davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
This Business of Medals

DURING the war they used to swear that certain
~ medals given out with the rationsor in place
of rations if the food supply running low.
But they said that about the most przed decora
ton in the world the Congressional Medal of Honor
Very very few of those awarded and then only for
the utmost of gallantry.
The man given the right to that blue ribbon with
its tiny white stars had done something of which the
whole nation had right to be proud
Then came Lindberghs flight to Paris, and Congress,
in the wild excitement that followed that momentous
flight overlooked the specific provisions that decree the
Congressional Medal of Honor shall be given only to
- those who risk their lives above and be-
A"'uy yond the call of duty and in ACTUAL
and Burd CONTACT WITH THE ENEMY.
Lindbergh reserve officer, and
made history by spanning the But he not in
contact with an enemy of the United States
Similarly Congress violated the law by granting the
medal to Admiral Byrd for his exploration flights
Both these accomplished feats of which the entire
nation proud, and it fitting and proper that
they should be rewarded. But men who wear the Con-
gressional Medal of Honor-won the field of battle
at the risk of their ves-fee that some other award
should have been given them.
Now Howard Hughes has made his record-breaking
flight around the world and he too should receive
recognition from Congress-
1t is to be hoped that Congress will not again violate
the law, but will perhaps establish new decoration to
be awarded those who accomplish great and heroic deeds
In time of peace do the French with their Legion of
Honor
We can think of finer tribute to Mr. Hughes and his
gallant companions than they be the first to be awarded
such medal.
And while we're on the subject, how about a medal
for Douglas Corrgan if for no other reason than be-
cause his zone man gang stunt of hopping from New
York to Dublin today contributed refreshing sense
Of humOr in the annals of modern fght-a glorious
history, to be sure, but all the better for it's Tighter
moments, once in a while?
The Washington times., 1938-07-18

ness or unemploy-
ment it would not
be wrong to ask
the parents for
temporary aid, but
even then the help
should not be ex-
pected. A young
couple should make
up their minds not
The Washington times., 1938-07-18

stances in which
the young couple
find it absolutely
necessary, III ey
should not appeal
to their parents to
help. In an emer-
gency the parents
should be willing
to help them out.
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
Wise Words

For forms of faith let grace
less zealots fight; he can't be
wrong whose life Is in the
right.-Pope.
In the use, not in the bare
possession, lies the merit.-Gil-
bert West.
The Washington times., 1938-07-18

need to depend on
their p ar e n t S g?
When young people
get married they
should know that
they can get along
by t h e m S e lv e S.
When they start
a skin g help of
parents, they get
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
THE ANSWERS

Mrs. Marie CeppOs, 1920 P
St. N. w, clerk:
MY opinion is that a young
couple should not expect any
The Washington times., 1938-07-18

to rely on either set of par
ents, but they should learn to
take care of their own personal
and financial difficulties"
X x
Miss Stella StraSser, 1856
Monroe st. N. W., clerk:
ssGnrto innlN mt Nnn1nn
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
TheInquiring
Photographer.
The washington Times in
vites you to submit timely
and interesting questions to
be used in this column.
THE QUESTION

Should young married couples
expect financial aid from their
parents?
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
Traffic Toll

The list Of traffic victims in
the District Of Columbia since
January I, 1898, is graphically
shown by the death watch.
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
es and addresses of
upon request.

Editor should Names addresses
writers will be omitted
The Washington times., 1938-07-18
The State Rights Racket

takes new lease life with the organization of
group called the Conference on State Defense
This group is made up of 26 State attorneys genera
The Washington times., 1938-07-18

Certainly not. A young
Evening star., 1938-11-23
A Real Thunksqivinq

A cheerier Thanksgiving is in pros
pect in thousands of American homes.
Last year the holiday had rather
gloomy setting. Business was on the
downgrade. Employment had been
on the decline for two months. The
world situation was chaotic. Prices
were high.
This year the setting is much
brighter. Business has regained
much of the ground it lost last fall.
During the months of August and
September alone 1,133 900 persons re-
turned to work. Just now there
seems to be temporary lag, although
the trend still is upwards. The world
situation is relatively tranquil for the
moment. There might very well have
been a general war in progress in
Europe and Asia to throw gloom over
this years festive board. 1t didn't
happen-for which we may be pro-
foundly thankful. Turkey prices are
the lowest they have been in four
years, and so are most other food
prices.
In the employment statistics there
is a slightly jarring note. Paradox
cally enough, when first considered,
the gain in employment did not result
in corresponding decline in unem-
ployment. The latter fell approx
mately $4,000 short. This means
merely that $4,000 new job hunters
found employment during those two
months. This will always be the case
while the population of the country
is growing, and it will be about forty
years, statisticians now calculate, be-
fore this process will stop. 1t is one
of those things that has complicated
the recovery process all along. Jobs
have had to be found for those out of
work at any specific time as we'll as
the newcomers in order to reach a
balance.
But this is hardly enough to mar
the spirit of Thanksgiving. 1t may,
in sense, be one more thing to be
thankful for-that America is still
Nation in its teens which has not yet
grown out of all the enthusiasms and
imaginings of youth. 1t is still grow
ing and new minds and new energies
are emerging to meet its problems.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
Plea Made for
HapIesS Chinese.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Amidst the present outpouring of SYM
pathy for the German Jews the plight of
the Chinese apparently has been for
gotten. The -Four Horsemen of the
Apocalypse" ride rampant over that un-
happy land and, Notwithstanding that
one could scarcely believe that such
things could occur in a twentieth CEN
tury civilization" thousands upon thou
sands of noncombatant men, women and
children continue to suffer and die in
China. One writer advocates the abb
sorption by the United States Of the
victims of the Nazi wrath. If Father
Knickerbocker can digest them cer-
tainly the Pacific Coast can do likewise
with the innocent victims of the Mikado.
The American Chinese are not as well
organized or influential financially and
socially as are the American Jews and,
politically, of course, the former prac-
tically do not exist. Perhaps that is the
reason why Ambassador Grew remains
at Toxic. w. H. SHIELDS.
November II.
Evening star., 1938-11-23

no delivery after midnight Of Sat-
urday, December "a. Mr.. Burke asks
everybody to address and mail pack
ages as promptly as possible, mark
ing them not to be opened in advance
of Christmas morning. He also re-
quests cooperation in the handling
of cards and letters, which he says
should be deposited at the City Post
Office, adjacent to the Union Station,
in bundles tied with string, a full
week in advance.
So far as may be feasible, Mr.. Burke
wishes to clear all his facilities for
incoming mail through the last three
days before Christmas. His purpose
is commendable, his plan excellent
in theory. All that is needed is
rational forethought on the part of
the public.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
Marriage in Virqiniu

The Arlington County Ministerial
Union deserves, and undoubtedly will
receive, strong support in its effort
to obtain marriage delay law in Vir-
ginia. \
The support, however, probably will
be largely local in nature. Arlington
is only one county out Of 100 in Vir-
ginia. It's representation in the Gen.
eral Assembly, together with that of
Alexandria and Fairfax, constitutes
but small proportion Of the State
Legislature.
The difficult task facing advocates
Evening star., 1938-11-23
Hopes Single Shot Will Not
Result in Another War.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Party Comrade Ernst vom Rath is
dead. A dim light in the Nazi diplomatic
chandelier, he was accorded a martyrs
burial amid pagan pomp and intellec-
tual confusion. His funeral chant was
the despairing cries Of the victims of
Nazi Germanys newest pogrom.
I am sure that Vom Rath, as an indi-
vidual, would have deplored that his
passing was the death knell of "interna-
tional Jewry." I believe mat the Ger
man people once again have been led by
a 'fuehrer" into furor, and are only
now beginning to realize the utter con-
tempt in which the world considers
them.
Germany today is a massive crucible
in which a raving maniac is grinding
the hopes and prayers Of the German
people in the expectation of satisfying
his mad lust for power. 1t is matter
Of record that the man in the street IN
Germany was opposed to "the first World
War" and only his high qualities Of pa
triotisrn and sense of duty allowed him
to be swayed by the oratory Of the first
destroyer, Kaiser Wilhelm, who, al
though mad, might have been more
readily cured" than Reichsfuehrer
Adolf Hitler.
Let us fervently hope that the ac-
ton Of single individual may not have
the effect on the German nation as SINH
lar conduct had In 1914. Another war
with Germany can only result in uni
versal horror and the ultimate oblitera-
ton Of Germany and its people.
JAY AMES KELLY.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
The Central Library

In emphasizing before several local
civic organizations the urgent need
for new central library, DR.. George
F. Bowerman, public librarian of the
District of Columbia, has focused at
tention on the popular, but unfound-
ed, belief that more branch libraries
mean less congestion at the central
building. This misconception may
have had something to do with the
difficulties that have been encoun-
tered in securing appropriations for
the already authorized new library
building in the Municipal Center
area.
Instead of relieving the central
library, DR.. Bowerman declares, the
indispensable branch libraries act
ually add to the burden. He explains
this anomaly by pointing out that
from seventy-f1ve to ninety per cent
of the patrons of branch libraries are
new users of public library facilities,
and that the addition of each branch
imposes additional cataloguing, Or
dering, binding and other work on
the main establishment.
Conditions at the central library
on K street, between Seventh and
Ninth streets NV, have approached
the intolerable point for patrons and
employees. Prominent local club
women were so impressed by the
"sardine" congestion on a recent visit
that they organized an informal
Friends of the Library" to aid in the
movement for more spacious quar-
ters. DR.. Bowerman has asserted the
proposed new headquarters should
be five times as large as the present
building.
Congress has appropriated 100000
for the drawing of preliminary plans,
but an additional $65,OOO is said to
be needed to complete them. DR..
Bowerman asked the Commissioners
for $500,00O with which to start con-
struction OF the new building. The
Commissioners, however, have not
seen fit to include this recommenda-
ton in the next District budget. This
should not swerve the friends of the
library from their determination to
continue unremittingly their efforts
to obtain at the earliest opportunity
the new central Strllct1re to which
the city is entitled.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trace1reH.

precipitate themselves, in a huge mass
migration, into the sea. The cause Of
this curious proceeding has never been
aScertained.
Squirrels, as matter of fact, have too
much sense to do anything of the sort.
The squirrel, especially the gray types
so prevalent hereabouts, with the rim OF
white around the tail, is about as smart
a beastie as one will find.
This is shown particularly in its wari-
ness, which it shares with the rabbit, but
carefully adjusts to it's needs.
The squirrel seems to know Just how
much leeway, as 1t were, it can have as a
safety factor.
Although it makes for tree, in most
cases, the moment pedestrian comes
along, 1t rather takes its time about It,
and refuses to speed in the undignified
haste shown by the wild rabbit in its
coursing.
There are plenty of rabbits in the
suburban sections. They make them
do very little real damage, although oc-
casionally householder will imagine he
is losing all his petunias.
A medium sized rabbit was jumping
down the center of the street the other
morning just as light made him visible.
How he was going!
Before the observer had more than
noted the streak of mingled gray and
brown, it was almost out of sight. No
dog was around, SO the animal must
have been running just because he want
ed to run.
Here. again, squirrels take their time.
Few OF them are ever caught by dogs,
although often chased.
The larger the dog, apparently, the
more it loves to chase these rodents.
The German shepherd, or police dog,
cannot resist the temptation to chase a
squirrel, but never catches one.
Even with such huge shape after him,
the squirrel moves in his usually swift
pace-but no more-to his favorite tree.
X X
The young new squirrels, with their
short bodies. and immense tails, spend a
great deal of their time learning the art
Of burying nuts.
If there is a bird feeding station
around, they will lug sunflower seeds
away all day long, putting them in the
ground, and covering them carefully.
An observer, noting the busy little fell
lows, will not begrudge them the seed,
nor feel that they in any way are inter-
fering with the sacred code of bird feed
ing. Too many so-called bird lovers"
want to overturn nature, and keep
everything away from the feeding station
except certain birds. That is not natural
Squirrels and mice and even rats get
hungry, and do not know that the food
is not there for them, too The person
who does not understand this, and act
upon it, is only laying up worry and
trouble for himself.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
The New Testament
An IdeuI Gift Book

The New Testament with the words Of
the Saviour printed in red is an ideal gift
suggestion which will be appreciated by
every one who reads the Scriptures. This
Unusual volume also contains a specially
prepared section giving the names OF
trees waters, mountains, musical instru-
ments and birds that are named In the
Bible. It gives many important facts.
such as the longest book and the shortest
verse. This novel edition contains 254
pages printed on thin Bible paper, and
is bound in a flexible black cover.
Twenty cents postpaid.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
Christmas Mail
With Christmas approximately on

With Christmas approximately only
q month off, Postmaster Vincent
Burke has asked the people Of WASH
ington to begin to start to com.
mence" mot quoting Mr.. Burke) to
get ready for their holiday mailings.
European letters and greeting cards
should be mailed early. The same
rule applies to communications and
parcels for Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto
Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well
as to Western Canada, Mexico and
Cuba.
But local Christmas postal busi-
ness even more particularly ought
not to be delayed unreasonably. This
year the annual Yuletide festival
comes on Sunday, and there will be
Evening star., 1938-11-23

the Jews. AS matter of fact, our
President has already made a public
statement Of our sentiment. We would
sincerely like to help. However, suppose
the approximately $1,000 Jews seeking
admission to this land were granted their
wish securing, in time, all the rights and
privileges of our democracy. In this Ma
ton We have the right of persuasion,
and1f we are successful enough to secure
majority, the majority rules. Could
the Jewish people attain such major
ity? 1t seems that such a thing could
conceivably happen. The United States
is powerful Nation and might not the
Jews, realizing their command of such
power, seek to avenge themselves?
All of the above may be just fancy, but
on the other hand, 1t seems quite con-
ceivable. Americans clamor for peace
America, be careful! WONDERING.
Rockville, Md, November 10.
Evening star., 1938-11-23

Suburban Washington has its banner
crop Of squirrels this fall.
Dozens of the rodents are to be seen
In every block Of our quiet streets, ave-
nues and lanes.
The old ones stick to the trees, but the
young fellows go everywhere over the
lawns, perch on the curbs, eat in the
middle Of the way.
Four of them were lined up on the
curbing the other morning, busily en-
gagged in cracking nuts, their tails curved
over their backs in traditional fashion.
There are few silhouettes more charac-
teristic. If one went to the moon, and
saw the same little figures, there would
be no doubt Of the Identification.
Considering how active they are, and
how sharp their teeth, squirrels Of the
sort which thrive around here do re-
markably little damage.
Occasionally, Of course, they gnaw a
hole in a roof, or make q nest inside the
front wall of shingled house.
There have been cases Of considerably
more damage done by squirrels, but
these in all cases were when the rodents
got into house closed for the summer
and could not manage to find their way
out.
An incredible amount of damage has
been done in these cases. Windowsills
were gnawed away, wooden mantels
shredded, as the animals tried to dis
cover how they got in, and, more to the
point, how to get out again.
Nothing pleases suburbanites more
than to look out an upper window, early
in the morning, and discover squirrel
peering intently into the window.
Sometimes it will be in a tree close by,
other times it will be seated in the house
gutter.
In the latter situation it has a pc
culiarly impudent appearance, as If its
ordinary impudence were not quite
enough.
Seated in the gutter, often close to the
downspout, Mr. Squirrel somewhat re-
sembles the ancient mariner of fame and
story.
He seems to be in remarkably long
boat, or extraordinary canoe.
X y X \
Somehow he makes one think Of the
story about squirrels, told in old natural
histories" as solemn truth.
Squirrels, the accounts said, had
habit of selecting pieces of bark, when
they wanted to cross a river, bearing
them to the stream, and launching them.
Then the rodent seated itself carefully
on the piece of bark, and spread its
bushy tail to the wind.
So it sailed across the stream.
This tale is just little too tall" Of
course, although the sail may not have
been.
The old historians confused the squir-
rel with the legends about the Jennings,
animals which once every 10 years or so
Evening star., 1938-11-23
Willing to Debate
Chain Store Issue.
M ~ a Edtker ~ m a a. q -


Opposing chain stores in his letter
printed in The Star October q, Mr..
Perry F. Skinner blames them for eco
nomic evils. Without supporting facts
or figures, he terms the chain store an
octopus" and states that coming
showdown will reveal CORY hideousness
within the industry.
According to Mr.. Skinner, 10000, 900
people are unemployed largely because
the chain stores exist. It would be in
teresting to learn how this conclusion
was reached.
am ready publicly to defend my stand
against legislation that would "tax chain
stores out of existence" If civic group
would be sufficiently interested in hear
ing the debate to furnish an auditorium
and group of judges, will challenge Mr..
Skinner or any other advocate Of his
chain -banishment theory to public de-
bate on this important question.
HERNDON p. MURRAY.
November 2.
Evening star., 1938-11-23

Of the marriage delay law, therefore,
will be to convince legislators from
other sections that the measure is
essential to the well being Of the en-
tire State. For if Gretna Green de-
velops in Northern Virginia it will
mar the reputation of the Old Do
minion just as Elkton for years was
a discredit to Maryland.
There is nothing premature in the
Arlington clergymen beginning their
campaign for delay law more than
year in advance CT the next Assem-
bly, session, slated for 1910. If they
are to succeed they must unity the
efforts of groups working for the law,
enlist the support of legislators in all
sections Of the State, compile data
on any increase that may occur in
the number of marriages in Virginia
after the Maryland delay law goes
into effect and publicize notorious
cases of runaway or "gin" marriages.
At last winters session of the Legis-
lature, tee clergy and other groups
were unsuccessful in an effort to OBJ
tain await law. Virginia was the
last State to enact a social security
law. It does not want to have the
same distinction in regard to pro-
gressive legislation to prevent hasty
and often ill-advised marriages.
Without a wait law, and with civil
marriage officers in the shadow of
every courthouse, such marriages are
bound to occur despite the commend
able policy OF court clerks in refusing
to issue licenses after hours, or to
persons apparently intoxicated.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
A Cool Reception
From Winchester, Virginia, COZ

from winchester, virginia, comes
dispatch stating that the new
Jefferson nickels are fiscal pariahs.
Arriving unknown and apparently
unheralded as they did, the apple
metropolis has viewed them with sus-
picion, not to say alarm. Pomologists,
both Democratic and Republican,
shied badly at the New Deal token,
failing to recognize either Jefferson
or Monticello or to connect them in
any way with the administration.
When the first few began to appear,
it didn't matter, there being enough
pay telephones available to serve as
natural outlets for dubious coins; but
when they were needed for groceries,
that was different matter, number
being rejected as counterfeits.
1t is an irony of fate that a symbol
of the Democratic party should get
such reception in Virginia of all
places-the State where Monticello
still stands. The Jefferson nickel
started its career with high hopes of
its sponsors. It was felt that the di-
minutive campaign literature would
be eagerly accepted and reluctantly
parted with. A few million of them
circulating in doubtful States should
be a subtle reminder to the inhabi-
tants that the party of Jefferson was
in the money, to put it mildly, and
worth following up. The new coin
was even expected to do missionary
work by penetrating the outer dark
ness of Maine and Vermont and gent
ly leading the strays back to civiliza-'
ton in painless fashion. AS for the
South, not only an eager acceptance,
but wild occlaim, was anticipated
for the Jefferson nickel.
And now look at it! Hunted, har-
ried, an outcast Of commercial society
in parts of Virginia, no man harbors
it for longer than necessity compels,
but passes 1t on and on, until finally,
like any public enemy, it winds up at
a police station, indicted as a fraud
by the grand jury Of public opinion.
Such action is short sighted, to say
the least. Twenty Jefferson nickels
make a dollar, and in case there are
any Virginians who don't know what
to do with dollar, they are urged
to mark time until they find out how
many of them Uncle Sam will need
as fodder for the Treasury, which at
this present moment is short some
thirty eight billion dollars.
Evening star., 1938-11-23
Shooting Stars
BY PHILANDER JOHNSON.
Riches.

Riches.
Dey tells me rs unlucky
Cause I hasn't got a cent,
'Ceppin' now an den a little
Fob de payment on de rent;
But de road is long an windin',
An de autumn woods is free,
An I somehow can't hep feelin'
Dat dey all belongs to me!
De blossoms in de summer,
An de gold leaf in de fall
I doesn' ak permission,
An I shore enjoys 'em all!
An de singin' in de branches,
An de sunshine on de sea-
I couldn't hardly notice
Dat dey don belong to me.