davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Britain's Whimpering
Children

A speaker on the London short wave pro-
gram, "B-itain Speaks" was telling about a
nursery recently established in the country,
away from the bombed areas, for children old
enough to be separated from their mothers
during these death-laden days. When the chill
dren arrived, he said, and as night approached,
the younger ones began to whimper-grew
nervous and petulant-begging to be taken to
the cellar, where war had taught them their
only chance of safety at night lay. After a
few days in their new environment the old
dread Of night and fear of bombs subsidized and
they trotted off to bed above ground, happy in
a new-found security.
The natural reaction to this, of course, is
thankfulness that, with all its war burdens,
Britain has still time to take care of its chill
dren, as far as its means permit, and is dong
something to preserve them for the duties
they must take up in other, hopefully happier
days. But back of this, and striking deeper
into the hearts of everybody who heard this
Sunday night short wave program, is disgust,
contempt, and boiling anger at the German
who have brought modern battle
to such a stage that even little children trem-
BILE and whirnper as darkness nears-not be-
cause some careless nurse has told them ghost
stories, but because their nations foe has been
bombing their homes night after night, killing
their neighbors, their parents, their playmates,
and soaring their own little souls with a fright
that will linger as long as they survive.
This, among other things equally horrible,
is what England must overcome-this power of
Germany to blight the lives of innocent young
sters entitled by every right of God and hui
mainly to happiness and security and care
free existence. This is what must be over
come by the democracies, if life is again to be
worth living. And this is one of the reasons
we on this side of the Atrlantic must bend our
best efforts to providing Britain with what
she needs, and what we can give, to over
throw the agents of destruction, of whom
Adolf Hitler is commander : in : chief, now
abroad in the world.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Editorial Comment
HUSH, HUSH, THE LARK
The New York TimeS)

It would seem as if enough things had been
invented, but no-the inventors keep right on.
A perfect world is what they want, in which
no one will ever be put to any inconvenience
whatsoever; and nothing will stop them. Thus
Solomon Axelrod of this city has just received
patent No. 1922, 243 on an alarm wrist watch
which makes nc noise, but gets out a small
hammer at the time agreed on and thumps the
wearer on the wrist. Certainly, this is in some
ways an improvement on the old-fashioned
alarm clock, just as the alarm clock was an
Improvement over the venerable custom OF
blowing a factory whistle and waking up the
whole town.
Make what mess we may Of larger matters,
we do get ahead with things like this. Mr..
Axelrod's alarm wrist watch could be firmly
attached to speakers who say they are going
to take only five minutes. 1t could have a
needle in it instead of a hammer. The needle
could be loaded with some harmless drug which
would put the speaker to sleep instead of the
audience.
Something will be lost. Those of us who like
to be walked up by somebody's alarm clock.
and lie luxuriously in bed as the somebody
means, sWears and gets up-We shall suffer a
little. But invention marches on. Progress is
irresistible. How bleak were the lives Of our
forefathers who had only a primeval conscience
to drag them from their slumbers! We look
ahead, with hope and some alarm silent
alarm, be it noted-to patent No. 2,222,243. l
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Auto Plates Arrive

Inc arrival. OF new auto license plates on
Wilmington's streets is a reminder to all car
owners that the time has com to dig down
in the good old jeans and pony up again. We
join you in admitting that the state could
nave chosen a more convenient period than
the Christmas month for collecting this tax,
but as long as the decision stands that way,
as usual, there is nothing to be gained by post
poning the purchase of a new license. On the
contrary, there is considerable peace of mind.
if not comfort in the pocketbook, to be had by
disposing of the matter early.
Inevitably, as time passes and the expiration
day nears, there will be an increasing line
OF applicants for licenses, and on the final
day tardy buyers will have to sacrifice hours
which could be better, more pleasantly and
profitably spent than in awaiting a chance to
be served.
This may all be avoided by applying now.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
BY JACK STINNETT

WASHINGTON. Dec. I'm spite of the Dies
committee reports and the statements of the
Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau
of Identification, a lot of folk, official and
unofficial, are taking the fifth column with
two grains of salt and a sniff.
Not so with the War and Navy Departments.
Thousands of civilian employees, newsmen
and non-uniformed officers who daily hang
their hats in the long, low War and Navy
buildings that stretch for blocks along Con-
stltution avenue are having their pictures TAX
en-. Before long their coat lapels and blouses
will bloom with buttons, showing their photo
graphs and business identifications.
The fire in the War Department building
a few weeks back has been officially written
off as accidental, but it did put heat under
the precautionary program.
Not only will all employees have to report
with their identifying badges in place, but
visitors to the buildings, whether pleasure or
business bent, will be escorted by armed
guards to the offices on which they are calling.
UNIFORMS SMACK OF WAR
An alternative, in the case of the officers
in civies, would be to put them back in uni
form, an order which the War and Navy
Departments hesitate to issue because it al
ways is considered the final sign that peace
is over and war is at hand. 1t has been done
before and in each instance, Washington takes
on a martial air which would be all out of
proportion for a nation at peace.
Although General Pershing is one o fthe
most confirmed believers in the morale value
of spic and span uniforms at the close of
World War I, he over-rode his reluctance and
waited no longer than necessary to order men
stationed in Washington back into civies.
While officers in uniform are not difficult
to identify, there's a pretty generous peni-
tertiary sentence waiting for men imperson-
ating an officer of the armed forces. The mere
unauthorized wearing of a uniform is proof
enough.
Nevertheless, military men stationed here
are not going back into uniform for the pres
ent. Like the civilian employees, they'll report
every morning at the Army and Navy bee
hives with their badges in place, or get held up
until they are properly identified.
WHITE HOUSE AGAIN OPEN
The Capitol is under the heaviest guard in
years. Although visitors are not asked for
Identification, the least suspicious actions or
the carrying of dangerous looking packages
is likely to result in a polite but firm question
ing.
In front of the Capitol, where the great
inaugural stand is being constructed for the
event of January 20, there's a constant day
and night guard. The construction work and
the Capitol, from endorsement to dome, are
searched almost daily.
Nobody here is pooh-poohing this vigilance
but it certainly is not being duplicated at the
other end of Pennsylvania avenue. The White
House grounds, closed a few weeks ago, again
are open to visitors, as is the White House.
Guards remain at every gate and every turn,
but the official family and residence are hardly
any more inaccessible than when the world
was at peace.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03

citizens to discuss freely matters which they
believe deserve the legislatures action. They,
themselves, would have nothing to say, but
would pay close attention to all suggestions,
be tolerant of criticism, and welcome advice.
The plan contains a constructive idea that
richly deserves carrying out. We can imagine
no better way for our member of the legisla-
ture to obtain a cross-section of public thought
and opinion, and learn at first hand what
their constituencies expect them to undertake
during the forthcoming session.
AS there is none too much time before the
legislature convenes, the people of this district
would welcome announcement of a date for
the proposed meeting.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
AIRPLANE PRIORITY
Raleigh News and Observer

The controversy as to %airplane priority be-
tween the Army and Navy on the one hand and
commercial air lines on the other hand appears
to be the kline of dispute which neither party
to it should be permitted to win.
1t is obvious that airplane factories cannot
produce both commercial and military planes
at the same time and that the number of mill
tary planes produced will be affected by the
production of commercial planes. Under such
circumstances it is easy to understand the
military viewpoint that airplane production
should be concentrated entirely upon planes
for the Army and Navy and Great Britain.
On the other point, the commercial air lines
are still in their infancy and the present time
is propitious for growth with the country be-
coming increasingly air minded through the
training of military pilots. /
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03

There r a couple of headline
dancers in 'The Road to Fan
zibar'' that you won't see Whitley
Roberts and George Boyce, from
vaudeville, are there to help Le-
Roy Prinz work out dance routines
for Bing Crosby and Bob Hope.
. "The boys work 'em out" Prinz
explains, land then Bing and Bob
have to try to top EN-"
What you missed on the set of
1.-THE Sea Wolf was Edward c..
Robinson's cigar. There just wasn't
any-for a dramatic reason.
Wolf Larson, in Robinson's es-
innate, was "a lost soul, holding
all human beings in contempt, and
aware all the time of his own
isolation"
And "1ost souls" especially when
they are without n nerves don't
smoke cigars, or anything else.
For the Robinson cigar, when he
smokes it, is always a character
touch-reserved for his hard bitten
men who use it as a means of
expressing jerky nerves.
"a cigar is no good" says Di-
rector Michael Curtiz, "unless a
character seems to need or enjoy
it. The only thing Wolf Larsen
would smoke is a razor blade!" 5
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Not All Joy In Mexico

1t is gratifying that inaugural ceremonies
were completed in Mexico City on Sunday
without further demonstrations of i'll feeling
by dlsgruntled factions. But it would be too
much to assume that, for this reason, all
friction over the declared election of General
Camacho to the presidency has been dissipated
and that all Mexican groups will henceforth
work together in harmony and good fellow
ship. 1t is more probable that the presence
OF 10000 soldiers, firemen and police exerted
4 determining influence upon the throngs gath
cred at the capital for the Inauguration.
1t is clear that the followers of General
Almazan are not ready to accept the results
OF the election of last July 7, even though the
unsuccessful candidate has resigned all claims
to the presidency. Despite the present regime's
ability to deal with disorders that have fol-
lowed the election, the situation is still un-
certain and the future far from rosv for the
new administration.
Unrest is only one of the problems the
Camacho government must face. Within the
ranks of its supporters there is friction he.
tween two sharply differing factions = the
extreme leftists represented by the labor I'm.
ions and the rightist group led by former
President Emilio Portes Gil. To reconcile them
is not going to be easy.
A part Of Vice President-elect Wallace's
mission to Mexico, as the United States rep-
resentative at the Camacho inaugural cere-
monies, is to survey the situation in the in
terest of future harmony between Mexico Citv
and Washington, and to exert his influence to
help compose the differences among Cana
cho's followers and between it and antago-
nistic factions still faithful to General AL
mazan.
Mr.. Wallace must thread his way through
a veritable political labyrinth. If he can sue
coed in improving matters he will be fortunate.
If he can help and a solution of some of the
problems that have agitated our relations with
Mexico he will deserve a great deal of credit.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Man About Manhattan
By Georfe Tucker

NEW YORK. Dec. 2.-Some of
the chatter about town, especially
the professional chatter, is good,
and some is bad. Some of it is
honey and some is friendly.
But there is Objectionable chat
ter, too, because some people, 3D.
dly enough, like b e kicked
around. 1 have the most solemn
assurance of this from a man who
has made a snug fortune and built
himself a highly successful career
on his ability to abuse and en-
barrass strangers.
He operates a nightclub on Fifty
second street. 1t is a tiny hole-in-
the-wall variety of night spot
where noise and abuse predomi-
nate. For instance, a guest comes
in and stands near the table of
an acquaintance, b before sitting
down.
Suddenly a clothes brush is
tossed at his feet and a rude voice
yells, Take care of yourself, bud
dy; you've got enough dandruff
on your coat collar to bread a veal
chop"
The guest is aghast, but quickly
RECEIVERS when the house bursts
into a oar That is the sum of
the entertainment there. The guests
wait in glee for the appearance of
the next unsuspecting stranger
and the insult.
On the other hand, when a fell
low like Kay Kyser, grinning down
at you from the top of a band
stand, cries, Come on, chillun-
let's Dance" you feel friendly to-
ward everyone you see, even
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Hollywood Sights And Sounds
By Robin Coons-

HOLLYWOOD. Dec. 2.-It was
a beautiful idea, and a beautiful.
float, but the clever exploitation
man who planned it didn't be.
lieve goats we're fond of weird
edibles.
1t was what they call a natural,
this scheme for drawing patrons
to local showings of Deanna Dur
bins Spring Parade"
The films opening sequences,
you know, feature Deanna and her
goat en- route to the market place.
The exploitation man found a "dou-
BILE" for Deanna, borrowed Dean
mas peasant costume from the
studio, rented a pedigreed goat
(not the trained one of the film)
and ensconced them all upon a
travelling sound truck, with re.
cordings of Deanna's SONGS ampli-
fled by loudspeaker.
You're right, folks" said the
trucks barker. This isn't Deanna
its just a recording of her songs
from the picture. You'll have to
go to the Pantages theater to see
Deanna." Etcetera.
But pretty soon there weren,t
any songs. The goat had eaten
part of the cable vital to the play-
ing of the recording. And pretty
soon there wasn't any artificial
grass on the little set thev'd h,,i1t
on the truck-the goat had eaten
that. And just before they called
the whole thing off, the goat had
started to make a meal of tho
sash of Deanna's costume.
My friend, the Exploitation man
doesn't understand it. He knows
as well as you do that goats ID
NOT eat tin cans, for he's read
Gust as you have) that it's i,,st
the paste on the label that whets
their appetites. But here's his s,,nt
shot to pieces by a goat
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03

though they are strangers. He may
do this as a regular thing-I don't
know-but in a recent appearance
at the Strand theater on Broad
way he got off to a perfect start
by yelling, Lets all be friendly
Lean over and kiss the
person next to you" After
that, and all the time he was
there, the whole Strand was in
the hollow of his hand.
Still as dapper, handsome, and
impudent as ever is Edmund Lowe.
1 remember him in New
York when he and Victor McLaglen
were doing their Sgt. Quirt and
Capt. Flagg act on the Capitol
stage. Vic, the strong man,
went around grabbing up people
by one hand and lifting them above
his shoulders. 49,. He picked Lowe
up like that one night back stage
and held him high above his head.
-. Lowe yelled, Cut out that
ham acting" I amt acting"
grunted Vic, I'm taking me daily
Dozen"
Those we're better days than
these, in some ways. They
were before the depression, when
Lillyan Tashman, who was Eddie
Loves wife, still was living. Now
Lowe is back in New York-not
Glowing back stage but talking to
lawyers and answering questions
in court. 1t is one of those un-
fortunate, unhappy vignettes that
concerns money, and jewelry, and
furs, which apparently at some
time or another must rise to plague
those who achieve a prominence
beyond a certain stage in life. 5
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Name The Day

AS the legislative session approaches we
are reminded that New Hanover c%ounty's re-
personalities, Jack @. LeGrand and John r..
Morris, and Senator Roy Rowe of Burgaw met
here some time ago to discuss their legis-
lative program and announced that they would
call a mass meeting at the court house to
hear suggestions from their constituents.
1t was their composite idea to let the audi
ence do the talking and to encourage private
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Star-News Program

Consolidated Ctty-Oo1nty Government
under Council Manager Administration.
Public Port Terminals.
Perfected Truck and Berry Preserving
md Marketing Facilities.
Arena TOR Sports and Industrial
Shows.
Seaside Highway from Wrightsvile
Beach to Bald Head Island.
Extension OF City Limits.
35-Foot Cape Fear River channel, uid.
sr Turning Basin, Nth snip lanes into
Industrial sites along Eastern bank
south OF Wilmington.
orion Plantation.
Development OF Pulp Wood Produc.
ton through sustatned-yteld methods
throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Unified Industrial and Resort Pro
mottonal Agency, supported BY one
countrywide taz.
%Shipyards and Drydock.
Negro Health Center for Southeastern
North Carolina, Developed around the
Community Hospital
Adequate hospital facilities for white..
Junior High School,
Tobacco Warehouse for Export Buyers.
Development OF natine grape growing
throughout Southeastern North Carolina.
Modern tuberculosis Sanatortum.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
DIXIE BUILDING
SETS new MARK
Contracts In 11-MOnth Period
Ending November 80 To-
tai $244, 711,000

BALTIMORE, Dec. 2.-GP-South.
ern construction contracts in the
11-month period ended Nov. 80 reach
ed an all-time high of $1,244, I'll 900,
smashing all records for states be-
low the Mason and Dixon line, not
only for any comparable period but
for any one year, the Manufacturers
Record reported today.
Public construction, the Record
said, leads the various types work
with a total of $3.50, 357, 900, with in
dustrial building second at s343, 49,
900. Other construction includes;
Private building, s147, 1872, 900; high
way work, s137,sS2, 900; and engi
neering projects, $125,SS7,O 600.
The huge program the United
States Steel corporation is launch
ing for it's Alabama subsidiary, the
Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad
company, tops privately financed
projects with an estimated $25, 000,-
900 to s30,00o,o 900 involved.
1.-The total November government
awards of $53, 73S. 00O," the Record
said, was slightly less than half
the figure of the preceding month.
Public housing, however, increased
Sc per cent as compared with Octo-
Der, the total being $10,147, 900. Pri-
vate residential work, including
apartments and hotels, was valued
at SO, 5 900, a As per cent increase
over October"
Texas, due to the building at Cor
pus Christi of a naval ar training
base and large industrial projects,
including a North American aviation
plant at Dallas, led the 16 states
with an 11-month total of $220,598,-
900.
Virginia took second place with a
total of sits, 6O3, 900 which includes
funds being expended on a rayon
plant addition and large ship
building and naval station expan-
sions. Florida, Maryland and West
Virginia totals were past the $780,
900, 0O0-mark, with the rest of the
state totals ranging from $71,624,00 10
for Georgia to $2O,326,OO 10 for Ar
kansas.
Outstanding construction projects
planned included:
Curtiss-W Wright Corp, $4,000, 900
plant at st. Louis, Mo-;
Tennessee Valley Authority, am.
monium nitrate production at Mus
Gle Shoals, Ala, and a new phos-
phatic plant near Goodwin, Tenn, &c.,
500, 900;
North American Aviation, S.
SOC, 900 plant at Dallas, Teas:
Carnegie-Illinois Steel corporation,
contract with U. S. navy increased
from 100000, 900 to $4,000, 900 for ex-
panding armor plate facilities at the
South Charleston. w. Va, naval
ordnance plant;
South Carolina public service au-
Lhority, Charleston, S. c., $4,225, 900
a tail canal for the Santee-Coo.
per hydroelectric project;
Continental Can company, 81, 00O,-
900 for it's st. Louis, Mo-, plant, in
addition to expansion at it's Balti.
more plant;
Consolidated steel corporation, S5,-
O00, 900 for an administration build
ing at it's Orange, Texas, plant.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
AIR TRAFFIC INCREASES

CHICAGO, Dec. 2-lR- An in
crease of CLAP per cent in air
passenger volume during the first
~ months of 1910, as compared
with the same period of 1889, was
announced today by the Air Trans
port Association of America. Col
onei Edgar S. Gorrell, president
OF the association, said revenue
passenger mileage during the 10
l1ontns period reached 800, 525, 1923,
an increase of 1913, 1884, 1854 miles
over the preceding period.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
SAITH CONVICTION

CHARLOTTE, Dec. Up A
negro sentenced to the chainganes
when he pleaded guilty in superior
court to a charge of public drunken
ness told the court it was his oath
conviction for drunkenness.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
TOP o. H. MORNING

He thanks Thee best aUho Uorships best:
Who prays aUhere none may see;
Who hun1bly Waits to hear Thy uoice-
Who has no God but Thee.
He thanks, Thee best Who LOVES The best:
And loving, zoUes each one;
Who passes doUm the old high road
From sun to setting sun.
GRACE NOLL CROWELL.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03

To prevent needles ana pms ,ore
rusting, stick them into d ,r.t
of flannel which has been Saul
ed with machine oil
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-12-03
Fair Enough

The Star wishes its resds,.
to know that views and
ions expressed in this art5or'
are those of the author sr
may not always harmoni1aa
with its position.-The Fditor