davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1940-12-20
War Is Still Remote in Unbombed Rome
Rotionins Causes Hordships, Especially Among Poor.
But City Is Peaceful Except for News Headlines

men and Rome isi. crowded with
one-legged and one-armed wrecks
the way the streets of the Spanish
towns were when covered that war.
The Fascist-controlled newspapers
are full Of the war, Of course. They
are now saying that the situation is
serious, but they describe the reports
from Egypt and Greece as British
propaganda. They are also carrying
on bitter campaign against de
featists and murmurers" and talking
about beating up people. even for
reading Swiss papers which print
the British and Greek communicates.
I wouldn't like to suggest that
there isn't basis for this. or indeed,
that the educated minority haven't
got an incredible grapevine, but
what impresses me Is the large body
Of the public which seems unaware
of the war and unexcited by reports
For most Romans the war is still
remote.
Mussolini wanted it. He got it, and
he is always right, as the Fascist
saying goes.
IVA bene," says the simple man
In the italian equivalent to "Okay."
The simple man is more concerned
with the struggle for heat, clothing
and food. Above him comes the
group of Fascist office holders, the
vast patronage machine Of the
bureaucracy. Among them the party
line" is circulated-what they, as
insiders, are to believe and to make
others believe. They have the habit
of believing that anything but the
party line is British propaganda
The problem OF heat. clothing and
food, which weighs so heavily on
the simple man, isn't really hard
ship for me. I figure that the cost
of Lying is up about 40 per cent
It's always like that in wartime and
I saw the same thing in France and
Switzerland-but in the main, I can
pay and get what I need. This
morning, for instance. the servant
couldn't get breakfast bacon. but
that is only temporary. had an
egg and some stewed apples. There
Is no coffee. Of course.
But why should I care about cof-
fee when I can walk out Of my
house through the ruins Of the
Roman Forum. The arches are
sandbagged but it still is the most
majestic and imposing heap of ruins
I've ever seen, and I am not for.
getting Luxor in Egypt or Pichumac-
chu in Peru.
Something of these Roman ruins
has entered into the souls of simple
people here. 1t gives them sense of
perspective, perhaps. Hard times
come, hard times 60, but there is
always Rome, the Eternal City
As long as they feel this way.
there isn't likely to be the kind of
trouble reported abroad.
Rationing Causes Hardships.
The rationing of olive oil and
spaghetti and the shortage of char
coal. which serves the simple for
cooking heating and boiling water,
has caused real hardship, but re-
ports Of riots so far are absurd. The
kind of screaming and pushing
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Window Decoration
Prizes Are Awarded

Store window decoration prizes
were awarded last night to two
merchants on Northeast H street
in 4 competition among nearly 70
stores, sponsored by the Northeast
Businessmen's Association.
The judges awarded first prizes to
the Fredericks Mems Wear Shop
operated by Frederick Levy, and
the Westinghouse Electrical Appli-
ance Store, operated by P. o. Smith
Cash prizes Of $25 each were given
IN the two classes judged.
Second prizes of SIS were award
ed to Wahl's Department Store and
the Adorable Dress Shop, while
third prizes of IS went to Steuart',
Motors and Reatha's Beauty Salon
Judges for the event were John
E. Ryan. assistant display manage,
of Lansburgh's Department Store;
James F. Moser, jr., of The Star
and A. ]. Driscoll of the Times
Herald.
Luther M. Stroebel was chairman
of the committee from the business
mems association.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Benjamin F. Smith, 81,
Retired Builder, Dies

Benjamin F. Smith, 81, retired
builder and father of J. Bond Smith,
general counsel of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, died yesterday in Sib-
ley Hospital after brief illness.
MIR. Smith was a native of WASH
inston and was educated at Gonzaga
College. He had made his home in
Takoma Park, Md, for many years,
the past five with his son at 1859
Eastern avenue.
He retired from business about 20
years ago. While active he remod-
eled many of Washington's early
residences, including the Adams
House, on the site now occupied by
the Hay-Adams House.
Mr.. Smith was member of the
Young Democratic Club of Takoma
Park.
Funeral services will be held at
1890 am. tomorrow at Trinity Epis-
copal Church, Piney Branch road
and Dahlia street NV. Burial will
be in Rock Creek Cemetery.
Evening star., 1940-12-20

saw mystelf In front Of 4 charcoal
dealer who had nothing more to
sell doesn't constitute a riot. The
people do the best they can, but
when life seems too much for them,
there are always the hundreds Of
churches as well as the great, i'm
pressive pile of st. Peters itself.
As long as they feel the way they
do about Rome, and as long as they
60 into the churches to pray, no
foreign agents are likely to rouse
them by whispering. there are rice
and potatoes and meat in the homes
of the rich" Instead, when they
turn to politics, at all, they are anx-
ious for italian victories to show the
world the heroic nature OF the new
Rome.
My love to mother and father.
Your affectionate brother,
JOHN.
tcopyrisht. 1910. Chicago Daily News. Inc }
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Bullet Wounds Child

Mary Wilson. colored, II months
old, yesterday was struck In the arm
by part Of . bullet which exploded
in the kitchen stove of her home
at 1907 Westford place Me-, police
reported. After treatment ut Freed
mems Hospital she was taken home
Police could not learn how the bullet
got into the stove.
Evening star., 1940-12-20

the District and elsewhere will have
a holiday December a. The Presi-
dent decreed earlier in the week
that all Federal employees would be
excused that day.
The Secretary said the holiday
would apply to all except those per-
sons necessary to maintain 24-hour
service"
Evening star., 1940-12-20
CoIIiflower to Receive
CosmopoIiton Medal

The Cosmopolitan Club will award
its Distinguished Service Medal this
year to James E. Collifiower, presi-
dent Of the washington Board of
Trade, in ceremonies January Q, 1t
was announced yesterday. The
medal is given each year for out
standing civic contributions outside
persons regular business or pro-
fession.
The selection was made by q COM
mittee Of the club, of which DR.. j.
Rozier Biggs is chairman.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Phi Gamma Deltu to Elect

Phi Gamma Delta alumni of
Washington and vicinity will elect
officers at their annual Christmas
party tomorrow afternoon at the
University Club. John j. Reinhard
served as president of the chapter
during the past year.
Evening star., 1940-12-20
Dr.. Spires Whitaker.
University of Michigan,
An Arbor. Mich,

An ATDOI, NlCu.
Dear Sawbones:
After Greece and Egypt, my pa.
per wants the situation in italy
described, not in the usual formal
ized style of news story. but in q
kind of personal diary form that
gives the reader some real idea o1
the country and the people. You
have just written asking me te
answer about six questions which
the average man at home asks
about things here.
Thoreau said that the best re-
port was always like q personal let
ter. So I am going to try to give
you the best answers I can and ]
want you to send these cabled let
ters on to the paper. These letters
will be the most expensive you ever
received because the cable rate is
8 cents a word, but the paper will
foot the bill.
Rome is as tranquil as any town
In America. That is what surprises
me most Except for the blackouts
at night, there are almost ne
signs of war. Rome has never
been bombed and the nightmare
OF London is as far away to Ro-
mans. as to Americans. To the
people here, bombing is not some
thing that happens to us; 1t is
something we read about In the
press, something frightful but re-
mote and impersonal, like an earth
quake In Toxic.
No Wounded to Be Seen.
I feel, and the man in the street
feels. that 1T can't happen here" "
Indeed, If it weren't for the news
papers, you could live in Rome and
not know that Italy was at war
In Rome you are not even i'm
pressed by uniforms. With the
Fascist militia system and the pres
ence in the capital of the War,
Air and Navy Ministries, Rome has
always been as full of uniforms as
a Hollywood revue.
So far, there aren't any wounded
to be seen. I've got badly wound
ed friend who had been brought
back to a private home here. where
he can get better bandages and
the like. but even the neighbors
are ignorant of his presence. A
month ago. I went out to the Poly
clinic to visit DR.. Castellani, my old
friend from Ethiopia. and in the
whole hospital there were 20 badly
wounded men.
I suppose men are trickling in
from Libya and Albania and I hear
of hundreds of amputations because
Of frostbite in the Albanian noun
tains, but the public never sees these
Evening star., 1940-12-20

The National Forest Service es-
Inmates that $40 gophers or Is prairie
dogs will eat as much as one COW
on Western rangelands.
Evening star., 1940-12-20

-: How does Italy react to Musso-
hnis Ddr? HoU do Italians
thrive. their belts frightened by
sDdr's appetite and blockade, their
families disorganized and berett?
John T. Whitaker, Rome corre-
spondent of the Chicago Daily
Ne,DS, ans,pers these questions in
q series OF dispatches, OF Which
this IS the first, pritten In the
style OF personal letters to his
brother.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19
Yale Doctors Named Associate Editors
l''War Medicine" New Periodical to Be Published; Army, Navy, Physicians Invited to Cooperate

1 New Haven, Conn, Dec. 19 Two prominent figures in Connecticut medicine have been appointed as- Bociate editors of a new periodical s'War Medicine" which will be pub lished beginning next month by the American Medical Association, 1t was announced today by Dr. Creighr ton Baker, executive secretary Of The Connecticut State Medical So- Ciety.
 1 Doctor John F. Fulton, Sterling professor of Physiology, and Doctor Ira V. Hiscock, professor of PuDlC Health at the Yale School of Medi- cine have been appointed to the editorial board by the Committee on Information of the Division of Medical Sciences of the National Research Council. Dr. Morris Fish, bein, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association, is chairman of the committee. ,
 Representatives of the Army and Navy Medical Corps and the United States Public Health Service have been chosen to cooperate with the editors of the magazine. All oficial reports bearing on medical condi- tions in military units will be con- sidered by the publication. News has already been made available on chemical treatment, the standariza- ton of the treatment of pneumonia problems concerned with medicine in aviation, peripferal nerve (otheI than spine and brain) injuries wound treatment, gas gangrene and similar subjects.
 "The American Medical Associa- ton, through its committee on Med- ical Preparedness, is concerning it. self with all the questions of per Sonnel for preparedness and for mil
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19

Expanded pSychiatric clinics for children directed through 8 central agency so that efforts to ameliorate and prevent delinquency, dependen- cy and mental disease will reach all communities in the state, is advo- cated by James M. Cunningham, M. D., in an article published in the monthly bulletin of the State De- partment of Health. Scientific methods employed by the psychia- tric clinic are effective in dealing with habits and reactions in chill dren which tend to become more serious unless checked early. Such clinics have been developed in var ious states under local departments of education, local juvenile courts and state hospitals, but these have served only the larger communities. For many years the State Depart ment of Helath has promoted men, tai hygiene as an integral part of its preventive program.
 Practical Way.
 The most satisfactory and prac- tical way that such preventive psychiatric service can be brought to the smaller towns is through the decentfalized service of 8 central agency, Doctor Cunningham states. A state department of health, whose function Is the preservation of phy- sical and mental health, makes a desirable sponsoring agency. It IS a medical organization. This is true of a psychiatric clinic even though 1t uses the services of non-medical personnel, and has children referred from social, educational, judicial as well as health agencies
 As a medical organization the health department has the advan- tage of privileged communication which is essential to successful psy- chiatric work with children. It is the only agency dealing with all the people, rather than some special group such as the dependent or de- linuuent. As such, it carries no Stig- ma and this facilitates the use of a psychiatric clinic conducted under its auspices. The health department has an entree into all towns of the state through the local health of- ficer, and through its cooperation with local health and welfare agen- cies. This entree is valuable in the development of decentralized psy- chiatric clinical service.
 Advantages.
 These advantages of health de- partment sponsorship avoid many of the difficulties experienced when such clinics are operated under other auspices Under school au- spicies, it is difficult to keep a pSy-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19
IN HEALTH PROGRAM
Health Officers Must An- ticipate Needs-Public
 Cooperation Essential

Growing interest among groups of towns to take advantage of the law authorizing formation of district de- partments of health is one of the most favorable signs for the future of public helath in Connecticut, Franklin M. F'oote; M. D., Chief of the Division of Local Health Ad- ministration, said today in the weekly broadcast of the State De- partment of Health. In many com- munities health officers are estab- fishing committees to survey local health needs and resources. These types of cooperative effort result in the development of an intelli- gent long range health program which can be executed by a sound organization staffed by qualified personenl.
 ~ Preparedness
 A peculiarity of public health work, Doctor Foote pointed out, is that the more efficiently it is car ried on the less apparent is the need. The idea of looking ahead to prevent things before they happen rathr than postponing action until after an emergency arises, forms the basis of most work done by health departments.
 He stressed that regardless of low death rate or the absence of disease in community for any period, all children should be pro- tected against diphtheria by immu- nizing them before the first birth day, vaccination against smallpox must be continued and other pre- cautions taken constantly to guard the health of the public.
 It is to limit the spread of dis ease that health officers make a thorough investigation of each case of the more serious communicable diseases, trace the source of infec- tton mad exclude susceptible chir- dren from school, explained Doctor F'oote. Constant supervision of any places that may be the means of transmitting diseases is necessary. Routine inspections by the health department are appreciated most by the proprietors of public eating places and by milk producers and dealers who acknowledge the favor able business value of sanitary pre- cautions and their importance in protecting the health of their pa- irons.
 Combined Help
 Although the health officer is charged by law with full respon- sibility for preventing disease and promoting health, Doctor Foote said that the solution of many com munity health and welfare problems requires the combined help of pro fessional and technical workers and public spirited leaders. The job of paramount importance in one town may be further control of tuber- culosis. in another the problem may be smallpox vaccination, syphilis control, dental hygiene, promotion of the health of school children, or sanitation. There is en Urgeu. Eeec, he said, for those with insight Into these problems to get together with those who have vision and ability to help their solution.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19
Psychiatric Clinics
 For All Communities
Expanded Program Under Central Agency Direction
 PropOsed-Menta Hygiene Listed as Preventive

chiatric clinic from being aSsocia- ted with disciplinary measures. Ex- | perience has shown that many chil- dren go to such clinic under com pulsion, and that parents are un- willing to discuss the problems of their children with people who, to them. represent the school.
 The disadvantages of juvenile court sponsorship lie in the restric- ton of cases to those who are de- linquent under the law and the at titude of parents toward having any contact with a court unless neces- sary. The feeling of the public to- ward a state hospital, warranted or not, makes for difficulty in the &C., ceptance by parents of psychiatric service for children when this is offered by such an institution.
 Small Communities.
 The independent psychiatric clin- ic supported by foundations or by community chests is commendable arrangement for metropolitan areas, but is not practical for the small community, according to Doctor Cunningham. It is impractical for the small community, according to Doctor Cunningham. It is impoSsi- ble, he pointed out, for small com munities to secure propertly quail flied psychiatrists, psychologists, and pSychiatric social workers in the proper ratio to one another and for the limited amount of time that the population of the community re- quires. For this reason, psychiatric service has to be provided by an agency sufficiently large to reach all the communities in the state and under such auspices as will not limit it on one segment of the population
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19

itary service" an announcement in the Journal of the Association states.
 '"The official reports of this com- mittee will also appear in the new periodical as well as special consid- erations that are given to economic and social problems of the medical profession in relationship to the emergency" Dr. George M. Smith of Pine Orchard, is a member of the national committee on Medical Pre- paredness.
 Material will be used which has been developed by the Coordinating Committee on Medicine and Health or the Council of National Defense and by other government agencies considering the national nutrition provision of hospital services and other problems.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19
CHEMURGY SCORES AGAIN

Tulsa, Okla. (UP)-C -Chelnurgy has added another product to its long list of usable materials obtained from waste O. surplus farm and forest derivatives. The latest, &C., cording to Dr. Harold A. Levey, New Orleans consulting engineer, is a transparent antiseptic adhesive tape made from common starch under water, and coated with curative chemicals
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-19
HELP FOR TARs

The United States Lighthouse Service maintains 27,5OO aids to shipping and navigation, including 31 hghtships. 527 attended lights, and 15,000 buoys.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-28
Don't Take
Ny Word for 1t
By FRANK COLBY.
Burst-Bust

This weeks slip O. the tongue:
He died of q bursted appendix"
No. The past tense Of burst is not
formed by adding ed. 1t is simply
burst. Better say: He died of a
burst appendix"
Wrong: II busted my watch"
Right: 81 broke Cor damageO my
watch"
Wrong: "You will bust your glass
es." Right: You will break your
glasses"
Wrong: 81 had to bust out laugh
ing" Right: II had to burst out
laughing"
Note: There are no such words
as "bursted' and busted" The word
bust means the human body from
the head to the waist, or sculpture
of the head and shoulders.
Such uses of bust as This hand
is bust, bust him on the nose, he
busted out of school, I'm fat bust
ed, let's bust up the game, he went
on a big bust" should be avoided
as vulgarisms which have no place
in correct speech.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-28
UNCLE RAYS CORNER

So far we have spoken mainly
about the magic" which Roger Ba-
con performed, or is supposed to
have performed. His work as an al
chemist is one side of his life, but
there are other and more important
sides. He was an inventor as we'll,
or at least he wrote about inven-
.tions which were new in Europe and
perhaps in the world.
Gunpowder seems to have been
invented and used in Asia before
Bacons day, but he made the first
known record of 1t in Western Eu-
cope.
Like other scholars, Bacon wrote
h Latin. In the year 1912 he made
q note about an explosive which
he prepared by mixing saltpeter,
young hardwood charcoal and sui
phur.
other important writings of Ba-
con tell about lenses. He knew that
a piece of glass could be ground
80 it would have a rounded surface.
It seems likely that he made tests
with lenses and after looking
through two of them at the same
time found they would greatly en-
large a small object. If that be true,
he was a pioneer in the invention Of
the double microscope.
Bacon also wrote about something
In the nature of telescope. Small
objects" he said, "can be made large,
!. and distant objects will seem close
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-28

North did not have enough high
card strength to open the bidding,
but noted that he held very nearly
a maximum pass" When South
bid one spade, therefore, North de-
cided to take energetic action to
Ashow both his excellent fit with
spades and his considerable high
card strength.
Vests overcall of two hearts gave
North a perfect opportunity. The
control-showing bid of three hearts
showed no losers in that suit, while
at the same time guaranteeing a
game and suggesting slam.
South temporized by bidding four
diamonds, and North then made the
fully expected return to four spades
Now South had to make a final
decision, and his thoughts ran some
thing like this: MY partner must
have the heart ace together with
four or five spades to the queen
but if that were all, he'd have bid
two or three spades instead of
three hearts. Therefore, he must
also have either the king of dia-
monds or the ace of clubs"
Since either of those holdings
would give him a good play for the
slam, South bid six spades. The
contract was far from a lay-down,
but South's careful play earned
twelve tricks without excessive diff
f1culty.
Yesterday you were Oswald ia
coby's partner and, with neither side
vulnerable, you held:
"A @ 1895
KJ76
oQ6
80
The bidding:
You Burnstone Jacoby Schenken
IA Pass INT Pass
20 Pass 2NT Pass
CD
Answer-Bid four hearts Your
partners bidding shows reasonable
strength, so you must insist on
game contract with your own pow
erful hand. Bidding four hearts
gives your partner chance to bid
four spades if he prefers that con-
tract.
Score 100 per cent for four hearts,
20 per cent for three hearts, nothing
for any other bid.
Question No. GIG.
Today you are David Bruce Burn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-28
Bacon Learned About Lenses

long account of the work he had
done. This account has been saved
down to the present day.
After ten death Of Clement, b.
con was put in prison. He was set
free only q year or two before he
died at the age of about 80.
We are told that before he went to
prison Bacon gave away IL of his
books to friends. As the story goes,
80 men lined up and passed in line
near a table. Without looking to
see which ones obtained copies, the
author passed out the II volumes.
eff I am put to torture" said
Bacon, 81 shall not be able to tell the
names Of those who have books"
Another famous man by the name
Of Bacon has . place in English his
tory. Francis Bacon lived in the
time Of Shakespeare and Queen Eliz-
abeth, $50 years later than Roger
Bacon.
boo sF0r biography section OF your scrap
II you want . free copy of the
illustrated leafiet, STAMPS and
Stamp Collecting" send me = 3-cent
stamped, self-addressed envelope In
care of The Evening Star.
1~eA R4
Tomorrow: Worlds Largest
Animals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-28

stones partner and, with neither
side vulnerable, you hold:
A @ 864
y J73
N94
49,
The bidding:
You Jacoby Burnstone Schenken
"A Pass INT Pass
20 Pass INT Pass
CD
What do you bid? (Answer to-
morrow
released By the Bell Syndicate, Ine)