davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1941-07-12

| With the footing in place, nailiAg
strips / by inches, are fastened
along the lower edge Of each car
riage for its entire length. Nail
these strips firmly so that approx
mately Ia inches projects. Cut
the upper ends of these strips at
the same angle as the header and
leave a gap of l inch to take the
thickness of the door when it is
closed.
The first two vertical boards are
next cut and installed. The angle
of the upper end of each is the
same as that of the stair carriage.
Use pinch lnishing nails for the
fastening and set them l inch be-
yond the end of the footing to al
low for the door. Cut and install
the second pair of vertical boards
in the same fashion and then turn
to the matter of installing the
shelves.
The bottom shelf is fastened di-
rectly to the footing, as shown in
the illustration. Divide the re-
malnder of the shelf space to suit
personal requirements and measure
them OF accurately on both sides.
Shelf supports are made of 1axl1a-
inch strips.
Panels and Battens.
With the shelves in place, cut and
fit the playwood backing. This is
nailed along the rear edge of each
shelf with shingle nails spaced s
inches apart. The smaller plywood
panel to block of the lower shelves
is then cut. Allow sufficient height
in this panel to nail it firmly to
the rear edge of a stair tread. Be-
fore this is done. however, two hori-
Zontal battens are nailed across
the panel, one at the bottom and
one about half way up, to act as
supports for the shelves in the
smaller locker.
Similar battens are fastened on
the rear Of the larger panel at the
same heights. and the shelves are
Evening star., 1941-07-12
By JULIAN STARR, Jr.

The persistence with which trash
accumulates under the cellar stairs
in most homes has caused q num-
ber of readers of this column to ask
what could be done to make the
space more slightly and uSable. 1t
is impossible to prescribe for each
stair width and height because they
vary q few inches one way or the
other in every home.
The accompanying illustration
shows a locker development of the
understands space which will be
suitable for most homes. A tall,
shallow locker is provided under the
head of the stairs for jams, jellies,
canned goods and supplies. The
shelves are only II inches deep and
everything placed on them is easily
accessible. The door closes tightly
against the shelf edges and the
rear of the shelves is backed with
quarter inch plywood.
This construction, is necessary
because use of the stairs, particu-
larly by children, will often shake
breakables off the shelves unless
they are tightly closed. The small
er door. down in the angle of the
stairs, gives access to a capacious
locker for odds and ends. If the
stairs stand out in the center of the
basement a similar door on the op-
posite side makes everything easier
to stow away and retrieve when
needed
PlywOod End Panels.
The shelves in the low locker are
not carried all the way under the
stairs, but are stopped by an end
panel of plywood. This wastes some
of the space down in the angle
near the floor, but it saves losing
things forever by preventing them
from falling off the ends of the
shelves. The wood recommended
for the job is common grade pine
or redwood. Buy wide boards, pre-
ferably those with v edge or SO e
novelty beading and get enough lor
the doors
The bottom frame or footing for
the lockers is made of 2 by 8 inch
stock. The two long side pieces are
nailed firmly inside the stair car
riages under the bottom step. To
determine the position of the outer
corner of this frame, drop plumb
bob from inside the carriage where
it meets the header at the top step.
Mark the point on the floor and do
the same for the other side. The
frame is built inside these marks,
not outside.
At this point it might be we'll
to consider the cellar floor. If it
is normally dry the footing can be
laid directly on it after coating
the bottom surfaces with white
lead. If the floor is damp or be-
comes moist during a rainy spell,
use small squares of tile, about
hree-eights inch thick, under the
footing at 3-foot intervals.
Evening star., 1941-07-12
Workmen Meet Objections
To Summer Painfinq

The five common objections to
summer painting are being met by
painting authorities, who declare
that the opposition to warm
weather paint work is not based
upon sound reasons.
The usual objections, painters
say, are that people want painting
done before insects make it neces-
sary to put up screens, that shrub
berry and flower beds are injured
when q house is painted in sum-
mer, that bugs stick to wet paint,
that painting in summer months is
bad on general principles" and
that painters are nuisance
around the house anyway"
In answering these objections,
painters assert it is possible and
practical to paint windows of a
house without taking down all of
the screens at one time. Props may
be used on the screens to facilitate
window painting.
To meet the fear of injury to
shrubs and flowers, experts say the
painter should be equipped with
notched pegs an6 light manila rope
with which to hold back plants.
The painter should also have light
weight drop cloths for placing over
small trees and shrubs.
Insects do stick to fresh paint, it
Is admitted, but bugs are a problem
In the fall As well and the actua
menace OF bugs is of little conse-
quence
Painting in the direct rays of the
summer sun should be avoided, it is
advised. but the work may be laid
out to follow the movement of the
sun.
A point advanced in favor of
summer painting Is that it may be
undertaken while the family is on
vacation. thus avoiding the odor of
fresh paint and other unpleasant
faatnrns
Evening star., 1941-07-12
Silver Star Home
Continued From Page B-1)

heater. These utilities are SO ar
ranged that there's room for a rec
reation room should the owner de-
sire one.
Three bedrooms and two baths are
on the second floor. One of these
rooms, several steps lower than the
main second floor level, has been
furnished as q sitting room. All
three rooms are of good size and
have ample closet space.
The house bears the Endorsement
OF the housing experts who compose
the Silver Star Homes Committee.
Evening star., 1941-07-12
700. 900 r. H. A. Looms Made

More than 100000 property own
ers have been enabled to repair and
improve their homes or other build
ings with loans insured by the Fed
eral Housing Administration since
July l, 1910, when the defense pro-
gram began to get under way,
Federal Housing Administrator
Abner H. Ferguson announced
today.
In the fiscal year just ended
lending institutions reported $780,
1000 of such loans to the F.. H. A.
for insurance, the largest amount in
any comparable 12-month period.
Evening star., 1941-07-12
New Insulating Board
Designed 10 Cover
Old Plaster CeiIinq
Overlapping Ponels
Can Be Quickly and
CheopIy Installed
By LAWRENCE CROLIUS.

DO you have q plaster ceiling in
your home which is just about to
come crashing down? If you have
such q condition in one or more
rooms you no doubt find it ex-
tremely unpleasant not only be-
cause of its unsightly appearance
but because it will cause terrific
mess when it finally does fall. And,
after all, who wants to sleep under
the constant threat of a sort of
miniature air raid?
This exaSperating situation can
be cleared up by calling in a plas-
terer and having the areas patched
or replaced, of course, but per-
haps you don't feel like going
through all that trouble. Or posi-
bly, you have some honor guests ar
irving on short notice, and you
want to whip the house into shape
in the shortest possible time. This
can be done if you use new type
OF insulating board in pre-deSigned
II PoSSAoiC IVA
you to cover large areas in re-
markably short time and have 1t
cost surprisingly little.
Boards CIeverly Overlap.
This new insulating board comes
IN small, easily handled squares,
which have clever system of over
tapping edges so that no fastenings
show. These edges form a joint
which completely conceals the nail
heads and does it very simply. The
nails are driven through an eX-
tended tongue on the edge of one
panel, then the adjacent panel is
fitted snugly into a V-groove COW
ering the nail head The opposite
edge of this panel is then nailed
into place and so on across the
ceiling.
You don't have to worry about
the old ceiling except to remove
any loose pieces of plaster, then
wood furring strips are nailed
through what remains of the old
plaster into the ceiling joists. This
provides a secure base for the nail
ing on the insulating board units.
To get nice smooth ceiling even
though it was formerly wavy, you
merely have to shin" the Turing
strips with small pieces of wood
wherever 1t is necessary.
Come in Several COlors.
After this new ceiling has been
put in place you don't have to
worry about painting or decorating,
with consequent muss and bother,
because the insulating board units
are available in number of pleas
ing colors including graytone, rose
tan, ivory and white 1t is also
finished with a smooth glazecoat
which provides a durable, dirt-re-
pelling surface which also has ex-
cellent light rejecting values. Be-
cause it is basically an insulating
material, this new ceiling decoration
will also act as an efficient barrier
against the passage of heat both in
and out of the room.
Note-For further informa ton
about any of the products de-
scribed here, write MIR. Crolius,
The Evening Star, and inclose
stamped, self addressed envelope.
Evening star., 1941-07-12
SpIinters Peril Children

Splinters that break of from
rough floors and steps cause rather
painful injury to falling children.
This danger can be removed by
carefully scraping the wood until
it is smooth, then applying good
protective coats of paint or varnish.
Evening star., 1941-07-12
Resin Emulsion Points

Paints of the resin emulsion type
are effective for use on masonry and
other porous materials. Among their
advantages are ease of brushing and
speed of application. They are
reducible in water only and dry to
q firm, even surface.
Evening star., 1941-07-12

James S. Taylor of the Federal
Housing Administration, is chairman
of the group.
Evening star., 1941-03-28

convinced that the threat Of Nazi-
ism to the Americas is something
real, something that must be resisted
with every ounce of energy which
the peoples of all the Americas can
muster. He is convinced that only
the survival of Great Britain will
keep that threat from being trans
lated into action-probably economic,
diplomatic, political and fifth column
action in the initial stages, but mill
tary action when the time Is ripe.
And the time will be ripe only when
Hitler decides that 1t is, Colonel
Donovan correctly points out. A
proper consideration of the realities
impels him-and many other Amer
icans-to the belief that nothing
which the United States may do to
aid Britain, or Greece, or Yugoslavia
will hasten Hitler's decision. What
we do, and how we'll and promptly
we do it, may, however, delay that
decision; indeed, may end all pos
sibility that the Fuehrer ever will
make decision to carry out his
plans for new order" on this side
of the Atlantic Ocean. Hitler will
choose his own time-if we let him.
We must choose whether or not to
resist him. And, Colonel Donovan
emphasizes, that choice must be
made in time, while resistance is
still possible, while others are still
alive to stand beside U.s."
Evening star., 1941-03-28
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles T. TrdceDell.

Over here, these natural controls are
lacking.
The result is that starlings have found
America much to their liking, just as
millions of human beings have found
it satisfactory.
The startling, along with that earlier
bird introduction, the English sparrow,
has been able to work out Its own
salvation through industry, bravery and
plain everyday grit.
In the process it has done some harm
to native birds, without doubt, but we
must submit that the starting knows
nothing about that.
A large bird, strong and capable, 1t
does what all pioneers dot takes
what 1t can, and makes the best Of
things.
Starlings range all the way from large,
fat specimens almost as large as pigeons,
to slim, young ones which many persons
have admired, mistaking them for some
other species.
Popular hue and cry against species
really means nothing. Most of the
clamor in the East has gone up because
the birds soil window ledges and auto
mobile tops But the buildings still
stand, and the automobiles still roll
Pigeons are just as nasty" but no.
body says a word against them. 1t is
| just the thing, that is all, to complain
against the starlings
Scientists are finding out its good
| points, though. and are reminding us
that many Of the ravishingly sweet notes
| in spring come from these birds.
StarlingS are even being blamed now
for supposed shortage of robins.
We have before us clipping from
a Midwest paper, which states that a
member of the Board of Public Works
and Safety put the blame on the star
| ling:
The starlings stay here all winter
and as fast as robins come in the star
lings run them out of town"
We have watched starlings intensively
and have yet to see one of them attack
a robin in any way.
Indeed, if either bird attacked the
other, it might be the other way around
The shortage of robins this spring is
| due to freezing weather in the South
where great bands of these birds, num-
bering as many as 100000, gather be-
fore breaking up to come North.
But we do not believe there will be
any real shortage in this vicinity.
Already we have two regulars" among
the robins, eating bread and milk and
apple with so starlings.
Tolerance is one of the real keynotes
of our land Now, more than ever be-
fore, we must refuse to be intolerant.
This extends properly to our bird
friends. 1t has ye< to be proved that
the starlings are anything more than
a nuisance; that they deserve death, OF
destruction, sounds too much like Hitler
to suit us.
AS Nation of bird lovers, we should
wait until all the evidence is in before
we put starlings in the same class with
rats, so universally and properly con-
demned.
Evening star., 1941-03-28
Emergency By-Products

Expansion of sanitary facilities to
keep pace with the population growth
is becoming major problem as a re-
suit of defense activities in the
Washington area. One of the most
serious situations Is in prospect in
Arlington County, where local Off
cials believe the sewage disposal
plant at Four Mile Run will be taxed
beyond capacity when seven new
Federal Government office buildings
are erected across the river.
The county is fortunate in hav-
ing a main sewer line which is of
sufficient size to carry the new load.
But the disposal plant must be made
big enough, too, for it is unthinkable
that the county should revert to
dumping raw sewage into the Po-
tomac. as is done at Alexandria,
scene of several private and Govern
ment housing projects and various
defense activities.
Suburban Maryland, in co-opera-
ton with the District of Columbia,
has made great strides in clearing
up pollution. It's largest problem in
connection with the upward surge
in population involves developing it's
water supply. It is planned to draw
on the Patuxent River, and authori-
zation for that step is now awaited.
With commendable foresight, the
suburban Maryland authorities al
ready have developed plans to care
for rapid growth, but the unexpected
decision of the Federal Government
to erect large buildings at Suitland
make it imperative to put the plans
into effect as soon as possible.
In more distant Maryland, how
ever, beyond the area where sewer
and water lines extend, protests are
Evening star., 1941-03-28
Colonel Donovan Reports

Few persons have had the oppor-
tunity which Colonel William ].
Donovan has had to survey, first
hand, the evil works of the dictators
In war-torn Europe, or to measure
the magnitude of the totalitarian
menace which yet confronts the
democratic world in general and the
Western Hemisphere in particular.
AS a special representative Of Presi-
dent Roosevelt, the famous veteran
of the first World War started out
last December on a tour of inspection
that carried him to all the battle
fronts and many of the capitals Of
nations allied against the common
threat of axis aggression, from Lon
don to Athens and Cairo. He is back
home with some firm convictions
regarding the war and Americas
relation to it.
Colonel Donovan Is more than ever
Evening star., 1941-03-28
UNITED STATES SENATE.
Dear Sir:

OcdI OH.
II am a recent arrival in Washington
and have much enjoyed the daily perusal
Of your column and would like to ask
you to write something about the throngs
there must be thousands of birds which
roost in the trees over the porticos of
the public buildings along Pennsylvania
avenue.
"At all hours of the night they seem
to be flying and chirping about the tree
tops and the caves of the buildings and
I wonder when in the world do they
sleep. If indeed they do!
And are they starlings? I see them
only at night and from the color they
appear to be starlings, though they look
smaller than those of my State.
II hope you will give them some at
tention in your column, for they and
their habits are most interesting.
Thanking you, J. T. B."
They are starlings, all right, and have
been the subject of much comment, most
of 1t adverse.
Every way has been tried to dislodge
them, but since they are protected by
law as song birds, nothing can be done
against them that will drive them away
or get rid of them.
They like us
Balloon barrages, as you might saw,
have been tried against them: that is,
toy balloons have been dangled in their
faces.
All sorts Of noise-making equipment
has been used to frighten them away,
but they refuse to bulge.
They are extremely fond of the nice
broad ledges of the public buildings,
which partake to some degree of the
inner warmth.
Starlings have a higher temperature
than most birds. Their feet freeze very
easily: There have been several cases
reported to this column of starlings
freezing to the tin roofs which abound
here.
SO far nothing has been done to "get
rid Of the starlings," despite the clamor
which has gone up to that end by un-
thinking persons.
1t is an odd fact that the real interest
and beauty of this bird fail to make
an appeal, because he really is a hand
some fellow, with some of the finest
bird whistles and notes in the world,
and with as remarkable an achievement
to its credit as may be found in all
the annals OF feathered creatures.
We refer to the fact that the starting.
in the New World has built up for itself
and progeny totally new migration
routes, and this within 40 years of its
introduction to this country.
1t is being realized gradually that this
bird is not harmful to any great extent,
while at the same time it cleans I'D
japanese beetles, one of the worst insect
pests.
Future discoveries, we feel sure will
reveal further good it does for mankind.
In England, its home, it is highly
esteemed. Over there it is held in check
by natural means. Owls and others keep
down its numbers.
Evening star., 1941-03-28
Upset at Belgrade

The revolutionary overturn at Bel
grade is an event of great Importance
with literally tremendous possibili-
ties. The whole setting was one of
flaming melodrama worthy of
Prisoner of Zenda" novel. Crowds
picturesquely clad in semi Oriental
costumes, harangued by bearded
Orthodox priests and monks, started
the uprising, but it was the army
that carried it to a sensational climax
In the early morning hours of yester-
day.
The new government is dominated
by the army and the Serb elements of
the population. The logical inference
is that its policy will be one of ma
tional independence at all costs.
Presumably that will mean defiance
of axis demands and reliance upon
British aid. 1t is indicated that the
axis pact may not Immediately be re-
pudiated but may be interpreted"
so strictly that it will be of no as
sistance to the axis powers. This
may be a mere effort to gain time for
better resistance to an expected Ger
man invasion.
Certainly, Berlin has nothing to
hope from so bitterly hostile a
regime as that which has now seized
power in Belgrade. The news must
have broken like bombshell amid
the staged pageantry of the Mat
suoka reception. Prestige alone
would seem to dictate the necessity
of a swift German counterstroke.
The Serbs, a people small but in
domitable, have flung a moral chal-
lenge straight into Hitler's teeth.
The news must stir every oppressed
element in Nazi- dominated Europe.
Berlin is bound to take quick and
effective action, even if it entails
grave military risks.
For Britain, the overturn at Bel
grade Is a triumph of the first mag
nitude. Probably the revolt had as
surance of British backing Indeed,
the open incitement to revolt broad
cast that very evening by a British
cabinet minister indicates the Brit
ish government knew what was
afoot. In any event, British prestige
is as deeply committed to supporting
the new government as German
prestige is toward effecting its over
throw. News dispatches describe the
presence of considerable British
forces in Northern Greece near the
Yugoslav border.
Thus everything portends a de-
cisive struggle, with Yugoslavia as
the main battle-ground. The broad
corridor of the Vardar and Morava
valleys forms the historic setting
where the fate of the Balkans has
often been decided If the war
machines of Britain and Germany
are soon to meet there in head-on
collision, the result will go far to
determine not merely the local
mastery of the Balkans but the out
come of the entire war as well. One
of the decisive battles of all history
may be at hand.
Evening star., 1941-03-28
Lost Garden

Pause by this gate;
The Dild takes back Its ground:
Blue larkspur claimed this mound,
The sundidPs face
Has long forgot the hours.
HoU intricate the gro,Dth.
The great cupped urn
Still holds the shifting dust
OF Iong-dead years,
Where times bright-dropptng tears
Hdve brought forth seeds
Slo,D- -germed by former springs;
Old naples yearn,
Against their green
Flash sky1Dard-soaring ,Dfngs.
Here, Dalled by hedge and thorn,
Made Dibrant by the song
In one birds throat,
Up-tipped to hold its JOY,
This spot remote
Still sounds one deuthless note
Where Lope Uds born.
IVY LINDGxY.
Evening star., 1941-03-28

being raised against both present
and prospective pollution in the
Potomac. From Charles County par
ticularly, well-grounded objections
are being raised to the pollution
from Alexandria, while officials in
that city contend that it is unfair
to demand that they clean up pol
luton as long as some exists in COM
munities farther up the Potomac.
The situation is fast reaching a
stage where it cannot be handled
by local authorities. State co-opera-
tion already has been authorized, but
the active support of the Federal
Government no doubt will be re-
quired before a satisfactory solution
can be achieved.
Evening star., 1941-03-28
Discusses School Needs
In Southeast Washington.

To the Editor Of The Star:
have followed with deep interest the
agitation to increase the facilities of the
schools in the Southeast section Of
Washington.
The campaign has resulted in an ap-
preparation in the 1912 budget to build
a much-needed school at Minnesota
avenue and Ely place Sc; also an appro-
priation for the acquisition Of site for
q school in HillcreSt.
OF course, we Southeast folk sincerely
appreciate all this generosity, but when
will the work be started?
The 1941 budget contained an item of
over 100000 for the construction of a
junior high school in Anacostia, but bids
have not yet been asked for.
Our present senior-junior high school
was built to accommodate about 1,10O
pupils. 1t now has an enrolment of
over 1,700. We have been appealing for
relief from this situation for over four
years. ERNEST J. READ.