pros
perity in Hon. Jake Ruppert's pay roll.
Evening star., 1937-03-27
The Third Horse.

From the Cleveland News
If the President really wants third
horse for that team he talks about
maybe he could arrange to borrow the
electrical one Cal Coolidge used tn have
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
All Other State. and Canaaa
Member of the Associated Press.

=, The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published hersin.
All rights of publication Of special dispatches
herein are also reserved
Evening star., 1937-03-27
Balance.

bAI1nCE.
'You are concerned about having the
budget properly balanced?"
Il am" answered Senator Sorghum.
I'm as nervous about it as II the
budget were an artist walking a high
wire. A lack of proper balance may
lead to most any kind of a crash"