davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Proposes Aid for Soldiers
Spending Week Ends in City.

To the Editor of The Star:
have a suggestion which might prove
Of value to our service men who would
like to go sightseeing on their Saturdays
and Sundays of.
There are numbers Of natives Of the
District of Columbia who, I am sure,
would be glad to act as volunteer guides
to our service men on Saturday after
moons and Sundays.
Some Of the volunteers possess cars
and could use them for sightseeing. I
am sure they would consider it q
privilege to help.
We who do not possess cars could use
public transportation and as thought,
maybe some arrangement could be made
with the Capital Transit Co. by the rec
reational authorities, whereby a pass
could be printed for the use of service
men only up to the rank of the highest
non-comm. This pass would be good
only on Saturday and Sunday. 1t could
have patriotic scene on it or be printed
in red, white and blue to distinguish it
from the regular pass.
PATRIOTIC NATIVE.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Speaks for Humble People
Concerning O. C. d. Extravaganee.

To the Editor of The Star:
Your editorial of February regard
ing o. C. D. employment Of dancers and
already overbusy movie actors In a So
called emergency education for our
youth gives emphasis to a subject vital
to every citizen. The large sums SO
lightly being banded about for this
represent the sacrifices of many humble
people. We Of this humble group are
now giving our tax dollars, as never
before, for the service of our country.
We are doing it willingly and are aware
that we must do so for long time. Is
1t not of great Importance that these
dollars be spent most practically and
usefully?
What fine gesture Of patriotism it
would be if some of these talented people
already holding well-paid jobs would
donate little of their time to organiza-
ton of these departments for which
they now are willing to accept such
princely salaries.
ALETTE A. SCHRAAM.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
THIS AND THAT
form. but also in the quality of Its notes
By Charles Z. Trdce,rel1.

form. but also in the quality OF Its notes.
The song sparrow is about six and a
half inches long, upper parts brown and
black, in streaks, the underparts white,
streaked with black.
In the old days the bird preferred the
woods, or roads and fields, but today it
comes fearlessly into our gardens, and
makes itself so at home that its human
friends often fear for its safety.
If you remain seated quietly in a chair
In summer. the song sparrow will hop
forward confidently within a few feet
Of you.
1t will not fly away at sudden move
ment from the chair, but simply will hop
few feet, then come back again.
Often it shows utter fearlessness Of
cats and dogs, which, much to their
credit, generally leave this bird alone
"Melodia" is the species name of the
bird, one which well suits it.
The common song is recognized by
almost every one who likes birds.
1t is so crisp, so clear, so utterly musi-
cal, that even persons who are not at
all interested in bird life stop to notice it,
Although its song has many varia-
tions, running into the score, as pre-
viously stated in general the song is
simple enough consisting of two nstes
Of the same pitch, followed by a third,
several tones higher. all staccato, end
ing with a descending run. This is
where the similarity to the wren song
comes in.
The song sparrow is real friend OF
man, destroying weed seeds and noxious
insects. 1t eats seeds three to one. That
Is, its diet consists three-fourths Of seeds
and one-fourth Of insects.
1t eats various beetles, weevils. ants.
wasps, true bugs and caterpillars. 1t
is said that grasshoppers are consumed
by song sparrows in the East, but not in
the West.
There are many forms of these
sparrows, varying with the locality, as
they are spread all over the United
States.
Wherever they are found they are
undoubtedly song sparrows. although
in one place the feathers will be grayer
and in another the bill smaller.
so it comes about that this is one of
the best known of all sparrows, and one
which does missionary service for all
finches, since it tends to make observers
careful in their checks. That is, the
person who once knows the song spar
row is not going to call it "just spar
row." and kill it. as some persons have
done, thinking it to be an English spar
row.
II one watches song sparrows, it is
impossible, we believe, to have a harsh
feeling for English sparrows, since the
latter are indisputably members Of the
same family. So closely related, they
must share many Of the same good
traits. and, in fact, they do.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Part Of the Price

1t has been suggested on several
occasions recently that the Second
World War is not as costly as the
First in terms of human lives, but the
death of Major General Fritz Todt,
one of Germany's greatest military
engineers, raises a question in this
regard which is worthy of study.
The builder of the Siegfried Line,
killed in an air accident on the east
ern front, was the twenty sixth Nazi
general to perish in the prevailing
struggle. Some of the casualties
have been surrounded by mystery,
but by far the larger number have
been admitted in ordinary routine
fashion. Hints to the effect that
General Baron Werner Won Fritsch
really was "liquidated" have been
discredited. He seems to have died
In action in the Warsaw campaign,
September %, 1899, as reported.
Similarly, it now appears to be true
that General Field Marshall Walther
Won Reichenau succumbed to apo
plexy, January II, and Major General
Hans Georg Hoffman, to heart at
tack, January 81. The exact cir
cumstances of the death of Colonel
General Ernst Udet. famous
flyer, have not been disclosed. He
merely is said to have been killed
while examining "a new type Of fire.
arm," November ID last.
Some of the dead leaders, Of
course, we're somewhat less well
known to the world public than
others. General Todt, for example,
was universally celebrated as the
engineer responsible for the design
and construction of Germany's mod
ern highway system, probably the
finest development Of its kind to be
found anywhere on earth. His
genius was richly creative and, under
different conditions, 1t might have
contributed inmeasurably to the
Evening star., 1942-02-09

progress Of the whole Of mankind.
A like observation might be made
with regard to General Udet, es-
teemed in America as an aeronautic
mechanic OF the highest distinction.
But the passing of such victims Of
the prevailing cataclysm serves prin-
cipally to show the cruel wasteful-
ness of the vast "experiment"
launched by Adolf Hitler when he de-
liberately chose to attack Poland
nearly thirty months ago. His twen-
ty-six generals are but part Of the
price he has been obliged to pay. The
innocent peoples he forced into con-
hict have suffered more tragic losses
for which he is to blame.
Evening star., 1942-02-09

"Everybodys Darlington" is one Of the
popular names Of the song sparrow.
1t is easy enough to understand such
. poetic name, when one Of these fine
birds starts to singing underneath your
window in early February.
This is a new song, not the one 1t has
been singing all winter.
This is the spring song, cross be-
tween the cascade of sound made by the
house wren and the outpourings of a
Gagged canary.
This is a harbinger Of spring.
Maybe we are going to have one Of
these early springs, such as prevailed
In 1925 hereabouts.
Anyway, the song sparrow is hopeful.
He was out bright and early that
morning, making a most delicious music
in the cold. (The temperature was
around "a degrees, out our way)
The song sparrow's first real spring
melody is something like that of the
wren, but much prettier.
1t has the same bubbling effect, but is
much softer and a great deal more
musical. Not every friend Of birds ad-
mires the wren's song. While they ad-
NIT its vim and vigor, and all around
pleasantness, they profess to find sharp
edges to 1t, much as one sometimes does
to the music coming from loud speaker.
Yes, it is low pitched enough, but still
there is certain sharpness there.
Other popular names for the song
sparrow are ground sparrow, silver
tongue, hedge sparrow, bush sparrow,
ground bird, marsh sparrow, swamp
finch, and grass bird.
These names, given in various sections
Of our country, mostly refer to the habits
and song Of the creature.
One habit is its fondness for shrub
berry.
All during the winter it will be seen
In bare shrubs. 1t likes fences and
fence posts and gates, too. often perch
ing on the latter to sing in the snow.
Another habit Is its fondness for the
ground. In spring and summer it spends
much of its time hopping around the
lawn, looking for insects.
1t also likes to sing from the ground.
An occasional bird lover thinks that
few birds sing from the ground. The
song sparrow often does it. Even the
wood thrush sings while hopping around,
although not so much as the song SPAR
row.
Some of the common names for this
bird refer to its exquisite musical abil-
tiles.
Ornithologists have spent much time
investigating this bird. Among their
researches are extensive ones relating
to its songs.
It's melodies run into the score. N.Y.
sicians who have listened to it carefully
speak Of it as one of the best of all
singers, not only in musical pattern and
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. HdSktn.

A reader can get the dnstDer to dny
question OF fact by ,Dritino The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. H1skin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
c. How many nationalities are there
in Russia?-J. L. M.
A. The population Of the U s. g. r.
is composed Of l82 different nationalities,
speaking 149 different languages or dia-
lects. Russians compose more than so
per cent of the population.
@. What is the legend concerning the
fish, John Dory?-F. v.
A. The John Dory has two large dark
spots which, tradition says, are the
prints Of Peters finger and thumb when
he took the tribute money from its
mouth. The same is said Of the haddock.
@. Do all birds have eyes on the sides
of their heads?-C. T. F.
A. All except the owl. This Is the
only bird whose eyes look straight ahead.
@. How tall Is Gary Coopef-F. L.
A. Gary Cooper Is feet inches tall.
Q. In what direction does the earth
rotate?-L. N. o.
A. The earth rotates on its axis in
the same direction that it revolves
around the sun. Looked at from above
the North Pole, this direction Is oppo-
site to that of the hands of a watch.
@. What is the specific meaning of
the phrase "scorched earth policy"7-
F. S.
A. The term "scorched earth" refers
to a region in which everything has
been destroyed by the retreating army
which could be of value to the invading
army. This includes burning of build
ings, blowing up of port facilities, public
utilities and railroads, and destroying
all food supplies.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Boon to Speeders

1t Is difficult to think of anything
that could do more to break down the
enforcement of the important traf-
fic regulations-th which directly
affect the safety of the public-than
the so-called forfeiture system which
Judge Hobart Newman has inaugu-
rated in the Traffic Court.
Under the practice which has been
put into effect by Judge Newman, a
speeder, II he desires to do so, is per-
mitted to forfeit" when he appears
in court, the forfeit ordinarily con-
SiSting of one dollar for each mile
he was driving in excess Of the speed
limit. In the first days trial Of
this unfortunate experiment, SIM
liar consideration was shown motor
lists passing stop signs or running
through red lights.
The law, in speeding cases, pro-
vides graduated maximum penalties
for first, second and third offenses.
Thus, a first offender may be fined
$25; for a second offense, $100, and
for a third offense the maximum is
a fine of $500, ninety days in jail,
or both. The purpose of these grad
uated penalties is obvious, and they
undoubtedly have the effect Of dis
couraging speeding or Of removing
dangerous drivers from the streets.
But under Judge Newman's plan
there can be no such thing as Sec
ond or third offense because a for
feiture Is not conviction. A driver
might be arrested for speeding reg
ularly each week, but still would
be subject in each instance only to
the nominal first offense penalty
since there would be no prior con-
viction of record against him.
When the plan to permit forfeit
ures in speeding cases was first ad-
vanced 1t was intended that motor
lists should forfeit at the precincts.
That had one possible advantage
namely, that 1t would enable traf-
fic officers to spend less time in court
and more time on patrol duty. But
even that benefit is missing from
the present arrangement, for the
arresting officer has to appear in
court regardless Of whether the Of
fender intends to forfeit. Thus, the
Newman plan is wholly without mer-
it. It may tend to make less work
for the Judge sitting in Traffic Court,
but he is appointed to try cases,
not to devise means Of avoiding
work.
AS Judge Newman probably knows,
some 10000 people were killed in
automobile accidents in this country
last year. In the District ninety
five were killed in 1941 and fifteen
have been killed already this year.
In great many Of these fatal acci-
Dents excessive speed was contrib
uting cause. Certainly, this Is no
time for any judge to encourage
reckless drivers to exceed the speed
limit, pass stop signs and run
through red lights. Yet precisely
that is the inevitable effect of Judge
Newman's innovation. In the in
terests Of the people Of the District,
1t is to be hoped that some one in
authority will put stop to 1t.
Evening star., 1942-02-09

feat of Germany, the negator Of liberty,
and of the governments coerced or prose-
lyted by the Prussian militarists to ab-
jure peace and fight for the total aboli-
ton of civilization, is inevitable: any
such lawless league of nations would be
fated to ultimate dissolution by innate
faults
The fact, however, is indisputable that
we are better prepared for war than for
peace; that while the eventual and COM
plete tanquishing of the offender is a
mathematical certainty, such a vindica-
ton of our force is not the equivalent of
a guarantee Of an uncompromised moral
triumph.
A creative peace must take cognizance
first of justice, to which each interest
besides is subordinate, and erect uni
versal court, for whose governance and
limitation a law of nations would be
legislated, cardinal rules of which would
be the remuneration Of the right Of con-
quest by force, the legal equality of inde-
pendent nations and the abolition of
determinations.
Sanctions would be decreed to compel
respect for the international commit
ments, and unless the nations devise ju-
dicial processes for the determination of
disputes, the law of nations will con-
tinue to be a modus vivendi and tram
quillity truce.
A creative peace would recognize the
natural with the moral law, acquiescing
in the dictates of history; for illustra-
ton, an Asia and Europe pacific except
intermittently is most improbable while
Russia is denied warm water ports and
the immense French African possessions
are employed as an argument for the
maintenance by France of fleet of ag-
gressive dimensions and Of uncertain
purpose.
Treaties such as the German-Italian
would be prohibited and governments
concluding any Of that sort would be ex-
cluded from the rights of international
trafic and law.
To avert disturbances and to meet
new situations as they arise congress
Of nations would be formed, to convene
at intervals. Permanent commissions
would be appointed to do such work as
might be within the province of the
League of Nations.
The existing law of nations accepts
force as the supreme arbiter in interna-
tional disagreements, thus supporting the
contentious of militarists and constitut-
ing potential war instead of dependable
peace at the end of conflicts. A judicious
peace would make competent court the
final resort within the law, and a con-
troversy outside the law would be argued
in, and resolved by, the congress, not
league, of sovereign nations.
To realize these objectives, modicum
Of sovereignty. actually insignificant in
contrast to the advantages to be gained,
would be resigned.
The word sovereignty" by reason Of
the increasing interdependence of ma
tions, of time and space abbreviating
devices, and of the assertion of the rights
Of man in contradistinction to the priv
ileges of nations, may require a new
definition.
The peace that our Government ought
to propose would operate, as If natural
law, for the organic evolution Of the So
ciety Of nations. The Declaration Of In.
dependence and the Constitution 70 pro-
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Defends Government Clerks
Against Congressman's Criticism.
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
What does the Representative from In
diana know about the girls who come to
Washington to work and what they do
when they get home at night? They are
under mental as well as q physical
strain all day. After working eight hours
on a machine, they are doing more than
the Representative does or could do in
several days time. What laugh 1t
would be to see him go through the same
routine and then feel like staying up
all night. AN EX-STENOGRAPHER
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Discusses Danger of Public Neglect
OF Potential Axis Attacks.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Each time I read something about
Pearl Harbor and the failure of superiors
to heed the warning of Private Joseph
L. Lockard, who reported planes ap-
preaching, I wonder just how alert
enemy fliers approaching the Panama
Canal would find our forces there today.
Pearl Harbor and the experience Of
the two reporters in Philadelphia parad-
ing in Nazi uniforms all point to a
strong tendency on the part Of the
Americans, even those in positions de-
manding vigilance, to ignore what they
see or hear.
Bombing of the Panama Canal by
Axis air forces is not in the realm Of
fantasy. In fact such feat may be as
feasible as token bombing of New
York or Washington.
EDWARD H. ROTT.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Approves Wholesale Moving
OF California Japanese.

To the Editor of The Star
I have read Henry McLemore's article
of January % with reference to getting
tough with the Japs on the Pacific Coast.
I am with Mr.. McLemore 100 per
cent, and wish to add my approval to his
recommendation that we move the en-
tire Jap population of California to the
interior where they will find the going a
little more difficult should they wish to
carry out schemes against our country.
Z, r. HAAS.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Halls Proposal for Maximum Use
OF Automobile Carrying Facilities.

the EQltOr 5Cal.
Is it possible that some one finally has
had the bright idea that one approach
to solving our traffic problem" would be
for a five-passenger vehicle during rush
hours to carry four passengers instead
of one?
1t seems just too intelligent to have
been thought of in Washington.
Perhaps in time we may even get
around to consideration of the five or
seven passenger private locomotive" on
the public streets that carries one or
two persons on an average of one or
two hours a day, the rest of the time
unused but occupying valuable space,
often public space. OBSERVER.
Evening star., 1942-02-09

Among the wartime shortages
which almost certainly will occur in
this country will be one in tapioca.
Millions of us will prove to be brave
and patient patriots as far as this
item goes.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Wants Golf Clubs
To Practice Hospitality.

To the Editor of The Star:
Throughout the country, if we could
get the different golf clubs to exchange
playing privileges so that members could
play at the clubs nearest their homes,
it would relieve the tire situation, save
considerable rubber and give us an op-
portunity of witnessing democracy in
action"
ARMAND MAY
Evening star., 1942-02-09
PARLIAMENTARY LAVA 30

page compilation of the established
rules of order that govern the pro-
ceedings of all deliberative bodies.
1t is in simple form, briefed for
ready reference, and clarified so
that the average person will not get
lost in maze of technicanties. De-
tails the correct way to form a
temporary organization, bylaws and
sets of minutes, explains the duties
of officers and concludes with a
glossary of parliamentary terms To
secure your copy Of this authorita-
tive work inclose 10 cents in this
clipping and mail to The Star In
formation Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-02-09

@. Please tell me the name Of the
musical composition that Is based on
animals and birds-M. F.
A. The Carnival of Animals" by
Saint-Saens.
@. Are there more men than women
In the United States?-J. A.
A. According to the census Of 1910.
there were 66,183 1853 men and IS ,486,112
women in the United States.
@. What is the location OF the Mount
Of the Holy Cross?-J. F. H.
A. The Mount of the Holy Cross Is
high peak of the Rockies. 1896 feet
high, in Eagle County, Colo, about 100
miles west southwest of Denver. 1t is
the site of the Holy Cross National
Monument.
@. In reference to warfare, what Is
meant by guerrilla S.
A. The word guerrilla" is the Spanish
diminutive of the word war" and it
simply means sporadic warfare waged
by small groups of irregular soldiers be-
hind the lines.
Q. Since Lake Titicaca lies at an alti-
tude of 12500 feet above the sea, how
are the steamers brought up there?-
F. Moo.
A. The earliest was transported piece
by piece on muleback One recently
constructed at Puno required As freight
cars in 9 trains to bring it over the
Andes to the lake.
@. What English novelist Of foreign
birth is said to have written the best
English of his day?-E. P. G.
A. Joseph Conrad. His first acquaint-
ance with English literature was made
through Polish translations of Shake
speare and Dickens. The author said
that he had never opened an English
grammar.
@. In the last World War what was
the average proportion of casualties to
the total number of troops engaged?-
o. T. L.
A. OF the 65,OOOOOo men mobilized
during that war, about 9,000000-l in 7
died in action or of wounds. Approx
mately $4,000, ,000-1 in 3-were wounded.
and of these 100000 were permanently
disabled
@. What is the approximate circula-
tion of all daily newspapers in the
United States?-R. R. w.
A. The aggregate circulation of all
daily newspapers published in the United
States is estimated to be 40,7729 937.
@. How do we know what occurred
in the Alamo?-M. B.
A. The wife of one officer 1t Dickin-
son, survived. Her memories of the
tragedy, in which she participated, and
the accounts of Mexican officers who
took part in the attack provide the
details of the record.
@. How did the ladybug get its manner
&C. s. H.
A. The ladybug or ladybird is so called
because, in the Middle Ages, it was deoI-
Gated to the Virgin Mary.
O. How large was Shakespeare's vo-
cabulary?-R. M,
A. 1t has been reckoned that he had
q vocabulary Of $4,000 words.
vided for America, recognizing no right.
except the Eternal's, above the will
of the people governed.
If the desire Of men be for immunity,
quietness and contentment, the United
Nations can establish such peace for
them.
Justice is the road, goodwill the light,
and reason the atmosphere in which the
governments must 60 to the portals Of a
durable peace. The European nations
especially. being in a desert of injustice
and disaster, can be restrained by Amer
lea from forsaking their destinies for q
mirage
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Sees America Is Leader
In Movement For World Conquest.

To the Editor of The Star:
The unparalleled sacrifices Of America
to re-establish the lawful community of
nations can best be devoted to the reali-
zation Of . creative peace.
A cumulative. not . qualitative, de-
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1Driter, although the use of
a pSeudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1Uith
q Uie1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-02-09

The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use for republication of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein
All rights Of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved.
Evening star., 1942-02-09
Member Of the Associated Press.

Entered a. second-class nntter post once.
Washington. y. c.