davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-01-27
BIuckbeurd's Town House

One of the most interesting houses
in America is.one used as dwelling
In New Bern, N. G. It Is an old
mansion which is said to have been
occupied by the famous pirate,
Blackboard. It is referred to locally
o. his former town house"
Evening star., 1940-01-27
Up-to-Dute Romans

AS long ago as the time Of the
Caesars in ancient Rome, specula-
tive builders were selling homes on
the installment plan.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Alarming Situation

Too long, it seems, the watchword
OF Russian workers has been
"Nichevo," roughly translated as II
should worry" They really should
now. A new decree provides prison
terms for poor production in indus
try, and, according to the Soviet
journal, Pravda, it was inspired by
q flood of alarmless clocks. Impor-
tant parts of their nuisance mech
anism were left out. so that literally
and truly there was no cause for
alarm. As it is not considered
healthy In Russia to be late on the
job, the buck was passed back to
the clockmakers. Once they used to
believe that time was on their side:
now they ind that it hangs heavy
on their hands in jail.
Let Americans be not too critical
in condemning such methods as
entirely without merit. The citizen
who has been stuck with a cigarette
lighter that operates only in con-
junction with match would have
some Of his sorrow alleviated il he
could envision the possibility Of hav-
ing the manufacturer in a cell full
Of cigars and cigarettes for week,
with no means Of ignition other
than one Of his own lighters,
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Superhiqhwoy

The new Pennsylvania Turnpike,
between Harrisburg and Pittsburgh,
may be regarded as the greatest
artery Of motor travel thus far
created in the United States. It is
one hundred and sixty miles in
length and spans the mountain bar
rier which separated the Atlantic
seaboard from the Middle West.
Following the old railroad right-of-
way of route planned and partially
completed by Andrew Carnegie and
his associates half century ago, it
was constructed by no less than one
hundred and fifty-five different con-
tractors. The surface consists of
two wide reinforced concrete lanes
with grass plot center.
Fifteen thousand men were en-
ployed in the work during twenty
months. A comparable task was
the Maginot Line in France, for
which ten years of labor were re-
quired. Money to pay the costs
was lent by the Federal Government,
approximately twenty-nine million
Evening star., 1940-07-17

dollars coming from the Public
Works Administration and about
forty-one million dollars from the
Reconstruction Finance Corporation.
The project will be self-liquidating
in fourteen years through fares
ranging from a dollar and fifty cents
for pleasure car to ten dollars for
a truck Of the largest size. Passen-
gers, as such, are not charged. A
State commission, headed by Walter
A. Jones, close student Of the famous
Hitler boulevards in Germany, is in
charge Of operations.
Almost inevitably many super
highways of the same monumental
character are destined to be con-
structed in the Western World during
the next decade or two. They are
needed for ordinary peacetime use,
and their military significance is
manifest.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Outdoor Cleanliness

Largely through the efforts Of a
group of citizens who are proud of
their city, campaign is being waged
to raise Washington's standard Of
outdoor cleanliness.
This campaign is directed at CALL
ing the attention of residents to
present conditions and future posi-
bilitieS, seeking to encourage greater
cooperation on the part of each
person in keeping his corner of the
world clear of trash and refuse.
1t is directed also at seeking suffi-
cient funds for proper cleaning of
the streets and stricter enforcement
of the law against littering public
property and vacant lots
While a regulation governing such
matters does exist, 1t is one which is
difficult Of enforcement, especially in
the more obnoxious type of cases,
where cans, bottles and other trash
are thrown into cutters or on park
ings from passing cars or by pedes-
trians. It is comparatively easy, of
course, to enforce the sections re-
quiring the cleaning of vacant lots,
and even of occupied property.
But law enforcement is a second
ary weapon in such a drive. Only
through an aroused civic conscious
ness and a renewed pride in neigh
borhood appearance can the objec-
tives of the campaign be accom-
plished. This calls for, first of
all, abandonment of neighborhood
dumps" on vacant lots where mis-
cellaneous "junk" is deposited. It
calls for cooperative effort, per-
haps inspired by neighborhood
competitive spirit, to make the most
of the beauty which is inherently
Washington's.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Corrects Inaccuracy
In Star Editorial.

To the Editor of The Star:
I read with much interest the edi-
torial entitled "stop This Grab" in The
Star Of Thursday. July II. Few, II any,
can fail to agree with the opinions ex-
pressed.
am, however taking the liberty Of
commenting on the first two paragraphs
in an endeavor to be helpful. know
that The Star always exerts every pos.
sible effort for extreme accuracy. While
the figures given in the opening para
graph are correct for total collections
for the two fiscal years mentioned. they
are not. as stated, gasoline tax receipts.
The gas tax collection, based upon the
2-cent tax in 1880, produced revenue
Of $l,469,907.62. Added to that there
was collected in the 1880 fiscal year
and credited to the then existing gas tax
fund the sum of $292, ,490.19. making q
total Of $l,762 ,3o7Sl. as stated In the
editorial. This last amount was from
assessments covering work done from the
gasoline tax fund during prior years.
The figure Of $5,042. .692 used for 1910
was the revenue from the new highway
fund, including not only the gasoline
tax but motor vehicle fees, In accordance
with the Revenue Act OF 1887. The
collections from the 2-cent gas tax In
Evening star., 1940-07-17
THIS AND THAT
By Charles z. TracepeH.

roots were seen running through the
through the bottom.
Upon reading your article, I have
dug up the pots, Knocked out the ball Of
roots. loosened the soil around the tops,
near the last eye to. be submerged, to
find in two instances roots had started
out from below the eye as well Is from
around the callous.
'The bud. however, in both instances,
was still intact. This proof, and similar
nnumeraole other, instances, Of roses
and other cuttings, leads me to s5ate
the roots push out from the stem above
the callous, and from below any leaf
joint in cases where the bud is below
the surface but that, in these cases, the
bud or eye retains its ability to and
many times does, extend up through the
soil to grow into a normal blooming
branch.
II also believe the general opinion, If
asked, would be that the root promoting
substances had better be taken with q
grain Of salt, as to being so promising,
although beneficial in instances.
Sincerely, l.. D."
-
1t would seem, then, that almost any
method succeeds with some persons.
The result is what one is after, no
matter how 1t comes about, when slip
ping roses.
Some persons, as previously noted here
are able to make any old stick grow
roots and leaves
They are both fortunate and able. hor-
ticulturally speaking.
Out Takoma Park way they know how
to slip roses. That is the experience of
this writer. One of our fondest floral
memories is Of a flower show held out
there about 1914
There is something about a flower
show which stirs recollections, probably
based in the centuries. Even if a person
has never handled plant in his life,
a flower show is guaranteed to make
something turn over inside him.
He thereafter tends to become a gar
dener, or to think that he is! Maybe
our correspondent will tell us which.
- -
After all, the love of plants is what
counts.
Out of the exchange of experiments
comes a settled plan, in each gardening
life.
Probably no two home gardeners do
anything in exactly the same way.
The fortunate part of it all is that
plants are tough, and determined,
They can stand a great deal of mis-
handling, and they will persevere to find
way Of continuing to live.
Almost every gardener has had the
experience of finding some plant, which.
through neglect or misfortune, has been
almost killed-but not quite.
A little care, little food-very little
and some water. and before long the
plant has secured new lease on life
and becomes the pride of the garden
and the gardener.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
"rAKoMA PARK, Md.

"Dear Sir:
TN an experiment fortunately coming
at time Of interest in the subject, it
is possible that the findings might throw
some light on certain statements Of
your article regarding outdoor rose cut
tings.
my belief is As follows, taking up
only those items that disagree with:
!. that November is the proper time; 2,
that seasonal growth is properly ma
tured for this purpose; g. that foliage
left on when any part Of the cutting is
left exposed will keep more adaptable
balance Of functioning Of the life in the
process Of healing and eventual roofing;
4, that the bud, or eye not only does
not become roots instead but often
pushes up through the soil to make a
normal Towering branch: 5, that the
glass covers should be removed at night;
8, that roots come from the stem, any,
where from Immediately below an eye
submerged, to above and around the
wartlike callous at the base of the cut
ting; 7, that q general concensus would
show that other roots, rather than own
roots are more satisfactory.
ITO substantiate this, let me describe
the experiment fully.
Last November Paurs Scarlet climber
cuttings were taken, inches Of the pre-
vious seasons growth.
Tn other instances, many cuttings of
present seasons growth were taken, at
the time Of blooming, and rooted under
glass. The foliage was stripped from
the lower halt, the rest left on.
Cuttings were then potted in 2-inch
pots and plunged in garden.
Ordinarily they could have been en-
tirely submerged, but this procedure
must have been followed expressly to
contact your article! Occasionally some
of the glass Jars placed over them were
knocked over, by dogs and the severe
weather. but for the most part. there was
the foliage, green all winter. on the 3
inches left exposed to light.
when fairly settled weather arrived
in April, these glasses were removed at
various periods at night, to harden
them somewhat to air circulation while
there was more moisture In the atmos-
phere, but replaced during the day, to
conserve that moisture. prevent drying
out. and to force the buds by the moist
heat thIIs ceperof>d
Gradually then. the old foliage fell
on, while the buds. the eyes began to
swell. On cloudy days the coverings
were sometimes lifted and eventually
removed entirely in May.
The purpose Of putting the cuttings
In pots at the time was for the purpose
OF more easily transplanting them. with
their established root system.
Some were now taken up and the soil
loosened around the stem to disclose the
callous that precedes roots.
so far, SO good. Then, early in June,
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Morning Noisemakers
Rebuked by Reader.

To the Editor of The Star:
Just word of praise for the patrol
man Of this city who knew enough about
being peace officer to arrest an early
morning whistler. The block, the 100
block Of A street Sc, could give the cor
ner of Maxwell and Halstead streets in
Chicago points on making noise. I rec
ommend to the new Government train
ing agency that they take in and train
every parent who has child between
the ages OF and II. The historian
Gibbon said that there would be no more
civilizations destroyed because there
would be no more barbarians to invade,
but poor, benighted Gibbon never knew
Of the slums Of Brooklyn that bred AL
Capone, nor did he imagine that people
who were law abiding might have so
little interest In the youth of America
that they did not impress upon their
children that the tots could be just as
happy behaving themselves as raising q
rumpus in front Of the people of more
quiet pursuits.
sLEEPLEss OLD WOMAN.
July 10.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
PortugoI's Peril

Reports Of German troops massing
along the French-Spanish border,
amid speculation that the Nazis may
be planning a drive through Spain
to the Portuguese coast in an effort
to gain control Of all Of continental
Europe's Atlantic ports, are of seri-
GUS concern to the United States. We
have an important stake in the
maintenance Of Portugal's neutrality
and freedom from invasion, since
that small country is our principal
remaining gateway to Europe.
Lisbon, the Portuguese capital, Il
Evening star., 1940-07-17
1ndorses Compulsory Training
II Recruiting Fails.


To the Editor Of The Star:
II voluntary enlistments do not supply
the need for powerful Army and Navy,
compulsory training must be immedi-
ately established. All classes of our
people should unite for preparedness.
The age limit for enlistment should be
raised to about so. The enlistees should
be permitted to have families. The
young men should marry and have one
or more children while receiving the
training and the Government must help
to support the families. II the young
people have no children, the family lines
will die out and the future population
will be weakened for the defense of
the Nation.
Fifth column and Hitlerite letters
should be barred from newspapers, since
they interfere with preparedness and
aid the enemies Of civilization in the
present extreme crisis. Only about one
third Of our people are as yet awake
to the realization Of the dangers that
confront the Nation and humanity in
general. About one-third are still in
different and complacent. The other
third would actually submit to Hitler's
terms for our future existence. This
element must be warned, educated and
controlled. ...
The United States will not be content
with mere survival. We shall stand for
cooperation with all nations throughout
the world for freedom, peace and civiliza-
ton. We shall not forget the crushed,
terrorized and enslaved nations now
under bandit rule and we will strive for
their restoration. Lying, banditry, devas-
tation and massacre will receive their
reward. For the present we must plan
for the defense of America in co-opera-
ton with Great Britain. But we shall
not forget the subjugated nations Of
Europe, Africa and Asia, and moral laws
stronger than our human endeavors will
be on our side and lead to the eventual
triumph of the right.
CYRUS H. ESHLEMAN.
Lakewood, Ohio.
July 7.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Demands Restoration Of
Democratic Donkey.

To the Editor Of The Star:
According to the Associated Press to
The Star Of Saturday. July 1s, "the
Democratic party has ditched its
donkey, long the mascot Of the party"
The pictures of donkeys displayed in
Democratic Convention Hall had been
displaced. The hotel people Put up pic
lures Of donkeys In hotels where Demo-
cratic delegates, visitors, ct al, were
staying. Those donkeys also were taken
down.
I voted for Roosevelt twice and my
son cast his first ballot for Franklin
Delano Roosevelt. But unless see in
The Star and hear on the radio that
those donkeys have been reinstated
I will not vote for any man nominated
IN Chicago this week, however much
admire the nominee. The party en-
blem and mascot must be protected and
prominently placed.
THE DONKEY's FRIEND.
July IL.
Evening star., 1940-07-17

WAC GNAVpOA4l VSAnl41luO VI tklS LE6llSs
Atlantic Clipper service which
undoubtedly would have to be
suspended II the war engulfed
Portugal. Value Of the Clipper serv-
ice is demonstrated by the quick
flight Of william G. Bullitt, American
Ambassador to France, who was
scheduled to report to President
Roosevelt today only a few hours
after leaving Europe. Lisbon also is
the only European port where
American passenger ships still are
calling, the American Export Lines
maintaining service between there
and New York. Only other Amer
ican surface vessels still operating
to Europe are United States Lines
freighters to Vigo and Bilbao, Spain.
Communications with Europe have
been cut of in three major steps
that matched extension of the war
to new areas. Congress revised the
Neutrality Act last November to pro-
hibit American vessels from travel
ing In combat areas designated by
the President. The combat zone first
was proclaimed last November to
extend from the northern coast of
Spain, around the British Isles to a
point on the Norwegian coast. Ger
many's invasion Of Norway brought
an extension of the zone, April 10, to
cut of all Norway, Sweden, Finland
and Russia's Arctic ports to Ameri-
can vessels. When Italy entered the
war, President Roosevelt promptly
included the Mediterranean and
Southern Spanish ports in the for
hidden zone. This leaves Lisbon and
the Northern Spanish ports of Vigo
and Bilbao as the only European
ports not banned to our vessels.
Undoubtedly German invasion of
Portugal, necessarily involving Spain
in the action, would mean that 1t no
longer would be safe for our ships
to use even those ports, and our last
gateway to Europe would be closed.
German domination Of Portugal
would create another difficulty for
this country by the effect it might
have upon Brazil, the largest of the
South American nations and one
which now co-operates fully In
inter-American moves for solidarity
to resist Nazi penetration. Brazil
and Portugal have an extremely
close cultural and political relation
ship. They have the same language,
Brazil having been a Portuguese COL
ony until freed amicably in 1922. .
Portugal could offer no effective
resistance If the Germans decided
to move in. She has a standing
army-as of last November-of only
$500 men, only 986 of them in the
air force. She hardly could risk
invoking friendship pact and call
ing on Great Britain for aid unless
and until the feared Nazi drive
starts-and then it probably would
be too late. About all she can do is
to continue to observe the strict
neutrality that has marked her
course in the war, and pray that
the German threat does not mate
rialize. Realizing the significance
of her continued neutrality to our
own vital interests, Americans might
well join in the prayers.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
1t Is So Still

It Is so very still about the place.
The bird songs, even, are subdued, ana
not
The merry notes that fell upon the ears
OF those who loved and listened long
ago.
The silence In the house Is like the hush
Before dear. loved form is laid away.
This hush awaits the funeral OF home.
For sale or rent. with furniture for
SALE"
Soon steps will come and 90, and tongues
will wag,
Will mention this and that. and criticize.
The steps will come and go. The home
will pass.
But as the souls Of fallen nations 1--we.
So surely must the souls Of homes en-.
dure,
A blessing in all lives which they havs
touched,
A blessing waiting for the lives to coma
The steps win come and 70. The l,ome
will pass,
VIII pass but cannot dis-for Goa 4.
here.
ELIZABETH n. cRsoLow.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the tcrtter although the use OF
q pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1pith
q Uie1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1940-07-17

1910 was $2,943,7e597. The increase in
the gasoline tax collections has been
due. OF course. to greater consumption
resulting largely from population growth.
The second paragraph OF the editorial
speaks OF the rate of tax having been
'hiked." The present 2-cent rate as a
gasoline tax has never been changed
since its enactment in 1924; however,
when the highway fund gasoline tax
and motor vehicle fees" was enacted by
the 1897 revenue law there was a change
In the registration fee on automobiles.
You will recall that this fund is made
up OF the gasoline tax, registration fees,
motor vehicle operators permit fees, title
fees and inspection fees. Likewise you
VIII recall that the highway fund pays
not only for highway work but for the
entire expenses Of the oflce of the d.
rector of vehicles and traffic, the trees
and parking division and contributes Is
per cent Of the pay and allowances for
the oftcers of the Metropolitan Police
force This latter amounts to $500. 600
for 194l.
Please do not think that I am being
critical for think the editorial is
splendid. but feel sure that you will
want to have the facts with reference
to the gasoline tax, in the event any
future discussion of this matter is
desirable. H. c. WHITEHURST.
Director Of Highways, D. c.
EDITORS NoTE: The Star regrets
the inaccuracy to which Capt.
Whitehurst refers. Figures on gaso-
line tax collections used in The Star
editorial were obtained from memo
randum supplied from the auditors
Office and in comparing gasoline tax
fund" collections for 1880 and 1910,
The Star failed to note that both sums
included collections Of motor and
registration fees as we'll as gasoline
taxes. While the local rate has not
been increased for local collections,
the Federal Government has imposed
an additional TX -cent tax to the rate,
The argument of the editorial, as
Capt. Whitehurst points out, was not
affected by the inaccurate totals In
gasoline tax fund" collection.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Huskin Service
To Stur Readers

Besides answering questions, the
Haskin service offers information on
various subjects in booklet form for a
small cost and handling charge.
Evening star., 1940-07-17
Map Of North America

The latest published plates-from the
Equator to the North Pole-complets
agricultural and commercial data for
every country. This colored map is 2lx2s
inches. 1t will help you understand the
news dispatches telling about our defense
plans. To order, inclose 10 cents in coin
wrapped in this clipping.
Evening star., 1940-07-17

City
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-07-09
HAPPINESS, c. O. D.


she had showed a hint of anger at
the suggestion, in fact, and only
under laughing pressure from the
others had she finally agreed. The
photographer found her as beauti-
full as the others, even though he
plainly didn't like her as well.
The photographer fastened back
to his office then and mechanical
efficiency being what it is in news
~paperdom, the afternoon Gazette
came out with THE Mortified
i Girls boldly pictured in three
fourth of a page. They virtually
monopolized the society section for
that day, as they were destined to
do in Tuesday mornings papers as
well.
Inevitably there was further dis.
cussion of the play MAID to Meas
ure." The clever title seemed to fit
right in with the exquisite photos
of the girls; more and more talk
was stimulated, quite naturally.
The Gazette was read everywhere.
That and the publicity already
given the forthcoming play, the
prestige back of the Merrifeld
name and mansion, and the mex
pensive but commanding signs Bill
Bailey had left at the ticket sale
depots, began to move the tickets
as early as 2 p. M, and at 6 o'clock
that Monday the clerk at the Last
Curtain club telephoned Bill.
"Say, Mr.. Bailey, I have only
eight tickets left out of the 200 you
put here" he announced. Can you
bring me some more"
Bill was elated, and so was
Gayle. They Communicated tn Q
Mortified car and chauffeur imme-
diately to rush downtown and shift
some tickets from the drug store
booth. The jewellery store had
closed for the day.
"It's the pictures that did it"
Bill repeated, again studying the
Gazette as he rode back homeward
with Gayle. They're not only
pretty, they're interesting"
By sheer coincidence (of which
Bill and Gayle knew nothing) an
other man made almost the same
comment in another part of the
city, at about the same time. He
was Mr.. Oscar Draper, chief identi-
fcation expert in the bureau of de-
tectives, police headquarters.
Mr.. Draper leaned on the desk
of the captain of detectives and
said, you know, Cap'n, these are
damned good looking and interest
ing girls, and for no reason at all
one of them looks familiar"
Familiar the detective ech-
oed. "You speaking personally or
professionally"
professionally said the officer.
Captain, there's a crook in that
crowd. Wait till | go dig into my
files" 9
(To Be Continued)