davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

is not SO great as is often believed.
These visitors from the skies contain
minerals unknown on earth, especially
curious compounds of nickel and iron.
These minerals, however. have no value
except for scientific study. They prob
ably represent conditions at the nucleus
of some planet which long ago was in
volved in some shattering catastrophe.
Very much the same sort of structures
might be found at the center of the
earth. The finding of a meteorite will
not make anybody rich, but it will bring
a very good return for a days work
Locating q meteor from the trail of
fire it leaves in its descent, Mr.. Hender-
son stresses, is usually q matter for
experts-unless, of course, it is seen a
few hundred feet above the surface.
Most shooting stars" are miles high
and the blazing trail you see may be
miles away from the actual falling
stone.
The meteorite enters the earth's at
mosphere from the absolute cold of
outer space-273 degrees below zero CEN
tigrade. That is approximately the
temperature Of the rock fragment itself.
From the friction OF the atmosphere
its outer surface is heated to red or
white heat. This, however. Is not what
is seen. It is altogether too small and
too distant. But from time to time this
hot outer crust is peeled of and
dispersed through the tenuous atmos-
phere as fine dust. It takes the form
of a luminous cloud, perhaps several
miles long and mile or more thick. This
Is what is seen. But meanwhile the
stone itself has continued to fall at
faster rate, invisible for q few seconds
until the friction Of the increasingly
thicker atmosphere has caused another
white-hot coating. This, in turn, may
be peeled OF. When the rock hits the
ground there may, or may not, be a
fused surface q few millimeters thick
which is the result Of its last coat Of
fire.
It Is sometimes wondered why q
meteorite can strike the earth with
out setting everything on fire If it
lands In combustible material, such
as q forest in autumn. Strangely
enough, says DR.. Henderson, such an
object probably would not be very hot.
Remember, 1t entered the earth's atmos-
phere far colder than anything could
whole journey to earth in q. few Sec
onds. Only an extremely thin layer on
the outer surface was heated and this
heat did not have time to penetrate the
interior.
So, If you should happen to see one
of these balls Of fire strike the earth,
don't rush to pick it up. You might
get your fingers burned. There is at
least an equal chance that the meteorite
would be covered with frost.
And do not spend too much time
searching where it looked as If the
meteorite might have hit the earth.
The chances are that 1t is miles away.
But don't toss away q suspiciously
heavy stone which you come across while
spading your garden. You may have
made a find significant to science. If
you are in doubt the Smithsonian In
stitution will be glad to examine 1t for
you.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
Report 1t Out!

The crime situation in the District Of
Columbia, according to The Stars re-
tterated quotation from the Attorney
General, is national disgrace and will
remain so as long as the public is in
different.
The crime situation in the District of
Columbia may be all the Attorney Gen.
eral says 1t is, but The Star does not
believe the fault can be laid to public
indifference. Congress, under the Con-
stitution, is exclusively responsible for
legislation in the District. Congress
sional indifference, not public indiffer-
ence. is at least partly to blame.
Tomorrow hearing has been prom
ised by Chairman Palmisano of the
House District Committee on an amend
ment to the gambling laws, twice ap-
proved by the Senate but locked up for
two sessions in the House District Com
mittee.
The Star expresses the hope that
members of the District Committee will
find the time to attend this hearing
and, after amending the bill as they see
fit, report 1t to the House and work for
its passage.
The argument that the bill is designed
to end the numbers racket is partly
true. The bill does give the authorities
power, for which they have asked re-
peatedly, to deal with a sinister racket
which was unknown when the present
gambling statutes were put on the books.
Without this power the authorities are
handicapped.
The argument that the bill selects
the numbers racket for the sort of en-
phasis that would leave unenforced the
laws against other forms of gambling
bookmaking. for instances a lot of
poppycock advanced by those who know
no better or who are deliberately aiding
the numbers racket by suppressing this
bill.
II the authorities do half AZ well
against the numbers racket as they have
done against bookmaking.' important
progress will have been made. sev-
eral big shot" bookmakers are In jail
now. the result of effective activity by
police and prosecutors. But the num-
bers racket is practically out Of reach.
And the racketeers are making hay
while the law that would hit them hard
est is kept securely pigeonholed in the
District Committee.
Two inquiries are suggested at the
hearing tomorrow.
One relates to the bill in question.
The other should determine who Is
responsible for suppressing this measure.
And why?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
Bank Liability.

The decision of Court of Appeals hold
Ing directors of the defunct Park Saw
ingS Bank personally liable for deposits
IN the institution as of August 80, 1929,
imposes seemingly severe degree of re-
sponsibility on the directors, but at the
same time it represents an equitable
adjudication of the conflicting interests
OF the officials and the banks depositors.
The Park Savings Bank was chartered
IN the State of Alabama, whose laws pro-
vided that upon the expiration of the
charter on the date in question the di-
rectors automatically became Mquidat-
ing trustees, and, as such, were person.
ally liable for the funds that came into
their hands through the bank at that
time. This finding of liability, estimated
at approximately 81 600, 900. reverses the
ruling Of the lower court that the de-
positors and other creditors were
estopped to assert the liability Of the
directors since they left their funds in
the bank after the expiration Of the
charter, thereby recognizing it as a con-
tinuing institution.
In essence. the appellate court held
that the directors, as paid officials of the
bank, were charged with the primary
responsibility Of knowing the provisions
Of the charter under which they operated
and the laws Of the State in which it
was granted, and that they could not
escape this responsibility, even though
they acted in good faith, by setting up
tho failure Of the depositors to acquaint
themselves with the facts. The ruling
should be welcomed by both bankers
and depositors, for it would be IN In
tolerable state of affairs If every de-
positor should be held legally bound to
investigate the charter and the laws Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

incorporation affecting the bank with
which he does business on pain Of for
feiting the protection Of the law.
At the same time, 1t is reasonable to
suppose that the decision will contribute
in the future to greater zealousness on
the part Of all directors Of institutions
whose relations with the public call for
a high degree Of care in the conduct Of
their affairs. Entirely aside from the
Park Savings Bank case, there has been
too much willingness on the part Of
some prominent men to permit the use
Of their names on boards Of directors
for window dressing" purposes without
concurrent willingness to assume the
responsibilities that 90 with . director
ship. A policy by the courts Of holding
directors strictly to their responsibilities
under the law would discourage such q
tendency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
STARS, MEN AND ATOMS
Notebook of Science Progress in Field,
Laboratory and Study.
laboratory and Stud
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

Few Of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. hitting
the earth from outer space-ever are
recovered.
Hundreds perhaps thousands of
them probably are scattered over the
surface Of the United States unnoticed
and unknown. says DR.. E. p. Henderson
the Smithsonian Institution.
He would like to add any of them
which happen to be picked up to the
national collection. Millions hit the
upper atmosphere of the earth every
day. Most Of them are entirely con-
sumed by the friction of the air. but an
unknown number actually hit the sur
face.
Yet, says DR.. Henderson, the total
number known in the world, to date
Is less than 1900, Of which the Smith
sonian has specimens Of $40. The trou-
BILE is that one whose fall is not actually
observed can be stumbled upon only
by pure accident. An expert might
hunt for months with very little pros
pect Of finding one. Yet any farmer
walking across the pasture might kick
one up at any time, or any little boy
picking up a stone to throw at tree
might DE hurting fragment from the
immensities of outer space.
Scores Of supposed meteorites are sent
to the Smithsonian experts for identifi-
cation. Usually they are almost exactly
the opposite Of what meteor should
be due. to a popular misconception Of
what such an object should be. Folks
see q shooting star-a blaze of fire in
the sky. They assume from this that
the stone itself should be burned to q
crisp when 1t hits the earth. AS re-
suit. the most frequent specimen sent
in for identification is a chunk Of Stag
from furnace. At one time lump
Of chewing gum discarded on q city
street was received.
Actually. says Mr.. Henderson, II you
pick up stone that seems exceptionally
heavy for its size it is well to make
inquiries. Meteorites are about the
heaviest of rocks. Some Of them are
pure iron and nickel. Even in an
producing district Jumps Of natural
pure iron are very rare and II you
find one anywhere else the chances are
greatly in favor of its origin In outer
space.
Even the so-called stony meteorites"
heavy enough, compared with ordinary
to get corroborative evidence is to take
such stone to the grindstone and
grind away small bit Of surface. II
you ind the area thus exposed speckled
with iron particles the chances are that
you have . meteorite.
Another bit Of corroborative evidence
e N,,A
stream lining" Of slch q stone. The
surface may be covered with very fine
lines Or burrows, all curving in one
direction. These lines are etched" by
the air on the surface of the stone
curing its TECHNICALLY rapid fall.
The discovery OF meteor, DR.. Hen
derson points out, is always worth
while to the finder, although the value
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
COrals of Defense.

Far down under" in the remote
South Seas. at . spot where "Mutiny
on the Bounty" might well have had its
romantic mise en- scene, the United States
plans to hoist the Stars and Stripes.
In equatorial mid-Pacifc lie two tiny
atolls called Canton and Enderbury Is
lands. Their size is Insignificant and
their economic importance nil, but
their strategic Importance is great. In
the event We suddenly found ourselves
at war for control Of the Central Pacific.
their coral reefs might well prove price,
less possessions q fuel, supply and wire
less bases for both warships and aircraft.
In other days Uncle Sam might have
been suspected Of sheer land-grabbing,
but the location Of Canton and Ender-
bury is Of such obvious value, particularly
because they bestride the aerial route
from San Francisco to Sydney. past
Hawaii and Samoa. that our purpose to
assert American sovereignty over them
Is interchangeable, 1t least from the
standpoint Of our tactical necessities.
This plan, according to report. may
not materialize without some delicate
negotiations with Great Britain, which
also claims the atolls. Our London
cousins, Of course, have interests to safe
guard, in the sea lanes leading to
Australia and New Zealand, no less vital
than those We seek to protect. Japan's
inundated islands, the Caroline and
Marshall groups, are In the same gen.
eral neighborhood. Though Toxic has
vehemently denied their fertilization, it
is inconceivable that the japanese Navy
has not taken that territory conspicu.
ously into consideration, In contemplate
ing eventual rivalries in the South Pa
cifc.
As practical evidence of the United
States intention to affirm our rights
in Canton and Enderbury. the Interior
Department has promulgated an order
placing the islands under = the same
jurisdiction Mr.. Ickes yields over our
other insular possessions. Ths British
recently "colonized" Canton with New
zealanders. Now the United States
proposes to land groups Of Hawaiians ON
both Islands as tangible outposts Of
American sovereignty. Perhaps, under
the circumstances, it Is just - well that
it was Honest Harold" who was chosen
to broadcast to the British Empire on
democracy . couple Of weeks ago.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
THIS AND THAT
That first robin has been hopping
around WASHINGTON 1T an amazing rate.
BY CHARLES &. TRACBWBLL.

That first robin has been hopping
around Washington ut an amazing rate.
evidently.
According to letter printed here re-
Gently, he was seen on Euclid street.
A neighbor called up and said he had
been spotted in Dupont Circle.
A letter q few days later:
Il saw 1t first-that portly robin that
was skipping about the lawn Of Meridian
Park this morning.
II am sure he didn't find q worm,
what with the temperature in the low
twenties. But have never seen as
plump . robin.
: Just what had this early bird been
eating to put on 80 much weight7"
Worms, of course.
That bird had been flying leisurely
along through the Southern States,
putting on weight as he came.
Robins, however, are usually chesty.
One simply forgets, In their absence,
how portly they are.
The robins figure ought to be excuse
enough for all persons who put on
weight with the advancing years.
The amazing thing about the robin
is the way he hops around on the lawn
each spring as II he had never been
away.
1t is impossible for the average friend
Of birds to get over the annual feeling
Of surprise at seeing him there.
He looks 50 perfectly at home, Just
as If he had never been away.
- ~
Now here Is an interesting letter from
another bird lover. Any letter is in
teresting, we hold, which attributes
tolerance to q human.
Dear Sir:
your articles are always interesting
and instructive, and I am lost in sin
cere' admiration of your splendid ham
ding OF such variety Of subjects. but
what Is simply beyond my comprehen-
sion Is the amazing degree of charity
and tolerance which you seem to have
attained in your outlook on life.
For instance, in referring to the
three letters in last evenings column,
you simply say:
Three pictures in three letters: A
picture Of robin on limb, picture OF
starlings bathing, and q picture of
slaughter.
Take your choice. We take the
first two. and believe the writer of the
third will. once he has read them
This most charitable summary Is
amazing after reading the letter from
the gentleman with the strikingly ap-
propriate initials B. c.. in which he
says, among other equally absurd things:
ct could, without conjunction, re-
move every Startling and sparrow in the
city in order to have the songsters, the
interesting birds, here in town.
AN analogous position to that of
the starlings and sparrows might be
that of the nations the President thinks
should be Guaranteed. II the starlings
and sparrows can overrun this country,
driving out the native birds, so can ia
pan overrun China and drive out the
Chinese. Why should we hesi-
tate to Stay the starlings?
++*
These remarks plainly show this
writer knows nothing whatever about
starlings and sparrows for they most
certainly do not drive other birds away.
mot only have I been told by a
prominent ornithologist that they are
totally innocent Of this accusation, but
know 1t is not true after four years
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

close observation and feeding Of these
most interesting and lovable little crea-
lures.
Mr.. B. G. is like the man who said,
This is my answer and I'm going to
stick to IT,
HE has simply made up his mind,
probably from hearsay, that starlings
and sparrows are pests, and when you
charitably believe that he will change
his attitude toward them, you are abb
solutely mistaken, for the prejudice and
unreasonableness In every line Of his
letter show him to be hopelessly 'sot' in
his opinion.
Fortunately, however, It makes no Diff
ference. for the real observers Of birds
will continue to admire and love these
little creatures and really prefer them
to all others.
Respectfully:
"A. H. c."
Such tolerance as any one is able to
achieve is based solidly on an attempt
to be fair.
The way to begin to build up just
little tolerance in everyday life is to
start watching how others are unfair.
One of the first observations any one
is likely to make is this:
How often the wrong construction,
rather than the right one, is placed on
the words and actions Of others.
The saddest part Of such unfairness
is that too often 1t is really not meant
at all. but results from desire to say
something funny.
Something Of the trouble in America
today undoubtedly arises from this at
tempt to "wisecrack," to say something
which will get laugh from others.
-
An example Of this occurred at mag
azine stand the other day.
Looking at the magazines was q fell
low who had, for many years, spent
much money at this counter. He was
not Of the type to look without ulti-
mately buying.
Yet a bright young lady passing.
merely to secure laugh from some one
with her, cried out cheerily, well. why
don't you buy it," This cute remark
got the laugh. all right, because it i'm
piled that the locker was in the habit
Of not purchasing, and that she, bright
lady, had checked up on him at last.
OF such is the kingdom Of the laugh,
all too often.
That such laughs are often gained at
the expense of fairness and truth makes
very little difference.
The point is simply this, that before
saying anything, one should attempt to
put the best light, not the worst, on
other peoples thoughts, deeds and words.
1t is not easy. 1t requires much time
and work, and even then the honest en-
deavor most often fails.
1t is helpfuf to try, and the fine thing
is that any one can try 1t, II he will.
When a suspicion of motive enters the
mind, it should be reprimanded at once
with the counter thought, Let me see
isn't there some good reason which might
make q person say that, or do that, or
think that?"
Let us always be suspicious of the first
thought that pops into the mind
1t is too easy. Most of US have to
think hard. to get at the truth, and
we may always doubt our first impress
sions.
If We do, we may feel, without undue
pride, that we at least are on the way
to some charity and tolerance in q curl
Gus world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
Fish and Sea Foods
For Lent.

During Lent housewives are especially
interested in hsh and other sea foods
which are served 50 constantly ut this
season. How to select fish, how to cook
fish, how to serve fish in many appetiz-
ing and savory dishes-practically all Of
the methods of cooking fish known to
the epicure, are contained in the 24-page
booklet, FISH AND SEA FOODS. This
compact kitchen aid will be an invalu-
able addition to any cookbook shelf. To
obtain your copy I'LL in and mail the
coupon below, enclosing 10 cents to cover
cost and handling.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
Arlington Power Plans.

Evidence that Arlington County means
business in its fight for lower electric
rates is apparent from the fact that 1t has
spent $4,000 for . report on the FEAST
bility Of establishing municipal power
plant. The report predicts that such q
plant can be operated ct . proat although
its estimated cost may exceed $4,000, 900.
As IN alternative it notes that sconsider-
able capital outlay could be saved by pur-
chasing power from q feliable source"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

BY taking all the profits out OF war,
Representative Patman may help to
explain why the thrifty promoters along
the Asiatic Coast have been so careful
to omit the word war" from their
descriptions.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

does not, apparently, wish q congress
sional inquiry. He prefers to have the
investigation, If there Is one, made by
the Federal Trade Commission. But
that Is not satisfactory to critics Of the
T. y. A. not because they distrust the
Federal Trade Commission, but because
they feel that q congressional inquiry
would b maze effective.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

For awhile 1t was feared that Mr..
Garner would be persuaded to talk but
little. As he goes on In the course of
duty. he apparently finds it easy to say
quite as much as the Nation has q right
to expect from its Vice President,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

A ship sunk 70 years ago of the
Florida coast with cargo Of whisky
estimated at 5000 In value now has its
cargo valued at 100000. Morals may
protest. but the alert arithmetician will
figure.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

1t has been shown that the capital Of Il
great nation is most desirable place in
which to live. but the police officials must
be candid in estimating the new
responsibilities.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

When Charles Hoyt wrote farces, the
role Of Maverick Brander was one Of
colossal Far Western comedy. Mr..
Maury Maverick should be entitled to .
special performance in case he should
present request.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

Japanese authorities say these U. S. A.
are not aware of the dangers of com.
munism. Not duly aware. perhaps, but
1t must be admitted that We are becom-
ing suspicious.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

In some respects the most compre-
hensive date line, covering news of every
description, is Los Angeles, Calf There
is a tendency to overwork even . date
line
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

The term purge" is freely used In
European politics. It has q significance
which is entirely local in spite of its
seemingly comprehensive sound.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08

After President Roosevelt has written
his series Of magazine and book articles
1t may be felt that Bernard Baruch owes
the public . criticism Of them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
Easy Saying, Hard Doing.

From the Indianapolis News.
In connection with Herr Hitler's
speech, 1t Ia to be remembered that some
things are good deal most easily said
than dou0.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-03-08
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