davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-02-22
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles E. Trace1UeH.

If you want to have some fun with
squirrels make them a coconut shell
filled with sunfower seed, and swing 1t
from tree branch or the middle of an
arch.
The resulting antics of these rodents
are literally more fun than barrel OF
monkeys" as the old saying has 1t.
The idea is to place the shell, which
has been cut out around one side above
the center, so that the animals will have
to use their brains to get at the seed.
There is no bird which likes sunfoWer
seed better than the squirrel does. 1t is
among his favorite foods. He will even
leave nuts for it!
Our coconut is swung from the middle
of an arch over a gate by long wire
which brings the shell to within IA
inches of the scroll work atop the iron
gate.
The wire is about 18 inches long.
How would the squirrel get the seed?
The shell is swung in the center of
the arch from the middle of the crossbar.
Here was a problem to test the in
genuity of any squirrel, and We would
like to tell you how five of them solved
it, all differently.
The other three squirrels have not yet
mastered the difficulty but in time even
they will do so, we feel sure, although up
to this writing not even the sight of
| their successful brothers and sisters has
1AI IN m hn cIIF0 1nfIro ~
seed.
Let no one think that this deprives
them of food.
There are four feeding stations in the
yard, all supplied with sunfower and
other seeds.
But squirrels, like man, are inquisitive
And like him, they want what is difficult.
Too, they become angry when they can't
get it.
Each of the five successful animals
has different way Of getting what he
wants
Squirrel No. reaches up from the top
of the gate, hooks paw into the shell,
which he barely reaches, and draws down
a seed.
After he has done this for a time, he
leaps up and seizes the bottom round of
the coconut with all four paws.
This leaves him hanging upside down
from the bottom, completely covering it.
Then he slides over to one side and
cranes his neck into the opening. 1t is
possible for him to hang on for some
time in this altogether undignified po-
Sition.
Along with the other four he shows
an amazing oexterity and sinuosity. In
stead of falling off, he merely turns a
flip-fop in the air and lands four feet
away on a tree trunk.
So far none of the five has jumped
from the tree directly to the coconut
shell. Each rodent thinks it necessary
to land first on the arch or gate.
Squirrel No. 2 comes down the wire
from the top of the arch, that is, the
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Tells the Story Behind a Picture
Painted by a Washington Artist.

To the Editor of The Star:
I like to have on my walls pictures
with meaning. I have several of these
a pheasant painted by a Japanese artist
of distinction, and picture OF three
ancient gods done by Chinese artist
picked up in rambling the Pacific. The
picture I like most and one I've hung
up whenever I've had a home was
painted more than 40 years ago by
Washington artist, black-bearded chap
named Bernard Hughes. Back in yonder
years Washington knew Bernie as a
cartooniSt, but he could work in other
mediums and was a wiz" with water
colors. Bernie" likewise had other
gifts. He was a raconteur and a crack
billiard player and had system for
beating the ponies that worked out on
paper but fizzled when tried out with
money.
Here's how I came into possession of
the picture signed by Bernard Hughes
which I see on my wall as I write:
Back in 1885, think it was, went
out on F street two days before Christ
mas and purchased fine cravat and
mailed it to the address in Georgetown
where Artist Hughes lived with his
mother Then went on with other
preparations for the Yuletide holiday
season.
Christmas Day there came knock on
my door. I opened it to my black
bearded artist friend and a newspaper
wrapped package he had under his arm.
The weather was cold and he was
overcoatless. He came in and mumbled
gratitude for the neclztie I'd sent him
"the only Christmas present I received"
he tried to tell me with an emotion
choked voice. And then he said: IF
you'll accept so poor an offering, I'd
like to give you picture I went out and
sketched for you. I painted on it all
night and have just finished it,
Bernie" unwrapped the package and
revealed picture about IA by 20 which
pretty nearly took my breath away. 1t
was snow scene, and he told me he'd
gotten it in Rock Greek Park. ct did it
in hurry" Hughes explained, "but I'll
do you better one, real, carefully
done picture, later on
We went out to frame shop and left
the picture for framing. Then we had
Christmas dinner together, with wine
and all the trimmings. I left Washing
ton not long after that on a mission that
took me to Hawaii and the Orient, and
I never saw Bernard Hughes again.
That picture he gave me has been de-
elaxed By many artists to be real gem
Evening star., 1941-02-22
We ShuII Keep Faith

They call you nolO our country'S
nobleSt son
And men pronounce your name
Dith reUerent GtDe,
Because you lUtSely looked on ute
and SalD
A nation born that should botD dotDn
to none.
When Uar Uas past and independ-
ence 10on,
You laid foundation stones Of
state and ldU;
RebufS and jeerS you met iotth
Square-Set ja1U,
And ived to see democracy begun.
We shall not boD our heads in craven
shame,
Since this our natiUe land Uas
nobly sired
By you, Who stunned a croUn but
reigned supreme.
Though tyrantS rise on tUings OF
feeting Jane,
We shall protect the realm that
you inspired
DenOcracy-your great ENDURING
dream.
MATTE RICHARDS TYLER.
Evening star., 1941-02-22
District Courthouse

with bench, bar and planning Ofr-
cialS now in full accord on a site for
the new District Court building, there
is cause for hope that Congress soon
will authorize a start on this long
sought, much-needed structure This
project ran into unforeseen difficult
ties several months ago, when a dis
agreement developed between the
Federal Judicial Conference and the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission as to the proper location
for the proposed building. The COM
mission, after conference more than
two years ago with representatives
of the District Court, the United
States Attorney, the District of Co.
lumbia Bar Association and other in
terested parties, recommended erec-
tion of the building on the site of the
old Pension Building, now occupied
temporarily by the General Account
ing Office. A new home for the Gen.
eral Accounting Office is to be built
III GllC SQ JlSU llOl III VI Vic CllSlOIl
Building. But the Federal Judicial
Conference complicated the Judiciary
Square program by adopting resolu-
tiOnS favoring inclusion of District
Court in Federal court center 'front.'
ing on the proposed Holmes Memorial
Park, near the Supreme Court. For
tunately, the conference recently re-
considered its former action and,
while reiterating its plea for a new
courthouse, decided to leave the
question of location to other authori-
ties.
The planning commission now has
announced that proposed legislation
calling for demolition of the old Pen
sion Building and erection of a suit
able District Court building has been
prepared for early introduction in
Congress. There is now a unanim-
ity of opinion as to the urgent need
for this new hall of justice Attorney
General Robert Jackson, one of the
most ardent supporters of the prof.
ect, recently described congested and
antiquated conditions in the present
courthouse as "deplorable" He de-
clared that undoubtedly the eff
cient administration of justice is
seriously affected" This is truly an
emergency problem of major impor-
tance and Congress should deal with
it promptly on that basis.
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Defense and Schools

One of the important phases Of
the national defense program is that
of affording adequate schooling for
the children of families concentrated
in defense areas. Nearby Virginia is
such an area, and, with commend
able forethought, officials there and
in other sections of the Old Dominion
have compiled estimates of their
school requirements.
For the State as a whole an addi-
tional outlay of $780, ,906 is indicated
for public school facilities. The sum
of 1888 ,470 additional is said to be
needed in the Northern Virginia area,
comprising Arlington and Fairfax
Counties and the City of Alexandria.
For the State, counties and city these
are substantial sums.
In Northern Virginia the problem
is complicated by the influx of many
temporary workers engaged in con-
struction projects. Altogether, it is
estimated that there will be an in
crease Of 2,513 elementary pupils and
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Duty of the Press

The President, in commenting yes
terday on newspaper reports that
General George c. Marshall, Army
chief of staff, had told the Senate
Military Affairs Committee in execu-
tive session that the Pacific fleet is
being reinforced with modern air
planes, directs attention to a problem
that promises to become increasingly
delicate and difficult.
In time of war or threat of war 1t
is clearly necessary to distinguish
between information that should be
made public and that which should
be withheld from publication. And
yet, as illustrated by this incident,
the distinction is one which is not
always easily made.
On its face, there is nothing in the
generaliZed statement that the fleet
air arm is being reinforced to suggest
that this information should be re-
garded as military secret. Certain
ly it would be a reasonable and prob
able precautionary move, and some
members of the Senate committee,
despite the fact that this information
Cor misinformation) was a part of
testimony given in closed session,
did not consider it confidential in
character.
The President, however, takes an
entirely different view, holding that
the disclosure by the committee
members and the publication of the
report were acts definitely injurious
to American defense plans, and this,
according to the President, is true in
spite of the fact that the published
information was completely inaccu-
rate. Answering a direct question,
Mr.. Roosevelt said that he considered
it the duty of the press not to publish
military secrets. That, obviously, is
a point of view from which there can
be no reasonable dissent, but it is
equally obvious that the press is not
helped in determining what to pub
lish and what not to publish when
the President, by implication, classes
what he calls completely inaccurate
information of seemingly innocuous
character as military secret.
If experience in past emergencies
can be taken as a guide, the duty of
the press in a democratic country
consists of something more than
merely publishing what President
or some other public official thinks
it should publish. Opinions will diff
fer, as they do in this case, concern
ing the point at which the line be-
tween proper and improper publicity
should be drawn, but the problem is
one which will be solved when all in
| terested parties approach it candidly
and for the single purpose of deter
mining what is best calculated to
serve the national interest.
Evening star., 1941-02-22
British Army Mystery

Where is Britain'S imperial army
of the Nile? That is a query which
| grows more intriguing with every
passing day. Nothing has been heard
| from it since it took Benghazi and
walloped Graziani's disorganized
forces retreating toward Tripoli. At
that time there was talk of British
follow-up, but evidently it has not
occurred. Hard hitting General
Wavell is not the man to allow the
Italians time to reorganize if he in
tended to follow up his advantage;
therefore it is more than probable
that he intends to stop with the con-.
quest of Cyrenaica, which he can
hold with a few troops against any
possible Italian counterthrust across
the wide stretch of WaterlesS desert
which interveneS between the two
habitable parts of Libya.
The size of Wavells army is mill
tary secret, but it must be a formi-
dable force. After garrisoning Cyre-
naica, it would not be surprising if
Wavell could move at least 100000
crack troops from Libya, to say moth
ing of reserves in Egypt and Pales-
tine. With command of the sea,
those forces can be sent anywhere in
the Mediterranean. In the fortnight
that has elapsed since the end of the
Libyan push, it is quite likely that
extensive troop movements have
taken place But whittier?
The most likely assumption seems
to be a concentration in or near
Greece, to protect Britain'S brave ally
from the threatened German push
down through Bulgaria. And from
neutral Belgrade, came quite circum-
Stantial reports that large British
force had landed at Lemnos, highly
strategic island in the upper Aegean
Sea close to the entrance to the
Dardanelles, almost equally near
threatened Greek Thrace, and not
far from Salonika, the key port Of
the whole region. All this looked rea-
Sonable; yet London has promptly
denied the reports as German propa-
ganda.
1t is unlikely that any large portion
of Wavell's forces have been sent
southwark to the attack on Italian
East Africa. To be sure, the British
armies there are racing against time,
striving to complete the conquest be-
fore they are begged down by the
little rains" due less than a month
hence. But the imperial forces al
ready there seem to be ample for the
job, and long supply lines limit the
numbers that can be profitably en-
ployed.
That some new stroke is planned
can be guessed from the visit of
Foreign Secretary Anthony Eden and
General Dill, chief of the imperial
general staff, to Cairo. The last time
that redoubtable pair went there,
Wavell's Libyan campaign quickly
enSued. So we may expect big news
to break almost any time. But, for
the moment, the whereabouts of the
imperial army is shrouded in secrecy.
Evening star., 1941-02-22

crossbar, and drapes himself carefully
around the coconut, with his head in
side, where he eats for as long as he
wishes.
1t should be said that, contrary to
usual squirrel tactics, no other animal
tries to drive another from the shell
while eating.
Perhaps they all realize just how diff
cult the feat is for them.
Squirrel No. S, who is the smallest Of
the lot, is the particular favorite of all
who have seen him.
He jumps up from the gate, and bodily
sits in the shell, as in a cradle, with his
head out, and the tip of his tail showing.
When he wants a seed, he reaches
down with a paw, without changing the
position OF head or body.
AS he eats, he swings placidly back
and forth.
The entire performance is at once
graceful and highly comical All squir-
rels are comedians, but some of them
are better at it than others.
The way this little fellow looks as he
swings and eats, always brings down the
house standing behind the nearest win
dow.
Squirrel No hangs from the top Of
the arch, pulls the coconut up by the
wire till he can reach the seed.
This seems to be a feat of intelligence,
rather than of strength. Each of these
sinewy creatures has plenty Of muscle
for the feat but he is the only one
who has thought of doing it.
Others sit in the trees nearby and
watch him. but none initiates him. Prob
ably a squirrels thoughts are no longer
than a second, and the effort to get to
the arch drives the thought out of the
mind of any animal which has seen and
understood what he has seen.
Squirrel No. hops up from the gate,
gets a seed, and hops back to the gate to
eat it.
He repeats this each time. He seems
to have difficulty in staying with the
shell.
Chopped suet is mixed with the sun
flower seed, not for the squirrels, but
for the smaller birds, including the
nuthatches, titmice and chickadees.
The nuthatches walk down the wire,
Just as they walk down a tree trunk,
head down.
They seem TO get great deal of pleas
ure out of doing this.
The chickadees and titmice fly directly
to the lip of the shell.
Starlings, too. perch on the rim to
eat sunfloWer seeds and suet.
So far, We have not seen a cardinal
or jay at this swinging coconut shell.
Nor have We seen an English sparrow
there, which is something of a mystery,
considering this birds habits
All in all, this smaller feeder has been
one of the delights of the winter garden.
The furry Young men on this flying
trapeze put on show which would DO
credit TO any circus.
Evening star., 1941-02-22

lini plunderbund. He was personally
anathema to the NaZis ever since the
sacrifice of Czecho-Slovakia by
Chamberlain and Daladier on the
altar of appeaSement. 1t was always
understood that Litvinoff pledged
RuSSia's armed cooperation with
France, in accordance with their
treaty of alliance, to prevent destruc-
ton of Czecho-Slovakia, had the
French elected to come to the rescue
of the Prague government before
Munich. Litvinoff's attitude must
have been a cardinal sin in German
eyes, and his head finally fell, in all
probability, at Berlin's behest. The
Soviet statesman's Jewish origin, of
course, was another circumstance
that assured him Nazi diSfavor.
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Litvinoff in Disfuvor

Since his retirement as commissar
for foreign affairs in May, 1899,
Maxim LitvinOff has not been con-
spicuouS in the Soviet picture. There
is, therefore, something cryptic in
the announcement that he has been
removed from the Communist party's
Central Committee, along with three
other members, for failing in their
duties"
M. Litvinoff is chiefly remembered
here for having personally conducted
with President Roosevelt in 1888 the
negotiations which led to American
recognition of the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics. Up to the time
he left office two years ago, M. Lit
vinoff had directed RuSsia'S foreign
affairs for roundly nine years, con-
centrating for the most part on the
program of collective security advo-
Gated by Britain and France within
the framework of the League of Ma
tions. He frequently and vigorously
represented the Soviet Union at
Geneva, as supporter of disarma-
ment and consistent foe of Ger
man-Italian-Japanese aggression In
those days he spoke for a Russia
which had not yet committed itself
to that policy of imperialistic con-
quest which had become the un-
abashed objective of the Stain
regime by the time Litvinoff re-
linquished supervision of Russias
external relations to Premier Mol
otoff.
The Soviet Union was then all but
publicly ready to cast its lot with
Nazi Germany, as it formally did in
August, 1899, when Stain signed the
notorious pact of general mutual as
sistance" with the Reich at the mo-
ment Britain and France were
negotiating at Moscow for tripartite
treaty with the Soviet. Hitler's
wanton invasion and blitzkrieg par
tition of Poland between Germany
and Russia speedily followed. In the
ensuing December Moscow made un-
provoked war on Finland, ending in
disastrous defeat for that gallant but
helpless country, and not many
months afterward Stain pursued
his campaign of aggression by
wiping out the independence Of
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania. That
the assaults on Finland and the Bal
tic states were committed with the
blessing of Hitler is hardly to be
questioned.
To M. Litvinoff's credit it is per-
missible to say that his career as
foreign commissar was not marked
by Soviet participation in the depre-
dations of the Stain Hitler -Musso-
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Praises Ethiopians for Resistance
To Brutal Rulers" From Italy.

To the Editor of The Star:
Please permit me space to comment
on the letter of M. Ricciardelli de Meme
frego published in your issue of Feb
ruary 10.
The inhabitants of Ethiopia with
whom your correspondent so feelingly
sympathizes didn't want MuSSolini'S
italian culture Many of them fought
savagely with only crude weapons and
raw courage before yielding to become a
conquered territory. And at frequent
intervals there have been reports of at
tacks upon the brutal rulers sent to
''pacify" the followers of the Lion of
Judah, who claims direct descent from
King Solomon.
The splendid and courageous uprising
of these people as soon as they were
supplied with arms and ammunition is
a tribute to their valor and patriotism.
That Halle Selassie is a popular mon
arch Of resurgent Ethiopia is more and
more obvious. CHARLES w. N1COL.
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Suggests Study of Maps
OF Europe and the United States.

To the Editor of The Star:
A world atlas of statistical facts might
prove interesting to readers who are
worried about European conditions.
Moreover, it might stimulate pride in
the good old United States of America.
I find that Rumania would have
plenty of room in New Mexico. England
could be placed in North Carolina.
Greece would have 1000 square miles to
spare in Florida Italy and Sicily would
not cover Montana. Norway could be
lost in California. Texas could aC-
commodate Germany, Holland, Den
mark, Austria and Hungary. Arizona
has 1900 more square miles than Yugo-
slavia. West Virginia is twice the size of
Belgium. The Dakotas would take care
of Poland. F. c. BELL.
Evening star., 1941-02-22

1887 high school students because
of the defense program in the three
nearby jurisdictions.
For several years Arlington, Fair
fax and Alexandria have had to put
forth considerable effort to keep
pace with normal" school growth.
If the estimated increases due to de-
fenSe are correct, the localities will be
justified in seeking Federal aid to
help provide the essential educational
facilities.
Evening star., 1941-02-22
Asks Where Germany Could Find Ships
Necessary for Invasion of Britain.

To the Editor of The Star:
A lot of nonsense is talked about the
possible invasion of the British Isles
by Germany.
To invade a country, the invader must
have at least an equal number of men
and equal war equipment.
Britain is known to maintain at least
100000 armed and equipped troops.
If Germany would attempt to make a
sudden invasion on all coasts simultane-
ously, she could not carry out landing
operations successfully even should the
British Navy permit her ships to cross
the Channel or North Sea.
To carry an army of even half mil
lion troops and their equipment, such as
heavy guns, tanks and thousands of other
accessories, would require at least 500
ships of the average l0,000ton type.
Where are those 500 vessels to be OBJ
tanned? ALEXANDER ZARkY.
Evening star., 1941-02-22

@. What position did Esek Hopkins
hold in the American Navy?-C. H.
A. He was appointed commander IN
chief of the Navy, with a salary Of SIPS
month. With the exception Of the Presi-
dents of the United States, Hopkins was
the only man In history to hold this
position.
@. Should the abbreviation H for hy-
drogen be followed by period or notr
M. G.
A. No abbreviating period is placed
after any chemical symbol.
c. Which of LongfellOws poems was
inspired by the seal of the State of New
York?-O. NJ.
A. Excelsior" Longfellow wrote the
poem on the back of a note received
from Charles Sumner on September %,
1841.
@. Are our standards of length derived
from the yard or meter?-P. E. c.
A. They are derived from the interna-
tional meter. which equals 1887 inches.
The meter is the fundamental standard
of length IN the United States and in
almost all civilized countries outside Of
the British Empire.
@. Has a law ever been passed giving
animals the right Of Way?-L. E. M
A. 1t is the general practice for motor
lists to give animals the right Of way.
At the present time, most States have
laws with respect to the keeping within
bounds of stock animals While a motor
ist who runs over an animal might be
held for damages, the owner of the ami
NAL at the same time would incur PEN
atty for permitting his animal to roam
unattended on the public highway.
@. How could Comdr. Byrd tell when
he was flying over the North Pole?-F.
G. w.
A. When Byrd few over the pole in
1926 he used for navigating a sun-com-
pass. which is a combination clock and
Sundial. Neither the magnetic compass
nor the gyro is reliable so far north.
@. Which king is said to have knighted
a piece of beef?-S. B. c.
. A The term "sirloin," which is derived
from the French "surlonge," meaning
above the loin," has given rise to a
number Of stories of the joint having
been knighted because of its estimable
qualities One authority states that King
Henry VIII Of England did So The
ceremony has also been attributed to
King James I and King Charles II Of
England.