davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-05-18
rs STREET.

Dear sir:
"Tonight's story decides me to tell you
another true catbird story that I've not
sent you because 1t happened in Penn
sylvania, which may detract from local
interest.
"One morning In nesting season my
father was walking to town by q usual
short cut over wooded hill, and as he
neared clump Of laurel a distressed
catbird few out, uttering piercing cries.
"She flew toward my father and back
to the bushes several tin7es, and he,
realizing something was wrong, followed
to the laurels to find snake climbing up
to the catbird's nest and eggs.
"The snake was dispatched and the
birds cries ceased.
"The next morning as my father went
by again, and for several mornings until
the eggs were Matched, the catbird flew
out to meet him with twitter, circled
his head and few back to her nest,
showing not only gratitude but recogni-
tion Of the individual.
"A second true story comes from a
Vermont cousin who has row of tall,
ancient elms In front of his house, and
in the crotch OF one Of these starlings
built nest and proceeded to raise a
family.
my cousin did not want them there,
but he waited until the little birds were
old enough to fly, and then he had his
son mount tall ladder and dislodge the
nest from the elm crotch.
"As the nest was moved last little
starting f1uttered down to the ground
and the setter started after it.
"Out from copse Of trees across the
street flew catbird and did the broken
wing act in front Of the dog to lure him
from the baby bird.
by this time my cousin had called of
the setter, but we all marveled that a
bird OF different species should 90 to
the rescue of the starting.
Thank you for all the pleasure your
column gives to the many of us who love
the great outdoors and all the birds and
animals and flowers therein.
Sincerely yours, F. H."
\ X
1t is always marvellous sight, this
rescue of one species by another.
Starlings often help sparrows.
One instance, as given in this column
several years ago, was that of starting
which flew into pool where a young
sparrow was drowning and pulled it to
safety by its wing.
There have been instances of birds of
one species flying into a road, where
helpless young of another species lay,
and carrying them to safety. We must
admit that we have never seen this, nor
ever expect to, but it has been reported
from different parts of the country.
1t is possible that the instinct to
safety, part of the plan of self-preser-
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Suggests Reflection on
Merits of War at Home.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Much is being said by Senator Hiram
johnson and his friends about the oerils
OF tampering with his well-known anti.
lending bill. Just to keep the picture in
balance, 1t is well to remember that these
same individuals are the ones whose
foresight and prescience were to save
the United States from involvement in
another war. Let those who are still
cocksure that the war will never touch
us listen to the Hiram Johnsons. For
those who an not so sure, let them
remember that they have been swallow
ing the johnson pain-killer for 20 years
and if they now get clout on the head.
they probably won't feel it very much
anyway. In the meantime they might
reflect on the comparative merits Of
fighting at home and making their home
shambles, and hiring some one else to
fight for them, somewhere else.
May Is. CHARLES w. BISHOP.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Condemns Passage Of
Pension Bill,
To the Editor OF The Sta,

To the Editor OF The Star:
1t would interest me to know whether
Mr.. Victor E. Devereaux, director Nation-
al Department of Americanism, Veterans
of Foreign Wars of the United States,
whose letter to The Star appeared May
IA, on page 8. read the pension article on
page of the same issue.
Mr.. Devereaux, representing the war
veterans, opposes loans to allied debt-de-
faulting nations. He fears the American
public will again be taken in by the
"threadbare frauds" perpetrated in the
name of democracy.
Does Mr.. Devereaux know that the
pension bill put through the House by
the veterans lobby will cost this country
$4,000 900 year-and more as the years
60 by? Also that this pension will be
paid regardless of whether veterans
death resulted from his war service.
Mr.. Devereaux asserts, "The stage is
being set carefully for the next barrage
of international war propaganda engen-
dered by the paranoiacs of Europe to
enveigle good, old, big-hearted, rich Un-
Gle Sam to accept another stacked deck"
However, isn't Mr.. Devereaux quite will
ing for good old, big hearted, rich Uncle
Sam to spend millions of our taxpayers
money in pensions for thousands of peo-
pie who were no more affected by the
first World War than Donald Duck?
Mr.. Devereaux reminds us that the
prosperity which was temporarily en-
joyed by the farmers and workers dur
ing the first World War brought a de-
preston 'from which we have not yet
recovered" Therefore we should close
our minds and hearts and pocketbooks to
the world about us-but in spite of our
depression we must not forget the vet
Grams. Does our patriotic veteran, Mr..
Devereaux, take into consideration that
by 1868 the sons and grandsons of those
deluded farmers and workers Of the first
World War will have been forced to pay
out billions of dollars in unjust pensions,
because combination of election year
and veterans lobby proved too much for
our vote-conscious Congressman to
withstand?
Maybe the American people are "sen-
timental and emotional" but I believe
they will become indignant over the
truly "Shylock" actions of the veterans
lobby. M. G. H.
May Is.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Seeks Job Opportunities
For C0lored Workers.
To the Editor OF The Star:

40 the Editor OF The Star:
Yesterday your paper heralded the
exhaustion of the unemployment rolls
for white workers. This is sad COM
mentary on social conditions
1t is true that Negroes can find little
work. They are always the last hired
and first fired. Seldom will a compe-
tent, loyal Negro worker be employed if
a white worker is available, and often
regardless of his ability or character.
Your news article evidences one of the
great causes of large Negro anti-social
community. Recently the welfare direc-
tor in Richmond charged that Negroes
were source of over so per cent Of the
crime in many Southern cities. He also
added that less than 10 per cent of the
cities funds were spent for improve
ment of Negro neighborhoods and educa-
ton, less than per cent was spent for
housing and recreation and. the wages
received for living were far below what
other groups received
Here in Washington, 1t might be point
ed. out, the Negro group participates very
little in the agencies that affect govern
ment of himself and his community.
Correct these conditions. give Negroes a
fair chance at the diminishing jobs and
you will remove potential criminal,
Communistic and revolutionary force in
city, State and Nation,
E. B. HENDERSON.
Falls Church, Va.
May 16.
Evening star., 1940-05-18

properly equipped. and at least 100000 in
the Air Corps. The Navy should be ex-
celled by none.
Congress should make the necessary
appropriations before it adjourns and
provide for at least 10000 airplanes,
equipped for bombing purposes and car
rying soldiers with parachutes and equip
ment Of every essential kind to trans
port soldiers from one sice of the North
American con,snent to the other. The
writer feels that this is the only way
that America can be kept out of the war
and certainly the American people are
entitled to have Congress act to speed up
preparedness before it adjourns this ses-
sion. WILLIAM C. TAYLOR
Mobile. Ala,
Nav Is.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Speed Urged in
Defense Measures.

!
The American people are very much
interested in an adequate Army, Navy
and air force in order that this coun-
try may be safe place for good citizens
to live. The United States has now, ac-
cording to the press, an Army Of 227,000
Regulars, its National Guard and an
inadequate Navy and air force to protect
our possessions against invasion. Con-
gress has hesitated from time to time
to give this country the protection that
1t is entitled to. In the writer's opinion
many of the w. P. A. workers could be
taken care Of In the United States Army
or Navy or its air force and the money
spent in that direction could aid the
needy people in this country while also
building an adequate Army and Navy.
England has demonstrated the impor-
tance Of being prepared. That great
country, with practically no army or air
force, has attempted to protect many
small countries while unprepared her
self to protect the British Isles.
The United States should have ct least
. million men In the Regular Army,
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Prince Georges Courthouse

knowingly or otherwise. the Prince
Georges County, Maryland, authori-
ties who sponsored the enlargement
and modernization of the Upper Marl-
boro Courthouse have done more than
merely provide much-needed facili-
ties. They have assured the con-
tinued existence of Upper Marlboro
as the county seat for many years to
come. To be sure, there was no i'm
mediate danger of the town losing
It's distinction as the center of the
county government. Yet, intermit-
tently over period of years, there
has been discussion Of the advisable
ity of having the county's affairs
transacted near the center of popu-
lation, closer to Washington. For
more than a decade certain Offices
have been maintained In the sub
urban area. Conscious Of the per-
manent need for quarters there, the
Prince Georges authorities last year
erected fine county service building
in Hyattsville. AS part of the same
construction program, which in
cluded Public Works Administration
aid, the County Board also provided
for the $185,OOO courthouse project
at Upper Marlboro.
Neighboring Montgomery County
has had a similar problem and years
ago provided three government CEN
ters-or, to be strictly accurate, one
center and two branches carefully
safeguarding Rockville's future as
the county seat with an imposing
courthouse there. In way the
problem in the growing nearby
counties is like the contest that
arose last year between Baltimore
and Annapolis over the location Of
Maryland's new State ofiice building.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles E. Trace,oell.

walton, is so firmly planted in the ami
mails that one Of them will, at risk Of
life, try to help another, at least upon
occasion.
Heroism Is not confined to man alone,
but as with him, the desire to act is not
always co-ordinated with the impulse to
do so. Among men quite often the de-
sire to help is there, but the muscles re-
fuse to work.
The hero, evidently, is he whose MUS
cles act instantly, so that the deed is
achieved without much thought. This
In no way detracts from the heroism of
an act; it merely insures it.
Instances Of birds which show grati-
tude are few and far between, but If any
can, 1t probably would be the catbird, for
here is magnificent creature, often
overlooked in the home garden.
The catbird has nothing snowy or
gaudy about him. He is a symphony Of
grays and black. The word elegant"
often misused, fits him perfectly Some
persons, who permit his name to throw
them of the track Of admiration, claim
that he is slinky. To others, this is
grace.
The catbird loves to build nests in the
high bush cranberry If you want cat
birds, plant this shrub, and after it has
grown it will always be filled with them.
Many listeners mistake the songs of
the catbird for those of its more famous
cousin, the mockingbird. 1t is ques-
ton which one Of these birds is the best
singer. There can be no doubt, OF
course, which one has the popular ver-
dict, but that is partly because many
listeners fail to give the cattle credit.
This birds peculiar mewing cry is its
trade mark, among birds, but in addition
1t often sings by the hour with so many
fiourishes and trills that 80 out of 100
persons who hear it will exclaim, with
the song, "Oh, listen to the mocking-
bird!"
Our correspondents letter calls atten-
ton to the fact that bird lore is much
the same in all parts of the country.
Wherever there are catbirds, there are
the same traits to be observed
Thousands of persons who come to the
National Capital bring with them love
OF the birds, and find here many If not
all of the songsters which they had
back home"
In addition, many city dwellers move
into the suburban sections every year,
and shortly discover that the birds are
part of their everyday lives.
Where before the birds meant little or
nothing to them, now the songsters are
alive with interest and flashing with
appeal.
Who can see bluejay at close range
and not be impressed? Who watch
chickadee crack sunfower seed and not
want to know the name of the bird?
Going on bird walks" is excellent, but
the best place to really know and love
the birds is In your own back yard.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
The Letter

I wait your word, which, winging through
the dark,
Comes with the morning sunlight to my
door,
While early radiance spreads and songs
upsoar
Like blithesome birds in ever widening
arc.
And am led to mediate and mark
The blessing OF friend who never wore
The name of stranger, one whose glances
bore,
From the first instant, a swift and kin
ding spark!
This square of thin white paper holds
the key
To all your world; spirit joyous, true,
That wakes the CLEAN of miracle where'er
1t goes.
Summer with birds and bees has come
to me;
Branches yield fruit; the dawn's wide
skies imbue
Hope; and, till late frost, there blooms
ths undaunted rose. .~ -.
MARY D. CASTLES.
Evening star., 1940-05-18

Insects generally have passed their
peak and are now decadent, accord
ing to Harvard University biologist.
Maybe, but to those who go annually
into the North Woods for fish certain
sorts do not seem to be very decadent.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Says War Increases
Church Attendance.
TO the Editor Of The Star:

The people who talk nnugly about the
present European war having nothing to
do with America make me think Of the
two men who were travelling on a ship
out in the middle Of the ocean. One man
came running excitedly to the other say
ing, "The ship is sinkingl" The other
man smiled and answered, what do we
care, we don't own it!''
In the meantime, We can console our
selves with the thought that God has a
purpose behind all these scourges that
he allows to come down upon the world,
difncult though 1t may be for US to see
1t. The increased attendance In church,
alone, is one tangible result And out
side church people are mentioning God
right out loud. without fear Of being con-
sidered queer. FACING FACTS.
May il.
Evening star., 1940-05-18

The average husky American, ham
dy with his fists, must dream occa-
sionally of being alone in a room
with Adolf and Benito. He suffers
from a mild psychosis in that he
wakes completely baffled as to which
one he would prefer to poke first.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Member Of the Associated Prose
Fifty Thousand Planes

AS headlines tell their grim story
OF waves of Nazi armored bombers
sweeping relentlessly onward in Bel
gium and France, it is reassuring to
witness the instantaneous response
OF industry, governmental agencies
and the people generally to President
Roosevelt's suggestion of a $4,000
plane American air armada. Many
problems must be faced in effecting
such a tenfold expansion of our
aerial defenses, but there Is unanim-
tty OF opinion that the job can and
must be done. Just how it will
be done is to be discussed at con-
ference here Monday between avia-
tion manufacturers and War De-
partment officials.
The major problem is to raise ca
pacity of the American plane indus
try to point where it can handle
the manufacture of giant bombers
and fast pursuit ships and other
military planes on what would
There are about thirty plants at
work now on plane, engine and
equipment orders for the Army and
Navy. 1t is estimated that double
that number of plants would be
required to turn out the planes envi-
stoned by the President. Fortunate
ly, our plane industry is geared to
an unprecedented production sched-
ule at the present time, due to the
orders placed by the Allied Purchas-
ing Commission. The production
capacity of American plane factories
has jumped in the past year from
about 5000 to nearly $4,000 This has
been facilitated by premiums paid by
France and England to cover plant
expansion costs. In other words, the
allies, in their desperation, have
agreed to bear the expense of build
ing new machinery and new plants
which will be of tremendous value
to the War and Navy Departments
in connection with our own emer-
gency requirements. Why the hard
pressed allies should be forced to foot
this bill any longer is difficult to see.
1t may be too late now to do them
any good, but it would seem only fair
and reasonable for this Government
to absorb any future plant expansion
costs involved in the allied purchases.
And every encouragement should be
extended to the British and French
in their efforts to obtain more planes
quickly.
Another problem that must be met
frankly is the rapid obsolescence Of
American warplanes in the light of
developments abroad. German su-
periority of air power over that of
the allies is due not only to numeri-
cal preponderance, but to such highly
effective Improvements as self-seal-
ing fuel tanks, armored fuselages,
bulletproof glass and powerful guns.
These devices have rendered allied
and our own ships out Of date. These
serious deficiencies must be remedied
Immediately.
The huge air program necessarily
must be I'VE" project. Industrial
interests and labor must share the
responsibilities with the Federal
Government. As an indicat ton of its
readiness to cooperate, the Recon-
struction Finance Corporation has
offered to assist in financing plant
construction. Plans for model fac
tories will be provided by the War
Department. Need for haste is ur-
gent. All agencies and elements
should unite in giving the gum to
the Nations new drive for aerial
security.
Evening star., 1940-05-18

See that guy half asleep at the
head Of the line and holding up
everything when the light turns
green? Next ball game he will be out
at the park berating the umpire for
missing whatever cuts the corner Of
the plate, or bawling out the third
baseman for not covering his bag.
Evening star., 1940-05-18

A dictator has been nkened to
man on bicycle; to keep in the
saddle he must 60 forward. Some Of
them seem today to be coasting
dne-but every hill has 3 bottom.
Evening star., 1940-05-18

the immigration and Naturalization
Service will participate in the pro-
gram. It will be an act Of patriotism
to share in the experience Of an oc-
casion precious beyond the power Of
words to tell.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
A Veteran Urges Our
Participation in the War.

To the Editor Of The star:
Some persons are working day and
night to tell the people Of this country
that should war come to our shores we
could not even put up tight to protect
New York City. That regard as an In
suit to World War veteran. OF course,
I don't want war-who would? But we
are going to get in it just as before with
the same excuse. I for one would vel
come it, although swore I would never
again go to another country to fight its
battles. This time it Is not battle Of
any one country.
May Is. JAMES J. RENcHAu.
Evening star., 1940-05-18
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the Drtter although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication Is
permissible. Please be brier
Evening star., 1940-05-18

@. What city has the largest diamond
plant?-R. M. E.
A. The largest diamond plant in
America is in Forty-seventh street, New
York City.
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-05-23
Seemed An Eternity

Naturally this could not be
done all in one continuous "take",
and so for what seemed an eter-
nifty 1 lodged through the maze
of traffic on Peachtree Street,
timing myself to avoid galloping
horses and laundering wagons.
And between each shot the
makeup mamie seemed to be
everywhere at once-came run
ming to wash my face, then dirty
it up again to just the right shade
of Georgia clay dust. think he
washed my face about twenty
times in one day, and busted me
over with red dust after each
washing.
Oddly enough, the scenes of
physical strain were not so wear
ing as the emotional ones. One
night we worked at the studio I'M
til about eleven o'clock, then
went out to the country for a
shot against the sunrise, when
Scarlet falls to her knees in the
run down fields of Tara and vows
she'll never be hungry again. The
sun rose shortly after two a. m.
and l could not sleep, although
I had a dressing room in a trail
er. We made the shot and I ar
rived at home about 4:30 a. M,
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-05-23
ssCone With The
Wind Star Can
Milk Cows Good

Few, indeed, are the actors in
Hollywood who can milk a cow.
And those who can usually do not
want to de-glamorize themselves
by admitting it. But Oscar Polk,
huge six-foot three-inch colored
actor now playing the role of
Pork in Selznick International
Technicolor production of Gone
with the Wind" at the Parkway
theatre, does not want to be lis
ted in that category.
Folks assignment called for
him to portray the role of house
servant, but reverses to the o.
Hara fortunes caused by the Civil
War force him out into the fields
to work. One of the duties Polk
must perform while functioning
as field hand is that of milking
a cow. The script calls for him
to be rebuffed by Scarlet O'Hara
for not stripping the cow down"
and to be sent back to redo the
job.
Oscar, a willing actor, always
does what the script calls for him
to do, and so played the part of
fumbling mixer to perfection.
But after the sequence had been
filmed he called the cast and
crew aside and said: Il don't
want anyone to get the idea !
don't know what milking is all
about, because l do. I haven't
done this since / was sixteen, but
watch this" And he ably
indicated himself and his tech
nique by filling half a pail in five
minutes, which, he pointed out,
isn't bad for boy who hasn't
MIXED since he was on farm in
Arkansas twenty-four years ago."
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1940-05-23
Vivien Leigh Described How
1t Felt To Play O'Hara Role
Saws She Lived Part of Scar
lett During The Many
Months Of Filming.
By WHEN LEIGH
(Appearipg as Scarlet O'Hara in
"GOne With the Wind" at the
Do,.Iyxuav Thnatrn\

'JOUC WIFI tAkc VAAAN az UAAO
Parkway Theatre)
A year has gone by since the
night we stood watching the first
scenes being made for "Gone
with the Wind" 1t was an awe
some spectacle-whole blocks of
sets being consumed by flames as
buildings in old Atlanta burned.
and l was little confused by the
grandeur of it and by what
seemed to be a frightening confu-
sion. That was the night I met
Mr.. David o. Selznick, the man
who was producing Gone with
the Wind" and who had yet to
select a Scarlet O'Hara for the
film.
In retrospect, it seems to me
that the fantastic quality of that
tremendous fire, the confusion l
felt and the feeling of loneliness
in the midst of hundreds of peo-
pie, was indicative of what was
to come. could not know then,
of course, what lay ahead-and if
someone had ventured to predict
it, 1 probably would have passed
it off as nonsense.
Objective View
The unexpected happened; it
made me, for these months at
least, and whether I wish it so or
not, into the character as Scar
lett O'Hara. Now the difficulty
is to view that character objec-
lively. That it was a great role
for any actress was obvious, yet
I can truthfully say that I looked
on Mr.. Selznick's request that !
take a test for Scarlet as some
thing of a joke. There were doz-
ems of girls testing, and I did not
seriously consider the likelihood
of actually playing the part. Yet
once it was decided upon I dis
covered that there was no joking
about playing Scarlet. From then
on, was swept along as though
by powerful wave-it was Scar
lett, Scarlet, Scarlet, night and
day, month after month.
Perhaps the hardest days ]
spent, hard that is from the point
of actual physical exertion, were
during the time we made the
scene where Scarlet struggles
through the populace as it eva
cuates Atlanta.