davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
TOY IGNITEs, CHILD DIES

Youngstown, o. UP) - Nine months-old Margaret Covers eel luloid rattle touched a kitchen stove and ignited. The first spread to her clothes. Her mother, Mrs. Samuel Cover, beat out the flames with her hands. but Margaret was burned seriously and died.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

Opening games in the City Chess Championship tournament under the joint auspices of the Waterbury Chess club and the Y. M. 0. A. will start on Sat- urday afternoon at the Y. M. c. A. with the biggest number of entries in the history of such championship tournaments. Sev- enteer have entered and it is quite possible that several more may enter. There is rarely so large list of players of cham pionship caliber available. This is due to the very excellent efforts put forth in the training of play CTS by both these organizations.
 The players will be divided into three groups of as equal strength as possible, each playing a round robin and each qualifying two
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04
RUBY ECHO CHAMPION COW

Toronto (UP).-Supreme Ruby Echo is the new 305-day, 3-year-old, twice-a-day milking division cham pion of Canada, with a record pro- duction of 19,0O5 pounds of milk and $50 pounds butterfat. The COW is owned by James R. Henderson of Portsmouth, Ontario.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-04

players for a final round robin. The winner of the latter will be declared the city champion.
 Games will be played every week at the Y. M. c. A. on Satur- day afternoons and at Waterbury Chess club rooms at the Boys Club every other Wednesday night. Entry fee $1.00 and will be accepted up to o'clock to- night Those entered to date are: Arthur B. Barker, Kingsley Keil- Tor, Peter Spada, Joseph Torsky. Louis DeBlasio, Fred Norling, Lawrence Lewis, John Stanwich, Charles D'Brien, Nicholas R. Bel lone, William Warner, Albert Lampoli, John Varbaglia, N. Ad- dison Cornell, George Cashman, Louis Stanley, Fred Strong.
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Corrects Mistake in
Pettengill Article.
To the Editor of The Star

To the Editor of The Star:
In his column, Capital Sidelights," in
today's Star Will P. Kennedy has made
grave error, which is singular, as he is
usually well informed. He writes: "By
the irony of fate Representative Samuel
b. Pettengill of Indiana was defeated for
reelection just about the time his book,
'Jef1erson-the Forgotten Man., came off
the presses"
Several months before the Democratic
primaries in Indiana Representative Pet
tenglll advised his constituency in the
public press and also in speech deliv-
cred in the House of Representatives
that he would not offer for reelection
and that at the end of his present term
he would return to South Bend, Ind, to
resume the practice of law. Considerable
pressure was brought to bear upon him
by Republicans as well as Democrats of
his district to reconsider his expressed
determination to retire from public life,
but he declined and his name did not
appear upon the primary. ballot.
Because Of his fearless, non-partisan
stand upon all public questions at issue
in Congress he was respected by all the
people of his district and If he had
offered for reelection would probably
have been returned by a large majority.
CHARLTON M. CLARK.
December IL
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Mystery

The Musica case always will be
a mystery. Even II careful investi-
cation OF It's numerous amazing
ramiflcations solves the problem of
the losses to the public involved, the
question still will remain: Why did
an entire family, supposedly pos
sessed of more than average intelli-
gence, consistently practice a policy
OF crime which simply could not be
concealed indefinitely? Also: How
did it happen that justice was so
slow in catching up with the
criminals?
OF course, society is at fault for
having been so gullible. Legitimate
physicians should have CHALLENGED
Philip Musicals claims as a doctor of
medicine. Authentic graduates of the
University of Heidelberg should have
demanded proof of his status as an
alleged alumnus of that famous seat
OF learning. The membership COM
mittees of his clubs were remiss when
they accepted his applications with
out inquiry; the editors of who's
Who" are to blame for permitting
his unchallenged intrusion into "the
premier book of reference pertaining
TO notable living Americans; his
fellow directors of the Bridgeport City
Trust Company should have been
suspicious when he did not attend
single meeting in three years; the
eighty-two vice presidents of Nc
Kesson & Robbins, Inc, should have
checked up" on the affairs of the
third largest drug concern in the
United States; the Federal Govern
ment ought to have taken action
earlier than it did.
1t is easy enough to suggest that
the Musicas were too clever" to be
caught. The truth is that they were
apprehended again and again, only
to be allowed to talk themselves out
OF the punishment which they de-
served. 1t is matter of record that
the greatest swindler of modern
times" was employed by the Attorney
Generals office as a "sleuth" after
he had developed a notorious reputa-
ton as a crook" and "racketeer.
Fraudulent birth registrations for
three of the brothers were received
by the District of Columbia Bureau of
Vital Statistics as late as August 7,
1885.
The list of pretensions, blunders
and mistakes of every conceivable
sort is as long as any one could wish
to prove not merely the felonious
character of the family but likewise
the tolerance of society at large.
Philip Musica should have been sus-
pected from the start of his career:
instead, he was permitted to get
away with it, for thirty years. It
is a pity that Caesar Lombroso the
celebrated student of genius and
wickedness, is dead. Were he living
he might explain both the anti-social
taint of the Musica clan and the
gullibility of the victims of its in
credible operations.
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Oysters

DR.. R. v. Truitt, director of the
Chesapeake Biological Laboratory in
Maryland, wants to develop a new
market for oysters. He proposes a
tax OF two cents a bushel to raise
forty thousand dollars for propa-
ganda in the Middle West, where not
much is known about oysters and
they are looked upon more as curiosi-
ties than as food items. To avoid
the necessity for this tax, it is re-
quested that all Midwestern papers
copy the following items of informa-
tion, collected after much research.
The oyster is nutlike fish that
believes in policy of self-defense
and isolation. 1t is one of natures
strong, silent creations, and even
Hitler can't bluff it. 1t is constructed
in various fascinating shapes and
sizes and colors. Eastern shoremen,
by instinct and training, know just
where to start opening each one, but
1t is feared that amateur cracksmen
OF the Middle West may have to use
an ak on some of the tougher speci-
mems. When once opened, however,
its shy reserve is conquered; it will
lay quietly and allow salt and horse
radish to be put on its tail without
a CULVER
Inhabitants of the Middle West
may be interested to know that oys-
tiers make ideal domestic pets, as
they are quiet, not inclined to stray
from the house, and never bite the
children. Put them in an old barrel,
and they will snuggle gratefully down
and make themselves right at home.
Take bucket of water, put little
bran or few cracker crumbs in it,
and pour into the barrel. The shy,
gentle little creatures will respond to
such kindness by gently opening their
smiling lips and feeding all night
with soft sibilant sound reminiscent
of leaky water tap. Many a Mary
land housewife feels that no home is
complete without covey of oysters
to brighten up the kitchen and re-
lieve the dull routine of houseWork.
Armed with these facts, it is hoped
that when Oscar the Oyster arrives
on the unfamiliar plains of Kansas,
the natives will give him rousing
welcome and bring certain amount
of cheer into his drab existence.
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Turrou Spy Series
PleaSeS Communist,

To the Editor of The Star:
I have read with much interest the
first installment of Nazi spy activities in
the United States by the former Oman,
Leon G. Turrou. 1t is very noble deed
on the part of Mr.. Turrou to deem his
information so valuable to the American
people that he resigned from his post in
the Federal Bureau of Investigation to
make public his startling findings. 1t
might interest your readers also If YOU
ran series on Fascist activities in South
America, where, as has been revealed by
many authorities, penetration by Ger
many, Italy and Japan has reached un-
believable proportions.
1t might also interest the Honorable
Martin Dies, whose hearings on so-called
un-American activities have included
the unsubstantiated testimony of labor
spies, strikebreakers and well-intentioned,
but uninformed, public figures.
The Young Communist League well
comes the series on Nazi spies as a real
service to the American people. The
next thing we are looking forward to is
an investigation of Mr.. Dies.
WALTER THOMPSON,
Educational Director, Tom Paine
Branch, Young Communist League.
December 13.
Evening star., 1938-12-17

western Arlington County and WASH
ington by way Of the George WASH
ington Parkway, which also connects
with the Mount Vernon highway.
Both connections would be made in
Spout Run Valley, one at Lorcom
drive, and the other at Old Domin-
ion drive. These two connections, as
well as that at North Oak street,
would permit traffic to enter the
parkway and Washington without
going through Rosslyn.
AS a result Of its $25, 900 contribu-
ton toward the first unit of the
George Washington Parkway, Arling-
ton County now is reaping its share
OF the benefits Of a program totaling
in all more than $l,O0O,OOO. Under
present plans, it also could expect
to benefit very greatly from develop
ment OF the second unit. This looks
like pretty good investment.
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Christmas in Spain

80 many events since 1885 have
distracted the worlds attention that
1t is difficult to realize that today
marks the end of two and half
years of civil war in Spain It's Ap-
pomattox remains stubbornly beyond
General frances grasp, notwith-
standing that tWo-thirds of the
country is under his control, that he
conquered and holds it with the aid
Of Italian and German divisions and
equipment, that he maintains fairly
effectual blockade of the coast, and
that he has driven a deep wedge
between the Spain of Barcelona and
the Spain of Madrid.
Time and again during the past
year, especially as the Insurgents
drove irresistibly to the Mediterra-
mean and cut off Catalonia, Rebel vic
tory was heralded as imminent and
inevitable. But, instead of collapsing,
Loyalist resistance has progressively
stiffened. Political and military
wiseacres alike long since abandoned
as fruitless pastime the habit of fore
shadowing the governments ap-
preaching defeat. One of these days,
when all can be revealed, there
should bera thrilling story to tell of
Just how the republic contrived to
survive the relentless succession of
vicissitudes which befell it.
Now Franco once again signals
a series OF blows advertised to be
OF the genuine knockout variety.
They were to have been delivered
early this month, but soggy terrain
and snow-covered mountains held up
projected simultaneous attacks in
force on the Catalan, Valencian,
Madrid and Estramaduran fronts.
Latest indications from Burgos are
that the mighty offensive" will be
launched certainly before Christmas,
that is to say, during the next week
The government, long forewarned of
Frances plan, has had time to take
far-fiung defensive measures. Al
though the Loyalists warn their army
that "the italian Army Corps will
participate in the attack, all our en-
ergies and desires must be concen-
trated on the final purpose of renew
ing the glories of Guadalajara and
Brihuega." Premier Negrin declares
that despite the fact that we again
face superior material resources, this
will be the long sought opportunity
to free ourselves of the foreign yoke"
As another Christmas of war faces
the martyred Spanish people, Gen.
eral Franco boldly enacts the role of
a fully qualified spokesman for the
nation by restoring full Spanish citi-
zenship to former King Alfonso, thus
revoking his Decentralization by the
republic in November, 1881. The
Rebel governments action is inter-
preted as bid by Franco to reassure
royalist followers that an Insurgent
victory would not doom the mo-
narchial idea and their hopes of
restoration.
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Says Mutual Health Service
Is Not "Slot Machine"

To the Editor of The Star:
1t has been reported in the press that
when the President was asked to COM
ment on the Mutual Health Service, a
community cooperative medical service
recently proposed. by the District Medi-
cal Society, he disclaimed any knowledge
of the plan, and with smile, asked what
it was-a sort of "a slot machine?"
To those of us who have labored long
and faithfully in an honest effort to solve
the age-old problem of making illness
less of physical disaster, less of an eco
nomic burden and less of a mental dread,
his answer comes as an implied rebuke.
Somehow we hope that upon a second
thought he will reconsider his reply and
offer a word of encouragement to those
who are trying to follow trail of hope,
which he himself has blazed.
For it was he who cheered the despair
ing hearts of the sick and unfortunate
by raising the issue of better and cheaper
medical care for those who live on the
barren borderlands of bare subsistence
wage! 1t was he who made us feel that
SaA NSAAoilt oAIo 1CSSllll ul COllSSlNdllSl1
might be wilderness in whose savage
depths there might be hidden the great
est foes of human progress, smugness
and selfish complacency.
In tardy response to the Presidents
plea-full of doubt and mistrust, we un-
dertook to do his bidding. For months
we have labored and the Mutual Health
Service evolved from what first appeared
to be an unconquerable wilderness. AS
we behold our handiwork, we, too, have
mlsgivings, as to its perfection, but our
consolation is that in its building we
have paid more attention to it's founda-
ton than to its superstructure which
meets the critical eye. Into that founda-
tlon went the enduring belief that per-
Sonal responsibility, human initiative and
incorruptible integrity was the solid rock
upon which to build. To that end our
building stones were the rough-hewn
rock Of personal responsibility and self
reliance rather than the more ornamen-
tai brickwork of a less enduring pater-
nalism. We believe that no social struc-
ture is any stronger than the human
character which forms it and that is our
reason for building as we have done.
We frankly admit that the thing we
did at the Presidents suggestion is any,
thing but perfect. But we promise to
mend its flaws as time discloses them
and as our unaccustomed hands learn to
handle the strange tools of modernized
social justice. In the meantime, if
some one should ask about our Mutual
Health Service we hope that President
Roosevelt will remember that it is a sin
cere attempt to create an agency of social
justice of his own designing, and far
from the "slot machine" to which he
facetiously has referred.
THOMAS E. MATTINGLY, MD.
December IA.
Evening star., 1938-12-17
A Good Investment

Arlington County, Virginia, stands
to gain a great deal from the pro-
posed development of the second
unit OF the George Washington Me-
mortal Parkway. The county has
been asked to contribute $4,000 to
a fund for purchase of the necessary
land, along the Potomac River and
up Spout Run Valley for total dis
tance of little more than a mile.
Virginia already has raised it's quota
of $50,000 and the Federal Govern
ment holds 100000 to match the
State and county total.
The arrangement is similar to that
which obtained in the acquisition of
land for the first unit of the park
way, from Columbia Island to
point just above Key Bridge. The
amounts, however, are double.
For its $4,000 contribution toward
the first unit, residents of Arlington
County will enjoy in large measure
the benefits of Federal expenditures
which have reached total of $eO1,-
523 for development of this unit. The
county stands to gain similarly from
Federal development in the second
unit, when it is acquired, as it should
be at the earliest possible moment.
Completion of the first unit will
open a vitality important new ap-
proach to Washington from Arling-
ton County by way of a proposed
new road from the Lee highway at
North Oak street down the Potomac
River bluffs and under the new span
about to be built at the Virginia end
Of Key Bridge. The new Lee boule-
ward connection already has been
opened as part of the program and
a beautiful new motor parkway from
Columbia Island to Rosslyn soon
will be ready for opening.
Development of the second unit,
likewise, would provide two more i'm
portant park motor roads between
Evening star., 1938-12-17
Seeks Keener Appreciation
OF Americanism,

To the Editor Of The Star:
Recently attended one of our better
neighborhood theaters. Before the main
program began a picture of the flag of
the United States was flashed on the
screen and "The Star Spangled Banner"
was played. Even though the theater
was well filled, only few people stood
while the national anthem was being
played
This shows to what extent the Ameri-
can people have drifted from the things
the Stars and Stripes represent. We
have taken our liberty and freedom so
much for granted that we are becoming
careless of the very heart and core of
our lives.
With all the agitation from the
various "isms" now sweeping the country,
I would like to suggest that every thea
ter, at every performance, present the
American flag, together with some of.the
vital things it stands for. Maybe this
would help to make the American people
conscious once more of the wonderful
country they call home.
AN AMERICAN.
December 49,
Evening star., 1938-12-17
No Solution

When Congress meets again, the
Administration will ask authoriza-
ton for further spending in the in
terest of recovery. President Roose-
velt has indicated that he intends to
seek national prosperity through the
development of better and stronger
system of national defense.
Meanwhile, Sir George Paish, Brit
ish economist well-known in Wash
ington, denounces artificial condi-
tions now governing the worlds
trade and industry" and gives warn
ing that "if the world continues to
maintain buying power by govern
mental expenditures for uneconomic
purposes, it will precipitate war, rev.
olution and chaos"
Nations" the English visitor de-
clares, "are actually at economic war
today, for every nation is afraid of
every other nations goods. Where is
this mentality of war going to lead
us? What new constructive force can
stop the world from plunging into
an abySS?"
But Sir George does not answer
the question he postulates with such
earnest intensity. Instead, he con-
tents himself by explaining his dag
nosis: Every nation is pump -prim-
ing like the American Government.
If they did not, the buying power of
the people would fall But how long
can this go on? In the past five
years the American Government has
pump -primed twenty billion dollars
-. 1t is the same in Germany, where
ten billion dollars have been spent
in five years by the government for
rearmament and public works. Yet
with all this spending Germany is
unable to buy essential foods and
raw materials In country after
country buying power is maintained
by artificial means. The whole thing
is bound to break some day. We can
not hope to get the world out of this
distress until we understand that we
must cooperate =. We must create
some security, we must create friends
instead of enemies. The world must
have change of heart"
Mere wishing, however, is no more
effective solution for current trou-
bles than more spending. Possibly
Evening star., 1938-12-17
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trace1DeH.

My friend Pat, the Irish setter, doesn't
often get 90 cents worth Of meat for
his supper, but he did the other eve
ming, thanks to his own resourcefulness.
Ability to rustic up one's own meals is
part Of animal life, one for which the
creatures often are blamed and even
punished.
Cats which catch birds. for instance,
are regarded as villains when all the
time all they are doing is what nature
told them to do.
Dogs and cats equally visit garbage
cans in search for food, and this no
matter whether they are well fed at home
or not. If the food is spoiled, the dog
has far the better chance to escape in
fection, for its alimentary canal is very
short, having been designed for Just such
an emergency.
Pat has received handouts before, but
never in such generous measure.
To get as much as one wants, accord
ing to Pat, one must help ones self.
Maybe he has heard the human prov
erb, that God helps those who help
themselves.
That keen, active nose Of his smelled
lamb.
In repose on his own porch. he could
tell that in separate bags in the market
basket across the way lay stewing lamb,
lamb chops and beef.
How dog can know all this Is, indeed,
a mystery, one which will never be solved.
How does dog work its way home
from across country?
Pats mouth began to drip saliva
In advance he tasted stewing lamb
lamb chops and good beef.
To think, with dog, is to act, unless
larger force intervenes.
In this case, there was no other force
in sight, either in the shape of man or
dog. The coast was clear. The grocery
boy had been to the house across the
way, and had left the basket on the back
porch.
He had failed to cover the container,
which was. in the light of events-and
Pat-a tactical error.
Lack of cover permitted the delicious
odors of fresh meat to escape in great
waves
And its lack allowed hungry dog to
nose in
Pat loped down the steps, and made
around the fence
He was on the trail
The great chain of life's actions runs
through all creation
Even the mildest man, the gentlest
woman, can understand the trail.
4 4 ~
Pat snlf1ed nightly, as he came to
the gate.
Evening star., 1938-12-17

BY dint Of STOPPING SO that his belly
dragged the ground, he could get In.
Many a time he had done so, to be
rewarded with what was left OF the cats
salmon, which wasn't very much, to be
sure.
1t was just taste, for a setter but
distinctly better than nothing. At any
rate, 1t had held promise of better and
more abundant fare.
And today was the day!
Pat smelled the fare and saw the bags
in the basket.
Under the gate he went, as fast as his
legs could take him. Across the yard he
ran, and up the steps.
Eagerly he nosed the basket, keeping
both eyes open for the rightful owners.
His sense of guilt was almost as keen as
his sense Of smell. Not quite, Of course;
certainly not enough to deter him from
his objective.
He seized the first bag which came to
mouth, and ran down the steps with it
to the center of the yard, where he
paved it open.
Lamb chops!
Pat had never eaten chops before.
They are not served in the best dog
circles. The bones, for one thing, cannot
be recommended.
Pat didn't bother much about the
bones. Down they went, meat and ALL
Then he went back to the porch for
the steWing lamb.
This lamb was easy.
The chawing was good-Pat loved it;
the only trouble with 1t was that there
wasn't enough of it,
The beef in the basket was down deep,
so deep that this time the dog missed his
aim, which up to now had been excellent
Selling big paper bag he ran down
the steps with it, but Just as he struck
the grass he heard a noise in the house
A Shape was tapping frantically on
the pane.
Pat realized that the time had come to
run, but he took the bag with him.
He almost missed getting under the
gate. Not until he had come to his own
yard did he rest, and then began to paw
open the bag
Several long, yellow fruits appeared
Pat shifted hopefully, but both his eyes
and nose told him he had made a big
mistake
These we're not meat, but-
Bananas!
were not worth trying to eat.
He was pretty full, by this time it
was day which came but once In any
dogs life. Pat settled down on his own
porch with a sigh of satisfaction.