davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-11-22

Just before bailing out each jumper
hooks his static line over a wire
cable extending the length of the
planes cabin. This static line is
l5-foot cord neatly coiled over
the parachute pack. After the
jumper leaps free of the plane
the line will uncoil and finally
jerk off the cover of the pack to
let the chute unfold in the pro-
peller's blast.
Now the jumper stands in the
open doorway. He has looked over
his equipment for the last time
He has secured the static line He
braces himself, waiting for the COM
mand to jump.
"Go!" shouts the Jump master.
The jumper leaps straight for
ward, head up. He makes a quarter
turn toward the planes tail as he
falls. The static line does its work
and the big umbrella billows out. 1t
brings the jumper to a sitting posi-
ton with an awkward jerk.
In 80 seconds or so the jumper
will travel 1900 feet to the ground
During that time he may enjoy CD
a number of strange experiences.
Helpless Pendulum.
He may go into a tailspin exactly
like falling plane. He may swing
back and forth like helpless pendu-
lum. Under certain conditions he
may strike warm-air pocket ano
actually start up instead of down
Or he may feel that he ID hanging
motionless in space.
Jumpers insist that even before
their chutes open at a great height
they feel no sensation of falling
This is true whether they drop 1000
feet or 10000 feet before opening
their parachutes.
Air resistance limits a human
body's speed of fall to a maximum
OF 126 miles an our. 1t simply can
not fall any faster. Thus jumpers
have disproved the old theory that
falling through space would be so
swift as to take mans breath away
and render him unconscious.
But when sky trooper nears
the ground he notices motion
enough. The earth seems to Jump
up at him. Just before his feet
touch he yanks himself up with a
mighty pull on the shroud lines.
This eases the bump.
Ducks and Rolls.
If he can, he lands facing the
direction the chute is pulling him.
If not, he ducks his head and rolls
over like football player falling
on a moving ball. In either case he
yanks vigorously on the shroud lines
nearest the ground. This empties
the air in the big mushroom before
the breeze drags it and him over
sticks and stones to break his bones.
The packing of the parachute, the
jump and the landing are, of course,
only means to an end. Just what
the sky trooper does after he lands
behind the enemy's lines in this
spectacular manner had best be kept
under Uncle Sans high hat.
But it's no military secret that a
soldier or a marine who has sur
vived the jumpers stiff training is
able to administer plenty of punish
ment-as well as take it!
Evening star., 1942-11-22

Honduras is country in Centra,
America. 1t is a free and inde.
pendent republic about the size Of
the State of Pennsylvania and has
a population of more than 1,200,-
600. It's main export has been ba-
nanas. Honduras was one of those
countries that declared war on ia
pan just one day after Pearl Har-
Dor.
Copan is in the western part OF
Honduras, near the border of its
Central American neighbor. Guat-
emala. Here, 1000 years before Co.
lumbus, lived a tribe of the Maya
race. Here they had cleared the
jungles about them and had made
their dwellings and their sacred
temples.
The monuments and temples of
these people are profusely carved
with intricate designs and patterns,
as are their stellae. Stellae are pill
lars, not unlike the Alaskan totem
poles. carved with figures and faces
These pillars of stone, hundreds of
years old, are still in excellent con-
dition and archeologists from many
parts of the world have come to
study them. But, until now, the
meaning of these pillars is un-
solved.
The Mayas had, in their city, large
and expensive plazas surrounded by
large temples. In these temples,
they carried on their religion.
Mixed in with these temples was
q large stadium. The Mayas played
many sports, and today we can see
at Copan the remains of a stadium,
three times as long as the modern
football field, with rows of seats on
three sides.
The inhabitants of Copan were a
prosperous people, as is evidenced by
the edifices that they left, but little
is known of their origin or of the
reason they vanished from the site
of their city.
The Spanish conquerors asked the
indians what they knew of the
origin of these monuments of Copan,
but were told only that gods from
the North had built them and
thrived there for a time, then sud-
denly disappeared.
The mystery of their sudden dis
appearance is still being studied to-
day. Was the disappearance be-
cause of plague. famine, or some
other disaster? Until now, no clue
has been found as to why they left.
Perhaps in the future men will
find the lost secret of the Mayas.
Until then, we can only gaze with
astonishment at these monuments
to an ancient race and wonder what
stories they could tell of the ancient
people of this, our American con-
tinent.
Evening star., 1942-11-22

once the easiest and most difficult
task human beings have ever been
asked to do. Easy after the start,
that is, but extremely difficult to
bring to a successful finish.
Funny how this bailing out af-
fects fellow" the seasoned para
chute jumper goes on. Maybe you
toss in your bunk all the night before,
dreading that one second when you
stand in the open cockpit door. No
matter how often you jump, you
never get over that feeling. But
once you're outside, you seldom
think of danger"
Careful Training.
What If some one loses his
nerve?" you ask timorously. The
answer is gravely spoken:
1T sometimes happens. That
awful second does it for some
rockies. Their nervous systems can't
stand the strain. They are never
forced or scolded. They simply get
a transfer the same day to another
branch of the service"
Learning to jump out of an air.
plane in flight requires a minimum
of six weeks of training. The candi-
date must not only learn what to do
on the way down-paracnutes must
be inspected and packed before
hand. Packing parachute properly
takes an expert As minutes. For a
beginner the job is a matter OF
hours. It's ticklish business, this
shaking out, drying, inspecting and
packing. One wrong fold may later
make all the difference between the
jumpers life and death.
The finished job is about as big
as a chair seat, or S inches thick
During training the candidate also
wears an emergency pack on his
lap. The seat-pack has been known
to fail!
Strenuous Business.
Training for hitting the ground"
after the jump is strenuous busi-
ness. Imagine leaping sidewise or
backwards off the top of dads car
travelling at a speed of from 5 to 10
miles an hour and you get some
idea of the bump the average
jumper can expect when he lands
That's why he needs the skill of a
professional tumbler to save his
neck
This skill is developed in many
ways. He takes special calisthenics.
He jumps backward and forward off
platform feet high. He is dropped
face-downward in harness from a
height of $50 feet. He rides para
chutes down from 250-foot towers
with and without cables to check
their rate of fall.
No wonder skytrooper candidate
has to be rough, tough and able to
take plenty of punishment!
Actual jumps from planes are at
tempted only after the preliminary
training is satisfactorily completed.
Several jumps at varying heights
are required-singly and as a men,
ber of group-before a candidate
receives his insignia and qualities
for the special pay and privileges
sky-trooper enjoys.
Bailing Out.
These jumps are made under the
watchful eyes of ground officers and
Jump master" in the plane, who
see that all the rules are observed.
Evening star., 1942-11-22

Entering the bay, Hudson passed
between various islands. When the
Half Moon was anchored, Indians
came to its side in canoes, bringing
corn, tobacco and vegetables. Some
of the Indians were given metal
axes and knives, as well as shoes
and stockings.
Shortly afterward, Hudson reached
an island on which lived Indians
known as Manhattans That island
now bears the name of Manhattan
and is part of New York City.
Sailing northward, Hudson entered
a broad and beautiful river known
to the Indians by several names,
among them the Mohican and the
Shatamuc. 1t is now called the
Hudson.
Sailed Up River.
It was in the month of September
that the Half Moon began to sail up
the Hudson. From time to time
groups of Indians came to the shore
and made signs as if to say:
Come ashore and let us talk
with you'll"
The white men were usually too
busy to stop. Thinking that the
strangers must be afraid, some of
the Indians held arrows in the air,
broke them and cast them into a
fire. This was done as a sign Of
friendship.
From time to time the Half Moon
cast anchor for the purpose of OBJ
tanning supplies. The Indians were
quick to come with presents.
Within 10 days, Hudson reached
a point where the river bent sharply
to the west. A rowboat was sent
ahead to test the depth of the water,
and it was too shallow for the Half
Moon to proceed safely. This
showed that the river was not an
arm of the sea, and that it could
not be used as a passage toward
Asia. Hudson therefore turned and
sailed down the river.
Feast With Indians.
The bend in the river was in the
region of the present city of Albany.
Hudson and his men went ashore to
hold meeting and enjoy a feast
with the Indians. During the feast,
the Indians were given their first
taste of whisky, or fire water'-a
dangerous taste, for it was, to ruin
many a warrior in later times.
Hudson returned to Holland
safely, but met with tragedy on an
other voyage. This time sailing
under the English flag, he explored
Northern Canada, but his sailors
feared to 60 farther and set him
adrift in Hudson Bay. He was not
heard from again. -.
Meanwhile. other Dutch vessels
Evening star., 1942-11-22

a Jew days last
S u m m e n. The
+ a r m ers had
planted t h e i r
crops this year
the same as they,
and per h a p S
their forefath-
ers, had always
done. Then, over
the wires from
w a S h i n 6 t on,
came the order
to tr an S f form
the quiet coun-
tryside into an
Army camp.
m L.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Riddles

We don't usually let one reader
monopolize the riddle corner, but
John Yonkmans of Bellef1ower
Calf, sent us 20 riddles at one time
and we think we owe it to him to
publish at least five Of them. Here
they are:
1. What is heightened by being
cut at both ends?
a. Tom went out. his dog with
him: he went not before, behind
nor on one side of him. Where did
he go?
3. When is a man over head and
ears in debt?
4. What thing is lower with a
head than without one?
S. Why are washerwomen silly
people?
Know any good riddles? Send
them to the Riddle Man, in care OF
The Junior Star.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Poser Answers

P0Ser ANsWeys
!. He risked his title for charity.
2. The British Commands. 8. Mark
Twain and Donald Nelson. 4. Sun
Yat-sen. 5. He is appointed by the
President. 6. It has q rod back
ground, with q blue sky and q white
sun In the upper inside corner. I
Bohvio and Paraguay. .. Cities.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Two Current Books
For Boys and Girls
Fiction.

Tom Whipple," by Walter d.
Edmonds Dodd, Mead)-This book
was awarded the Newberry Medal as
"the most distinguished contribu-
ton to literature for children pub
lished in 1941. A story Of stalwart
courage, handsomely illustrated by
Paul Lantz.
''Mr. Bumps and His Monkey" by
Walter de la Mare (Winston) About
sailor named Bumps who has been
to many strange places and seen
many marvellous things.
Evening star., 1942-11-22

COuAltl y.
These we're the
words of petite
Lorraine Lee as
she told the
story of her ex-
citing e sc a p e
from G a n t on !,
China, after the
city was attack
ed by the Japa-
nese.
Lorraine W a S
born and reared
in Canton. When
she was 5 years
old, her kinder
garten schooling
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Farms Become
Army Camp in
Swift Change
Prize Contribution
BY RUTH DAVIS, IA,

Can you believe that a peaceful
rural scene can be changed almost
overnight into a teeming city of
$4,000 population?
This very thing happened to a
farm community in which I spent
Evening star., 1942-11-22
The Wind
Prize Contribution
BY RAYMOND BLAND, Is,

Central High School.
I like to hear the wind
Roar about the sky --..
And whistle round the rooftops
In daily lullaby; a-,--
I like to see the hillside
Rufled by the breeze,
And watch the gold and crimson
leaves
Come falling from the trees;
As only God has fashioned it
In the morning sky,
The hidden hand, an unseen art
The wind that whistles by.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Thanksgiving
Prize Contribution

BY ANNE M. VALENTINE, IA,
Gordon Junior High School
When the turkey gobblers gobble
And the pumpkins turn to gold,
And grapes are rich with purple
And morns are frosty cold;
When cottontails fast scamper
And nuts are lustrous brown,
Thanksgiving Day is nearing
With Natures choicest crown.
Evening star., 1942-11-22

which told of
ancient temples,
like t h ose of
Egypt, in Mex
leo.
I wondered as
I read this ar
ticle If there are
many students
of Washington
S C ools who
know of Copan,
a center of the
ancient M a y a
ace that is
found in the Re-
public of Hon.
duras.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
BY SETH HARMON.

There's other thrill Ike
Sure
there's nothing to it,"
This is the they'd awed questions the
thethese
leapng empty space
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Chinese Learns
What Freedom
Means in u. S.
Eastern High Girl
Appreciates Life
In This Country
Prize Contribution
BY VIVIAN GRUBER, Is,

During my three years In the
United States, I have been taught
the meaning of freedom. I've
learned to appreciate living in this
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Uncle Ray Traces History
Of Hudson's Explorations
BY UNCLE RAY.


Holland in attempt to find westward
manded by captain
service of Dutch trading company
Hudson reached North America and sailed for miles along
coast looking q
seemed though it might lead
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Riddle Asswsys

Riddle. Asswsrs T
/. A ditch. 2. In the other side.
3. When his wig is not paid for. 4. A
pillow. 5. Because they put out
their tubs to catch soft water when
1t rains hard.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
St: Johns Boy
Tells Of Ancient
Hondurarl City
Copan Was Built by
Mayas Who Left 1t
Mysteriously
Prize Contribution
By CESAR A. CACERES, tx.
st. Johns High School.

Coming from country south
OF the border was naturally in.
terested in prize contribution in
q recent issue of The Junior Star
Evening star., 1942-11-22

"You can never tell." said the
bandit ss he shot the only witness
to his ct.lns.
Evening star., 1942-11-22
Permission Needed

Irate Father-Hey, you! It's l
o'clock! Do you think you can stay
here all night?
Boy-I don't know, sir. I'll have
to call home first.
Evening star., 1942-11-22

Read Uncle Rays Corner" every
day in The Evening Star.
Evening star., 1942-12-13

visit with Mr.. and Mrs. Harris be-
fore the wedding.
Miss Harris younger sister, Miss
Betty Harris, will be home tomorrow
from Stephens College, Columbia,
Mo-, where she has been a student
since September.
Miss Catherine Cowan, the daugh-
ter of Col. and Mrs. Edward G.
Cowan of Drummond, will spend her
vacation from George Washington
University in Akron, Ohio, with Miss
Peggy Jett. who was her roommate
last year at Randolph Macon Wom-
ans College. She will delay her
visit, however, until after Decern-
ber %, on which date she will assist
in the debut luncheon Of her cousin,
Miss Caroline Embry.
DR.. and Mrs. v. L. Ellicott win
have Mrs. Ellicott's cousin, Miss
Nancy Howell Gould Of Noroton,
Conn, with them for the Christmas
season. Several parties have been
planned for Miss Gould during holi-
day week and as climax to the
weeks festivities she will attend the
second Baltimore Cotillion on New
Year eve with DR.. and Mrs. Ellicott.
DR.. and Mrs. Ellicott lived in Bal
timore until several years ago when
DR.. Ellicott was made Montgomery
County health officer. Mrs. Ellicott
made her debut at the Baltimore
Cotillion
Mrs. Charles Dallett will 20 to
Florida tomorrow to spend the re-
mainder OF the winter. She will be
the guest Of her -in-law and
daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. Andrew
Marsh, at their home near Daytona
Beach. Mrs Dallett has been max
ing her home with another daugh-
ter, Mrs. John R. Hopes, in Edge
moor, for the past several months
Mr.. and Mrs. Jesse e Swigart will
have their daughter Mrs. Laurie F.
Hess, and their two young grand
daughters, Carol and Patricia, with
them for the holiday season. They
will arrive this week from Kentucky,
where Mrs. Hess husband, now Mai.
Hess, has been stationed for the past
few months.
Mrs. William Keene Harrall, who
was in Somerset several times last
year when her husband was sta
toned in Norfolk. is now living in
Alameda, Calf. while her husband,
recently made an admiral, is on duty
on the West Coast.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
General Activities in Alexandra
Mai. and Mrs. Davidson Hosts
At Dinner Marking Anniversary
Mrs. Brou,n.Serman Back From Visit;
Mr.. and Mrs. RouesS Neoc Residents

Wavnesboro. Mrs. Crutchfield. sr.,
will go to Richmond shortly to visit
another daughter, Mrs. Bradstreet
Peaseley.
Mrs. W. r. Fulton and her daugh-
ters. the Misses Norma and Nadine
Fulton, we're hostesses last evening
at a miscellaneous shower in honor
of Miss Edith Davis, whose marriage
to Mr. George Rodney Jennings of
Chicago will take place December
20. Miss Davis is the daughter Of
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank B. Davis and
her fiance is on duty with the Signal
Corps Reserves of the Army. Mrs.
Michael Horan and Mrs. Mae Dun
away were assistant hostesses and
among the other guests were Mrs.
Davis, mother of the bride-elect,
and her sisters-in- law. Mrs. Frank
K. Davis and Mrs r. T. Davis.
Mr.. and Mrs, j. Howard Nagee of
Elizabeth, N J.. will come to spend
the holidays with Col. and Mrs.
John Hardin and their young
daughter. Miss Nancy Hardin.
1t. Comdr. Harry L. Dodson was
Joined last week by Mrs. Dodson
after her visit in Philadelphia.
Mr.. and Mrs. Archie L. Dram. who
have lived in Alexandria for the
past five years are moving to ST..
Louis.
Miss Roberta Cooke, who will
leave shortly for Panama, was the
guest Of honor at a dinner dance
arranged by group Of her con-
temporar1es as farewell fete. The
party was given Tuesday at the
Belle Haven County Club.
Evening star., 1942-12-13

Mai. Richard Porter Davidson,
q. S. A., and Mrs. Davidson were
hosts at an informal family dinner
party Friday evening in their at
tractive house In Alexandria. The
party celebrated the birthday ami
versary of Mrs. Davidson who for
merly was Miss Betty Hanna,
daughter of the late Dan R. Hanna,
and a granddaughter of the famous
Senator Mark Hanna of Ohio Mrs.
Davidson made her debut in Wash
ington and took a leading part in
all social activities during her resi-
dence in the Capital. Mai David
sons family has been prominent in
the District of Columbia for many
generations.
The Rev. Stanley Brown -Serman
was joined Thursday by Mrs.
Brown -Serman, who returned to
their home at the Theological Semi
nary from a visit in New York.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry RoueSs of
New York have moved to Alexan-
dria and are occupying the former
home of Mr.. and Mrs. A. Pendleton
Taliaferro at sos Franklin street.
Mr.. and Mrs. c. Irwin Dunn also
have moved, having given up their
house on South Lee street and
moved in their new home on Oak
crest avenue
Mr.. and Mrs Robert F. Stripping
are others who have moved their
abodes and now are living in WASH
ington, having given up their house
on Commonwealth avenue.
Mrs. Owen Magruder Jones has
as her guest her mother, Mrs. Knox
Crutchfleld, who accompanied her
daughter home after a visit with
her son and daughter-in-law, Mr..
and Mrs. George Crutchfield, at
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Katharine Knox
Here for Visit

Mrs. Forney M. Knox has been
joined by her daughter. Miss Katha-
rine Knox. who arrived Friday from
Mexico City to spend Christmas and
the holidays. 1t is the first visit
home for Miss Knox In two years
and she will be extensively enter
tanned by her wide circle of friends
here.
Miss Knox has been secretary
to the United States Ambassador to
Mexico for four or five years, hav-
ing gone to that post during the
regime Of Mr.. Josephus Daniels be-
fore his retirement and remained
there in that post since the appoint
ment of Mr.. George s. Messersmith
as Ambassador.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
COL, Mrs. Herman
Entertain Guest

1t. Col. and Mrs. Lee Herman of
Arlington entertained last week Col.
Gusts Guttenburger of the Air
Corps, who recently has been trans
ferred from Panama to Patterson
Field, Ohio.
Mrs. Herman's mother, Mrs. Mary
McAuliff, with her son-in-law and
daughter, 1t. and Mrs. Theodore
Bleakley, have come from Mitchell
Field, Long Island, and have taken
an apartment in Buckingham.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Mary L. Whitney
Will Be Married

The engagement Of Miss Mary
Louise Whitney to Mr.. Henry S.
Wentz is announced by her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. Frank I. Whitney. Mr..
Wentz is the son Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Joseph G. Wentz Of Leola, Pa.
Miss Whitney was graduated from
Duke University, where she was a
member of Sigma Kappa Sorority
Mr.. Wentz is also graduate of
Duke and was a member of Phi
Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He is now
attending Jefferson Medical College
and is a member of Alpha Kappa
Kappa Medical Fraternity.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Befhesda.Lower Montgomery County
Entertaining for the Younger Set
During Holidays Is Arranged
Boys and Girls Home From School
WI Add to Gayefy of the Season

Social interest In lower Mont
gomery County during the next few
weeks will center around the young
people who are coming home for
their college vacations.
The deputy director Of the Fish
and Wild Life Service and Mrs
Charles E. Jackson will give party
during the holiday week for their
older son. Mr.. Charles E. Jackson,
jr, now q midshipman at the United
States Naval Academy at Annapolis
Also during the holidays Mr.. and
Mrs.. Jackson will entertain for their
younger son, Mr.. Harold jackson,
who win be home from Georgia
Military Academy.
calendar also is the party that Mr..
and Mrs. George Sacks will give
for their daughter, Miss Ann Sacks,
sometime during holiday week. The
exact date for the party cannot be
Get until next week, when Miss Sacks
comes home from Smith College.
Sharing honors with Miss Sacks will
be her roommate. Miss Sally Van
Orden Of Scarsdale, N Y, who will
spend her Christmas vacation with
Miss Sacks In Bethesda.
In Kenwood the interest OF the
young people will center around the
parties Mrs. Francis B. Hill will give
for her niece and namesake, Miss
Daviette Ficklen of Canton, Ohio,
who will be with Mrs. Hill until after
New Year. Miss Ficklen has been in
Kenwood several times in previous
years and Mrs. Hills sister, Miss
Imogen Fcklen, has usually as
sisted In entertaining her.
This year, however, Miss Ficklen
will be absent from the family dinner
party at the Hills on Christmas Day.
She went to Europe In July and
according to recent letters is now
on duty with the State Department
In Madrid.
Plans are also under way for sew
eral parties honoring Miss Rosemary
Harris, whose wedding date has
been set for early in January. Miss
Harris will be home on the 18th
from Dayton, Ohio, where she has
been with the British Liaison Office,
to be with her father and mother,
Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph r. Harris, until
after the wedding, and her fiance,
Leading Aircraftsman John Alfred
Parish, RAF, Of London, England.
will be in Edgemoor for few days
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Miss Rose Moscow,
Mr.. Cohen Eln6a6ed

Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Moscow of
Des Moines, Iowa, have announced
the engagement Of their daughter,
Miss Rose Moscow, to Mr.. David
Cohen of this city. The engage
ment was announced at the home
of Mr.. Cohen last Sunday, at which
time dinner was given for the
immediate families in honor Of Miss
Moscow and Mr.. Cohen.
The wedding will take place next
summer
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Dorothy J. Wilson
Is ENGAGED

Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Henry Will
son announce the engagement of
their daughter, Miss Dorothy jose
phine Wilson, to Cadet Edward Jo-
seph Geaney, jr, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Edward Joseph Geaney of New
York City.
Miss Wilson studied at Dunbarton
College
The wedding will take place in
January, following Cadet Geaney's
graduation from the United States
Military Academy at West Point.
Evening star., 1942-12-13
Tea Wednesday

Mrs. Bruce Wallace, secretary Of
the washington branch Of the Eng
lish Speaking Union for the past
20 years. will be hostess at tea
Wednesday afternoon entertaining
In her apartment at ais P street.