davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-11-05
Martinique Mystery

Something seems to be going on
regarding the French island of Mar
tiniuue, and that something may be
of great Importance. Exactly what
1t is, we do not yet know, because
current happenings there are cloaked
in official reticence. Some days ago,
a force of eight destroyerS and six
patrol planes left Key West for an
undisclosed destination. Shortly aft
erwards a press report from Vichy,
France, stated that this force had
arrived at Martinique and another
nearby French island, Guadeloupe.
The Navy Department has not con-
firmed the Vichy report, but has
given out that its naval forces had
been dispatched for scheduled exer-
cises" in that general area, and 1t is
known that some of the deStroyerS
have reached the British island of
st. Lucia, the seat of one of the pro-
jected naval bases leased to us by
Britain. st. Lucia lies so near Mar
Unique that the mountain peaks OF
these two volcanic islands can be
seen from each other on clear days.
Behind these known facts lies
cloud of rumor and speculation
which began last summer when the
French airplane carrier Bearn,
loaded with American-built planes,
put into Martinique at the moment
of Frances collapse, and when a
French cruiser likewise arrived, car
rying in its vaults S250,000000 in
gold reserves Of the Bank of France
sent to the New World for safekeep-
ing. Ever since, British cruisers
have hovered off the island, whose
government has remained loyal to
the Vichy government. Since Vichy
Is amenable to German pressure,
fears evidently have been enter
tanned by both the British and Amer
lean governments that the French
West Indies might become a danger
spot There have been rumors that
UHe dnIlQudIeO 1OIII4lCdIIOllS VI MIDI
Unique would be moderniZed and
that the island might become
haven for German submarines re-
portedly lurking in the Caribbean.
1t is assumed that President RooSe
velt's recent message to Marshal
Petain, head of the Vichy govern
ment, and the latter's reply, dealt
with the situation, at least in part.
But it is certain that any change
in the status of Martinique to the
benefit of Germany would call for
American intervention under the
declarations of the Havana Confer
ence last summer, and that an Amer
lean occupation of the island would
have the backing of the Latin Amer
lean republics. This Pan-American
program has doubtless acted as a
restraining influence upon the Brit
ish, since any belligerent action by
their warshipS against the island
would be considered as an encroach-
nent on the peaceful interests of the
Evening star., 1940-11-05
A HomeIy Custom

Some like homes on the water,
others prefer them high on a hilltop.
Little gray ones in the West are popu-
lar, at least in song, as are also
those on the range where the buffalo
roam. Little has been heard, how
ever, of the worst place for nest
building. Mr.. Parminter of Quebec
and Vermont thinks he knows the
answer. 1t is right smack in the mid
die of the Canadian border.
He complains that the so-called
imaginary line is not sufficiently fab
ulous to be comfortable or profitable.
He has just paid fifty real dollars in
smuggling fine for the heinous sin
of hanging American-made wall
paper and kitchen utensils on a Ca
madam wall in the house. Now that
the customs lads are. wise to him, he
expects even more trouble. Vermont
maple sirup, for instance, would
probably be all right if eaten on Que
bee pancakes in the American dining
room, but not in the Canadian kitch-
en-. Perhaps authorities south of the
border would frown on the use of
Canadian soap in an all-American
bath tub.
One method of handling the prob
lem would be for Washington and
Ottawa to get together and set up a
joint custom house in the hall and
keep it going until Mr.. Parminter,
paying double duty, ran out of either
money or patience. Another would
be to furnish the customs patrol
with at least a trace of horse sense,
a duty-free commodity which is
priceless wherever found.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles T.. Trdce1DeH.

One Of the best ways to discourage
pigeons at bird feeding station, we
have just discovered. is to place the
feeder beneath an overhanging rose vine.
This discovery was quite by accident.
The smaller birds in the garden liter
ally demanded the return of the station
to its old site.
In past years, however, the feeding
board had been on a stake about feet
high.
This brought it in front of the
rambling vine of the Van Fleet rose
on the fence.
This fall a feeding station was put
directly on the ground, and this permitted
1t to be pushed back well beneath the
mass of branches.
Gardeners know how Justify this parti-
cular vine grows.
Perhaps it should never be put on a
fence at all, at least If one is reluc-
tant to prune.
The small birds liked the new situa-
ton. Most OF the songsters which
winter here really prefer to eat off the
ground.
Certainly all members of the sparrow
or finch tribes do, including that
grandest of them all, the cardinal.
They liked the shelter and safety
afforded them by the mass of rose canes.
In between bites, when they could
hold no more, they have perched on
the canes, singing away happily in a
season which brought winter. with
temperature of 81 degrees and snow.
on Saturday, and spring again on the
next Wednesday.
The pigeons had been feeding at the
old place beneath the maple by the
garage, some go feet from the rose vine.
There was no need at all for them to
investigate the new position, but from
long experience with these odd birds
we knew that they would try 1t.
1t is an interesting thing to note how
beings and the creatures.
They may be traced in many ways
through the entire animal kingdom.
This, above all, makes the creatures
our kin. 1t is easy enough to see our
selves in them, and them in us.
Man does not let well enough alone,
and neither will a pigeon.
Investigation, of some sort, must be
made, just in case!
~
Sure enough, here one day came the
pigeons over to the other side of the
yard, to see what the smaller birds
were getting.
Seventeen of them were at the maple
tree.
Now II pigeons make up more bulk
than hundreds of sparrows.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
The Duy After

This is a significant day in our
lives-a day on which great and
free people select leader. And this
is almost the last great nation in the
world where the people retain the
untrammeled right to make that
choice.
But as the citizens of the United
States record their verdict at the
polls, they must not forget that there
is tomorrow. They must not for
get that the same old problems, the
same great dangers, will be with us
on the day after election.
If we, as a Nation, are to retain our
strength and our liberties we must
face the future as a united people,
regardless of which candidate Is
chosen today. The abuses, the pas
sions and the bitterness of the cam
paign must be put behind us. These
are but the shabby garments of cleo
tioneering; they cannot clothe us
after the voting is over.
For tomorrow, and for the days
that are to follow. we will require
Evening star., 1940-11-05
Member of the Associated Press.
An Appeal for Justice

Elsewhere in The Star today is
printed an article headed "The Day,
November 5, I94O," which emphasizes
pointedly the inconsistency, the in
Justice and the vital injury inflicted
by forbidding in effect the 663, Isl
total population of the District and
the (estimated) voteless 100000 resi-
dents to participate in the election
process of giving that consent to be
governed in which democracy Tin
fact, all just government is rooted
and by continuing to class politically
the 100000 voteless with convicts and
lunatics.
Millions of men and women all
over the United States are now, as
they cast their ballots, indicating a
renewed enthusiastic faith in the
democratic form of government, in
government of the people by the
people for the people (now threat
ened by aggresSor totalitarian ma
tionS in Europe and Asia, and their
determination to defend it and to
retain its benefits. By Americaniza-
ton Schools we hasten the CONVEX
sion of aliens into full-fiedged citi-
zens. We condemn and denounce
the millions of neglectful citizens
who stay at home on election day.
And at the same time we inconSist-
emily neglect and delay to begin to
Americanize the 100000 (estimated)
voteless District residents, who, as the
article "The Day" proves, are quail
fed in every respect to become full
fedged Americans.
Respond, o Americans OF the
States, to our just appeal, and no
longer make a mockery of verbal
protestations by failure to act!
Evening star., 1940-11-05

And they eat more than 1000
songsters.
But they are difficult to discourage.
They sent over three scouts, to see
just what was going on.
Their slow waddle through the grass
was comical in the extreme.
They pushed up to the overhang of
the vine, then stopped, as If not quite
sure OF what 10 do next
BY this time all the small birds had
arisen into the vine, where they sat
in long rows on the canes, chirping at
the intrusion.
What odd birds pigeons are!
They alone, of them all, seem to need
arms.
OF the smaller birds, 1t is seldom
wished by a beholder that they had
four legs instead Of two, Of which a
pair might be called arms.
But the pigeons seem to lack them,
Just as the famous statue Of Venus.
The three solemn birds turned and
looked at each other.
This was new one, they seemed to
be telling each other. this thing of a
feeding station being back under.
What right did feeding station
have to be back under anything?
Pigeons, they seemed to tell each
other, needed a free flying space.
With such large wings, they must
have plenty Of room to get them going.
The appeal of the grain and seed was
powerful but so also was the urge
toward ancestral ways.
Pigeons like the open, especially
when on the ground.
They must have plenty of room TO
get out and up, in case Of need.
*% *%
Reluctantly the big fellows drew back,
then with great whirring Of wings-not
whistling-they few into the air and
away.
This startled the IA big birds on the
other side of the garden.
A clatter Of wings arose, as all Of
them took off, circling around over the
house top.
1t was not until the next day that
they tried it again.
This time four birds came across the
grass, at first, standing we'll out from
under the vine for time.
Seeing them standing there, the
others decided it might be safe. after all.
But just as they came waddling over,
the four scouts decided against it.
Away they went, and after them
the rear guard of IA birds.
So We decide, at least for the time
being that the best way to discourage
unwar I'D pigeons at bird feeding sta
tions it to place the feeder beneath
some overhanging rose vine, or maybe
a large shrub would do.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

he also got considerable collection of
the microfauna of the mid -Eocene pc
riod, the little creatures of the ancient
forests, many of whom outlived the giant
uintathereS.
Before going to the Bridger he spent
several weeks in an area in Central Utah.
whose rocks contain fossils of lower
Paleocene mammals-creatures of about
50,000,000 years ago. There was a great
variety of them, most of which have
no direct descendants on earth today.
The lines had run out, in fact, before
the development of the uintathere.
The dominant family, in variety and
numbers, seems to have been that of the
condylarths. These were small-hoofed
animals, ranging in size from rabbit
to a fox. They are classed by paleontol-
ogists as ungulates, the general group
of horses, deer, antelopes, ETC., of the
present. The earliest ancestors of these
presumably would be found in the con-
dylarth group but not in any genera yet
discovered. These were all extinct in
the Eocene period, when the most primi-
tive horses made their appearance.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
Revives Last War Proposals
For World Peace.
To the Editor of The star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Winston Churchill's refusal 10 define
Great Britain's war aims until Britain
has proven her ability to survive may
have been due to modesty, but was,
think, a mistake. There is no disgrace
in suffering defeat in a Just cause, and
knowledge that ones cause is Just is
stimulus to victory at home and a means
of securing good will abroad. Whether
we in America back England, with or
without declaration of war, we want to
have clear conception of the issues.
Frankly, although we would prefer the
British government to the present gov
ernment of Germany as a neighbor. we
want something more at the end of this
struggle than a change in the balance
OF power. Self-defense is reason enough
for fighting, but after an effort of the
proportions demanded we would be
foolish to return the world to an era of
mutual competition leading inevitably
to another general confiagration and. if
the same policy were pursued, to an
other and still another, and so on in
definitely. To put an end to this VIC
ious circle of disaster the terms of settle
ment should be something like this:
l. Adjustment of war as a means of
settling international differences.
2. Self determination for all nations.
within the frame of
8. An international government hav-
ing. as between nations, legislative, ex-
ecutive and judicial functions and sup
piled with police forces sufficient to pre-
vent any attempt to override its decisions
by violence.
4. Complete publicity regarding ma
tional ornaments.
5. The boundaries Of nations to be
subject to review, but changed only with
the consent of the populations affected.
6. Access to raw materials to be allo-
Gated in proportion to the requirements
Of the several states.
7. International tariffs to be adjusted
progressively downward with the ulti-
mate purpose of establishing worldwide
freedom of trade
If our own country goes to war, it
should insist in advance on the adoption
by our allies of principles similar to the
above and enter actively into the war
only after the same principles have been
offered to the enemy nations and re-
jected by them. We then would know
what we are fighting for and the subjects
of enemy nations would know, or could
be made to know, what their govern
ments were fighting against.
JOHN r. SWANTON.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
Pleads for Starving Peoples
OF Conquered Europe.
To the Editor OF The Star

To the Editor OF The Star:
I am deeply distressed about the
hunger blockade. Doesn't it mean
something to us to know that 10000 900
people are subject to starvation in
Europe this winter and of that number
100000 are doomed to starve before
Christmas? 1t should mean enough to
us to stir up American public opinion
to save the 100000 other lives. If
We would write our Congressman, and
talk at home. and in our churches, we
could break this blockade. This action
would not lead to war. 1t means SELL
ing food to starving people. Aren't we
concerned enough to do something now?
Nashville, Tenn. LOIS BOSWORTH.
october 81.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
To q Sun DiuI

You say, "I count only the sunny hours
Do not, I pray you, from lfes manu-
script
Remove the gray, the enchanted
days
Like silver markers in the pages slipped.
Whatever may be in eternity
Eyes freed from limitations Of their
sight
And brave to pierce into celestial ray
Mans vision welcomes dusk and pass
ing light.
Men need sometimes silver printed day,
All cloud-encircled, laced with threads
of rain.
Though eyes of angels gaze into the sun,
No earthly eye can bear such savage
strain.
sOPHRoN1A FULLER.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

the full strength Of a truly united
people Our democracy has rested
securely upon a political foundation
of good winners and good losers.
That is the American tradition; it is
the secret of Americas strength; 1t
is the philosophy to which all of us
must rally after the polls have closed.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
Letters to the Editor

Letters TO the Editor YluSt
bear the name and address Of
the 1Driter, although the use OF
q pSeudongnl for publication is
permissible. The Star reSerUes
the right to edit all letters NTH
q Uie1U to condensation.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

A Republican chairman up in
Pennsylvania declares that no one Is
going to put the thumb on State
employees for political contributions" ="
The thumb or the finger are not so
bad; it is that whole fist that really
hurts.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

Mayor Hague of Jersey City de-
scribed a Senate subcommittee in~
vestigation of election fraud charges
in his bailiwick as "a ten-cent in
quiry." 1t is surprising, however,
what a dime will do sometimes.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

1t is a curious fact that while one
scarcely ever laughs at crying
baby, picture of one bawling will
almost always bring chuckles from
an adult.
Evening star., 1940-11-05
Parliamentary Procedure
For Club Members

This is country of organizations,
and nearly every one is member or
prospective member of one or more.
These organizations conduct their meet
ings in accorda nee with parliamentary
law-the rules OF order long established
so that such proceedings will be fair and
expeditions. Parliamentary Law, our So
page booklet, gives in condensed form all
the essential features of the accepted
rules of order and procedure, and full
instructions and forms for forming an
organization. To scure your copy inclose
10 cents in coin, wrapped in this clip
ping, and mail to The Star Information
Bureau.
--------------------
Name
------------------
Street
City
State
Evening star., 1940-11-05

@. What is Belleek?-P. S. T.
A. Belleek is thin, lightweight porce-
lain, having a beautiful iridescent or
pearly glaze. 1t takes its name from a
town in Ireland where it has been
made for many years.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

@. About 20 years ago I bought bird
OF paradise. May wear the feathers
now?-L. K.
A. Since the passage of the 1918 Tariff
Act, it has been unlawful to bring the
bird Of paradise into this country. Even
though your feathers were legally OBJ
tained, it might cause you embarraSs-
ment to wear them now.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

@. What percentage of the bread con-
sumed is made by bskeries?-T. D. S.
A. Approximately IS per cent is now
made in commercial bakeries.
Evening star., 1940-11-05

O. How many freboats are used In
New York City?-H. T.
A. Ten fireboats guard the city's water
front. The latest and most modern
cost sl,0000 900 and has pumps which
can throw water at the rate of 10000
gallons a minute.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-11-29
Broughton's Majority

Elect Hroughton's larger
majority than that given President
Roosevelt in North Carolina in the
November 5 election does not rep
resent an alarming detection from
the national ticket. While it is true
that the Republican gubernatorial
candidate had much smaller vote
than the Republican candidate for
president. there was No such falling
away as occurred twelve years ago
when Al Smith lost the State to
Herbert Hoover.
Broushton has been called Il
minority" candidate for governor in
that he won the nomination with
nothing like 4 majority of the votes
cast. He led in field of five. and
WAS fortunate To roll up 4 sufficient
margin over his nearest competitor
Wilkins Horton. as to scare off Il
second primary. thus achieving
victory with less than one-third of
the total vote polled in the Dem
ucratic contest.
The fact that Broughton. in the
face OF this situation. should have
claimed 4 larger majority in the gen.
cral election early this month than
did the President is an indication of
the party loyalty of Democrats in
this State t. their State ticket, and
of their willingness To accept primary
results and then close ranks for a
great victory in the general election.
Last springs guberuatorial contest
never did engender the feeling that;
was aroused in the fight four years
ago. and even at that time the
nominee in the second primary won
hands down by tremendously one
sided majority in November. An
imuSitieS that were stirred in the bit.
terc<t primary battle Of generation
did no I persist. Governor Hoey
proved u be about the most popular
chief executive the State has had.
Broughton'S big vote in the elec'
ton has shown the temper Of Dem
ocrut> in the State in the unity they
achieved. They have shown their
support of him by cordially that
is marked and decisive. He has the
opportunity. and we hope and be- I
lieve he will make the most of it. to
in return Il spirit of !
fllendliucSS and good will alike to-
ward those who went down the line
tor him and those who supported one
IF the other -four contestants in the !
primary battle.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-11-29
EACTOOIIZ ANSWERS.

|. About 10000 to $4,000 feet under
favorable conditions.
?. The Last Judgment, by Mi
chelangelo. in the SiStine chapel
Rome Italy.
3. Yes. they are called lunar ram
bows Or moon rainbOWS.
4. A narrow piece Of linen or lace
folded across the breast or attached
to the neck Of d gown.
5. 1t has always been regarded
as the cmble moi might and courage.
1t was adopted by the United States
in 1888
6. From the cork tree
!. Hamlet.
8. Four, eight or twelve, the time
an ordinary watch is ended.
9. Shipping in foreign trade is
registered; coaStWiSe is enrolled.
10. No.
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-11-29
Britain's Plight

Britain'> sudden reversal of policy
from one of optimism 10 that Of APP
parent dependency as regards her
condition and the outcome Of the war
was as sudden as il was unexpected
There We're hints from London that
decision to play up the darker side
was decreed in an effort to stir
greater sympathy here and to play
on the fears of this country that
Britain is in imminent danger of los
ing the war.
This new turn followed close on
the heels Of returning Ambassador
Lothian'> statement that his nation
is nearing the end Of its rope
financially and may in the near
future have to call on the United
States for credits. in addition to war
supplies already being furnished I'M
der the much talked-Of cash and
carry system. The monetary Situa-
ton has Quickened sentiment in
Congress for an investigation to de-
termine the exact amount Of British
financial reserves here.
It is pretty generally accepted as
fact. we think. that the war has
taken much heavier toll of British
lives and property than English CEN
SorS have admitted Repeated bomb
in9S by hundreds Of German war
planes could not have failed to exact
terrific loss in both directions. It is
{; asking too much for Britain to admit
a night of Nazi raids from dusk 10
2:30 a. M. with incendiary bombs
and high explosives scattered all
about, and then expect Americans
and the world to believe that barely
any scars were left as evidence of
/ the attack. That just doesn't make
sense. And it has been going on most
! of the time for months.
The utmost admiration is felt in
the United States for the boldness
and stamina with which the English
! people have stood up under such
Straf'ng. In Our heartfelt gratitude
I for being spared similar experiences
there is the rervent hope and prayer
that they will not come and that
Britain may hold out and ultimately
gam the upper hand and victory.
Along with this darker side of the
picture is ais" a silver lining. The
British fleet is still intact, though
London now candidly confesScS that
| I"SH"S are occurring faster than re-
placements can be provided. Neither
! MtISS"In nor Hitler has as yet seen
ut to challenge Gibraltar or Suez.
Italian aggression in Africa has bog
; S'o GOWN, and fascist arms have met
staggering reverScS at the hands of
! 'ihy Greece. Moreover. the invasion
menace for Britain has been lifted
i"r the time being, perhaps forever
Hit!"r'S tactics now appear to have
changed to policy of destruction
ct british cities and industrial cen
terS and Of civilian morale, together
with Strangulation by cutting off
TODD supplies to the islands by way
OF redoubled sinkings of merchant
ships.
! SERIOUSNESS of the culi Gnt situation
lies not so much in military reverses
as N gripping of industry and tor
Henderson daily dispatch., 1940-11-29

menting civilians beyond the point
of endurance. If war preparations
can be so throttled by bombings as
to deprive Britain of the means of
striking back, the effect and result
will be virtually the same as if con-
quest were achieved by actual armed
invasion.
Americans must decide shortly
whether to accept the gloomy view
point or to pass it up us propaganda.
For our own safety and our own
future. the course of the United
StnteS with respect TO aid for Britain
must be determined, and that right
ouicklv. ON that basis.