davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1938-04-10

volume should not appear old before
its time. Thus many collectors have
been confused or led astray. Similar
ly, the work undertaken by Davidson
will clarity other points having to do
with technical considerations
The existence OF the present COL
lection has its base in this copyright
law, that required deposit of a copy
of every copyrighted book, first with
the clerk of the United States District
Court, and after 1871 with the librarian
of Congress But the idea of spe-
cial collection was formulated when
student, visiting the rare book room
three years ago. announced her in
terest in juvenile literature with a
view to securing her degree of doctor
of philosophy by such study. A
survey showed the unusual possibilities
in the field in the Library of Con-
gress, and the gathering of the COL
lection began. Today its 1000 titles
cover, mainly, the period from the
early 18th century to 1850. After that
date, Mr.. Parma points out, the titles
have been selected for their impor-
tance as an influence on the minds
of children.
This collection today is housed on
the steel shelves of a tile-lined room in
one of the air-conditioned stacks of the
rare book collection. A uniform tenn
perature of 10 degrees is maintained
throughout the year, with controlled
humidity of so per cent, so that the
frail paper and bindings will disinte-
CRATE no further. The books are ar
ranged in chronological order, so that
the whole presents a picture of ever
changing styles in children's books, the
covers rejecting the character of the
text. In the words of Mr.. Parma, it
seems to set juvenile literature in
and each book has special
claim to attention.
IN ADDITION to the chronological
procession of titles, there are Sec
tions arranged alphabetically under
the authors names, 50 that students
will find as unit the writings of those
whose output has been voluminous.
Here. row on row, are the works Of
Jacob Abbott, whose "Rollo" books de-
lighted an earlier generation. Abbott
was the first to become famous as q
write rof serials, and from his "Rollo
Learning to Talk published in 1929,
all through long list of "Rollo" in
various pursuits and activities, he held
the interest of young readers for years.
The Library's collection, by the way,
lacks first edition of "Rollo Learning
to Talk" dated 1929, and would well
come as gift such copy, so that the
set would be complete.
The present photographer also is in
search of copy Of one of the exciting
volumes written by Harry Castleman
and published in 1901 by Henry T.
Coates Of Philadelphia, entitled, allur-
ingly, white Horse Fred, or Julian
Among the Outlaws" The edition de-
posted for copyright was at one time
by the Library and If any one
possesses this volume In its original
binding and would like to present 1t to
the national collection, Gustav David
Evening star., 1938-04-10

Telegraph Office connection with all
parts Of the country. in the house.
Our co4ches will be at all the Railway
Stations and Steamer Landings to
take passengers promptly to the
hotel.
Hendley g. Greene, Proprietors.
FOR many years the location of the
Washington City Post ONCE was
matter OF choice for the postmaster
to decide, and 80, from 1899 to l841,
when DR.. James s. Gunnell was post
master. the post Office was on this
corner.
During Alexander r. Shepherds
prosperous days he purchased the
Kirkwood House and erected on the
site the Shepherd Centennial Building,
in which he conducted his plumbing,
steam and gas fitting business on the
first floor, Twelfth street side.
From 1875 to 1885 the Pension
ONCE was in the Continental Building
and it was here that Col. w. w.
Dudley served as the commissioner.
On the Avenue side of the building,
at No. ll17, is where the Lisner BROTH
ers, George and Abraham, got their
start in business which developed into
the Palais Royal. First, in 1873. we
find George alone selling fancy goods
there, and the following year, ac-
cording to the city directory, Abra-
ham was member Of the firm of
George Lisner g. Bro.
George soon withdrew from the firm,
and from that time on the business
was conducted by Abraham Lisner
alone. Soon the whole first floor was
taken over for the Palais Royal and
when sufficient space was no longer
available on this corner for further
development Mr.. Lisner, in 1898. built
the large store building at Eleventh
and G streets, where he continued in
business until he sold out and retired
in 1924. AS is well known, Mr.. Lisner
died quite recently.
TO ONE who has not seen Wash
ington grow 1t is hard to believe
that at one time the block between
Eleventh and Twelfth streets, Penn
sylvania avenue and E street, was a
brickyard, conducted by two brothers
named Voss. and it is also interesting
to learn that lion was once sold
on a vacant lot to the rear Of the
Raleigh Hotel, as We are told in an
early news item, as follows:
I'm 1885 a fine pair Of Arabian
horses and an African lion were sent
by the Emperor of Morocco as pres
ent to President jackson, who, by law,
could not receive them. They were
sold at auction by Edward Dyer, the
horses in front Of his store. corner of
Tenth and D streets, and the lion on
the lot then in the rear Of the pres
ent site of the Kirkwood House and
the proceeds given to charitable in
stitutions"
Where The Star Building stands as
early as 1880 was the drug store of
DR.. Wallace Kirkwood, who was soon
followed by Charles Gautier, who con-
Quoted a confectionery store on the
corner. S. Calvert Ford took the
building in the SOS and ran a drug
store there for some years, and at
this time James A. Wineberger pub
lished a weekly paper called the Bee
on the second floor Of the building
About 1870 B. L. and H. o. Hood
purchased the corner and erected
marble front building into which this
firm of jewelers. moved, and in the Daily
Critic of July 7. 1874, is an item that
sets the approximate date when the
building was purchased by The Eve
Evening star., 1938-04-10


claimed that April II to April
Il %, inclusive, be observed as
Cleanup Weeks" in the District
During this period they call upon all
District citizens to clean up and beau-
tify their premises by Kidding yards
and vacant lots of trash and by re-
pairing or modernizing houses and ap-
purtenant structures"
In cooperation with this movement.
the Public Library suggests that 4 :
books below mentioned are of partAs
ular interest and usefulness All may
be borrowed from the central building
at Eighth and K streets, many from
the branches.
Suitable and adequate housing for
all social groups is one of the biggest
factors in making or marring the ap-
pearance of city. A study of Wash
ington's needs. made by direction Of
the Senate, is available in Rent
and Housing Conditions in the Dis
trict of Columbia-Report of an Inves-
tigation of Facts Relating to the Cost
and Character of Housing in Rented
Premises in the District of Columbia"
report of the Public Utilities Com
mission. Another study, by the Re-
search Department of the Public As.
sistance Division, describes the "Hous1
ing Condition Of 235 'Homecare' Famt
lilies" The Washingtoniana Division
has much additional reference mate
rial on this problem in the District.
What should and can be done about
housing is told by Edith Elmer Wood
in her "Slums and Blighted Areas in
the United States" A later summing
up is reported in Current Develop
ments in Housing" edited by David T.
Rowlands and Coleman Woodbury. for
the American Academy of Political and
Social Sciences. The famous clean
up" OF the Austrian capital is told by
Charles o. Hardy in 1.-THE Housing
Program Of the City of Vienna"
What the householder can do for his
own premises is suggested in such VOL
umes as Housing and the Commits
nity-Home Repair and Remodeling II
issued by the Presidents Conference on
Home Building and Home Ownership:
First Aid for the Ailing House." by
Roger B. Whitman: c. B., Smiths
Home Owners Hand Book" and "You
Can Fix 1t, A Complete Encyclo-
pedia Of Home Repairs, Domestic Ap-
pliance Service Data and Household
Hints" by Alvin H. Kaplan.
Sound advice on the subject of the
handicaps of gardening in the city Is
given by Margaret McKinny and E. L.
D. Seymour in Your City Garden"
and H. Stuart Ortloff and Henry B.
Raymore inspire better garden design
in New Gardens for Old; How to Re.
model the Home Grounds" In Every.
body's Garden: Talks on Natural De.
sign and the Use of Simple Material"
Walter Prichard Eaton goes q step
further and makes plea for roadsids
and waste land beautification.
Evening star., 1938-04-10
Gustav Davidson, Gifted Young American
Poet, to Organize and Collect Early
Products of Writers for Young.

satisfaction and approval. while the
greatest interest has been manifested
in the project generally.
For some time there has been a
growing realization on the part OF the
American public that the Library OF
Congress is their own institution for
their own use and enjoyment, their
own edification and pleasure And
this attitude. perennially encouraged
by Library officials. has been strength
ened by this most recent indication
Of the Library's foresight and dis
elimination in their interests. Like
wise. private collectors everywhere
have expressed satisfaction with this
newest development in a field that
has long been neglected by biblio-
graphers and in which there exists a
great need for light.
Meanwhile. though Gustav Davidson
took over his new duties but few days
ago. there has been very live interest
in this American poet, charged with
so important a literary labor, and the
public generally has shown itself eager
for precise information about him and
his present undertaking. This is easy
to understand. When q young poet,
playwright, editor, critic and adven-
turer, such as Gustav Davidson, with
two university degrees to his credit
and history of European and South
Sea Island vagabondage woven into
his colorful career, gives up five years
OF his active and productive life to
concentrate his talents upon a specific
phase of literature, one expects ex-
pressions of national interest.
GUSTAV DAVIDSON, himself, re-
CARDS the entire project as
thrilling adventure. Those who are
familiar with his Songs Of Adora-
tion," his "A Half Century of Son.
nets" his "Melmoth the Wanderer,"
his Twenty Sonnets," do not need to
be told that this is his customary ap-
praisal Of life. To him all things are
an adventure, challenge, q voyage Of
discovery. And this newest UNDER
taking he considers more adventurous,
more challenging, more dramatic than
any.
1T is creative" he afirns, - quest
that may end anywhere. Every book
Is treasure-hoard, a new world. I
am fortunate to have begun with so
many paths smoothed and prepared
for me. For three years Mr.. Parma
has been collecting and classifying
Juyenilia, until the present collection
in the Rare Book Room numbers
about 1000 These are my starting
point, and the opportunities for Gre
ative effort are boundless. Is it any
wonder, then, that look forward to
this assignment with as much en-
thusiasm as ever brought to South
Sea voyage?"
One of the most important phases
of the task before him, Gustav Day.
idson considers to be that of arousing
the interest and cooperation of
American collectors Of juvenilia. He
hopes to establish fraternal bonds to
the end that these individuals may
otter items from their own collections
Evening star., 1938-04-10
By Lucy Salamanca.

OR three years, quiet little
- project has been under way un-
der the supervision of v. Valta
L Parma curator of the rare
Evening star., 1938-04-10
Public Library

.HE Commissioners of the Dis
trict of Columbia have pro-
claimed that April II to April
Evening star., 1938-01-17
Success Story.

Those who have trouble keeping even
q modest checking account straight no
doubt view with amazement the facile
pay roll manipulation which allowed an
Interior Department clerk to take" the
Government for $4,000 before the law Of
averages caught up with him.
According to the story unfolded be-
fore the Senate Public Lands Committee,
the operation, which entailed the osten-
sible financing Of dummy" c. c. c.
camp. went unnoticed for four months
in either Interior or War Departments,
which served as the bases Of operation,
indicating rather strongly that there
was a woeful lack of the safeguards that
prudence should have dictated.
Oficials emphasize that 1T can't hap
pen again." and that undoubtedly Is
no overstatement, but the incident gives
point to the argument of Acting Con-
troller General Elliott that what this
country needs" is more and better audit
ing, particularly since 50 much money
is getting such free and easy treat
ment.
Evening star., 1938-01-17

who failed to measure up to the exact
ing character requirements imposed by
the tradition and the actual demands Of
service at sea.
Ugly stories of the conduct Of Ameri-
can seamen have been too numerous in
recent months. II true, they should be
swept out Of the public consciousness by
immediate steps to guarantee an i'm
provement in standards Of seamanship
and conduct. Regularized training and
higher requirements for sea a-going per-
sonnel would seem to be an obvious way
of achieving such improvement.
Applied on broadly effective scale
such a program should give American
ships better crews, the type which tradi-
ton demands for American ships. And
along with improved personnel. let the
ship owners do their best to give the
men below decks a quality of working
and living conditions comparable to the
service they expect.
Evening star., 1938-01-17
Approves Separate Control
OF Recreation Activities

To the Editor of The Star:
The two bills. prepared for submission
to the Congress by the District Com
missioners and the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, which
propose the creation of a recreation
commission Of five members. seem to
synthesize the mature judgment of most
OF the experts who have been STUDYING
this problem for several years. The Weir
report, which followed the survey of
public recreation facilities in the District
OF Columbia by the National Recreation
Association, recommended four plans of
organization, all of which contemplated
an independent recreation commission.
The experience gained from the expert
ment with co-ordilIated recreation pro-
gram during the 1887 summer months
confirmed the preponderance Of evidence
that the Capitalization of all public
recreation in single, independent de-
partment is feasible and desirable.
The dissenting vote which emanates
from the Board Of Education correctly
points out vital weakness in the pro-
posed method of selecting the member
OF the commission, in that no provision
is made for Negro representation
-AAAA1' "AAS SAAA 4bU,ZUU
citizens Is undemocratic and unaccept-
able. Likewise. the relative records of
the Board Of Education and the District
Government leave no doubt as to the
position of the latter group on the
issue unless the bill is amended eoui-
tably.
There is nothing in its past record
which indicates that the Board of Edu-
cation has either the inclination or the
philosophy to promote an adequate
recreation program for the District. The
evolution Of the old Cardoza area from
playground to school center, the
willingness to place buildings on play
spaces In the congested areas. such as
the Logan playground and Banneker
Center, leave little doubt as to the main
object OF the boards affection. Recrea.
ton is more than IAN extension of the
physical education program of the
schools 1t should encompass the entire
population and all elements of the popu-
lation. The vital issue is: Shall recrea-
ton in the District of Columbia be CO.
ordinated under single, independent
recreation commission" We say Yes.
provided it can be accomplished OBJ
jectively" r. j. ANDERSON
Evening star., 1938-01-17
Integrity and Morality
Are Not SYNONYMOUS

To the Editor Of The Star:
Pardon the audacity of the rodent that
dares try his incisors on the rope that
binds the lion. Your correspondent in
thursdays Star under Redundancy in
Recent Address of President" intimates
that "the integrity of the morals of
democracy" is as redundant as honesty
OF honesty" or "uprightness of upright
ness The criticism would be Just If
integrity and morality were SYNONYMS.
But a glance at their etymoloRy easily
proves that they are not. Integrity, for
example. as seen in its derivate inteeer. a
whole number. connotes completeness,
untouched. unbroken. as contrasted with
fraction from frangere to break. In
tegrity Of morals" therefore is like simon
pure. untouched. untainted and un-
spotted morality-morals that are full
rounded, whole, unbroken, unsmirched
in any part.
May suggest further that there NAV
have been repeated references to the
phrase in question, but it is hardly
credible that there was continuous
reference" to it. unless like Tennyson,s
Brook the reference flowed on and on
without Interruptions or cessation.
Submitted In all humility.
ANNA j. COOPER.
Evening star., 1938-01-17
Training for the Sea.

1t Is to be hoped that Congress at the
present session will enact legislation for
establishment Of training facilities for
American merchant seamen. Proposals
to this effect currently are being con-
sidered by House and Senate committees.
Surrounded by unique tradition of
personal hardihood and adherence to
discipline, marine labor unquestionably
has been exploited during the years,
sharing little if at all in improving in
dustrial conditions of the most recent
times. Paid poor wages, given poor food
and quarters, the sailor has had little lob
security or prospect for material ad-
vancement.
1t Is not adequate justification to
point to comparable conditions, or even
worse, for seamen of other nations.
American standards of living on land
are generally considered higher than
those of any other country. They should
be proportionately higher at sea.
One of the results of this short
sighted policy has been the too frequent
appearance in marine service Of men
Evening star., 1938-01-17
Dog and Cat Stories.

Three news articles that appeared in
The Star in the past few days awakened
in many family circles the kindly feel
ings that bind man and the so-called
dumb animals.
The tragic story of Fritz, mascot Of an
Alexandria fire company. the happier
fates of the three kittens rescued from
the mouth of sewer and the JOY Of toy
terrier Trixie, reunited with her mistress
after six months-all made anecdotes Of
the type that reporters not only gather
eagerly but also discuss long afterward.
Strong volunteer firemen wept when
they learned that Fritz, prize bell ringer
of the Alexandria fire company, had
been killed accidentally by a policemans
motor cycle ut a fre. Pictures of the
kittens, rescued by = policeman who
heard their cries. carried . wide reader
appeal" It was enjoyable, in . world
full Of big and little tragedies, to find .
story with happy ending such as the
one about Trixie being lost when her
mistress visited . radio station here last
year, only to be found again, hale and
hearty.
With most of the papers filled with
news Of gloomy nature about wars and
recessions, 1t Is reassuring to ind men
Evening star., 1938-01-17
Tax RevisiOns.

SPEEDY adoption OF major features OF
the tax revision program recommended
by the Ways and Means Subcommittee
and approved by the Treasury Depart
ment should have the effect of encourag-
ing segments of industry which had too
many reasons for tlmidlty in recent years.
In this respect, the important pro-
posals are: Cd to remove the heavy rates
of the undistributed corporate profits tax
from enterprises having net income Of
$4,000 or less and 90 to allow carrying
net capital losses over to a succeeding
taxable year, to tax capital net gains on
a more gradual step-down percentage
basis than at present and to redefine cap
ital assets to remove application of high
est income surtax brackets from such
increment.
The decision Of Government tax au-
thorities to recommend these revisions Is
in accordance with long and persistent
agitation by those affected by and those
most familiar with the effect Of the levies
in question. And though 1t is regrettable
that 1t required nearly two years Of HARM
full experimentation to prove the point. it
is ironically satisfying to hear the Treas
ury justify its recommendation on the
undistributed profits tax by conceding
that the corporations most in need Of
removal of such burden are the young,
growing enterprises Of the country which
feel the need of retaining their earnings
to greater degree than corporations
with larger incomes" To no avail, op-
ponents of the tax made this same argyll
ment when its passage was being engi-
neered
Criticism of the present system of
evaluating capital gains and losses for tax
purposes has been directed principally at
the stagnation in capital investment oc-
casioned by the prohibition against car
rying capital losses beyond the taxable
year in which they occurred.
At time when administration spokes-
men agree with those of business that
new capital investments are desirab BILE
some improvements should be effected
by allowing an extra year in which capi-
tai gains and losses may be balanced.
1t is further encouraging that the
Treasury pledges itself to the task Of
devising methods for integrating Federal
and State tax systems and continuing its
opposition to future issuance of tax ex-
empt securities and incomes
Evening star., 1938-01-17
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES &. TRACEWELL,

who, not having been aware Of this
perpetual assault, will come to worry over
1t at last.
Well they may!
There are few things they could do
OF more benefit to their eyes than take
steps to protect themselvs from such
glare.
The eyes need not be pampered, simply
protected.
This is a queer age Invention and
science have combined to bring about
many things which have results nobody
intended.
1t Is impossible to believe that any
one OF the numerous men connected with
the invention of the automobile foresav
even the smallest part of what was to
come.
How could they have imagined man
would be 50 lacking in common sense
as to abuse the wonderful thing they
gave him?
Excessive light is like excessive noise
unnecessary. There is no need to knock
anybody's eyes out with a light, any
more than there Is to half scare him to
death with horn.
Enough light is enough. A horn
which will do the work needed of
norm and no more is better than one
which fairly scares you out of your
skin.
Today people are beginning to realize
that the continual din OF cities ought
to be and can be ended. Those who
protest these noises are no longer re-
garded as cranks
Some day excessive illumination will
be regarded in much the same way as
unnecessary noise
The waste of power in needless light
will be realized at long last. But before
that comes, countless pairs of eyes will
be put on the down grade. and their
owners will be called nuisances and
worse II they dare express resentment,
The only practical way for the pedes-
trian in early morning or evening traffic
TO protect himself from headlight glare
Is to refuse to watch 1t.
This Is not easy. 1t has its dangers
II one insists on standing too close to
curbs. There is mental hazard. too, If
one permits the mind to wander.
Something is gained for the eyes, how
ever and that is worthwhile, for some
OF the modern combinations make eve
strain inevitable unless the individual
senses their dangers and takes personal
steps to protect himself.
We are inclined to think that as
race under civilization we do not need
as much protection. perhaps. as in the
olds days. but many signs point to an
even greater need for personal protec-
ton as the years 60 by
This will hold particularly true for
the eyes. The demands made upon them
now are greater than ever Perhaps the
recession in reading, which some have
made. is due to an unconscious desire
to protect the eyes. at least in part
Just how much effect binding lights
and side lights of all kinds have is
diff1cult to measure. but the fact that
they offer visual hazards is plain enough
Automobile manufacturers and owners
seem to be having troubles of their own
1t is up to every pedestrian to protect
himself. In this program let him give
thought to his eyes, and to the menace
of glare.