davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-08-05
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles =. Trace,ceu.

old nest, piece Of wire must be hooked
through the opening and the tangle Of
materials dragged out as best one can.
Often the top may be taken OF with
one stroke Of hammer.
This is the best way, Of course, to get
at the contents.
Then the lid may be left OF for q
day or two. while the inside Of the box
gets the sunshine and fresh air. This
is the best possible way to sterilize the
inside Of . birdhouse.
II the box is not In the sun naturally,
and IT should not be, 1t will be neces-
sary to take the house down and place
1t on the driveway or lawn in the sun,
top Oh.
The best placement Of birdhouse IS
IN shade, with the entrance faced away
from prevailing winds and rains.
In nature, such holes as are used
naturally, or bored for nesting purposes,
are IN old logs or dead trees, in most in
stances. sometimes in posts. In any
case, the surrounding material Is much
thicker. In almost all cases, than the
manufactured siding and roof used in
the average purchased nesting box.
This means that there is more insula-
ton for the baby birds. It can be real
lied how hot the inside Of q small box,
with but one very small opening, be-
7 comes in the full glare of our summer
sun. There have been instances Of
hedglings being cooked alive in boxes
placed In sunshine all day long.
The house wren is one Of the gardens
best occupants. 1t will nest on the porch,
or even in the sleeve of an old coat left
out to air.
In nature. it likes apple trees. which
are likely to have cavities in them.
Perhaps this is one of the best rea-
sons for having at least one apple tree
in every yard.
II the wrens like them, that should
be sufficient reason for planting them.
1t Is true that the apple trees have de-
cided drawbacks, In small place, but
their gnarled and picturesque growth is
decidedly In their favor. And then an
apple tree somehow brings back memo
ries Of old days to most of us. This is
usually very much worth while.
The song Of the wren has a certain
quality which makes 1t 60 very well with
orchestral music on the radio or phono-
graph. As its trills blend with the in
struments OF the players, the listener
gets certain satisfaction which few
other birds can give him in this way.
Often the sweeter songs Of other birds
are drowned out completely by the elec-
trical music, but the strains of the little
wren not only can be heard easily, but
they have quality which makes them
just seem to go"
1t is natural to use the adjective
little" in connection with this bird 1t
comes down from European days, when
the usage took firm hold Of all bird
loving people. Little wren 1t was then.
and little wren she is now.
Evening star., 1940-08-05
Legislators Pay

An admission attributed to certain
members of the Maryland Legisla-
ture-that they intend to pocket
funds voted for secretarial hire-has
led to a ruling that presumably will
stop the proposed raid on the State
treasury before it starts. The State
Attorney General decreed that the
5000 the legislators voted themselves
last year for Secretarial hire can
not be used, either directly or indi-
rectly, to increase the compensation
OF members of the Legislature"
It was reported that at a recent
meeting of the Baltimore Assembly
Club, which is composed of members
of the State Assembly, several legis-
lators said they considered them
selves underpaid and they intended
to pocket the 5000. The State SEN
ate President requested ruling and
the attorney general said it would
be the duty Of the State controller
to see that the 5000 was expended
for secretarial service rendered the
Legislators by persons other than
themselves" or turned back into the
treasury.
At present Assemblymen receive IS
a day and regular sessions call for
90-day meetings every other year.
Previous efforts to raise their pay
have failed. In November another
effort, a proposed constitutional
amendment to boost the pay to a
fiat $3.50 year, regardless of the
time the Legislature is in session,
will 60 before the voters. The ques-
ton will be one of seven suggested
amendments on the general election
ballot.
Outsiders as well as members OF
Evening star., 1940-08-05
Alien Registration

The Department of Justice obvi-
ously has been careful to avoid any
semblance of "snooping" in decid-
ing on the personal data that aliens
will be required to furnish under
the registration law which goes into
effect August e..
But fifteen questions are to be
propounded to the citizens, and
two which seek necessary informa-
ton on their organization af1iliations
and their political activities in be-
half Of foreign governments apply
only to the five years prior to the
date of registration. They also must
furnish record of arrests, indict-
ments or convictions-the same
demand made on an American
citizen seeking civil service posi-
tion-but the rest Of the informa-
ton sought covers no more than
the bare essentials Of any statistical
Evening star., 1940-08-05
SILVER SPRING, Nd.

Oo8k dr. #
! T am IN interested reader Of your
column This and That ana appreciate
the information about the life Of flowers
and birds.
II hope you can give me some infor-
nation about the habits OF the brown
wren. I was 80 pleased when one Of
these little birds took possession OF Z
small rustic house hung In the tree
about the middle Of the month OF May.
"she seemed very busy bringing in
materials for her nest and sang when
she fiew around in the surrounding
trees.
Nov I haven't seen her for. about
five weeks and also have meyer seen any
baby birds come out Of the house, al
though I have not been able to lcok
into the birdhouse, don't know II there
were any small birds Matched.
II am wondering II my small feathered
friend will eventually return and should
renoyate the house?
Some time ago read in your column
how much the redbirds like sunfower
seed.
Il have been putting some Of these
seeds near the birdbath and they do
love this seed, but have only had one
pair of birds.
They never 60 into the bath, either
to drink or bathe.
''The male bird seems to come and
feast on the seeds more than the female
bird. Is there reason for this?
Yours truly, E. D. B."
1t Is always best to clean out bird
house after the family has left.
While some species will clean out an
old house, many Of them will not, and
many individuals in . species which
will do not always like to do 1t. So they
60 some place else.
Once the fiedglings are out Of the nest
for keeps, they never 60 back to 1t.
Nor will the old nest be used again,
either by the same pair or another.
Some of the material may be carried
away to fresh site, but the old nest,
queerly enough, is never used q second
time.
This, no doubt. is natures way of keep
ing down such pests as lice.
The best kind of birdhouses are those
which can be cleaned easily.
This means that they will have roof
either hinged or easily raised, or = bot
tom which can be removed by loosening
one screw.
Very few manufactured houses are
built this way, especially the cheaper
ones. Hence the desirability of building
ones own, II possible; often this is not
possible, so the bird lover must take
what he can get.
1t can be realized that q round hole
but seven n-eighths Of an inch in diame-
ter is not the best entrance for the hu-
man hand.
If there is no other way to get at an
Evening star., 1940-08-05
Fifty Destroyers

In a time Of uncertainty, when
there is an important and funda-
mental difference of opinion as to
the course a nation should follow, it
becomes the part of wisdom to heed
the counsel of men who are best
qualified by training and experience
to speak with authority. Nor does
this necessarily mean that the
qualified Spokesmen are those who
say the things that the majority OF
the people want to hear. On the
contrary, it is often the case that
truth conflicts with popular fancy,
but leaders who cater to false con-
ceptions based on public prejudice
cannot alter the harsh realities,
even though they may succeed tenn
porarily in concealing them.
General John j. Pershing is one
American whose advice, by the tests
OF personal disinterestedneSs expert
ence and training, is entitled to the
most serious consideration. In a
radio address yesterday he told his
Fellow countrymen that "a grave
danger for us turks in the present
world situation"-that more than
half the world is ruled by men who
despise the American idea and have
sworn to destroy it."
To meet this threat he urged, first,
that we build up our own defenses
by establishment of the principle of
universal selective service, and, Sec
ond, by making available to the Brit
lsh at least fifty of our over-age de-
stroyers. General Pershing was not
oblivious to the fact that America S
own defenses may be weakened by
the sale of destroyers to the British
1t the latter should be beaten in spite
OF that assistance. He urged the
transaction as wise and necessary
risk-as a preferred gamble at a
time when we must take chances.
He believes that the sale of Destroy
ers to the British may enable them
to prolong, if not win, the war, and
IN his judgment the possible total
loss OF the vessels to us would be
more than compensated for by the
time we would gain in which to build
up our defenses on other fronts.
That advice comes at time when
our program of aiding opponents Of
aggression is at low ebb, despite
the fact that the reasons underly-
Ing it are as impelling or more i'm
pelling than they have ever been.
1t may be that Congress which is
baking at approval of so elemental
precaution as Inauguration of Sc
lective military training would be
extremely cool to General Pershing's
recommendation. But it does not
follow that no effort should be made
to have it ratified. This is matter
on which the commander of the
American Expeditionary Force is
qualified to speak with great au-
thority, and If his opinion is in
dorsed by our present-day military
leaders, it is to be hoped that the
administration will not hesitate to
submit to Congress a concrete pro-
posal designed to carry his recon-
mendation into effect The Ameri-
can people are entitled to free and
open discussion of the facts, pro
and con, whatever thev NAV he
Evening star., 1940-08-05

when he knew in his heart that he had
meant no disrespect nor disloyalty to it.
Would it not have been better and
more beneficial In its effects had the
Judge given this ignorant but we'll
meaning man nice little talk instead
Of severe lecture on the flag and of the
duty Of all loyal citizens to honor revere,
protect and defend the flag as the SYM
Dol OF our Nations sovereignty, and then
have imposed small fine and have
suspended the sentence? Had this been
done Merica would no doubt have left
the courtroom with far different feel
ings about the nag than those engen-
dered by the sentence and lecture.
ALEXANDER S. LANIER.
AuQ11St I
Evening star., 1940-08-05
No Greet Men?

to think Of the time in which they
live as being altogether common
place. Some other period of human
experience invariably appears to be
the legendary golden age. The pres
ent never rises above a hopeless
mediocrity. So 1t Is said with
convincing frequency.
Just few days ago certain visitors
from the West came to the Nations
Capital to see the sights. Here they
encountered acquaintances from
New York. In company they went
to the Washington Monument, the
Lincoln Memorial and as near as
they conveniently could to the
beautiful temple now being raised
in tribute to Jefferson. They were
touched by the dignity of what they
saw; and they were profoundly sin
cere when, in the hotel lobby later
on, they agreed that: There are
no great men any more"
Thousands of plain and humble
citizens must have entertained
similar conviction at one moment
or another in recent years. They
know instinctively the difference be-
tween leaders who are truly noble
are individuals like Hitler and
Mussolini and the lesser breed of
tyrants who ape their exhibitionistic
mannerisms for purposes equally de-
plorable. Fanatical Germans or
Italians, Of course, might acclaim
Der Fuehrer and II Duce, but where
Is the world opinion which endorses
them as millions support in appre-
citation the first, the third and the
sixteenth Presidents of the United
States? Which of the modern die
tators has been acclaimed as Vol
taire was? No captain living can
compare In terms of fame with
Shakespeare or Dante, Goethe or
Beethoven, Michelangelo or REM
brandt. These are immortal char
acters to whom successive genera
tions pay their grateful homage.
But it is suggested that the flame
Of creative genius in the arts and
the sciences also burns low today.
Where is there another Darwin, an
other Pasteur, another Edison, to
teach their brothers to think in
straight line? Walt Whitman had
no heir, Stephen Collins Foster no
disciple, Mark Twain no worthy
imitator. The pessimist is con-
firmed in his sorrow by the intel
lectual and spiritual poverty of the
epoch. Yet it may be wondered II
there is any excuse for mourning.
Visitors to Washington may not find
Websters and Calhouns, Clays and
Choates in Congress. Let it be con-
ceded. What Of It? Could the
oratorical giants of eight decades
ago establish heaven upon earth
with their eloquence? The answer
is: No, they could not prevent a
fratricidal war! Neither can great
leaders solve the problems of the
twentieth century. Rather, it seems,
there is need for multitudes of men
and women who have no wish for
celebrity but who. with generous
minds and pure hearts, ask nothing
except tolerance and mercy, justice
and peace among the children of
God. They will fight for these as
poets Of democracy If they must.
Let there be no question about their
earnestness. They are not waiting
for a Napoleon. Rather, they delay
only to permit their anger to reach
the white heat which tyrants have
reason to fear.
Evening star., 1940-08-05

the Legislature have frequently con-
tended that the Assemblymen are
underpaid, that 4 more adequate
salary would attract more able men
to Annapolis. The little incident
regarding secretarial pay, while
probably applying to only . few
members of the Assembly, suggests
that Improvement in personnel is
needed.
Evening star., 1940-08-05
The Agency
Of the People

The Information Bureau provided BY
The Evening Star is for the !accommoda-
ton OF the public. There Is no charge
except return postage on letters or q
small cost price on booklets. From
morning until night 1t answers questions
Of fact. Use It.
Hot Weather Dishes
Appetizers, Salads and Sandwiches-A
collection Of 800 tested recipes to add Va.
riety to the menu in the season Of lighter
lunches. suppers, outdoor meals and pic
mics. Suggestions for Sunday night sup
pers. Every hostess and homemaker viii
be delighted with this booklet Of recipes
to whet any appetite. To secure your
copy inclose Is cents in coin, wrapped in
this clipping.
---------------------
Name ~
Street
-------------------- ----------------
City
---- -----..---------------- -.
State
Evening star., 1940-08-05
Thinks Sentence Imposed
In Flag Incident Questionable.

HI + AA& uChUcnt AkuC9ttOH&OAcs
70 the Editor Of The Star:
It appeared in today's Star that Police
Judge Nelson. after giving the Defend
ant q severe lecture sentenced Noah
Merica, 33-year-old w. p. A. worker,
who supports wife and two children on
his $57-a-month job, to pay q fine OF
$25 for desecrating the American flag.
Merica. told the Judge he was ignorant
of any regulations regarding disposal Of
old flags, and that. he certainly meant
no disloyalty to the emblem. It was also
stated he had only . hfth-grade educa-
ton, and was an American citizen with
two generations Of Virginia ancestors
It further appears that the nag was
worn and tattered and had been given
him by q family moving out of q nearby
residence along with. several other ole
articles, and that In wrapping it about
several bottles, boxes and trash in the
rear Of his home he merely meant to
dispose Of 1t In that manner.
Under the facts and circumstances Of
the case as related tn The Star, 1t ap-
pears to the writer that the Judge was
unnecessarily harsh in his Judgment
and sentence. and that his sentence was
calculated to have the opposite effect
from what he probably intended. In-
stead Of generating In Merica deeper
reverence and love for the flag there was
probably created within his heart and
mind feelings Of bitterness, antagonism
and resentment toward it ~ the cause
and occasion Of % severe puni1hnaeut,
Evening star., 1940-08-05

Gasoline is said to be eighty-three
times as explosive as dynamite: Yet
even the most flaming youth would
tremble II asked to drive q load Of
. few hundred pounds Of the latter
at from hfty-five to seventy miles.
IN hour. III
Evening star., 1940-08-05

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1criter. although the use OF
a pseudonyn, for publication Is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Uith
q Uie1c to condensation,
Evening star., 1940-08-05
Letters to the Editor
Decries Partisanship
In National Defense.
10 the Editor Of The SkAr:

Decries Partisanshfp
In National Defense.
10 the Editor Of The Star:
May request the privilege of COM
menting briefly upon the recent WASH
ington rally to oppose peacetime con-
scription, at which I was a speaker?
accepted the invitation to speak for
the purpose Of discussing the conscrip-
ton issue from a moral point of view.
noted with pleasure that most of
the speakers adhered strictly to this is
sue, especially Representative Robert T.
Secrest, who is to be commended for his
constructive attitude in sponsoring a
bill for voluntary enlistment to take
the place Of the Burke -Wadsworth bill.
The need Of national defense is grave
and no American who loves his country
should be content to take a purely mega
tive attitude on this question.
In matter SO important for all
Americans, 1t Is . mistake to divide
the hearts Of our people by injecting
party issues and rivalries that have
nothing to do with the protection Of
the Nation.
Another thing we do well to remem-
ber is that good causes may be sup
ported for bad motives. Not every one
who denounces conscription does 80 from
patriotic reasons A man who proposes
to leave his country defenseless is no
patriot.
Today Americans, who love the soul of
their Nation even more than its soil,
must stick steadfastly to the middle of
the road, avoiding the extreme of totali-
tartan collectivism, but, at the same
time, voluntarily and of their own ac-
cord. putting the public good of the
United States above their private good.
Let us insist on freedom, not in order to
do as we please. but in order to serve
the American people from a conviction
of duty--always, however, freely.
RIGHT REV. G. BARRY OTOOLE,
Professor Of Philosophy in the
Catholic University Of America.
August 2.
Evening star., 1940-08-05
Entering and Leaving Canada
Held Not Difficult.

GuSCAAS Auu Leaving N2n803
Held Not Difficult.
To the Editor Of The ersr:
My family and have just returned
from Wigwassan Lodge, Lake Rosseau,
Ontario, and would like to 60 on record
regarding the matter Of entering Canada
and returning to the United States. No
trouble was encountered at the border
when we crossed q few days ago.
It Is gratifying to know that the un-
justified propaganda against entering
Canada is being counteracted and that
reliable sources Of information are con-
veying to the people of America that
entry into Canada and return to the
United States is the same as in previous
years.
Canada is land of marvel and beauty,
the people are eager to welcome United
States tourists and the favorable rate of
exchange makes travel there reasonable.
There are many Canadians who would
like to tour the United States this year,
but are not permitted to do 50 on ac-
count of war conditions. We are more
fortunate than they. both countries being
accessible to us.
To those who are thinking Of visiting
Canada, ! would say: Go! There is an
abundance Of food; there has been no in
crease In price Of gas, which should be
Of interest to motorists. and most Of the
money spent there comes back to the
United States Of America for purchase
Of supplies. Thus we can directly aid
this great country In its fight against
Hitlerism. regret that my stay was 20
brief.
August I. M. McCHEsNEY, MD.
Evening star., 1940-08-05
August
Press Of the Voting States
Asked to Push d. C.. Suffraxe.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Twenty years ago the writer, long a
worker for District suffrage, said, and says
now, that evidence of interest by con-
stituents Of members Of Congress will do
more to get the District of Columbia its
just American due than all the fuss and
feathers INDUCED in locally from now to
doomsday. Let our local press and suf-
frage committees appeal to the press of
the Nation-more particularly to the
press and constituents Of the members of
Congress.
The appeal would inmeasurably in
crease our chances of getting national
and electoral college representation. Con-
gressmen are busy people these days, and
the only thing that will really get their
attention is "his masters voice"-the
people who put 'em in Office!
July 81. JOSEPH D. KAUFMAN.
Evening star., 1940-08-05
By James Waldo Fospceff.

Inc royal guests were escorted to the
East Room. 1T was here that Andrew
jackson entertained some Of the most
miscellaneous gatherings the city ever
knew"
Mr. Pratt Boorman then records the
fact that 'only 1,4oo people were able to
be present at the garden party held in
the imposing British Embassy in Massa-
chusetts avenue, the first social event
in Washington given by a reigning SOW
ereign. So great was the demand for
tickets that announcers on the wireless
said, Don't buy ticket for the British
Embassy garden party, as bogus tickets
are being sold to the gullible.'"
During the afternoon, Mr.. Pratt Boor-
man remembers, "'the King had an
earnest talk with Rear Admiral r. E.
Byrd. the Arctic explorer, while the Queen
spoke to Senator Davis, who Joined her
and the King at tea !. The King
chatted long while with Mr.. J. p. Nor
gan, the American banker"
Mr.. Pratt Boorman next described
the events of Friday, June Q, includ-
ing: Mrs. Roosevelt's press confer
ence, the reception for the British
community with music by the band
from H. M. 8. Exeter, which was to play
at MonteUdeo on later occasion9, the
visit to the Capitol. the trip down the
river to Mount Vernon, the call at the
G. G. c. camp at Fort Hunt, the pill
grimage to the Tomb Of the Unknown
Soldier at Arlington, q similar moment
Of reverence at the Canadian memorial,
tea at the White House and the banquet
ut the British Embassy.
In retrospect, Mr.. Pratt Boorman de-
clares: This was no ordinary
visit from the head Of one great nation
to another. It had greater significance
than that. It was the meeting of the
heads Of two great nations, both deter
mined that independence, freedom and
right shall be maintained in this world"
Some readers, perhaps, may consider
these words mere verbal embroidery. To
others, we may venture to believe,
they represent something akin to the
basic fabric Of Anglo Saxon civilization,
both Is IN aspiration and as an achieve
ment Ia . troubled earth.
Evening star., 1940-08-05

Entered as seconded matter post ONCE.
washington. D. c.
The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1940-11-15
PAGE SEVEN

job, in office or industry. which re-
qnires an ability to do proficient
tipping. Cali FU-7851.
There is not any cssree for
the use Of the typewritors.