davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Tanker Program

The announcement by Rear Ad-
nliral Emory S. Land, chairman OF
the Maritime Commission, that the
Governments new shipbuilding pro-
gram will provide this country with
the worlds biggest tanker fleet by
the end of 1943 is heartening news,
In view of the urgent need for addi-
tional tanker tonnage to replace
losses by enemy action and assure
continued flow Of oil to the forces OF
the United Nations.
If Sumatra falls-and Japan has
already won a menacing foothold on
the island-the United Nations would
be cut of from their main supply OF
oil in the Southwest Pacific. The
loss Of Java, another immediate OBJ
jective of Japan's war lords, would
deprive the nations aligned against
the Axis of their last source of ready
fuel for later offensive operations in
this area. Unless Java is held they
must find means to transport oil
across the Indian Ocean, or the Pa
cific. This would require large fleet
Of oil carriers.
In the Atlantic, the Nazi subma-
rines have launched new cam
paign against Allied shipping, drive
that has carried the war to our own
doorsteps. As evidenced by the sink
ings so far reported, tankers are
prime objective Of the U-boat COM
manders. Though the Navy may be
counted upon to exact heavy toll Of
these underwater raiders, we can
hardly hope for an early and COM
plete removal of the submarine
threat. Every effort, therefore, must
be made to keep the volume Of new
construction well ahead Of the losses.
Though Japan has seized some
territory possessing oil and is now
poised for a descent on Sumatra and
Java, the heroic resistance Of the
Soviet armies has prevented the
Nazis from reaching the rich oil
fields Of the Caucasus. Having access
TO most Of the worlds oil-producing
areas, the United Nations continue to
enjoy one big advantage over the
Axis. without an adequate feet OF
Evening star., 1942-02-19
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles r. Trdce,cen.

in time can wear away the grass in Z
wide circle.
Fall and winter grass Is dormant, and
this helps the process, enabling the
circle to grow wider over the days, until
by the time spring really comes down
this way In earnest, the bare circle Is six
or more feet in diameter beneath the
feeding station.
The fortunate thing Is that the roots
Of the grass are still there.
Provided the feeding station is re-
moved early enough, there is no ikeli-
hood Of permanent injury to the lawn.
The thing to do is to clean up all seeds
and husks, sometime in early March.
take away the feeder, and plant fresh
grass seed thickly, the thicker the
better. This, on top Of the old roots, Is
I sure-nre combination, provided It Is
kept well watered for q time.
Some Of the birds viii return to this
magic area, but 1t cannot be helped. They
will be after the grass seed, OF course.
This Is one of the reasons why the
sowing needs to be done thickly.
Ordinary sowing will not DO. Two or
three times as much seed as one might
think adequate Is essential. Then there
is some for the birds, and some for the
growing, too. At the same time. the old
feeding station is in full operation in
another part Of the yard for at least a
month This will tend to draw most OF
the birds away from the old spot. 1t
must be kept in mind that this old spot
has excellent fertility, and viii respond
marvellously. provided 1t b not allowed
to dry out. In some springs nature will
take care Of the watering.
Such bare spots in the lawn are about
the only drawback to bird feeding In
the home grounds.
It does not amount to much. after all.
II the householder will proceed as
directed above. He will ind, in fact, that
the places where such spots have been
will be the sreenest In his entire yard.
Even such q small price would not
have to be paid, If there were no spar
rows. Cardinals, chickadees, titmice,
nuthatches and others would not make
such spots.
Since 1t is dificult, however, for the
genuine friend Of birds to keep any
unwanted species away, short OF
murder-and there is far too much of
that In the world, as 1t b-he will not
begrudge the sparrows. They, too, are
birds, as well as any, belonging to .
wonderful family which has given US
such charmers as the song sparrow. the
white -throated sparrow, and the cardi-
nal, himself.
The numerous small feet have been
happy feet, and these. according to the
great story, are blessed.
Surely no friend Of birds really be-
grudges the English sparrows. Some
times they make out that they do. In
their hearts they admire these birds,
which have changed from city habits to
suburban habits as capably as anybody.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
"ouEsADA STREET.

Dear Su.
II have read your column with great
deal Of interest. and have always mar
yelled 1t the way you can make small
thing important. Certainly II attention
to detail Is 4 mark Of genius. You are
such, 1t the same time you show what
1 real writer can do.
This little build-up u merely 4
prelude to asking you for some advice
on what to many might appear . very
trifiing detail, but to me it looms with
all the intensity Of an invasion, for 1t Is
an invasion, Of 4 sort.
"It is the invasion By the birds Of the
grass surrounding the lawn feeding
station which I have made for them.
I never had any idea, when started
this business, that the birds would ruin
my lawn, but that IL what they are
doing.
DAY after day the area around the
feeder Is growing larger ana larger.
It has peen all trAmped out by the
hundreds Of small feet. You simply
wouldn't think it possible. but there
they are, day after day walking around
with those little claws.
Little drops Of water will wear away
q stone. somebody has said. and I can
testify to the fact that little bird claws
will wear out even q good lawn.
when started feeding, the station
looked 50 pretty on It's stake in the
center of the lawn.
Then one day I noticed that the
songsters had thinned out the grass for
a foot In all directions. 1t did not seem
important at the time.
"Going out OF town for several weeks,
leaving instructions for the feeding to
continue, when I returned saw At once
that the circle Of thinned grass had been
widened to1 feet.
Nov it is 4 feet, and getting wider
every day.
"Is there anything can DO about this,
except give up feeding altogether, Or
place the station In some other oca.
tion7
"I am considerable OF q lawn crank, I
suppose, but I do not like to give up
either birds or lawn. What can I do
about this2 I await your answer with
considerable interest.
"Very truly yours, z. c."
We wish there were some magic solu-
ton to this small problem, 10 that We
might live up, in some degree, at least.
to the glowing hrst paragraph Of our
correspondents letter.
The truth, however, Il that there Is
nothing to do about it. Birds will be
birds, and claws will be claws. The
successful bird feeding station usually
results in . bare spot in the grass.
This Is caused by the trampling Of
many hard feet hour after hour. The
material Of claws Is horny, tested over
the centuries to give the birds . sure
foothold either on ground or bough.
1t always will be . wonder to observ-
ing persons, how such small creatures
Evening star., 1942-02-19
'Sunnybonk' Author

Albert Payson Terhune was born to
a literary career. He belonged to a
great dynasty Of preachers, teachers
and writer's. His mother was the
gifted Marion Harland, author Of
"the first intelligently prepared cook
book" and a lengthy list Of novels
almost as widely famous. He grew
up in an atmosphere of letters and
was conditioned" to journalism from
his earliest boyhood onward until the
time of his graduation from Colum-
bia University in 1893. Thereafter,
he was tireless producer of copy"
In his case, practice certainly made
perfect. The successes he achieved
were earned by Spartan devotion
to labor. Few of his contemporaries
excelled him in the volume of his
output. When he remarked that he
had discussed in print everything
under the sum-" no critic dared chal-
lenge the affirmation.
From 1894 to 1916, Mr.. Terhune
was a contributor to the Pulitzer
newspapers and the syndicates
operated in connection with them.
His sports comment appeared in the
New York Evening World, and he
was especially popular for his stories
Of the heroes Of the prize ring
Corbett, Fitzsimmons, Jeffries among
the number-with whom he occa-
sionally boxed. A natural en-
thusiasm for biography. meanwhile,
prompted him to prepare features"
concerning a multitude Of "celebri-
ties" who had played distinctive
roles in politics, statecraft, business,
science, art, music and the theater.
His short pieces" Of an inspirational
character were circulated to q uni
versal clientele.
But MI. Terhune was destined 10
Evening star., 1942-02-19
BudIunds

No cry OF gulls above this badland
Where parchtng hiu wdpes break
against the sky;
Only oray-totnoed ha,ok that tire
lessly e.
Cruises ghost sea, desoldte and
dry.
And scans ,0ith beady eyes this tor
ptd land
Where promontory pro,ps, a ohostly
feet
OF ofhdlt-su,,k ships, toreuer anchored.
stand
Against the dancing tide Of bddldnd
heat.
An empty sea Dhere t,pisted gulches
crdDl
Like serpents through the rugged
reefs Of stone;
Where arid mesa islands, hulkino
tail,
Are ghostly tables strewn Nth
bleaching bone;
A land tu.aDhich 1t seems no creature
thrfres,
And yet the ordy-iOinoed hdiok banks
sharply dtves.
CLIFF WALTERS.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
LEGISLATION Needed

Attorney General Biddle had the
lessons Of Pearl Harbor in mind
when he told the House Judiciary
Committee yesterday that legislation
Is urgently needed to exempt the
Federal Bureau of Investigation and
the Army and Navy intelligence
agencies from the so-called wire
tapping ban in the Federal Commu-
r1icationS Act. 1t was q provision
of this law forbidding interception
and divulgence of any wire or wire
less messages "by any person" which
gravely handicapped the F. B. I. in
counterespionage investigations in
Hawaii prior to the Japanese attack.
These restrictions were mentioned
by the Roberts Commission and Mr..
Biddle added further details when
he testified that I'VE constantly
tried to get commercial cables be-
fore December 7 and were constantly
refused" The Roberts Commission
declared that had the commercial
radio and cable messages passing
between Honolulu and Toxic been
made available to the F. B. l., Amer
lea might have been forewarned Of
the treacherous attack.
While 1t Is true that the Supreme
Court has ruled only that the F. c.
c. Act forbids use in court by law
enforcement officers Of any evidence
obtained by tapping wires or exam
lining private messages, there has
been much confusion in official cir
cles in recent years as to what uses
out of court-if any-law-enforce-
ment officers could make Of inter-
cepted messages. At one time the
Attorney General ruled against wire
tapping for any purpose whatever,
but, when the dangers Of such q pol
icy were seen, permission was granted
the F. B. I. to intercept communi-
cations in such serious crimes as
espionage. sabotage and kidnapping.
Any evidence obtained in this man
ner was not admissible In court,
however.
Obviously, the uncertainty and
confusion which have hampered the
F. B. I. and intelligence officers in
the vital work of investigating the
fifth column should be cleared away
at once by legislative action. The
Celler bill, pending before the House
Judiciary Committee, would effect
this clariflcation by exempting our
counterespionage agents from the
restrictive provisions of the F. C. C.
law. Congress should enact this bill,
or some similar remedial measure,
without further delay.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

A reader CON get the answer to any
question Of fact by irriting The gre-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hasktn, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for reply.
q. Please describe the service nag
Of the last war. Has such q nag been
adopted for the present war7-L. 3. r.
A. The service flag in the last World
War consisted Of . white field with Q
red border. On the white field were
placed blue stars representing the men
In the armed forces. When one Of these
died the star was changed to gold. No
service nag has been designed for this
war as yet.
Z. Is 1t true that the invention Of the
airplane Is foretold In the Bible?-F. T. 8.
A. The Bible passage which has been
interpreted to indicate the invention of
the airplane, at least In warfare, Is
Isaiah, 31:5: AS birds flying, so will the
Lord Of hosts defend Jerusalem; defend
ing also he will deliver it.: and passing
over he will preserve It,"
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Tells of Fatal Clock
That Strikes for Nations.

To the Editor OF The Star:
It seems to me that We, the American
people, at this moment are writing an
other chapter, the title Of which might
well be Apathy"
We are, it seems, Of two minds: Either
80 full Of arrogance that we believe our
selves to be invincible, or else we assume
that the war will be won without our
personal support.
But this war 80 far has been one OF
underestimation. The Maginot Line as 1t
is today should be ample proof Of that.
We know now that unsuitable ships can
be sunk, that oceans are no longer safety
barriers against invasion, and that every
man and woman who Is not for us Is
against US.
In spite Of all these irrefutable facts.
written in blood. we are content to play
at war with less seriousness than . boy
would show playing with box Of tin
soldiers.
The vast majority Of us are trying, In
our own picayunish way, to be war
profteers. This not because We are
lacking In patriotism, but rather because
we still are asleep to the serious situation
that lies before us.
We are indeed q foolish people II We
belivee that, at this late day, We can
emerge unscathed from this debAcle.
Beyond . doubt We will awake to the
danger that threatens; the question Is
will we awake only when 1t is too late?
It already Is far later than many
Of US realize. For 30 months the clock
has been striking the hours with grim
fnality. Warsaw, Rotterdam, Brussels.
Paris. Belgrade, Athens, each mark .
forward movement Of the vast war ma
chine. More recently Manila and Hong
: Kong listened to the somber knell: today
it strikes for Singapore. Much OF this
terrible havoc could have been prevented
had the Axis powers not been under
estimated by those opposing them.
Tomorrow the clock will strike again;
perhaps at Rio. perhaps 1t the Panama
Canal. II may take that 10 wAks ~ UP.
II It does, for some Of u the awakeninS
WI come TOO hto. y Mo,
Evening star., 1942-02-19

@. What Is the oficial language Of
PAlestine?-G. B.
A. There are three oficial languages,
English, Arabic and Hebrew. Many
school children learn two Of the three.
Q. When were trotting races first held
In this country?-C. A. E.
A. The first horse to be known as o
trotter was Messenger, q thoroughbred
English racing stallion imported into
Philadelphia in 1913. The frst public
trotting race took place in 1918. Messen-
ger died Of collie at Oyster Bay in 1908
and was buried with military honors.
@. Does soap keep better with or with
out the paper wrapper2-J. H. II.
A. Soap keeps better unwrapped and
exposed to the air. In this way 1t be-
comes hard and dry and will last much
longer than if kept in wrappers.
@. The Gullah Negroes are said to
speak the worst English in the United
States. Where do they nve?-U. j. NJ.
A. Most Of the Gullah Negroes live on
st. Helena Island, OF the coast of South
Carolina. They also live in Georgia and
son the sea islands nearby.
@. Which State is the driest and least
populated?-T. D. S.
A. Nevada. It's population In 1910 was
11o247. The rainfall averages only 8s1
inches annually.
G. Is . soldier required to wear his
uniform while on furlough?-W. J. M.
A. The War Department says that the
decision as to whether a soldier will
wear his uniform while on furlough is
made by the commanding oficer who
grants the furlough.
Q. What is meant by telling the
bees?"-F. T.
A. 1t is a very old superstition that
when death occurs in family some
one must tell the bees of it or they will
become spiteful and hard to manage.
Before the funeral of a bee-owner the
hives must also be turned around. The
origin of the superstition Is probably due
to reverence for the extraordinary INTEL
igence Of bees.
@. Why Is q person with hearty ap-
petite spoken Of as o good trencher-
man7"-B. D.
A. In England and in the early days In
the American Colonies blocks Of wood
about foot square, followed out In the
middle, served as plates. They were
called trenchers and sometimes the whole
family shared one.
Q. Who was the author Of the Sea
mans Bible?"-C. T. C.
A. Nathaniel Bowditch, who in 1902
published his valuable work, New Amer
ican Practical Navigator" which is often
referred to as the "Seaman's Bible"
@. What is the formula for making
tree tanglefoot?-G. r. E.
A. The following preparation NAV be
used to catch insects on trees: pound
rosin, 81 ounces molasses, 81 ounces
boiled nnseed oil. Boil the three ingredi-
ents together until they become thick
enough to spread on the tree
Q. How many towns are there in
Alaska?-A. B.
A. There are in the territory IS in
corporated towns and 200 unincorporated
places. including native settlements.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

General Macarthur rates a refund
of $629. .66 on his 1941 income tax and
everybody sincerely hopes he may
get a chance to spend the money. He
has overpaid the cost Of his military
education by his country by many
thousand times that much.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

There are, sad to say, some Amer
leans yet so fatuously complacent
that they can toss OF the present
situation with the thought that the
next great earthquake, due soon ac-
cording to scientists, will nx ia
pans business in plenty Of time.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

Another good use for those 10-cent
Defense stamps which are held In
odd lots Is suggested. They might
be ruled available for use - special
delivery stamps or, In fact, for any
sort Of postage.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

tankers, however, this advantage
cannot be fully capitalized. In ac-
celebrating its construction program,
the Maritime Commission Is thus
making an important contribution to
the success Of the war effort.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the ,ortter, although the use OF
a pseudonvm for publication ts
permissible. The Star reserDes
the right to edit all letters trfth
q pietD to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

Weight Control-A simple, SEN
sible booklet which shows the re-
lation Of foods to weight, and how
to control your weight without
using medicines, trick diets or
apparatus. In its 80 pages, telling
in . plain way about vitamins,
calories. proteins, carbohydrates
and all the other food essential
terms, and reducing, you will find
the scientific facts in everyday
language. Table of weights for
both men and women. To secure
your copy Of this practical publica-
ton inclose 10 cents in coin,
wrapped In this clipping, and mail
to The Star Information Bureau.
Name
-------------------
Address
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Urges Daring Activity
70 Relieve Gen. Macarthur.
70 the Editor Of The star:

70 the Iditer Of The Star:
From the outset Of the Japanese war
one fact has seemed to stand out above
the travail Of the United Nations. No
matter how far the jap forces 60 and
spread out they are no stronger than
their lines Of communications. How to
destroy communications and strand the
Japs in localities far removed from,
Japan Sink their warships and COM
mercial fleets. How7 With an air
force 30 huge that 1t will be enabled to
search the entire Pacific area for enemy
ships and, when found, to pounce on
them with bombers In such numbers as
to make their escape impossible.
The forces Of the United Nations must
b daring and 1t seems TO the writer that
Gen. MacArthur1 dilemma Il q challenge
70 osr Nation which cannot be ignored.
We MUST % 10 his rescue-ws must b
Wiling - tsks lonS chances - taks ~
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Tells Of Collegiate Institute


In Historic GserEetown.
70 the Editor Of The ssar:
An article on the first graduating class
Of the first Washington high school ap-
pearing In The Star for February was
most interesting. It brings to mind .
certain graduating class Of long ago.
The school in question was the George
town COLLEGIATE Institute, at the corner
OF Thirty.frst and N streets. It was
erected in l7s7 by the grandson Of q
Revolutionary soldier, who became the
grandfather Of the late william Gordon,
well-known attorney. In the garden was
an English walnut tree that was as large
as any oak In later years. when the
late Judge Walter S. Cox lived there,
he sent some of the nuts to my mother,
who planted them in our garden. That
was in 1866. In 10 years 1t bore only
10 nuts, but from 1875 onward it bore
from two to three bushels Of nuts every
year. In Q memorable storm In Sep
tember, 1896, however, the original tree
blew down. Fortunately, my mother had
planted nuts In another part Of the
garden and one Of them grew into .
tree that yet bears.
To return to the school. the principal
was Miss Lucy Stephenson. She was as
sisted by an able corps Of teachers.
Among them may be mentioned Miss
Lucy Simpson, who taught mathematics
and history; Mrs. Siddons, who taught
elocution and whose husband was the
grandson Of the great Sarah Siddons
and the author Of IS books. Edwin B.
Hay, destined to become the most popu.
lar man in Washington, taught pen
manship. He was succeeded by william
Cohen, now of woodward & Lothrop,
who also taught penmanship. After the
death Of Miss Stephenson, Miss Simp-
son removed the school to Rockville.
As for my graduating class, four out
Of five are living. They are Miss Jessie
Alder, Tor many years buyer ut Wood
ward & Lothrop. in whose honor I
compiled Edward Washington and His
Kin; Miss Mary Baker, the daughter
Of an Episcopal minister who became 4
graduate nurse and now Is living In
disnified retirement at the Kenesaw;
Miss Daisy Harrison Of Clarksburg, w.
Va, who lives at the same address, and
yours truly" always to be found In
Georgetown.
My two sisters were graduated from the
same school. Our photographs, taken
in our graduating dresses, form q part
Of the collection Of the f1ne arts divi-
sion Of the Library Of Congress.
CORDEI.IA JACKSON.
Evening star., 1942-02-19

In Civil War times the term "cop-
perhead" was perhaps the most
opprobrious that could be applied to
a man. Is it possible that striking
equivalent?
Evening star., 1942-02-19

Inducements Of men, materials and
medicines to as gallant band Of soldiers
as ever faced foe. Our feet raised
havoc in surprise visit to the Marshall
and Gilbert Islands. Why not do the
same thing at Bataan7
This Is no time for disbursement.
We all can remember back few years
to the great Yankee baseball team
which liked nothing better than to 60
into the last inning with the score 90
against them and knock out enough runs
to win the game and gallop of. the field
with the opposition's heart" in their
pockets. VIM. D. GARVEY.
Blames Labor Unions for Proposal
To Fay Motor Industry Workers Subsidy.
TO the Editor Of The star:
Next to the St. Lawrence waterway,
probably the least defenAble Of the
projects advocated by the administra-
ton Is the proposal for the United States
to pay workers, who are displaced from
their jobs by the war conversion OF the
automobile and other industries, 50 per
cent Of their wages with a maximum Of
t24 4 week.
For what was the Unemployment Com
pensation Act passed II it was not to
take care Of just such temporary un-
employment This proposal is, of course,
only a beginning. If the precedent is
established that laborers out Of work
are entitled to receive 50 per cent Of
their wages. the labor unions soon will
run this ngure up to parity" or pos
sibly 100 per cent Of parity, following the
lead Of another patriotic" pressure
group. If our present labor Government
remains In power much longer. the rest
Of us will all be working to pay taxes
TO support the labor unions.
HENRY G. PARKER.
Evening star., 1942-02-19
Praises Services
NJ Mps RAo~eva1,

Praises Services
OF Mrs. Roosevelt.
TO the Editor Of The Star:
venture to suggest that Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt has rendered more real service
to her country and to the American
people than the sum total Of service
rendered by her critics.
CLAUDE WATTS.