davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-09-07
Cive-Awoy
TroveIers' Aid

DRIVING from our home in Massachusetts, to
the Mexican border last fall, my wife and l
took our yellow-head Mexican parrot, George
Archer, along in the station wagon. At Little
Rock, Arkansas, my wife inadvertently drove
through red light We were Immediately
greeted by the familiar whistle as the traffic
cop directed us to the curb. He stalked over,
ready to give the usual TRADE. But before he
could get started, from the rear of the car
came the words, We'll, what's the matter,
eh?" The cop glared wathfully toward the
rear seat - and observed George Archer
He couldn't help laughing - and when a
traffic cop loses his dignity. it's all over He
Evening star., 1941-09-07
THEY TALKED BACK
Some surprising true stories about parrots

c)ome time ago THIS WEEK Magazine
printed sVo good parrot stories and asked its
readers if they kneW any more good yarns about
talking birds. Little did I'VE realize hoso many
Grticuiate teathered creatures exist, or hoW apt
their remarks can be. But we found ont. Scarcely
had the issue been published when the flood set
in. More man 1000 replies Were receiped
On this page we print a few Of the best of
<assse stories. We are sorry that I'VE cannot use
more. But we want our readers to know that
we appreciate all of them. Thanks for the bird
words. THE EDITOR
Evening star., 1941-09-07
Getting There First

EVERY visitor to our home was attracted to
our colorful parrot, and always wanted to
know if she could talk One day new neigh
Dor was in. She walked over to the birds
cage and seemed about to ask the usual ques-
ton, when Polly glaring at her with disdain-
full eye. demanded, Can she TALK"
Edward j. Plank
Stevens Point Wis.
Evening star., 1941-09-07
Fooled

The first parrot ever saw belonged to my
uncle, who lived in a small Siberian town.
The bird had been given to him by banished
revolutionist, and its favorite expression was
"Durack mujiekr which means, roughly,
''You are fool, peasant" Once villager
called at our house on business. He had never
met my uncle before, and had no idea at all
about parrots. Ushered into the reception
room, he sat down to wait Across from him
was the big yellow bird, which eyed him
fercely and then exclaimed, "Durack mu-
jtckr' Amazed, the peasant leaped to his feet
and cried, Excuse me, sir i did not know
you were birdv'
l. P. T.
Pittsburgh, Pa.
Evening star., 1941-09-07

told us to 60 on, and to be more careful.
Polly had saved two Arkansas travellers from
ticket.
Donald Beers
Ruidosa, Texas
Evening star., 1941-09-07

old parrot, to which we addressed the Gus
tomary silly greetings: Hello, Polly. Nice
old Polly. Pretty Polly" Whereupon the
bird ruffled her feathers, fixed beady eyes
upon us with the naughty stare of grande
dame, and calmly said: Il am the Blue Fun
mel parrot. Who in hell are you?"
Helen W. Bromfeld
San Francisco, California
Cive.Awoy
THIS speciality of neighbor's parrot won
him perch in the Bronx Zoo: Whenever the
doorben would ring, he'd squawk, Don't
open the door - it's summons
]. B. Miller
The Bronx, N. Y.
Evening star., 1941-09-07

the water was turned on, and the man in the
hole was drenched. An argument ensued and
was becoming heated when my aunt explained
that Cora was to blame.
Mrs. Fred P. MacNaughton
Detroit, Mich.
Duet
THE late Admiral Dewey had a favorite
parrot story concerning an elderly relative
whose bird embarrassed the family by con-
tinually repeating, Il wish the old lady would
de!' Thinking to teach the bird manners by
example, they sent him to visit the parrot
of local minister. Returning few days later
to get him, they were greeted with this duet:
Dewey parrot: Il wish the old lady would
die'
Minister S parrot: Lord, hear our prayer"
NJ
New York City
Evening star., 1941-02-08
Don't Take Ny
Word for 1t
Question Bee
BY FRANK COLBY,


@. Where does the accent fall in
the word BILL1ONAIRF?-R. S.
A. On the third syllable. Say
'bill-yun-AIR." incidentally, a bill
lion in England and Germany is
not thousand million. but a million
million, thus: 100000 900 00O
@. Is it correct to pronounce AT
ALL as "at TALL"?-B. S. G.
A. No. Do not carry the It" to
the second word. Say at ALL.
@. What is bakers dozen"?-
v. B. C.
A. A bakers dozen" is not y. but
13. 1t was formerly the custom of
bakers to give an extra loaf or bun
with every dozen sold, thus guaran-
teeing full weight.
@. In recent radio address. the
President referred to australasia. :"
Was this not slip of the presiden-
tial tongue?-W. w.
A. No. Australasia is a name that
roughly designates the lands in the
Southwest Pacific, as Australia, New
Zealand. the Malay Archipelago, the
Philippines, etc.
This weeks prize for LOONY
LOGIC goes to the undertaking firm
that announced: I'VE are happy if
we have contributed toward making
this city q better place in which to
live"
Do you find LAY and LIE con-
fusing? Send stamped Scent.
self addressed envelope for free,
non-technical leaflet On correct
use Of LAY and LIE.
Evening star., 1941-02-08
Answer to Yesterdays Puzzle
UNCLE RAYS CORNER
"A Little Saturday Talk

place Scientists say that millions
of years passed before the plant
material became the rock known as
coal.
When coal is found in a far
northern land, it means that plants
grew there long ago.
Plants still grow on the Spitz-
bergen Islands. More than 100
kinds of plants spring up during the
short summer season, and many of
them have flowers.
The islands, however, do not have
trees. Their climate today is too
cold for such plants as have formed
the worlds coal.
Yet the Spitzbergen Islands have
a coal supply which has been esti-
mated at 5000 100000 tons. In a
single year they Rave exported more
than a quarter of a million tons
When the remains of tropical
plants or animals are found in
rocks of the Arctic region. 1t makes
us think of our earth vast ages ago
Evening star., 1941-02-08

Another question about the north
frigid zone has come from a reader,
who writes:
"A few years ago, I read an article
in geographic magazine about the
wonderful coal fields of SpitZbergen.
Can you tell us in your column
whether coal is formed of submerged
forests and, if 50, how that far
northern country came to be covered
with forests? I have been thinking
about 1t for years, and decided to
ask you. I am over 80 years old.
Please do not use my name, but !
shall look forward to your reply"
1t is true that coal is made up Of
material from plants. This material
includes ferns and rushes as well as
leaves and twigs OF trees. Some of
the ferns which went into 1t were
tree-ferns of gigantic size.
1t Is believed that the plant ma
terial was covered by water, sand
and mud. In the course of time
many changes In water level took
Evening star., 1941-02-08

We know there have been changes
in climate, and it seems clear that
the Arctic once enjoyed warm
weather.
If the Arctic had tropical weather,
what shall we think Of the weather
in the torrid zone? Maybe a
thermometer would have shot up to
200 or 300 degrees-if there had been
any thermometers in those days!
For General Interest section of your
scrapbook)
II you wish TO join the 1941
Uncle Ray Scrapbook Club, send
me Scent stamped en-
velope, carefully addressed 70
yourself. You will receive .
membership certificate, \ leafiet
telling how - make . scrapbook,
and q printed design to paste on
the cover. Address me In care
of The Evening Star.
1~<A Hd
Evening star., 1941-02-08

unable to accept your invitation to
game.
Score 100 per cent for four spades
go per cent for three spades, 80 per
cent for two no-trump.
Question No. 678.
Today you are Merwin Maier'
partner and, with neither side vul-
nerable, you hold:
a x J 973
y Q1042
D5
i AIS
The bidding:
Maier Jacoby You Schenken
10 Pass IA Pass
"a Pass CD
What do you bid? (Answer Mon
day.
released by the Bell Syndicate. Incl
The Pour Aces will be pleased to
answer letters from readers If
velope is incIosed with each communi-
cation addressed to the Four Aces,
care OF The Evening Star. If you de-
sire the pocket outline of the Four
Aces system of contract bridge, send
care OF The Evening Star, stamped
t3-cent). self addressed. large-size en-
velope and you will receive an outline
without any charge.
Evening star., 1941-02-08

West opened a low spade. and the
defenders managed to get four
spades and three diamonds before
surrendering the lead to poor South.
North just raised his eyebrows. con-
s:dering himself quite polite to re-
frain from crltiCizing his partner
And South, our friend. kept silent
because he knew that North would
be unable to understand that he
himself was the guilty one.
Souths double of one heart was
the best way to show up Easts
pshychic bid. North's heart hold
. ing should have made it obvious that
the best suit in the North-South
hands was hearts He held four to
the ace-king, and South had enough
length and strength to double an
adverse heart bid!
North was correct in taking out
South's double of two diamonds. but
he was decidedly at fault in bidding
two spades. He knew about SouthS
hearts. but South didn't know about
his. North should therefore have
bid two hearts. South would have
raised to four hearts-a contract
which careful play would fulfill
Yesterday you were Oswald ia
coby's partner and. with neither
side vulnerable. you held:
Ak J9732
y K4
D Q5
KJ3
The bidding:
Jacoby Maier You Schenken
10 Pass IA Pass
"a Pass (?)
Answer-Bid four spades. There
should be a fair play for this con-
tract even if your partner has a
minimum opening bid: and any
weaker bid by you might leave him
Evening star., 1941-02-08
Contract
Ry THE FOUR ACES.

david Bruce Burnstone, Merrin D:
Maler Oswald Jacoby, How ard
Schenken worlds leading team of
four, inventors of the system that
has beaten every other system in
existence
Evening star., 1941-02-08
Three Opponents

Whenever I play with him"
said q friend of ours recently, re-
ferring to another bridge player,
II feel that I'm playing against
three opponents" We sympathized
when We saw this hand:
West. dealer.
Neither side vulnerable:
q 10 7 63
= A K82
Evening star., 1941-11-30
Il Short Story Complete in This Issue

~ EORGE WESTLAKE had good looks, an
q engaging personality. Harvard ac-
~ cent. and minor reputation as the
author of historical novels. 1t was almost
inevitable, therefore, that George should lee
ture. and since he was a very good lecturer
and not very good novelist, he soon began
to make lecturing pay better than novel
writing. Scarcely any well-known auditorium
from coast to coast did he fail to fill, or at
least half fill, during the season.
He liked his work. especially since air
travel had doubled his ability to dash about
from one place to another. At the time this
story opens he was two miles high, some
where between Kansas and California, and
was making notes, while he few. for an addi-
tional lecture in series called Heroes and
Heroism in Fact and Fiction"
He intended to argue that the current
popularity of historical novels was largely
due to mans innate craving for the heroic
- a craving which, unfortunately, he could
but rarely satisfy amidst the events and cir
cumstances of an average life. And that,
of course. was due to modern conditions,
twentieth-century civilization. and so on.
1T is not enough" he rapidly penciled,
Ito promise world fit for heroes to live in;
what one would really choose is world fit
for men to be heroic in"
George was re-reading this and thinking
it rather good, when the plane gave small
jerk and the rhythm of its engines changed
He stared out of the window, and realized
hot xLa,, tIn-
upon hilly country. The sign came on over
the pilots doorway, PLEASE Fasten Your
Belt" and simultaneously the stewardess
Evening star., 1941-11-30

began to pass from seat to seat with reassur
ing smiles and remarks When she came to
Georges own seat he smiled and said cas-
ually: Anything wrong?"
Nothing much - one of the engine over
heating bit. We're coming down at Diamond
City"
''Never heard of the place"
you haven't missed much We're Just
over it now"
Don't see much of a city"
There isn't any"
Cant even see anything that looks like
diamond"
She laughed and moved to one of the other
seats
len minutes later the plane made perfect
landing - ten minutes during which George
Westlake looked around him and for the first
time noticed his fellow travellers as individ-
uals. There seemed to be only four - all men:
one was an airline mechanic, travelling as a
passenger; another was massive -shouldered
giant who looked thoroughly scared. while
his companion, sharp faced, wiry little
fellow, was laughing perhaps too heartily at
the others efforts to adjust the belt round
his enormous girth. The fourth passenger
was locking up brief case. He looked an
ordinary sort of middle-aged type sprucely
dressed, city-pale, and shade preoccupied.
With one engine out of commission, the
plane couldn't taxi to the airport buildings;
but this hardly mattered, since there didn't
appear to be any airport buildings.
The wind sock hung lifeless, and the place
itself looked lifeless. The passengers waited
tensely for something to happen. Presently
a couple of men carrying ladder emerged
Evening star., 1941-11-30
of advertising signs came int

view. Behind them was some kind of building
The biggest of the signs said ''Shangri-La,"
while small sign proclaimed, Good Eats"
They had passed no vehicle on the way.
and George could think of no particular
reason why anyone should build a restaurant
in such a spot. However, there it was -
an imitation railroad car, decorated with a
rather halfhearted smattering of silver-gray
paint.
George drove the car into the dusty park
ing space An old dog lay in spot of shade
and did not move. They pushed open the
screen door to enter the long. blind-darkened
room. 1t smelled of stale cigar smoke and
greasy food and - anonymously - of few
flowers stuck into vases on a couple of tables
in booths
voice greeted them; they could see no
one till their eyes grew used to the change
of light, but with one accord they asked the
voice for cold drinks. Then they saw a thin
old man with brown wrinkled face, smoking
cigar behind the counter
He puffed oontemplatively and remarked:
Yeah, it's a pretty hot spot this time of year.
Always hot this side the mountains. Per-
sonally, though. if was you, I'd have coffee.
Not that we don't have most of what you
asked for, but the ice didn't come this morn-
ing, and if you're like me you d rather have
hot hot drink than a warm cold drink -
or wouLdn't you?''
The slow, good-tempered drawl seemed to
cast spell. George broke it by admitting
that he would prefer the coffee. When the
Others said nothing the old man shouted
back into some inner compartment: -Four
coffees''
(Continssd on poge 1O)
1I-N-ll
Evening star., 1941-11-30

from corrugated iron shed: not till the
ladder was in position did the stewardess
open the door to admit a first breath of Dia-
mOnd City air. As soon as she did it, they
knew how wise she was for not having done
it before.
George accompanied the group across the
scorched earth to the small shelter of the shed.
On the face of the huge man, the perspiration
OF air conditioned fear commingled now with
that OF utmost relief in temperature of at
least hundred degrees. The middle-aged
man perspired less obtrusively. holding on to
his brief case while he administered fussy
little handkerchief dabs. After few moments
the stewardess and pilot came to announce
cheerfully that it was just one of those things,
couple of hours repair job maybe.
But couple of hours of this!" exclaimed
George. ''Whew!"
That proved to be the general feeling.
except that the middle-aged man seemed
additionally irritated over the delay. He in
Quired if there were any chance of being
driven anywhere to catch another plane The
pilot said no - the nearest big-si airport
was over hundred miles off. The stewardess
then said: I'll ask if there's some place
nearby where you could go and watt
She and the pilot walked back to the plane,
where the mechanic and two local men were
inspecting the engine. For few moments the
murmur of voices rose and fell across the
burning air; then the girl returned.
'One of the men says you can borrow his
car to drive to place along the road. He
says it's the only place." She offered the car
keys to George, who asked how far it was.
About three miles. You can't miss it.
It's called Shanghai"
Evening star., 1941-11-30

What!
''Or however you say it.
You'll find the car back there"
Cant you come with u.s."
mot allowed to. Sorry"
The car was old and dilapi-
dated. but they all piled in.
George drove. The road was dirt
for a mile, then turned steeply
into a secondary road that had
once been surfaced but was now
worn almost back to the dirt.
The sun beat down nearly YER
ucally. In the distance the Sier-
ras, gray and fecked with white,
rose to meet the milk-blue sky;
in between. folds and uoughs
of furnace-heat trembled like
water under a ripping breeze.
Only there was no water and no
breeze.
The road curved and twisted
the foothills. climbing in
hairpin bends. Suddenly a litter
Of oHuovt tctnn ctnro ~avv,o ;nk1
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14
Nike Jacobs in
On Service Shows

NEW YORk-Teams OF profess
sional boxers now in the services
will take part in an army-navy
boxing show-the first OF many
now planned dat Jacksonville.
ma. on May II. under promotion
q Mike Jacobs and Lieut. Com
nander Gene Tunney, director OF
naval sports activity.
he proceeds Of all the shows-
which win have free use Of Jacobs
complete ring equipment-win go
TO the infantile paralysis FUND.
1hs equipment win Be transported
from city to city BY army trucks
Joe Louis. Billy Conn. Ken
overiin, Fritzis zivic. Lew Jenkins.
Lea Nova, Abe Simon. Billy
1ooss, Jimmy webb. Gus Lesne-
vich and other prominent fighters
vim oct ~ referees.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14
Tigers Romp
Over Clovers

Big Steve fish piled up 49,
points for Clover Park Warrior
in the field events but Stadium
Tigers had too much strength in !
the running events and defeated
the Warriors on the Stadium
track, 7712 to 311a, Friday tfter-
noon.
The summary:
l0o-yard dash. Soper fS). II. Gin
ton Isl. Bell Isl and Tollefson (CP),
tied for third: :lo.4
MILE; Nelson Isl, TyO CoP). kowl-
'ka 44o o. D. GIN Clinton cs,. Adam. Cs,.
Pole vault: Aiphin tcP), Edlins
Isl. Swenson (s): 10 feet.
220-yard dash: Soper Isl, II. Clin-
ton (S). Bell Isl: :23.6.
Shuttle hurdle: Stadium tVanden-
berg. Getsz. Younger. Wood; :53.s.
High jump: Danielson fS). Blair
80. Swenson Isl, tied: feet.
Shot: Tish tcP). Fsin ts). Daniel
800 Dyer CCP). Bowman Isl. Col
Discus: Tish (CP). Blair Isl. Pain
(Sl 1875 feet. | inch.
Broad Jump swenson Isl. Boylem
CCP). Fain ISL 10 feet, 3l7 inches.
$50 relay: Stadium Clinton, Gran
lund. Bell. Soper): 1872.
Football throw: Mansfield 80. fish
CcP). Carlson Isl: i65 feet. inches.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14
Twilight Loop
Almost Ready

Organization of the Twilight
league moved a step nearer to
realization this week with the an
nouncement that five teams have
already signified their intention OF
playing in the circuit.
Teams in the Twilight picture
are Cammaranos, Shipbuilders.
Builders Laborers Union, Coast
Sash & Door and NYA. Two TO
three more teams are needed to
round out the loop. Entries close
April 80 at the Metropolitan Park
board office.
Season will open on May 5 with.
games at Mckinley playfield or
Portland avenue plsyfield. Start.
ing time for the games is $50
p. m. Al Hodges heads the cir
cult.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14
Tent
For Boxer

VANCOUVER. Il. C.-Joe Her
man, pudgy manager of Worlds
Bantamweight Champion Tony
Oiivera, announced today that
Tony would wear an oxygen mask
between rounds If the going gets
tough in his title fight here Tues
day night against Kenny Lindsay
of Vancouver.
when your, fighter Tags"
Herman explained, "you put
the oxygen mask. on for 40
seconds and he comes out Hike
new"
Olivera, whose claim to the title
is recognized in New York and
California, starts his final work
outs today.
A possible hitch in plans for the
fight came when Herman announc-
ed he would insist on a referee
from outside Vancouver. He said
Re had suggested Tommy Nc
Carthy of Seattle, but added it
didn't matter where he came from
as long as it wasn't Vancouver.
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14
Sports Parade

GmtSu ETeSe epoFts huitor
NEW YORk-Years ago they
met along the dusty base
paths of eight American league
baseball parks, and now they
will meet again on tee. fair
way and green.
Babe Ruth today accepted the
challenge Of Ty Cobb TO play a
36-hole golf match for some war
charity yet to be selected. The
match will bring together the
two greatest hitters In the his
tory of baseball and two of the
most flaming competitors in any
sport
Tentative plana call for the
hrst 10 holes IN ~ played on .
course In or around Boston and
the second Is holes 10 be played
ut Detroit. according 10 Fred
Corcoran, tournament manager
Of the PGA, who has been ac-
tive In arranging the charity
match. II will be match play.
II probably won't be brilliant
golf. but It will be interesting.
Ruth and Cobb are both left
handed golfers and their games
are about on a level. Each
shoots between rs and so al
though both have been known
to get down into the low 70's
on days when the puts were
dropping.
There probably will be just
as many baseball fans in the
galleries as there will be golf
addicts, for both Ruth and Cobb
can still gather a crowd merely
by walking down the street.
Only two men viii be playing
golf but for most baseball fans
whose memories stretch back
Is years, it viii be a foursome.
They will see the Ruth and
Cobb Of today. two middle-aged
men who have lost the spring
from their legs.
And. In memory, they will zee
Ruth and Cobb cf yesterday
sllmmer. trimmer men who were
twin nightmare 10 pitchers.
They win think bach - the day
In the world series when Ruth
pointed 70 the center field fence
and then lofted one Of Charley
Roots pitches to the exact spot
for . home run.
They will think about the day
when Cobb. with q temperature
of lo2 and legs that were cut
and raw from spike wounds and
slide burns got out Of sick bed
and played a game against the
Yankees in which he got three
hits and stole two bases.
Time has been kind TO both
and Cobb and Ruth have mellow.
ed under its influence. Cobt
makes his home in Menio Park
Cal. and spends most of his
time hunting. fishing and play
ing golf. He saved the none,
he earned in baseball. made
some wise investments and nevel
will have to work for a living
The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-04-14

Remission Runs 220
In Brilliont Time

Sweeping over Everett Seagulls
with a tremendous burst If speed
and power. Lincoln Abes scored a
brilliant cinder triumph at Everett
Friday afternoon. winning by the
score Of S. n AZ.
Dick Remission, premier Lin
coin Splinter. breezed over the
2eo yards in 2S.7 seconds. an
exceptional time for early sea
son furlong running.
Return of Allan Smyth in the
field events added eight points to
the Lincoln total as the burly
weightman scored a first in the
shotput and a second is the discus.
The summary:
100: Remission Gl. V. Christianson
o.. Christianson CD; Tine. los.
d1. Trask CEl. Time, 2s.7.
44o: Riley tE). Reynolds L). Pet
erson IL. Time. SIS.
$50: sweeney IL. Coblentz O).
Florer CEl. Time. 2:l5.e.
Mile; Harms IL. Anderson b.
smith III. lime = Sol.
Low hurdles: Freese (E1. Ford G).
Ebert (El. Time. 251.
High hurdles: Ford IL. Weber
CEl. Marcus tE1. Time. ia
Relay: Lincoln ". Christianson.
Peterson, Reynolds. Kenistonl. Time.
1882
Discus. Martinus CE). smyth d1,
Rouse nJ. Distance. l2l' g..
shotput; smyth ~. .Trask (E.
Bacogs (El. Distance. as 2s4".
High Jump. PierSon eE) and
Yoakum CE). tie for first; Ford ID.
Height. feet inches.
Pole vault: Armstead IL and
Freese tEl. tie FOR first: Nelson Oh.
Moore E) and Henderson Fl. tie
for third. Height. 10 feet S inches.
Broad Jump: Youngchild El.
Harms ~. Uwhei CE). Distance. 10
feet 6is inches.