davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-17
Man bout
Manhattan
Bv George Tucker

NEW YORK, Aug. is - OF all
the big time, low tariff dance halls
in the U. S., the most celebrated
is the Savoy Ballroom, black jewel
of Harlem's famed swivel-hipped
night life.
Out of it have come such clas-
sizes of jitterbug dancing as the
..Lindy Hop and the Harlem
conga." From it have come such
famed negro musicians as Cab Cal
loway, Ella Fitzgerald, Erskine
Hawkins, the Four Ink Spots, and
the late Chick Webb. To it have
been dedicated such compositions
as "Stomping at the Savoy" Gene
Krupa's "Bolero at the Savoy" an
now 'fWaltz Night at the Savoy"
although not n tune in a thou
sand played at the Savoy is a
waltz.
Fifteen years ago the Savoy was
built on the site of the old Lenox
avenue car barns by Moe Gale, a
manager and booker of theatrical
and musical talent in New York.
When the first ticket was sold it
was handed to ticket-taker by the
name of Big George, broad-shoul-
dered, chocolate colored negro who
has held the job ever since. Most
of the Savoy's staff of SIS people
are charter members" The Sa'
voy doesn't choose or release its
help lightly. Big George is a char
acter now. He owns Big Georges
Tavern, at Corona, L. I.
In its fifteen years of pre- and
]post-repeal activities, practically,
every well-known white and col
ored band in America has played
there, including Paul Whiteman,
Benny Goodman, Fred Waring and
Rudy Vallee. In attendance always
is one more band, and sometimes
two. Tradition at the Savoy is that
the music never stops. You pay
your 55c and on six nights of the
week you 60 in at eight o'clock
and dance until three. That's all it
ever costs, unless you order wine
or beer or soft drinks. Hard liquor
isn't permitted. On the seventh
night, which is Saturday, you come
an hour earlier, and dance until
four.
The Savoy, a stopping point on
all tourists routes of Harlem, now
has namesakes in Miami, Chicago,
Baltimore, Houston, Richmond and
Newark. 1t takes its name from
London's famed Savoy hotel.
Monday, Thursday, and Satur-
day nights are its big nights
Monday because that is Ladies'
Mite; Thursday because tradition
ally it's the maids night out, and
Saturday because everybody in the
Harlem, and also in Manhattan,
goes out on Saturday night.
On good nights, according to,
Charles Buchanan, the manager,
the hall easily accommodates 3,0Os
persons. Its biggest night was the
night Joe Louis knocked out Primo
Camera. Joe had promised a per.
sonal appearance, and when at S
a. M, he finally arrived, IS, 900
jubilant negroes were milling in
Lenox avenue, waiting for a little
glimpse of their idol. That was a
night the cops in Harlem still re-
member.
Star of the Savoy's staff and
apple of Harlem's eye is Cissy
Bowe, the cigarette girl, who has
been at the Savoy for IL years.
This year she was named Miss
Harlem" and it was she who greet
ed Rochester" Jack Benny's
prime stooge, when he came east
for a vacation in New York. Roch-
ester's arrival is another event that
Harlem, and Cissy, and the Savoy.
will long remember. 2
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-17
Saw Mill Yard, Road
Flooded Near Ahoskie

AHOSKIE, Aug. 16-R- Flood
waters rose in Ahoskie swamp to-
day to the highest point in 80 years.
The backwater swept across
Route 30, flooded a saw mill yard
to a depth of four feet and forced
the evacuation of two homes.
Old-timers said the water was
higher than at any time in their
memories.
The Meherrin river at Murfees-
boro was within a foot of the 1888
peak and was expected to reach
a crest of Is feet.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-17

Dunn; Rotary information-Dr. S
S. Hutchinson.
Vocational service-D. c. Miller.
chairman, and H. C. Bridger; Boys
and girls work H. S. Warlick,
chairman, and G. B. Hasbrouck
Crippled children-Dr. D. H. Bridger,
chairman, and DR.. S. S. Hutchinson.
Community service-J. A. Bridger,
chairman, H. H. Williams and A. A.
White.
General officers are B. o. Ward,
president; l.. S. Elkins, vice.presi-
dent; L. A. Bridger, secretary and
treasurer.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-17
Halifax County Tax Rate
Is Reduced To IS Gents

WELDON, Aug. 16-- Up The
Halifax county tax rate is now IS
cents. reduced from IS cents, and
Tor the first time in half d century
e IS no special tax for Debt.
County officials sent 1862, 90 to New
York to retire the balance of a
5000, 900 bond issued and announced
the total bedt was REDUCED to $780,
5oo. to be raid from other funds.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-08-17

Where's TheCCup?
Here's one the .newsboys overlooked: Major
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
The Fruits of Defeat

Bitter indeed has been the taste of defeat to beaten
France. The terms forced upon her by Nazi Germany
the price of make the provisions of the Treaty
of Versailles, which harshly denounced by Hit
Ter, look like friendly agreement between schoolgirls.
Many people in this country expressed wonder that
the French would pay such price, matter how des
perate their plight. In grave speech to the people
of France, Marshal Petain threw some light on this
enigma He said that the Republic had too few men,,
struggle. He limited that further resistance would
mean slaughter of the rest of the French army and
untold suffering for the people.
How did this befall the nation which once was be-
heved to have the best army in the world? The aged
premier also gave for that. France he said,
had grown soft, her people had become unwilling to
make sacrifices that would enable them to match the
Nazi war machine In his words great lesson for
this country.
We, too, have grown soft Though our people at
last seem willing to open their purses for national de-
still oppose efforts to train their soldiers,
though they may otherwise become slaves of ruth
less dictator. Our workmen refuse to give minute
or dime in working hours wages, though their
strikes tie up construction of warships needed to pro-
tect them from losing all their rights to totatarian
economy Young men have desire to serve in the
military forces which may be the only means of
ing them from RECOMMENDATION under foreign dictator
In ordinary days it has proved wise to seek the
peaceful way of life, to limit ornaments and to
hide patriotism under blanket of modesty. But
rule large part of the EARTH and the dctaors strike
first at nations which unable unwilling to defend
themselves. Ships and guns alone will not protect US;
must revive the courage and will to live nation
which carried forefathers through similar period
of strife and darkness.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Bruckarfs Washington Digest
U. S. National Defense Program
Needs Careful Study by Public
President Rooseves 'Stabin-theBack Speech Causes
Nation to Consider Carefully Any Preparedness
Suggestions Military Policies.

is officially neutral, as between the
allies and the dictators, has uttered
words that place the United States
formally on the side of the allies
and he did it without approval Of
congress. The congress, it is to be
remembered, is the body authorized
by the Constitution to declare war
and congress has taken no such de-
cision. The Presidents Charlottes.
vile declaratipns, therefDre, can be
termed unwise at the best, and prob
ably will be subjected to much more
virulent descriptions before the year
is out.
Now, another phase of the defense
preparations that is causing con-
Germ. I refer to the policy of supply
ing government-owned war stocks
for use Of the allies.
1t happens that the United States
signed, and the senate of the United
States ratified, what is called the
Hague convention. This is an agree
ment among nations Of all the world
which sets down certain terms and
rights and obligations called inter-
national law. Article 6 of the Hague
convention states:
'The supply, in any manner, di-
rectly or indirectly, by a neutral
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27

there can be no doubt that Mr..
Roosevelt spoke with great depth Of
feeling when he described Dictator
Mussolini almost personally as a
man who stabbed his neighbor-
France-in the back. Nor can any,
one doubt that the President spoke
the mind of a vast majority of the
American people. They feel that
way about Mussolini's cowardly de-
cision to join with his bloodthirsty
axis partner. Hitler.
But 1t is not question of how you
feel or how I feel, as individuals.
Mr.. Roosevelt is President of the
United States. AS such, II is diff
cult II not utterly impossible, to
separate himself as an individual
from the presidency Of a great ma
ton. And If 1t were possible, mil
lions Of persons throughout the
world still would regard whatever
he says as the statement Of the
President, and therefore the state
ment Of the United States, as q ma
ton. There is a difference.
Presidents Official Statement
Carries Much Importance
So, regard It as an Official view.
There can be no distinction. Thus,
It becomes q matter Of grave i'm.
portance. The head Of a nation
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
tWNU Service)
By WILLIAM BRUCKART
WNU Service, National Press
Bldg, Washington, d. c.


WASHINGTON.-There are many
persons throughout the country who
are growing more and more dis
turbed-not to say alarmed-at the
dangers inherent in the administra-
tons so-called defense program.
More and more persons are asking
aloud for something in the way of
an explanation, and more and more
one meets with situations and con-
ditions in the defense program that
cause doubts to arise.
The climax to this circumstance
appears to have developed with the
speech which President Roosevelt
made at the University Of Virginia
the announcement that has come to
be known as the Charlottesville
speech-early in June. From the
words uttered there by the President
Of the United States has come a
wide division of opinion on the
course our nation is being guided.
Unless I am incapable Of reading
signs, we will hear reverberations
Of that speech for weeks to come.
And it is not strange that people
everywhere should talk about that
speech! It was remarkable. Some
folks said 1t was amazing" But
however you wish to characterize 1t.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Fifth Column Fantasy

One of the first manifestations Of American hysteria
over possible fifth column activities is written into the
new relief bill which goes into effect next Monday
The provision referred to is which fOrbids the
hiring OF members Of Bunds and the Communist party
on w. P. A. projects.
Sympathy for this measure has been widespread
why" its hackers have demanded SHOULD pay
government money to those who would overthrow the
Government" We have sympathy for the rank
and file of any subversive movement but this provis-
ion will not end such activities.
In the first place, the Bundists and Communists on
relief rolls the small fry among the enemies who
are boring from within No amount of abuse heaped
upon them will eliminate either the existence work
of those agents who receive pay and inspiration from
Moscow and Berlin.
The honest way to deal with the entire problem of
subversive influences is to legsate out of existence
the Communist party the Bunds and all other groups
advocating the overthrow of our Government Such
law would not violate the sacred American privilege of
freedom of speech since that privilege cannot be inter-
preted excuse for treason. Furthermore repre-
sentatives of foreign powers who would impose their
form of political rule upon this nation have
had legal claim to the rights of American citizenship
though they have long been allowed to enjoy them.
measure however. The greatest injustice is likely to
with the picking of Communists and Nazis from
the honest Americans among the reliefers. 1t has
been indicated that possession of Communist party
Bund membership card will disqualify applicant
for relief There bound to be complications of that
apparently simple system of judgment. It likely
that final decisions in individual will be left up
to local administrators. so, personal grudges friend
ships and other sentiments may well have bearing on
the fate of many workers That is vicious system
which to base national relief.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Navajos Drop Tomahawks
For Modern Can Openers

GALLUP. N. MA sign of civil
lization's encroachment upon the
vast Navajo Indian reservation of
New Mexico and Arizona is the
growing pile of tin cans near John
Navajo's hogans. Indian traders re-
port the Navajo squaws are as ex-
pert with a can opener as many
white women.
Aside from meat and corn, the
Navajo grows very little that can
be used in his diet. He raises some
goats, but even much of his milk
comes from cans.
A typical Navajo meal consists of
coffee, mutton stew with canned to-
matoes, and wheat flour bread
baked as a sort of "hoecake. I"
Canned fruit is popular, but the head
Of the list of good things to eat
Navajo places watermelon and soda
pop.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Policy Short of War
Has Official Approval

1t is to be recalled, moreover,
that the President has consistently
stated that the United States must
90 everything short of war" to aid
the allies in their struggle. That
policy has been put forward official
ly so many times that it seems to
occasion no surprise any more. 1t
ought to cause surprise, however,
because it is not the announcement
Of neutral nation.
Senator vandenberg of Michigan
accurately described the picture
when he said the other day that
President Roosevelt's policies had
taken us out of the role Of neutrals
and have made of us "a non-bellig-
erent nation on the allied side" The
Michigan senator had no quarrel
with building up a real defense pro-
gram and he wanted to see that
done. But Senator Vandenberg, like
many others, fears there are things
being done that may sooner or lat
err be held to be an act of war. And
when that happens. in we 60 wheth-
er we are ready or not-and the
United States has very little at this
stage Of the game with which to
fightl
My own feeling is that the national
government can give freedom to its
citizens to help the allies in any
direction that they see ct or are able
TO help. But the United States. as
nation, and Mr.. Roosevelt. as
President. must be careful Of where
the whole pe1Ze are led. These
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
War ReWrites
Navy Strategy
Hit-Run Type Reaches
High Development, Say
u. S. Experts.

WASHINGTON.-Naval lessons of
the European war will lead inevita-
bly, to notifications in many as
poets Of general strategy at sea, ex-
perts agree here.
These same lessons also will be
reflected in changes in construction.
Secretary of the Navy Charles Edi-
son made the first announcement
on this aspect recently when he de-
clared large warships would require
Strengthening of their superstructure
for protection against large bombs.
AS for strategy, the hit-and-run
type which has been brought to its
highest development in the Scandi-
navian conflict, has emphasized the
Importance Of certain classes Of
warcraft.
Experts said that the European
war will have only limited applica-
ton to United States naval strategy,
because of the vastly different prob
lens involved. The United States
feet patrols an entire ocean, the Pa
cific, and guards only one enclosed
naval area, the Caribbean.
The main problem of the United
States navy is to prevent any pos
sible enemy from approaching the
continental limits Of the nation, and
to intercept and destroy its foe,
which must approach by sea before
1t draws near the mainland.
For this reason Oahu, most stra-
tegic island of the Hawaiian group,
has been converted into an impreg-
nable fortress, and Pearl harbor,
5000 miles out in the Pacific, has
been made into the most powerful
naval base in the entire ocean.
But in the comparatively new de-
tense areas Of Alaska and the Carib-
bean there are problems which re-
semble those encountered in the Eu-
ropean war.
There are narrow sea passages
which can be mined, harbors which
can be stealthily approached and
landings which can be attempted Sc
cretly.
The experiences in Norway, in the
Baltic, and in the North sea offer
reference to possible hostilities in
the Caribbean and in Alaskan wa
tiers, experts said.
Stealthy blows by small naval and
aviation units have featured the Eu-
ropean war at sea thus far, naval
observers pointed out. Submarines,
small torpedo motorboats, aircraft
and destroyers have carried ma
jor part of the offensive effort.
Larger Craft in Reserve.
Large ships of the line have en-
tered hostilities only rarely, al
though they have figured Sin being"
as threat to smaller naval units.
The use of the battleship to bonn
bard coastal positions is possible
only when one side has a prepon-
derance in capital vessels, as has
Britain; the super dreadnoughts,
moreover, are seldom used against
well-fortified areas because coastal
guns have an insurmountable ad-
vantage over even the largest guns
on battleship.
The United States fleet has never
been conceived as an instrument of
attack against coastal cities, but
even in its patrolling Of the open
seas it faces the same type of threat
which has been directed against the
British navy-attack from air, sea
and underwater by comparatively
low-cost but hard-hitting weapons Of
stealth.
To meet this threat destroyers are
being developed in new formations,
and anti-aircraft defense has been
increasingly emphasized.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Life Expectancy Found
Increased to 81 Years

CAMBRIDGE, MASS.-The life
expectancy of man has increased to
81 years through public health pro-
grams, says Prof. Murray P. Hor-
wood of Massachusetts Institute OF
Technology.
He predicts that during the next
generation smallpox, typhoid and
diphtheria win be exterminated,
tuberculosis will decrease rs per
cent and infant morality viii be cut
in hall.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Stop Hitler Movement
Is Another Serious Problem,

Another situation ought to be dis
cussed, because it is part and par
eel of the whole problem. Every
day and almost in every way, we
hear or read statements by persons
of official position as well as thou
sands Of self-appointed saviors Of
the nation that all Of this defense
preparation, all of these vast ex-
penditures, all of the emergency ac-
tions, are necessary and warranted
because Hitler must be stopped be-
fore he gets over here"
believe there is something like
SO per cent of the citizens of this
country who look upon Hitler as the
greatest criminal of the ages. They
hope that his power can somehow be
wrested from him and that his phys
ical body can be made to stand the
tortures of the damned. On the
other hand, and while still holding
that hatred of the man mainly re-
sponsible for the deluge of blood, is
it not better to use common sense in
making preparations for the eventu-
alities that some of the leaders now
profess to see? It strikes me that
common sense, if allowed to rule
over the hysteria that has been pro-
NOTED in this country, would pro-
duce vastly better results in the way
Of a national defense structure
which all agree we require.
From many persons who have
seen the carnage of the current war
and from many others who are IA
miliar with the lives and living con-
ditions of Europeans, I have be-
come convinced that whether Hitler
wins or loses or whether there is a
stalemate, the insane leader of the
German reich will face far greater
problem than any he has met in bat
tie. 1t will be the condition of stark
and real famine and pestilence. It
will come after the war just as sure
ly as night follows day. All of Eu-
rope will be involved, and the price
of war will be paid. q
My information is that this year Of
INTENDED crops, this year of destruc-
ton OF men, is leaving Germany,
especially, and most of the others
as well, without semblance of a
storehouse Of food. The fighting men
were Withdrawn from production ear
ly. Moreover, food rationing start
ed in this war in its first weeks.
whereas it was not used in the first
World war until late in the second
year and then to less degree than
now. There is the machine" that
will stop Hitler from coming over
here, and 1t will be effective.
repeat therefore, that we can
prepare to defend ourselves, but we
need not be hysterical about it.
We can extend aid to the allies.
as individuals, who are the friends
Of the French and the British, but
we must not be involved in the fight
as I fear some of the present poll
cies will do. We can be realists
and recognize that our shores some
time may be attacked and our cities
bombed, but still hold an unshalxa-
BILE conviction that President Roose-
velts policies are likely to get us
into war that is not our war If
they 60 on unrestrained. Let's do
our job at home and try to get our
own people well fed before we try
to save the world for democracy
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Apple Tree Forget. rtsel,

REDWOOD, CITY, CALIF.-Mrs.
Sadie Tu1dord would like to have
someone analyze the secret urges"
which have pushed her two-year-old
apple tree to blossom Eve times
this year and to bear four crops Of
iruit
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
DEFENSE DANGERS

William Bruckart, Washington
correspondent, believes that the
Roosevelt policy with respect to
the European war has few fac
tors that need careful considera-
ton before their general public
acceptance. He believes that it
is entirely possible that the Pres
ident's attitude toward the Rome
Berlin axis is a dangerous one
for the leader of neutral ma
tion," like the United States.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27

things TIL. ave mentioned and
countless others, each constitutes a
half step. Many half steps, even
taken slowly, will take us to the
brink, and then it is ever so easy to
topple off.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
A Prayer

o God, Who hast given to us tne
knowledge of right and wrong, ana
hast taught US that it is Thy WIZ
that we choose the right Throughout.
our lives, give US grace to be loya,
to the right as we see it, and faitniw
to the highest we know. Amen.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Air Conditioning To Boom

By 1945, it is predicted that air
conditioning in this country will
have expanded 800 per cent.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
10 Times AS Durable Now

Auto tires, costing less than half
as much as in 1910, now last ten
times as long.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1940-06-27
Improved 1 CTTNTRAv
Uniform oo1NOAA
International SCHOOL,
BLOSSOMS
Lesson for June 80
By HAROLD L. LUNDOUIST n n
Dean Of The Moody Bible Institute
of Chicago.
lReleased by Western Newspaper Union

Lesson subjects and Scripture tevt, =.
lected and copyrighted by Intern tion se
Council of Religious Education; used bv