davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Winter Walks the Woods

No,D lUinter 1DalkS the moods and
dutumn'S flame
Will burn no more; a sha1Dl of STEEL
edged 1Dool
ConcealS the 10ithered fower, en-
cruStS the frame
That borders streams so lately
bountitul;:
Great, frosted stars dart forth their
gliStening spears
Into the uiolet dusk; rtme feathers
float
To veil the earth's still face; a phit
t0tnd clears
The smoking Sno1O Dhile Beauty hugs
the throat.
The brook is frozen; her barred and
je10eled breast
GiDes life to no Ueak thrush, no
seeking ta,on;;
In silence, opaleScent mist finds rest
Among the shiUerino ghosts Of
speeches. da,on;;
The SilUery stream is stilled, no late
birds sing,
Yet pistful hearts scent altar hyas
OF spring.
LEILA PIER KENO.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Typhus and Ruts

The ubiquitous house rat is sus-
pected by the District Health Depart
ment Of responsibility for several
cases Of typhus in Washington-not,
of course, the virulent European
typhus which follows in the wake of
war but the milder American form.
A few months ago a Public Health
Service investigation provided strong
evidence that the new virus disease,
choriomeningitis, was in some way
associated with rat-infested Wash
ington houses.
There are a half dozen other seri-
Gus maladies-some fortunately quite
rare-which are spread by rats, or by
the fleaS which infeSt rats. In the
West there is constant danger that
one Of these parasites of human
dwellings will encounter wild
rodent on a city dump and acquire
from it the germs of the dreaded
plague.
These should be reasons enough to
encourage strenuous efforts to rid
the city of animals which must be
claSsed among mans most dangerous
enemies. They almost invariably are
found in old houses in poorer Sec
tions and are often quite difficult to
eradicate even with the effective
poisons now available.
The rat not only is one of the
worst of mans enemies but also one
of the brainiest. Only by developing
very sharp wits has it been able to
persist as an always unwelcome
guest on the human doorstep for
countless generations. 1t will not be
easy to conquer in Washington by
any halfway methods.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Co-ordinoted Campaign

Although January's traffic fatal
My record was the most tragic of
any month in four years, Washing
ton enters February with a firm hope
that redoubled efforts to make the
streets safer will bring tangible re-
suits. In addition to utilizing every
means possible to educate residents
In safe use of public thoroughfareS,
police and other officials have taken
steps to provide more adequate en-
forcement. These include appoint
ment of additional policemen, moves
toward stricter Interpretation of
regulations and extension of finan-
cial responsibility laws to cover more
fully recklessness, hitand-run and
drunken driving offenseS.
January, with thirteen deaths,
eight more than a year ago, was a
month of particular danger to
pedestrians. Five were killed cross
ing in the middle of the block, two
were crossing against red lights, two
were hit at uncontrolled intersec-
tions and one was standing near his
stalled automobile. Eleven of the
thirteen deaths occurred after dark.
This record represents a traffic
death approximately every two and
q half days, while in 1910 there was
a fatality every four and half days.
It offsets any qualification which
may be derived from the National
Evening star., 1941-02-07
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trdce1ceU.

Is the perennial enigma Of how they
can do 1t.
who knows? Yes, there have been
very plausible theories advanced. Some
so-called authorities believe that the
homing pigeon travels on something like
q radio beam.
"Others, that 1t Is q pure and un-
adulterated love Of home, hence the
name. There are others who advance
able to see around the corner on the
newly discovered infrared rays Of the
sun.
"Pragmatic fanciers think that keen
vision, breeding, training and rugged
endurance account for the phenomenon.
The noses of pigeons have been
stopped up and tested from the stand
point Of smell to uncover the real sense
that directs q racing pigeon to its
home. although bird that can't breathe
cannot be expected to survive.
AT any rate, the homing pigeon does
possess some fascinating faculty not yet
understood by man, by which he Is
invariably oriented to his own place Of
beginning; and therefore, II the bird
lover is bitten by the racing pigeon bug,
1t will not be likely that he will be in
any way disappointed in his new and
absorbing hobby, when that supreme
moment arrives while he is in compe-
tition with perhaps hundreds of other
pOthlIsia STE opd Souarol 80
birds, he clocks In winner in his first
race and his very own pet brings home
the bacon and he becomes the cynosure
Of his fellow fanciers.
Very truly yours, w. c. MacM."
Racing pigeons must be a great sport
Especially when your bird wins the
race-but won't come down off the roof
until IS minutes have elapsed!
Clocking the bird is necessary to prove
that he won.
This consists Of removing the leg band
and dropping it into the special clock,
thereby registering the exact time the
bird arrived.
There can't be any cheating that
way.
II the creature won't come down so
that you can get hold of him, somebody
else's bird will be clocked first.
1t must be very aggravating, but it Is
just part of the fun.
Probably Mr.. MacM. wouldn't think
much of "our" pigeons.
They are just old roughneck pigeons,
wild specimens, We imagine, which have
found a good thing and stick to 1t.
Plenty of sense, though.
They circle in every morning first
alighting on the roof. then on the garage
and then on the ground in front of the
feeder beneath the maple tree.
They are such jittery birds that the
slightest noise sends them into the air.
Often in the afternoon they fly around
and around the neighborhood for half
an hour at time, evidently Just for
the sheer joy of flying.
Their race track is about four blocks
long by two wide. In this space they
do some very fancy flying in a close
formation. We don't believe that any
homer could do much better.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Plea for Surrender

Colonel Lindbergh's statement OF
his attitude toward the war, as pre-
Sented to the Senate Foreign Rela-
tions Committee, is essentially plea
for surrender without a fight. If
that philosophy were universally
accepted, the victims of aggression
would always yield to a supposedly
stronger attacker, and the Jungle
rule of might makes right would
soon encompass the civilized world.
Fortunately for us, the British have
elected to fight and to endure punish
ment rather than yield without a
struggle-an attitude for which the
United States, according to Colonel
Llndbergh, must share the blame"
Had it not been for our help and
promises, direct or implied, of even
greater aid, he says, the European
democracies would not have taken
up arms in the first place, and
Britain, if made to understand that
no additional assistance would be
forthcoming from US, would give up
the fight at this time. Believing that
Britain cannot win the war, Colonel
Lindbergh urges that the United
States follow the course he recon-
mends as a means of forcing peace
on Europe.
1t is significant, however, that the
Colonel has never discussed the pros
pect of Nazi victory. He talks of a
negotiated peace without specifying
what he means by that term, but his
recommendations, in cold fact, are
pointed toward capitulation by
Britain, for the British cannot hope
to carry on the war if all American
aid is withdrawn, and Colonel Lind
bergh must know that to be the case.
Having before them the spectacle
OF what has happened in Poland,
Czecho-SlOVakia, Holland and other
countries who are existing under
what amounts to negotiated peace
with Hitler, the British, understand
ably enough, have elected to fight
for their freedom rather than sur
render without a struggle for fear Of
defeat in the end. Our own tradi-
tions being what they are, few Amer
leans will share Colonel Lindberghs
obvious belief that this country is
subject to condemnation for having
made it possible, through the sale of
arms, for the English to fight for
the liberty which they value above
mere physical security.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Open Door

One of the troubles of the early
Republic was the difficulty Of access
to legislative halls. Not only did
legislators and lay public have to
travel slowly and painfully; when
they arrived they actually had to
open the door to get inside.
This source of irritation no longer
exists at Annapolis. The Legislature
now in session provides doorkeeperS
at five dollars day, thus relieving
taxpayers of hundreds of dollars and
the necessity of going through the
chore of opening door. These men
have quickly learned all the tricks of
a brand-new profession. They have
kept every door so we'll that to date
not one is missing, and unless sur
prised by the too rapid approach of
rugged democratic individualists who
scorn such service, have usually man.
aged to beat their customers to the
punch and get that door open before
they could lay hands on it. In of
moments, these new career men are
farmers, fishermen, and the like, and
by an odd coincidence they also have
as a hobby close acquaintanceship
with local politicians.
All Marylanders are urged to visit
the Legislature and avail themselves
of the super-service provided by
-dollar-a-day doorkeepers. The
trip should be especially inspiring to
wives, many of whom keep not just
q door but an entire house on fifty
cents a day, payable when, as, or If
they can get it.
Evening star., 1941-02-07

Safety Councils annual survey show
ing that Washington had the lowest
per capita fatality rate among cities
in the 100000 class last year. That
rate was 1913 deaths per 100000 pop
ulation. Each year since 1886 q
decrease in fatal accidents has been
recorded here in spite of increased
population and vehicle registration.
But the total of twenty-six lives in
December and January holds little
promise of continued betterment
unless the efforts which now have
been started can be carried to sue
ceSSful conclusion.
No simple solution is possible. No
one agency or factor can be expected
to achieve the desired results. Every
force must be exerted in a perma-
nent, unified, intelligent campaign.
The efforts of each citizen are as
important as are those of the COM
mittees of Congress, officials of the
city, and the courts.
Evening star., 1941-02-07

cone blew out; Pompeii and Stabiae
were buried in small stones and
cinders; Herculaneum was over
whelmed by torrent Of mud. After
this cataclysm, the appetite of the
volcano seemed Sated for fifteen
hundred years. Even the topmost
portions of the mountain again were
forested. Hundreds of vineyards
were cultivated on the slope. Scores
Of villages clustered around the base.
Then, on December 16, 1881, Vesuvius
broke lose" again. Poisonous gases
swept down from the crest, streams
OF lava reached the sea, three thou
sand casualties we're counted.
Further disturbances followed at
intervals Of from one to thirty years.
In 1894 Tore del Greco was de-
stroyed; in 1871 San Sebastiano and
Massa di Somma were seriously dam
aged; in 1906 Ottaiano and San
Giuseppe suffered severely. Science,
though willing to try, cannot guess
when the next demonstration may
occur. Meanwhile, military flyers
from embattled Britain steer to the
industrial concentration points of
Italy with the orange red reflection
in the unsubjected sky for a guide.
Perhaps as they speed across the
turbulent caldron some Of them re-
member reading how Spartacus and
his slaves, revolving in Capua,
sought freedom there in 73 BIC. and
were not disappointed.
Evening star., 1941-02-07

eventually if necessary with more drastic
action, seems to me to offer the only
immediate prospect of relief
Additional police undoubtedly are
necessary, but unless you had a police
man on every corner or in every car
the violations, accidents and deaths
would continue. The violators, for the
most part, are not stupid. If police
man is in sight, they will not pass a
stop" sign, pass on hills marked with
double white center lines, or cut in and
out Of streams of moving cars under
dangerous conditions, yet, where there
are no policemen, I witness these viola
ton almost daily.
Unfortunately, I have no panacea to
offer. My object is only to direct atten-
ton Cd to what I consider the funda-
mental problem, the development of a
state of mind that considers the rights
and safety of others, and 90 to the
futility of setting up new laws and regu-
lations to be violated (as they will be-
when the existing ones are not, and
perhaps cannot be, enforced
GEORGE D. WATROUS, Jr.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Advocates American Payment
For Britain's Resistance,

To the Editor OF The Star
For the benefit of those who demand
that England pay the whole cost of
defeating Germany's aims, and especially
for those who lately have been summing
up the trinkets on this side of the
Atlantic owned by British folk, I say let
us pay for the benefits we shall obtain
through Britains sacrifices of men and
wealth.
Does any one believe, after hearing
the reports of our Commerce Depart
ment of German methods in seizing the
wealth of subjugated countries, that we
will have any trade left with those
countries or any of our property there
If Germany wins? Will we be free to
move without tribute through the
Mediterranean, the North Sea or the
Baltic, or to trade freely with England,
France, Africa, Australia and the East
generally? What's it worth to us as
cold-blooded traders to preserve our
foreign investments, our businesses
abroad, and our freedom of movement
and intercourse in other countries?
Think Of our need of rubber, tin, coffee,
meat, hides, and wool, and figure what
1t Is worth to obtain them freely.
If we have not the spunk we had when
the motto Millions for defense but
not one cent for tribute" was written and
sent Decatur to fight in the Mediter-
ranean, why shouldn't we pay some
OF the cost of preserving our inter-
national rights?
1t certainly seems like a contemplate
attitude toward the wholesale murder of
people so like ourselves and so close to
us in bonds of race and ideals, as are
England and the subjugated countries,
to wish to see them enslaved by brutal
tyrants unless England can defeat this
enemy without cost to us and also pay
us our profits on armaments and other
needs for the purpose
HORACE l.. WOODWARD.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
ARLINGTON, Va.

"Dear Sir:
II most generally read your column.
find 1t interesting, particularly so,
in respect to a personal hobby In the
bird world, in which am very much
interested.
pigeons.
Il notice that you dwell upon pigeons
every once in a while, as in a recent
column when you said that pigeons are
among the most wonderful flyers in all
the world and bring real joy to the
observer who is willing to overlook what
he does not like about them to concen-
trate on their wonderful prowess in
the air.
II don't think it truly can be said
that any real bird lover can find pigeons
uninteresting; much less so to desire to
get rid of them by force at ones bird
feeding station.
You said in another column Birds
can take you out of yourself as we'll as
anything, perhaps just little better
than most. There is something at once
so real and sincere about bird as con-
traSted with so many of the artificial
interests of man, that its contemplation
Is good for the SOUL
And exactly because this Is so, ]
wonder how many of your readers in
their contemplation Of the birds have
stopped to realize that whereas most bird
life is wild, any one who wishes may
procure pigeons for his very own.
"JuSt think of it! The proud posSeSsor
of cote of pigeons doesn't need to de-
pend upon the whim of nature, the
character Of his location or the vagaries
of the weather.
He has at his disposal a selection
of hundreds Of varieties to suit his own
individual fancy, any of which can be
procured for a reasonable sum, often
for less than the price of canary.
"One can choose, in general sense,
from what are called the utility breeds,
like the Kings and SO forth, the strictly
fancy breeds. ranging from the parlor
tumbler, the oriental frills, flights, fan
tails and host Of others to the high
flying tipplers; or, If the feats of the
ancient pigeon post are recalled, the
messengers used at the seige of Paris
in 1871, the heroic flight of Cher Ami in
the World War, which succored the
survivors of the Lost Battalion, or the
modern carriers of photographs for
our daily press appeal more strongly,
the would-be fancier may even aspire
to the possession of the homing pigeon,
which, as thoroughbred, for brains,
memory and stamina lords it over all
pigeondom.
What sterling is to silver, so are
homers or racing pigeons to a pigeon
fancier
"A bird lover and racing pigeon fancier
not only has pets TO possess, look at,
breed, show and observe for their cul-
ture, mannerisms and beauty; but the
additional thrill of being able to send
them literally hundreds of miles away
from his own loft or home and have
them return in single day up to dis
tances Of 600 miles.
Wrapped up in thiS racing Of pigeons
Evening star., 1941-02-07

@. How is the Treasurer of the United
States appointed?-M B.
A. The Treasurer of the United States
is appointed by the President and his
appointment is confirmed by the Senate.
@. Where does the Venus hytrap
grow?-M. T. H.
A. This curious plant is found only In
Brunswick County in Southeast North
Carolina
O. What is the composition of monel
metal?-C. H. R.
A. Monel metal consists of approx
imately rs per cent nickel, ass per cent
copper and Is per cent iron.
@. Please give the age and birthplace
of Paul Sullivan, the radio commenta-
torn. L.. S.
A. Paul Sullivan was born in st. Louis
on September l. 1908.
@. What color is a butterhys blood7
"A. J. P.
A. The Department of Agriculture
says VIC SOlO4 Vi uuGIcl11y UlOCQ - uSu-
ally pale amber, though 1t varies with
different species.
@. During whose administration was
the White House enlarged'-G. C. p.
A. The White House had been inade-
quate for some time, and many pro-
posals had been made to enlarge 1t or
build another Executive Mansion. It
was, however, enlarged and rebuilt dur
ing the summer and early fall of 1902 in
President Theodore Roosevelt's admin
istration.
@. Is Father Coughlin an alien?-W.
T S.
A Father Coughlin is not an alien.
He was born in Canada but his parents
were citizens of the United States.
@. Where is the aviation training base
composed of Norwegians?-R L. T.
A. There is an aviation base devoted
exclusively to Norwegians In Toronto,
Canada.
@. When was Belgium invaded by the
Germans?-L. c. E.
A. Belgium was invaded by Germany
on May 10. 1910. On May AZ, King
Leopold announced that the Belgian
Army had surrendered.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Tuq of War at Vichy

The chrome Crisis IN FrancO-Ger-
man relations which has persisted
ever since Marshal Petain ouSted
pro-German Pierre Laval from off,
cial life in mid-December still con-
tinues, though it looks as though a
showdown could not be longer
delayed But, regardless of the even
tual outcome, certain factors are
fairly clear.
The first of these is the extraordi-
nary personality of Petain himself.
The spectacle of this eighty-four-
year-old soldier, standing his ground
almost alone against a ruthless con-
queror, is one that is heartening both
to the world at large and to the
French people, who unqueStionably
cling to him as to a great rock in
raging flood. This moral strength of
the head of state is a factor fully
as important as Frances tangible
assets, the French fleet and the pro-
fessional army in Africa under Gen.
eral Weygand. 1t is not unlikely that
our Ambassador, Admiral Leahy, may
have played some part in counter
acting the influence of defeatists and
appeasers by whom the Marshal is
surrounded
The very fact that Hitler has pre-
ferred to negotiate instead Of using
the brute strength which he pos
sesseS proves that the Germans wish
to avoid driving the aged Marshal to
desperation. 1t is characteristic of
Hitler's tactics to turn a formidable
obstacle rather than take it by direct
assault. And some obstacle must
exist; otherwise the Germans would
long ago have cracked down on a
France disarmed, half-Starved, semi
bankrupt, and with the flower of its
manhood, two million soldiers, in
German prison camps as hostages.
Another thing to bear in mind is
that Laval, however prominent he
may become, is not personality like
Petain, but merely a person. This
lone wolf" of French politics
represents, in the last analysis, only
himself. Trusted by no one, he has
no moral force and heads no organ
lied group. Those associated with
him are either self-seeking yes-men
or paid German agents.
The only organized element on the
French scene, outside the Vichy gov
ernment, is the authentic French
Fascists, headed by Jacques Doriot,
who are undoubtedly behind the
so-called Committee of National
Unity which has been conducting a
vigorous propaganda against the
existing French regime. Though
significantly sparing Petain himself,
these attacks, emanating from Ger
man-occupied Paris, have unspar-
mgly denounced the "Vichy gang"
about him and have urged their
replacement by an entirely new set
Of men. In reply, the Vichy official
radio has repeatedly denounced the
hostile committee as being composed
of "cagoulardS, the notorious
"hooded ones" of the pre-war French
Fascist movement.
All this would seem to signify that
the genuine French Facists stand in
the wings, ready to make their entry
upon the political stage if Petain
loses his grip or disappears. These
men are ideologically in sympathy
with the Third Reich, instead of
being morally averse, like Petain, or
eynically acquieScent, like the un-
moral Laval. They will thus bear
watching, for, with them in power,
zeal Franco-German collaboration
might become possible.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin.

A reader can get the unsper to any
question OF fact by torittng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please fnclose stamp TOR reply.
@. How fast do the wings Of house
fly vibrate?-H A. J.
A. The wings OF the house ny vibrats
about 100 times per second.
@. What Is the motto of Great Brit
ain2-C. r. T.
A. It is 'Dieu st mon droit" (God and
my right.
@. How long does the average Boston
terrier live?-W. H.
A. The Bureau Of Animal Industry
says that the average age of q Boston
terrier is around 10 or II years. This
breed begins to age in about the 9th
or 10th year Of life.
@. Who wore the first glass dress'-
G. S. W.
A. One was made in 1892 for Princess
Eulalie Of Spain.
@. Please give the title Of the first
full-length sound picture.-G. D.
A. The first full-length motion picture
using sound was The Jazz Singer"
@. Who were the parents Of Benedict
Arnold?-W @.
A. The father Of Benedict Arnold was
a cooper. He owned several vessels in
the West Indian trade. The family was
of respectable station in England and
emigrated from Dorsetshire. The grand
father served as Governor Of Rhode
Island. Arnolds mother was Hannah
(Waterman) Arnold. She Is described
as woman of exemplary piety and dig
nifty Of character.
@. What is the average frequency Of
tornadoes in the United States?-G. D.
A. The average annual occurrence of
tornadoes In the United States is ap-
proximately 100.
Q. Who invented the cowcatcher on
transit. G. P.
A. The first cowcatcher was designed
by Isaac Dripps and was on the loco
motive called the John Bull which was
built by Stephenson in England. 1t was
attached TO the John Bull which operated
on the Camden and Amboy Railroad
after 1881. The cowcatcher was sup
ported by two wheels.
Evening star., 1941-02-07
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the tOriter, although the use of
a pseudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters NTH
q Die1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1941-02-07

A manufacturer of baseball bats,
quizzed on his capacity for defense
production, doubted the value of his
product. Perhaps he feels that the
best defense against an attack at
home is a string of well-guarded
hoSoc
Evening star., 1941-02-07

Glass poets at the Naval Academy
are complaining bitterly at their pre-
mature graduation and the abolition
OF June week. They can find no COM
pletely satisfactory rhymes for Feb
ruary.