davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Virginia Speed Signs

Removal or speed limit signs at the
entrance to congested areas in Vir-
ginia appears to have been a con-
tributory cause to mounting traffic
fatalities and accidents in the near
by area. Residents and local police
blame the lack of signs, with ap-
parent good reason.
Here is what driver with every
intention of obeying the law must
do:
l.. Stop as he enters the State and
study miniature billboard that an
nounces the speed limit in the vari-
GUS business, residential, school and
open country zones
2. Consult the State code to learn
how the various zones are defined.
He would discover, for example, that
"the territory contiguous to a high
way where IS per cent or more of
the frontage thereon for a distance OF
300 feet or more is occupied by build
ings in use for business purposes
o2AoAA SOAAot4CuCC a OuSl1lCSS O4SV1 1CU
for the purpose of this act"
3. Do a, lot of observing of the
territory contiguous to the high
way" and mental calculating to de-
termine what zone he is driving
through.
The theory behind the removal of
conventional signs at the entrance to
town and business districts is that
too many speed signs tend to reduce
their effectiveness. State highway
authorities explain that under the
revised Virginia speed laws of 1898
the limits are fixed according to the
density of houses, business districts,
etc. They believe that motorists will
have better warning as to the
proper speed from topography than
from lot of small signs.
Those who sponsored the new sign
system must have had some misgiv-
ings as to it's effectiveness, for they
did not remove the markings in the
all-important school zones. Despite
the request of county citizens, the
State officials have announced that
they have no intention of putting
the small signs back. All the county
authorities can do is to keep the zone
signs on county roads. This they
have done.
In Fairfax County, which has one
of the highest traffic fatality records
in the State, the sheriff believes
the lack of signs at the entrance to
"slow" zones can be blamed for some
of the deaths. The same belief is
held by residents of the Park Lane
section of Lee highway, where three
fatal accidents have occurred recent
ly. Under the circumstances the
State should give favorable consid-
Grafton to the residents request for
traffic lights in that section, which
has acquired the local name of
Death Valley"
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Defense Efficiency

While Secretary of War Woodring,
in his annual report made public yes
terday, was urging that the Army's
initial protective force be strength
ened materially and brought to one
hundred per cent efficiency, General
George C. Marshall, chief of staff,
was revealing to convention OF his
torians that much remains to be
done before Americas defenses can
bridge the percentage gap to maxi
mum security. General Marshall de-
clared that "the Army machine is
probably less than twenty-five per
cent ready for immediate action"
This means that unless the grave
deficiency is remedied by proper
peacetime preparation. the Army
will be confronted in an emergency
with the task of hastily increasing
its striking power by seventy-five
per cent before it is ready to func-
ton as effectively as the needs OF
the country demand. Such a delay
could have most serious conSe-
quences.
It is through no fault of Secretary
Woodring or of General Marshall,
of course, that this dangerous condi-
ton prevails. It is the fault of the
American people, who, through Con-
gress, regulate expenditures for ma
tional defense. General Marshall
carries the blame one step farther.
He told the historians that the text
books they write have tended to lull
the public into sense Of false Sc
curity, in that they emphasize past
victories but gloss over past mis-
takes, leaving the people with
comfortable belief in our invinci-
bility" AS result, he indicated, the
war machine has suffered from pub
lie apathy and neglect.
Fortunately, public opinion has
undergone drastic change since the
"impossible"-the outbreak OF an
other world war-happened a few
months ago. Other impossible things
might happen in this incredible era.
Congress already has loosened its
purse strings considerably in the in
terest of preparedness, paving the
way for important improvements to
our sea, air and ground forces.
Latest of these improvements, an
nounced yesterday, is the addition OF
fifty-two squadrons to the Army Air
Corps, greatly reinforcing the pro-
lection afforded our outlying possess
sions. The new Congress undoubtedly
will be even more liberal. Large
appropriations, Of course, will be in
volved-but, as Secretary Woodring
pointed out in his report, it is evident
'that the American public, the very
vast majority of the American people,
fully approve of any expenditures
which have as their sole purpose the
assurance of the security and peace
OF this Republic"
Evening star., 1939-12-29

will be welcomed universally, for
there is no place in this country for
those who violate its hospitality.
Somewhat overshadowed by other
aspects of the inquiry was the an
nouncement of the Attorney General
that it will be directed also against
activities involving anti-Semitism
and "other anti-isms." 1t has not
been made clear by what statutory
authority the department proposes
to wage war on those who foment
racial and religious discord, but con-
crete accomplishment in this direc-
ton would, as Mr.. Murphy aptly says,
mean a great deal toward orderli-
ness under democracy"
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Eurthauukes in Turkey

Whatever doubt there may have
been concerning the proximity of
Turkey to the earthquake belt now
has been removed by reports from
Istanbul and Ankara concerning the
tremors which devastated hundred
towns in Anatolia yesterday. Reeds
seismic map of the world shows the
shaken region we'll within the bound
aries of the same mobile strip as
Lisbon, San Francisco, Messina,
Kansu and Yokohama. The pressure
Of vast ocean depths upon hills and
mountains gradually being forced
skyward is the explanation of the
faulting which works disaster for
whole communities at still undeter-
mined periodic intervals. Science
has not yet developed to the point
where notice can be given in advance
with regard to specific areas or times.
And even when prophecies of catas-
trophe have been published, the
populace has been skeptical of them.
The japanese disturbance Of 1923
was forecast in 1905, but the author
of the warning was Knocked by the
public.
People realize, of course. that the
surface of the planet is changing
constantly, and they understand that
some of the changes are certain to
be cataclysmic in character. Yet
they are fatalistic in their attitude
toward their danger. Knowing that
there is little that they can do to
protect themselves against the perils
of natural mutation, they comfort
their hearts with a theory of exemp-
ton. Trouble may come to other
nations; it will spare whatever land
they may call home: such invari-
ably is the normal reaction of the
multitude. No blame attaches to an
escape psychology" of this type.
Indeed, paradoxically, it may con-
duce to the survival of the race in
dynamic universe.
The United States already has ex-
pressed sympathy to the government
of the Turkish republic. American
Red Cross assistance has been offered.
The afflicted Anatolians are neigh
bors, however distant their place of
habitation. To them helping hand
is raised in the hour of their ordeal
and sorrow.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
THIS AND THAT
Bv Charles Z. Trace1Deu.

mems, not in such good health, which
have rather scrawny ones
~ ~
The sign Of healthy squirrel is q
big healthy tail, fat and fluffy
The animal sped Immediately to the
stake and looked up at the stick" !"
which was about 16 inches long and
some inches in diameter.
A series Of holes, perhaps half an inch
in diameter, had been bored In the round.
Up the stake shinnied the animal, It's
curious little hand-like feet, all Of neat
gray, seizing and holding to the projec-
tions which here and there were designed
to hold the wire fencing.
Once on the stick. the squirrel was
at home.
It was part Of q tree!
His claws knew 1t at once. His nose
knew it. His very body, heart and blood
knew it,.
A tree!
Squirrels love trees. none better. They
are at once their life, their existence.
their breath Of life.
God, If pictured by squirrel, would
surely be an oak.
Carefully the animal seated himself on
the top Of the stake.
Yes, a squirrel can do it.
Nothing else, except bird, could. It
is no feat at all for either.
The fat squirrel then hung head down
and investigated one Of the holes with
his front paws
Greedily he raked out seed ate it.,
searched for the peanuts.
1t did not take him but few minutes
to scrape everything out of one hole.
Then he went on to another.
All this was accompanied by series of
acrobatic feats which no other animal
could have equalled.
Inside of half an hour, every hole had
been emptied.
Jones, behind the window, was Just a
bit disturbed.
Wouldn't he leave even a crumb for
the chickadees?
AS this hope flashed through his mind,
he had to laugh at the latest antic of the
squirrel, which, drawing himself erect on
the stake, looked waggishly in his di-
rection.
He had cleaned out the entire stick, in
addition to tearing the bark completely
of one side.
AS he prepared to depart, having con-
sumed in a few minutes what might
have lasted the birds for week or two
he wig-wagged with his TAIL which be-
ing translated, read:
Thanks, that was very nice. When
are you going to put up another one?"
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Heads in the Sund

The tendency of the human race
to discount that which it does not
see or hear is again in evidence.
At Cambridge, Massachusetts,,
home of Harvard University, the
City Council has made it unlawful
to possess or bring into the commu-
nifty any book, magazine or newspaper
containing the words Lenin or Lenin-
grad, and in Chicago, President
James c. Petrillo of the American
Federation of Labor's Federation Of
Musicians has decreed that there
shall be no music for any show which
so much as mentions the name of
John L. Lewis.
It is quite possible that the Council
members and Mr.. Petrillo are imbued
with what they deem to be patriotic
motives, but they are merely COM
pounding their own short-sighted-
ness by hiding their heads in the
sand. The action of the City Council
will not destroy Communism, nor
will the mo Lewis" edict weaken the
C. I. O. Tactics such as these may
impair the great principles of the
Bill Of Rights, but they will strength
en- rather than weaken the objects at
which they are aimed.
Fortunately for Cambridge, Mayor
John w. Lyons has decided to dispose
of the Councils brain child with a
pocket veto. In Chicago, however, no
such remedy is available. 1t can only
be hoped that Mr.. Petrillo can be
made to realize that the course he is
pursuing is infinitely more un-Amer-
lean in spirit than anything he
attributes to Mr.. Lewis.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Gives Information on
Christmas Card Origin.
BIZ Thomas r. Henry.

Knowing that you make every effort to
be correct in your statements, believe
you will be interested in my information
concerning your editorial, Christmas
Cards." which appeared on December 26.
On page $50 of the December issue of
the magazine Antiques, there appears an
article on the origin Of Christmas cards
by Clara Sharafelt. In it the author
points out that the custom of sending
New Year greetings goes back at least
1000 years to the Roman Republic and
there are many examples, preserved in
American museums today, Of Christmas
greeting cards of the 14th, 18th and 10th
centuries. During the Middle Ages of
course, the New Year was celebrated as
the birthday of Christ, and the greeting
combined both features. With the
adoption of the Gregorian calendar, this
naturally effected change. The Ref
ormation did the final job Of separating
Christmas and New Year celebrations
and greetings.
~> RUTH ooAlE cARlL
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Postgraduate Course

From time to time schools have to
close due to the mistakes of poll
ticians and others managing the
funds intended to keep them open,
and occasionally other disasters,
such as epidemics and fires, will do
the same trick. Recently some sort
of a record was broken when Dan
Cupid performed it. Either by acci-
dent or design, his deadly arrows
shot the entire sixth grade of
school, every pupil quitting to get
married. It is not quite clear whether
the teacher will continue to draw
her pay, but there seems to be not
the slightest doubt that if she wants
apples she will have to buy them for
herself.
And what Of the pupils, snatched
so prematurely from the Jaws of
education? They must do the best
they can in their postgraduate
course in marriage. They will prob
ably be puzzled by some of the prin-
cipleS of matrimonial arithmetic.
For instance, at the altar two auto
matically become one, which in turn
is divided into two unequal halves;
a better half and lesser. Couples
must learn to divide their money
with the grocer and the landlord,
and perhaps acquire the difficult
trick of subtracting thirty dollars
week from a salary of twenty-five.
What they may have learned about
the bill of rights will not help
much in learning how to meet other
and more pressing bills. And as for
the boys. who have stopped studying
the history Of man, they are now in
for an intensely fascinating lifelong
course In the mystery Of woman.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Oil for Germany

The recent signing OF German
Rumanian trade agreement after
long drawn negotiations which were
near a breakdown at least once is
likely to have two chief effects: First,
to diminish the likelihood Of an i'm
mediate German threat to Ruma-
MAS independence, and second, to
increase eventually the likelihood of
an aggressive German movement on
the western front.
OF Importance in the agreement
is the provision for export to the
Reich of as much as 100000 tons of
oil a month-compared with the
10000 tons Germany was taking
during the peaceful earlier part Of
1939-and in the alteration of the
leu-mark exchange rate.
Widening of the supply source OF
oil for the Reich depends not alto
gether upon Rumania's readiness to
divert a larger portion of her pro-
duction to Germany, but upon the
ability of Germany to carry the oil
home for refining. The British
blockade has restricted markedly the
amount of oil the Reich has been
able to import, for with tankers no
longer able to go from Rumania to
Hamburg by way Of the Mediterra-
mean, shipments are limited to the
bottleneck of the Danube and rail-
way lines between Rumania and
Germany. During the first months
Of the war Germany imported only
Evening star., 1939-12-29

Latest device to intrigue the interest
Of wild birds in the garden is the food
STICK" section Of bough with holes bored
have been imbedded nuts, seeds and
grains.
Templeton Jones, bird lover, having
received one of these sticks" among
his Christmas presents, tied 1t to
stake, placed the stake in the rhododen-
watch the rarer sorts arrive.
Sure enough, the affair had not been
out more than an hour, when q very odd
bird came!
This creature had four legs, two very
bright eyes and a great bushy tail.
\
It was, as the reader has guessed,
squirrel
Jones did not shoe it away.
He had learned long ago the true
philosophy Of feeding the birds, that you
must take what comes, and be interested
He had wished titmice or chickadees,
but he was willing to be interested in
seeing what a squirrel would do.
In the first place, the rodent had to
climb the steel stake-one left over
from prior fencing operations.
The stake was about feet high,
with the "foodstick" suspended from
the top by copper wire.
The stick was fair game, Of course;
the squirrel had discovered 1t first.
The birds were busily engaged at two
feeding stations in other parts of the
yard.
Many Of them had flown within a
few feet of the delicacies, but not one
had been keen enough to detect them.
Old Man Squirrel, whose nose seems
especially adjusted to peanuts-included
in the "mix"-no sooner smelled them
than he turned.
Previously he had been eating sun
flower seed with the songsters, but here
was something more down his own alley,
as the saying is.
One snif1 was enough.
He turned quickly, just how quickly
any one knows who has ever seen one
of these festive rodents in action Truly,
there is no animal which seems to take
life as festivity more than the
squirrel
This particular specimen was su-
premely fat, which meant that he was
about as handsome as they come.
All animals in nature put on fat
with the cold. They have no other
overcoats
This specimen had particularly fine
tail. Not all squirrels do. At certain
seasons their tails tend to become quite
ragged; then, there are other speci-
Evening star., 1939-12-29

10000 tons a month over all three
routes, about one-third less than the
pre-war months Of 1899, indicating
that the Mediterranean blockade has
cut shipments over that route by at
least 10000 cons a month.
With larger supply Of oil assured
Germany now may take steps to aug
ment the means of transportation
from Rumania, either by rail or the
Danube, but until these means are
enlarged the advantage of having
10000 tons Of oil available each
month in Rumania probably cannot
be fully realized.
More important is the change in
the exchange rateswhich will reduce
by about 20 per cent the cost of all
Rumanian goods for Germany. In
purchases from Rumania the mark
henceforth will be equivalent to so
lei, compared to the AIS established
by the German -Rumanian agree
ment Of last September. This is a
cheapening OF the lei by about 20
per cent
The exchange alteration represents
only partial victory for the Reich.
however. Rumania successfully with
stood German demands for a change
in the exchange rate which would
have cheapened Rumanian goods by
about one third.
On the whole the trade agreement
is highly favorable to Germany, so
favorable in fact that it now becomes
in Germany's interest to guard Ru-
mania against menace from any
quarter. At the same time it enables
the Reich to lay its plans for more
energetic pressure upon the allies in
the west.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Some High Enterprise

Invisible wings traverse the midnight
cloud;
I scan in vain the highroads Of the sky
Where darkness and dim, banning mists
enshroud
The high procession. Only by . cry.
Lonely and intermittent. is that flight
betrayed.
What mute command, what bugle In
each breast
Prompted the painless journey, undis-
mayed,
Leaving the intimate bough, the OUT
grown nest?
When I am called to some high enter
prise
And hear within the strict, compelling
word
That bids me venture unknown seas or
skies
Obedient, unquestioning as the bird.
Let me set forth, however strange the
goal,
Committing to the heavenly ways my soul.
INEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
The War Is On

The climax toward which the De-
partment of Justice has been build
Ing for six months will come Tuesday
when a special grand jury in District
Court begins sitting evidence on "es-
pionage and sabotage matters" with
Nationwide ramifications.
This is unquestionably the most
important phase of the vigorous
campaign the department has insti-
tuted against what Attorney General
Murphy has described as "subversive
activities" springing from foreign
sources. The inquiry has far more
serious implications than the cases
already built up by the Government
in which passport frauds and nom
compliance with the law requiring
registration with the State Depart
ment by agents Of foreign principals
have been charged.
Evidence of sabotage already has
been disclosed in automobile plants
principally in Michigan-by the in
quiry prosecuted under the direction
of the Federal Bureau of 1nvestiga-
ton. But of more moment are the
plans that have been uncovered
which had as their objective not only
further crippling attacks on the au-
tomobile industry, but also on NUM-
tions and aircraft factories whose
unimpaired facilities are vitally
needed by the country in view Of the
emergency created by the war in
Europe.
The forthcoming grand jury probe
should be Of real value. The calm,
methodical manner in which the
department has proceeded in this
whole matter is a guarantee that
no one will be accused unjustly, and
the alacrity with which the majority
Of the Registration Act defendants
have pleaded guilty is evidence that
the proceedings are well conceived.
Further, the declaration by the At
torney General that convicted aliens
will be sent back to their homelands
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Reflections on the Reading
OF Post Cards,
To the Editor cf The Star:


The following incident may be Of inter-
est to football fans and postmen. This
morning our mailman knocked at our
door, handed us the mail, and said, will
you do me favor? Say hello to Milly
for me-youll know why after you've
read that card"
The card was from friend of mine In
Green Bay, Wis, and read as follows:
Dear Connie:
"Well, our Packers sure did it. It's q
good thing that the Redskins weren't
on the same field with them. Oh, hello.
Mr.. Mailman-how are you and how
do you like the Green Bay Packers? I
know you will read this as usual. Well,
Connie. viii write you letter soon.
am at night school and found few
minutes to write to you. Big doings to-
morrow night for the Packers. Milly."
Dec. IS. CONNIE ALLISON.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
C0mmends Snow Removal
Parking Ban.
To the Editor Of The Star;

To the Editor Of The Star:
Residents of the District who have
been protesting the denial of suffrage
have just had what should serve as an
object lesson, to give them pause in agi-
tating for the right to vote.
This is, to my way of thinking, adequate
proof of the supreme wisdom in denying
to residents Of the District the right to
vote in matters pertaining to government
of this city.
Some so miles of our streets have been
withdrawn from parking between and
8 am, during our Indian summer and
winter months. to facilitate snow re-
moval. Now, if our city administration
were elective, the many and vociferous
protests against this parking ban might
have been needed, and the ban removed.
Such is the way of elected off1cials-to
heed the voice of the people, or that
voice which comes to them loudest.
But not so our appointed guardians
The ban sticks, and today we see it vindi-
Gated. With those so miles of streets free
of parked automobiles from the time
snow began to fall until this morning,
not a snow shoveler in the entire city
found any impediment to full and free
swing of his shovel. From 2 until snow
removal was nowhere hindered by parked
cars. c. L. CHAPLIN.
December ~.
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Lundeen Debt Plan
Given Approval


70 the Editor Of The Star:
The recent letter to The Star from
Miss Verna Phillips epitomizes in we'll
chosen phraseology my sentiments with
regard to the Make Europe Pay War
Debts Committee" which is receiving so
much attention In the press.
Miss Phillips is absolutely right when
she says that "the demand appears to
be q fair and well-balanced one" So 1t
is. The demand for land from debtor
nations owning land and for cash from
other debtor nations having cash on
hand-in't that reasonable and just?
We know that enormous funds belonging
to certain foreign governments are in
the banks OF the United States because
those governments realize that their
money is safer here than anywhere else.
We have right to demand payments
from those funds on these long-ignored
obligations We have q right likewise to
call for Islands Ia the West Indies from
Evening star., 1939-12-29
Would Ban Bund
And C. I. O.

70 the Editor Of The Star:
Every evening regularly I read the
many letters about different things which
are happening In our country, and I was
especially interested in . recent letter
signed B. F. g., referring to the German
Rlnd and c. I. O.
That letter not only expressed my own
perplexity. but that Of many others as to
why these organizations are allowed to
exist and to spread over our fair land.
MARY A. SCEIERER.
0ecambor Ii.
Evening star., 1939-12-29

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication Of all news dispatches
credited to it or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
All rights of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved.