davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04

Every now and then q real friend Of
the blue Jay makes his voice heard.
This Is welcome because few birds
have been subjected to such an active
smear campaign" over the years.
To listen to some persons talk, you
might think the Jay had no redeeming
trait
Not 20 q correspondent, who writes:
I'VE might well feel grateful and
friendly to the blue jay for staying with
us In Washington throughout the
dreary winter months.
HE might 90 farther South, you know.
and he would not even have to pay rail-
road fare. It Is Q beautiful sight to see
him In the winter woods, when the
trees are bare and landscape bleak, with
his brilliant blue flashing.
HE may be the Puck Of the Woods. but
he is . brave sight to see, any time, but
particularly beautiful in winter when
brilliant bird plumage is not 30 plentiful.
"A few days ago I was walking In the
woods and had few loose peanuts In
my overcoat pocket. saw two magnif1-
cent Jay birds fly into q group Of spruce,
or hemlock trees-at least the trees were
evergreens-and watched them closely.
1.-The male bird flew to the ground and
began singing dead leaves about with
his beak. He was on steep bank about
so feet above where I was standing
watching. I selected the largest, heaviest
peanut I could find and, steadying my
self, heaved it as far as could toward
him, considering my heavy overcoat.
"At the motion of my arm he was Of
the ground and into the lower branches
Of the tree, but the peanut had hardly
touched the ground before there was q
streak of blue and he had bounced upon
it, pronto He few back into the tree and
proceeded to eat the nut, holding it with
his claw and striking at the shell with
his beak.
IT selected another large nut and
again hurled 1t with as much strength
and aim as could muster, and this time
the female Jay streaked to the ground
and grabbed 1t and flew back into the
tree and proceeded, likewise, to peck at
the nut.
II then proceeded to divest myself Of
the remaining peanuts in my pocket,
throwing one after another as far as
could send them toward the evergreen
trees on the side OF the hill.
81 felt quite certain that with their
keen eyesight they would surely find
them and have q feast all to themselves,
and have no doubt but what they did,
too; although I did not hnger to see the
final score
las a boy I remember that I did not
rate the blue Jay very high In my esti-
nation; he with his raucous cry and
impudent ways. But now at maturity
estimate him as one Of Americas finest
wild birds; and that he is smart-well,
there's not the slightest doubt about
that.
What lot people miss who never
see beautiful bird!"
This column for many years has con-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Listen to the Needless!
Listen to the needles

Listen to the needles
In the hands of February:
She Is knitting siloer drapery :
For all the slender trees;
She has toouen threads of crystal /.
Into lace for bush and bridr;;
She has made q dress of stlper
For every one of these.
Listen to the needles
In the hands OF Februnryi
Hear the click and cldck of needles
As she knits the night Gscdy-
SITS there Knitting, hunohed and
needless
OF al else but haste and fashions
Rare trdcertes In stIpsr
TO adorn the coming dag.
HELEN ROWLAND PROM1m.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
STRUGGLE in Burmu

The fate of the world will be de-
cided at those places where the Axis
powers can be defeated. One such
locality, it would seem, is that OF the
coast of Burma between Rangoon
and Moulmein. The former is the
terminus of the famous road by
which supplies have been carried to
embattled China, while the latter is
a gateway to Thailand, now held by
japanese troops.
70 comprehend the problems Of the
Burma campaign it will be neces-
sary to know the character of the
terrain over which the fighting is
likely to move. At present the Brit
ish Imperials are holding the west
bank of the Salween River. The town
of Martaban is in their hands, but
Jap patrols are supposed to be active
farther up the stream, as far north
as the village Of Paan. II the rail
line to Pegu should be cut, the British
forces opposite Moulmein might be
isolated. They therefore may march
north toward Thaton during the next
few days.
Meanwhile, it must be the part Of
wisdom to prepare to defend Rangoon
at any cost. The United Nations
currently have as vital an interest
in the Burma road as the Chinese
ever have had. In order to estab-
lish an Allied front on the Yangtze
from which to operate against Japan
proper, the artery constituting the
back door" to China must be pro-
tected. The country through which
it runs is In itself a factor hostile to
the invaders. High mountains, deep
valleys, narrow gorges, sudden ava
lancheS, torrential rains, exhauSting
heat at one season and bloodfreez-
ing cold at another, fogs, ferocious
wild animals including man-eating
tigers, poisonous snakes, leeches,
clouds of mosquitoes: All these COM
bine to make the Japanese advance
difficult enterprise. The native
Burmese soldiers, the Indians and
the Australians are accustomed to
the country and know how to adjust
themselves to 1t. A similar observa-
ton may be offered with respect to
Chinese veterans under General Liu
Kwanlung, recently arrived in Bur-
mese territory with their light artil-
lery and ammunition on their sturdy
backs.
What role the hill tribes Of Burma
may play in the struggle is as yet I'M
known. The native races are pre-
dominantly Monaghan, and the
Karens, Shans, Kachins, Chins and
Palaungs-all upland dwellers-can
fight with a passionate bitterness
when they wish. British domination
Of the mountains never has been
complete, and there is little reason
to expect that the japanese could
accomplish in few months what
English military genius in three diff
ferent wars-1824, 1852 and 1885
did not altogether achieve. 1t is true,
Of course, that there is a fifth
column" element in Rangoon - to
which Prime Minister U Saw belongs
but even the most ardent "inde-
pendents" have no desire to Jump out
Of the frying pan into the flames.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Interprets War As Struggle
For Racial Equality.
By HoUdrd w. B1dkeslee,
Wide World Science Editor.
To the Editor of The Star


Dorothy Thompson certainly shows
common sense when she tries to make us
aware of the Nazi influence still in posi-
tons of power. Because of Pearl Harbor
and the Japs we seemingly became q
unified country, but nobody who believes
in what Hitler stands for can be ex-
pected to have been converted to anti
Naziism over night. Once the Japs are
on the run the writer expects to see the
whole tribe of American Fascists beat
the tom-toms again for a peace Of ap-
peasement.
Let us remember Pearl Harbor but
never forget that this is world struggle
to kill the theory that some men and
races. are inferior. We are at Arranged
don. 1t is a battle of light and liberty
against darkness and paganism.
e. B. HENDERSON.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Placing the Blame

In Senate debate yesterday Senator
Barley aptly described the condition
which prevailed in this country at
the time Of rejection Of the Guam
and overlapping proposals as "a
certain smugness on the part of the
American people and Of Congress"
That about sums it up. The blame
for our unpreparedness cannot be
placed fairly on any individual or
group. Our unpreparedness reflected
the national state of mind and it is
useless and time-wasting to go back
now into the record to show who was
right and who was wrong.
But the record, at least, should be
kept straight. And 1t Is surprising
that Chairman Walsh of the
Senate Naval Affairs Committee
should seek to vindicate Congress in
connection with the failure to
strengthen the defenses of Guam.
He expressed the opinion that
the Navy never really asked
for its (Guam's) fertilization" Yet
every member of Congress knows
that the Hepburn Naval Board in
1888 urgently recommended the forth
fication of the island, stating that $50
long as Guam existed as a strong air
and submarine base, hostile opera
lions against the Philippines would
be a precarious undertaking" and
that its existence would greatly
simplify our naval problem should
the fleet ever be called upon for
operations in the Far East; that
isolationists in Congress vigorously
criticized this proposal as an "affront
to Japan; that when the Navy came
forward in 1889 and 1910 with far less
drastic proposals for improvement Of
the harbor at Guam for air and sub
marine operations, the House killed
the project-again for fear of Offend
ing Japan; that all the while Japan
secretly was building air and naval
bases in her inundated islands, close
to Guam and within striking distance
of Pearl Harbor.
Nor are the efforts of Senator Tru-
man Of Missouri to acquit Congress
of any responsibility for restrictions
which hampered our counterespio-
mage system at Pearl Harbor very
persuasive The Roberts Commission
declared that the F. B. I. and Army
and Navy intelligence agencies were
prevented from conducting effective
counterespionage by restrictions pro-
hihiting interception and use Of tele-
phone and radio messages passing
between Honolulu and Toxic. The
restrictions referred to grow out of
the failure Of Congress to enact So
called overlapping legislation, under
which our agents would be permit
ted to tap wires and intercept-for
possible use in court or otherwise
radio and cable communications sent
by spies or saboteurs. And while
Senator Truman defended Senator
Wheeler of Montana from published
and broadcast charges that he
blocked overlapping legislation, the
record plainly shows that after the
House had passed overlapping bill
In 1910 the committee of which
Senator Wheeler is chairman per-
mitted the bill to expire in a pigeon
hole.
It should not be necessary, more
over, to remind Congress that the
restrictions condemned by the
Roberts Commission still are shack
ling our counterespionage services
eight weeks after Pearl Harbor.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Proposes Certificates to Show
Purchases Of Auto Tax Stamps.

AZ ZIG Aoisof VA - NC OVAL
I have read with natural interest how
red tape complexities the problems Of re-
placement of the lost or stolen auto
mobile tax stamp. The collector Of in
ternal revenue in Baltimore states that,
on receipt Of adequate evidence, letter
would be sent the 1uckless driver show
ing that he had paid, but that a checkup
on the postcards sent In at the time Of
purchase must consume weeks and, in
the meantime, the car owner is at the
mercy of any skeptical policeman.
I offer the suggestion that when the
next stamps are placed on sale, the post
cards be so constructed or arranged that
the internal revenue officials promptly
can mail back to the sender portion
certifying that stamp purchase has been
made. This card or tag could be carried
along with the drivers permit and would
save embarrassment, argument and pos
sible penalty. K. w. e.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Discusses Future Of China
In Relation TO Other Nations.

TO the Editor OF Tne star:
The crescent militarization of the Sons
Of Han, imperatively required for the
vindication of China's independence and
no less for the maintenance Of universal
interests in eastern Asia and the regions
Of the Pacific, is creating potential Of
immersurable significance for future to
be controlled by respected law or by
militaristic lawleSSneSs, an earth Of quiz
etude or of chaos. The genius Of the
most Promethean Of Oriental peoples is
for Cancellation; social friction is near an
irreducible minimum in Cathay, and to
suppose that the industrious and in
genious Chinese, when they achieve
legitimate prestige in the concert Of ma
tons, viii labor for spheric pacihcation
Is reasonable. An unknown factor that
must be determinative will be the atti-
tude to be assumed by the Chinese as the
consequence of belated realization Of
the nations nearly limitless might.
Liberated from foreign dynasties that
for ages suppressed the nations spirit
and that tore at its vitals as the vultures
Chinese ethos will be formidable in the
earth's economy and politics. Possibly
better representation would be to assert
that China is in travail, the new nation
being born an adult from the ancient
Jupiterian race as was Minerva from the
brow of Zeus.
When this war is ended, the decisions
respecting China will incline her to Gre
alive contentment or to vengeful wars;
and If the rational claims of China are
recognized, q concern Of neighbors East
and West will be the possibility that in
the triumphant nation, resurgent and
effervescent, a crafty politician will be
to China as was the adventurous Pericles
to Athens. He, by precipitating the Pelo-
ponnesian War, unsceptered and devas-
tated the most majestic Of Greek repub-
lies. The nations individually and as
community can be enlightened by the
life of Pericles, which illustrates the fate
of people when the law is deprived Of
supremacy and concupiscence or expe-
diency is dominant. When the supreme
court Of the republic would not acquiesce
in Pericles' unconstitutional measures, he
persuaded the citizens so to increase the
personnel as to make the forum an in
strument obedient to his will.
Public men turn from the effulgent
pharos Of history and from Biblical
prophecy when they oppose the simple
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04

of commerce among the States" the
Chief Justice amplifled. "It extends
to those activities intrastate which
so affect interstate commerce, or
the exertion of the power Of Con-
gress over it, as to make regulation
of them appropriate means to the
attainment of legitimate end, the
effective execution Of the granted
power to regulate interstate COM
MERGE"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04

@. What Is the new figure for the dis
lance between the earth and the sum-
A. L. o.
A. 1t Is e3,003 900 miles, according to
the more accurate solar parallax deter
mined from observations of the 1891
opposition Of Eros. The probable error
is only about 5000 miles.
@. When was the earliest English die
tionary published7-W. M r.
A. The FIRST dictionaries Of English
words were not meant to be complete,
but were limited to hard words, such as
those derived from foreign languages.
The first complete dictionary was made
by Nathan Bailey and published in 1730.
@. What animal is known Is the hv-
ing Teddy bear?-F. o.
A. The koala or Australian bear. It
is a soft bundle Of fur with a taiIless
body about feet long. The koala
never drinks. obtaining enough moisture
from the young eucalyptus trees upon
which it lives.
@. How long has the Legal Aid So
ciety been In existence?-T. r.
A. The society was organized In 1875
In New York
@. Who was the American artist who
named his sons for famous painters?-
N. v.
A. Charles Wilson Peale had II chill
dren, all Of whom were named after
famous artists.
@. Is it proper to stand up when In Q
restaurant If the National Anthem comes
over the radio?-J. Mel.
A. When one Is in q restaurant and
the National Anthem Is played over .
radio broadcast 1t is correct to rise and
stand at attention.
@. Who made the request that after
his death his ashes be scattered over the
Sierra Mountains In California7-G.
M. N.
A. Joaquin Miller, the Poet Of the
Sierras.
@. Was Gasparilla the real name Of the
pirate? When did he die?-E. S.
A. Gasparilla was Jose Gaspar, native
Of Spain. He was an officer of the
Spanish Navy. He participated in the
operations against Gibraltar He turned
pirate in 1888. Gasparillas headquarters
were on the Florida coast. He CAP
tanned crew of marauders until his
death in 1921, at IS.
@. Is q creek smaller or larger than .
brook?-P. M.
A. In the United States a creek is a
tidal or valley stream between Q brook
and a river In size.
@. What Is meant exactly by the term
tropical disturbance"?-G. E.
A. The name Is used by the Weather
Bureau for . cyclonic system Of the
tropics that Is not known to have sufi-
cient force to justify the use of the
words storm" or hurricane"
@. Where did Erasmus publish his
edition of the New Testament?-G. LIP.
A. Erasmus OF Rotterdam published his
New Testament ut Basel, In Switzerland,
where he had settled after his return
from England.
Q. In what tight did Jack Dempsey
win the heavyweight title2-H. W. T.
A. Jack Dempsey won the title by
defeating Jess Willard Ut Toledo, Ohio,
July I. 1919.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the tOrtter, although the use OF
q pseudonyn1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters ,oith
q Uie1o to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04

Map Of Africa-Africa is one Of
the major continents of the world.
1t Is 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 there? II not,
order our MAP OF AFRICA in full
color. 81 by % inches In size. Re
verse side carries a 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, 1942-02-04

thesis that permanent peace agreeable
to the nations can be founded only in leg
islative and judicial processes. At best the
hostilities will end in an indefinite truce
If court be not established for the ad-
judication Of International controversies.
To this end the right Of conquest by
force must be renowned and the law Of
nations radically revised and reduced to
formal statutes. These would be en-
acted by congress. not by q league of
nations, with defined limitations that
would meet at intervals.
In such an international society the
regenerated China could be an inspira-
ton to and guardian Of the oriental
races, glory that Japan's war lords
rejected.
When the lethal thunders of this war
cease, the revivifed China will sheathe,
not relinquish, her sword and might not
reasonably be requested to disarm while
the immense ornaments Of Russia, Eng
land and America continue to exist.
These nations deeming themselves to be
the manufactures Of civilization and so
esteemed, must devote the trust to an
exaltation Of law or forfeit the conf
dence of men. Justice must be funda-
mental in the reorganized international
relations to demilitarize China, which
will be in q position as an equal to nuln-
fy any injudicious and so ephemeral
project. EDWARD CONN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04

10 the Editor Of The Star:
Thoughtless criticism Of the activities
OF others comes easy to most Of us and
usually Is Of little value Such criticism
of the administrators handling of our
war efforts Is no exception. Thoughtful,
constructive criticism on the other hand
is valuable.
We are Nation Of peace lovers. War
is not our lifework. On the other
hand it Is the ifework Of the German
leaders. They have studied it and prac-
tlced it for at least $500 years. The
national name German given to the
whole race by Caesar and Tacitus, means
'shouters in battle and is parallel to
Homer's favorite epithet of Menelaus,
good at the warcry.'"
When we feel disposed to criticize our
leaders because they do not ut once
carry on successfully against those whose
major industry is war, I think we should
bear the above in mind. For q limited
time, we hope, we must change our bust
ness to one of waging war. At first it
should be expected that we shall make
mistakes and continue to make them
until we have perfected ourselves In
our new business and we must expect
disappointments and heartaches. As we
go along and 1t becomes evident to the
people that our mistakes are being recog-
nized and corrected by the administra-
ton we shall feel better about It.
However, because we have been launched
into, for US, the unfamiliar business Of
waging war, . business necessitating
much loss Of life, there Is much reason
why only the most capable men should
be selected for its direction. Selection
for any other reason, 1t appears to me,
would be Q criminal action.
T. WARREN ALLEN.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Expresses Appreciation
For Those Who STOOD By"

May offer word Of thanks to the
men who, through all the bad weather,
have so faithfully stood by the Mile O
Dimes? Theirs Is truly q service not
measured in terms Of gold or silver.
MRS. p. II. B.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-02-04
Member Of the Associated Press.

Entered as second-class matter post ONCE.
Washington. d. c.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-04-03

CT. PETERSBURG, FLA. - You
~ face pretty fair jump from one
Of the favorite habitats of racing
dogs to the Kentucky Derby. But
long distance calls from Tropical
Park across the Everglades indicate
that well-known forecasters are both
busy and dizzy on the winter Derby
book. I mean the new one.
They tell me the main thorn In
their prognosticating sides is horse
called Alsab. Eight weeks ago this
wonder as a two-year-old was far
i'm front Of the field. Then things
began to happen--as they usually
do when two-year-olds, become
three-year-olds. Alsab had his ears
pinned back three times running
and the first book blew up with
noisy crash.
Before the Widener," one of the
leading bookies phoned, IT had Re-
quested and the Calumet stable on
top around 6 to /. Alsab looked to
be dead fish. But the race he
ran in the Widener has upset things
again. I wish that horse would. set
tie down to one form or another.
s'He looked to be q tired, over
worked, WORKOUT horse in his first
three starts. He was thin and
nervous. He had lost his old speed.
But when he moved up head and
head with Best Seller and The
Rhymer in the big race far down
the stretch he was a different horse
again. He is still the big guess Of
the Derby field"
Favored Selections
Ben Whitaker's Requested and
Warren Wright's Calumet entry will
remain the favored selections. Nei-
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1942-04-03

The eyes Of the two brothers
snapped sharply to Dicks face.
Probably they did not believe him;
but they were grasping at straws.
'You hold something over John
Colt?" Willard asked.
''Do you mean," Dick asked in
credulously, "am ! in a position to
blackmail Colt?"
Somewhere in that mans life,"
Willard Wayne said, there must
be something that he doesn't dare
have turned up. IT'S been our only
hope, all along, that we could find
out what it is. And If you've got
hold Of it?"
Dick Wayne had meant to tell
them, tonight, what he knew. He
had meant to tell them that their
father had not killed Garrett Wa
terson-had even meant to give
them an irrefutable proof. But now
his temper broke, and he could not
bring himself to tell them anything
at all.
He stood up. "Get out Of here"
he ordered them. Get out Of here,
and stay out! I can't stand looking
at you any rnore!"
A faint flicker Of self assertion re-
appeared in Ernest Wayne. "You
can't order US"
Willard Wayne stood up and sig
nailed to Ernest with his eyes. To-
gether, after q moments hesitation,
they left the room.