davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-02-13
School Deficiencies

There is little likelihood that the
Commissioners or the Budget Bureau
will give their approval to the de-
f1ciency requests of the Board of
Education for more than a million
dollars to build six new schools in
the notwithstanding area, or to
the other supplementary appropria-
tionS which the board may ask for
more teachers and other buildings.
While the need for such appropria-
tionS can be amply demonstrated,
the inability of the District to meet
such bill under current revenues
is equally obvious. Items in the 1941
budget obligate present revenues,
and if balanced budget is to be
maintained, changes in the 1912
estimates could only be made at the
expense of other items now in the
measure.
The school officials, on the other
hand, are correct in pointing out the
complex problem represented in the
provision of school facilities, white
and colored, which should accompany
completion this fall of from five to
six thousand new family housing
units in the eastern area. Their de-
sire to reduce teacher loads, which
have increased to the point where
one colored junior high school
mathematics teacher has sixty-seven
pupils, is understandable. Superin-
tendent Frank w Ballou virtually
answered the question of the de-
ficiency appropriations himself when
he told citizens a few days ago they
could expect no greater appropria-
tions for the schools until the amount
of the District budget is increased.
He might we'll have added, or until
the Federal Government agrees to a
more equitable participation in Cap
ital expenses.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
Monsiunor Thomas

The good Bishop Myriel of Victor
Hugos Lies Miserables," it will be
remembered, was called Monsignor
Welcome because of the love which
the worshipers in his diocese knew
that he entertained for them. HE
entered all hearts" and was "the
treasurer of all charity and the
cashier of all distress" Considerable
sums of money passed through his
hands, yet it is recorded that he
rarely had a centime to regard as
his own. The motive of his career
may be found in his appeal: "Breth-
rem, have pity; see how people suffer
around you!" In his teaching, his
biographer, the great French novelist,
reports, "he told the best
truths, which are the simplest" The
essential doctrine to which he was
devoted was summarized in the in
Evening star., 1941-02-13

junction: pray, believe, enter into
life! The Father is there!" Such
was the faith of the saint who
redeemed Jean Vatican, released
with yellow passport after nineteen
years in prison. His candlesticks
were the price of the convict's soul.
But the kindly old priest, who fol-
lowed Solomon in thinking of God
as Mercy, rejoiced to pay it.
So, too, Monsignor Cornelius F.
Thomas, beloved pastor of Saint
Patrick's during nearly a quarter
century, gave of himself. Born in
Baltimore in 1858, ordained at twen-
ty-four, successfully secretary to
James Cardinal Gibbons, chancellor
of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, pas
tor of Saint AIMS in Baltimore, a
domestic prelate to the Pope, serving
a ministry of fifty-eight years, he
died without a penny of personal
estate. Perhaps it was because he
was an earnest scholar, skilled in
learning, and a profound churchman,
deeply imbued in the philosophy of
religion, that he was notably tender
shepherd of his flock. His genius as
an administrator also may have been
related to the need for practical
solutions for the problems of the
poor. Be the explanation as it may,
his devotion to things religious was
complete. The same observation
should be made with reference to
his affection for those who most
required what he had to give. Even
when his health had failed and he
no longer could sustain the full
burden of his work, he was to be
seen in the sanctuary which his
labors had contributed to make addi-
tionally holy.
Rest is granted to men like Mon
signor Thomas and his prototype in
HugoS celebrated book, but they are
not forgotten by the children of their
church whose spiritual hunger they
have fed.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
Krivitsky Mystery

Samuel GinSberg, dying IN a local
hotel from a bullet wound in the
head, supplied investigating authori-
ties with a mystery as intriguing
as any he may have dealt with while
serving Soviet Russia in the role Of
General Walter Krivitsky," chief of
military intelligence for Western
Europe. Born in the Russian Ukraine
some forty-one years ago, according
to his testimony before the Dies
Committee, Ginsberg changed his
name to Krivitsky for revolutionary
purposes in 1919 He told the COM
mittee he had been a secret agent
for the Reds until 1887, when he
broke with Stain over the army
purge and left Russia. After that he
had remained in obscurity, fearing
for his life. Always, he indicated, he
had kept just Jump or two ahead of
would-be assasSins.
Despite this threat of death that,
he declared, hung over him wherever
he went, Krivitsky suddenly came
out of hiding in the fall of 1939 He
sold to a national magazine a series
of sensational articles purporting to
reveal the innermost workings of the
Russian secret police-the Ogpu-
and followed this up by appearing as
a surprise" witness before the Dies
Committee. He gave voluminouS
testimony regarding Communist &C
tivities in Europe and the United
States. Thereupon Krivitsky again
disappeared from the public eye.
Late Sunday afternoon he regis
tered at a hotel near Union Station,
signing the name Walter Poret."
No visitors were seen to enter the
room. The next morning a maid
discovered the body on a bed, with
pistol lying on the covers nearby. A
single bullet had passed through the
head and lodged in a wall Samuel
Ginsberg's dangerous career had
come to a violent end-aS he had pre-
dicted it would. Police found three
notes which indicated that the vio-
lence was self-inflicted, not the
handiWork of mortal enemies. The
notes, police expert declared, were
in the victims handwriting Police
now write the case off as a suicide, but
some of the dead mans friends insist
that it is murder-murder of fiend-
ishly clever type. There is some sup
port for the murder theory in the
amazing background of the unusual
case, despite the circumstantial evi-
dence to the contrary. And to prove
suicide is not to solve completely the
mystery of Krivitsky's death. Un-
less and until it is known what fears
were preying upon the mind of this
shadowy international figure, what
possible threats were hanging over
his head, the Krivitsky tragedy will
remain puzzle to many persons.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
Explains Purposes
of Rescue Ship Mission.
To the Editor OF The Star:

~ lHc EuIlOA VA Ahc CleA'
1t is difficult to condone or to justify
the malicious campaign against the
American Rescue Ship Mission which
certain individuals. aided by certain
newspapers, are waging.
The mission has only one endeavor
and one task: To bring the Spanish
Republican refugees. the worlds first
brave fighters against Fascism, from
misery in French concentration camps
to the haven gladly offered them by the
Latin American republics. That this
haven may become a reality the mission
has secured a ship which will carry
on each trip 450 refugees, all chosen by
the Mexican government.
The mission is administered by the
United American Spanish Aid Com
mittee, which vigorously has protested
against the shameful treatment meted
out to the Spanish refugees by the
French government. These protests
have been deprecated by Herman F.
Reissig chairman Of a committee called
the Spanish Refugee Relief Campaign, +,
who believed that the French govern
ment should be appeased in its concen-
tration camp program for the Spanish
refugees. The tragic history of France
in these latter months has proved only
too clearly that the very elements in
the French government which perse-
cuted the Spanish refugees have also
consistently conspired with the Nazis
to betray France
The cause of liberty is not lost in the
world while there are brave men and
women to fight for it. The lives of the
bravest anti-Fascists are at stake in
France. Americans who cherish all that
American stands for can help to save
them.
Are those who level attacks against
the rescue ship complacently willing to
condemn the Spanish Republicans to
their death? None of the attackers has
brought forth a concrete program for
saving their lives
The Washington Chapter of the
American Rescue Ship Mission, Room
210, 1920 New York avenue NV, urges
the cooperation of all those who feel,
as we do. that the Spanish Republicans
must be saved. They have fought for
democracy, let us bring them to our
sister republics, where their lives may
continue to be dedicated to the ideals
which Americans hold dear.
MARIE COLEMAN,
Secretary, Washington Chapter, Ameri-
can Rescue Ship Mission.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
Lists What Lease Lend Bill
Does and Does Not Do.

To the Editor of The Star:
Incomprehensible as it is, there are
leaders in Congress and throughout our
country who will not face reality but
are seeking to confuse the American
people regarding the terms of the lease
lend bill; to delay and defeat it.
Some of these "appeasers' doubtless
are tools of those who are financially
interested in a German victory. How
ever, those blinded by avarice are pro-
verbally short-sighted; the almighty
dollar" sign obstructs their view of the
just fate which. in the end, befalls those
who live for self-interest alone, caring
little or nothing for humanity, country,
or God. This Is bald statement of
fact which many sincere persons do not
suspect. 1t is high time that We both
see and act quickly for the present
world drama is moving swiftly!
The lease-lend bill does not give
the President power to send American
ships into war zones. convoy shipping
with American warships. declare war,
send American troops to Europe, seize
foreign ships in our ports, write check
for any amount he wants to spend, i'm
pose a censorship, restrict freedom of
speech, restrict freedom OF assembly,
suspend hsbeas corpus, seize property,
conscript labor.
The lease-lend bill will aid Britain
more speedily and efficiently with war
materials, assure the British of war
materials from us when their money
runs out, permit repayment in kind or
in property vast international payments
cannot be made in money!, give the
United States more effective control over
deliveries of war materials, permit greater
Standardization of all war materiel and
therefore greater production, permit re-
pair of British warships in our ports,
thus giving greater assurance of con-
tinued British control of the Atlantic
under all contingencies.
When will mans cruelty to man" be
ended? Not under Hitler-of that we
may be sure. Then, let us unite now
with the only free and enlightened
people who have anything to fight with.
urge those who share my point of view
to write their Senators urging that the
lease-lend bill be passed without more.
delay. 1t is duty which our traditions,
received from the founding fathers, re-
quire of us and what we should be proud
and quick to give.
MRS. SIDNEY A. SHERMAN,
Lincoln, r. I.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.

Dear Sir:
IT would like to report that I heard
yesterday, February 2, the first spring
call of cardinal-he said Rite h-e-r-e,
Bert, Bert, Bert.
Isn't this very early?
"An old Negro farmer, friend Of mine,
sets great store by the cardinal as a
weather prognosticator; he claims when
there is change of weather the cardinal
warns weather, weather, weather, tut,
tut tut
Says rains follow the birds warning
and he does not go forth to cut his
grain that day.
Thank you for identifying the downy
woodpecker.
Very truly yours, L. K. W."
COLUMBIA ROAD.
Dear Sir:
Come down to Columbia road some
morning just at day break and hear our
cardinal
He could not wait for February to
arrive, but has been singing since early
in January, three weeks at least.
I'VE heard him one morning before
daylight with his cheer, cheer, cheer,
weak to be sure, but there was no mis-
take about it.
There he was high up in tree near
our apartment window. A few days later
there was sleet and snow, but he was on
hand and his song stronger and sweeter
Nov he has given us his complete
repertoire of songs, of which our favorite
is his pretty birdie, birdie, birdie, come
ere, come ere, come ere
Does a city bird know more about
the feel of spring in the air than his
country cousins?
"A delightful compensation for an
apartment house dweller in contrast
with a surburbanite who has eight pairs
of cardinals in his yard
Before moving to this vicinity we had
pair of cardinals so tanned that they
came to our bedroom window sill each
morning for peanuts, some times as early
as 4 o'clock.
They would stand outside the screen
and call click, click
Il did not get up to feed them at 4
am however.
They became very friendly and would
come down on the porch almost at my
feet for peanuts.
The male always fed the female first
if she were there. If she were not there
he would call her. Later they brought
their two youngsters to share in their
find.
They, too, became quite tame and
would appear from nowhere every time
one of us stepped out of the house.
Very truly yours, D. M. D.,
The cardinals real spring song has not
resounded beneath the oaks of Chevy
Chase yet, at least not in the hearing
of the writer.
Some time this month, though, we will
hear it. fresh and clear.
There was an old male up in the next
block.
Evening star., 1941-02-13

ranging from roof spoilers and cour-
iers to first-aid crews.
While camping and hiking activi-
ties remain fundamentals of Scout
ing because of the training in self
reliance developed by such a pro-
gram, American Scouts ceased many
years ago merely playing at being
woodsmen. They have learned to
take their place as citizens, and their
assistance is sought, because of their
training, for all types of public
events. They are learning the les
sons of active, responsible citizen
ship. And their numbers are limited
only by the dearth of volunteer
leaders.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
Boy Scout Week

Throughout the Nation nearly
two million men and boys this week
are celebrating Boy Scout Week, the
annual observance of the founding
of the Boy Scouts of America on Feb
ruary 8, 1910. This year the ami
versary has a special significance,
since the national program for the
coming year is to be based on the
general theme: Strengthening and
Invigorating Democracy"
DR.. James E. West, chief Scout eX-
ecutive, explains the theme in a
message to leaders: 1T is the respon-
sibility of every one identified with
Scouting in normal times, and espe-
cially in a period of emergency, to
be alert and vigilant to meet every
opportunity for service, not only be-
cause of the obligation, but because
of the special training which the
program gives to boys and the de-
velopment of the qualities of leader
ship on the part of older boys"
These boys, and the men who lead
them, already have made plans for
carrying out this program. Older
boys who have had special training
in first aid, public health, life saving
and water safety, signaling, radio
and similar fields have been organ
lied into emergency service groups in
all communities, prepared to CO.
operate in any emergency with Off
cials and such organizations as the
Red Cross. This plan is based on the
experience of British Scouts, who are
rendering service in many capacities,
Evening star., 1941-02-13
THIS AND THAT
Bp Charles Z. Trdce11eH.

He sat on branch of a fir about
feet from the ground
He sang every February Is.
We do not go up that way any more,
so must hear some other bird this year.
Male cardinals seem much more
amiable in 194l than they did in 1910.
Is this in revulsion against the wars
of human males, or is 1t some sort Of
sign that the world will get better soon?
1t is about time.
In past years no male cardinal in our
yard would permit more than one more
male cardinal to eat at the same time
If third male appeared, as hungry
as they were, the first two would drive
him away either singularly or in combi-
nation.
This year as many as eight males have
eaten at one feeding place at the same
time. AS many as five grouped them
selves within few feet of each other
on the Van Fleet rose vine on the fence
This peacefulness of birds, which at no
time are really belligerent, makes a very
fetching picture. 1t probably shows
exactly nothing at all Birds are not
such automatons as sometimes we think
They act one way in one yard and
another way in another They stick to
their traditions, yet within them they
are individualists
About the only thing in the cardinals
spring song which most listeners trans
late in the same way is the cheer, cheer,
cheer"
Yet the above correspondents give it
as come ere" and Bert, Bert, Bert"
and tut, tut, tut" about as wide lati-
tude of sound as could be imagined
1t all goes to show that bird sounds
and human words especially English
words-are not exactly the same thing.
1t is, of course, impossible to translate
a high-pitched bird note by English
word-sounds.
Every human voice is contralto, COM
pared with the shrill notes of the bird
voice-any birds voice.
This will never keep people from trying
to give their ideas Of what bird says
to them.
Interest in the birds for most of us,
is an emotional experience, like music.
Let us not be ashamed of this. 1t means
that we still have hearts as well as minds.
We are more interested in conserving
than in killing.
What bird seems to say, as we listen,
depends largely upon our state of mind
and heart.
The fact that the bird really says"
nothing at all, and especially that it
can't speak in English, ought to be mani
fest, but once we put our own interpre-
tation upon it it becomes fixed forever.
Men will fight for their hearths, it is
said, and they also will do battle for
their own Interpretation Of the bird songs
they hear. Don't we know!
The song, after all, is not the i'm
portant thing, from the human stand
point; the important thing is the hearing
Evening star., 1941-02-13

@. Does the large ball on the state,
War and Navy Building still drop as
noon?-K. J. S.
A. The time ball service at the State
Department Building was discontinued
about two years ago and the ball has
been dismantled
@. What are the principal breeds Of
dairy COWS in the United States?-E.
K.R.
A. They are as follows: Ayrshire.
Brown Swiss, Guernsey, Holstein and
Jersey.
O. What is the legend of the Song OF
India?"-R. c. S.
A. The Song of India" is from the
opera "Sadko" Rimsky- -Korsakof used
the legend of the Russian god of music
who, having been thrown overheard,
went to live in the depths Of the sea,
where he charmed all with his music,
and finally won for his bride the sea
kings daughter.
@. Why do turkeys and chickens have
white meat on the breasts and dark
meat on the legs and thighs?-S. w. G.
A. The Bureau of Poultry Husbandry
says that the legs and thighs of chickens
and turkeys have dark meat because ths
muscles Of the legs are used much more
than those Of the breasts and wings The
legs also have a larger supply of blood
and contain more fat and connective
tissues than do the breasts and wings.
@. What was the real name Of Villa
the Mexican bandit and revolutionist7-
J. B. S.
A. His real name was Doroteo Arrange,
the name Villa being assumed after
he became involved in the Madero revo-
luton.
O. What became of the Civil Works
Administration?-J.J J. D.
A. The Civil Works Administration,
which began functioning about Decem-
Der, 1888, was abandoned In the spring
Of 1884, when its responsibility was taken
over by the Federal Emergency Relief
Administration.
@. What is meant by q Monaghan
idiot?-J. H.
A. Mongolian or mongoloid idiocy 10 O
type in which the person has abnormaliy
short thumbs and little fingers, O fat
skull and slanting eyes similar 10 those
Of the Mongolians.
Evening star., 1941-02-13
Singapore Prepares

There is a truly OmlnouS nOte IN
the words of Sir Shenton Thomas,
Governor of the Straits Settlements
and High Commissioner for Malaga,
- who, speaking recently before the
Malayan Federal Council, said that
possibly before its next meeting
the battle will have begun which
will decide our fate and our lives IN
this country"
British Malaga is the dubious tip
of the long, narrow peninsula most
of which belongs to Thailand, for
merlv Siam, the half-modernized ORR
entail state that has been attacking
French Indo-China and which seems
to be in secret understanding with
Japan. Though relatively small in
size. British Malaga is OF tremendous
Importance. It's incalculable wealth
in tin, rubber and other tropical
products makes Singapore, its capi-
tai, the metropolis of Southeast Asia.
And Singapore, with its mighty for
tifcations, it's firSt-claSs naval base,
and its large garrison of crack Brit
ish, AuStraIasian and Indian troops,
is the vital bulWark not merely OF
British but of all Western holdings IN
the Far East. We're Singapore to
fall into Japanese hands, both the
Dutch Indies and the Philippines
would be in jeopardy, while Australia
and New Zealand would be danger
ously isolated. The mastery of the
entire Western Pacific, so ardently
desired by the avid imperialists who
now rule Japan, would be in sight.
British imperial strategy has not
been unmindful of the growing
threat to this vital link in its Far
Eastern defenses. Despite the Ger
man peril to Britain itself and the
strain of major campaign fought
against the Italians in Africa, Singa-
pores defenSeS have been notably
augmented in recent months, eS-
pecially the air force, which is now
estimated to be fully 700 planes.
During the past week, strong air
and ground units have been con-
centrated on the Thailand border as
a precautionary measure against
japanese naval and military moves
in nearby Indo-China and even off
the coasts Of Thailand itself.
British sources in the Far East
express deep concern over the out
come of the peace negotiations now
being held at Toxic between dele
gates of Thailand and French Indo-
China. It is foregone conclusion
that this conference, dominated by
Japan, will favor Thailand, and fears
are voiced that Japan's honest
brokerage" may spell virtual pro-
tectorates over both participants.
Therefore Singapore is girding it
self for trouble, in close understand
ing with its Dutch neighborS, while
still other Anglo-Indian forces are
being concentrated in Burma, on
ThailandS western frontier. In the
last analysis, these are heartening
signs that, here as elsewhere, the
British are in a fighting mood To
cite the closing words of Sir Shenton
Thomas address, already mentioned:
Il do not know how far we may be
involved, but it is our duty to stand
shoulder to shoulder and face the
future calmly, similar to those in
Britain and Libya who, despite over
whelming odds, have their faces
resolutely set toward victory"