davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-05-26

pose to Skip, and Skip hadn't proposed to her.
The desolate feeling that she hadn't known
for weeks was back again. She sat, huddled
in the seat, looking out at the empty streets
abandoned to the rain. The dark shape of the
freight house brushed by in the glare of the
headlights. The depot platform was wind
swept and deserted. Skip brought the car to
stop, and they sat quietly for few moments.
A mile away the train whisted for crossing,
and that fiat melancholy sound came to them
through the heavy air 1t added new note to
Evening star., 1940-05-26

the entire truth - and have him despise her.
Yes" she said. my career -" She started
across the platform, head up and looking
straight ahead, thinking, My career! That's
a lovely thought, isn't it? My career. She
saw the last four years of her life then, for the
first time, and plainly. A small and dark
apartment that you shared with anybody who
could pay half the rent, and lot of bad food
prepared in kitchenette that was designed
for midget Runover heels from a lot OF
walking, and one million miles ridden in sub
Evening star., 1940-05-26

time; but some of it had. 1t had been worship
hero, and she was nothing, but that hadn't
made any difference. Nobody could stop you
from dreaming. Just looking at him could
still make her heart beat little faster. He
hadn't changed much. she decided. She re-
membered the crisp way his hair curled, and
the friendly quality of his smile He was
smiling now.
That day you Jumped the Appersons'
fence -" he said to her, laughing softly.
Evening star., 1940-05-26

try editor aspires to matrimony with rising
young actress No bargain - Let the damned
train 60, Liz
He had his hat off and rain was running
in streams down his face will you marry me,
LIZ" he said.
Yes, Skip, will, Liz said and it was like
taking a VOW To have and to hold, through
sickness and health, poverty and wealth, hell
and high water ...
The engine whistled up ahead, and behind
her the porter's worried voice caught her att
tention:
"Ma'am, you don hurry, you gonna mis-
the train.
She was laughing now. Il came so close II
catching that train, she said, that it scare
me to death to think of it!'
He didn't understand it, and she hadn
expected that he would, and she was toll
busy at the moment to make any furthe
explanation.
The End
Evening star., 1940-05-26

Let me give GOOD performance Just mi
about She was in love with Skip Wilson. She
had really gone off the deep end, and there
wasn't anything funny about that -.
He took her to the train. She kissed her
mother goodby Skip put the bags in the back
of the car, and they were silent on the way to
the station.
1t gave her an opportunity to think about
number of things, none of them pleasant. At
the corner of Main and Sycamore streets they
stopped for red light A light rain was fall
ing, and in the wet brilliance in front of
Oberdofers store woman was standing un-
der the awning She had a sack full of groceries
in one arm and baby in the other. The
lights changed and the car moved ahead, but
in that brief picture Liz Snowden had dis
covered what she wanted. 1t had nothing to
do with the stage either. What she wanted
was to be the wife of Skip Wilson. She wanted
to have home, and ruin her hands IN dish
water, and raise children. But she couldn' pro-
Evening star., 1940-05-26

tdte0 personally Oy lIlcOWIlcI-
editor, MIR. John NJ. Skip" Wilson. He came
down in the afternoon to show it to her. She
had a momentary feeling of guilt when she
read it: You make me sound like second
Bernhardt."
The successful business, Skip said, lis the
one that advertises How about having dinner
with me in return for the plug?"
When she went upstairs to dress, the feeling
of guilt was gone. This concentrated courtship
was new experience, pleasant one. Usually
she was just somebody's friend on a party A
fourth at bridge, or anybody to fill up an
empty chair This was different. mot loved
for myself alone" she thought, but what of
it," The results were the same.
They didn't let any time 60 to waste. They
sat through long evenings on the old railroad
trestle over Sugar Creek, watching the refec-
ton of stars in the water. They played
golf, and rowed boats on the river. They had
lunch together, and dinner. They danced
lot, they talked lot, and they laughed
Evening star., 1940-05-26

the sadness she already felt Presently the
beam of the headlight appeared around a
curve, rushing down at them.
Liz opened the door and stepped out. Skip
put her bags down on the platform and cleared
his throat. This has been stated a lot of
times before" he said, 'but it still goes. The
word if is a big word in anybody's language.
If wasn't the editor of tank-town paper,
and if you didn't have a career -"
Her heart leaped suddenly. She said, ''Oh,
Skip -" and then she stopped, because she
saw for the first time exactly what she had
done. Hoist on my own petard, she thought;
and it wasn't funny. She had fabricated
thing now that she couldn't deny A great
part of the attraction that she had for him
was the glamor she had given to herself. A
background of the stage and New York. And
she realized now that she had her choice of
one of two things. She could get on the train
and keep what she had. Or she could tell him
Evening star., 1940-05-26

ways. Days spent in casting
offices: Nothing today. Leave
your name and address,
Drugstore sandwiches for
lunch, and a quantity of bad
gin. Rush-season jobs in a
bargain basement when things
got too tough. Career.
She was crying quietly now
as she walked. and suddenly
she knew she couldn't do it..
Not this way. Because she
knew with some unshakable
knowledge that there could be
no satisfaction in knowing he
loved her as long as things
stood the way they did. There,
was no foundation for it, and
it wouldn't last. Let him hate
her then. At least it would be
honest.
She turned abruptly. Skip
halted three feet away with a
bewildered look on his face.
This is my curtain speech,
Liz thought. This is the big
remuneration scene where l
smile to hide a breaking heart.
Three-thirty for a front row
seat, and don't crowd. There's
room for all ," The smile
didn't work very well.
Skip, just wanted you to
know" she said. Everything
I've told you about New York
and about my career is a lie.
don't know anybody and
I've never done anything, My
big successes are two years in
dramatic school, and a walk
on part in play that folded
the third day out. I've never
been in the Stork Club and
I've only seen '2l' from the
outside. l made believe be-
cause wanted people to like
me, but they didn't like me;
they only liked the idea Of
what they thought l was. I'm
cheap, and a liar, and phony
=. That's pretty, isn't it,"
She turned around and
started walking again. The
train had stopped now. A
white coated porter was COM
ing down the steps of a Pull
man, and it was miles and
miles across the platform.
Skip Wilson's voice stopped
her. Liz"
She came around slowly, |
facing him. He was laughing !
and that was even worse than
if he'd been mad. He was
talking fast, and at first what
he was saying didn't register:
and after it did she couldn't t
believe it, because his tone was
relieved rather than outraged.
You had me scared to
death before, he said. Count
Tres to matrimony with rising
No bargain - Let the damned
hat off and rain was running
n his face. will you marry me,
Evening star., 1940-05-26

He would remember some
thing like that, Liz thought.
She had wanted to attract his
attention some way, any way
at all, and when he had dared
her to jump the fence she had
done it. Except she hadn't
jumped quite high enough,
and had left the greater por-
ton of her skirt impaled on a
picket while she beat an igno-
ninious retreat up the alley.
She had cried for days over it,
but that was something he
didn't need to know.
That was for your bene-
fit" she said. LAS l remember
It, the act was a complete sue
cess. Low comedy, but good"
She looked at her watch. Its
getting late isn't it? - Cleo.
darling, l have to run, and l
hate it. It's been such a lovely
party
Skip Wilson followed her
outside. Il have a car here.
such as it is. Can l give you a
lift"
IF you like"
1t was lucky, she thought
going down the walk, that he
was tall 50 that her five feet
ten, didn't give the illusion of
mother and child. She settled
down in the seat, staring out
at the deserted street and the
infrequent yellow blossoms of
street lamps in the mist.
Where to-"
She looked up at him and
smiled. Home, l suppose. l
didn't really have to leave. l
was lust tired of the noise.
ANY place" he said, but
home" He put the car in gear
and pulled away from the
curb. How long are you stay
ing, Liz"
"A month anyway. Perhaps
six weeks. l need a rest"
IF l have anything to do
with it," he said, You won't
get any rest at ALL"
She settled lower in the seat.
He is nice" she thought,
"and I'm a heel" For a mo-
ment she was tempted to tell
him the truth. Some funda-
mental honesty in her rebelled
at what she had done, but
then the moment was gone.
Gather flowers while you may.
This was one evening she
might as well enjoy.
Drive on" she said. And
don't spare the horses.
After that one evening it
was too late to tell him any
thing. There was a write-up
in the next days paper, die
tated personally by the owner
editor, Mr.. John NJ. Skip "
down in the afternoon to sho'
had a momentary feeling of
read it: You make me SCUM
Bernhardt."
The successful business" s.
one that advertises. How abou
with me in return for the plug
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Spring Floods Leave
10Dead in New York
And Pennsylvania
Clear Skies Give Promise
Of Relief; California
Forms Inundated
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Widely separated sections Of the
Nation were inundated today by
spring floods which took 10 lives,
but clearing skies and cooler tenn
peratures for the most part gave
promise of early relief.
Pennsylvania cities along the Sus-
quehanna. Allegheny and Monon-
gahela Rivers were hardest hit and
crests we'll above food stage were
expected during the day.
South Central New York State
rivers-principally the Susquehanna
and Chenango-spilled from their
banks from melting snow and rains,
forcing hundreds of families from
their homes and blocking roads.
Colder weather, however, promised
to halt the rises.
Thousands of acres of Northern
California farm land along the
Sacramento River were covered by
flood waters for the second time in
a month and scores of farm fami-
lies were forced to seek higher
ground. Clear weather was forecast
after nearly a week of heavy rains.
Six were counted dead across
Pennsylvania and four in New York.
Wilkes Barre. Pa, prepared for a
34-foot crest-four above flood stage
some time early tomorrow.
A state of emergency was declared
at Binghamton, N Y. but most
(See FLOODS, Page A-3)
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Full Cherry Blooms
By April Z Forecast

Washington's famed cherry trees
will burst into full bloom the week
end of April II to IA for the benefit
of thousands of visitors, Frank T.
Gartside, assistant superintendent
of the Office of Nationl Capital
Parks, forecast today after a per-
sonal inspection. He found the buds
80 tight. he said, that possible low
temperature tonight would have no
effect on them.
The cherry blossom display will
come about week later than usual,
If present weather continues to
prevail. Last year the blooms were
at their best on March 81 and the
year before on March Is. Records
show that the April Is OF 1892 and
1884 were the latest dates for the
blooms.
The Cherry Blossom Fete Com
hnlttee at its meeting Wednesday at
pm, At the District Building, was
expected to make a definite an
nouncement on arrangements for
the annual fete.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
| BoUes Demands
Fire Traps Here
| Be Condemned

Calling attention to the disastrous
fire that swept the old apartment
building at 2l3l o street NV. early
today in which three persons lost
their lives, Representative Bolles,
Republican, of Wisconsin demanded
today that steps De taken imme-
diately to eliminate wooden fire
traps in Washington.
Mr.. Bolles made his demand dur
ing a meeting of the House District
Committee, of which he is a men,
ber. He declared ne had observed
40 or so frame buildings which con-
stituted fire traps" in the vicinity
of the Capitol. He recommended
that they be condemned.
If I were Mayor of Washington, ~
he declared, Il would condemn those
buildings"
Representative Bolles wanted to
know whether regular system is
followed in investigating potential
fire hazards. Corporation Counsel
Elwood H. Seal explained that reg
ular and thorough inspections are
made by inspectors from the fire
marshal's office.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
April First!
Clerk Wins $500 in Sweeps !;
Thought 1t April Fool Joke
Another Resident
OfWushington
Draws Prize

Two Observation-Disclosures a Gov
ernment clerk who laughed off her
luck as an April FOOLS joke and the
other a new-home owner who
signed his ticket "Taxes"-won
prizes in today's drawing for the
Irish hospitals sweepstakes.
Americans failed to Cleanup" as
they have in past drawings, but
three held tickets on favored en-
tries and thus stood a chance of
winning as high as $l06,05O in Fri
days running of the Grand National
Steeplechase at Aintree, England.
Miss Marta Brokaw, 5000 Six
teenth street NV. employed in the
Disbursement Division of the Treas
ury, drew a $500 prize. but it took
lots of talking to convince her she
had won something.
That's good one." she chuckled.
but / can't be kidded-not on this
day, anyhow"
Finally she was made to realize it
was not Joking matter, and only
then did she admit she already had
plans for spending the money. Miss
Brokaw is studying music-voice and
the harp-and she will use her win
nlngs to further her studies. The
harp, incidentally. is of the Irish
variety.
The other District winner was
identified by neighbors as a Mr.
Ford. living in a newly constructed
home at 45l2 Yuma street NV.
Since his ticket was signed u. c.
Taxes" it seemed Mr. Ford had his
prize money earmarked. He drew
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Radio Hoax Announcing End
|OfWorId' FooIs Thousands

Scientists predict that the world
will end at pm, Eastern standard
time, tomorrow.
This is no April fool joke. Con-
f1rmation can be obtained from
Wagner Schlesinger. director of the
Fels Planetarium of this city"
Then the radio station checked
the story and broadcast an ex-
PLANTATION.
It said the announcement was a
publicity stunt conceived by William
A. A. Castellini, publicity director
of the institute, to arouse interest
In the opening of q show at the
PlAnetarium. Mr.. Castellini said
later he had told some Of the
people" at the radio station about
the announcement and thought
they would know it was a stunt"
Mr.. Castellini explained Mr..
Welles and Mr.. Benny had no
knowledge of the stunt. He said
he heard the Benny program and
thought 1t . good chance to get
some publicity for the Planetarium.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Stay on Own Side
Of Street, jackson
Tells Prosecutors
Warns District Attorneys
Not to NEEDLE in Local
Law Enforcement
By ]. A. FOX.

Attorney General Jackson. in ef-
feet, told United States district at
torneys today to stay on their own
side of the street.
Addressing the annual conference
of prosecutors here. the Attorney
General pointed out that they had
delicate task" in distinguishing
between 'the Federal and the To-
cal in law-enforcement activities, -
then added:
I'VE must bear in mind that we
are concerned only with the prose-
cution of acts which Congress has
made Federal of1enses. Those acts
we should prosecute regardless Of
local sentiment, regardless of
whether it exposes lax local en-
forcement, regardless of whether it
makes or breaks local politicians.
But outside of Federal law. each
locality has the right under our
system of Government to AK its
own standards of law enforcement
and of morals. And the moral
climate of the United States is as
varied as its physical climate. For
(See JACKSON Page A-5)
Evening star., 1940-04-01

The Uplifter, q non-runner, and was
thus assured of something substan-
tial-although the exact amount was
not determined.
A Baltimorean who used the
pseudonym Gotta Vim" won a $500
prize.
In dispatch from Dublin, the
Associated Press pointed out that
the almost traditional American
luck in sweepstakes failed to hold.
Before the war, the percentage OF
winning tickets held by Americans
usually was about so per cent.
This time. Americans collected only
tSee SWEEPS, Page A-33
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Three Die, Five Hurt
As Flames DemoIish
o Street Apartments
Four-AIurm Fire Routs
Tenants; Damage Put
At 100000
(Pictures on page BIZ

four-aarm fire roared through large apartment build
ing at 21 street NV early today causing three
persons and the injury of at least five others
The blaze wrecked the theestory building Damage was
estimated at 100000.
The fire discovered about resident of the
building and immediate alarm Within 10 minutes
flames were eapng so feet into the spread through
the wooden interior.
Tenants occupying the Al to the street in night
clothes Some carried ladders from
windows and attempted to let themselves provised ropes
made of bed clothing
Tenants lost almost everything they left behind
The third floor completely the second floor
virtually demolished and apartments the first floor which
escaped the blaze ruined by smoke and water
Evening star., 1940-04-01
BY the Associated Press.

PHILADELPHIA, April IAN
announcement that "the world will
end at 3 pm. Eastern standard
time, Monday April l." released by
the Franklin Institute director of
publicity and broadcast over radio
station KYW sent thousands of
frightened Philadelphians hurrying
to their telephones for additional
details last night.
Newspapers, police stations and
the city's information bureau were
deluged with calls. The informa-
tion bureau estimated 1t handled
1000 calls itself.
The announcement, read after
the Jack Benny program, which fea-
tured the name of Orson Welles Of
Marian invasion fame, and a dis
cuSsion of the possible end Of the
world, said. ...
Your worst fears that the world
will end are confirmed by astrono.
mers Of the Franklin Institute,
Philadelphia.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Coal Director
On Radio Forum

Howard A. Gray, director of
the Bituminous Coal Division
Of the Interior Department, will
be the quest speaker on the
National Radio Forum over
WMAL at $3.50 o'clock tonifht.
Mr.. Gray, who soon will an.
nounee minimum prices for
bituminous coal produced in the
United States, will explain Gov.
eminent efforts to bring order to
the industry.
The program Is arranfed by
The Star and is heard over q
eoast.to.coast network of the
National Broadcastinf Co.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Foreign Missions Out
Of Poland, Say Germans
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
BERLIN, April 1.-Dissolution Of
all foreign missions In German
occupied Poland has been completed
authorized German sources reported
today.
All foreign diplomats and consular
omc.rs. except those Ill or unavoid-
ably delayed, left on March IS at
0ermany's request.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Leave Lipsticks Home,
Army Tells Women
BY the Associated Press.

BY Che ASSoclated Press.
BASEL, Switzerland. - Switzer-
lands first group of women soldiers,
$50 strong, called up to drive trucks
in the army medical services, began
their first month of training at
Basel recently with an order on
the first day stating. You're in
the army now"
Leave Gpsticks and powder boxes
at home" said the order. Bring
scrub brushes instead"
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Bubies Born Before
Midnight Will Add
To Census Total

When the census enumerators
60 out on the job today, they
will include in the 1910 count
all babies born up to midnight
tonight and all folks who died
after midnight last night.
According to Frank Wilson of
the publicity staff of the Census
Bureau. the enumeration must
include all persons "as of April
l."
So the last baby born just be-
fore midnight tonight will be
counted with the rest of his fel-
low Americans-but any baby
porn after that time will have to
wait 10 years to get on the list.
Evening star., 1940-04-01

Paris reports Germans use nomad
batteries on 30-mile line. Page A-3.
GERMAN WHITE BOOK held re-
taliation against Roosevelt; was
reprisal. say French, for refusal to
help peace offensive. Page Al.
BY the Associated Press.
PARIS, April 1.-Premier Paul
Reynaud outlined in a two-hour
cabinet meeting today new allied
war decisions generally interpreted
as signifying bolder policy toward
the Scandinavian and Balkan coun-
tries in an effort to plug gaps in
the anti-German blockade.
M. Reynaud. who is waging per-
sonal fight to retain the Office he
won recently by slim parliamentary
approval. also disclosed new meas
ures for combating Communist
and Hitlerian intrigue" within the
nation.
The cabinet met as the govern
ment moved to put into effect a
three-point program to reinforce
Frances domestic security by issuing
food and fuel ration cards, stimulat-
ing the birth rate with subsidies, and
trying to double the half-million
women at work in war industries.
Communique Issued.
A communique issued after the
cabinet session said in part:
I'M Ravnond oovo rfo%a
ment on the external situation. He
gave an account of the results of the
supreme council meeting held In
London March %. He also told
the council of the first measures
taken and those which are under
study for the repression of Com.
munists and Hitlerian intrigue in
the interior of the country"
The accord reached at the Lon
don meeting of the Allied War
Council, at which France and Brit
ain made new pledges of co-opera-
ton both during and after the war,
was expected to strengthen M.
Reynaud's government when the
Chamber of Deputies reconvenes
tomorrow to chart an agenda.
The real test of the strength of
the new government is anticipated
when the Senate meets April 8 for
debate on general war policy.
Meanwhile, the arrival of the
French ambassador to Rome, Andre
Francois-Poncet, for general am
bassadorial conferences ordered by
both allied governments, heightened
expectations of increased activity
on the diplomatic front.
Weygand in Paris.
Sharing attention with the cabi-
net meeting was the presence in
Paris OF Gen. Maxine Weygand.
commander of French forces in the
Near East. who arrived here Satur-
day for military conference, the
nature of which has not been dis
closed.
Also the subject of considerable
interest was the address Premier
Reynaud is scheduled to broadcast
to the United States at midnight
t6 pm, E. S. TJ Wednesday.
Originally to have been delivered
Saturday, it was deferred on account
OF static to tonight and then post
poned a second time.
Domestic Program.
The following is an outline of the
new three-point domestic program
inaugurated by the government:
l. A nationwide census was
started preparatory to immediate
issuance of food and fuel ration
cards similar to those already in use
in England and Germany.
2. An amplified family assist
ance" program went into effect,
providing prizes for babies and aid
to needy families of modified poilus.
3. A drive to enlist more women
in munitions making was opened,
with 100000 women workers as
its goal.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Earth Tremor Reported

NEW YORK, April (P.-Ford-
ham University's seismograph re-
corded severe tremor at 6:21
am today. The disturbance OF the
movement was estimated at $3.50
miles from New York in the general
di ection of the Philippines.
Evening star., 1940-04-01
Cadet Hurt in Fall
From Horse Dies
By the Associated Press.

| 0y Che ASSoClHCed PfeSS.
LEXINGTON, Va, April Lem
uel Mackimmie Long Jarman, first
year cadet at Virginia Military In
stitute. died yesterday Of injuries
suffered in q fall from q horse Fri
day.
He did not recover consciousness
after spill during an r. o. T. G.
cavalry drill.
Services will be Ut his home in
Roanoke Rapids, N. C., today.