davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-07-02
THIS AND THAT
Bu Charles Z. Trdcetoelt,

or hung in shrub, or even put on top
of the gate or porch.
You can rest assured that the right
birds will find them. They are always
hunting for something with which to
finish their nests, and also something
to add afterwards in an ornamental way.
1t seems that they are very human"
in this respect, that they are never
satisfied, but must perpetually be doing
something to their domicile, or adding
something new to it.
Often the male, but more often the
female, indulges in this natural quirk.
The love of bright colors is often seen
in bird nests. There will be bit of rag
or paper poked in at random. Sometimes
this can be only for sheer ornament,
but more often is simply useful.
y
Birds no longer have access in cities to
horse hair and similar materials. They
make up for it by using the fluff from
the vacuum cleaner bag, or any odds
and ends they find in the yard
Perhaps the oldest of all materials
used in birds nests is a snakeskin.
1t is used by the crested f1ycatcher, If
it possibly can find one.
Sometimes long lengths of the skin are
interviewer and permitted to hang down
from the nest.
The explanation has been, although it
Is never a really satisfactory one, that
the snake is the common enemy Of all
living things, and that its skin will
frighten away most possible intruders on
the nest.
This, at least, is supposed to be the
way the 1ycatcher thinks.
It is said that Wilson, pioneer ornithol
ogist and painter of birds never found
a single fycatcher nest without cast
snakeskin in it.
1t was believed that the birds flew
far and wide to find them, since many
nests carrying them we're found in
districts where few if any snakes existed.
Birds often use paper in the construc-
ton of their nests.
We once saw a thrush in the yard
trying to fly away with large sheet of
PAPER, UuI lIle wac lOO llhSAA
for him, and he had to give it up.
English sparrows are sturdy little birds,
with perhaps more than average bird
determination.
The other day we watched one pick
up with its bill an entire slice of we'll
moistened bread, and fly away with it.
He could not get very high off the
ground, of course, but few a remark
ably straight course for about so feet.
He then settled down, but upon being
surrounded by other sparrows, flew up
again, and just managed to clear the
top of a perennial border, where the
plants grew about 4 feet high.
We have seen a robin fly with half
slice of bread to the roof of the garage.
He would put the bread down, to peck
at it. and as he would do so the slice
would begin to slide down the roof
Then the bird would spear it again,
walking around with it in his bill, after
which he would try to eat it - n with
the same result.
1t finally fell off the roof to the ground,
where the sparrows got it. after all.
You can't get ahead of sparrows
Evening star., 1941-07-02
On Chesapeake Boy

This moment, When the day is put
to rest,
Lies like q benediction on the soul:
Great clouds spread rosy tDtngs
across the West;
Slow, purple painted StDells to
ldndUar6 roll.
Against the skyline rides phantom
ship,
Like some lost spirit from better
land;
SeagullS, on sno,Dy ptntons, Uhtrl
and dip,
And little whispering ,0aueletS kiss
the sand.
Borne far across the waterS, one can
hear
The mufzed ringing OF the harbor
bell;
Voices and laughter, drifting to the
ear, !
SAY to the troubled heart that al
is 1DeH. 4
The healing found along this peace-
tul shore
Cannot be bought nor sold in any
ANNA NJ. PRIESTLEY.
Evening star., 1941-07-02
The Police Inquiry

When officers of the caliber of
Captains Harvey Callahan and Floyd
A. Truscott give public expression
to what might be called a general
indictment of the Police Depart
r1ent, 1t follows almost as a matter
of course that the investigation
which has been started by House
District Subcommittee should be
carried forward until all of the ac-
cusations made by these men-both
those which are express and those
which are implied-have been thor
oughly explored and the indicated
remedial steps taken.
The charges made by Captains CAL
lahan and Truscott reach into vir-
tually every field of police activity.
Outstanding among the specific
complaints are the assertions that
the department is only IS per cent
efficient, and that internal jeal-
ousies and petty rivalries, religious
and fraternal strife, system of de-
partmental undercover investigation
and marked inefficiency on the part
of high-ranking officials have re-
suited in a serious impairment of
morale and effective police work.
Obviously, if these complaints are
well founded, the solution to the
Capitals police problem does not
consist primarily of adding additional
men to the force.
OF particular concern at this
time is Captain Truscott's assertion
that the Detective Bureau is the
weakest link" in the entire depart
ment. If he is correct in this opin-
ion, and his own experience in the
bureau prior to his promotion, to-
gether with the highly unsatisfac-
tory record which the detective
branch has made in investigating
recent serious crimes, lend substance
to it, then it would seem that cor
rective measures might we'll be in
itiated at this point. The detective
bureau, so far as the investigation
of major crimes Is concerned, is the
handspring Of any police depart
ment, and it seems futile to hope
for any real improvement in the
Districts crime picture as long as
Evening star., 1941-07-02
Tells of Experience
With "Criminap Motorist.


To the Editor of The Star:
Every day we read in the newspapers
of hit-and-run accidents, the victims
of such misfortunes ranging from the
son of a Congressman, run over and left
to die on Connecticut avenue some
years ago, to the hundreds Of little
known citizens whose names are quickly
forgotten.
The drivers of these death and de-
struction dealing cars in many, If not
the majority, of cases are not appre-
hended but are left free to roam the
streets.
How can this fragrant disregard of
persons rights exist in a city like ours?
The answer is twofold: 1t is due to
lack of presence of mind and CO.
operation on the part of witnesses to
such overt acts and, secondly, it is due
to lack of cooperation and prompt
action on the part of our police force,
a factor which indirectly contributes
to the first cause.
And why is this? Witness my own
experience in a minor case of hit-and-
run: While driving on Georgia avenue
In Silver Spring, Md, where the width
of the street permits only one lane of
traffic in either direction, car driv-
ing in the north-bound lane suddenly
swerved out of line. The south bound
car Immediately in front of my own,
to avoid a collision, was forced into
the ditch adjoining the road. There
was nothing for me to do but follow the
preceding car, as the driver causing such
action made no attempt to stop or drop
back in line. I was not so fortunate in
escaping injury, however, as the on
coming car was driven into the rear
side of my car before I could move
entirely out of its way.
This accident happened in the early
part of the evening when traffic was
heavy and was witnessed by several
other motorists in both lanes of traffic.
And yet the driver of the car causing
this accident was allowed to proceed
unmolested away from the scene of the
crime for it was crime even if in a
minor way) and not a single person
gave chase.
1t was impossible for me to get the
tag number, and so report was made
to the local police station.
But did the police authorities lend
sympathetic and helpful ear to my
complaint? Their only reaction was to
express their apparent humor at the
suggestion of their trying to offer any
help without the tag number of the car
And this is what has brought me to
writing: Those officers were furnished
with a good general description of the
hit-and-run vehicle, a description
corroborated by witnesses In addition
the car would show, if found, un-
mistakable signs of a collision and
would be minus one headlight. And yet
no action at all was taken
Why could not local lookout have
been sounded for this car?
Perhaps the average citizens expert
Evening star., 1941-07-02
NINTH STREET

"Dear Sir:
your daily feature in The Evening
Star is very interesting and I have
learned much from reading it. I am
especially fond of the chats about birds.
Living in a city block and having
only a medium sized yard. I do not
have the pleasure of studying birds CT
many kinds but do enjoy the feathered
friends who come each day for food
and drink.
"For many years sparrows have lived
in sheltered corner at one side of our
sleeping porch, the nest, too high to be
disturbed, close to a tree where they
meet their friends, and snug and dry
in winter, seems to suit them very well.
Each spring there is much activity
with regular house cleaning and new
furnishing. The peeps of new babies,
the feeding, then teaching them to fly,
are always interesting, but one thing
that surprises me is the frequent re-
building or redecorating of their home.
Frequently one has to sweep up the
bits of string, fuzz and litter dropped
in their operations. This week wee wife
decided to put some color in her boudoir
and there is about q half yard strip of
lovely pink silk woven in and hanging
down from the nest.
1T is a strange sight and has pleased
me so much I am not complaining of
the noisy cheeping and twittering that
wakes one at 5 am. each day Perhaps
I may have at some time put contribu-
ton from my rag bag out with trash for
collection, as some neighbor must have
done.
Really I can't imagine how a tiny
bird could carry such big decoration
up to the nest, but it's there and wee
wife likes 1t.
Sincerely, E. McG."
The English sparrow sometimes builds
nests in trees, but not often; the favorite
place is a corner of a porch, as suggested:
in caves, water spouts, cornices, etc. 1t
is said that nests placed in trees are
covered, but all the nests We ever have
seen have been open.
lllc lltStS dle Ulduc VI II dooto, WONcii
with other materials, including string
and cloth, loosely but cleverly put
together. They are lined with feathers.
From four to seven eggs are laid at least
twice season, beginning in February
and sometimes three, four or five broods
are raised. The theoretical yearly out
put for each mother sparrow would be
IS young sparrows, but of this number
several would be defective.
Many species of birds like to add bits
of color to their nests for sheer orna-
mental purposes.
Yet scarlet tanager, nesting within
easy sight of one local resident, turned
down bits of brown and red string,
and used white string only.
1t is best to cut soft cord or wool
to length of not more than inches, If
put out for the birds at nesting time.
Longer lengths endanger birds.
This is an interesting help to the
nesters. The bits of wool and other
material can be placed over a branch,
Evening star., 1941-07-02

O. Did the Government ever receive
the bequeSt that was left to the United
States by Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes2
C. H.
A. The Government has received
under the will and deposited in the
Treasury TO the credit of the account
Donations to the United States. bequest
of Oliver Wendell Holmes" the total
amount of 1929 37201. In addition 1t has
accepted as residuary legatee under the
will, the residence Of the late Justice
Holmes at 1720 I street NV, Washing
ton, D. c.
@. Where was the mother of Winston
Churchill born?-E. NJ. A.
A. She was native of Rochester, N. Y.
@. What is the Livingston Trout
Derby?-O. o. T.
A. The Livingston, Mont, Chamber Of
Commerce will give prize of $1,000 to
the fisherman who catches the biggest
trout in the Yellowstone River on August
3, 1941.
@. How many millionaires are there
| in New Jersey?-T. G.
A. According to recent publication
/ of Boyd's City Dispatch. there are IN
New Jersey 571 persons worth s1.00o,00o
or more.
@. What are Complementary colors?
e. U.
A. Complementary colors are those
/ i,, tiOt1 rrOIIIco uy1ita
light: Red and green, orange and blue,
violet and yellow are complementary.
@. Does an electric fan lower the
temperature?-H. H. M.
A. Electric fans do not lower the
temperature, nor do they drive out the
warm air. They simply cause the air
to circulate which gives a sensation of
GOODNESS by increasing the rate of evapo-
ration of moisture from the body.
O. What is the most important manu-
featuring product of Puerto Rico?-W. J.
A. 1t is the hand-embroidery or needle
work industry. Shipments of embroid-
cred goods are valued at between
sll 900 900 and s12O0O0O0 annually.
@. Who was the first baseball player
to wear glove?-G. M. r.
A. The first glove ever worn by ball
player was introduced by Allison,
Cincinnati catcher, in 1869. He had
injured the palm of his left hand. AS
the team had no substitute catcher,
Allison took an ordinary glove, cut off the
fingers and used it.
@. How many revolutions per minute
does an airplane motor make?-J. E. P.
A. The Army Air Corps says that the
average cruising revolutions per minute
for an airplane engine are about 1850.
The number of revolutions depend upon
the type of airplane.
Evening star., 1941-07-02
spiral which leads to disastrous in

spiral which leads to disastrous in
flation.
In publicly recognizing the exist
ence of these factors, If he does not
exactly meet them head on, Mr..
Henderson is getting down to cases
in this exceedingly complicated busi-
ness Of price control. In effect, he
is saying that the problem must be
tackled in its entirety or left alone.
and the latter is an alternative
which, in the light of all experience,
clearly is highroad to ruin.
Evening star., 1941-07-02
Secretary Knox's Speech

The assertion by Secretary of the
Navy Knox of his belief that the
United States Navy should be sent
into action Immediately Ito clear
the Atlantic of the German menace"
should be appraised against the
background of the struggle for the
support of public opinion being
waged between the advocates and
the opponents of more active par
ticipation by this country in the
worldwide conflict now approach
ing its decisive stage.
In all but express words, the Sec
retary of the Navy has called for a
war to the end against the Nazis.
Certainly he did not intend to sug-
gest that the Navy could make a
brief foray into the Atlantic while
Hitler is engaged with Russia, and
then, after cleaning-up operation,
withdraw from the conflict. Nor is
it likely that he would advance such
far-reaching proposal without the
knowledge of the President.
If that assumption be correct-and
nothing in the Presidents remarks
at his press conference yesterday
can be regarded as a refutation of
1.-THE only reasonable conclusion is
that the Secretary of the Navy has
submitted to the people for their
consideration definite and official
proposal that the United States take
action which would amount to war
with Germany. In support of his
proposal he advanced two principal
contentions-first, that the war Is
being and will be lost by Britain un-
less the Atlantic crossing is made
safe by our naval forces, and, Sec
ond, that the German clash with
Russia affords us an unparalleled
opportunity to take such action.
BY making this definite and con-
crete proposal, Secretary Knox has
opened the way to a reply by the
opposition, and to full and open
discussion of a momentous issue
which should result finally in a
crystallZation of public opinion for
or against the course he has advo-
Gated.
That fits into the pattern of what
has seemed to be the administra-
tion's strategy since the beginning
of the War-to encourage the fullest
public discussion of important is
sues and to be guided in the last
analysis by the degree of public sup
port which manifests itself for a
particular course of action.
If it be true that the Secretary
of the Navy, with the approval Of
the President, is seeking once again
to elicit an expression of public
sentiment on most vital issue, it is
difficult indeed to grasp the logic
of the demand that he should be
removed from office. On the con-
trary, it would seem that he is de-
serving of commentator for sub
mitting his case in the traditional
democratic fashion and without fear
that the unpopularity of war in the
abstract will blind the people to the
realistic aspects of the decision they
must make.
Evening star., 1941-07-02
Down to Cases

Leon HenderSon's candid acknowl-
edgment that there can be no effec-
tive price control without a parallel
control of cost factors such as wages,
transportation, interest rates and
raw materials may well mark an
important turn for the better in an
extremely dangerous trend.
There has been a great deal of
side-stepping and beating around
the bush in this vital matter of
price control. While Mr.. Hender-
son, lacking powers that he ought
to have, has sought to clamp the
lid on a few prices here and there,
the factors which inevitably make
for higher and higher prices have
been allowed to run unchecked.
The administration has condoned
If it has not actually encouraged la
bor'S demand for higher wages-a
demand which has not yet been sat-
isfied. But higher wages, particu-
larly when coupled with a refusal
to siphon of part of the resulting
increase in purchasing power through
a broadened tax base, tend mex
orably to drive prices up. And so,
too, with food and raw materials.
Congress, over the objections of the
administration, has enacted costly
legislation designed to fix the price
of basic farm commodities at high
and purely arbitrary level. And now
bill has been offered in the Senate
prohibiting the imposition of maxi
mum prices on basic farm commodi-
ties. Such policies as these can only
result in giving impetus to the price
Evening star., 1941-07-02

there Is toleration Of the conditions
which Captain TruScott describes,
assuming that they actually exist.
1t is necessary, of course, to re-
member that Captains Callahan and
Truscott have appeared in the role
of accusers. Their charges have not
been proved and the police officers
against whom they have been di-
rected have not yet had opportunity
to answer them or to make such ex-
plantations as may be appropriate.
The fact remains, however, that the
charges have been made by respon-
sible men who are in position to
know whereof they speak, and the in
terests of the community require
that the subcommittee pursue it's
investigation with all possible dill
gence.
Evening star., 1941-07-02

ence with local police stations in such
cases is the same as my own. The police
all but asked me- so WHAT"
In my case, I sustained no injury to
my person and comparatively slight
damage to my car. But at the time that
this is written there drives on the
streets of Washington and its suburbs
a ruthless drunken, insane, or other
wise incompetent driver who has proven
that he is a menace to law-abiding
citizens. He has committed a crime and
gotten away with it. In similar
situation, he will attempt to do again
just what he did before. Next time he
may leave his victim bleeding in the
street, possibly to die.
Should We wait until then to attempt
to corner this criminal?
An officer of the law is the servant of
any and all private citizens and as such
he should offer every possible aid to
any person who attempts to protect his
rights as a law-abiding citizen. If our
police force will show the proper respect
to those persons coming to them for
aid and with useful information, their
job will be made easier and our COM
munity will be better place in which
to live. JUDSON o. HARRISON, Jr.
Evening star., 1941-07-02
Minsk-und Beyond

The RuSSo-German conflict is pre-
eminently what military men term
a war of movement" Russias vast
plains, sun-baked at this season,
make ideal terrain for motorized
warfare. Both sides are heavily
mechanical and are using this abun-
dant materiel with almost reckless
abandon. That means swift attacks
and counterattackS covering large
areas and changing the tactical pic
ture almost from hour to hour
While the present situation is hard
to evaluate, there are indications
that the Germans have made a wide
of the main Russian defense line.
Military experts have, from the start,
stressed Minsk as key point. The
German success is underscored by
the seemingly established fact that
the German drive came from at least
two directions-one southeastward
1lOlll IdSU L uoSld iiIIOusIl Villa Ill
Lithuania, the other northeastward
from Brest-Litovsk, skirting the Pri-
pet marshes. These two drives, ef-
fected largely by tanks and motor
lied infantry, converged at MinSk,
and the combined forces are report
edly far beyond that city near Smo-
lensk, halfway to Moscow.
Once through the depth-defenSes
of the Stain line around Minsk,
there are no natural obstacles be-
tween the invaders and the Soviet
capital. They are following one of
RuSsia's few good motor roads, plus
a main railway line. There are no
wide rivers to cross, nor any extern
Sive tracts of marsh or forest. Un-
less unreasonable rains occur, motor
transport should be able to operate
across country almost as we'll as by
road.
Although these territorial gains
cannot be consolidated until the ar
rival of infantry masses, the fact
that motor columns may be cut off
from their bases does not vitally
endanger them. The campaign of
France last year showed that Ger
man panzer units could operate sue
ceSsfully even when their communi-
cations had been entirely severed.
While the break-through at MinSk
seems to be the chief German sue
cess thus far, the second main drive
south of the Pripet marshes appears
likewise to be getting well under way.
Hungarys entrance into the war ex-
posed the southern flank of the Rus
sian salient jutting westward as far
as Przemysl. The Russians admit
that they have evacuated that entire
salient, past the important city of
LwoW or Lemberg. Here, however,
there has been no break-through by
the Germans, who report heavy con-
centrationS of Russian elite troops
that have put up an especially stub
born resistance. The Russians seem
to have expected the main German
drive to come here, so as to get to
the Ukraine as soon as possible. Time
alone can tell whether the Germans
may swing their heaviest attack here,
after all. Such a move, if success
full, would imperil vast Russian forces
operating with considerable success
against the combined German and
Rumanian armies from Bessarabia
to the Black Sea.
Such is the general picture at
this hour, with fighting getting heav-
ier in the Baltic region and along
the Finnish fronts. The Germans
and their allies seem to have the
initiative almost everywhere. But
Russian resistance is tenacious and
Russian morale remains high. The
titanic struggle has thus not yet
reached its climactic stage.
Evening star., 1941-07-02
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Driter, although the use OF
q pSeudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters l0ith
q DieD to condensation.
Evening star., 1941-07-02

states, historical or otherwise. Con-
f1rming this, the German government
in 1899 and 1910 even repatriated all
persons of German nationality from
Latvia. DIR. ALFRED BILMANIS,
LAtvtan Minister.