davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
JACKSON PLACE.

Dear Sir:
You oueried recently as to the roost-
ing habits of the English sparrows, Won
dering whether this bird in the suburbs
went back to the city to spend the night.
IT think it will be found that the Eng
lish sparrow has q rather limited range
and eats, sleeps and fights in pretty
much the same locality.
BY preference, the English sparrow
will sleep in nesting place. This is, by
preference, the hollow limb of tree.
The second choice is an opening which
will admit the sparrow, but not the
starting, into the shell of a building.
The sparrow likes long tunnel entrance
with a nesting place at the end This
tunnel and nesting place he lines with
feathers and bits of soft grass, pre-
ferably the former.
1.-The sparrow does not nest in any
place which shakes or quivers in the
wind. Consequently, he may be found
in nesting boxes If they are firm, but if
there are either of the two alterna tives
named above available TO him he will let
the nesting box 60 because it is too big
to i'll up and apparently the sparrow
likes to Snuggle.
when thenesting season is over, and
bad weather comes, these nesting places
are occupied by groups of sparrows If
one puts net over the entrance TO
such nest after dark, and pounds on
the limb, the number of sparroWs that
will come out is amazing. If one wants
to find out where such nesting places
are, all that is necessary is to put a
handful of feathers out in the open some
birds carry them.
IF there are any open-faced chicken
coops in the neighborhood, the sparrows
will roost in with the chickens, appar-
emily finding a great deal of comfort
from the warmth of the larger birds.
Finally, if there are any open sheds
or barns with openings which are perma-
nent, the sparrows will go there out Of
the weather Apparently as last choice,
the sparrow will take advantage OF an
UNCOVERED wall on the protected or
sheltered side of building
The English sparrow in its original
home was a country bird. He became a
city bird in this country by reason of
the fact that the grain in horsedrop-
pings provided him with a ready sus-
tenance in the cities, which was not
available in the country.
And it was not until the advent Of
the automobile that the sparrow re-
turned. in this country, to his native
habitat, the country.
There is, therefore, nothing which
would take the sparrow into the city at
night, as he can more readily find his
preferred roosting places in the country.
Very truly yours, N B. G."
There is a great deal of useful infor-
nation in the above letter, and we COM
mend 1t to all persons who are interested
in English sparrows.
That experiment with a handful of
feathers ought to be interesting.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
Wants Britain to Pledge
Security for Loans.

To the Editor of The Star:
Politicians persist in picturing Eng
land as potential pauper' while in
sisting that We should assist in financing
her wars. If they would take the trouble
TO scan a world map they would observe
that Great Britain controls about a
quarter of the globe and her wealth is
well-nigh incalcula BILE.
A rich nation, like rich individual,
may require ready cash, to be sure. AS
it is customary for an individual to fur
nish collateral when loan is made,
why doesn't Britain protect us by mort
gaging a province or so? Uncle Sam
would hold the mortgage. 1nasmuch as
England refused to pay her first World
War debt, aren't we entitled to some
measure of protection?
Millions reject the idea that Great
Britain is waging war in our behalf.
while sympathizing with her aims One
might just as well reason that China,
Ethiopia and Finland were fighting our
war when attacked by Japan, italy and
Russia. Moreover, if the present war is
being waged to save democracy, just
why do British and American leaders
seek the support of Stain, who symbol
ICES all that is hostile to democracy and
to our way of life? Such alliances
should be summed, not encouraged.
EDMUND K. GOLDSBOROUGH
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
fuirer Cities

American visitors to Copenhagen
are sure to remember the Vor Frue
Kirke. That beautiful cathedral,
decorated by the genius of the Sculp-
tor Bertel Thorvaldsen, is only CEN
fury old. Like the university build
ings near at hand, it has been con-
structed by modern craftsmen not
inferior in skill to their gifted fore
runners. The Church of Our Lady
and the academic halls of earlier
time were destroyed when Nelson
bombarded the Danish capital in
1907. Granted that the loss was ire
placeable, it still is true that the dis
aster furnished magnificent oppor-
tunities for architects qualified to de-
sign the existing substitutes. The
resilient human spirit invariably rises
to meet such challenge. So it hap
pens that compensation of a sort is
achieved and men are not fatally re-
tarded in their conquest of hostile
circumstance.
The paradox has been noted on
numerous occasions. Sir Christopher
Wren, for example, got his chance"
when the Great Fire devastated Lon
don in 1866. The inscription in St.
Paul'S, which tells the reverent pill
grim to look about" for his monu-
ment, does not refer to the walls of
the diocesan center of the metropolis
merely. 1t relates to the fact that
the former astronomer created fifty
sanctuaries and many other master
pieces between the date of the con-
nagration and that of his own
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Truce1UeH.

No doubt many of our readers will try
1t, as we propose to do, even if we have
TO tear pillow open to get some feathers.
No doubt this experiment could be
best conducted with corps of small boy
observers stationed at strategic points in
the neighborhood.
Few observers, we are convinced, would
be SO fortunately situated as to be able
to see the sparrows fly to their sleeping
place.
We are convinced that the band which
comes to our feeding stations every day
would fly at least some blocks away.
Then, after the feathers were chased
down, after much shouting and running,
old Sam Gillifeather would say, calmly
enough:
why, OF course them peSky sparrers
come here to my barn! Why didn't YOU
tell me you wanted to know where them
sparrers sleep. I could a told you all
along"
There is, down on the east side of
Eleventh street between the Avenue and
E street, narrow passageway between
two buildings.
1t forms a tunnel, just as our CORE
spondent says, and in it every night a
large number of English sparrows sleep.
There is a long ladder there. swung
just below the roof Of the passageway.
Evidently many of the birds parch on
the rungs of this ladder.
Recently one of the birds nested in
the corner of the awning outside the
building.
The proprietor gave orders to his men
that the bird was not to be disturbed
On cold mornings the birds do not issue
forth from this pasSagevay until as late
as 8 o'clock
Over at Garfield Hospital scores OF
English sparrows live in the vines cover
ing some of the inner walls of the
courts.
Here on any sunny afternoon may be
heard a great futtering and chirping.
1t would be impossible to hazard a
guess as to the number of convalescents
who have found amusement in watching
these birds, and some cheer in listening
to their happy choral music.
Although the English sparrow is not
a soloist, he is good group singer; he
and his mate, with all the other mem
bers of the sparrow clan, can put on as
pretty an afternoon concert as YOU will
want to hear, provided, of course, that
you have an open mind when it comes
to birds and music.
Not all persons have such open minds,
by any means.
But Beethoven had. and if he could
find JOY in the music of the simple house
sparrows, We ought to be able to do so.
certainly.
At Doctors Hospital last spring there
was a patient who found great amuse-
ment watching a lone starting which
came every day to a flower box on a
garage roof across the street.
Hats off to the English people and to
the English sparrow and the English
starting, all of whom demonstrate grit.
persistency and great courage under
tremendous difficulties!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
Dragon Teeth

The army OF Yeng goes marching by,
Goes marching BY.
The army OF Yeng goes marching by,
The conquering army OF Yeno.
The folk bolD doUn to Yenq'S brave
men,
To Yeng's brave men.
The army OF Yeno is Lord, Is Lord,
This conquering army of Yeng.
En- route these men passed by ditch
Where lay small, thin yellop man
Who Was alone and far from home,
And from his side the red blood ran.
EMORY G. PHARR.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27

A reader can get the GnsUer to any
question of fact BY tDritinp The EDe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HaSkin, director, Washington,
&C. Please incloSe stamp for reply.
@. How many persons were killed and
wounded last year in the war?-L. A. r.
A. In 1910 more than a million were
killed and wounded and 100000 were
taken as prisoners or classified as
missing.
O. What is the record for the flight Of
bird?-M. C. H.
A. The longest bird fight on record
was made by an Arctic tern, which in
three months few from the coast of
Labrador to the coast of Southeastern
Africa. Arctic terms customarily migrate
from within the Arctic Circle TO the
Antarctic Circle. a distance of 1000
miles, within a few months.
@. Please give the all-America foot
ball team for l940-W. S. M.
A The all-America team, as selected
by the Associated Press. is as follows:
Ends, SEVERN, North Carolina; Erod,
Mississippi State. Tackles, Drahos, Cor
nell, Reinhard, California. Guards, Suf-
fridge, Tennessee; Alison, Nebraska.
Center, Gladchuk, Boston College. Backs,
Albert, Stanford; Harmon, Michigan;
Frsnck, Minnesota; Kimbrough, Texas
A. and M
@. What was the Tweed Ring?-F. NJ.
A. The Tweed Ring was a group Of
Tammany Hall politicians under the
leadership of William M Tweed, who, be-
tween 1865 and 1871, got political control
of New York City and robbed it Of many
millions Of dollars It was broken I'D in
1871 and Tweed was convicted and I'M
prlsoned.
G. Where is Lenin buried?-L. r.
A. His body lies in glass coffin in the
underground chamber Of granite maui
soleum in Red Square at Moscow.
O. What motion picture star first sang
Paradise ~. M. T.
A. Pola Negri introduced the song in
the picture entitled "A Woman Com
mands."
@. How many Indians are there in
Mexico?-W j. B.
A. There are approximately 5000 900
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
German Victory Regarded
As Dangerous to Trade Relations.

To the Editor of The Star:
Col. Charles A. Lindbergh's statement
before the House Foreign Affairs Com
mittee deals only with the possibilities
of a military invasion of the United
States by the axis powers should they
prevail over Great Britain, with scarce
a hint that may be taken to include
South America.
doubt that any one of sober mind
really could be apprehensive of an at
tempt at such an invasion either imme-
diate or remote. But what of our ex-
ternal trade relations and the direful
economic results should the British
cause 60 under?
To paraphrase an expression born of
our frontier experience, we should realize
by now that the only good Prussian is a
dead Prussian, so far at least as con-
Germs his further interference in world
affairs. Now that the fight is on, with all
of our resources involved, let it be to a
finish with no more babbling of a ne
gotiated peace.
The world is in need of new order
indeed, but God forbid that it should be
one Of axis continuance.
WALTER N. CAMPBELL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27

Indians IN Mexico, constituting two.
ffths of the total population.
@. When did the parcel post law 60
into effect?-L. B. A.
A. The parcel post law was enacted
by Congress in 1912 and signed by the
President on August "a OF that year.
The parcel post service went into effect
January l, 1918.
@, Who won the national crocheting
contest in l94o?-T. G. G.
A. Mrs. A. E. Burkhardt Of Poland.
Ohio, won the contest sponsored by the
National Needlecraft Bureau with
luncheon set which featured a continuous
whorl. The mems prize was awarded to
Harry Troxel of Cleveland, Ohio, for
his crocheted bedspread.
Q. Please give the names of the women
in Congress-. S. T
A. They are as follows: Senator Hattie
w. Caraway Of Arkansas, Representatives
Jeanette Rankin of Montana, Frances
P. Bolton of Ohio, Mary Norton of New
Jersey, Margaret Chase Smith of Maine,
Edith NourSe Rogers of Massachusetts,
Jessie Summer of Illinois and Caroline
ODay of New York.
O. Why are certain Chinese societies
called tongs?-B. H
A. The word tong refers to the living
room of Chinese house and was prob
ably applied TO the societies because they
originally met in the houses of members.
Q. Is the identity of the ffer in the
famous painting The Spirit of TO-
known?-F. C. M
A. The flfer in the painting was Hugh
Mosher, friend of A. M Willard. the
artist Mr.. Mosher was a celebrated
performer on the fife and posed for the
picture with his own instrument.
@. When was the Library Of Congress
burned by the British?-N H
A. The Library was burned by British
troops August "a, 1914, during the War
Of 1912 and was re-established by the
purchase of Thomas Jefferson's library
on January 80. 1915.
q. what is Helms laW?-E. d. A.
A. 1t is the statement that twins occur
once in 80 pregnancies; triplets once in
soxs0 or 6400 cases: bankruptcies in
80x80x80 or 512 900 cases.
Q. Did President John Adams ever
teach in Worcester, MasS.?-A. T. B.
A. A bronze memorial tablet In that
city bears the inscription: I'm front Of
this tablet stood the first schoolhouse in
Worcester, where John Adams, second
President of the United States, taught,
1755-1758."
@. From what poem are the hnes,
Boys flying kites haul In their white.
winged birds. You can't do that when
you're flying words"?-S. P.
A. 1t is from The First Settlers
Story" by Will Carleton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
Member of the Associated Press.
Shortages and ADULTS

Discovery OF anOther shortage IN
District of Columbia tax receipts
gives added emphasis to the need
for a comprehensive, thoroughgoing
overhaul of the Districts methods of
receiving, handling and safeguarding
the taxpayers money. Such an over
haul already is under way as an out
growth Of a tWo-thouSand-doll
shortage revealed last october in the
accounts of the Traffic Department
branch of the tax collectors office.
That shortage was aSCrlbed not to
criminal activities, but to aStound-
ing, careleSSneSS and general ineffl-
cheney. 1t was case, seemingly, OF
failure of the Districts Outmoded
tax-collection system to keep pace
with the phenomenal growth of a
modern city. With money being
stuffed in a shoe box during rush
periods and allowed to accumulate
in a small safe for days, pending re-
cording and transfer to the District
Building, the wonder is that greater
losses were not suffered at the traffic
branch.
The District Commissioners have
acted promptly and forthrightly in
the emergency. They have appointed
a young and capable tax collector
and have given him a free hand in
recognizing the all-tooantiquated
tax-collection system. They have
approved his recommendations for
certain reforms and have expressed
willingness to cooperate in inSti-
tuting others. Most important of all,
however, they have ordered an in
tensive audit OF all accounts having
to do with the peoples money. 1t
was in connection with this auditing
process that the latest shortage was
disclosed. More than $1,000 is said
to be missing from the sale of dog
tags during the five-month period
ending November 80 last. Tax Col
lector Guy w. Pearson, who took
office on December 2, said that the
shortages dropped sharply after pub
licity was given the discrepancies in
the accounts of the Traffic Depart
ment branch, finally ending alto
gether toward the close of the pc
Rod. The audit will be carried back
for some months, for there has been
no checkup of any kind on this &C
count for several years, it is reported.
This disturbing state of affairs at
the District Building obviously is the
result chiefly of two things: Out
NODDED methods of keeping fiscal &C
counts and failure to make regular,
adequate auditS of those accounts.
Fortunately, the Commissioners are
taking steps to correct these faults.
They should continue their house.
cleaning until the city'S machinery
for handling public funds has been
modernized in accordance with ap-
proved business practice. Once this
reorganization has been effected,
systematic auditS should be made of
all money accounts. This important
auditing phase undoubtedly has Suf-
fered in the past from concentration
of too many duties in the auditors
Office. A division of the budget and
auditing work already has been Or
dered. Additional personnel and IA
cilities probably will be needed.
These reforms are highly important,
whatever the cost. In the long run,
inefficiency is far more costly than
up-to-date administration of such
a big business as running a city the
size of Washington.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
japan Mediutes

Within fortnight representatives
of Thailand and French Indo- China
are scheduled to meet and negotiate
a settlement of their undeclared war
which has been waged with varying
intensity for nearly two months.
The most important aspect of this
news is not the cessation of hostili
ties, but the fact that the peace
negotiations will take place in Toxic
under the auspices of Yosuke Mat
Suoka, Japan's redoubtable Foreign
Minister. He it was who engineered
the conference by putting pressure
on both sides. Indeed, it is probable
that Germany had a hand in the
game, via Vichy, because the colonial
authorities in Indo-China are loyal
to the Petain government and would
not have taken such a step without
home approval. 1t is foregone con-
clusion that the settlement will be
favorable to Thailand and that
stable slice of Indo- Chinese terri
tory will be ceded.
In a sense, this will be one of
Times revenges. Half century ago,
when Western imperialism in the
Far East was at its peak, France was
seeking to expand its Indo-ChineSe
empire and cast covetous eyes on
Thailand, then known as Siam In
those days Siam was typical ORR
entail country without Western arm
aments and hence incapable of re-
Sisting flrst-class European power.
Even then it realized its danger, and
under an able monarch was seeking
to learn the secrets of the white
mans strength. However, it would
probably have fallen to French ag-
erosion but for the fact that the
British, expanding from India into
Burma and the Malay Peninsula,
we're already on Slams western bor-
ders. Britain felt it could not toll
crate further French expansion in
the Far East, so it backed Siam
automatically. Even as it was, Siam
was compelled to cede considerable
territory, and it is these lost prov
inces which preSent-day Thailand,
with its modernized army, navy and
air force, is seeking to recover.
No matter what concessions Thai
land may wiring from the harassed
French colonial authorities, the real
victor will be Japan. The larger the
Thai gains, the more they will be
indebted to Japan. In the coming
Toxic peace conference Mr. Matsu-
Okla will stand forth in his chosen
role as arbiter Of the Far East and
engineer of a loudly proclaimed new
order in Eastern Asia. That spells
a great access of "face"-the curious
term expressing both prestige and
authority, which, in the Orient, is a
vital factor.
Indeed, in the larger sense, it looks
like victory not only for japanese
but also for axis diplomacy. Neither
Downing Street nor our State De-
partment can be pleased to see the
Franco-Thai dispute settled, not be-
tween the parties Immediately con-
cerned, but in Toxic and under thinly
yelled japanese dictation. 1t is a
typical axis squeeze play And there
can be scant doubt that for what
ever services Germany has rendered
in the matter it has already des-
ignated japanese repayment in
kind.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27

lion young men and several depressions
down the drain for the last war, and the
new, and old, means of obsessing peoples
minds are leading us to pour out the
last full measure of devotion and wealth
upon little more than the increasing of
the period of bloodshed in Europe One
has to steel himself to see the facts,
reason sternly from them and discount
the hysteria engendered by the new
means today. LOUIS w. RAPEER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
Recipe for Security

From the Providence (R ~ Sunday Journal:
The best chance for the United States
to stay out of the war, to save the new
generation intact for years of peace, to
forestall the thousand dangerous ex-
haustions Of participating in modern
war, is to produce, produce. produce.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27

An applicant for the position of
bugler in the Army tried so hard that
he blew out two teeth and lost the
job. Neighbors playing the saxo-
phone please note.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Uriter, although the use OF
a pSeudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
UtetU to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1941-01-27
Depl0reS Strikes
In Defense Industries.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Your cartoon, Speaking of Sacrifices"
was timely object lesson. AS trade
unionist, I am compelled to hang my
head in shame to think that in times
such as these an attitude on the part
Of certain workmen could be so aptly
portrayed 1t is undeniable that the
excuses of mushroom groups have
brought the entire organized labor move
ment into disrepute. To the earnest
craftsmen whose untold hardships in
obtaining recognition over a long period
of years finally brought about concilia-
tory methods and paved the way for a
better understanding the present-day
technique is calamitous and does not
augur well for the future.
1t would be we'll to remember that
the broad powers given the President
enable him to outlaw strikes in an
emergency anywhere in the land. If it
becomes necessary to resort to such
drastic action (which God forbid 1t
would place stigma on organized labor
from which it never could recover
This is no time to strike and cripple our
Government in its commendable efforts
to protect the people within its borders
The American Federation of Labor
should recognize these facts and with
out further delay inside of Y hours call
moratorium for the duration of present
hostilities absolutely forbidding any
showdown. sitdown, walkout or any
other form of strike. In less time than
it takes to tell, other organized bodies
would quickly follow suit, and make it
unanimous
Due to strikes only one airplane was
completed in France in August, 1899 Nine
months later the French labor movement
found itself without adequate protection,
without an organization and, worst of all,
without country. The mercenaries
that dismembered that unhappy land
have their counterpart in our land today,
and we should not any longer deceive
ourselves. Certain it is that no loyal
American will be party to such folly.
ALFRED D. CALVERT.