davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-04-23
THIS AND THAT
By Charles z. TrdcetreH.

dens for many years, and will be doing
duty when wars are no more.
But in time the mind tends to grow
stale with them. They excite no garden
Ing interest. It must never be forgotten
that garden interest, like most enthu-
siasms grows by what IT feeds on. The
necessity is always present to expand. to
keep going. To remain stationary is to
hecome-well, static and bored There
are many such gardens, and while they
are good yards, they do not invite enthu-
siasm, especially of the person who has
made them
Buy new things. therefore and give
your gardening enthusiasm a real fillip.
This is the one tonic, Of the supreme
ten. which will do the work
It is not all, by any means
Each Of the nine others mentioned here
is good. Perhaps the best part about
such suggestions is that they tend to start
minds to turning over and once this
process has begun. 1t Is easy to see other
lines of advancement.
Placing of stepping stones, our No. /,
is easy. but 1t affords much amusement
and gives a world of satisfaction on
completion
There Is always some bare spot, where
a few stones, sunk in the ground, will
make all the difference in the world.
Filling up some bare corner, say be-
lie
Too often such places are used for
trash or old broken-down lawn pieces
This Is a waste OF space as well as an
eyesore.
Plant something there and get new
focal interest.
Improving the lawn is standard, Of
course, 1t is one sure way to retain firm
hold Of gardening interest.
Something can be done to lawn at
every season of the year. This some
thing" is made up of two parts energy
and two parts determination.
Placing small stones, or rocks, at
vantage points, is another way to create
interest. BY this we do not mean making
a real rock garden. What we mean is
JuSI q 1C" IOShS. WIFI SHldil IOth kdIOeH
plants by them, such as sedum or some of
the small phloxes Even violets will do.
%%
The real rock garden is a masterpiece
and requires as much intelligence as to
write book.
1t is wonderful source Of satisfaction.
Perhaps not even novel will please the
successful creator as much.
Installation of garden furniture always
creates garden interest. Construction
Of terraces and pools is the source of
much interest, guaranteed to give an
entirely new delight in any garden.
Putting up hamock we have left till
| last just to accent it. We mean an old
fashioned hammock, the sort which is
uncomfortable, perhaps, but which just
fits in between two trees.
If you have the trees, by all means
put hammock there. This act alone
will add genuine FLIP to any jaded
garden taste.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Shakespeare

The wealthy mobiles paid him little
heed
As they rolled dotCn the Strand In
otlded coaches,
They may haze said, "The beggdr
seems in need;
Pray, fling him halt crotOn if he
approaches"
His homespun breeches, bnekIed at
the knees,
His plain gray hat, NTH leather
cord entwtned;
His simple linen ruG, brotor dou-
blet-theSe
Could not disclose the toisdonr Of
his mind.
He stroIled almost urnoticed through
the crot1d;
In face and manner, quite like
humble men.
None knetO his name, nor spoke to
him aloud,
Fet0 glanced his tuay, or turned to
look again. -.
The poDp, the conrtiers and the pain
display
Are all forgotten. Shakespeare HUes
today
ri. p. sToDDARD.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Permanent Housing Policy

Next in Importance TO the agree
fient on a public housing program.
as represented in the Lanham Act
and the additional construction con-
templated for Washington and vi
'cinity. is the policy to be pursued in
fte-planning and management OF
The housing which is built.
Determination Of this policy pre-
eumabiy will rest with the Federal
Public Housing Authority. which will
administer the housing funds allo-
Gated. Experience in public housing
seems to indicate that the wise
policy is to vest a maximum amount
OF authority with the local agency
in the case of Washington, the Alley
Dwelling Authority - in selecting
sites and in managing the family
housing, so that new and permanent
public housing can be co-ordinated
with other local housing built with
public funds. The alternative is to
vest such authority with one of the
national agencies, which will be con-
cerned more with the immediate task
Of providing the housing than with
the permanent effect Of such hous-
ing on the community as whole.
The Washington Alley Dwelling
Authority, starting from scratch and
working with limited funds, has made
a good name for itself in the work
so far done under its jurisdiction.
The management of its properties
has been conscientious and, as far
as known, efficient. 1t is the logical
agency to be consulted by the Fed
eral Public Housing Authority on
selection and planning of local sites
for family units provided in the Lam
ham Act, and to assume the manage
ment Of the properties when COM
pleted.
On the other hand, the temporary
construction-Such as dormitorieS-
which are to be built for the emer-
gency only, represents another and
distinct type OF housing, unrelated
to the family units now under Alley
Dwelling Authority, So closely are
the proposed dormitories for men
and women related to the Federal
departments whose workers they will
house, that the management of such
structures could well be placed with
some such agency as the Public
Buildings Administration.
Whatever policy is followed should
be guided by recognition of the fact
that erection of permanent housing
within community exercises a direct
effect on the community itself, and
the planning and management of
such permanent housing should be
as closely related as possible to
agencies which have a permanent
responsibility to the community.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Gasoline Rutionino

If the tire rationing program has
not yet brought home to the public
the full implications of wars impact
upon motoring, the drastic gasoline
restrictions which soon may go into
effect along the Eastern Seaboard
should bring the citizens face to face
with realities. In most cases, tire
rationing up to now has meant little
more to the average motorist than
curtailed Sunday trips, reduced
speeds and similar tire conservation
measures. But gasoline rationing of
the type now under consideration is
certain to make itself felt immedi-
ately, with resultant changes in the
motoring picture of far-reaching
consequence.
For example, many suburban
dwellerS who use their cars to drive
to and from Offices in the city will
be hard hit by the five-gallons-a-
week limitation tentatively proposed
by officials of the ONCE of Price
Administration. survey undoubt-
edly would show that a large number
of these motorists require in excess
of five gallons a week to meet the
bare requirements of transportation
between their homes and places of
employment.
Inevitably, the restrictions on pri-
vate motoring would add new bur
dens to already overloaded mass
transportation facilities. The gas
curtailment presumably would not
apply TO buses and other essential
carriers. No time should be lost by
public utilities officials and transit
representatives. in making emergency
plans to care for the extra traffic,
especially in the field Of suburban
bus transportation Obviously. some
means must be found to acCommo-
date the increased load on public
transportation systems that is sure
to result from further reduction in
use of private automobiles.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
New Efficiency Rotinqs

The new efficiency rating system
devised by the Civil Service Commits
sion should serve materially to speed
up the annual grading process which
now determines the eligibility OF
Federal employees for pay raises
under the Ramspeck-Mead Act.
Instead of depending entirely on
numerical ratings by which an at
tempt is made to evaluate mathe-
matically each factor entering into
the work Of an individual, those
agencies which so desire may use a
system under which the employe is
rated simply as unsatisfactory, !"
fair" good, very good" or ~ex-
cellent," Those marked good" or
better, are entitled by law to periodic
raises. Below that level advance
ment is denied
The alternative method was offered
by the commission to meet the needs
of war agencies in which the ire
mendouS expansion Of personnel
made detailed rating a major job
The simplification therefore lifts a
burden of no mean proportions from
administrative officers, and lessons
the chances of delay in determining
the individual markings which are
scheduled to be ready by July l.
Importantly, this shortened pro-
Evening star., 1942-04-23
ARLINGTON. Va.


Dear Sir:
7 have = small garden In which
have lost interest We have been here
for several years and II seems to me that
we have done about everything to this
yard that can be done. know YOU are
resourcetul. and thought maybe you
could tell me something new to do to an
old garden.
Il regret losing my interest. Garden
ing has always appealed TO me very
much. and now think we should all be
more interested in this work than ever
before. not so much to raise vegetables
as some suggest. but simply 10 keep up
our morale.
IF there are any suggestions you can
make. they will be gratefully received by.
with best regards.
Sincerely yours, o. l."
Garden hllipS are always possible.
We can think OF at least ten, which
might be tried.
Any one Of these tonics for the bored
gardener is we'll worth trying. because it
will show one how readily garden work
opens up to enthusiasm.
1t is difficult to keep up ones enthu-
sieSm. either in music. reading or garden
work. without something new to work on.
Something new has been added" a
recent cigarette slogan. is based solidly
on human nature.
The men Of Athens. Paul told us, for
ever went about seeking some new thing
to talk about
The Zest OF novelty, in other words
Wartime or no wartime tf there is such
a thing. it seems to make very little
difference.
The mind pines for novelty Gadgets
have perennial appeal, either in the gar
den or at the Office.
be listed as follows:
/. Stepping stones. placed here and
there.
q Filling up some bare corner.
3. Improving the grass.
T. Placing of rocks, here and there,
with small plants around them. CTThis is
in no sense rock garden)
5. Construction of real rock garden.
6. Installation of garden furniture.
7. Construction of a terrace.
8. Construction of pool
g. Putting up of hammock.
10. Buying new plants.
&%
The last is the best of all
Buying new plants, securing them from
friends, growing them from seed
This is the one genuine way to speed
up home garden interest.
There can be little doubt that many
persons with small gardens allow their
interest to decline because they stick too
closely to the tried-snd- true plants
There is nothing to be said against
the "sure-fire" plants, the old faithfuls
which have done duty in millions of gar
Evening star., 1942-04-23
France Protests

II the walkout" by five attaches
Of the French Embassy here can be
taken as a fair indication of popular
undercover reaction in France TO the
return TO power in Vichy Of pro- Axis
Pierre Laval, then Hitler's coup is not
without an encouraging aspect II
Is a full fedged revolt which has
taken place at the local Embassy-an
outraged protest by liberty loving
Frenchmen against the mounting in
dignitIes forced upon their unhappy
homeland by ruthless conqueror.
with the conniyance of a French
Qulsling.
The mass diplomatic demonstra-
ton so far has been joined by the
first and second secretaries of the
Embassy, by the counselor and by
two other members of the staff OF
Ambassador Henry Haye There
were reports that other attaches
might quit. Counselor Leon Marchal
promptly announced his intention 10
join the Free French organization Of
General de Gaulle and issued a bitter
denunciation Of Germany and those
who would collaborate with her.
Counselor Marchal undoubtedly
echoed the suppressed sentiments of
many OF his countrymen in sub
iugated France when he declared:
1t is hard to believe that the very
day when new hostages fell before
the German firing squad, French
voice should have absolved the ag-
gresSor Of the crime of having
brought about the war, in order to
praise the most barbarous regime
Europe has known since the start OF
Christianity, and in order to advo-
cate policy of confidence toward a
country which has constantly be-
trayed all its promises and which
knows no law other than that of
brute force. The truth is that Ger
many and Germany alone is respon-
sible for the sufferings of France to-
day"
Every American can Sympathize
with Counselor Marchal and his un-
fortunate compatriots in their an
guish over the lot that has befallen
their beloved country. France is in
bondage, but Counselor Marchal and
his fellow attaches, by their acts and
words. have given renewed assur-
ance that proud France, though
broken. still lives and resists her
conqueror and, one day, intends to
fight again for the freedom which
every real Frenchman cherishes
more than life itself.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Tells of Housemaids' Troubles
And Calls for Priority on War.
To the Editor of The Star

All this arguing about whether men
should or should not work 40 hours a
week must sound silly to those of us
who do housework in other peoples
homes as we'll as TO those women who
do their own work. think most house
maids work from 10 10 Il hours day,
and many days even IA hours, which
means every day except for a halliday
of twice a week, with no pay for over
time and little to say about working
conditions.
To those OF us who think things out
il is maddening to hear all this fuss
about whether a mans efficiency is i'm
paired by working more than 40 hours
a week and If it is right to make him
DO it. If We women can work nearly
100 hours a week, why can't men in
shops?
Congress never has bothered about
whether the health and human rights of
housemaids are harmed by such long
hours, and never done thing about our
hours, wages. working conditions or
given US the protection of unemploy
ment, sickness and old age Social Sc
curity benefits. So why do they show
all this tenderness for factory workers?
Is it because they are organized and
powerful?
Our men on Bataan have been looking
for planes ever since the war began.
and even all last summer when they saw
the war coming-and now they are dying
because the planes didn't come. How
many more Bataans must We have be-
fore we wake up to the fact that war is
on? If strikes were forbidden in all in
dustries, the workday increased TO at
least nine hours a day for six week
days, everybody treated alike, with non-
union men given the same rights as
union ones. We might get somewhere
with our war and save lot of blood
and money. MARY T. WHITE.
Bowling Green. Ohio.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Normundie Lesson

A naval court OF inquiry agrees
with a House Naval Affairs Subcom-
mittee that carelesSnesS, rather than
sabotage, was responsible for the fire
which wrecked the U S. S. Lafayette,
formerly the French liner Nor
mandie, at her dock in New York
harbor last February. The court
ascribed the disaster to gross care
3 leSSneSS and utter violation OF the
rules of common sense" on the part
OF employees Of the firm which was
engaged in converting the big ship
into naval auxiliary. Nor did the
coRt dodge the pertinent question Of
how such careleSSneSS could have eX-
listed in view of the fact that the re-
construction Job was being supervised
by officers Of the Coast Guard and
the Navy. The representatives Of
both services were criticized for not
taking Affirmative steps to make GER
tain that the vessel was properly
protected Secretary Knox directed
that these criticisms be noted in the
officers records
But no less important than the
placing Of blame for the February
fire is the corollary problem Of pre-
venting occurrences Of such dlSas-
ters. Negligence Of the sort that the
House committee and the naval court
discovered on the Normandie can re-
suit in as much harm TO the war
effort as deliberate sabotage II is
extremely disturbing 10 read Of an
other fire breaking out on the half
submerged liner even while the court
was preparing to submit its report
The latest FIRE started in the same
way as the original one-from an
acetylene torch-and the New York
City fire commissioner was quoted as
asserting that fire hazards on the
ship continue to be so great that
blaZes must have occurred nearly
every day" If this amazing situa-
ton has been depicted accurately. 1t
is high time that drastic precaution-
sry measures be instituted by re-
SponSible Navy authorities.
Moreover, the lesson Of the Nor
mandie indicates that there should
be a general tightening up Of safe
Evening star., 1942-04-23

cecure can be followed without
prejudicing the rights Of the work
ers. Those whose grades entitIe
them to promotions are not neces-
sariIy concerned with the detailed
analysis Of their work provided under
the old system. because they have
the assurance that on the wnole
their services are satisfactory. Those
who fall below the promotion level
are free to appeal, and in this pro-
ceeding they are acquainted fully
with the considerations on which
ratings are based.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Freedoms S Poet

Freedoms Poet
Whether or not men in the future
shall celebrate the life and works of
william Shakespeare remains to be
seen. If the outcome Of the present
war were to be a victory foS the
Axis powers. his distinction certainly
would be obscured. Adolf Hitler has
as little regard for the Prince of Poets
as for the Prince Of Peace. The au-
thor of Hamlet" and Macbeth" :"
like the martyred preacher Of the
Sermon on the Mount, is Signifi-
cant only in relation to humanity
left free to aspire. When and where
the race is put in chains "the book
that stands next to the Bible" and
the Word itself are robbed OF their
natural meaning, their elemental
purpose. Both require liberty for
proper fulflllment. No tyrant could
afford to tolerate the Bard Of Avon.
He shares with the writers of the
synoptic Gospels the destiny which
accrues from faithful service to. the
living truth.
A woman's intuition. it seems, is
responsible for the best comprehen-
sion of Shakespeare's vast ethical
impact upon his fellows in his own
day and in ours. Lady Montagu de-
clareS of him that he was lone OF
the greatest moral philosophers that
ever lived" His earliest, editors,
Hening and Condell. noticed that:
His mind and hand went together.
What he thought he uttered with
that earnestness that we have scarce
received from him a blot in his
papers" Goethe saw in him "a great
psychologist" and set it forth that
whatever can be known of the
heart Of man may be found in his
plays" Heine commented on the
scriptural "directness of style" which
characterized his achievement. and
Schlegel appraised him lin strength
OA AAOSAASSO q oClAAASOO, III
profundity of view, a prophet; in
all-seeing wisdom. protecting
spirit"
OF course, there was need in
Shakespeare time-as in ours-for
the labor which he performed. The
period of Queen Elizabeth and King
James I was rife with turmoil and
dissension. England was preparing
for devastating civil war, France
already was engaged in cruel religi-
Gus conflict. One age was passing
away, another was coming to birth.
The noblest of literary masters be-
longed to neither, yet to both. AIKEN
side, as well as any, sums up his
function in the world in the lines
This was Shakespeare's form,
Who walked in every path Of human
life,
Felt every passion; and to all man
kind
Doth now. will ever. that experience
yield
Which his own genius only could
acquire"
1t is long way from Stratford
to Bataan. a tedious journey from
Warwickshire to Burma, but men
who, it may be, never have paused
to think Of him as an elder brother.
are marching and fighting for the
civilization among whose architects
Shakespeare stands; and this is good
to remember on the 378th anniver-
sary Of that st. Georges festival upon
which his career was begun.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Weep-No Mower

1t is with mixed feelings that the
average husband and householder
looks forward this summer to the
problem of his lawn What if any,
thing happens to his one and only
lawn mower? He cannot get another.
while our factories are producing
more important machines with which
to NOW down the enemy. Unless he
can keep his present graSScutter in
shape, to paraphrase the words of
popular song Of some years ago,
There amt a-goin' to be no NOW"
On the other hand, if he does keep
it in shape, his wife will be continu-
ally after him to use it. This has
always been so, and it is doubtful if
the war will make any difference.
The trouble is that a wife never picks
the right time TO ask her husband
to NOV the lawn. Invariably she
selects moment when he has some
thing more important to do. such as
reading the paper or going fishing.
If only she would use a little dis
elimination, one of the cruelest
forms Of domestic slavery could be
abolished unof1cially without an
emancipation proclamation. There
must be some time when he is will
ing to NOV that lawn, and surely by
careful and painstaking research it
could be discovered and utilized by
the triumphant wife. Admittedly.
however, her problem is now further
complicated if her husband is smart
enough to put up an argument that
mowers should be conserved, like
tires and sugar.
Evening star., 1942-04-23

guards thrown around all ship and
dock facilities vital 70 the war pro-
gram. II is but inviting trouble TO
permit such lsxity respecting fire
protection and Identification OF
vorkmen and visitors as the House
committee found 10 prevail in the
case Of the ill-starred Normandie.
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Quotes Poets Praise
OF Selfless Politician.

To tbs Editor Of The Star:
Those who put politics above principles,
while disregarding promises and violat-
ing party pledges, should ponder on this
fine quotation from Alexander Pope,
penned prior to the American Revolu-
ton. 1t is stirring tribute TO a states
man who faithfully performed his duty
while subjugating self and think it is
especially appropriate today:
Statesman, yet friend to truth!
OF soul sincere,
In action faithful
And in honor clear!
Who broke no promise,
Served no private end,
Who gained no title
And who lost no friend;
Ennobled by himself.
BY all approved,
Praised, wept and tonored
BY the muse he loved"
EDMUND K. GOLDSBOROUGH
Evening star., 1942-04-23
Comments on Japanese Views
OF Bombardment of Cities.

OF Bombardment of Cities.
To the Editor OF The star
The world was indebted to Japan, sew
eral years ago, for a new definition of
the word cooperate" as applied to its
brother, China. 1t meant grab by the
back hair and hack violently, while ap-
plying the "21 demands" an AK or other
convenient instrument Of persuasion, in
cluding concentrated pacifcation via
bombs from the sky.
For these kindly favors, for saving
China from itself and from the sinister
specter of Communism, Japan sought
no terrttory-except some hundred thou
sand square miles disfigured by minerals
and natural resources.
So now, as the made -in-Japan COM
munique describes its first air raid:
This inhuman attack on cultural estab-
hshments is causing widespread indig-
nation"
The Toxic imperial radio has won, in
open competition, reputation for in
tegrity and honesty exceeded only by
its sister services of bogus blah in Ber-
lin and Rome. For this reason even
amateur observers could have predicted
that nothing but the customary schools
and hospitals would be picked out un-
erringly for aerial attack in the land
of the risen sun.
There are exceptions, of course, for
when carried out by Nippon against its
enemies, similar attacks are raised to
the level of, and nicknamed "humanized
war" WALTER BAHNSEN.