davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-04-13
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trace1Dell.

favorites of those who come to the woods
to cut winter bouquets.
Even at that time of the year there
is every possibility Of the poison getting
onto the skin Of persons sensitive to it.
No doubt persons sensitive" include
far greater number than many realize.
1t Is the fashion, in country districts, for
smart alecks" to boast of their immunity.
While there may be some one, here and
there, who actually is immune, this
probably arises because Of the super dry
skin OF such person. There are such
people. IT may be put down as a sefe
bet that at least ninety -nine out Of
every hundred are In danger Of ivy
poison.
Experts Of the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture have put much time
on devising formulae to end the misery
OF the poison, and also lotions to render
one immune In the first place.
We believe that few persons will ever
dose themselves In advance, no matter
how good the dope" might be. 1t is
here as in many other situations, the
stun Is not at hand when one wants It,.
And even the person most convinced of
the dangers Of Ivy and sumac poisoning
commonly will not believe it until he
gets good dose himself.
Most experts agree that one of the
best remedies. If it can be applied quickly
enough, is hot water and soap.
This washes away the oil, and so miti-
gates the severity Of the attack.
One remedy widely used around this
city Is made from poison ivy itself.
Poisonous plants are not rare In
nature.
The old patent medicine slogan, purely
vegetable" makes student of plants
smile. because he knows that purely
vegetable" might mean anything at all,
from the benign to the violently pois-
onous.
Even some Of our food plants contain
substances which. In concentration, are
deadly poisons.
The potato is one Of these.
Kalnia, larkspur and wild cherry
foliage is poisonous to stock.
Country boys know better than most
how dangerous 1t is to eat berries or
nuts Of which they have no personal
knowledge.
Our poison ivy, Rhus toz.codendron, Is
classed as . deciduous climbing shrub,
although it is commonly called ivy.
Its shrub-like habit is what allows It
to stand up along walks and roads, and
come to almost the exact height where
an unwary hand may touch it. just a
touch often is sufficient, because the
hand then spreads the oil over the skin,
especially Of the arms and face.
Persons purchasing homes In the sub
urbs should beware of all pretty little
plants in corners and behind the garage.
Get rid Of them. If you have any doubt
as to what they are, and do not burn
them. They may be poison ivy.
Evening star., 1942-04-13

before December Z, and We were criti-
cized for it.
II We were un-American then for
stirring up trouble In time of peace,
what are those who now are trying to
stir up trouble In time Of war2
have been a union man for n years
and never read Communist, Nazi or
Fascist book, or ever stopped to listen
to any speech on any Of these subjects.
Here are two instances of what hap
pens If you don't belong to a labor
union. One of the largest restaurants
in Portland, Me-, pays its mattresses
81 day, makes them pay for every
thing they break, buy their own uni
forms. Another instance is large sheet
metal shop In Massachusetts, that en-
ploys 8 or 10 men. Just one man Is in
the union and gets union wages, the
rest get from one-haH to two-thirds of
what he gets, yet when any of these
men 60 out on jobs their employer
charges the customers full price for
them all.
cooAo ~ oiI ioi loiie lille telllIlS
OF cases like this, but what Is the use?
You fellows complain about the high
wages that union men are getting, but
am willing to gamble and give very
large odds that your salaries are a good
deal higher for lots shorter hours than
ours are.
A MAN WHO BELIEVES IN AMERI-
CANISM AND UNIONISM.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
New Cunudiun Agreement

In the approval by President
Roosevelt and Prime Minister King
Of program designed to secure close
collaboration between the two coun-
tries in increasing the output Of
farm products needed in the war
effort, the United States and Canada
have taken another important step
toward the full mobilization of their
economic resources against the Axis.
Due to the loss of imports and the
requirements of our Allies, both
nations face a shortage of fats and
oils, and have also undertaken to
provide the United Kingdom with
large quantities of livestock products,
q commitment which makes essen
tial larger supplies of feed grains.
Under the joint arrangements an
nounced by the White House, the
United States will increase its acre
age of soybeans and other oil-bear-
Ing crops, while Canada will expand
its acreage Of oats and barley, thus
making available to both countries
more adequate feed supplies for
their livestock. Canada also will en-
large its production of flaxseed, an
other oil-bearing crop. To secure
the desired increases in production,
the Canadian government is en-
couraging farmers in the Dominion
to shift surplus wheat land into fax,
barley and oats.
In addition to expanding acreage
q crops needed In the war effort,
Evening star., 1942-04-13

Channel and the coast Of Uruguay,
Murmansk and Lewes. Delaware.
American readers have learned to
pronounce such comparatively dim
cult names as Smolensk, Mindanoa,
Tobruk and Seruwai, Macassar and
Pyinmana. Their sons have gone to
places never previously heard of by
either themselves or their parents
in Australia, Eritrea, Irak, Burma,
China and elsewhere.
Some Of the locations already have
become solemnly sacred in the re-
membrance Of the people of the
United States. Bataan, for example,
is not merely the peninsula in which
for the first time in history an Amer
lean Army was obliged to surrender,
but rather the scene of the latest
demonstration Of the capacity Of
American men to endure the shock
of modern war Without fiinching.
When, however, the final chapter
Of the present great struggle is writ
ten, 1t will be found that it has in
volved not merely the whole earth
but. most particularly, that it has
embraced communities relatively ex-
empt from attack. That, possibly, is
the fact that the Axis tyrants forgot
when they planned their conquest OF
the planet. The maps spread out on
their conference tables were maps of
feasible strategic objectives. But it
will be in towns like Detroit and
Pittsburgh beyond their reach
that their enterprise of destruction
finally will be halted. Such, at least,
Is the faith Of all who look forward to
the victory of freedom.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
CHEVY CHASE, Md.

Dear Sir:
IT think you ought to give your read
ers general warning about poison ivy.
Not only Is this community full of
1t, but most Of the outlying suburbs in
and around Washington have this plant
growing in the least suspected places
"The best way to avoid 1t is to stay
away from it. I mean this, theoretically
as well as practically.
There are all sorts of medicines and
washes to soothe the itch Of the poison,
but the best way to avoid 1t Is not to
catch 1t.
Many persons do not realize that even
the oil In the smoke Is dangerous. I
know q woman who spent a pleasant
hour burning trash, and within few
hours was q sight.
Your friends, the birds, distribute
some seeds, but most of the blame can
be laid at the door of humanity. Not
enough people know poison ivy when
they see it, and many like to boast, for
some absurd reason, that they are not q
bit afraid of it.
They would do better to fear 1t, be-
cause If they did they would really try
to root it out and get rid Of it, and thus
end the danger to city persons who are
not much interested in plants and so
do not recognize 1t when they see 1t.
Every truly yours, T. F. D."
Spring Is the worst time for poison
Ivy, so take our correspondents hint, and
stay away from it.
II you can't keep away from it, learn
to recognize 1t, and handle 1t with gloves,
literally.
And even then be sure not to touch
your face and eyes, for the perspira-
tion Of early spring. on warmish days,
makes an ideal medium for catching and
distributing the poison.
Many think that they cannot catch"
the poison unless they go rambling
through the woods.
This, unfortunately, is not true.
It is perfectly possible to run against
poison ivy along some of the widest
tnorougnlareS In nearby Marylano.
Several years ago there was q huge
mass Of 1t just a few blocks north OF
Chevy Chase Circle on Connecticut
avenue.
1t grew along at just the right height
for a trailing hand to touch it.
y
Most pedestrians know that poison ivy
shows clusters Of three leaves together,
whereas the harmless Virginia creeper
has five.
This is one way to recognize it, but a
better is to beware Of all plants with
which one is not familiar. especially II
they are attractive.
Few vines and plants-and this simu-
lates both-are more attractive.
In the fall the foliage turns an at
tractive red, making 1t one Of the instant
Evening star., 1942-04-13
His Violin MeIody

With tang OF brine and chill of rain,
A fog bleio from the sea;
! loitered there In Shamrock Lane.
And heard melody.
Like Erin's harp In Tdra,s hau
The notes knep artist skill.
Wild phdntdsy obeyed their call
] sa,D fdr-of hin.
Where blossoms flung q ueH OF tohite.
His touch recalled an hour
The fragrance OF an April night
The scent of Hlac foper.
With tang of brine and chill of rain,
A fog blet1 from the sea,
He CROPPED his toay down Shamrock
Lane,
! kept his melody.
MARY PEERY WHITAKER.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hcskin.

A reader can get the dnstrer to any
question of fact by trtting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please trclose stamp for reply.
O. Who originated the symbol, v for
Victory?-A. II. d.
A. The creation of the "V" symbol Ii
attributed to 4S-year-old former men,
ber Of the Belgian Parliament, Victor
de Laveleye, who, after the seizure of
Belgium, went to London as broad
caster for the d. 3. C. IN January, 194l,
he employed this symbol ON the air for
the first time as an emblem for the Eng
lish victory" the French "victorie" and
the Flemish "vrijheld."
@. Does the human body use up
energy even when sitting still?-N. G.
A. Energy is spent during every mo-
ment Of life by reason Of muscular ac-
tivities within the body. Even when sit
ting comfortably In chair a man spends
about 100 calories Of energy per hour.
Q. How many parts are there in
watch?-T. J. j.
A. A modern watch has between $50
and 200 individual parts.
@: Is the. baobab tree as large ss the
giant trees of California?-P. B.
A. The baobab Is one of the largest
trees known, though not one Of the tall
est. 1t is noted for its huge trunk which
is often followed out and used for q
dwelling place. Such tree, in the
Congo, is believed to be 1000 years old.
In its bark is cut the name Of H. M.
Stanley who stopped nearby on his ex-
pedition Of 1874-l877.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
Expresses Appreciation
OF . Washington Newspaper.

70 the Editor of The Star:
May be allowed q brief testimonial In
favor Of your paper?
Last evening as I took UP The Star
my mind travelled back many, many years
to little Southern town and my old
home there.
In that home an old gentleman used
to board when his duties as secretary
to one of our Tennessee Senators did
not demand his time In Washington.
Your Star came to him always and as
. little child well do remember turning
to the advertisements which interested
me so, not as much the lads" them
selves but because of the formation of
the words. In those days they were
formed by all small letters, of each letter
IN the word, and to get the paper and
pick out the words seemed to give me
an untold thrill. I am sure there Is
none in your ofice now who remembers
that lettering.
On bleak Thanksgiving Day in 1887
We left our Southern home to reside In
Washington and The Star always has
been our daily companion. clean and de-
pendable, ever since.
After reading all the horrors of war
and turmoil and realizing mans "inhu-
manity to man." we turn to Henry Nc
Lemore, who surely pulls one out Of the
depths. We from the South did thor
oughly enjoy Keep En- Frying" Being
q lover of flowers and nature. Charles
Tracewells articles are q never-ending
source Of pleasure and information to
me. Also Frederic Haskins' column.
Old friends are best So with The Star.
Good luck and long continuance.
MRS. A. N. RICE.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
Gives Union Members View
OF Criticism Of High Wages.

To the Editor of The Star:
lam a member Of labor organiza-
ton in the building trades. When I say
"a member" mean just that. I am
not nor have I ever been an official or
Office holder at any time.
One thing do consider myself Is q
good American and that is more than
I can say of some Of the columnists and
commentators who criticize sthe work
ingmen and try to stir up class hatred
and thereby SOW seeds Of disunity.
Now here are few facts would like
to give you to show you what de-
fense worker is up against. First. I
wish to state that worked on certain
Job very close to the Canadian border
from about the beginning Of September
until the middle of December. This
Job was a farm until the Government
took it over and when it rained the
mud was literally ankle deep. The space
under the buildings was about 80 inches,
so that we had to work under there
on our hands and knees and crawl
around In the mud, for the mud was
there before they put on the first floor
and 1t stayed there as the sun could not
get at 1t to dry 1t. Then the ground
froze and 1t was not so bad until the
snow came, and then for three days !
worked on my hands and knees In the
snow. at 10 degrees below zero. putting
in pipe under the catwalks, which were
open to the elements.
The road leading to the job from the
town was narrow and trafnc was bad,
so that it took one hour to 60 to work
in the morning and the same at night
to get away. In other words, to 60 to
work at 8 O'Clock I had to get up at 6.
Leaving the job at 4:30, would get to
my room between $50 and pm, work
ing q total of over II hours for hours
pay.
From that Job in the North I went
South and the mud was just as bad
and travelling conditions worse. We
worked 10 hours a day and it took us
IA hours to do 1t.
am here in Washington now working
Q hours a day and it takes 13 hours
from the time I get up in the morning
until reach my room at night.
have not exaggerated one single
item, and all am trying to do is to
give our point Of view.
II you divide the number Of hours we
have to put In, our wages are not as
high as some people think they are.
Now as to overtime pay, defy any
one to prove that any man in any craft
of the building trades has received dou-
BILE time for any overtime, whether
Sundays, holidays or any other time
since last August. have worked most
every Sunday and know what ! am
talking about.
Another point to consider is this:
Ninety per cent Of the men on any job
today are from out Of town, about 90
per cent Of them are married and have
to maintain their homes and pay their
expenses too, which is the same Is keep
ing two homes, for 1t costs as much df
not more) to keep man when he Is out
Of town as 1t costs to keep his family
back home, unless he has an extra large
family.
It costs me from SIS to $50 week
so don't figure that in, please.
I only wish I were a writing man 80
that I could bring out these facts more
clearly.
You fellows tell Of strikes, etc. I
grant you thers were plenty of strikas
Evening star., 1942-04-13
Discusses Need for Small Coin

Discusses Need for Small Coin
To Meet Demand Of Present Conditions.
70 the Editor Of The Star:
There ought to be . 2h-cent coin.
minted from some Light material. Now.
we frequently note an advance Of .
straight nickel per unit where ~ cents
might take care Of the dealer or concern.
A certain lunchroom, for instance,
used to issue second cup of coffee free,
even with 10-cent order. Now 1t Is S
cents A az cent coin might do the trick.
The same applies to cuts of pie. bowls Of
soup, sandwiches, fruit by weight. Also
these scent weeklies-now 10 cents. As
to the latter, there might be "combina-
ton Offers" even ct this time.
Evening star., 1942-04-13

@. In which part of Japan do the
hairy Anus" nve?-L.
A. The Anus have lived as q subject
race in Hokkaido, the northern island Of
Japan, for over 1000 years. They are
regarded as the aborigines Of Japan and
characterized by much hair on the face
and body.
@. Does the giraffe make any sound7-
M. r.
A. The giraffe Is commonly believed
to be voiceless. However, anxtomists
now say 1t possesses poorly developed
vocal chords and there are authentic
records that under extreme excitement,
it utters bleating call.
@. Is there passage In the Bible
which says man. upon marriage, should
have year Of rest?-L. M.
A. Deuteronomy. xxiv5, reads: When
man hath taken new wife, he shall
not go out to war, neither shall he be
charged with any business: but he shall
be free at home one year, and shall cheer
up his wife which he hath taken.
@. What was the name of the first
horse to win the Kentucky Derby7-
v. OBJ.
A. The first horse to win the Kentucky
Derby was Aristides. The first Ken
lucky Derby was run at Churchill Downs,
Louisville, KY, May II, 1875.
@. Was Francois Bonivard, hero Of
Byron's THE Prisoner of Chillon,"
real person?-A McB.
A. There was a real Bonivard, though
his story differs from that related by
Byron. He was young Genevan who
waged guerrilla warfare against the
Duke of Savoy, who finally captured him
and imprisoned him In the Castle Of
Chillon.
@. Can anything be done to make
q wistaria plant bloom7 1t has had no
blossoms for years.-O. S. C.
A. Wistarias often disappoint by not
towering for many years. These nom
producers are seedlings and 1t is highly
uncertain as to when they will reach the
towering stage. Restriction OF the root
run and shortening back the long shoots
in the midsummer may aid in the forma-
ton Of flower buds. But the best thing
is to plant only grated or layered plants
from Towering specimens.
@. Who invented the ice cream freezers
IS. T. s.
A. The first ice cream freezer was
patented in 1843 by Nancy M. johnson
Of Philadelphia.
@. How did the White Mountains of
New Hampshire get their name?-R. r.
A. 1t is not known exactly when and
by whom they were so named. white
Mountains" appeared In a manuscript
as early as 1879 and even before that
they were called White Hills by mariners
on the Atlantic Ocean, to whom they
were landmark.
@. What poem was used by Beethoven
in the finale Of his ninth symphonya-
T. M. D.
A. Beethoven selected Schiller,s "Ode
to Joy" for the finale of his choral
symphony.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
New District Budget

The District OF Columbia budget
submitted to Congress last fall was
intended to take care of the normal
requirements of a growing National
Capital. Since that time the city
has undergone profound changes.
War has come to the Nations Capt.
tai, bringing a vast army of war
workers and a welter of housing,
health and other municipal prob
lens. Through highway grants and
emergency housing and public works
programs-past and prospective-the
Federal Government is recognizing
its responsibilities in the solution of
many of these war-born problems.
At the same time, the pre-war esti-
mates of community needs have be-
come outmoded. Services and facili-
ties which the city might we'll have
done without for economy reasons
before Pearl Harbor now have be-
come urgent necessities. In this
category are health, highway and
utilities improvements which logi-
cally should be reclassified from de-
ferred to a priority rating.
Thus, the $54,500,000 budget pre-
pared few months ago has been
revised upward to about $56, 500 900,
with the approval of the Budget
Bureau. Half of the 100000 in
crease will be used to begin construc-
ton of the long discussed South
Capitol street bridge across the Ana
costa River. OF the remainder, the
larger ALLEGATIONS include $42o 900 for
the Health Department and $250000
for a new water main in the South
east section.
The new bridge across the Ana
costa River was recommended
strongly In the Whitehurst highway
report az means of relieving the
overburdened Eleventh Street Bridge.
With the rapid expansion of mill
tary and naval activities in the Ana
costa area and beyond, the need for
a new span has become quite press
ing. This bridge cannot be said to
be wholly local project, since it will
constitute vital link between Wash
ington and sundry important Army
and Navy reservations across the
Anacostia River. For that reason the
city has right to expect the Federal
Government to bear a reasonable
share Of the ultimate cost of the
structure.
The additional funds for the Health
Department are urgently needed. The
city's peacetime health record was
far from exemplary and the threat of
disease is certain to increase as the
population rises. The boosted health
fund will enable the departments to
employ sixty-six more nurses, twenty
more food inspectors, five more sani-
tary inspectors and other personnel.
This increase, plus the hospital IA
cilities scheduled to be provided from
Lanham Act funds, should greatly
strengthen the city's defenses against
wartime epidemics as well as the
ordinary health hazards Of a large
community.
Officials have indicated that, de-
spite the enlarged budget, revenues
from existing sources may be suffi-
cient to obviate any increase in local
taxes. Certainly, every effort should
be made to keep within existing
revenue totals, for the present era
OF rapidly rising Federal taxes is no
time to consider adding to the local
tax load.
Evening star., 1942-04-13
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the ,rriter, although the use OF
q pseudonyn1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters tDith
q Dte,0 to condensation.