davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
THIS AND THAT
By Charlie +. TYdcesceu.

not afraid to come In. but seem 10 b
terribly upset about the problem Of
leaving, especially II there are human
beings around.
It Il the human, Of course. Of which
they are afraid, and look ut worldwide
conditions will show that they are not
far wrong in their general and by no
means secret estimate Of us, - . race.
AL the animals, with the exception Of
q very few, shy away from man.
Can 1t be that they have been right,
all these centuries7
Mr. Lottridge has the following TO say
Of the flying squirrel:
THE flying squirrel Is . very special
lied animal and stands In . group
well separated from the other North
American squirrels. Its so-called flying
membrane at once marks 1t out from
the other squirrels, and in addition
the texture OF the fur IL very much
softer, the individual hairs being rather
long, very lax. and exceeding soft to
the touch. The membrane il supported
mainly by the limbs. but in addition .
spur, or slender rod. Of cartilage runs
backward for q short distance from the
wrist and serves to stiffen the forward
edge of this gliding plane. A number
Of flying squirrels have been described,
some ID species and Subspecies In ALL
and while the differences between many
of these varieties appear slight, there are
several well-marked groups best singled
out on the basis Of size difference"
This writer regards the flying squirrel
as one Of the most beautiful and graceful,
and by far the most gentle of our squir-
rels, becoming very tame in q few days"
It avoids the light. during the day.
he says, its large eyes, like those OF the
owl, being better adapted to darkness,
land so one may get the idea that 1t is .
dull and uninteresting pet, crawling into
your sleeves or pocket and seeking any
dark place Of concealment."
The flying squirrel likes to Jump from
one tree to another by sailing down at
an angle, then suddenly by lowering its
tail and elevating It's head, causing itself
to "zoom" upright on the tree trunk. The
ANGLE of descent can be anything from
10 to 50 degrees, but at times it will
be seen to make practically perpendicu-
lar drops.
The way Of progressing through the
woods is peculiar to it. That Is, it sails
from the top OF . tree trunk to the
bottom Of another tree trunk. then
climbs up this tree In . flash, and repeats
the performance Thus, while doing q
great deal OF upward climbing. which
gets 1t nowhere, Is far rs horizontal
travel Is concerned. 1t does the whole
30 swiftly that 1t can make faster time
through the trees than ordinary squirrels.
Our advice to any one who lives In
the suburbs and who discovers . strange
animal In the house, Is not to become
panic stricken, but to ascertain whether
it is not . flying squirrel, and then to
determine If it might not make an
interesting pet. at least for q week or
two. 1t is not nearly as likely to bite
as the common gray squirrel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
Emergency Housing

The House Public Buildings and
Grounds Committee has acted with
commendable speed in reporting
favorably the bill to authorize ex-
penditure Of up to $50,000,0 900 for
emergency housing and public works
in Washington and its environs.
About $40,O00,O00 Of this sum would
be used to provide 10000 housing
units for war workers in the lower
income brackets-a need that is
particularly acute and the re-
mainder would 60 for water supply,
sewerage and other facilities required
to take care Of the city's expanded
population.
Chairman Lanham properly made
It plain that the District Of Columbia
should not and would not be ex-
pected to repay all Of this money. He
pointed out that a major portion Of
the allotment would be in the form
OF outright grants. This is but logical
and fair, for the chaotic conditions
which the bill is intended to relieve
have no relation to Washington's
normal needs and are not the result
Of any local derelictions. The hous-
ing and public works shortages for
which the money would be spent are
the direct outgrowth of the increas-
ing concentration here Of wartime
and pre-wartime governmental activ-
tiles. Hence, 1t is the overwhelming
responsibility Of the Federal Govern
ment to 80 that these extraordi binary
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
PIunninq Commission

The plan for reorganization of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission as outlined by Alfred
Bettman, chairman Of the Cincinnati
City Planning Commission, merits
careful consideration, coming as it
does from one who Is familiar with
the functioning of the local group
through his frequent consultations
here. A reorganization Ito meet
present changing conditions" was
recommended some months ago by
Chairman Frederic A. Delano, who,
although DESTROYS Of retiring from
the commission, fortunately was pre-
vailed upon to remain long enough
to assist In the reorganization pro-
gram.
Aside from the question of whether
MI. Bettman's plan for a smaller
commission, composed OF a full-time
salaried chairman and four part
time Salaried civilian members, Is
the best solution of the membership
phase OF the reorganization proposal,
it is clear that Mr.. Bettman, in urging
that the commission be given a status
more than advisory, has put his
finger on one of the chief weak
nesses Of the present setup. With no
authority to compel submission to 1t
Of public buildings and grounds
plans, the commission has been seri-
ouSly handicapped in carrying out
the task for which Congress created
1.-THE development and protection
Of an orderly program for growth of
the Nations Capital. Hasty by
passing Of the commission nearly
led to erection of the new War De-
partment Building at the front gate
Of Arlington National Cemetery, q
mistake which only presidential in
tervention prevented. And failure Of
administrative officials to consult the
commission caused serious complica-
tions in the emergency building pro-
tect at Suitland, Maryland, where
inadequacy of utilities necessitated
drastic curtailment of plans.
Congress has given the Fine Arts
Commission certain powers to con-
troll the type Of development opposite
public buildings. It would seem only
reasonable that similar authority
should be given the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission with
respect to Federal buildings and
reservations. At the least, admins
trative officers should be required by
law to obtain the advice Of the COM
mission before proceeding with plans
for new buildings or other public
works. Certainly recent experience
has shown the dangers Of failing to
consult established planning authori-
ties.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05

needs of the overcrowded COM
munity are met fully and promptly.
Until recently there had been .
too prevalent disposition in admin
istrative and legislative circles to
neglect this responsibility, the gen.
eral feeling seeming to be that WASH
ington should shift for itself, emer-
gency or no emergency. Fortunately,
there has been a marked change in
attitude with the outbreak of war
and the prospects now are that the
Federal obligation in this local crisis
will be recognized adequately. Con-
gress can do its part by expediting
passage Of the $50,000,000 housing
bill.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
"EAsT FALLS CHURCH, Va,

Dear Sir:
with your knowledge Of birds and
outdoor or Wild animals should be glad
II you will help me identify small rodent
which Was discovered by my nearest
neighhor when she entered her kitchen
yesterday afternoon. when she asked
me to help her catch 1t.
VERY squirrel-like in appearance, about
or . inches long. dark gray and mouse
like IN shape, but q broad, nat tail about
one inch wide, and not bushy Is the
regular gray squirrel, although covered
with the same fiat fur Of his round
little body.
He was perched atop the water reser-
voir OF the kitchen stove, in which the
morning or breakfast IRE had been out
for several hours. BY the time went
over to help her round him up. he had
gone into the dining room, where our
efforts to corner him sent him scurrying
from one chair to another, where he
seemed to fasten himself around the
legs in rat-like fashion.
This game Of de-and-seek went on
for several minutes, when he decided to
get into . chair seat, and gave me an
opportunity to pick him up and carry
him to the recesses of the woods and far
from the noses Of the two same.seeking
dogs and the cat.
do you think it could have been .
flying squirrel? How many specimens
are there hereabouts, besides the plain
SQUIRREL
Sincerely yours, o. Z. c."
Silas A. Lottridge, in the one-volume
Mature Encyclopedia" gives the follow
ing general description Of the flying
squirrel:
"A small, soft-haired tree squirrel.
Head blunt and rounded; ears low and
broad; hair on ears very short; body
small; tail about Is long a. head and
body, broad and nat; an extension Of
skin from the sides Of the body reaching
from wrist to angle forming, when the
legs are spread, . nat plane; legs Of
moderate length; hair very soft and Of
moderate length; eyes large and soft;
general color above grayish-brown, be-
low white; hairs on tail very soft, and
while tail Is broad it Is not bushy. Noe
turnal in habits.
Measurements - total length, $50
inches; tail bone, 1 inches; hind foot,
and 22il00 inches"
Flying squirrels commonly get into q
house at night, and most often have .
very hard time Of 1t getting out.
Householders who find these little AMI
mails racing around, frantically trying
to md . means OF escape, are even more
frightened than the creatures.
If cosnered, they sometimes seek shelter
under sofas and the like.
The best thing to do Is to open out
side doors and take screens from win
dows, and then leave the house for .
time, 80 that the animal will feel safe to
leave.
All squirrels, including our common
gray squirrel, are very much put out
when discovered in the house. They are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
Out With the Pins!

Growing scarcities Of metal and
cardboard, together with some con-
sideration for maintaining morale
among the civilian male population
OF the country, should bring an
overdue reform in the matter of
mems shirts.
New shirts, and sometimes stiff,
laundered shirts, reach the long-Suf-
fering male in a form designed to
torture him mentally and physically.
Such shirts are stuck full of pins
and gadgets in the button-h holes,
distributed with a devilish shrewd-
ness throughout the garment in a
manner that foils feverish efforts of
the most painstaking searcher to
find and to extract them. The usual
result is that some ingeniously con-
cealed pin leaves its ugly mark upon
the helpless carcass Of the wearer,
sometimes catching him at the very
moment that his dinner partner has
asked him question demanding
great concentration, such as: Where
should we strike next in the Far
East?
The fact that men have not re-
volted long since against this hide
Gus and wasteful practice by the
shirt manufacturers and laundries is
tribute to their disciplined patience.
But the war may make such revolt
unnecessary. An incalculable amount
Of valuable metal and cardboard,
both needed in the war effort, could
be saved II the practice Of pinning
and stuffing shirts were dispensed
with. Regard for mankind having
failed to bring this sensible contribu-
ton to happiness, patriotism should
force the manufacturers and laun-
dries to take the step now. Out with
the pins! Out with the gadgets!
Out with the cardboard! If per-
suasion fails, let Mr.. Henderson in
woke strict rationing and immortalize
his name in the masculine branch
of every American household.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By frederic J. HdsktH.

A reader can oct the sassew 10 e1y
question OF fact By ioritsxs The xrs-
ming Star information Bureag, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Warrington.
D. c. Please iHcIoss stamp TOR reply.
q. What are tina longest sessions a
Congress on record7-L. Z. II.
A. The last session Of the Seventy sixth
Congress lasted 500 days. The hrst ses-
sion Of the seventy-ssvsnth Congress
lasted 3e5 dayA These are the two long.
est on record.
q. What was the amount q he I'd.
eral tax collected On passenger ears hst
year7-E. 8.
A. Federal excise tai "a passenese eAsS
and motorcycles amounted 10 eioi 49,.
60o In 1e4l.
@. What Is the origin Of ths Aaans
"gecko" q applied 10 the hsardi- q. =.
A. It takes it, name from ~ az
"gek-ko." the last syllable being Given
sharply.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05

VI 0VvO8000041b S10Ik1S
70 the Editor Of The Star:
It Is with great concern that I read
IN The Star front pats story headed
10 Pm. Curfew Urged for Girls In q. 3.
Service"
T am . young woman with years Of
stenographic and secretarial experience,
both in and out Of the Government serv-
ice. As my time after working hours Is
fully occupied with language and defense
courses, overtime work At my ONCE,
caring for my own apartment, making
my own clothes and occasionally going
to the theater or dancing, contrary to
Representative Hills apparent belief, I
have never yet felt the necessity for &C
cepting invitations from some Of these
boys on Capitol HILL" Is he 20 aptiy puts
1t. Can It be that Congressman believe
the faults mentioned are peculiar only
y vonnAns vu00QA + WAiTEA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
February Storm

II u not spring. but thts b sprine-
time trin6.
Warm and blustsSy fssi u Sass;
I hear It singing @ Il ssoee1s Cd
Ie6ves,
Clearing the sd,th tor sroeGsss
and grass.
1t Is not spring, but this b spring.
time rain
Wearing a rdinbop halo round hsr
head,
Dancing Nth siluer slippers on ths
ldtDn,
Her touch like orchard petals,
softly she'd.
And thongs OF prtsoned buds are
torn asunder
BY this sharp lightning thrust, thb
burst OF thundsrl
sUDU STUART HA0xR. .
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05

Map Of Africa-Africa - ons a
the major continents Of the world.
1t Ii an active news center, With
the warning nations trying to pro-
tect their interests or usurp the
rights Of others there. What DO
you know Of this continent
enough to understand the news
dispatches from there7 II not,
order our MAP OF AFRICA In full
color, al by 28 inches in size. Re-
verse side carries . vast amount Of
statistics Of wide interest. To Sc
cure your copy inclose 10 cents in
coin. wrapped in this clipping, and
mail to The Star Information
Bureau.
--------------------
Name
Address
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
Energizing the O. c. D.

In announcing partial reOrganl-
cation of the Office of Civilian De-
tense, Executive Officer James M.
Lands expressed justifiable concern
over the apathetic attitude of numer-
Gus communities toward the whole
civilian defense program. Many
cities and towns do not seem to have
awakened to the Importance OF o.
c. D. activities, he declared.
Undoubtedly this is true, but the
chances are that the failure of most
OF these communities to take the CT
william defense program seriously
enough is not due to local shortsight-
edness but to shortcomings of the
part-time national leadership to
which local groups in the past have
been forced to look for guidance.
Washington and other cities have
done surprisingly well, considering
the confusion of effort which has
prevailed higher up from the start.
Part-time Director La Guardia has
indicated that he will resign soon
to give full attention to his principal
Job as Mayor Of New York City.
However, Mrs. Roosevelt, who has
been part-time assistant director,
is to continue under the new setup
as head and "energizer" of the Com
munity and Volunteer Participation
Division. How much of her busy
day she will be able to devote to this
work was not disclosed. She will
have several well-paid assistants, in
Guiding one Of her proteges who Is
q professional dancer. The latter
will have charge of children's activi-
ties.
The bewilderment with which
many persons have received an
nouncement of certain phases of the
civilian defense program is not
lessened by Mr.. Lands disclosure
that his proposed reorganization
calls for creation of still another
emergency publicity outfit In Wash
ington, with embellishments not to
be found in any other similar bu-
reau. For example, the division will
have an arts council, headed by
Melvyn Douglas, Hollywood movie
star. It was stated that Mr.. Douglas
will take over his post after he COM
pletes another motion picture and
that he will be paid at the rate OF
$4,000 a year when on arts council
duty-which will be only part of the
time, due to pressure OF other work.
AS director of the arts council, Mr..
Douglas will supervise the output of
writer's, artists and theatrical people
participating in the o. c. D. pro-
gram, it was explained. The In
formation Division-head yet to be
chosen-will have a speakers bureau
and sections dealing with press,
radio, movies and display publicity,
Mr.. Lands said. Heretofore publicity
work Of non-military defense agen-
cies has been handled by the press
department of the Office of Emer-
gency Management.
It may well be doubted that this
elaborate expansion OF publicity &C
tivities is necessary to awaken lag
ging communities to the gravity of
the o. c. D. program. 1t is far more
likely that they would be impressed
by an o. c. D. reorganization which
was devoid of frills and Of part-time
executives and which placed major
emphasis on solution of such press
ing problems as development of eff
fective afraid warning signals and
expediting provision of gas masks
for the civilian populace. It is in
such directions that the o. C. D.
could stand some "energizing."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
ImperiIed java

Steadily and relentlessly, the jap
anese are closing in on Java, the
heart Of the Netherlands Indies and
the center of Dutch colonial empire.
The destructive bombing by massed
japanese airplanes Of surabaya, the
great Dutch naval and air base near
the eastern end Of Java, is matched
by simultaneous bombings Of stra-
tegic islands not far from Batavia,
capital and metropolis Of the Neither
lands Indies, at Java's western ex-
tremity. And these aerial attacks
came after q series of preliminary
thruSts at many points OF the Dutch
outer defense line, stretching from
Sumatra, through Borneo, the Cele-
bes, and Amboina, to New Guinea.
Already the Japanese have several
important footholds on that outer
line, and they are now fighting to
consolidate their grip. Those stra-
tegic footholds converge on Java and
facilitate future assaults from several
quarters. The great Japanese fleet
checked recently In the Macassar
Strait between Borneo and Celebes
is thought to have been aimed at
Java. But Chinese watchers an
nounce that another great armada,
including many troop ships, has
steamed south through the strait be-
tween China and Formosa. And,
with Singapore blockaded and be-
sieged, it is more than likely that
Java is again the goal for a large
scale attempt at invasion.
Military and naval students are
substantially agreed that q Japanese
conquest of Java would give them
effective command of the entire is
land-studded area which lies between
China and Australia. With 50 mo-
mentous an issue at stake, it is well
to understand what Java is and what
are its defense possibilities.
Java Is long, mountainous island
stretching more than 600 miles al
most due east and west, with an
average breadth of less than 100
miles.
Beside its giant neighbors, Suma-
ira, Borneo, and New Guinea, Java
does not bulk large, its area being
slightly larger than New York State.
Yet on this relatively moderate area
there lives and thrives q population
Of some As, o0o, 900. This attests both
the fertility Of the soil and the ex-
cellence Of Dutch colonial rule. Java
produces in abundance all the staple
tropical products, though most of
them 60 to feed the dense popula-
ton. The exportable wealth of the
Dutch Indies comes mainly from the
other islands, which are less heavily
peopled. However, trade and COM
merce are centered in Java, on which
the economic life Of the whole en-
pire is focused.
Naturally, the Dutch have concen-
trated most Of their army and fleet
to protect this vital island. There
are understood to be at least 100000
well-equipped troops in Java, which
can be concentrated easily to repel
invasion landings, owing to q fine
system of roads. The American
Asiatic fleet under Admiral Hart is
supposed to be based m lava tn
gether with an increasing number
OF American aircraft, especially
bombers. The Dutch authorities ex-
press their belief that Java can be
held If adequate aid comes reason
ably soon, and there are indications
that such aid is on the way. But
help must come quickly, for time
presses and the loss of Java would
be major setback to the cause OF
the United Nations.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05

According to rumors the Germans
plan to shorten their eastern lines
and to evacuate Norway, which is
described as "of no use to the army"
Possibly not to theirs, but certainly
a good stout British army could well
utilize it, both now and later on.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the Uriter, although the use OF
q pseudonyn, for publication Is
permissible. The Star yeserDes
the right to edit all letters toith
a pie1o to condemnation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-05

There are all sorts Of thermom-
eters-Fahrenheit, centigrade, elm
ical and so on-not forgetting that
special brand installed on the porch
OF any hostelry which never goes
below fifty or above eighty-five
degrees,