davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Life and Death Write Todoys News in the Zoo World

this week came on the body of the
little otter which had been
favorite of the Washington pub
lie since his birth here 18 years
ago. He was the only survivor
of his family.
The otter was a playful, quick
and intelligent animal. He de-
lighted to romp in the snow, and
made his own slides into the ice
incrusted pool. He never lost his
enthusiasm for sport, although
all his games. in recent years,
were the rather lonely affairs Of
his own invention. He had a few
friends among the public, and
would come to the fence to beg
peanuts from their hands.
A stone thrown by some specta-
tor gave him a fatal blow on
the head. Some small boy,
probably" said a keeper bitterly,
". he ought to be congratulated
for his workmanship"
Another untimely end came to
the huge hyacinth macaw, q
commanding figure in the bird
house since 1927. This largest Of
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Liquor License
Action by U. 5.
Worker Upheld
Citizens Association
Opposition Seen
Non-PoIiticuI

Citizens association members who
are Government employees may take
part in Liquor Board hearings here,
it was said informally at the Civil
Service Commission today, after the
issue had been raised last night at
meeting of the Takoma Park Cit
liens Association.
Cases of this sort are much along
the line of Zoning proceedings and
do not involve a political issue, it
was felt.
The right of association officers to
interest themselves in neighborhood
liquor control was challenged at
the meeting when two officers who
are employed by the Government
had recited their part in opposing
a license.
Regulations Cited.
Thomas j. Fitzpatrick, an employe
Of the General Accounting Office,
told the association that in the rules
of the Civil Service Commission
activity in campaigns concerning
the regulation or suppression of the
liquor traffic is prohibited" He
quoted these lines from the regula-
tions.
He also further cited the regula.
ton that an employe may be
member but not an officer of club,
league or other organization which
takes part in such a campaign" He
questioned the actions of Association
President Reed F. Martin, chief
clerk at the General Accounting Of
flee, and Association Secretary Wal.
ter Trey, an employe of the Post
Office Department, in fighting
against the granting of the license
in the 300 block of Cedar street
at hearing before the Alcoholic
Beverage Control Board.
Mr.. Fitzpatrick said he proposed
to attend the next hearing of the
A. B. c. Board and support the ap-
plicant if any civil service employe
appeared against the license. He
was not member of the association,
but had applied for membership and
was granted the right to speak.
IctltiOH OppOScS L1CcHSc.
The license was opposed by petit
ton from TAO residents in the Dis
trict section of Takoma.
Following the debate, the associa-
ton voted to oppose issuance of
license in the 5000 block of Fourth
street, Takoma Park
Other action of the group in
cluded support OF deficiency ap-
preparation at the next session Of
Congress to provide equipment and
teachers for the Calvin Coolidge
Senior High School,
The members also wanted new
sidewalks for the Silver Spring jun
ior High School and the new Ia.
koma JUNIOR High School. They
have already asked for sidewalks op-
posite the Coolidge on Fifth street
NV.
Support was also voted for Com
missioner Hazen's plan for a farm
| for inebriates.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
500 Watch Mogicions
Perform at Press Club

Part-time magicians befuddled
and amused an audience of 500 in
the Washington Assembly Society
OF American Magicians' eighth an
nual entertainment program fol
members of the National Press Club
and their families last night at the
Press Club.
Charles H. Small served as maste,
OF ceremonies and performers in.
cluded Ralph H. Mittendorff, Charles
w. Nyquist, Charles Townsley, Fred
erick Untiedt, Comdr. c. c. Slayton
U. s. NJ; Mr.. and Mrs. Ray Otter.
back and Herman Biller,
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Reception Honors
Archibald Macleish

Archibald MacLeish, who took
over his duties as librarian of Con-
gress october 2, was formally well
comed to library circles of WASH
ington last night.
He was the honor guest at re-
ception given by the District of Co.
lumbia Library Association and the
staff of the Library of Congress at
the Interior Department auditorium.
Mr.. MacLeish addressed the re-
ception attendants briefly, calling
attention to the Importance of the
Governments education of its citi-
zens. He was presented to the gath
ering by Miss Elsie Rackstraw, pres
ident of the District of Columbia
association and librarian at the
Federal Reserve Board.
More than 900 persons attended
the reception. Receiving with Mr..
MacLeish and Miss Rackstraw were
Miss Louise Cation, secretary of the
Library of Congress, and Miss Sabra
Vought, librarian at the Bureau Of
Education library of the Interior De-
partment
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Frank |. Hudson, Revenue
Bureau Official, Dies al 81

Frank L. Hudson, 62-year-old as
sistant chief of one of the Bureau
of Internal Revenues reviewing di-
visions. died early today at his home,
1924 Rittenhouse street NV, fol-
lowing a long illness.
He had been connected with the
bureau for 81 years, joining it after
two years of service with the United
States marshars Office in the Dis
trict of columbia and one year with
the Department of Commerce.
Born in Georgetown, Del, Mr..
Hudson came to Washington in
1917. He was a member of Almas
Temple, Shriners.
Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Mat
tie L. Hudson: two sons, Earl and
Raymond Hudson, both of Clayton,
Del: two sisters, Mrs. Sallie v.
Short, of Georgetown. Del, and
Mrs. Alice M. Hart of Wilmington,
Del, and one brother, Harry Hud-
son, of Delmar, Del.
Funeral services will be held at
the s. H. Hines Co. funeral home,
2901-7 Fourteenth street NV, Mon
day at 2 pm. Burial Is to be in
Cedar Hill Cemetery.
Evening star., 1939-12-16

curb her appetite for peanuts.
She does her best to put on an
act for the peanut-bestowing
public, an act a bit strenuous
for a performer in her condition.
A big crate has been made for
Pinkie, all 1000 pounds Of her,
and she'll be moved into the ma
ternity ward as soon as the
weather moderates bit, for even
a hippo is thin-skinned on oc-
casion. Because she weighed so
much, and the circus was pretty
tired of Juggling her around.
Pinkie came to the Zoo last May
in exchange for Gum Drop, a
scant 100 pounds of baby pygmy
hippo.
Thus was mate provided for
Bongo.
Meanwhile, the pygmy pair is
anticipating another addition to
their family. Gum Drop the
Second. perhaps.
But death, too, visited the Zoo.
Outdoors, In the wooded ravine
where the pools for water crea-
lures are located, the keepers
Evening star., 1939-12-16
BY w. H. SHIPPEN, Jr.

It's the slow season at the Zoo,
with winter closing in, but the
old reliable story-makers, life
and death, seem to be much
buster than usual.
Not one but two baby hippos
are expected in the pachyderm
house, where keepers are laying
bets on which will be the first to
arrive-an infant pygmy, or the
offspring of parents huge even
for hippos.
It's another race, however. that
won't be won by size. The bet
ting is about even. The babies
may be here for Christmas, and
they may be quite a bit later.
The mothers are being moved
into the maternity ward" as
soon as possible.
This is important for "Pinkie,"
who is circus trouper, a veteran
retired when her weight made her
a two-ton burden for Cole Bros.
CIRCUS. Her new domestic con-
dition, howeyer, has failed to
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Congressional Group
To Approve Garand
Rifle Funds
Committee Wants Every
American Soldier to
Have One Of Guns
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass, Dec. 16.-
Proceeding on its inspection tour
of the Nations defenses today, a
congressional committee announced
it would approve a further appro-
priation to speed production of the
Army's new, semi-automatic Garand
rife.
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of
Oklahoma, spokesman for the COM
mittee. who said in Boston yester-
day the committee had to travel
10000 miles in and out of Army
posts, to Fort Riley. Kans., before
being able to see one of the rifles,
declared the committee wished to
insure rapid enough production so
that every American soldier could
have one Of the weapons.
After inspecting the rifle during
a demonstration at the Springfield
arsenal, and talking with its in.
ventor. John c. Garand, Ar armory
employe, the committee expressed
itself as perfectly satisfied" with
the gun.
Previously Senator Thomas was
critical because during a demonstra-
ton of the rifle at Fort Riley, a jam
occurred and the expert marksman
in charge didn't know how to
fix it,
The committee went to the Water
Vliet IN. " arsenal TODAY,
Evening star., 1939-12-16
u. ). Doctors SOUGHT
To Help Firms Block
Enemy Diseases
Red Cross Makes
100000 Available
For Relief at Once
Fear that the Soviet invaders will

Fear that the Soviet invaders will
bring disease as we'll as normal war
time death and destruction to Fin
land has prompted call for at least
two American doctors skilled in
combating typhus and other orien-
tal-type epidemics for service in the
Baltic nation, the American Red
Cross has revealed here.
The efforts of the Red Cross to
locate medical men desirous of serv-
Ing the Firms resulted from report
on Finnish needs cabled to the re-
lief organization yesterday by Wayne
Chatfield Taylor, its special repre-
sentative in Helsinki.
On the strength of Mr.. Taylor's
advices that the Firms expect to
withstand Russian aggression at
least until spring, the Red Cross also
made 100000 for relief Immediately
available and set aside an additional
$150,000 as may be needed. AS the
first application of the 100000 fund,
the relief organization ordered 10
light ambulances for shipment to
Finland within 80 days.
Reporting that contributions to
Finnish relief were coming in sat-
isfactorily," Red Cross Chairman
Norman H. Davis said $40, 800 was
received yesterday, including $4,000
each from Bernard M. Baruch of
New York and Warren Wright of
Chicago, $4,000 from the New York
Chapter and $3.50 from New York
investment bankers
Declaring that American aid must
be promptly and abundantly Of
fered' to Finland, Mr.. Taylor re-
ported that
From 100000 to 100000 Firms had
fled battle zones of the south and
east, between 100000 and 100000
of them having left home with only
the clothes they were wearing.
A lack of raw materials and re-
striction of imports may create a
clothing shortage in a few months.
The food situation is "comforta-
ble," and if the defense lines hold,
the supply will last until the next
harvest.
There is a serious shortage of light,
heated ambulances, and the Amer
ican organization should buy 100
Immediately.
Other countries will furnish medi-
cal personnel, but trained surgeons
and specialists in Oriental diseases
are needed.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Parks Heads Decide
On Own YuIe Tree,
Ending Dispute
36-Foot Cedar From
Federal Property
Placed on EIIipse

The controversy over who would
have the honor of furnishing the
National Community Christmas
Tree was settled today when Ma
tional Capital Parks officials decided
to use one Of their own cedars.
Residents of Maryland and Vir-
ginia had offered trees, but they
were either not large enough or
were too far away from the city
to be useful. One tree, offered by
the Marylanders, was located near
Waldorf and another was far out
in Montgomery County. The Vir-
ginians came forward with tree
from a farm near Mount Vernon.
The cedar selected and placed on
the Ellipse this afternoon was found
on Government property near We'll
lington on the Mount Vernon boule-
vard 1t is more than 36 feet high
and is 8 inches through the trunk.
Park officials said it is in excellent
condition and has a good cone
shape.
Instead of replanting the tree in
a city park after Christmas this
year, the cedar will be taken back
home" and planted in its original
spot.
President Roosevelt will turn on
the lights at dusk Christmas Eve
during ceremonies which will be
attended by Government officials,
civic leaders and city heads. More
than 5000 persons are expected to
view the ceremonies, and, accord
ingly, park police are perfecting
plans to handle the large audience.
Meanwhile, rapid progress is being
made in erecting hollow square of
stands which will seat more than
1000 spectators. The installation
of electric wiring and the placing
of ropes and barricades also has
been nearly completed.
Park officials said today Christmas
trees will not be placed in the White
House until late next week. A large
tree, as usual, with all the colorful
trimmings and lights, will be To-
Gated in the east room of the man.
sion. In addition, two smaller ever
green's will be decorated with tinsel
and lights and placed at each side
of the front portico These usually
are boxed and stand about S feet
high.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Other Wise Man.
To Be Broadcast
By Terrell Students
Cast Of 20 and 80
Voices to Take Port in
Program onieht

"The Other Wise Man" play
adopted from the story by Henry
Van Dyke, will be presented by the
students of Terrell Junior High
School over WMAL tonight at 7::30
o'clock.
A cast of 20 young actors with mu-
sical background provided through
out by a combined chorus of 80
youthful voices will dramatic the
story of the wanderings of The
fourth Magian in his search for the
Lord his King, but who through
hardships and humane acts spent
his worldly fortune of three priceless
jewels originally intended for the
Christ Child's manger, ministering
to the poor, healing the sick and
comforting the captive. His services
to humanity. however, enabled him
to find his King at last in death
Principal Characters.
The principal characters of to-
nights presentation will include
Bernice Douglas. the story teller;
Holiday Whisonant, Artaban; Rob-
ert Fennell, the Hebrew; Marion
Owens, the mother; Paul Butler,
the captain; Conrad Calender, the
rabbi; Erlre Chisholm, the voice, and
Betty Pique, the slave girl.
Arrangements for the broadcast
were under supervision of the Radio
Committee at Terrell, OF which Miss
v. L. Porter is the chairman. Other
members of the committee include
Mrs. F. j. Roy. Mrs. A. M. Tyson,
Mrs. L. M. Hillman, Miss G. l..
Collins and Mrs. E. S. Thornton.
The music for the broadcast was
selected and directed by Mrs. Thorn
ton, and the script was adapted by
Mrs. Roy.
Series Praised.
Miss v. E. Chase, principal of
Terrell Junior High, was enthusiastic
in her praise of the Junior high
school series thus far and cooper
ated whole -heartedly in releasing
the children participating in to-
nights broadcast for several lengthy
rehearsals in the school auditorium
during the week.
This series of junior high school
broadcasts designed to bring radio
closer to the educational field Is
sponsored by The Star with the CO.
operation of the National Broad
casting Co. and the Board of Edu-
cation.
Evening star., 1939-12-16

the parrots had spectacular
plumage of a purplish blue and
was one of the rarest of South
American species. He couldn't
be replaced for $3.50. and few
turn up among the dealers.
The bird occupied cage in the
center of the aisle used by spec
tators. Last Sunday the spring.
like weather brought out an
unusually large crowd for De-
cember. People fed the big ma
cav peanuts by the peck" it
would seem. He had eaten many
before, but not that many.
Given less attention and pea
nuts, he might have lived a half
a century longer.
But all was not bad news
in the birdhouse-the penguins
laid another egg. They may, as
past experience hints, have
laid an egg" in the slang sense
of the phrase, and that, too,
might 60 for the hippos-life has
more uncertainties than the
other half Of the Zoos story
team.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Admitting ; HoIdups,
Man Gets 6 to u Years

A sentence of from to IL years
was passed yesterday on Mack Will
son Fierst, who pleaded guilty to
three robbery cases, including that
of the Charles H. Tompkins Co. pay
roll of $9,400, before Justice Peyton
Gordon in. District Court.
In addition to the pay roll holdup,
Fierst admitted his guilt in robbing
a collection clerk OF the Goodacre
Restaurant Co., of 1927, as well as
robbing Wallace B. Hulse of $500.
Hulse said he was robbed in the
some case for which William Dutch)
Kappel is now serving sentence OF
from two to eight years.
Representing the Government was
Assistant United States Attorney
Allen j. Krouse.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
McNutt Says
| |ckes Is q Sub
On Wrong Bench
BY the Associated Press.

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 16.-Paul
v. McNutt, Federal Security admin
istrator and presidential candidate
if President Roosevelt doesn't run,
frankly admits he's in the dark on
his chiefs third-term intentions.
Speaking here last night at the
annual Indiana University football
banquet, the former Hoosier Gov
ernor said, concerning the recent
statement by Secretary of Interior
Ickes that liberals would not sup
port Mr.. McNutt for President. that:
MY Office is only an epithet away
from the Interior Department and
a stones throw from the Post Office
Department.
POSTMASTER General Farley is
an old political enemy of Mr..
McNutt.)
Il don't listen to second-stringers
who come into the stadium on an
Annie Oakley and take their seat on
the wrong teams BENCH" he added.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Police Piece Togethe
Details Of Ramsay
Double Staying
Three Brief Messages
Written to Friends
By Elderly JeweIer

Faced with the prospect of lone
illness at Christmas and racked with
illness, 77-year-old William Ramsay,
retired matchmaker and jeweler,
shot his wife, Mrs. Susan Ramsay,
wrote and mailed at least three
brief, final messages to friends and
then killed himself.
This was the story of the double
shooting at 3053 Sixteenth street
NV. discovered yesterday, as pieced
together by police today following
completion of their investigation of
the case. Certificates of murder and
suicide were issued.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ramsay quarreled
over her plans to leave for Miami
today for holiday visit with their
daughter, Mrs. Jean Ramsay Chase,
detectives said Mr.. Ramsay's poor
health made it impossible for him
to take the trip. Entries were found
in his notebook telling of the in
tense suffering he had endured from
increasing physical infirmity. In
one place Mr. Ramsay wrote that
he was losing my hearing and
memory"
Investigation showed that Mrs
Ramsay, too, was partially deaf ano
had been i'll recently.
Scraps of Food on Table.
Detectives declared the shooting
of Mrs. Ramsay occurred shortly
after lunch Thursday. Scraps o1
the midday meal were found on the
dining room table of their three
story residence 1t was the maid s
day off and Albert Marlowe, top
floor roomer, was at his job at the
Government Printing Office.
Ofncers learned yesterday after
noon that Mr.. Marlowe came home
late Thursday night, slept in the
room and left for work early Friday
morning, unaware that both Mr.
and Mrs. Ramsay lay dead in the
house. He said that he heard nc
unusual noises and that he did not
smell gas.
After shooting Mrs. Ramsay
whose body was discovered on the
kitchen floor with two .38-calibel
revolver bullets in the chest ano
another in the head. Mr.. Ramsay
wrote farewell messages to friends
One, on a postcard, was addressed
to an old friend and former EN-.
ploye, Albert 'Spletter, watchmake,
IN the National Press Building
Dear AL it read. please open
safe for my daughter s." In one
corner, as a postscript, Mr.. Ram.
say had written: Mrs. R., she is
now dead. I come next" 1t was
postmarked 4:3O pm. Thursday.
Two Other Communications.
Police said today that at least two
other brief communications had
been mailed to others at the same
time.
Returning to the big house, which
stands on the triangle where Fiji
teenth and Sixteenth streets meet at
Irving street, Mr.. Ramsay went to
his wife's bedroom on the second
floor, bolted the door. turned on a
gas jet and shot himself = in the
temple with the .38-caliber revolver
which officers found at his side.
Neighbors said that the Ramsays
lived quietly and were seen infre-
quently except in the summer
months when they often sat on the
front porch or walked on their large
lawn.
Mrs. Chase was expected to arrive
In Washington today, and funerals
were set tentatively for Monday
afternoon.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Record Defenes Estimates
Studied by Roosevelt

HYDE PARK, Dec. 16 (P.-Presi-
dent Roosevelt today studied War
and Navy Department recommends
tions for record peace time appro-
priations.
Budget Bureau estimates were
understood to call for $4,000, 900 900
to $2,250, 100000 for defense during
the fiscal year beginning July /,
1910.
The President was seeking to pare
down estimates in the general
budget, but he was not expected to
make any material cuts in the de-
fense estimates.
The President is spending the
week end at his Hyde Park home.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Radio Play Will Aid
tuberculosis Drive

The Players Club of Central
Community Center were to stage q
radio play over Station WRC from
S to $40 pm. today. The play,
THE Shadow on the Path is spon-
sored by the District tuberculosis
Association.
Jack Rollins, Cecilia Carney and
Frederic Cole are the actors. Will
liam Leggate is the director.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Boy Scout Board to Meet

The Board of Review of the Po-
ton1ac Division of the Boy Scouts
will meet tonight at 1880 o'clock at
the Georgetown Lutheran parish
hall. A reunion of Scouts and
Scouters who attended the jamboree
last summer will be held there De-
cember %.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Capital Hiking Club

The Capital Hiking Club will
leave by bus from 1416 F street
NV. at 9 am. tomorrow for a visit
to Fort McHenry in Baltimore and
to Patapsco State Park.
Evening star., 1939-12-16
Traffic Record

The trafflc record for 24-hour
period ending 8 am. today:
Fatalities, none.
Accidents, A.
Motorists injured, 10.
Motorists arrested, 391.
Pedestrians injured, 2.
Pedestrians arrested for vio-
lation of pedestrian control
regulation, 3.
Imperial Valley press., 1939-09-10
MISERY PLUS GREED
EQUALS MORE MISERY

America will applaud President Roose-
.Velts declaration that Uncle Sam will
not allow any of the kind of food profit
eering that sent prices skyrocketing in
the early days of the first World War.
Those who have shown by their actions
already that they want to boost prices
beyond all reason, using the European
war as an excuse, should take warning
from the pronouncement of the Presi-
dent, as well as the attitude of the peo-
pie.
We do no want to fight in this war
NO more do we want TO pay prices for
which there is no excuse in reason, Just
because somebody else is fighting a war.
The cost of many things have gone up,
and will go still farther. For some of
these, there is reason. The. costs a news
paper must bear, for instance, increase
immensely during a war. The cost of
wire service alone more than doubles.
There is reason for this. The great wire
services must increase their staffs in
Europe. They must pay great cable
tolls. They must hire more men at home
to handle and edit the news. They must
overcome difficulties the like of which
they never meet during peace time
Many items in all lines of business
fall into the same category. Many others,
however, do not.
1t is hard to imagine for instance,
why a national wholesale concern which
purchased its flour at peace time rates
months ago, and which has not increased
its wages. nor had to pay greater freight
rates, nor met any other great increased
costs should force stores to pay an ex-
horbitant price for that same flour. The
stores, forced TO pass the increase III
price along to the consumer, are not to
blame.
The food profteers, who hope to make
millions of dollars out of European mis-
cry, are to blame. And by boosting the
price of food, they increase misery at
home among those who cannot afford to
pay more.
The greatest service the government
can do its people just now is a thorough
investigation of prices, and summary
action against profiteers in cases where
price increases are not Justified.