davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-13
| Egg Quotations
| Down Sharply
At New York
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Feb. 13-Egg prices
broke sharply in the mercantile ex-
change today, with mixed colored
varieties selling from AZ to 5la
cents below Saturdays quotations
Fancy to- extra fancy mixed colors
sold at 25A-26 cents per dozen.
White and brown graded declined
21a to 4 cents per dozen.
Dealers credited the decline to
the large increase in receipts and
the picking up In production due
to the milder weather.
CHICAGO, Feb. 13, (R.-Liberal
receipts and slow demand today
toppled wholesale egg prices as
much as 5ha cents a dozen.
The sharp break wiped out prac-
tically all of the advance that re-
suited from recent cold weather
curtailment Of production and sup
plies. Graded and current receipts
suffered the sharpest setback, graded
firsts declining to 201s and 20s.
down cents, and current receipts
to 1917, down 51z cents.
Receipts today totaled 1852, con-
sidered comparatively large. The
slow demand, traders said, was
partly seasonal.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Approval Of indianapolis
Power Deal Expected
By the Associated Press.

CHICAGO, Feb. Federal
Judge William H. Holly indicated
yesterday that he would sign an
order authorizing the trustee Of the
Utilities Power & Light Corp. to
sell the common stock Of the In.
dianapollis Power q Light Co., $780,.
900, 1000 unit Of U. p. e. L.
Roger @. White, attorney for
Trustee Charles True Adams, asked
the courts permission to sell CAS- $50
shares Of the Indianapolis common
stock to a group OF Eastern UNDER
writer's for $l4,850, 900. Approval Of
the Securities and Exchange Com
mission would be necessary before
the shares could be sold.
The presentation Of the order was
the second phase of the Utilities
Power & Light reorganization under
the Atlas plan. The first provided
for the sale of all the common
stock OF the Newport Electric Co.,
Newport, r. I.
The Atlas plan calls for the sale
OF all voting stock in all properties
within two years, thus converting
the U. P. q L. from a holding COM
pany into an investment company.
Willard L. King, representing hold
ers OF common stock, said he would
appeal from the order relating to the
indianapolis company If Judge Holly
signed it.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Bank Of Mexico Acts
10 Support Peso
Al Present Rate
Associated Institutions 5
Agree to Join in
Exchange Plan
sy the Associated Pres,.

By the Associated PreSs.
MEXICO CITY, Feb. 13-Gov-
ernment and banking circles re-
ported today that the Bank of
Mexico and its associated institu-
tions had agreed in a series Of
private conferences to support the
peso at its present exchange rate
Of 500 to the dollar.
The banking authorities also de-
cided there should be no restriction
on facilities at this time for credit
intended to stimulate production,
but that all loans solicited for spec
ulative operations should be refused.
Reliable sources said the banks
directors expressed the opinion that
the current exchange rate of the
peso faithfully reflected Mexico's
economic and foreign trade position
Little fear was evident, these
quarters asserted, that Mexico's s
national economy would be unbal-
anced should the United States de-
eide to suspend further purchases
Of Mexican silver-purchases which
have been an important source of
foreign exchange for the nation.
The bankers were confident that
an adjustment between exports and
imports could be made which would
compensate for the stoppage Of sil-
yer buying.
Financial circles have said re-
peatedly that public confidence In
the peso would be SO undermined
by the American suspension of silver
purchases that a run on the peso
would develop which would push
Mexico's currency unit down as low
as eight to the dollar.
Some Government officials also
have expressed this viewpoint and
have said that Mexico was using
all her influence in Washington to
sidetrack legislation intended to end
the American Governments present
silver policies.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Chicago Livestock

CHICAGO. Feb. 13 0E, Omitted States
Department Of Agriculture) .-Salable hogs.
u 900: total. 2S, 500: open slow, steady to
10 lower than Mondays average: later
trade more active. mostly 8 to 10 OF; top.
5.60 bulk. good and choice. 1SO-220
pounds 535-6o: 22O-24O pounds. 5.25-
80; 24O-270 pounds, generally 5.O5-3O;
most 2S0-360-pound butchers, 475-5.O0;
good 400-550-pound packing sows. 4.1O-
4.50; lighter weights up to 455
Salable cattle, 5000; salable calves,
1900 very little done on rank and file,
medium to good fed steers: such grades
predominating. most offerings carrying con-
siderable weight: yearlings scarce, shippers
and other buyers taking liberal supplies
choice steers and yearlings steady at 1925
upward; all other grades weak early top,
l,403-pound long fed steers. 11.35: choice
yearlings bid ll.50; few yearlings above
/ 80; few large veighty steers lO.25-9O;
strictly medium to good light cattle, SOO-
9.25; heifers steady, slow: supply mainly
medium grade short feds: Gamer and cut
ter cows firm; weighty cattle selling UP to
5.25; bulls steady to weak: heavy sausage
bulls to 7.25; vealers steady to 1O.25-75;
few selects, IL 90: SPOT cattle dull.
Salable sheep, 5000: total. 5000; late
Monday. fat lambs closed 25-4O higher;
sheep steady: wooled lambs. 9.25-4O; top.
9,45; 101-106-pound lambs, 9.1O-4O;
slauehter ewes 4.50-5.00 today's trade
tat lambs In broad demand; bidding steady
with Mondays advance: asking stronger.
good to choice wooled lambs, bid 9.25-40
freely; best held $50 and above; sheep
ewes, $40.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Government Spending
Declared Obstacle
To Recovery
Lutz Tells Trust
Conference Vicious
Circle Exists
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. l3.-The Gov
ernment's deficit spending policy
was termed an obstacle to business
recovery today by Harley Lutz,
professor Of public finance at
Princeton University, addressing the
Midwinter Trust Conference of the
American Bankers Association.
I'VE have before us" Lutz said,
"the outline of a beautiful, vicious
circle. The taxes that can
be collected from a 500, 900 boo 900
national income will not suffice to
cover the kind Of spending program
that was launched to build us up to
the 10000. .000, 900 income level, and
we shall be told that the Govern
ment Is shooting at 500, ,O00, ,0OO, 900,
where 1t hopes to balance the
bucget.
This kind of logic belongs In the
same class with theories OF per-
petual motion and bootstrap levita-
ton. The needed driving
force must come from private econ
omy. It will never come from q poll
icy Of governmental deficit financ-
ing"
Another speaker, Roland z. Clark
OF Portland, Me-, president of the
associations trust division, said:
"The domestic situation in our
own country gives us cause to fear
that we may fail to preserve our
long-cherished right of individual
initiative, unhampered by undue
governmental regulation and ad-
ministration, and also fail to keep
our time-honored form of govern
ment by legislation enacted by rep
resentatives of the people, thus re-
sulting In a government by ex-
ecutive decree and subject to the
whim of bureaucratic administra-
tive officers"
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Chicago Produce

CHICAGO. Feb. 13 H0.--Poultry. live, "a
Plymouth Rock. 10: under ! pounds pSunas as; is:
other prices unchan4ed
.ed1s nsttes saSa S5as2s2a; q .ssk Ssk Greamsry %
ssh; 80; 2s; ss. 27s.; 90. centralized
earlots, 2sH-A. Eggs. 16:612., weak
Fresh graded extra hrsts. local, PIN; cars.
sls; frsts, local 2o1s cars. .2Os4; cur
:. Potatoes. 1lo; on track. $50; total
y, 8. shipments. $50; about steady: SUP.
plies liberal; demand very light Sacked
per hundredweieht, Idaho Russet Bur.
145: NEBRASKA Bliss Trlamphs s. 5 Per p &c; Cent 4
or. more U. S. No. /. washed. 1.S6-g. .O5:
Minnesota and North Dakota Red River
Valley section cobblers. go to s5 per cent
to IS per cent U. 8. No. l. I.IO-271s;
Early ohios. 75 per cent q. 8. No. l. 1:25;
1.15: Katahdins. q. s. commerciais 1.45:
new stock about steady; supplies light;
ffopas fend bu,sr eriFes fnt Less na than cs5o
Bliss TTiumphs, very few. 2.06.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Foreiqn Exchonoe

NEW YORK. Feb. 13 C4o.-A fast rally
In the belga countered a general DOWN
ward shift among major foreisn monies
in relation to the dollar today
The belga. which has been under rather
persistent pressure in tho foreign currency
market lately. recovered .06 Of . cent
Sterling lost = Of cent and the French
was UNCHANGED and the euilder . trifie
The Canadian dollar maintained the
erratic price trend recently apparent with
q loss Of " cent
Late rates follow tGreat Britain in dol
lars others in cents):
Official Canadian control board buying
rate for q. s. dollars. 1000: selling rate,
IL .00; Open market rates, Montreal in
New York, s6.62h New york in Nom
Great Britain. demand. 396h; cables
3.g5t.: 60-day bills. 1864; 90-day bills
Belgium. 1850; Denmark, 1898: Pin
land. 1.sQn: France, 2.25A; Germany,
40.20n benevolent, 1900, travel un-
ouoted): Greece. 0.73hn; Hungary, 10 Son:
Italy. sos; Netherlands. 53.14; Norway,
2273: Portugal. 3.7On: Rumania. 063n;
Sweden. 1888: Switzerland, 22.43; Yugo-
slavia. 235n.
Latin America:
r.. ATEentI9s I7| i9s official: 2e77: free. ss.s:
., s? !:1.a. East: s:4s: Hon. kon.. a4.74.
Rates IN spot cables unless otherwise
indicated.l n Nominal
Evening star., 1940-02-13
investment DifficuItie!
OF Insurance Firms
Seen Passing Phase
Future Capital Needs
Of Privote Industry
Cited by OfficioI
By the Associated Press

By the Associated Press
Thomas A. Buckner, chairman OF
the board of the New York Life In
surance Co., expressed the opinion
yesterday that difficulties encoun-
tered by life insurance companies in
finding satisfactory investment out
lets in recent years were "only a
passing phase"
First of a group of insurance
executives who have been called by
the Temporary National Economic
Monopoly Committee to discuss
investment policies and operating
results, Mr.. Buckner described him.
self as an "optimist" with respect to
future capital needs of private in
dustry.
The witness testified that his COM
pany's investment in Government
bonds had increased from s56.010.-
900 in 1892 to more than $500, 900 900
at the present time.
Must Follow Trend.
Insurance companies must follow
the trend of demand for capital" !"
he commented, land just now the
demand for capital seems to come
largely from the United States Gov
eminent"
He conceded that New York Life
would have purchased "gilt-edged"
securities Of private corporations
with higher yield in preference to
Government bonds if there had been
sufficient capital demand from pri-
vate industry.
There is slowing down in de-
mand for capital by industry as a
whole" he asserted. When the
demand returns. as it surely will,
Government needs will probably 60
down and there will be plenty Of
opportunity for private investment
Of trust funds. This is a passing
phase"
u. S. Bond Holdings Up.
Earlier, Ernest Howe of the
Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion insurance staff, submitted
figures showing that the 26 largest
legal reserve life insurance COM
panies had increased their holding
of Federal securities from 81 per
cent of their total investments in
1880 to 11.6 per cent in 1887. Hold
ings of State and local governmental
securities rose from to 81 per cent
of the total.
During this period, Mr.. Howe said,
the public debt-Federal, State and
local-increased from $31 ,891 600 900
to $55 1857 100000.
During questioning about his COM
pany's investment in policy loans,
Mr.. Buckner said that although he
was inclined to think that the
majority Of policy loans are for
frivolous purposes" and tended to
defeat the purpose of life insurance,
they filled a serious need in many
cases and we're therefore justified
on the whole.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Profit Of Monarch
Machine Increases
Sharply in Year
$529,577 Net Compares
With 1921 1873 for
Preceding Period
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. IA sharp in
crease In earnings "due to domestic
business recovery plus foreign de-
velopments" was reported by Mon
arch Machine Tool Co. of Sidney,
Ohio.
Wendell E. Whipp. president, list
ed net profit for 1899 of $529,577. or
1888 share, compared with 1921, :
398, or $2.14 share, in 1898.
Additions to plant and equipment
made In 1885," Whipp told stock
holders, "have increased your COM
pany's productive capacity to such
point that at the present time
shipments are at the rate Of 6625
per cent over the average monthly
rate for the year 1899.
THE company now has backlog
of untitled orders which bids fair to
insure capacity production through
out the present year. Slightly over
so per cent of untitled orders are
from customers in the United States,
and in spite of the continuing urgent
demand from abroad the company
has held to the policy of giving do
mestic Companies preference in the
filing Of orders and deliveries"
Richman Brothers.
Richman Bros. Co., clothing man.
ufacturers, listed its 1899 net income
yesterday at $1,979, ,342. equal to
$3.16 on each of 626,053 outstand-
ing shares, against 1898 net profit
of $1,096, ,753.
Fanny Farmer Candy.
Fanny Farmer Candy Shops, Inc.
reported record sales and a sharp
gain in profits for 1889. Sales last
year totaled $7,497, ,482, compared to
1885 previous record of 1886, ,412,
President John D. Hayes said. Net
profits last year were $3.50, ,486, COM
pared with $904, 4,059 in 1898. This
equa1ed $258 a common share
against $2.34 in 1898. The company
operates six candy factories and 258
retail outlets.
Allegheny Ludlum.
Allegheny Ludlum Steel Corp.
reported 1899 net profit of $2,093,-
518, equal to SLAB share on the
common stock, compared with net
loss of $1,070,1 1876 in 1885, For the
final quarter last year, profit
amounted to $l,411,423, equal to
$1.08 a share.
Lone Star Gas Corp.
Lone Star Gas Corp. and subsid-
1aries reported net income for 1899
OF $5,402,871, equal to 98 cents a
share on common stock, compared
with $500, ,104, or 88 cents share,
in 1888. The company supplies nat
ural gas to communities in Texas,
Oklahoma and Iowa.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Newspaper Advertising
Slightly Above 1899
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Specl&i OSpatcn 70 The Star.
CHICAGO, Feb. 13.-Newspaper
advertising lineage placed by re-
tailers in 80 major cities during
the week ended February 3 showed
q gain Of % per cent over the
corresponding week Of 1889, Adver-
tising Age. national advertising
newspaper. reported today. The to-
tai for the year to date is also
slightly ahead of the same period
Of 1899.
For the week ended February 3
retailers placed a total of 1854, SIS
lines in their local newspapers.
compared with 1901 1888 lines for
the corresponding week last year.
The cumulative total for the five
week period ending February 3
was 1896, ,125 lines, an increase of
o. per cent over the 70 ,207 ,S9s lines
reported for the same period of
1899.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Daily Oil Production
Shows Increase Of
170,961 Barrels
Texos TotoI Jumps;
California Flow
Also Boosted
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
TULSA, Feb. 13.-Daily crude oil
production in the United States
increased 170961 barrels to 3,682, :
914 for the week ended February 10,
the Oil g. Gas Journal said today.
Oklahoma's flow was up 12,785 to
431 $50; East Texas, 5,402 to 400, 900: /:
all Texas, 1895 to 1887 ,432; Louisi-
ana, 1885 to 279, ,3N; California,
% 1850 to 620,100;. Illinois, 13,717 to
387,017; Michigan, 1,649 to 64928,
and the Rocky Mountain area,
1920 to 90.140.
Kansas production declined $3.50
to 174,650, and Eastern fields were
OF 2,1O0 to 100000.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Philippine Shipments
Under Quotas Shown
~ ths Associated Press,

~ the Associated Press.
Quota imports from the Philip
pine Islands from January !
through January n, the Customs
Bureau says, included: Coconut oil,
30,669, ,602 pounds out Of 1910 quota
OF $4,000 900 pounds; refined sug-
ars, 2,212,410 pounds Of $4,000, 900
pounds quota; other sugars, 82,-
735, ,e7s pounds Of i,7o2, ,000. 900 quota:
pearl or shell buttons, 5o,4 ,434 gross
OF $4,000 gross quota; cigars,
7,7S7.873 Of 100000, 900 quota, and
scrap tobacco, 69,227 pounds Of
$500, ,O00, 900 pounds quota.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Boston Wool Market

BOSTON. FEB. 13 Oft Omitted States De-
partment Of AGriculturel. - Extremely
little new business was being transacted
on the Dcston wool market today. Coun-
Uy-packed three-eighths and quarter
blood brtGht fleece woods. offered from the
country at about 40 to Al cents, in the
IS to 80 cents There we're only a few W
users that made these bids and bidders
were interested only in comparatively
small quantities Of wools
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Bank Loans Register
100000 Gain
During Week
Principal Increases
Seen in San francisco
And Chicago Areas
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
The Federal Reserve Board said
that commercial, industrial and ag-
ricultural loans Of banks in 101 lead
ing cities increased 19.00o, 900 to a
total of $4,314,0OO,000 in the week
ended February 7.
Principal increases were $11,000,-
600 In the Chicago and 5000 600 in
the San Francisco districts. In the
preceding week banks In the 1Ol
cities reduced similar loans by
$21 ,000, 900.
The boards condition statement
gave the following summary Of assets
and liabilities on February 7, to-
gether with changes for the week
and with the same week last year,
in millions of dollars:
FEB. z. Jan. 81. Feb. 8.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Steel Rate 10 Drop
2.9 Points More
To 68.8 Per Cent
Institute Report Cites
54.8 Per Cent Pace
Of Year Ago
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Feb. 13..Steel mills
operations will drop 20 points this
week to 688 per cent of the indus
try's capacity, the American Iron &
Steel Institute estimated today.
The downward revision was the
fifth in row.
Last week production was at TIT
per cent of capacity. A month ago
1t was 348 per cent. a year ago 54S
per cent.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Sullivan Is Elected
.VuItee Secretary
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Feb. 13.-The elec-
ton OF T. c. Ted" Sullivan, avia-
ton writer of the Wall Street Jour-
nal, as secretary of Vultee Aircraft
Inc, was announced by Richard w
Miller, president of Vultee. The
company manufactures military air.
planes at Downey, Calf.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Studebuker DiscIoses
Big Jonuury Sales
By the Associated Press.

By the ASSotldteu PfeSS. -
NEW YORK, Feb. l3.-The Stude-
baker Corp. reported January sales
Of passenger cars and trucks,
amounting to 8,528 units, we're the
largest for any January since 1928
and compared with 4,736: in the
comparable month a year ago.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Puris Exchonoe Rotes

PARIS FEB. 13 R,.-The United States
dollar continued at AZ, 80 francs f2.283
cents to the francl at the close Of foreign
compared with 2 .256 cents to the franc in
New York over the holiday week end. Ex-
change on London, 176.625.
1880 francs: 4hs IA" S2.75; 4hs, 1887,
215.00
Evening star., 1940-02-13
0dd-Lot Dealings
BY the Associated Press

The Securities Commission reported to-
day these transactions BY customers with
odd-lot dealers or specialists on the New
York Stock Excshange for February 10:
2,OA6 gales, involving 4S.056 shares. In.
cludinR 80 short sales involving 964 shares.
Evening star., 1940-02-13

a--AlSo extra or extras.
Quotations furnished by National Asso-
citation of Securities Dealers. Inc, which
states they do not necessarily reflect actual
should indicate approximate prices.
Evening star., 1940-02-13

Quotations furnished by National Asso-
citation of Securities Dealers, INC, which
transactions or flrm bids or offers but
should Indicate approximate prices, and
unless otherwise indicated are as quoted BY
the sponsors or iSsuers.
mot quoted by sponsors or issuers.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
London Bur Silver

LONDON, Feb 13 tP.-Bar silver. 21 i'd
unchanged. Equivalent, 1892 cents or
the dollar basis 81 03.D Bar gold, 1855
unchanged. Equivalent $50. $50
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Investing Companies

NEW YORK Feb. 13 0P.-National As
soCiation Securities Dealers. Inc:
moon Quotations
Evening star., 1940-02-13
BONDS
MISCELLANEOUS
STOCKS

Chevy Chase Club 1st 4As- I04
Col Country Club LIST 4As 1O3
Ter Ret g. VIII Corp 1st 4As 100
Evening star., 1940-02-13

Speed Is dangerous. Don't com-
init suicide.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Washington Exchange
GAY z g

SALES.
Potomac Electric Power 51a % pfd.-
at 115ss. S at 115A.
Lanston Monotype-6 at 80.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
'Ex-dividend.
Ap1,,r ovtraa

tPlus extras. d 35c paid in 1899. e2%
extra .g$I4.O0 extra paid December 23
1889 k zoe extra m 81 50 extra D Soc
1899. t50e paid December 20, 1889
81 90 extra paid January. le4O $500
extra.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
New York Bur Silver

NEW YORK, Feb. 13 R.-Ba
silver, 34A, unchanged.
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Federal lund Bunks

NEW YORK. Feb. IS u9.-Federal Land
Evening star., 1940-02-13
Insurance Stocks

NEW YORK Feb. 13 A1.-National A
sociation Securities Dealers. Inc:
Evening star., 1940-02-13

NOr Am 1t SnaIeS j
Nor Am T'r Sh 1856
Nor Am Tr Sh 1856
Nor Am TT Sh 1856
Plymouth Fund Int
Putnam fG) Fund
Quarterly Income {
sSchoellkopf-Hut r.
Selected Am Sh Inc
Selected Income Sh-
Sovereign Invest
Spencer Trask Funt
Stand Util Inc
Super Of Am T'r A
Super Of Am TT b
Super of Am TT IA
Supervised Shrs
Trustee Stand Inv {
Trustee Stand Inv I
Trusted Am Blk s.
Tyusteed Industry 81
WELLINGTON Fund
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Air|iner Lands on River Ice,
Hits Wall as Pilot Averts c rash
BY BLAIR BOLLES.

the plane over the tops of trees and
a concrete wall on the river bank
before the craft mushed to the ice,
with less than 3O0-yerd run avail
able.
officials of the line said they had
been unable to question Capt.
Wheeler as to why he had overshot
the airport, but described his han
ding of his ship as extremely
skillful" after. he found himself in
trouble. The airport was lighted
and the flying weather favorable.
Only the planes lights pierced
the early morning darkness as the
airliner skated across ice which a
week ago was dangerously thin
The crash into the opposite retain
ing wall tore away the right wing
and motor, smashed the left motor
and the cockpit, but left the fuselage
undamaged
Stewardess Mary Ann McCleary
of Oak Park administered first aid
to the injured passengers until am
balances took them to a hospital.
Another plane was dispatched
from Chicago to permit passengers
to resume their trip.
Evening star., 1940-01-12
Two u. Of Virginia Students
Overcome by Monoxide
BY the Associated Press.

by me Associated PreSS.
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va, Jan.
12-Mrs. A. A. Sizer and at least two
University of Virginia students were
overcome by fumes from a broken
furnace pipe at Mrs Sizers student
rooming house here early today.
The students were James H. Lit
tlehale. jr.. Bethesda. Md, and Mel
vim F. Rain, Niles, Mich Several
others were affected.
Mrs SiZer who was taken to Uni
versity Hospital, is said by attend
ants to be recovering from the ef-
fects of carbon monoxide poison
ing. She also has a broken ankle.
The students are said to be in good
condition.
Another boarder in Mrs. Sizer'S
house was Richard r. Baker, 3d.,
Alexandria.
Mr.. Littlehale said he awoke about
4:30 am. and noticed smoke COM
ing into his room and saw a light in
the kitchen.
Il got out of bed and couldn't
walk straight" he said. Il stag
gered into the kitchen and down
into the cellar, where I saw Mrs.
Sizer on her hands and knees on
the floor. I ran back upstairs and
awakened Richard Baker, who coll
lapsed when he got out of bed. We
managed to get Mrs. Sizer to the
kitchen with the help of Melvyn
Newman and ran up to the second
floor to wake up the other boys while
Baker telephoned for a doctor. On
my way down my legs buckled un-
der me and I fell down the steps
and tainted by the front door,"