davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-01-31
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trdce1peH.

Often in the deep Of the night there
would come thumh, as a mouse knocked
over q package of cereal.
There were mice everywhere.
They would COMB leaping out Of the
kitchen and dive Through the dining
room, one after hae other, until the
observer was reminded of the chariot
race In Ben HuF
The favorite retreat seemed to be In
the stufing Of the large couch in the
living room.
Since this was ajrented apartment. in
vestigation never went farther than the
underside Of the sDfa No one ever slept
on it, and no wonder.
The stuning OIL the sofa remained a
mystery. no doubt to the huge satisfac-
ton Of the rodent. nt.Ropulation.
3 y -
In our childht,ad days Gn another
neighborhood not. 30 far from Columbia
road mice literally ran over our bare
feet.
It was no unusplal thing, If bureau
drawer were left unopened for as little
as two or three weeks. to find a neat
nest with six Inhabitants when the
drawer finally waB opened.
At night there you'd be rattling and
banging around, as the mice ran riot
Traps they Seered at. taking the
cheese, but neverAsetting them off.
They ran around the holdings Of the
walls, and on plate rails, if there were
any Of these. ast there usually were in
those days, ESPECIALLY in the dining
rooms. which always seemed to be done
in blue paper.
D+++
We recall one FESTIVE day when an old
friend of the family had been invited to
dinner. },
None OF the younger children had ever
met this man. and they had been warned
to be on theirs kest behavior.
The future writer of this column was
large painting uf game. Such paintings
were the thing, In those days. Today
they would bevextremely odd. except in
museum.
All of q sud hen, we saw a mouse ap-
preaching along the plate rail toward
the big painting.
The guest vfas seated with his back to
the mouse
The closer crept the mouse to the
painting, thel more interested we be-
came. and In few seconds the eyes OF
the entire table were riveted on the
small animal
The guest FINALLY grew restive. as he
realized that everybody else was seeing
something which he could not see.
The moube, too, must have thought
something was up. He gave tremendous
leap-for .mouse-and tumbled down
the wall to sthe floor.
With a sliout of There he goes!" all
the childre6 made a dash after him.
throwing, the table into utter confusion
and the guest into a complete dither
only 1t wasn't called that in those days
No doubt descendants of that very
mouse are sill living in that same house
Evening star., 1942-01-31
A Wise Decision

Few persons will regret the de-
cision of the House Naval Affairs
Committee to abandon it's proposed
inquiry into the tragedy of Pearl
Harbor. 1t may be doubted that
any committee could do better
fact-finding job than was done
by the Roberts Board. The House
committee, of course, could go
farther afield and investigate SUM-
dry collateral factors which con-
tributed indirectly to the debacle OF
December 7, but most Of these are
skeletons in the closet, the rattling
OF which seemingly would accom-
plish no useful purpose now.
After alias the Roberts report
implies in one of it's conclusions-the
complacency of the commanding
officers at Pearl Harbor was not ex-
elusive with them. The report bluntly
pointed out that the sense Of Sc
curity which prevailed in Hawaii up
to the moment that bombs and aerial
torpedoes began to fall was educ to
the opinion prevalent in diplomatic,
military and naval circles, and in the
public press, that any immediate
attack by Japan would be in the Far
East"
Nor is Congress itself beyond criti-
eism. Many of its most vocal mem
bers shared the complacency with
which the situation in the Pacific
was viewed by large section of the
American people. II skeletons are
Evening star., 1942-01-31
SuGge0tS Use Of Museums
For ONCE Space.

For ONCE Space.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In al the hue and cry for additional
space for Government workers, it seems
to me the height Of inconsistency to allow
huge buildings = be utilized solely for
the display Of relics. I refer to the Smith
sonian Institution buildings.
In the frst place, the citizens of Wash
ington during the emergency will be too
busy and too tired from long hours to
visit these exhibitions. Moreover, with
increased railroad rates and possible
priorities on civilian travel, there will be
few sight-seers coming to Washington.
Then why not store the exhibits for
the duration, say, in some Midwest city
where they would be safe from possible
bombing and where there is plenty Of
space? It certainly would be cheaper
to transport these exhibits to some other
city and store them than to rent space
and transport files and office equipment
of some governmental agency-not to
speak Of the inconvenience and hardship
on the employees affected.
A. c. PERRY.
Evening star., 1942-01-31

sumers dependent on other laymen to
decide what is good for their feet.
Bafaed, and expecting too much, they
wander from store to store seeking re-
lief"
The new system of size standardiza-
ton, with individual parts of the foot
rather than the whole foot fitted, might
do away with these difficulties, she be-
neves. 1t is estimated, she says, that
about 10 per cent of the population has
some sort of foot trouble. Distorted
toes, bunions, cor1ls, ingrowing and
thickened nails, and shortened calf
muscles often are due to shoes that are
too tight, too short, or with too high
heels. With presentmethods both dealer
and customer can do little to secure
good fits. The standard sizes simply
are not made that. way.
Evening star., 1942-01-31

to be ratified, Congress could Ill
afford to forget its failure to grant
the Nays repeated pleas for forti-
fication of Guam, nor its failure to
remove from our counterespionage
agents the overlapping restrictions
which, according to the Roberts re-
port, precluded effective investiga-
ton Of Japanese spies.
AS for Admiral Kimmel and Cen
eral Short, it is far better that these
unhappy officers, If called to &C
count, should be required to answer
to the proper naval and military au-
thorities than to congressional COM
mittees. All in all, 1t is hard to see
what good could come of reopening
the Pearl Harbor inquiry through
congressional action. The decision
of the House committee to drop the
matter Is a wise one.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Unified Command

Learning a costly lesson from Pearl
Harbor, America has acted promptly
and forthrightly to substitute uni
fed command for divided authority
at Hawaii and in other vital defense
areas. Secretary of War Stimson, In
announcing that Admiral Chester
W. Nimitz, commander OF the Pacific
Fleet, has been placed in supreme
command Of land, air and sea forces
defending Hawaii, told reporters that
efforts to attain unified control of
Army and Navy forces engaged in
joint defense assignments have been
In progress since the Crete disaster,
in which lack Of coordination
among Britain's land, air and naval
units played an important part. Why
these efforts had not made greater
progress was not explained.
The Roberts report clearly indi-
Gated that a single responsible COM
mand at Pearl Harbor might have
averted or lessened that tragedy.
Instead, divided authority and re-
sponsibility led to oversights, mis-
understandings and unwarranted
assumptions that made the base .
shockingly easy target for the Japa-
nese surprise attack. In its con-
clusions, therefore, the Roberts Board
led OF with the declaration that
success in war depends on effective
utilization Of military power and that
this, in turn, requires "co-ordination
of the operations Of the Army and
Navy"
Although it may seem like locking
the stable door after the horse has
been stolen, the belated decision to
coordinate Army and Navy activi-
ties under single commanders in
strategic insular and coastal areas
is reassuring to those who have been
wondering how soon and how we'll
the Nation would profit from the
mistakes at Pearl Harbor. Service
rivalries and petty jealousies have no
place in wartime strategy and tactics,
and the War and Navy Departments
have recognized this fact in agreeing
upon unified commands not only in
Hawaii but in the Panama Canal
Zone, where an Army air officer is
supreme, and In the Caribbean,
where the Atlantic Fleet commander
is in charge. Chairman Vinson of
the House Naval Affairs Committee
suggests that this policy of co -ordi-
nation should be extended to the
country's continental defenses, as
well. The proposal merits careful
study by the President and his war
advisers.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Distance

He has the afr of one ,oho trdvels
far,
Although he seldom goes beyond the
topn
A mile a,uay. But distance cannot be
Measured in terms or mileage. One
pho roDes
The ,otdth OF earth may be no better
fed
In mind and spirit, than the one oho
TO topn and back and stops along
the path
TO patch a squirrel, or pass the time
OF day
With netghbors. His perception otues
breadth
TO all he sees and hears. He Is DeH
read
On matters of the moment, and he
SGUeS
The crumbs of knowledge tohtch are
brushed aside
By Others In their boundleSs Uander-
EyO.
A pista is no iDider than the sphere
OF piSion, and no longer than the
span
OF human understanding. He be-
holds
The ,Dorld In its entirety; his pieto
Is none the less obscured because his
course
Is limited. A dusty country road
Can be adventure " man looks pell
TO his surroundings, and percetues
the small
Details of nature. Distance Is the
space
He Journeys in his heart from, day to
day,
Along trapel-Dorn, familiar tody.
BILLY B. COOPER.
Evening star., 1942-01-31

Portuguese outpost for l30 years, and
the strait were administered by the
viceroys appointed by Lisbon. Saint
Francis Xavier established the earli-
est Christian mission to the Malays
in the town. The commercial ex-
ploitation of the whole Of South
eastern Asia was a Portuguese
monopoly, so profitable as to invite
the active interference of other
countries. The Dutch occupied both
the strait and the town In 1641, and
their domination continued until
1795, when the British took charge.
Navigation, however, was COM
monty unhampered during the period
beginning with the last mentioned
date. The commerce carriers of all
the world passed between the two
shores under the protection of the
Union Jack. Penang, George Town,
Port Weld, Port Swettenham and
Port Dickson gradually became pros
porous shipping centers on the Malay
side, Belawan- n-Deli on the Sumatran.
American hunters Of tigers and black
leopards and botanists in search Of
tropical plants to be acquired no
where else are familiar with the
peninsula coast.
If the strait is taken by Japan, 1t
necessarily must be retrieved as
promptly as possible. The civilized
communities Of the earth could not
tolerate Nipponese possession Of an
artery OF travel so important to the
general welfare of humanity.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Comments on Beacons'
Allegedly 'Superfuous.'

To the Editor Of The Star:
At the west end of G street in front
of the Treasury Building stands a street
lamp with the top OF its globe blackened
and its dark post adorned with white
placards advertising War Savings, Red
Cross or other campaigns, making a
candlelike beacon with the aid of the un-
blackened portion of the globe.
wonder how many more of these air
raiders guides are scattered throughout
the city. AS air raiders will illuminate
our white public bull lls-eyes" from the
War and Navy Buildings in Arlington to
the Capitol by dropping flares, these
lesser beacons would seem as superfluous
as lighted windows, happy flfth-column
idea, but no aid to perfect blackout.
w. E. ALLEN.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
= By Frederic J. Hdskin.

A reader can get the ansuer to any
question OF fact by tcrtttng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hnskfn, director, Washington,
D. c. Please t1close stamp for reply.
@. What il better for car battery, Q
quick charge or slow charge?-F. w. K.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that slow charge is better for
car battery.
@. How much did 1t cost to kill a man
In Caesars time, in the Civil War and
In the First World War2-D. S. c.
A. Capt. Lowell M. Limpus in "Twen-
tieth Century Warfare" says, that in
Caesars time 1t cost only rs cents to kill
. man. In the American Civil War the
cost had gone up to about 5000 and
In the first World War to $21 900. The
cost, now, is probably In the neighbor-
hood Of $4,000.
@. What Is the average amount Of
candy consumed by each person in the
United States in q year?-A Al
A. Candy consumption in the United
States was 1853 pounds per capita for
the year 1910.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Parasite Hunt

0IOSItS lIOut
It Is unfortunate that the Presi-
dents informal press conference dis
sertation on parasites in the District
can contribute nothing of value
toward a solution of the desperately
real problems confronting this war
time Capital.
In Mr.. Roosevelt's estimation, to
paraphrase his press conference re-
marks, the problem shapes up about
as follows: There are good many
parasites in the District The Gov
ernment may ask them to leave, but
If things are made uncomfortable for
them, they are likely to leave any,
how.
Who are these parasitical resi-
dents? According to the President,
they include families living here for
social purposes, parents whose chill
dren are in school In the city and the
occupants of twenty-room houses on
Massachusetts, avenue. Perhaps they
are the forlorn descendants of the
economic royalists, the robber barons
and the princes Of privilege who held
sway prior to 1888. The President
did not particularize. 1t may also be
noted that Mr.. Roosevelt gave no
estimate of the number Of District
residents who, in his opinion, deserve
to be classed as parasites, and it
seems obvious from the nature of his
remarks that no effort was made to
find out.
There would be more substance to
the Presidents suggestion If there
could be a showing that the removal
of the parasites" would make avail
able to the Government and to the
war effort the things that are needed
in Washington. But the few twenty
room mansions on Massachusetts,
avenue occupied by parasites, even If
made available by Government seiz-
ure and exile of the occupants, would
not go very far to provide living
quarters for the influx of an esti-
mated 153, 1000 war workers, or office
space for their typewriters and MINI
eogra phing machines. And If the
President is seeking even these quar-
ters to help stem the tide, the occu-
pants would be more apt to respond
to an appeal to patriotism than to
classify themselves as parasites and,
wearing that uncomplimentary tag,
get out.
Even more disturbing than the
Presidents choice of language, how
ever, is the impression which his
statement conveys of the state Of
mind in which the war-inspired
problems of the District are being
approached. Whatever else may be
said of the matter, these problems
were not created by the parasites"
and they cannot be blamed for the
dangerous failure to make adequate
preparation to meet them.
Defense Housing Co-ordinator
Palmer told a House committee
Thursday that he had directed the
attention of Congress to the critical
situation developing In the District
seven months ago. Yet no effective
steps have been taken to deal with
the problems, which are rapidly in
creasing in number and complexity
and are wholly beyond the power of
the local community to solve. It
would be much better for all con-
cerned If the President would stop
worrying about the parasites on
Massachusetts, avenue and get be-
hind some real solution of the legis-
lative and administrative log jam
that is threatening to bring disaster
on the Capital.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Denies Quitting Position
As Defense Co-OrdinatOr.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In a news story in The Sunday Star
January Is to the effect that the civilian
defense organization in Virginia was
awaiting Gov. Darden's new setup an
unfortunate choice of words was used.
In the headlines 1t was stated that Mann
Quits Post in Arlington"
Most emphatically wish to say that I
did not quit" my post. What I did do
was to state that was holding my title
OF co-ordinator under the authority of
Evening star., 1942-01-31

"I am so DID," replied father to
his inquiring youngsters, that I can
remember way back before the
Harry Bridges deportation proceed
ings and can distinctly, recall sacco
and VanZetti."
Evening star., 1942-01-31

"Spend Some Time Looking In the
Mirror and Then Decide What You
Will Do" runs q recent woman's
page headline. Many Of US would
make up our minds after just a
quick glance.
Evening star., 1942-01-31

Ski races scheduled In the Reich
have been cancelled. Mani authori-
ties are now trying to figure out
some way to cancel the race out Of
Russia.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Calls for Idet4tification
OF Others Responsible"

Calls for ldeHtihcation
OF Others Responsible"
To the Editor o3 3The Star:
Yes, there bare others responsible for
the tragedy Gt Pearl Harbor. The press
has q duty ftlly to- expose them by pub
hshing theiA names and photographs.
Let no technicalities interfere.
I point thS finger at those members Of
the Senate band House who supported
legislationf tanich obliged our counter
espionageb baqents in Hawaii ito stand by
helplessly'wtiile known spies were using
the wires farld radiorto plot our destruc-
ton" b
Let the tfame be apportioned Justly
and individually. Don't let congress
sional squaVks distract attention from
the squawkefs' culpability. Let us have
the namesy.nd photographs.
q, GRANT-SMTTH
Evening star., 1942-01-31

Parties and Games Are you
planning any parties for February?
Valentines Day, Lincoln's Birth
day. Washington's Birthday-each
calls for distinctive type Of enter
tainment. Novel ideas and sug-
gestions for parties on these dates
as we'll as parties for every season
Of the year are included in our
44-page booklet. A special chapter
is devoted to children's parties and
games. You will find it a handy
guide to modern entertaining. To
secure your copy inclose 10 cents in
coin wrapped In this clipping and
mail to The Star Information
Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-01-31

=. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
All rights Of publication Of special dispatches
herein also reserved.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Letters to the Editor

Lettefs to- the Editor must
bear tide n6r1e and address of
the tcrHer, although the use OF
q pSeud donyF for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right tosedit all letters 1Uith
q uieto ito Condensation.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Praises Articles
BY Special Writers.
WASHINGTON OBSERVER.

Praises Articles
BY Special Writers.
To the Editor onrAs Star:
The articlt in The Sunday Star jan
uary Is by lare Boothe and Brig. Gen.
H. J. Reilly, "Why Toxic Is Not in
Ruins in retaliation for Pearl Harbor," !"
and by Felix Morley, Japan Victories
Are Setback to White Prestige in Far
East" were fine.
0Rs. L. II. sMALLwOOD.
Evening star., 1942-01-31

the previous administration and that, in
view of the contemplated reorganization
Of the defense administration in Virginia,
felt that I Sould no longer consider
myself co-ordirkator. I believe that this
is the customary and courteous action.
I then placed my services at the dis
posal Of the County Board, which decided
that the defense personnel should con-
tinue to act ht the interim pending re-
organization lion by the new Governor
and State Legislature
HARRISON MANN,
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Ask PointedeQuestion
About Leagte Failure"

About League Failure"
To the Editor otsrhe Star:
Geneva Observer" says in your issue
of January 20: "The League (of Nations)
did not fail because America was not
member"
What is his answer, and that Of others
who think this. to the question: Would
the League Mave failed If America had
been a mene1er7"
WASHINGTON OBSERVER.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Pays Tribute 20 Irish
In Reply TO ~ Critic.
r. ~. Hl;tz

Pays Tribute % Irish
In Reply TO - Critic.
To the Editor Of flle Star:
Referring ~ Boiling Somerville's COM
munication of January %, please permit
me to say that any people able to endure
a period Of harbaric repression, famine
and murder from the days of Henry II
down to the exit of the Black and TanS,
necessarily must be one Of extraordinary
courage and tirilty, not a problem child
and only EDWARDS indulge in self-pity.
If Fire ele sts not to catapult herself
into Witches fCauldron No. 2, that is her
business. Sometimes experentia docet.
= CHARLES H. BURKE.
Evening star., 1942-01-31
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance
Member of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post once.
Washington. D. c.
Evening star., 1942-01-31

Sion OF Size Intervals, SUCH as . BCu0y OF
children's body measurements has In
dicated."
Before the Civil War, Miss Mof1ett
explains, there was no need for sizes.
Shoemakers measured the feet of their
customers and made the shoes to fit
the individual. The war caused an un-
precedented demand for shoes for SOL
diers and mass production was intro
duced in the North. Each manufac-
turer had his own sizes. They were
considered trade secrets. Not until 1886,
when shoe dealers organized . national
trade association, was q set Of stand
ard sizes adopted and manufacturers
urged to follow it, with the dimensions
plainly marked on the shoes themselves.
Because their feet may measure the
same on the size stick time after time, "
Miss Mofett says, customers think OF
fit in terms Of standardized sizes. Few
are aware that shoes in different styles
and lasts, though marked with the same
size, may differ greatly In the way they
feel on the feet. Many insist that q
certain size fits them best without real
izing the influence of styling on pres
ent sizing practices.
when medical men cannot give foot
sufferers permanent relief by discov-
ering and treating the causes Of their
disorders, consumers often take their
troubles to shoe statesmen who under
take to tell them what they need. They
have grown up in an era when shoes
have been given most Of the blame for
fallen arches This confusion Of At
with thsrspy has tended to make con-
Evening star., 1942-06-04
Suggests Essay Contest
On Reasons for War.
To the Editor of The Star:

10 Ihe Edltor OF Inc star.
Why does not some press association,
newspaper or other organization spon-
sor local or Nationwide essay contest
to be entitled, why Are We Fighting
This WARP" The production should be
confined to the upper grades and the
high school pupils.
Such a competition, of course, would
necesitate tremendous amount of re-
search into ones own beliefs and cur
rent social, economic and political prac-
tices. If convinced that this were a
holy war for freedom or a war for pro-
lection of our. lives and liberties, chill
dren would more fervently and ener-
getically enter into the business Of SAL
vaging waste materials and doing every
thing else they could to win the war.
Many teachers and school officials
would meet with surprises in the views
that children have and they might have
to re-examine their own traditional at
titudes and beliefs.
A discussion fermented by such an
essay contest would be of value in help
ing unity our citizens in an all-out
effort to win the war.
E. B. HENDERSON.