davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-12-19

cause with their blood, Of course,
also includes Joyce Kilmer, whose
Trees" is one of the best-loved songs
Of modern times and whose career
would have yielded still greater
achievements had 1t not closed in the
fighting above the Ourcq, July 80,
1918. Others who paid with their
lives for their faith and their hope
were: Edward Thomas, who left
many works that booklovers delight
to treasure, and Maitland Hardy
man, who left only twenty pages of
gracious and unforgettable frag-
mentS.
John Magee was too young to have
produced any considerable quantity
of verse, but of the quality of his
achievement there can be little ques-
tion. Perhaps it is not too much
to say that no senior poet living
could have done a finer thing than
the lines:
Up, up the long delirious, burn
ing blue
I've topped the wind-swept
heights with easy grace
Where never lark, or even eagle
flew
And while with silent lifting
mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity
Of space,
Put out my hand and touched
the face of God
Evening star., 1941-12-19
THIS. AND THAT
By Charles z. TrncetUell.

shocks and pulls Of war. Angels and
birds, we feel, both represent ideals of
freedom and happiness, the very things
for which We are fighting.
Another good way to be kind to the
birds is to get coconut shell and fill it
with either ground or melted suet in
which sunfower seeds have been sprin-
kled
The shell has to be cut out. The best
way is not to cut 1t in two and Just use
one half. like bowl, but to cut wedge
shaped opening along the side.
This will leave a sort of canopy over
the bottom half. Care must be taken so
that the opening is wide enough SO that
the birds can get at the mixture easily.
1t never must be forgotten that squirrels
sections. While some persons profess
not to welcome the squirrels, We always
have found them to be great entertainers,
and believe that they should be received
gladly for the great Joy of life which
they bring. While the awful Joy of
slaughter runs around the world, drag
ging us all in, it is well to keep in mind
as long as we can the pure joy of life
which is represented by little children,
squirrels and birds. OF the three, it is
difficult to say which group exemplifies
it most, but certainly the gray squirrels
abounding in and around Washington
are no sloucheS, as the saying has it.
They friSk and cavort and will soon find
q coconut shell which has been sus-
pended from bough or a gate or arch
Such feeder shells should be suspended
by wire, since squirrels will bite through
a cord, even the strongest. If it is hung
so that these animals will have some
difficulty in getting into it, it will afford
them a chance to display their super
gymnastics. Of all animal athletes, none
can surpass the ordinary squirrel. He is
something Of a monkey, too, often look
ing around to see If his antics are appre-
ciated.
The ashes left over from burned
leaves, and even from coal, should be
made available for the birds.
All birds need grit to help handle food
in their crops.
Ashes contain such grit, besides min
eral elements which the birds need.
Patches of ashes where leaves have
been burned always attract the birds.
We watched the songsters come, one
after the other, to such a place the
other day They few down, walked
around, pecked away, and then flew out
returning time after time.
1t is probable that they may find all
sorts of essential elements in such an
ash pile. Ashes are excellent fertilizer
for flower beds and borders. If used in
this way, ashes also will serve the needs
OF the birds in the winter garden. 1t
would be a good thing to spread a layer
Of ashes beneath several well-placed
shrubs not too far from the feeding sta
tions. so that the songsters may have
] access to 1t all winter long.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Utilities Commission

The nomination for appointment
to the Public Utilities Commission OF
James H. Flanagan, supervising an
alyst of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, finally completes the
membership of an important local
regulatory group that has been
handicapped by personnel vacancies
for more than year. Mr.. Flanagan,
who has had considerable experience
In the utility field, will succeed the
late Riley E. Elgen. Mr. Elgen's
death last February left the COM
mission with only one member,
the Engineer Commissioner. Since
there was no quorum, the commits
SION was unable to function until
q few weeks ago, when Gregory
Hankin took over the post vacated
By Richmond B. Keech, who had
resigned to become corporation
counsel.
It IL essential that the commission
b maintained at full strength in
order to keep abreast of the constant
and ever-increasing accumulation of
public utility problems in this grow
ing city. At present the commission
Is confronted with a number of
tasks, including a permanent decl-
sion as to taxicab zones and rates,
consideration of proposed gas
company stock issue, a study OF the
advisability of substituting natural
gas for the manufactured product,
approval of express bus extensions
and similar proposals. Many other
problems are bound to arise as
Washington's utilities feel the strain
OF the emergency. 1t is reassuring,
therefore, that the President has
filled the last remaining vacancy on
the commission and thus paved the
way for 1t to operate at top efficiency
at this critical time.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Spirit of Brooklyn

Even without the added burden OF
war, the North Pole has always been
rather inaccessible. Hence, 1t has
been the custom of the Post Oft1ce not
to try to deliver letters addressed to
Santa Claus, but to hold them Tor
welfare organizations which pinch
hit for the whiskered saint and see
that the children who wrote the
letters get Christmas cheer. Many
of these epistles are quite touching,
being penned in spirit Of hopeless
resignation and a feeling that only
a miraculous long shot could produce
results.
OF different character is the let
ter from young Mike Of Brooklyn. 1t
could almost have come from the pen
of Hitler himself. Santa was given
list Of minimum requirements, and
in conclusion was served with this
ultimatum-"You better bring all this
stuff or I'll beat you to a pulp"
While somewhat deficient in di-
plomacy, the letter shows that there
is at least one part OF the country
that can take it on the chin and then
get hard. Chicago had better look
to its fading laurelS Barely more
than two months ago Brooklyn was
invaded by the New York Yankees
and shattered In the carnage Of Eb-
belts Field. Now she rises from her
ashes, and through the medium Of
one Of her youngest spirits, u ready
aaatn 70 dish + out.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Aqe of SeIectees

The Senate has shown its realistic
appreciation Of the gravity Of the
present crisis by voting almost
unanimously to lower the draft age
for potential combat service to nine
teen. In sharp contrast, the House,
in effect, has turned it's back on one OF
the important lessons already learned
from World War u-that the strain OF
modern "blitz" warfare Is such that
the younger fighting men have dis
tinct advantage over their older
colleagues when the crucial test
comes. As Secretary stimson said
yesterday, war today y = young
mans game; a grim and dangerous
came, indeed, but one which muss
Evening star., 1941-12-19
All Thy Works

Here by the sea are Donders, great
and small:
My eyes mount upDard tDith the
giant pine
And see it brush the blue that
arches all;
Beneath my feet, a little struggling
zine
Essays to groU phere dazzling SUM-
rays fall ~.
And sparkling CLEANS reflected
from the sea;
Under its shadoU, tiny SandVornlS
crdl1l:
And all Thy iDorks, oh, God, are
dear to Thee
The Weak AUes underfoot, the
shining tree.
Now let my heart lie open. Let Thy
Be spoken In the ,oirads I loue so
UeH,
In hollo,D crying of the toild sea bird
And In the murnlur OF the Daue-
iDorn shell,
In uoiceless music by the ear un-
heard.
AS cons folU and changeful years
90 by,
The loplest form that In the slime
has stirred
Shall rise transfgured, mount on
lDings that fly
And flash one starry moment IN
the sky
INEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1941-12-19

II you have a wire suet feeder for
the birds, be sure that it is painted or
covered with paraf1n.
Either OF these coverings protects the
birds eyes from the cold wires in winter.
This is a detail overlooked by many
earnest persons who try to do their best
for bird life in the cold.
They get . wire soap container. or .
small wire basket, fill it with suet, and
hang 1t in tree or shrub.
They forget the old legend about what
happened to the tongue of the small boy
when he was cared by his comrades to
touch it to the cold metal pump handle.
A birds eye is warm.
When it is pressed against q frozen
wire, 1t is very likely to pull of the mem
brane when the bird wtthdraws its bill
from the suet.
This is tragedy which no friend OF
birds would want to happen, but which
probably does happen In many cases
which are never recognized.
To get around this possibility, many
persons are now using wicker baskets
for putting out suet.
While such type Of basket is good,
1t is not really necessary. If you have
q wire basket in use 1t may be made
safe for the songsters by giving 1t a good
coat of paint. And allowing the paint to
dry. OF course! Or the metal container
may be dipped In melted paraffin. Or
cake of the latter simply may be rubbed
carefully over all the wires, care being
taken to see that the outer surfaces are
surely covered.
Beef suet is a favorite Of many birds,
Including woodpeckers, chickadees and
starlings. 1t holds up well in the open
air. although In warm weather it tends
to become discolored Since 1t is best fed
In cold weather, this Is Of no moment.
And, anyhow, the birds which eat it do
not mind how it looks. 1t Is the taste
that lures them. Suet is q perfect WIN
ter food for those species that like 1t.
Occasionally 1t becomes so hard and
tough in winter that it is only by the
greatest persistence that bird can get
any of 1t.
This dificulty may be overcome by
taking a sharp knife and carefully sllc-
ing the suet as thin as possible. In cook
cry we believe, this commonly is called
"wafer-thin
Or suet may be- ground up. Sometimes
suet Is melted down, and various seeds
and bits of grains and raisins put into it.
Then it is allowed to cool, and pressed
into the form OF balls or blocks. In this
way some marvellous connections may be
made for the birds at Christmas time.
There is something quite Christmas
like about birds They blend with the
decorations, as 1t were, Of the outdoors,
and this whether the season Is snowy or
dry. Above all, birds with their wings
suggest angels. 1t will be good thing
for the world to think about angels this
Christmas, no matter how severe the
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Recalls japanese Dream
OF Conquering America
vo the Editor of The Star:

TO the Eoltor OF Inc otdr.
Just to energi7e Americans for the
task ahead of them, 1t may be well 10
quote from Japanese sources just what
japan has in mind regarding this Sec
ton of the globe. Lothrop Stoddard,
in his THE Rising Tide of Color" quotes
from the Military Historian and Econo-
mist of more than a score OF years ago
these Japanese sentiments:
"As for America-that fatuous BOBBY
with much money and much sentiment,
but no cohesion, no brains OF govern
ment; stood she alone we should not
need our China steed. Well did my
friend speak the other day when he
called her people q race OF thieves with
the hearts Of rabbits. America to any
warrior race is not as q foe, but an
immense melon ripe for the cutting.
But there are other warrior races
England, Germany-would they look on
and let us slice and eat our fill? Would
they?
North America alone will support
billion people; that billion shall be Japa-
nese and their slaves. Not arid Asia,
nor worn-out Europe (Which with its
peculiar ad quaint relics and customs
should in the interests of history and
culture be in any case preserved), nor yet
tropical Africa, Is 1T for our people. But
North America, that continent so sue
culently green, fresh, and unsullied-
except for the few chattering, mongrel
YankoeS-should have been ours By
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Warns America Against
Danger of "Let-Down."
To the Editor Of The Star:

The United States of America-never
has the meaning of united" been so
gloriously demonstrated as in the past
week when our people have shown that
they are truly united; that they, who are
America, have risen in defense of
freedom.
One word of advice-keep up that
magnificent beginning; never let down
for one moment. Good news is but the
signal for greater effort, greater sacri-
fice, until the enemies Of civilization
have been crushed forever. Let us not
slacken or be OF guard during the Christ
mas season, that on future Christmases
we and the whole world may live IN ~
c,,ritv and peace. L. K. ADAMS.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Soldier Poets

War has a power to stir the hearts
Of men to song. 1t always has
been so. The ancient tradition is
being fulfilled in the present strug-
gle with an artistry as competent
Is any Of the past. 1t is with
pride that Washington readers have
recognized the authentic genius OF
q boy who briefly was their neigh
Dor and their friend. John G.
Magee, jr., 19-year-old pilot officer
with the Royal Canadian Air Force,
killed in active service on Thurs
day, left at least one beautiful SON.
net to justify claim to be re-
membered with his brother bards
OF earlier conflicts.
The list is not long. Perhaps
the most famous of all the poet
dead would be Rupert Brooke, whose
music was halted at Scyros on
shakespeare's day in 1915, but who is
immortal for the lyric beginning:
# should die, think only this
OF me:
fhat there's some corner of
foreign field
That is forever England.
In close association Of inspiration
and Of sacrifice Alan Seeger Of New
York, who fell at Belloy-en-Santerre,
July 4, 1915, was the author OF the
poem whose opening words were:
Ihave a rendezvous with Death
At some disputed barricade,
When spring comes back with
rustling shade
And apple blossoms. I'LL tho
air
I have q rendezvous with
Death
When spring brings back blue
days and fair.
The company Of poets who fought
for freedom and sealed the sacred
Evening star., 1941-12-19

right OF discovery; 1t shall be ours by
the higher, nobler right Of conquest"
Yesterday that may have been regard
ed as brag and bluster, an impossible
pipe dream, but recent events indicate
that it had real substance with our
neighbors of the Far East. 1t is pos
sible that now they consider themselves
strong enough, this time with the moral
and other support of murderous and
thieving Nazi Germany and Fascist
Italy, to realize to the full their idle
dream or vision Of yesterday.
Now that we know the real sentiments
Of Japan, we may go about our defense
task with our, eyes wide open, knowing
full well if we fail just what is to be
our portion.
SANIL. SALOMAN.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Calls for an End to
Suspicion and Distrust.
To the Editor Of The Star:


Last night one Of our most popular
commentators remarkeds I'VE had better
not put too much confidence In the re-
ports of Russian victories! The German
retreat in Russia may be all part OF
a secret plan! Under-cover negotiations
may be proceeding at this very moment
between Germany and Russia, or be-
tween Russia and Japan! In fact, the
visit of Litvinofi may be merely blind,
as in the case Of the Japanese ENJOYS"
Doubt and suspicion and distrust!
Easily understandable, in view OF all
that has happened, but in itself dan
eerous. After World War II has been
fought and finished will come the bigger
fpht to restore to the world faith In
simple truth and honest dealing be-
tween men and nations.
As an American I am proud that we
were taken by surprise at Pearl Haroor'
shall believe that Litvinof is an honest
man on q straightforward mission, and
that Russia will prove worthy frleno
Of the democracies, until there Is COM
plete proof to the contrary. This is not
sentimentality. 1t is merely faith that
truth and fair dealing are far stronger
in the long run than duplicity and that
all men in their hearts respect honesty.
We've been forced to fight, so we'll
fight hard, we Americans. But let's care
to believe the best of all men and stress
that best even in our war communlques.
Let's see to it that our own dealings are
frank and honorable, and then let's
believe that others also wish to be frank
and honorable. Love thine enemies
was not sentimentality-it was the
flower of the deep understanding OF the
worlds greatest psychologist. Love OF
this sort is a deadly weapon that carries
its own power of healing.
Confusion and suspicion and distrust
are not American.
EVELYN s. SMITH.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Haskin.

A reader can get the ans1oer to any
question OF fact by prittng The Eue.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c.. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. On what day Of the week was war
declared on Germany by the United
States In 1917?-B. F. T.
A. President Wilson signed the resolu-
ton declaring war on Germany on
Friday, April 6, 1917
@. For whom is March Field in Cali
fornia named?-E. M.
A. 1t was named after the son of
Gen. Peyton March, who was a sec
ond lieutenant in the United States
Army. He died as the result of an air
plane accident at Fort Worth, Tex,
February 13, 1913
c. Why is the Rome Berlin axis so
called?-F. L.
A. The alliance was first referred to
as an "axis" by Mussolini in speech at
Milan on November 2, 1896.
@. What is the extent Of the Pam
American highway?-J. G. A.
A. The highway begins at Nuevo
Laredo, Mexico, extends for 5000 miles
to the Panama Canal, proceeds another
5000 miles to Buenos Aires, Argentina,
and then turns north an additional L.
900 miles to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Watchful Intelligence Needed
To Preserve Rights.

TO the EQltor OF Inc StaI.
Millions of words were uttered Mon
day by speakers on the nature, history
and Importance of our Bill of Rights. 1
listened to much of the oratory, but
failed to hear any reference to the all
important fact that the realization of
our rights depends upon human agen-
cies. They are enforceable only through
the courts, and the courts are presided
over and off1cered by men appointed to
their places by other men. Therefore.
the rights intended and presumed to be
secured" by the Constitution in fact
may not be secured at all. On the con-
trary, without watchful intelligence on
the part of the people, their guaran-
teed rights may slip away from them
under the disguise of legal process.
REALIST.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Timor und PortuquI

Timor by a mixed Australian and
Dutch force Is Of more than local
Importance. 1t involves the much
larger question of Portugals neu-
trality together with the status of its
extensive colonial empire.
Portuguese Timor is the last rem
nant of Far Eastern empire from
which Portugal was evicted chiefly
by the Dutch three centuries ago.
This vestigial possession occupies
the eastern half Of the long, narrow,
mountainous island of the same
name, the western half being Dutch.
Relatively small in area and popu-
lation, and with limited economic
possibilities, Portuguese Timor owes
its significance to its geographic
position, situated as 1t is in the heart
of the Dutch Indies and less than.
500 miles from Port Darwin, the
chief commercial and air base in
Northern Australia.
This almost forgotten Portuguese
colony leaped into the international
spotlight two months ago, when
commercial agreement between
Portugal and Japan was published
under which a japanese commercial
airline was established with regular
service between Palau, chief air base
in the inundated islands of the
Pacific and Dilly, the Timorese capi-
tai. The agreement aroused grave
apprehensions in both Australia and
the Dutch Indies. Economically un-
warranted, its military significance
was unmistakable. Indeed, the
Toxic press was aggressively jubi-
liant, hailing the establishments OF
an air base on Timor as an impor-
tant stage In Japanese plans for
penetration of the South Seas.
Once Japan had begun its un-
provoked war for the domination of
the entire Far East, its camouflaged
foothold in Timor obviously could
not be tolerated by either Australia
| or Cne DuCCQ 1nQleS.
However, no matter what may
have been the strategic necessities,
armed occupation of Portuguese
possession Is a clear violation Of the
neutrality which Portugal has sought
so desperately to maintain. Prac-
tically defenseless, the little coun-
try is literally between the devil
and the deep sea. If 1t offends the
Axis and its pro-Axis neighbor,
Franco Spain, Portugal could be
overrun in a few days. On the
other hand, If it offends Britain
and the United States, Portugal
might see its whole colonial empire
"protectively" occupied just like
Timor has been. The highly stra-
tegic island groups of the Azores and
Madeira might be taken over at once.
Nevertheless, Portugal cannot ac-
quiesce in any violation of its neu-
trality, if only to keep the record
straight. Therefore, strong protest
against the occupation of Timor
may be expected. However, the
seeming crisis probably will blow
over unless the Axis wants to make
this the excuse for cracking down on
Portugal.
Hitherto, both Britain and the
Axis have found it mutually profit
able to respect PortugaPs neutral
status, which has afforded a useful
point of contact for such minimum
exchanges as subsist even in war
time. Unless and until Germany de-
cides to move through Spain on
North Africa, the Timor incident
should not, of itself, alter the larger
situation.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
Urges Constant Vigilance
In Patrolling Pacific.
tn the Editor of The Star:

As the first week of the war draws to
a close and a second japanese aerial
attack on our once impregnable Pearl
Harbor base has not yet been forth
coming, one begins to wonder.
Let us be constantly on the alert for
another and still another such attack.
Let there be not just a dawn PATROL"
but rather one of the 24-hour variety;
not a routine patrol with time tables and
fixed schedules, but an all-out and all
inclusive patrol needed against sly,
willy foe.> SOL KELLERMAN.
Evening star., 1941-12-19
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 l0tth
q DieD to condensation.