davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Dukur

Many years ago, on a day long
before most observers first noticed
the cloud on the horizon which in
the fullneSs of time was to be the
second World War, there sat in the
Office of a certain official in London
two men awaiting an interview. One
of the visitors was journalist from
the United States. The other was
character of obvious distinction. To
describe him adequately would be
difficult Suffice it to suggest that
he was six feet six or eight inches
tall, weighed perhaps two hundred
pounds, stood as straight as the pro-
verbal arrow, was attired in faWleSs
morning dress. His skin was of the
color of bronze, his eyes were deep,
dark brown; veritable bush of jet
black hair covered his head his fea-
lures might have been modelled by
sculptor of genius.
OF course, the American realized
that the stranger must be an African
of especial consequence. When he
had departed the important per-
sonage" explained: Sorry to keep
you, old fellow, but that big chap is
entitled to royal honors, more or
less. In Senegal he's prince Of the
blood, heir to the throne. His coun-
try may be a dreadful place for
people like ourselves, but it's worth
watching. Might be of strategic
value sometime. Look at it on the
map in relation to South America"
So it was that one wandering
Yankee first heard of Dakar. In 1941
he would remember the incident and
wish that he had thought more Sc
riously of it on the original occasion.
THE town" says a standard refer
ence authority, "holds a command
Ing position on the route between
Western Europe and Brazil and
South Africa, being situated in the
Gulf Of Goree on the eastern side of
the peninsula of Cape Verde, the
most westerly point of Africa" To
Natal, on the northeast coast of
South America, is only half a hop"
In modern flying machine.
But the naval connotations of
Dakar likewise deserve to be mers-
toned in the light of prevailing con-
ditions. 1.-THE harbor, built in 1904
1908, is formed by two jetties, one of
6,840 feet, the other of 1868 feet, the
entrance being 720 feet wide. There
are three commercial docks, with
over 1000 feet of quayage, ships
drawing 26 feet being able to moor
alongside. Cargo is transferred di-
rectly to the railway trucks. There
is also naval dock and arsenal
with torpedo-boat basin 735 feet
by 40 feet and dry dock 656 feet
long and 80 feet broad" Further
development of these facilities was
In progress as recently as last sum-
mer. How well protected the place
now u may be guessed from the
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Member of the Associated Press.
Report to Congress

The Presidents report to Congress
on his deep-sea meeting with Wins
ton Churchill and their eight-point
statement of war aims, like the doc
ument itself, is more noteworthy
for what it fails to say than for what
1t sets forth.
This, as was to be expected, has
brought criticism from those who are
opposed to the administrations basic
war policy. Thus, when the PreSi-
dent reports that the meeting re-
suited in clear gains" for furthering
the program which has been laid
down under the Lease-Lend Act, it
is not surprising that his opponents
should express great disappointment
at not being given any information
as to what commitments were made
to carry out the program.
1t is obvious that the President has
given no information on this point.
His report does not even concede
that any commitments, in the sense
In which his critics use the term,
have been made, and it is quite pos
sible that there have been none.
Even If the contrary were true, how
ever, assuming the commitments to
be short of military participation by
this country, there is every reason
why the President should refrain
from making them public. In full
filling our pledge to insure safe de-
livery of war supplies to the battle
fronts, secrecy is the essence of sue
cess. To advise the American people
in advance as to what is to be done
Is also to inform the Germans, and
there is no doubt that they would
put such information to uses inimical
to the interests of both Britain and
the United States.
Under the circumstances, silence as
to specific plans made is essential.
And there is small doubt that the
people of this country, understand
ing the reasons for the Presidents
reticence, will be willing to wait for
precise information as to the nature
of these clear gains" until the de-
tails can safely be made public.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
New Crime Law

While the Parole Board is critical
of the rigorous provisions of the new
crime law proposed for the District,
the extent to which modification is
desirable is open to question.
AS contemplated, the law would
make mandatory the imposition OF
the maximum sentence under the
indeterminate sentence law for Sec
ond offenSes involving crimes of vio-
lence, and increase the penalty for
subsequent convictions. 1t also would
deny parole in these cases.
In agreement with the principle OF
long sentences, Wilbur La Roe, Jr,
member of the Parole Board, has,
however, two major objections to the
legislation To abolish parole for
"repeaters," he contends, is to do
away with the opportunity for
supervised reform and rehabilita-
ton that this system offers in worthy
cases, substituting instead an ar
rangement under which convict
automatically serves out his term,
and then is turned back on the
community and left to his own de-
vices, potential menace to the
public. His other point is that arbi-
trary imposition of the maximum
prison term on second offenders
would work injustice in cases where
extenuating factors might warrant
leniency by the court.
Insofar as they treat with the
Evening star., 1941-08-22
A Builder of Morale

Now and again it happens that an
individual comes into the world with
particular genius for the manage
ment Of human adjustments. Such
rare and helpful persons are pos
sesSed of special skill for social build
ing. Instinctively constructive in
their attitude toward their neighbors
near and far, they have the capacity
to inspire their contemporaries with
the vision of healthier and a hap
pier existence. They teach co-opera-
ton by example. People trust and
follow them without pausing to won-
der why.
Among those to whom the indi-
Gated endowment has been given
have been Florence Nightingale and
Jane Addams, George Peabody, Jacob
Riis, Daniel Carter Beard and Rob-
ert Fechner. In the search for quail
tiles like theirs, President Roosevelt
recently rediscovered Frederick Os-
born of New York. drafted him for
duty in the prevailing emergency,
nominated him to be head of the
Morale Branch of the War Depart
ment, gave him the rank of brigadier
general temporary set him to work
on the problem of developing COM
radeship, intelligence and courage
among soldiers and civilians.
The task is one of unlimited pro-
portions. Mr.. Osborn has been sue
cessively railroad executive, a
banker, a corporation director.
Educated at Princeton and at
Cambridge in England, he has won
distinction in several of the sciences
concerned with the origin and prog
ress of man. An anthropologist and
a devoted student of issues relating
to population and national health,
he has been an adviser in the phi
lanthropies established by Andrew
Carnegie and the Rockefeller fam
lily. Through both his parents he is
heir to a tradition of service to his
fellow creatures. The assignment he
now attempts is difficult enough to
frighten a less ardent spirit. 1t is
both his right and his duty to ask
the active assistance of all Ameri-
cans of good will, and that his ex-
pectation of aid should be disap-
pointed is 1Inthinkable
Evening star., 1941-08-22

We wouldn't want to run the squirrels
away from the yard, If for no other
reason than we would miss the sight
of one Of these rodents with big green
walnut in its mouth.
Often the walnuts are so large that
the animals face is almost hidden as 1t
comes toward the observer.
At times the squirrel finds the nut too
much to carry far.
So he parks it in the crotch Of the big
locust tree and there it remains for sew
eral days, until he or another finds 1t.
Squirrels put on the most interesting
shows Of all.
Even the songbirds, feeding at feeding
stations all day long, from first light
until dusk, fail to duplicate the sights,
sounds and deeds of the big-tailed
animals.
A squirrel is not just something to
admire and call cute" as persons SO
often do with the songsters.
He is a character in his own right.
He does other things some do not like,
as we'll as eat He makes himself some
thing of nuisance
The birds are pure automatons, in the
main, but not so the squirrels. They
have real minds of their own and the
determination of the devil himself.
When a squirrel decides to make him.
self at home with the birds at feeding
station, there is no stopping him short
of drastic measures.
Whether these are worth the loss OF
the squirrels is question every home
owner must decide for himself.
Many who at first may decide in the
affirmative, in time will come to see that
there is room, even in the smallest gar
den, for both squirrels and birds. 1t is
true that the four-legged animals will
run up the food bills. No bird likes SUM-
flower seed any better than the squirrels.
They eat it all day long, preventing the
songbirds from getting in the feeding
station with them. They knock enough
to the ground for the birds) And in
time the person who provides the food
may find himself or herself purchasing
peanuts especially for the bushy tailed
ones. This is good way to keep them
from squeezing the birds out of the sta
tions. If they have feeder all to them
selves, they will leave the birds alone to
theirs, at least for part of each day.
Even the person who wishes the squir-
rels would go away will be willing to
admit that there are no such acrobats
to be seen anywhere.
Whether he is leaping through the
trees, making some of his daredevil
jumps, or doing the tight-rope walk
along the telephone wires, there is no
circus that can show any better per-
formance.
Most persons who move to the suburbs
Evening star., 1941-08-22

fact that British squadron shelled
it on September %, 1910, without
conspicuous effect. .
Its defensive equipment, however,
serves to add to the significance of
Dakar in the prevailing struggle be-
tween the totalitarian powers and
the democratic nations. Were it
weak it might be neglected. Since
it is strong enough to be considered
a pistol of sort aimed at Brazil
only 1920 miles distant, it cannot
fail to merit the attention of the
United States as a threat to the
Western Hemisphere. President
Roosevelt in his statement concern
ing the ferry line" to Bathurst in
British Gambia indicates that he is
aware of the danger represented by
the French outpost a few hours
away.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
The Puvinq Dispute

The Commissioners seem to have
been fully justified in rejecting as
absolutely unwarranted' charges of
improprieties in the award of con-
tracts for street paving work in the
District.
From a careful reading, it does not
appear that the charges, contained
in report prepared at the direction
of Controller General Lindsay War
rem and submitted to Congress, i'm
pute dishonesty to any official of the
District government. But the re-
port, unfortunately, is worded so
that it carries an undertone Sugges-
tive of corruption which is not sup
ported by any of the factual COM
plants.
At most, the report directs atten-
ton to conditions in the letting and
performing of contracts which con-
ceivably might be availed of for
dishonest purposes. But there is no
evidence that this work has not been
carried out in strict compliance with
law and, in fact. the procedure con-
forms TO that followed by the United
States Public Roads Administrator
and in most municipalities. Further
more, there is not the slightest evi-
dence that any one in or out of the
District government has engaged in
any irregular activity of any kind.
That being the case, it is extremely
unfortunate that responsible local
officials were not given an opportu-
nifty to state their side of the matter
prior to publication of the report.
Had that been done, it is most i'm
probable that the Controller General
would have permitted publication Of,
charges which tend to reflect dis
credit on public officials, but which
appear to be based on nothing more
than an Investigator fanciful con-
cluSionS as to improprietieS which
might occur, but which he does not
contend have actually taken place.
Evening star., 1941-08-22

may enjoy more of the fullness of life,
is that a waste of money? When better
and safer roads are built to save many
thousands of lives that might otherwise
have been lost, is that waste of money?
When many thousands of homes, on the
verge of being lost, were saved for the
people at comparatively small cost, was
that money wasted?
Many similar things have been done
to raise the standard of living for all
Americans since that unforgettable time
when prosperity was lust around the
corner" Such things do cost money,
but money spent to increase the wealth
of our country and add to the comfort
of all men, women, and children who can
claim Old Glory as theirs, cannot be
deemed wasted. I thank God for giving
us Franklin D. Roosevelt, that am an
American, and that our country is not
in the hands OF those who are incon-
siderate Of their fellow beings who may
need a helping hand.
j. BERMAN.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Impression

In the faint gathering Of halt light
! listen, and unfast the door
OF the silent house of night,
And see the aoide star-Studded floor
OF heauen untolded to the sight.
Among the shadows in the lane
Footsteps of fancys faShtontng
Pass and return and pass again,
And shadoWy voices whispering
about me like the Doice of rain.
Orer the gateways OF the mind
An tndolent and SlolO-,Dinged train
HoDer and fade, and leaue behind
The shddoUy Uoices In the lane, :
The hurrying footsteps OF the ,Oird.
JOHN v. HICKS.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Debates Gain to Civilization
From Preservation Of the Union.


From Preservation Of the Union.
To the Editor Of The Star
As against The Stars editorial asser-
ton that: THE conflict between the
States ended in victory for the whole
of civilization" is the conviction of some
that Appomattox set back a half CEN
tury or more the hour band of progress
on the dial plate of self-government and
constitutional liberty-hence, of civiliza-
ton itself
The late DR.. Arthur w. Littlefleld-
New England born and bred and of New
England patriot stock = expressed the
opinion, in the course of many discus
sions with me, that had Confederate
independence been maintained, then
overweening centralism- imperialism
"PruSsianism," would have been so
checked that World War would never
have come.
Notable, too, is the fact that during
World War certain writers and speak
ers in the North, including the late Theo-
dore Roosevelt Il am quoting from MEM
ory). when seeking to shame reported
German barbarities, cited Davis heuten-
ants, Lee and Semmes, and their humane
warfare not Lincolns subordinates,
Sherman, Sheridan, Hunter, Butler; not
even Lincoln's own war policy. which in
cluded medicines as contraband of war,
contra the general rule among civilized
nations. LLOYD T. EVERETT.
Evening star., 1941-08-22

individual who is not a hardened
criminal, but more aptly might be
described as a victim of circum-
stances" Mr.. La Roe's arguments no
doubt will get close attention in
Congress before the law is whipped
into final shape. 1t must not be for
gotten, however, that this legisla-
ton, which already has passed the
House, was drawn to meet particular
needs developed by the recent crime
inquiry, and the possibility of hard
ship being created in some hypo-
thetical case should not be permitted
to weaken the measure in its essen
tialS.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Disagrees With Critic
OF Government Spending.

To the Editor Of The Star:
To read Edmund K. Goldsborough's
letters to the press, whether you read
one or SO, you get continual repetition
of the same slander against the admins
tration. He always is complaining about
how this administration wastes money.
When half million idle boys roamed
the country, undernourished, broken in
health and spirit, and with no work in
sight, would Mr.. Goldsborough say that
1t was a waste of money to relieve their
misery? When the old-age pension
raised the star of hope to brighten the
waning days OF aged and helpless men
and women, was that waste Of money?
When slums are cleared and brighter
homes provided for less fortunate men,
women and children, so that they, too
Evening star., 1941-08-22

it sickens me to think of the people who,
working quietly among us, are trying to
sow horror and discord in a time almost
too dreadful to contemplate with sanity.
Yet we must contemplate it sanely, must
fight intolerance with tolerance and hate
with love. Otherwise we will not survive,
nor will our children. And we owe 1t to
them, having brought them into this
world, to try to in some measure remedy
the havoc Of this generation. With Gods
help We can succeed.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Discusses Advantages of Other Sites
For Federal Office Buildings.

TO the Editor of The Star:
The proposed s35 1000 900 building for
the War Department in Arlington would
have been an architectural monstrosity.
Its outside corridors would have been
a mile long. No elevators were included
in the design. Standing on site so low,
the heat and humidity Of the structure
in summer would have been intolerable.
Several smaller buildings should re-
place the sprawling structure projected.
The citizens of Washington are vitally
concerned that nothing should add to
existing traffic congestion.
Several sites are available for Federal
Office buildings. There are about 800
acres in the grounds of the Industrial
Training School for Boys on the
Bladensburg road at the District line.
Between Ridge road and Benning road
NE. there are several hundred acres OF
vacant land. The Soldiers Home grounds
have hundreds of acres. In Brentwood
Park (the old Patterson tracD there are
possible accommodations. The National
Arboretum on Bladensburg road, north
of M street NE, has several hundred
acres of vacant land finely located.
1t is not desirable that the site be
level, if we consider the beauty of land
scaping for a large group of buildings.
The grounds of the Training School
for Boys would furnish sites for dozen
buildings each with the capacity of the
Department of Commerce building. Each
separate structure could be from six to
10 stories high with elevators facilitating
communication. Pneumatic tubes could
carry letters and packages between
buildings. A subway tramway could pro-
vide transportation. The Pennsylvania
and Baltimore & Ohio railroads are near,
both competent to provide suburban rail-
way transportation. On the shore Of
the Anacostia River could be located
central light, heat and power plant where
coal for fuel could be brought in by
water. Highways, public utilities and
housing are available both in the Dis
trict and in adjacent Maryland.
HOWARD D. WOODSON,
Chairman, Committee on Public
Works, Federation of Civic As
Sociations.
Evening star., 1941-08-22

leading American writers on Sle
theme of the Williamstown Institute
of Human Relations August "a to 29)
1t is evident that no thinking person
dares indulge in the old-time longing
for a world which embraces peace and
prosperity, a world in which every one
is happy, well fed and content. Once
upon time we believed in that world,
but it is possible no longer. We even
believed in a world in which people of
all nations would work together for
peace and the good of the majority.
After the last World War we tried to
educate our children to believe that this
would one day come to pass and that
they must work for it. We told them
we had failed in that era, but that they
must never fail.
Well, we have failed again.
The last war gave us the Nazis, and
what this one will give us, God alone
knows.
So it isn't so much a question of the
world we want to live in as-what world
shall we try and make . remolding
it as old Omar says, little closer to the
hearts desire.
If the present world has taught us
anything at all it has taught us that it
must be world of racial and religious
tolerance =. our democracy was founded
on that basis, was it not? And it must
continue to operate on that basis. The
stirring of racial and religious hatreds
is a great crime, one of the greatest in
any generation.
Catholic, Protestant. Jew-we are all
human beings, We are members of the
same family there is no reason why
We cannot respect one another's religion
and beliefs e. . no reason why each of us
cannot find good in belief which may
not be our own. For fundamentally do
we not all believe in God, in good, in q
Higher Power and in the dignity of the
human spirit? OF course, we do, If we
are processing Christians or Jews.
The world hope we will make will be
one of freedom of worship and freedom
of speech 1t will be one in which the
needs of all youth are studied, in which
we will all strive together to build our
youth into the sort of citizens who can
not only inhabit such world happily
and peacefully, but who will be better
than we are and who will make their
world better than we will have left it.
Cod has given us lovely earth, noun
tain and plain, prairie and valley, lake
and river and desert and sea- Everything
about this earth is wonderful . sky
and soil, sun and rain, snow and rose
garden 1t is only the world which is
hideous with hate and bloodshed, and
that world we have made. 1t Is neces-
sary that we remake it to the best OF our
ability. !. History repeats itself. Civili-
zation, in the twinkling Of an eye, appears
to be reduced to a state of utter bar
barism and so before we can have q
world in which we wish to live we must
rebuild it. To dream, to desire is not
enough.
I am inundated almost daily by the
most loathsome and filthy type Of
printed propaganda -. anti-Semitic and
anti Catholic and anti-everything which
respect. I consign 1t to the flames, but
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Proposes "Town Forest"
For Washington.

Proposes "Town Forest"
For Washington.
To the Editor Of The Star.
Why cannot Washington, the National
Capital, have town forest? The Read
er's Digest states that New York State
has 579, California 158 and Pennsylvania
l34. The map of New England is pep
pered with them. They pay, but my in
terest would be in their beauty-the deep
social and spiritual satisfaction that one
gets from visiting a wood of beauti-
full trees.
What about those virgin forests on
the Virginia side of the Potomac above
Key Bridge?
A sanctuary should be included for the
preservation of wild flowers as well as
trees. Just think of the Joy this would
bring to residents of the National Capital
from all over the United States, in fact,
from all over the world.
BLANCHE G. HOwLETT.
Evening star., 1941-08-22

New Testament-With the words
of the Saviour printed in red. Con-
tains specially prepared section
giving the names of trees, waters,
mountains, musical instruments
and birds that are named in the
Bible. This unusual volume con-
tains 254 pages printed on thin
Bible paper and is bound in a
flexible black cover. To secure
your copy inclose 20 cents in coin,
wrapped in this clipping. and mail
to The Star Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1941-08-22

Widespread toadstool poisoning is
reportedsin France. This seems nat.
ural enough in country seemingly
unable to distinguish good from evil.
Evening star., 1941-08-22
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the Driter, although the use OF
a pseudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1Dith
q uie1D to condensation.