davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-11-28
A Rising Patriotism

One of the effects of the war in
Europe now plainly manifest in
America is that of more active
gratitude for the institutions of the
United States. Men and women
whose patriotism was merely latent
force during the years following the
conflict of 1914-1918 again have
reason to rejoice in the freedom
which their country still enjoys.
Those who have Travelled over the
land since hostilities abroad began
are agreed that appreciation of the
contrast between liberty here and
compulsion under foreign skies is a
noteworthy phenomenon of the
present era.
Something Of reverence, perhaps,
Is involved. Few Americans claim
for themselves moral or ethical
superiority over European peoples.
Rather, it is common to hear that
mankind is pretty much the same
throughout the world" The prevail
ing attitude therefore is not phari-
saical. Average citizens, it seems,
are conscious of an obligation to the
Providence which gives them homes
In a portion of the map protected
by two great oceans. The bus-rider
who, glancing over the front page of
his newspaper, declared to all within
hearing of his voice: THANK God for
Evening star., 1939-11-28

now on hand or may be obtained
from the Soyiets.
A number of factors operate in
favor Of the Chinese in the defense
Of their communications lines, how
ever, chief of them being the ex-
tremely difficult terrain over which
the Japanese must operate in any
further advance from Manning.
Further than that the Chinese have
the experience Of the Yangtze Valley
offensive to support their belief that
the japanese can be resisted best
when the invaders supply lines are
extended and open to guerrilla
attacks.
The Japanese must decide now
whether to follow the Chinese re-
treat deep into Kwangsi, Kweichow
and Yunnan provinces or use Nam
ming as base for aerial operations
against the Haiphong railway and
the Burma motor road, attempting
thus from the air to cut these last
Chinese links with the outside world.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Retrieved

This year, 1889, will be remembered
by its few surviving turkeys as the
most tragic one in history, fraught
as it was with the hitherto unprece-
dented peril of duplicate Thanksgiv-
ings. More than ever before these
fowls, strutting around in their pride,
found that the paths of glory led
but to the gravy, which renders out
standing the clever work on the part
of Medina. (Ohio) turkey hen in
escaping disaster.
AS long as two months ago she
determined not to be sacrificed to
make Roman holiday or any other
kind, and to die neither for the
honor of dear old Plymouth Rock
nor Franklin D. Roosevelt. Her
owner must somehow be impressed
with the thought that it would be a
big mistake to send her to the chop
ping block Her first thought was
that it would not do for her to lay
down on this job, but a second
thought prevailed, and she did just
that. She laid four eggs and Matched
them, proudly marching into the
poultry yard with four young tur-
keys, beating the dead line by a
mere matter of hours and establish
ing a record as the only turkey hen
ever to hatch her young in the fall,
and one of the few to escape the
oven.
Politicians are urged to study this
case with care. They, too, have to
contend with a dread November
holiday, nervously jumping round a
bit in it's exact date, while still re-
naming the first Tuesday after the
first Monday in the month. They
would do well to emulate the ex-
ample of their fine -feathered friend,
produce something worth while, and
thereby avoid the ak.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Garry Ne Back

oSAooCu OuC uOIle Clle less nlRQly
merited recognition for that famous
melody, Garry Me Back to Ole Vir-
ginny," and for it's little-known au-
thor, is apparently about to be ac-
corded in the Old Dominion. The
famous song, so much like the
Stephen Foster airs that many think
he wrote it, may become the official
State song. The State Conservation
and Development Commission plans
to offer a resolution to that end when
the General Assembly meets in jan
uary. Meanwhile, the Lions Clubs of
the State are advocating an appro-
pirate memorial for James Bland,
the colored minstrel, who wrote it.
If Virginia adopts the melody off,
cially, it will be following in the
footsteps of Maryland, which, having
sung Maryland, My Maryland" for
decades, finally made that the off,
cial State song few years ago. The
Maryland melody, penned in New
Orleans during the Civil War by
James Ryder Randall, found rivals
in the form of other not-so-well-
known songs when proposed for
official adoption But the familiar
Randall version was adopted by an
overwhelming vote.
Likewise, BANDS popular compo-
sition will face opposition when Of
fered in the legislative halls as the
official song of the Old Dominion.
Already some groups have proposed
other songs. Washingtonians will
be interested in the procedure not
alone because local residents, in
common with folks in all the other
States, like Garry Me Back" They
also will be interested because recent
discussion of the proposal has
brought to the attention of many
Washingtonians for the first time the
fact that Bland lived, studied and
wrote songs in the District of Colum-
bia during his dramatic career, which
included trips to Europe and many
tours of this country.
In way the proceedings before
the Legislature at Richmond will
seem foolish and futile. BANDS
melody is the song that Immediately
comes to mind whenever Virginia and
music are mentioned. Long usage
rather than legislative action
makes" a song. It is fitting enough
that the Legislature recognize it's
appeal by making it official, but it is
hard to imagine any move the AS
sembly could make that would be
more perfunctory.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Tr1ceueI.

People newly moved to the suburbs
usually want to know what is that bird
with the white edge to the wings?"
That bird, of course, is the mocking-
bird. famous in song and story. The
white shows in fight
Newcomers to the suburban scene find
this out, sooner or later, so they might
as well be told in advance.
Ones first discovery of ones own per-
sonal mocker is always interesting. It is
one thing to hear about mockingbirds,
and quite another to have q real live one
IN your own yard, and to know it per-
sonally for perhaps the first time.
\ ~
The mockingbird, now rated as a per-
manent resident, has been on the in
crease in the District of Columbia and
nearby Maryland and Virginia since
about 1905.
Prior to that, it had been a summer
resident, like the catbird, but conditions
for its propagation and stay here seemed
to get better, so that nowadays mock
ingbird Is by no means a rarity
Yet many people, who think of it solely
as Southern bird, are surprised to find
one of these big birds coming to feed
ing station in the dead of winter.
Its identification always gives them
thrill.
Then what happens?
They begin to find that the bird Is not
an altogether desirable visitor.
Sometimes the mocker drives away all
other songsters from the autumn and
winter feeding table
The kind-hearted person who pur-
chases and daily puts out the food finds
that instead of dozen species, with a
total of several dozen steady visitors, he
soon has but one large and belligerent
bird in his yard. There may be pair
OF them, but most often there is Just one
This bird assumes all the proportions
OF tyrant. Smaller and far more de-
slrable feeders, such as the chubby chick
adee, are driven away the moment they
appear on the scene
This goes on until the mocker is the
uncrowned king of the garden, in fact,
its only feathered occupant.
+ 4
The harassed bird lover" far from
finding this situation amusing, usually
becomes very much worked up over it.
What to do?
Well, the best thing to do is to stop
putting out bread in any form.
This is the mockingbird's favorite WIN
ter fare.
Crumbs of all kinds are greeted with
rapture by this big fellow with the white
in his wings
He evidently asks nothing better all
winter long
AS long as a gardener puts out bread.
he will lure the mockingbird.
II 4
The answer then, is simple, although
not always perfect.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
the Atlantic and the Pacific
expressed q general opinion.

the Atlantic and the Pacific"
expressed general opinion.
But it also must be reported that
Americans recognize their RESPONSE
bility for peace on earth. They may
be skeptical about active participa-
tion in the war, they may be
distrustful Of any appeal to arms,
they may doubt the efficiency of
leagues Of nations, world courts,
international parliaments and con-
ferences, yet they understand that
isolation is infeasible. Humanity has
become a single neighborhood,
socially, culturally, economically.
Only politics interferes with the
fulflllment Of the age-old dream of
unity and peace. The new patriotism
in America, not selfish and not
Chauvinistic, may furnish a solution
for problem which too long has
plagued the race. It is not incon-
celvable that eventually there may
come from the United States q
rational plan for a universal society
IN which all men and women every
where may find democracy, harmony
and justice equal to their poignant
need
Evening star., 1939-11-28

Stop putting out bread.
Usually, If this is done, the bird In q
few days flies to another garden, and
stays away as long as crumbs, dough-
nuts. and the like, are absent from the
birds bill-of-fare.
. Doughnuts and raisins, in particular,
draw him. We say him, for the female
does not stick around with the old man.
Where she goes to is somewhat OF a
mystery. Probably she goes South for
the winter.
IT. on the other hand, home owner
particularly wants a mockingbird, the
almost sure way to get one is to put out
these delicacies.
If one desires just one pet bird in the
open, mockingbird would be quite as
acceptable, perhaps. as any.
The thing to do then is to crumble up
a fresh doughnut, place it in the window
sill, and await results.
One suburban resident told this column
that in less than an hour mockingbird
arrived.
Results are usually not quite as quick
as that, and If not, raisins may be tried.
1t Is toss up, whether mockingbird
likes doughnuts or raisins the best.
Experienced hands at feeding the birds
will be willing to agree that mocking-
bird, despite its name and fame, is a.
somewhat dubious visitor at any season
of the year
During cold weather it drives away the
other birds. In spring and summer it
dominates the garden where it has begun
to nest, and generally makes life miser-
able for other birds.
Bold, handsome. interesting though it
is, In time it becomes a nuisance both
to birds and men Its concerts on moon
light nights may make up for all this,
to some, but others will continue to wish
1t would go away and stay away.
From the standpoint of sheer fun and
entertainment in bird feeding, especially
during the cold season. number of birds
are far better than one
To have dozen species is better than
to be most to just one kind
Unless you happen to draw an excep-
tional mockingbird, you and your garden
OF birds will be much better of without
one, We think.
X \
Many-tongued mimic, indeed, is our
mocklngbird, whose ability to initiate
other birds continues to endear it. de-
spite the traits mentioned.
Its bravery in nesting season is also
appealing. 1t not only drives away all
enemies, not even stopping at man, but
warns other birds of danger to their own
nests and f1edglings.
In the crowd of birds attempting to
drive away marauders in spring and
early summer, the mockingbird is usually
foremost. Unlike most of the others.
however, which content themselves with
cries and f1uttering, the mocker makes
power dive after power dive at the enemy,
often succeeding in driving it away.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
A Sound Proposal

IT the District government can
make a substantial saving on interest
payments by reflnancing its P. w. A.
debt through local banks there would
seem to be no sound reason why 1t
should not be done.
In putting the plan forward for
consideration local officials suggest
1t may be possible to save as much
as $2,5O0,000 by obtaining the money
from the banks at less than the four
per cent rate that will apply to the
P. w. A. reimbursements, and paving
off the Public Works loans imme-
diately.
Local taxpayers, who have been
confronted with new and increased
levles in recent years to meet their
share OF the cost of maintaining and
developing the National Capital, no
doubt will look with favor on a pro-
posal of this kind, which would make
their tax dollars go farther.
The needs of the community are
such that even if this debt adjustment
were carried out it probably would
not lead to any reduction in existing
tax rates. However, it would have
two other desirable effects, namely:
Make further tax increases less likely
in the immediate future, and leave
whatever is saved on the interest
payments available for urgent mu-
nicipal needs that might otherwise
have to be postponed.
No criticism of the Public Works
program is intended or implied in the
proposal, for it is only sound business
practice for an individual or a mu-
nlcipality to finance obligations as
reasonably as possible. The P. w. A.
loans have enabled Washington to
provide its local government with
needed buildings which it could not
have erected out of current revenues,
but If the refunding arrangement is
not carried out city officials estimate
that the community will pay back
during the next twenty-five years
$5,6O9,873 in interest and s9,982, 500
In principal. The interest can be cut
by the proposed ref1nancing.
The Alley Dwelling Authority al
ready has found similar arrange
ment advantageous in handling some
OF its housing loans, and District
officials say some other municipalities
having P. w. A. loans are adopting
retunding plans, where they have
found money available in banks at
lower l.terest rates.
Legislation. would be nece~,,arv
since the District government has no
authority to borrow except at the
direction of Congress. District officials
have hastened wisely to emphasize
that they are not suggesting the
proposed bank loans as added obliga-
tions, but solely to refinance the
existing debt to P. W. A.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Capture of Nunnino

Inc nrSt phase Of the new jana
nese offensive against the govern
ment of Chang Kai-shek has been
completed in record time, if Japanese
claims are subStantiated, and with
IN little more than ten days Japanese
troops who landed west of Pakhoi
on the South China coast have occu-
pied the strategic city of Manning,
about 100 miles north, in Kwangsi
province.
japanese success may be due
chiefly to Chinese failure to an
tlclpate a japanese offensive at this
point and to Japan's realization, as
the result of the Changsha rout sew
eral weeks ago, that China has been
revitalized since the fall of Hankow
more than year ago.
Too much Importance should not
be attached to the capture of
Manning. China's communications
routes with the outside world are by
no means cut off yet, and the Japa-
nese have only made a start on cut
ting them. While Manning was i'm
portant as a highway and railway
junction for routes into the interior
of China it was by no means a bot
tleneck through which the major
portion of China's supplies flowed.
The capture of Manning is impor-
tant chiefly for the position it gives
the Japanese to strike at two impor-
tant Chinese routes-the French
owned railway from Haiphong to
Yunnanfu, where junction is made
with the overland motor highway to
Chungking, and the Burma motor
highway.
From where the japanese have
now established themselves it may
be possible to strike out directly for
the Haiphong- -Yunnanfu railway,
and to follow it into Yunnanfu,
where the Burma highway would be
intercepted. Success of such a ma
neuver would force General Chang
to fall back on the uncertain truck
road to Soviet Russia through North
west China, and would limit Chinese
war operations to what supplies are
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Wants Change in Local
Primary Voting.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Being junior member of the Demo-
cratic party and interested in the well
fare of the organization I have discov-
cred few facts which may be of interest
to other members.
Senator Capper and Representative
Kennedy have introduced bills in the
Senate and House of Representatives to
set up polling system for the election
of our delegates to the national political
conventions. Although not in agreement
dorse them in principle
In support of these bills it may be said
that they will regularize the proceedings
now being held by the two political par
ties. The present system is only farce.
Many people have wondered about the
political setup in the District of Colum-
bia. An official ballot would give more
information than can now be had
In compliance with the principles of
democracy in general and especially with
the principles OF the great Democratic
party and in keeping with the spirit of
all election laws (both primary and gen.
eral election) both local committees
should be required to account for their
funds in detail and such accounting
should be published to the end that the
rank and file in the District of Columbia
would know what is going on within
their respective parties.
Let's get behind Senator Capper and
Representative Kennedy and have real
primary elections In the District.
WILLIAM JONES BARTLE.
November "a.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Denies District Rents
Are Excessive.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In reply to letter published in your
columns November IA, written by Mrs.
A. L. Battle, quite agree with this lady
that there is an emergency here in that
many people are unable to obtain proper
food, clothing and other necessities, and
that the Government is doing a good
thing in furnishing free lunches to
about 100000 school children in the
United States. I believe that they are
served principally to worthy and under
nourished classes.
I must, however, disagree with Mrs.
Battles claim of high rents, unnecessary
evictions and the like. Lessons of prop
erty in the District and suburbs often
have to contend with chiselers, impos-
tors and other tenants who refuse to
work, >preferring to depend on charity
and, in fact, demanding it from the
Government and other agencies. In con-
clusion, as an owner of properties in
different sections of Georgetown, do
not hesitate to say that in my opinion
rents are very reasonable
November a. HENRY T. ASH.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Says Thanksgiving Day
Lacked Spirit Of Unity.
To the Editor of The Star:


I wonder how many other people who
celebrated yesterday as Thanksgiving
found something missing? found when
yesterday arrived that the spirit of
Thanksgiving was somehow lacking, and
after analyzing my feelings realized it
was because the spirit of the day involves
not only thanks but united thanks by
the people OF the United States, not
thanks by country divided on the dav
OF all days they should be united,
Next Thanksgiving let us all be united
again, either by returning to the old date
or all accepting the new date.
MRS. MALCOLM SNOW.
Alexandria, Va.
November "a.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Terrorizinq Finland

Unable to break by negotiation
the indomitable will of the Firms to
preserve their independence and
neutrality, Moscow has undertaken
a campaign of terror, which is the
first stage in the modern technique
OF aggression.
In the guise of protest against the
alleged killing or wounding of thir-
teen Red soldiers by the explosion
OF Finnish artillery shell Sunday
the Soviet Union is demanding that
Finland take the first step toward
surrender of part of the Karelian
1sthmus opposite Leningrad by with
drawing its military forces from a
strip ranging from twelve to sixteen
miles in width.
Added to the diplomatic pressure
on Finland growing out of this prob
ably spurious incident is the crudely
simulated effort to stir up the army
and the workers to demand an attack
upon the Firms. This is the closest
the Soviet can come to generating
popular clamor for war In a coun-
try where opinion is as closely con-
trolled as it is in the Soviet Union
there is no such thing as a spon-
taneous manifestation of public
opinion.
The motive for the whole occur
renee lies in the demand for Finnish
removal of its army from territory on
which the Moscow negotiations failed
two weeks ago. Finnish acquies-
cence in this proposal would mean
the abandonment of frontier fortif1-
cations erected to meet just such
Soviet threat as is now presented,
and could scarcely be more accept
able to Finland than the cession of
territory originally demanded. It
would be tantamount to an invitation
to Russia to step in and take over
the area it wants without fight.
In that event the question would
arise at what point the Red Jug
gernaut will halt. When it has taken
merely that portion of Finland it
first sought? Or not until it has
completely defeated the Finnish gov
ernment and has taken all Finland
into Russia's new empire? And from
that point onward what of the
SWedeS and the Norwegians? And
what OF their neutrality, so strictly
maintained thus far in Europe's war?
The ultimate ends of Soviet Rus
sia's expansion, like those of Ger
many after the absorption of Czecho-
6lovakia last March, are not yet in
sight. Germany's program of expan-
sion is now being challenged by the
allies war upon her, but Russia ap-
pears singularly free of restraint in
satisfying her imperialistic appetite.
Who is going to stop Russia, and
where and when, are not yet clear.
Effective opposition may arise in
Southeastern Europe, but the prof.
ected neutrality bloc there is not yet
real enough to deter the Russians,
If, after subduing the Firms, Moscow
turns toward Rumania or Turkey.
For the moment Russia's Balkan
objectives are overshadowed by the
resistance of the Firms, but how long
their sturdy little army of less than
a million would be able to resist the
Soviets is problematical. Days, weeks,
perhaps a month. But Finland's
subjugation, when it is complete, will
be just a milestone on the Soviet path
to other conquests in Europe.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
from its original demands in order to
make a settlement possible.
SIDNEY r. KATZ,
Secretary Treasurer,
Maryland and District of Colum-
bia Industrial Union Council.

Editors Note-The Star is glad to pub
lish Mr.. Katz's letter, although it does
not accept his contentious as being valid
The reasoning upon which the associa-
ton was described as a "semi-govern-
mental agency was based on the facts
that its members are Government en-
ployes its officers and trustees are Gov
ernment officials, its accounts are audited
by the Government Accounting Office,
its checks are issued by the United States
Treasury and not less than so per cent
of its net profits must go into the
Treasury.
Evening star., 1939-11-28

A Hollywood gossip column ex-
presses great surprise that the actor
who plays George Washington in the
newest patriotic film is an English
man. Funny thing, but that is just
exactly what George was. -
Evening star., 1939-11-28

Maine and Vermont have not
been heard from, but the Governor
of little New Hampshire has pro-
claimed the last Thursday in Novem-
ber, the thirtieth of the month, as
Thanksgiving Day-take it or leave it.
Evening star., 1939-11-28

A.. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication OF all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
herein also reserved
Evening star., 1939-11-28

So very often a real desperate
does not look like one, and so often
an honest but worried taxpayer does,
especially along about December Is.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
Dear the name and address OF
the 1Driter, although the use OF
pSeudonym for publication is
permissible. Please be brief!
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Member of the Associated Press,

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE
Washington, D. C.
Evening star., 1939-11-28

All Other statsa and Canada.
Evening star., 1939-11-28

Maryland and VirEinia.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
The Evening Star Newspaper Company

Main once. .11th st. and Pennsylvania Ave.
New York Ofice: ITO East 42nd st.
Chicago once: 435 North Michigan Ave.
Evening star., 1939-11-28
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.

Collection made at the end of each month OF
each week Orders may be sent by mail or tele
phone National 5000