davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-07-26

Well, Sir, a most prepossesslng
little woman breezed into my office
one day this week and introduced her
self thusly:
"I'm sixty years old today.
hav'n't wrinkle nor crows foot,
and I never used twenty-five cents
worth of cosmetics in my life. Do /
look my age?"
"No'm," I said, sorta taken off my
feet by the furry of so much beauty,
"No'm, you don't look day over
seventy-two-I mean, Nom, I don't
mean that, I meant to say twenty
two" And I was in a quandary, for
a second, as to whether 1T wouldn't be
better to drop to sweet sixteen in
view of the fire 1 saw in her eyes.
Then I went on to say that when
the ages of great many people are
considered, she was nothing more
than kid. I told her I knew a man
who didn't live very far from my
home-in fact lived in the same house,
who was no longer able to run as fast
as he once could, nor could he stand
the racket as he once upon time
did. then asked her how old she
thought I was.
You see, was thinking of some of
my good friends who now and then
take off a dozen or so years, when
they begin to compare the ravages
Of time with respect to myself and
some other individuals. So, with some
degree of self graduation asked:
GLOW old do you think I ann"
She turned around, and looked at
me, while I posed and did my best
to look my youngest. She soon made
up her mind and very positively
said
"About eighty-four!"
Wow! how was that for turn a.
bout fair play come-back-at-ye? Bless
my soul, believe aged ten years in
as many seconds, and I felt myself
growing smaller and shorter, every
tick of my watch. 1 thought to my
self what a comfort it is to have some
good friends who will tell you some
real comforting lies, now and then.
But this lady, bless her dear 60-year-
old heart, she was like the immortal
George, she did not know where little
fibs were manufactured or sold, and
she didn't have any on hand.
How-some-ever, she didn't object to
my telling few about her own self,
when dropped from seventy-two to
twenty-two-a margin of only fifty
years. She was willing for me to
jeopardize my prospects for Heaven
just so I recognized the absence of
wrinkles, crowfeet and cosmetics from
her facial anatomy, and give her cred
it for being marvel in the way of
human preservation. But the world
is just like that. Still, just think how
she has destroyed my faith in my
fellowmen, to say nothing of my fell
low-woman. Now that I know how
old I am, how old I look, and how
foolish I've been, I'm going to give
Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-07-26

closer heed to some who really have
advised me as follows: "Be your
age"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Fastening Preparedness

Total defense calls for maximum
effort by all persons and agencies
engaged in the emergency task Of
preparing the Nation against the
threat of war. Maximum production
of war supplies is one of the imme-
date goals of the Government under
the new defense program. The Ma
tlonal Defense Advisory Commission
has been assigned the task of speed
ing up private industry in the filling
OF war orders, and officials have been
endeavoring to enlist a cooperative
response from business. Now the
Government itself has decided to go
all out" in its own highly specialized
war materiel field, the manufacture
at Army arsenals of guns and ammu-
milton needed by Americas military
and naval forces. An order Just
issued by the War Department has
placed six big Federal arms factories
on three-shift, around-the-clo
operating schedule.
The effect of the order will be to
increase by sixty-five per cent pro-
duction of Garand mi-automatic
rifles, antiaircraft and anti-tank
guns, heavier artillery, tanks and
ammunition. And, incidentally, jobs
will be provided for approximately
1000 additional skilled and I'M
skilled workers. A forty-eight-hou
week will be put into effect, but the
employees will be paid time and one
half for the eight extra hours worked
per week. At the same time, the
Navy Department lifted a forty hour
week restriction at navy yards, so
as to quicken the tempo of ship and
gun building operations.
The showing of the Government
arsenals and navy yards into high
gear is logical and necessary move
in the race against time which the
United States has embarked upon
for self-preservation. The need for
haste in repairing and expanding
our defenses becomes increasingly
urgent as each day passes and as
the German onslaught on England
draws closer. We have billions of
dollars worth of security on paper
ION order'-but precious months and
even years must pass before most of
this belated insurance is translated
into tangible arms and trained per-
sonnet. Americas fervent hope is
that Great Britain can hold out
Indefinitely against the forces which
would destroy her and the way Of
life she represents; that at least she
can stave off threatened defeat until
we have progressed sufficiently with
our defense preparations to give
pause to the aggressors. For that
reason we should not hesitate to
take any reasonable step which will
speed the day when we will be fully
equipped and trained to fight off any
foe or combination of foes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
THIS AND THAT
By Charles z. Trdce1DeH.

fast, now loud, now soft; he fingers, he
dawdles, he rushes and then he slows
down, and when finally even his best
friends think he must be ready to quit,
he takes a new lease of musical life and
gives us PEACEFUL Of notes.
This sort Of thing is not great, it is
merely boresome
When a music lover has got to the
point of self education that he is willing
to admit that the great man can be tire
some, he is in fair way to throw off
the mantle Of hero worship and join the
roll Of the real music lovers.
How many fraudulent music lovers
there are! And all OF them victims of
self-deception. Surely no one with music
in his SOUL even If he cannot send it
out, deceives himself purposely. Con-
slider his finding and acceptance of Lud-
wig van Beethoven. He did not know
him until late in life Then this music
became more than music, 1t was a flash
of light. The music lover was en-
thralled. He realized that this was a
mature composer, and only maturity
could understand him. How he pitied
the young students forced to study a
man whose music they could not pos
sibly in the very nature of things, I'M
derstand or really like.
The music lover put the great COM
poser on a pedestal and dared the re-
mainder Of the tribe of musicians to
knock him off This the tribe cheerfully
, began to do. 1t is of the essence of any
art to knock one man off the pedestal
that the whorshipers put him on. 1t is
this sort of thing which makes the
wheels of art go round.
In time the true music lover will
come to know that there is not Just one
musician, but many, that change and
difference are at the very heart of the
greatness of this art.
Bach was great, Beethoven was great;
Bach is great, Beethoven is great
Papa" Haydn is seen to be no Jolly
man, merely, as that silly nickname
his own right. There are moments, in
the musical lie, when no other man
will do
There are times when nothing but
Beethovens third symphony, the
"Eroca," will do.
But Mozart has his place. and Handel,
and Victor Herbert, too, and the music
lover will feel that there is no disrespect
in grouping them together, since each is
his own man, and makes his own music
for the mood which accepts him.
Hero worship has only juvenile place
in music. With growth, it is given over
for better viewpoint, and simple one,
that where there is greatness there
cannot be Just one greatest. The very
nature of musical greatness precludes
the hero. Where the musical great
gather, there are many "greatests," and
the music lover is wise to realize this,
and listen accordingly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Politics in Defense

Indications that some members of
Congress may attempt to hold up
the preparedness program unless
political considerations are taken
into account in awarding defense
contracts can be viewed only with
gravest concern.
1t is of the utmost Importance that
contracts for production of the war
materiel of which this Nation stands
in such urgent need be awarded to
firms best equipped to begin pro-
duction at the earliest possible
moment. Political considerations
cannot and should not be taken into
account. If the desires of some
Senators constituents rather than
the necessities of the defense pro-
gram are to be the governing con-
sideration in this matter, it is not
too much to say that national dis
aster is in the offing.
This is a situation which calls for
the close observation of the Ameri-
can people. In the matter of taxes
and in personal service, they have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
The War and FOREIGN Trade

Though sales OF American mer-
chandise abroad during the first six
month of 1910 showed a substantial
gain over the corresponding period
of 1889, the war, as evidenced in
statistics recently made public by
the Department of Commerce, has
caused marked change in the pat
tern and composition of our export
trade. Shipments to the Continent
of Europe have sharply declined, but
this loss has been offset by increased
exports elsewhere, notably to the
United Kingdom, Canada and South
America.
Exports to the United Kingdom in
June were valued at $780, 900, as
compared with $36O66,OO0 in June,
1899, and exports to Canada amount
ed to $66,796,OO0 as against $685.
900. Our exports to South America
in June were valued at $44,456 900, a
S19,0O0,000 increase over the pre-
ceding June. Shipments to Argen-
tina and Brazil were 100 per cent
higher than in June, 1899. Exports
to Chile, Peru and Uruguay also reg
istered large gains.
Shipments of war materials have
been an important factor in main
tanning the value of our export trade
this year. During the first half of
1910, six leading commodities-air-
craft, non-ferrouS metals, steel
manufactures, Woodworking ma
chinery, munitions and industrial
chemicals - constituted thirty two
per cent of our exports, as compared
with twenty per cent during the first
six months last year. Until the
armistice, France, like Canada and
the United Kingdom, was also a
heavy purchaser of war materials
from the United States.
With the exception Of Europe, i'm
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

ports from all geographical divisions
have increased over the totals for the
first half of 1899. Strategic materials
now account for a larger proportion
OF our import trade than they did
year ago. During the first six
months of 1910 imports of five i'm
portant strategic materials-crude
rubber, tin, ferro-manganese, nickel
and wool-were valued at $246 ,000,-
600, as compared with $146,OOO 900
during the corresponding period in
1899. These five items accounted for
twenty-one per cent of our imports,
as against fourteen per cent year
ago. As result of the war, imports
Of manufactured products from Eu-
rope have decreased in volume.
With the trend toward a closed
economy on the Continent of Europe,
and in the Far East, the Western
Hemisphere has now assumed
mere prominent place in the foreign
trade picture. 1T its convention last
month in San Francisco, the Ma
tional Foreign Trade Council urged
that particular emphasis should be
placed at this time on nter-Ameri-
can political and economic co-opera-
ton. Latin American countries, it
predicted, will become an increasing
ly important source, for the United
States, of strategic and essential raw
materials, and certain manufactured
goods, and foodstuffs. That is an
other reason why it will be to our
advantage to encourage inter-Amer-
lean trade and help Latin American
countries develop their natural re-
Sources
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
A Dubious Plan

Nothing could be more inspiring
to public speaker than to have his
audience one hundred per cent with
him. Such was the experience of a
clergyman called in to pinch hit for
the regular chaplain at a service in
the Western Penitentiary. He
preached pet idea-two weeks an
nual vacation for prisoners-and the
applause was terrific. In his own
words, their faces lit up. I'm sure
they were inspired"
But usually, if one searches far
enough in life, beetle will be dis
covered somewhere in the molasSes.
In this case it was the prison at
PENDANTS. They explained that their
livelihood depended upon prisoners
in fact, in their business prisoners
were their entire stock in trade, and
without them they would be unem-
ployed. 1t was, therefore, highly i'm
portant to conserve their assets and
not let them get disssipated all over
the entire Western Hemisphere from
Alaska to Argentina. They explained
patiently that a jailbird in hand was
worth two out in, the bushes. It is
hoped that the prisoners will not be
too disappointed over the stock
holders vote and will console them
selves over the fact that at any rate
they will not be bored stiff listening
to vacation tales of their cellmates-
and especially the one about the big
Acknowledgment post Office safe
that thew q lnost oct
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

When a music lover discovers Beet
hoven, whether he be rs or SO, he is
very likely to think that he is the
worlds greatest composer"
He wonders where he has been, not to
have realized the beauty, wonder, In
spiration, Of the music of this great man.
For time, all other composers seem
dwarfed.
The great symphonies, the concertos.
the quartets-surely no man before or
since composed such music.
Then, one day, the music lover sud-
denly catches himself in an almost un-
thinkable thought-that Mozart was
quite composer, too!
He sees at last that this man Beet
hoven was but one of the great COM
posers.
The music lover begins to see that
Beethoven, as every other musician who
ever lived, had his own style.
He also perceives that this style is
unitary, call it what you will; that the
great man sounded much alike, no matter
In what form ne composed.
In other words, Beethoven is always
Beethoven, but not always in the best
way. Sometimes his music, after much
hearing, strikes nearer as all alike.
Just as no one could mistake a tune
by Lord Sullivan, so no competent music
listener can fail to recognize Beethoven
work
Is this good or bad?
There can be no question that a mu-
is so individualized that all compost
tons in time tend to sound alike, then
the style has its drawbacks.
This is the sad conclusion that many
Beethoven worshiper will come to, in
the fullness of time, and the best thing
for him to do is not to protest, inwardly,
or feel that he has committed sort
of sacrilege, but to accept his own feel
ings at face, or rather ear, value.
1t is not for nothing that Beethoven
sounds like Beethoven, and Mozart like
Mozart or Wagner like Wagner. This
is of the inner essence of the music.
The only mistake which has been made
is by the worshiper, in trying to set up
one god instead of many.
Music is many. not one. Despite the
efforts to canonize one composer above
the rest, music lovers in time come to
realize that this is a qualification of
their love and art.
Beethoven has his tricks, too.
Much hearing of his works will show
any honest istener-and one may be
honest in listening as we'll as in think
ing-that one Of his failings was an in
ability to let 60 a movement.
He not only worked up the climaxes,
but he worked them up, alas, too well,
and especially at too great a length.
He Invariably rings all the changes in
the final pace. He is now SLOW now
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Immediate Passage Of
Conscription Law Urged.

To the Editor of The Star:
Permit me space in your very valuable
paper to say a few words in favor of
immediate CONSUMPTION of men between
the ages of 81 and 81, as proposed by our
present administration, and to state why
there are certain individuals who are
trying to hamper the efforts to enact
such a law.
This Nation at the present moment is
in the same category that France was
in six months ago. While the Germans,
armed to the teeth, were pounding at
the very back door of France, France
was too engrossed in business, worldly
pleasures and vices to do more than
shrug her shoulders at the oncoming
Germans. A sort of devil-may-care
attitude. And today she is paying in
servitude for this indifference and non
chalance. She still will be paying 50
years from today. The Germans are
prepared and still preparing.
I submit that the youth of these
United States, the men between the ages
of 81 and 81 are so busy in pursuit of
pleasure that the very mention of the
duties of a soldier to them is like taking
dose of poison!
The fifth columnists know this and
they shout the loudest: I'VE didn't raise
our boys to be soldiers"
And while all this goes on Hitler, Stain,
MusSolini and their allies decide on the
next ripe melon to divide. Are we
ripening?
Let us be not deceived. Let us give our
every support, moral and otherwise, for
the immediate passage of the conscrip-
ton bill. JOHN w. HERNDON, Jr.
August Z.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

to defend our Nation as this bill implies.
We all earnestly desire to see America
remain bulwark of democracy
Therefore, let us not move rashly toward
legislation which admits the failure of
government by individual responsibility
and establishes a regime of compulsion
in place of our much priced freedom.
Rather. let us as citizens seriously con-
slider what, for each of us, real RESPONSE
bility for functioning democracy re-
quires. GROVER L. HARTMAN.
Battle Ground, Ind,
August S.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Urges Inspection
OF City Streets.

To the Editor of The Star:
Marie c. Searles has hit the nail
directly on the head when she calls at
tention to the hedge around the Cor
coran Art Gallery-"and to the fact that
such a condition can exist when there
is full staff of bodied men on
duty''-adding land supposedly-some
one to direct Them
For many years, inspection has been
my watch word-the act or process of
inspection; ''inspectional," something
mentally grasped at once without study;
but of which our city government has
never even had the smallest idea.
Everywhere there is neglect, from the
grounds of our show places to the streets
and alleys. Weeds stand thick around
the trees in front of the annex to the
Treasury Department. CITIZEN.
August !.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

indicated their willingness to make
whatever sacrifices are necessary to
insure that the Job of rebuilding our
national defenses be given the right
of way. If there should be any at
tempt by selfish politicians to OBJ
struct their wishes in this respect,
it is to be hoped that those who
elected them to office will not hest
tate to record their protests in
emphatic and unmiStakable terms.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

to enter into profitable investment fields,
were demonstrated in 1899, when on
March 6, and December 4, internal loans
were offered, and almost Immediately
subscribed to double their amount"
Argentina, then, has done we'll for
herself in competition with the United
States. 1t is no wonder she took her
time about joining our diplomatic effort
until the war made better relations
mutually desirable.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

With all due difference to every
body concerned, those spectacular
and reassuring photographs Of
American tanks and airplanes will
not prove entirely adequate If trout
bic comes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Star Questions
Would Fill q Book

The answers to questions of a single
days operation of The Star Information
Bureau would make a book. Not all
would have a general appeal. Those in
cluded in this column are but few
which are representative Of what people
want to know. Each day brings fresh
grist, and each day brings many questions
never asked before. Ask one yourself.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Indiana Held Against
CONSUMPTION Bill.

To the Editor of The Star:
AS Washingtonian on vacation in
the Middle West, wish to present some
observations on the Burke Wadsworth
CONSUMPTION bill. From contact with
leaders of many Indiana communities I
am convinced that the people of this
State will sustain no party nor indi-
vidual supporting this measure.
From all sources available to me 1t
seems that the number of men to be
pressed into service under this bill ex-
ceeds several times over the largest esti-
mates of requirements for defense. Since
both major parties have in their plat
forms committed themselves against
sending Americans abroad to fight, this
proposal must be considered only in the
light of its necessity for defense. If APP
piled equally and without discrimination
as it should be, fear that this measure
would disrupt industrial processes-even
the rearmament program deemed so es-
sential by the administration. 1t also
seems to me inadvisable to entrust to
any one man the destinies of millions of
Americans. Such sweeping powers are
objects of suspicion in a democracy.
Can we not first try more liberal Army
wages, shorter enlistment periods and
other means to make voluntary service
more economically feasible for our citi-
zens? Until then it is not fair to stig-
Matte our people as unwilling or unable
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republica ton of ell dispa tches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
herein also are reserved.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the Uriter, although the use of
pseudony1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
q DietU to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
History of Money

A special booklet which gives factual
survey of money since the earliest civil
lization. 1t traces the monetary history
of the United States from Colonial days
to the present. In clear, understandable
language it gives an account of the great
imitation eras of history. You will ap-
preciate the vast amount of information
contained in this booklet because money
is a subject of interest to ALL To secure
your copy inclose 10 cents in coin,
wrapped in this clipping.
Name
-------
Street
City
State
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Thinks Many in District
Would Not Vote.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Don't you think that there has been
one big question in connection with the
votes-for- the District movement, which
has not been honestly discussed by the
proponents? I mean the number OF
residents of Washington who actually
would vote
great many of those who have ex-
pressed desire for the vote would not,
1 believe, actually vote If suffrage were
granted to the District. This class is
that of the Government worker.
Those under civil service would not
transfer their votes from their home
States to the District because it would
remove their quota protection from
them. Those not under civil service
would not transfer their votes from
home because it would make it impos-
sible for them to get clearance" from
back home.
I believe that, If an honest poll were
taken of those who would actually vote
IN the District were taken, 1t would
throw an entirely different light on
the subject. H. NJ H.
July 80
Editors note-The writer under
estimates the number of potential
voters who are not Federal en-
ployes. There would be no compul-
sion on an eligible voter in a State
to abandon his State citizenship and
become q DiSfrict cifi1o,, &C u mould
be left to his election entirely. The
civic-mindedness of the community
prompts belief that the percentage
of actual voters here would compare
favorably with any State or CITY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-12
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
Member OF the Associated Press,

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE.
Washington D. c.