davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Too Much Delay

Senator McCarran is rendering an
important service in building a hot
fre-and keeping it burning
those who are charged with physical
enlargement of Washington's made
quate hospital facilities.
After long hearings, Congress ap-
proved the Lanham Act under which
hospital funds became available on
April 10. The allotment of these
funds was left to the Federal Works
Agency, which announced an appro-
priation of 50, 200, 900 for hospital ad-
ditions in the District and adjoining
counties on September 1. Since the
money became available, however, it
has been necessary to prepare plans
and specifications for the hospitals
and only now is the Federal Works
Agency in a position to request pri-
critics from the War Production
Board. After the priorities are
granted contracts must be let and
the construction will begin.
This construction Is to meet an
emergency, the existence Of which
has been known for more than a.
year. The involved process of getting
the legislation through Congress, get
ting the money allotted, getting the
plans prepared, getting the priorities
granted for construction has con-
sumed many precious months, and
the end Is not in sight. Senator Nc
Carran has good cause for his indig-
nation. If his Senate resolution
brings an end to this incredible de-
lay it will serve good purpose.
Washington's hospital problem will
not be solved by the addition of a
few score beds. The problem is high
ly complicated, involving shortages
of nurses and doctors and extraordi-
nary demands on facilities that are
none too extensive even for normal
times. That Is one reason why the
delay seems so inexcusable. Putting
up the buildings, certainly, is the
simplest part Of the business.
Evening star., 1942-10-12

was so muddy that 1t was impossible to
see ones toes in the usual bath tub.
Dark-colored soaps which fell to the
bottom Of the tub were completely in
visible.
The cistern was q bricked hole in the
ground, into which rain water was per-
mitted to pour from the roof.
The women members of the family, in
particular, insisted on rain water.
It was much in demand for the COM
plexion and the hair.
Rain water, then as now, was supposed
to have magic purposes for shampooing
purposes, but probably the magic was no
more than the softness thereof. Lather
is difficult to raise, and even harder to
wash out, in hard alkaline water.
Every so often, the water from the
roof had to be diverted from the cistern,
to keep too much dirt from being poured
into 1t.
The roof, in other words, was per-
mitted to wash itself.
The old-fashioned hand pump usually
found place in the small town or coun-
try yard. It was OF metal, and it was
against this that innocent and unsus-
pecting children were ibid to place their
tongues, on frosty mornings, by practical
jokers. The tongue froze at once to
the cold metal, and often the frightened
child freed itself by pulling away some
of the skin.
This sort of practical joking no longer
seems IN vogue, along with some of the
other old practices of the good old
days." which were not so good, in retro
spect.
Most small-town wells, as we recall
were not romantic affairs at all, with
oaken buckets and arches, and the like
they were, rather, just holes in the
ground, often covered with boards
There was bucket to let down on a
rope. Quite up-to-the-m minute wells had
wheels to turn and thus draw up the
bucket with less labor.
The stable, the forerunner Of the ga
rage, would be another unknown to mod
ern city folks.
The stable was sort of blood brother
to the barber shop. 1t drew a regular
corps of cronies at all times.
Much discussion went on there abou
| everything. The livery stable, as it wa
mostly called, had animals and buggie
for hire. On Sundays, in particular
young fellows sparkling their girls wen
to the livery stable, and went away driv
ing housekeeping nag hitched to
buggy.
Other days, other ways, the saying hat
it-and other words.
Old words have way Of making
comback. At one time, the word bicycl
was in danger of going out. It wa
mostly the small boys who kept 1t
going word in the language
Do you suppose the day will ever com
when children will ask, Daddy, wha
was an automobile?"
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Commends Article by
Samuel Grafton.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
The artic1E I'D Rather Be Right" by
Samuel Grafton, published in Tuesdays
STAR should be read by every real Amer
ican throughout the length and breadth
of our land who really wants us to win
the war, rather than to lose our Repub-
lie by IAN Unsuitable soaking up OF every
thing"
We have been told that 18 workers are
needed in industry to back up each SOL
dier, and Maj. Gen. Hershey suggests
100000 men as the ultimate size of our
Army. This would mean 234 900 900
able bodied men and women in the fac
tories to supply the armed forces, or
total, including the 100000 in the
armed forces, of 247,000 900 bodied
persons serving directly in the war effort.
Since we have total population of only
130,000,000, including children, cripples,
criminals, insane and bureaucratic off,
cials who will serve neither in the armed
forces nor in factories supplying the
armed forces, what are We going to do?
Why not dispense with the services of
the Army and bureaucratic officials who
advocate IAN Unsuitable soaking up of
everything" and substitute officials
capable of planning for the winning OF
the war with what we have and with so
using what we have as not to destroy.
with glib assurances of later restora-
ticn) our precious American heritage?
We need practical realities, and we can
and will win with them!
GEORGE E. SULLIVAN.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Deserted Cottuqe

A mile from, the toun. where the
headland reaches -
Rugged and ponderous into the
bay, -
A weathered cottage Is facing
eeuUuTu- l'f
Ttreless sentinel night and day. *,
The dry sage plucks at the breeze
that passes.
The gate In its channeled trough
s1Dings clear.
The leafess stem OF a young tree,
planted
By absent hands, uaits another
year.
No footprints lead to the dredry,
COTTAGE: ST
No hand euer knocks at the paint.
peeled door. -.
No spiraIed smoke from the balanced :, :
chimney r.s
Rises a pennant abope the shore. -
The ,oild gulls scream at tho >
desolation; E.~a
The beach Is embraced by a.
0rieuing sea, f'7~
For far, oh, far, on distant island
A hero sleeps till eternity. pF'
sjff
Mans toork Is mortal, soon the rude
cottage .f,,.
Will crumble In ruins, roottree dt0hs
tDdll. s9i.
Liberty, Justice, the things that RE-
died for, 7lfrs
These are eternal. These aciu not :
fall.
ROBERT ". COCHRAN.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
OPA Tire Proqrum

Announcement by the ONCE OF
Price Administration of its program
to provide tires-new, used or re-
capped-in sufficient quantities to
enable every motorist in the United
States to drive his car for essential
purposes is in striking contrast to
the repeated warnings that the tires
now on the automobiles of the
country would have to last for the
duration.
It is not clear just what has
brought about this reversal Of policy.
A spokesman for OPA has said that
the new program is an outgrowth of
the recent Baruch rubber report, and
this, presumably, means that the
estimates of the extent of our rubber
resources have been revised as a
result of the findings by Mr.. Baruch
and his associates. The OPA makes
it very clear, however, that its rela-
lively optimistic proposal is based on
the assumption Of strict compliance
by all motorists with certain conser-
vation measures, and there is at least
suggestion in the announcement
that the prospect Of tire requirements
is being held forth to motorists as an
inducement to secure full compliance.
Thus, OPA warns that the hope of
providing tires for all is predicated
squarely on the assumption that there
will be Nation wide observance of
the 5,000-mile average annual driving
limit, of the 35-mile-per-hour speed
limit, the fullest use of car-sharing,
and compulsory tire inspections to
prevent abuses. It is hoped, an OPA
spokesman said, that this program
will provide a solid basis for tire
conservation, since every car driver
would know that his chances Of keep
ing his own car in service until the
war is over depended on the care that
not only he himself but other drivers
took of their tires. Therefore" the
spokesman added, 1--WE should get a
wide public support which will help
us spot violators and wasteful users.
It won't be like prohibition days."
It is in this sense that the OPA
program seems designed to enlist the
services Of all motorists as volunteer
enforcement officers in the tire con-
servation campaign. II it serves to
keep the Nations private cars in
service, it will have been well worth
while.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trnce1reu.

At the National Geological Park there
is still sign which reads:
dogs brought into this park must be
confined to carriages"
A small boy asked his companion,
Daddy, what is q 'carriage?'"
Among the words which modern chill
dren probably wouldn't know are cistern,
buggy, hitching post-and rack-hansom
cab and many others.
They refer to vehicles and activities
long gone by.
Drinking troughs, for instance, once
familiar sight around Washington,
today might be wondered at by young
sters.
There are few drinking troughs left
In Georgetown, and there is one at West
ern avenue and Chevy Chase Circle.
Following the disappearance of the
horse, dogs found these troughs much to
their liking in hot weather.
They were just bit too deep for birds.
The hanson cab, at one time, was
seen often in the downtown streets Of
the National Capital.
This odd vehicle was named after its
inventor, one Mr.. Hanson. Those of us
who remember it will never forget it.
It was favorite of lovers, since they
felt that the driver couldn't see them.
For young moderns who never may
have seen hanson cab, we may say
that 1t had two wheels, being essentially
q cart, with the driver in the back and
high above the occupants.
The lines went down through an ar
rangement at the front of the cab.
The whole affair had a crazy, tip
tilted appearance; 1t was, indeed, the
horse which alone kept the cab and
occupants from falling over backward.
Surely, in all the long history Of
transportation, there was never any
other vehicle which was so odd in ap-
pearance.
Many years ago, we believe about 1898,
the Government issued large volume
showing the complete history of trans
portation from the most primitive
methods, such as sleds, to railroads and
ocean-golng steamers.
The history ended there, of course,
since Langley's "folly' was only then
in its experimental stages.
The cistern was and is q smau-town
device for collecting rain water.
1t usually was in addition to the deep
driven well, whose water was often hard,
or full of iron.
Not every place in the country has
enjoyed the good water common here
abouts.
Not even around here, let it be whis-
pered to the newcomers, was the water
as good as it is now. Even with the re-
cent addition Of much chlorine, the local
water supply is long cry from pre-
filtration plant days.
When the writer here first came to
Washington as small boy, the water
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Discusses Alleged "Schism"
Between United Nations.

More serious than the sugar coating
of unpleasant military news, which we
Americans are supposed to be strong
enough to take straight" is the soft
pedalling or rosy Interpretation of un-
pleasant political news-more serious
because the citizens of democracy have
a more direct voice in political than in
military affairs, and cannot always be
expected to interpret realistically state
ments couched in diplomatic language.
am referring to Stalin's recent state
ment to Henry Cassidy concerning the
aid being given Russia. For three days
your pages have carried discussions of
this significant pronouncement by an
editorial writer, columnists, reporters
and foreign correspondents. These have
argued much in defense or condemna-
tion of Stains first two sentences, con-
corning the flrst-rate Importance of the
second front and the requirement that
the United Nations fulfill their obliga-
tionS in full and on time. The third
sentence was curiously practically COM
pletely neglected. quote it in full:
CA1dt C1lC 0OtlCI CApdClIy O1
resisting the German brigands is in
strength not less, If not greater, than
the capacity Of Fascist Germany or any
other aggressive power to secure for it
self world domination"
It is to be noted that he said: Fascist
Germany or any other aggressive
power" rather than the usual phrase,
Germany and the other Fascist aggres-
sors." It may also be noted that Eng
land is now led by man who fought
the Communists from 1917 to 1910; that
England constantly refused Russian ef-
forts to establish popular front against
Fascism up to the time of Munich; and
that England's continental policy
through the sos was primarily that Of
playing Mani Germany and Communist
Russia against each other. Without
attempting 70 favr atheR ads oS the
Evening star., 1942-10-12

@. Does dry ice melt?-s. p.
A. Dry ice does not melt. 1t sublimes:
that is, it changes directly from the solid
to the gaseous state. One cubic foot OF
dry ice turns into $50 cubic feet Of car
bon dioxide.
@. What is the greatest distance from
the ocean Of any point In Florida?-A. G.
A. No point in Florida Is more than
100 miles from the sea coast.
@. Who invented the game Of chess?-
c. L. c.
A. Its invention has been ascribed to
no less than IA different nations. Ac-
cording to Chinese tradition, the Man.
DARN Han-sing invented 1t about 174
BIC. to keep his soldiers occupied while
in winter quarters.
@. At what temperature does iron
reach white heat?-E. N. G.
A. Iron comes to a white heat at
around 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit.
@. Which of the moons phases form
the waning crescent?-N. B. B. ...
A. The phase between full moon and
that between last quarter and new moon
Is called waning crescent.
@. Are there any mountain ranges
under the oceanic. r.
A. A striking feature of the floor Of
the Atlantic Ocean is an S-shaped ridge
running from north to south throughout
very nearly its entire length. The highest
peaks of this submarine mountain range
project above the water, forming the
islands of the Azores group, as well as
st. Paul, Ascension and Tristan da
Cunha.
@. Is a soldier in the United States
Army under civil or military jurisdiction
in respect to small crimes?-S. M. M.
A. The War Department says that a
soldier in the United States Army is
under the jurisdiction Of civil authors
ties unless he has committed military
offense, in which case he would be sub.
ject to military authorities.
@. What is the derivation Of the name
"Chile"?-A. K. K.
A. The name Chile" is an Indian
word whose origin has not been salts
factorily explained, no less than six
derivations having been suggested. II
may be from the Quichua "chiri" or
Chilli" cold, referring to the perpetual
snow on many of the mountains. ~
@. Has a naturalized citizen ever been
a candidate for the ofiice of President Of
the United States?-S. S.
A. In none of our presidential elec-
tions has a naturalized citizen been 4
candidate for the presidency OF the
United States.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Struws in the Wind

Two ventures by our air forces last
week assume as much Importance
for what they represent as for what
they actually may have accom-
plished in damage to the enemy.
One was the greatest daylight raid
since the war began, launched by
lis heavy American bombers, with
extensive Allied fighter protection,
from bases in the British Isles. The
second was the first night bombing
attack on Rabaul, the important
japanese base in New Britain, car
ried out on Friday and Saturday
nights by American heavy bombers
without the loss of a single plane.
The Importance of these raids,
especially The raids on Rabaul, Is
that they could not have been un-
dertaken without successful organi-
cation on the ground. And success
full organization on the ground
means the availability of ground
crews, personnel and mechanical re-
placements, fuel and ammunition
and the practical perfection of all
the thousand and one details that
are necessary before raids of such
magnitude can be launched. In
the Southern Pacific, most of this
organization work was done by our
own people, with their own equip
ment, transported more than 1000
miles across the seas. That means
that we are getting to the point
where we can strike effectively-in
fact, to the point where we have
struck effectively. For the raids on
Rabaul, on which the Japanese de-
pend largely for their operation in
the Solomons, dumped over 100 tons
OF bombs on supply depots.
1t Is too early to look at the
Rabaul raids as a turning point. But
our ability to send lis heavy bomb
ers over Europe in the largest day.
light raid since the war began while
the first and largest night attack
was being hurled against Rabaul
on the other side of the world, are
straws in the wind. Our enemies un-
doubtedly got the significance.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdskin.


reader can get the ans,Der to any
question OF fact by tDTitin0 The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D.. Please inclose stamp TOR return
postage.
Q. How many milNonaires are there
in the United States?-L. L.
A. According to the latest estimate
available, there are 11,767 persons IN
the United States whose wealth Is esti-
mated at 100000 or over.
@. Why is 1t unlucky to spill salt?-
w. H. N.
A. The superstition is based upon the
tradition that Judas Iscariot spilled salt
during the Last Supper.
@. How much do q bees wings weight
B. B.
A. The four wings Of . drone bee
weigh only half . millgram.
@. In which magazine was The Star
Spangled Banner" first printed?-C. I.
A. The first printing, aside from news
paper publication. was in the Analectic
Magazine of Philadelphia in 1914. The
title at that time was "The Defence OF
Fort MHenry."
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Discovery Misunderstood

Few events in the history OF human
experience have been more thorough
ly misunderstood than the discovery
of America by Christopher Columbus
four and half centuries ago today.
The great admiral" himself died
believing a number of errors about
his achievement. He never knew that
he had found a new hemisphere.
Certainly, he did not comprehend the
consequences of the vast folk move
ment Of which he was the pioneer.
But the Genoese adventurer was
not alone in his confusion. His con-
temporaries-even the most notably
brilliant of them-were slow to ap-
preciate the significance of what was
In effect doubling of the size of the
globe. The generality of them may
have been skeptical of the success of
the first expedition sent out under
the management of Columbus, but he
was not the inventor of the theory
that the East could be reached by
sailing West. Literally thousands Of
Intelligent people were familiar with
the fact that the earth Is round.
From the moment when Constanti-
nople was taken by the Turks in 1853
It was inevitable that somebody
would do what the admiral" finally
did. A new route to the Orient was
imperative in the interest of the
health of Europe. Food could not be
preserved without spices. To obtain
pepper, cloves, cinnamon and other
necessary condiments such heavily
populated countries as France, Eng
land, Spain and Portugal could not
wait for Asiatics to take the initiative.
OF course, there were political and
religious objectives also to be served
by the development of safer trade
routes. Ferdinand and Isabella were
imperialists in quest Of wealth and
power, and Columbus shared their
ambitious dream. It happened like
wise that the admiral" was devout
Christian and longed for an oppor-
tunity to strike blow against the
infidels who had occupied Jeru-
salem. Such new territories as he
trusted to find he pledged himself tt
claim for his royal sponsors and fol
their branch Of the church. Those
promises he remembered when at last
he reached the island Of Guanahan
on October IL, 1892. Landing with thu
brothers Pinzon and most Of the rest
Of his company, he knelt and gave
thanks to God "for the great mercy
received" and "took solemn posses
sion" Of the shore "for their Catho.
lie majesties Of CASTLE and Leon"
News of the discovery was circu-
lated throughout the western half o.
Europe during the following spring
Gradually it stirred into existence
the most important migration in tht
annals Of the human race. Millioni
q people crossed the Atlantic In tn
Evening star., 1942-10-12

wake Of Columbus. The movement
still continues.
Certainly. Columbus is entitled to
credit for the courage with which he
attempted the work for which he
always will be justly famous. He was
a person Of many curious and mys-
terious traits and is not easy to ap-
praise, but there can be no question
about his bravery, his faithfulness to
his dream and his determination to
accomplish its fuldlment.
Evening star., 1942-10-12

Meat for Thrifty Meals-Meat Is
scarce and meat is high. and the only
way to cope with rising prices is to
buy the cheaper cuts, which are just
as nourishing and tasty If properly
prepared. How to buy and prepare
these less expensive cuts is covered In
this new Government publication.
Contains excellent recipes for quick
dishes with leftovers, stews OF all
varieties, how to prepare ground
meat in savory ways; in word, how
to get the most good from meat at
the least cost. To secure your copy
of this aid to the meat budget in
close 10 cents in coin, wrapped in this
clipping, and mail to The Star In
formation Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Uriter, although the use OF
a pseudony11 for publication is
permissible. The Star reSerDes
the right to edit all letters ,Dith
DieU to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-10-12

Military authorities affirm that
American reoccupation Of the outer
Aleutian Islands, now progressing,
will be "a heavy strategic blow to
Japan" To get our own back is
pleasing, but the kind of strategic
blow we are all looking forward to is,
for instance, occupation by us Of the
outer Kurile Island chain. belonging
to the Nipponese.
Evening star., 1942-10-12

II we are to win the war, says Sec
retary Morgenthau. the Treasury
must have more money. There Is
nothing startling about this state
msnt: Ia feet, Il u tadomatac.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Expresses Appreciation
OF Article by Mrs. Evans.

In behalf Of the officers and Board Of
Management Of the Christ Child Society,
I wish to thank you for the splendid
article by Jessie FAINT Evans which ap-
peared in the Sunday edition Of The
Star.
The Christ Child Society feels 1t will
! b . great help to them in their work.
GERTRUDE LANE ODONNELL,
o01oGpcndtns eecretary.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Discusses Difficulties
In Joining Specialist Corps.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I hope some of the big shot" Army
and Navy officers read this.
I am veteran of the last war, 46
years old, in perfect health, 6 feet 2
inches, weight ITS pounds. I was a
professional baseball player for 16 years.
three of which spent with the Wash
ington Senators.
The Navy has just opened new spe-
cialist class for men with police ex-
perience of which I have had 10 years.
The idea Of this new class is to relieve
mer on shore patrol duty for combat
duty. I applied to the Navy recruiting
station but was turned down, because I
had q molar tooth missing.
A good slogan have heard Is: EVERY
body hang together or they will hang
separately" That goes for all Of US.
So: Open up, Army and Navy, or make
it tough on the boys In the service, and
we who are out but who want to get In.
MAURICE M. CRAFT.
Evening star., 1942-10-12
Finds Pleasure
In Washington Drawings.

In Washington Drawings.
To the Editor Of The Star:
must tell you with how much pleas
ure have been following each week the
drawings by Helen Catch Durston. They
catch so completely the atmosphere Of
Washington. For one not actually on
the scene just now. they often give an
impression which is more vivid and real
istic than an actual photograph would be.
NANCY PHELPS LAN0FORD.
Rock I'M q q.
Evening star., 1942-10-12

.. The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
tne Use 1or republication Of all news dispatches
credited to 1t or not Otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
herein also are reserved