davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Says the Country Is the Place
For Those With Low Incomes.


To the Editor Of The Star:
I am moved by the plight of Mrs. Fred
Mcneil of Columbus, Ohio, who wants to
give away two of her five boys because
they are undernourished on her hus-
bands $15-a-week salary from the w. P.
A. 1t reminds me of trip made to a
brother-in-law of mine living on farm
in North Carolina. He claimed that he
could feed the family for IS q year per
person, spent mostly on coffee, salt and
pepper. discovered the following:
Annually he raised 36 bushels Of wheat,
which was enough for household use and
seed, after bushels were deducted for
the thresher and the miller. Five acres
of corn suficed for horse. COW, hogs and
the house. Two acres Of sweet potatoes
were enough for the stock and the family.
Twenty bee hives produced all the sweets
needed for the year, ut no expense what
ever. I can't even name all the fine
things that grew In the garden. So
much was put in that when was there
in June there were over 5000 two-quart
jars Of produce left over from the pre-
vious year.
In such locality boy would be worth
his weight in gold. and the Mcneil fam
lily could lead better existence there.
February 8. EARL BISHOP.
Evening star., 1940-02-10

tiles Of the District government, but
at the same time has given sufficient
notice to the Health Department to
permit an effort to be made to get
the money through appropriation.
This seems eminently sound proce-
dure. Certainly an association which
gets its money through public appeal
by the sale Of Christmas seals should
not be expected to carry an activity
Of the District government. Putting
1t another way, District govern
ment activity should not be depend
ent upon solicited funds for its
support. Obviously the work, If neces-
sary as a public health function,
should be tax supported.
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Local Appointments

A real service has been rendered
to the District of Columbia by. the
Senators who, in the past few days,
have voiced their disapproval of the
practice of selecting non-residents
for local appointments.
Although the debate arose over
the confirmation of Paul Edwards of
New York, to be District Works Prog
ress Administrator administrator, it
did not involve any objection to him
personally. In fact, Senator Chavez
of New Mexico, who first raised the
protest against nonresident ap
pointees, made it clear that all the
information he had led him to regard
Mr.. Edwards as "a very fine citizen
and a very fine official"
Accordingly, he did not vote against
approval of the nominee, who has
been serving for several months
under a recess appointment.
The Senator was on sound ground,
however, when he served notice that
he would object to future nomina-
tions, either in the District Of Colum-
bia or in the States, when the
nominees do not come from the
citizenship of the areas to which they
are being appointed.
Chairman King of the Senate Dis
trict Committee also has indicated
that he is in accord with the prin-
ciple of local selections for District
appointments.
1t is not question of personalities,
but rather Of fair play for a COM
munity that is in peculiarly help
less position, because of the control
which Congress and the Federal Gov
Evening star., 1940-02-10
THIS AND THAT
By Charles z. Tracevell.

have come In from the South, that
Southland which, for one winter in many
years went back on all the birds and
the travellers.
There will be the wood thrush, with
its clear notes, the famous mockingbird,
the lusty robins, whose songs are really
very pretty, the catbirds, the thrashers
and many another.
In the meantime. If you want to have
some real bird music in the cold, plan
to attract English sparrows.
This may sound almost heretical' to
some, but it is true.
These birds, too, are often despised,
but If you want winter music, they will
give it to you, provided you set up feed
ing station, which does not have to be
seeds and grains Scratch feed, as some
chicken feed is called, will do very well.
These sparrows are not particular at all.
Nor does the station" have to be any
thing more than a bare place beneath a
rose vine. In fact the sparrows prefer it
this way. They like best to eat from the
ground. With them will be some song
sparrows, some white-throated sparrows,
and some cardinals, all members of the
great finch family.
X X
The popularity of the English SPAR
rows is the distinct song festival they
hold every afternoon.
We have read many indictments of the
species, but never any mention of this
entertaining characteristic.
Wherefore we surmise that some per-
sons, in writing about birds, do not want
to be fair. They select some species as a
target, play up its bad points, and totally
fail to mention their good ones
Or maybe such persons do not allow
themselves to get chance to hear the
English sparrows sing in the afternoon
Recently in this column we carried a
letter from correspondent, detailing a
scene in Texas, when sparrows gathered
In tree and sat for two hours, to come
down each day exactly at the stroke of
noon.
When they are we'll fed, they select a
time, say o'clock in the afternoon, as
song festival time.
Then they all gather in the vine and
sing and sing for half an hour or more.
1t is pretty singing, too mostly chirps,
it must be admitted, but such blending
Of chirps, some high, some low. some
fast, some slow, that the total effect is a
great deal more than just a magnified
chirp.
Those who had not heard Balinese
music might not think you get orches-
trail nuance and dynamics just with
gongs and drums and that sort of thing
but you can. They do!
And SO do the sparrows, in much the
same way. Yes, if you want winter
music, try attracting the English spar
rows. You will have, too in the females
a collection of some of the prettiest birc
| faces in all the world.
Evening star., 1940-02-10
"WARDMAN PARK.

Dear Sir:
ut is q pleasant relaxation to read
your very interesting articles in The
Evening Star about birds. 1t is this time
of the year that notice the same birds
rest, as 1t were. as they gather, and are
On their way farther north.
Beautiful large black BIRDS their wings
tinged a golden red like silk tissue, came
to my window sill and partook Of the
crumbs like old friends. and little round
ball-like black bird with a small white
mark on the chest, very sweetly accepted
the crumbs as he looked through the
window at me the day everything was
covered with snow.
This time every year I notice our
feathered friends tarry awhile, then on
their way-where?
1T seems to be only a meeting place,
for after an analytical scrutiny they flut-
ter to the tune of the breeze, pick up
baggage and away.
"One summer, however, q beautiful
mocking bird remained all summer
perched on the highest point Of dead
tree every afternoon, silhouetted among
the shadows and against the colorings of
the sky, filled the air with the sweetest
notes never heard before or since.
II see many birds but hear only few
chirps.
Where are the songsters?
Sincerely, H. M. O'C."
II
~ ;rle I.,,&
they are not doing much singing-yet.
STILL. the cardinal has begun his spring
song
Definitely. it rings out in the snow, not
often every day, but at least some time
during the day.
There are a few sweet notes, now and
then, from the often-despised starting
Most people have no idea how sweetly
this bird can sing when it wants to;
later, when spring really begins, 1t likes
to sing in the early morning.
Half a dozen or more starlings will fly
to a small tree and there sing gently
for IS or 20 minutes.
Many persons have heard these soft
whistles and MARBLES, and have wondered
from what bird they came. Not many
listeners have been so bold as to ascribe
them to the right species. for have they
not been told that there is no good in q
startling?
Most of the species which winter with
us sing very little, or not at all, until the
thrill of the advancing season gets into
their blood and bone.
The song sparrow, true to its name, is
an exception.
This fine little bird likes sunny snowy
morning. Then perched on gate post,
it lifts its small head, and MARBLES few
strains. These are not elaborate, but just
surprising, coming in such weather, and
from so small bird.
The great singing will come, of course,
in spring and early summer.
Then our many migrating birds will
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Wings Over Strutford

When war wings menace little STRAIT
ford town .
Where River Avon flows in silver
peace,
And many swans glide slowly up and
down
In quiet splendor. may destruction
cease,
And may the mind that rules the plane
forget
The hate a moment-see the Nv-
ing Band,
Eternal here for all the world to set
It's heart upon, for all the world
to guard!
We walked with Shakespeare through
the nearby wood
When nightingales sang all night
long In spring,
Wild roses Lit the hedges where we stood
And Oberon enchanted everything;
But now while sand bags hide his
precious tomb,
We pray for mercy thru the
winged gloom.
EVELYN NoRCRoss sHERRnL.
Evening star., 1940-02-10
ernment exercise over the National

ernn1ent exercise over the National
Capital.
There is pending at this time a
vacancy on the bench Of the District
Court. At the present time only five
Of the eleven members Of the court
received their legal training in the
District. It is to be hoped that this
vacancy will be filled by member
of the local bar, versed in the legal
practice of the Jurisdiction, so that
the non-residence issue may not be
raised again.
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Suggestion Offered for
Guarding Against Colds.
To the Editor of The Star:

TO the Eoltof OF Inc Slar.
As one who has worked with children
for many years, I would like, through
your columns, to suggest to both parents
and teachers that they constantly re-
mind children attending the movies to
remove their wraps when they 60 into
the theaters. Last Saturday I attended
a neighborhood theater showing movie
very popular with the children. Sitting
near me were groups of young children.
without adults, all with their wraps on
and well buttoned up. The children
were so completely lost in the story
that they did not know they were too
warm: yet they must have been, for the
theater was well heated. One group of
four left about pm, to 60 into the
cold, damp night with no additional pro-
lection, after having sat at least two
hours, if not all afternoon (as many
children do) in that overheated state.
Very likely some of them are i'll now, and
their parents are wondering why.
February S. A TEACHER.
Evening star., 1940-02-10
The Districts PLIGHT

= Meritorious indeed is Mrs. Franklin
D. Roosevelts suggestion that suf-
frage be extended to the citizens OF
the District of Columbia in order to
eliminate the excuse" of taxation
without representation advanced in
connection with such criticized local
institutions as the Home for the
Aged. BY all means abolish the un-
American system of taxation without
representation which prevents Wash
ingtonians from having voice in the
Legislature which assesses them for
most of the upkeep Of the Nations
Capital but which reserves to itself
the final determination of how the
money shall be spent.
1t is the Congress, with it's exclusive
powers of legislation for the District,
that controls the destiny of Dis
trict welfare institutions. Money
or rather the lack of sufficient sup
ply of it's the real root of the evils
affecting the Home for the Aged, the
Receiving Home for Children, the In
dustrial Home School, the National
Training School for Girls and SIM
liar establishments. AS Mrs. RooSe-
welt pointed out in her appearance
yesterday before the House District
Committees Public Health Subcom-
nittee, there are few model" inSti-
tutions of this kind in Washington.
These conditions exist not because OF
any apathy on the part of Wash
ington residents. They have been
voluble in their protests for years.
Nor have they shirked their financial
responsibilities with respect to the
city; on the contrary, due to the
failure of Congress in recent years
to provide a long-view, equitable for
mula for dividing between the Fed
eral Government and the municipal
ity the costs of running the Capital,
District residents have been saddled
with an increasingly disproportlonate
and unfair share of the burden. Even
with the new tax program for the
District in effect, the revenues from
the already heavily assessed District
sources will barely meet the current,
urgent wants of the city-leaving
nothing for the improvements sorely
needed by antiquated District instl-
tutions. Nor is there any financial
program that permits planning IN
advance. The system places the Dis
trict on a hand-to- mouth basis from
year to year.
The House subcommittee could
gain much enlightenment as to where
the basic remedy lies for conditions
at Blue Plains and at other neglected
District establishments by question
ing such key witnesses as the men,
bers of the committees of Congress
which control the purse-strings for
the District and which have grad
ually reduced the Federal share Of
the financial burden from the fifty
per cent of a few years ago to ap-
proximately ten per cent as of today.
These star witnesses should bring
with them the records, now quite
voluminous, showing how the Fed
eral payments have gone down as
the Districts expenses have gone up.
The testimony would help to explain
why Mrs. Roosevelt has had so much
difficulty in finding model institu-
tions in the Capital of the Nation.
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Commends Star Study Of
Night Driving Perils.

Night Driving Perils.
To the Editor of The Star:
Death after dark is the most significant
disclosure contained in The Stars excel
lent study of IS traffic deaths which oc-
CURED in the District of Columbia during
the year 1899. OF the IS persons killed,
48 lost their lives during the hours of
dusk or darkness.
Why should nearly go per cent of these
fatalities occur at night, the period which
accounts for only 80 per cent Of the
traffic flow?
-Four reasons are apparent:
l. Inadequate street lighting.
2. Defective or improperly adjusted
headlights.
3. Excessive night driving speeds.
4. insufficient enforcement at the
time when the fatal accidents occur.
There is no single solution of the
traffic situation in Washington All
possible avenues of approach must be
used Real progress is being made in
many directions but the Importance of
launching an attack on night accidents
does not seem to have arrested the at
tention Of our trafic and enforcement
officials
In Detroit during the nine months
of 1888. traffic safety lighting" was
installed on 81 miles of the more heavily
travelled streets. AS result, night fatal
tiles which had totaled 80 and "a during
similar nine-month period in 1896 and
1887 under the old lighting system, were
reduced to only eight night traffic deaths
during the nine months Of safety light
ing operation in 1898. No better proof
OF the Importance of proper street light
ing and the relation between darkness
and death can be found than the traffic
fatality record in the major cities OF
Europe since the "blackout" became
necessary. In England, for example,
many more deaths have resulted from
trafic accidents on the darkened streets
OF London and other large cities, than
have occurred as result Of military op-
erations. and many times the toll which
occurred under normal street lighting
conditions.
Washington should modernize its pres
ent horse and buggy system of street
lighting. Detroit is setting an example
OF Transforming its outmoded street
lights into modern safety lighting by
substituting for upright lights which
illuminate the heavens, pendent lights
which throw the light on the street.
Without increasing the number of lights
or the size of the bulbs, the volume Of
light on the highway has thus been
multiplied over 100 per cent and where
this system Of lighting is operating there
has been q rs per cent reduction in
night trafic deaths.
In commencing The Washington Eve
ming Star for its invaluable contribution
to trafic safety, may urge its CO.
operation in q program to reduce death
after dark" and suggest safety lighting
for Washington as an item of tran
scendent importance.
WASHINGTON I. CLEVELAND.
February Z.
Evening star., 1940-02-10

BY vote of nine hundred and
ninety-five to five the American
Youth Congress opposes American
loans to Finland and by an almost
equally overwhelming vote rejects
resolution of condemnation of Russia
for causing current barbarous war.
Want to know any more about the
organization?
Evening star., 1940-02-10

Secretary Morgenthau urges a
limit of fifty billion for the national
debt. To borrow the customary
phraseology Of the elevator opera
tor. Going up-watch your step!"
Evening star., 1940-02-10

Two aspects of war: Willingness Of
both belligerents' to lift blockade
to get a serum to dying American
child and, on the other hand. a
shambles of innocent infants bodies
in inoffensive towns.
Evening star., 1940-02-10

American universities and colleges
may be roughly divided into two
classes: Those which have conferred
honorary degrees on Charlie McCar-
thy and those which have not.
Evening star., 1940-02-10

Miss Tallulah Bankhead, in her
good-by following party given in
her honor by the Newspaper Women's
Club of Washington, added, land
help Finland, all of you." That is not
a bad ending for any and every
speech, just as the old Roman used
always to tack on his Carthage must
be destroyed"
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the ,oriter, although the use OF
a psendonyna for publication is
permissible. Please be briefi
Evening star., 1940-02-10

the District should have the right to
elect three or four or five members
of that body.
KENNETH p. ARMSTRONG.
Fehr11ar1y
Evening star., 1940-02-10
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as seconded matter post once,
Washington. D. c.
Evening star., 1940-02-10

WASHIN GTON, d. C.
SATURDAY February 10, 1910
Evening star., 1940-02-10

February /
Evening star., 1940-02-10

@. What was the seating capacity of
the stadium in which the 1896 Olympic
games were held?-C. L. S.
A. The capacity of the Olympic Sta
dunn at Berlin, Germany, was 10000
Evening star., 1940-03-27

phrases in the existing law as au-
thority to control the entire tele-
vision industry from set making
to merchandising.
The decision also will clear up the
doubts of those who thought the F.
C. C. had any power to regulate
what it calls limited commercial
ization" of television licenses or
rates for the sale of radio time.
Broadcasting has been freed at
Evening star., 1940-03-27
Offensive Would DepIete Oil Reserves

1t that Germany has all all
of all the
should
IL
But the compelled
atoy the quantity Of oil for the the industrial
needs would dwindle time.
The
air counteronensve because they that would
exclusively
the supplying the mobility army.
staff
weakened oil could successfully
the path to advantageous negotiations
position enables her the poducing countremanly
communication between the Reich Rumana
lighters with oil
receiving
Evening star., 1940-03-27
Legion Post to Give
Bonouet for Hummer

Members of Sergt. Jasper Post
No. 13, American Legion, will hold
a testimonial banquet for Past
Comdr. Hiram w. Hummer next
Saturday at pm. at the New Co.
lonial Hotel.
Speakers will include Brig. Gen
Frank T. Hines. administrator of
Veterans Affairs; Capt. Watson B.
Miller, director Of the Legion's Ma
tional Rehabilitation Committee;
Joseph j. Malloy, the Legion's ma
Evening star., 1940-03-27
BIundering Into Sense

The Cromwell publicity organization then into action and the
Cromwell speech delivered meeting
Clubs in Toronto was widely broadcast Perhaps the most curious
the huabaoo that Cromwell perhaps the
time surprisingly oquacous had managed to bunder into
did discuss negative interest," the peuaties of the
the worlds neutral democrace
interest the
which affect him.
precisely what the President Secretary of State and other in
formed has been thinking for months
the hulabaoo only that in his diplomatic
capacity States Cromwell
public odd
speaking wartime problems Therefore
circuaehat President
least approved the Cromwell speech that Cromwel political
of Jersey City, had thought
Cromwell for the New Jersey senatorshp
Two Lessons
There mistake than searching complex
President had
under
ballot better nenaiona
unlikely Florida tracks
Grafton would hard him and his
henchmen
TRUTH explanation simple the incident Cromwell
said what he did because he believed it, and because
readers for the Saturday Evening
little
Evening star., 1940-03-27

last from the bugaboo Of a public
utility status and the Supreme Court
has really told the F. c. c. 1t must
not interfere in the conduct of
either broadcasting or television. It
is happy way out of the dilemma
for it cannot be doubted that the
F. c. c. now will rescind its order
and let the American people have
television.
Reproduction Rights Reserved)
Evening star., 1940-03-27

uentS that the
Capital has ever
S e e n; he was
also a prophet
OF parts.
Q ne of his
aphorisms h a s
passed into the
language Of pol
itics as "Smoot's
law" It shows
his quality. The
Baltimore Eve
ming Sun lately
did a little re-
search and un.
covered the oc-
Evening star., 1940-03-27

vile a 1eW nlgALS
ago did a partic-
ularly gracious
t h ! ng. Quiet
ly and without
any public no
tt e, S h e ar
ranged to attend
at the Eighth
S tre e t Temple
of the Washing
ton H e b r e W
Congregation a
meeting called
by the Jewish
S ocial Service
A G e cy, o I
Evening star., 1940-03-27
Vandenberg'S Fine Speech,

Senator Vandenberg was never
heard to better advantage, nor was
he eves in finer spellbinding form,
than on The Stars Radio Forum
Monday night. Reports appear to
be well founded that Michigan's
favorite son has been learning the
radio ropes from experts, for he has
acquired a brand-neW style at the
mike. 1t is less provocative than
formerly. better modulated, and gen.
orally more effective for political
purposes. In spots. the Wolverine
presidential aspirant reminded the
radio audience of Herbert Hoover,
Evening star., 1940-03-27

Rumanan Of But it
and
telling
would do.
The allies pledged themselves Rumania
the whether
will be able to fulfill in time their obligation whether the Weygand army
will Danube before the arrived
decides offer definite pressing demands for
Evening star., 1940-03-27

ercise a restrain
ing hand on the
usurpation Of
power by the
Federal Com
m u n ! c a t l o ms
Commission in
its sudden at
tack on the tele-
vision industry,
the S upre m e
Court through
the word OF a
unanimous opin-
ion rendered in
q case wholly
apart from the
Evening star., 1940-03-27
'BroziI Today Is Topic

DR.. Mario de Brito, Brazilian civil
service commissioner. will speak at a
meeting Of the Inter- American
Forum tomorrow at s:l5 pm. at
he international House, l7oa New
hampshire as1nue NV. Ills sub
iect Will be Brazil Today"
Evening star., 1940-03-27

panieS cannot be compelled 70 sell
to the Reich when they claim that
they have contracts with other
countries.
But it is conceivable, if the
allies don't show greater bellicose
initiative, that the Germans might
compel the Rumanian government
to do a little Mexico on foreign oil
companies. That is to say, that it
should nationalize them and pay
the foreign capital in bonds The
Evening star., 1940-03-27

ton Cromwell probably the most ngenuo lavish to appear
already droong with anticipation of the golden feast
while Cromwell
this
plain surprise people it
fundamental
world conflict
AMnc.
Evening star., 1940-03-27

HE opinions the ,prtes this page o,rn
necessayty The Stars Such opinions presented IL The
Stars etort to gtUe all sides OF questions OF interest to It's
readers although such opinions may be contradictory among
themselves and directly opposed to The Stars.
Evening star., 1940-03-27
This Changing World
French Public Wonders How Allies Can
Take initiative in War to the Bitter End
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

Nobody expected the bitter end" within
days after Premier Paul Renaud told his conmen THAT would
be waged against Germany.
there amount Of grumbling France
because nobody clearly will
Although public
staff there things which figure
themselves staff