davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-02-27
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles Z. Trdce1Dell.

reward. 1t means that she has kept her
eyes, mind and heart busy with the birds
for a long time.
They have furnished her inexhaustible
amusement and entertainment.
She has done them great deal Of
good, not just satisfied her personal ideas
Of accomplishment. But she has accom-
plished a great deal, although it has
taken her good time to do it.
She has never stirred from her room
to do 1t.
This is tip to all women at home, to
invalids and to all persons who do not
have the time or energy to 90 on walks.
Birds come to the humblest homes, as
well as to the great parks and national
reserves.
People in the city have their sparrows,
starlings and pigeons, and many others;
and persons living in the suburbs have
sparrows. starlings and pigeons, too,
along with many others.
Sometimes we think you will be able
to see almost the same birds in town as
in the suburbs, provided you look long
enough, and try hard enough to attract
them.
1t is certainly easier, however, to see
them in the suburban yard where food is
put out regularly.
We believe that the observer who
Identifies a few new birds every year,
year after year, is going to have those
species as closer and dearer friends than
he who sees them all within the space
Of few hours.
The latter will not be able to remember
the details, whereas the long time OBJ
server will get to know each detail of
difference.
He will have a firmer grip on the
songsters, as it were, a closer realiza-
ton Of their differences and their beau
ties.
Their habits will become a part of
him as well as of the birds. He will
know what time they get up in the
morning and what time they 60 to bed
at night.
Their food habits will become clear
to him, because he has tried them out
on "leftovers." and knows what they
will eat and what they will not eat.
The person on tour of any sort has
no way of feeding the birds. He is not
there, indeed, for that purpose. Some
times we wonder If he is not there, after
all, so that he can tell afterward how
many birds he saw. The sin Of numbers
is one which we all indulge in, at times.
The largest. the biggest-this has been
the ideal. Now 1t has come into fruition
in arms, and we must make EN- to win,
and this is good. But in some matters,
principally artistic matters, numbers do
not win. One cardinal is as good as 10
cardinals. Beauty shines from one crest
as well as from a row of them. We feel
that the person who watches the birds
carefully and slowly at home does the
best job Of 1t, and Is in much better
position to help them the year around.
Evening star., 1942-02-27

War Department, the Navy says the
whole thing was a false alarm and
implies that the Army's anti-aircraft
unit was the victim of its own over
anxiety.
As far as the public Is concerned
forty-eight hours later-there the
matter stands. Some Army or Navy
officials must know whether the
raid" was real or imaginary, but
the people Of the country are left in
the dark.
It is interesting to note that the
Armys report intimated that the
planes may have been operated by
enemy agents for the purpose Of
spreading alarm" II that be the
fact, it may be pertinent to suggest
that the agents, with the collabora-
ton CT the Army and Navy, were
eminently successful, for it is doubt
ful whether anything could be better
calculated to spread alarm than the
manner in which the War and Navy
Departments have handled this
incident.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Court Congestion

The Judicial Conference for the
District of Columbia was thoroughly
justified in laying so much emphasis
on the deplorable congestion con-
fronting the District Court and in
giving consideration to proposals for
remedying the alarming situation. A
review of docket conditions, pre-
sented by Henry P. Chandler, court
administrative officer, provided
ample statistical proof of Appellate
Justice Harold Stephens assertion
that the District and appellate
courts are badly behind and are
not catching up to any appre-
ciable extent" Justice Stephens
questioned the effectiveness of out
side judicial help as a solution of the
problem, and Chief Justice D. Law
renee Groner suggested the creation
of a purely local tribunal to relieve
District Court of much of the work it
now is required to do by reason of
its hybrid Federal-local status.
Mr. Chandler reported that during
the first half of the current fiscal
year civil cases filed in District Court
totaled 3,141, as compared with q
969 for the similar period of the pre-
ceding year. With the tremendous in
crease in population, due to the war,
a Jump in local civil and criminal
cases can be expected. Aided by
seven judges brought in from outside
districts, the twelve District Court
judges managed to dispose of 6,904
civil cases during the past fiscal year,
but during that time $3.50 new cases
were added to the docket. On the
criminal side the record was, as Mr..
Chandler aptly phrased it, mot so
good" 1925 cases being closed while
2,012 new ones we're being piled up.
On the average more than fourteen
months elapsed in civil cases be-
tween the time of filing and final
disposition.
The suggestion of Chief Justice
Groner that special court be set up
to hear local cases is an interesting
one. Such a court we'll might be
assigned the task Of handling do
mestic relations cases, which now
take up a large portion of the time
of District Court judges. In other
jurisdictions, of course, such cases
are handled by State tribunals.
There have been proposals in the
past for a domestic relations court
in Washington, but the mere. division
of the work of District Court by crea-
tion of a new local court would not
relieve the congestion, unless, at the
same time, the overall total of
judges we're increased. Any court
reorganization plan, to be effective,
must contemplate a substantial en-
largement of the judiciary in the Dis
trict of Columbia. Otherwise the
already overburdened dockets will
continue to be overhurdened and the
machinery Of justice will continue
tn lag
Evening star., 1942-02-27

Of the highways are being increased
by the war. Especially in the larger
cities-Washington, for example-the
streets are more conspicuously
crowded than they were year ago.
The need for caution therefore is en-
hanced, rather than decreased. It
is not necessary to warn some per-
sons. What is required Is that those
individuals who habitually take
chances" shall realize that it now is
their duty as never before to refrain
from putting their neighbors and
themselves in unnecessary peril. The
Travellers booklet should be read by
every man and woman who desires
to be part of the solution rather than
part of the problem.
Evening star., 1942-02-27

Bird feeding in the garden and at
the window SILL" writes . correspondent,
has been q considerable source Of en-
joyment and relaxation at our home for
several stimulated, in no small
degree, by your column"
He goes on to say that "the beginner
in bird observation will find that If he
attempts to increase his knowledge Of
birds by himself and by a study Of bird
books, the progress will be extremely
slow"
in the course Of which he saw "at least
rs different species"
Such a large number of birds in one
swoop might seem indigestiole to some
persons.
A better way for them Is to do what
our correspondent points to at hrst-take
1t easy, spread the species over the
months, or even over the years, and in
time know all the birds Of ones imme-
diate neighborhood
This is the method OF bird observa-
ton which ties the sport to the home
and to the entire family, because it Is
impossible for one member Of family
to be interested in it without the en-
thusiasm being contagious.
This Is q form OF contagion, like de-
fense work, which is catching" Indeed,
bird watching, which means bird con-
servation, is form Of defense work. We
must never forget that defense, like
charity, begins at home.
The enemies Of our country would like
nothing better than that, in the throes
of getting ready, we neglect our ma
tional resources. Unfortunately, the ten
dency is to do just that, at times.
We must be careful that we take care
Of all we have. This means conservation,
not only Of paper, but Of birds and our
other animal resources.
Bird walks, tours and trips are to be
commended for all persons who have the
time. energy and money to take them.
Often bird walks in the city, conducted
by an authority. cost no money at ALL
Still, there will be thousands Of per-
sons who do not have time to devote
to this purpose.
Should they give up interest in the
birds7
BY no means!
II they have home, even a room, they
can study and enjoy the birds, and help
them as well as themselves.
We know one Government worker who
feeds the birds on O tin roof outside her
window.
We know that she gets quite as much
Of thrill out Of this as our CORES
pondent out Of his personally conducted
tour In Florida.
1t Is true that she saw no herons or
the like, but over 10 years she has iden-
titled more than so different species OF
songbirds.
They are all her friends.
The time taken has been part OF the
Evening star., 1942-02-27
The Wreckord'

During a dozen years past the
Travellers Insurance Company of
Hartford has issued an equal number
Of illustrated booklets dealing with
street and highway accidents involv-
ing automotive vehicles. "The Wreck
ord" for 1941, just published, deserves
study even when public attention is
preoccupied with the fighting of
war. 1t happens that the casualty
figures for the last twelve-mon
period exceed all previous annual
totals. Americans to the number of
10000 were killed in traffic crashes
of one sort or another. Those in
jured more or less seriously were
about 100000.
In comment upon these figures the
editors of the Travellers pamphlet de-
clare: "The Nation, if it is to sue
coed in the titanic task to which it
has dedicated itself, simply cannot
afford a continuation of this waste
of life, of man-hours, of hos
pital space, of machinery and
morale" Reasonably enough, then,
1t follows that it is form of helpful
patriotism to work for traffic safety.
Automobile accidents are the result
of individual carelessness. Every
motor vehicle mishap Is the result of
somebody's doing something the
wrong way" The cure for the costly
evil of faulty driving and walking
rests in the education of motorists
and pedestrians. Expressed in some
what different language, the con-
structive thought represented in the
observations cited is: The national
cause may b served by careful driv-
ing and walking.
OF course, it already has been re-
marked that in 1912 there will be re-
strictions on the use of motor We
hicles that may lessen the number
of accidents. Fewer cars, rationed
gasoline and oil, increased costs Of
operation-all these and many other
factors may combine to cut the tragic
toll Of automobile accidents. But 1t
would be a mistake to presume too
much on that account. The hazards
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Finale

Gold candleHght across bo,Dl OF
Dhite-gold grapes.
Tschaikowsky and spring eDening
and tDhite tDine,
A tranquil south ,Dind stirring at the
tpindo,D drapes:
This hour of peace Is briet, but II
Is mine.
Euen before the thin young moon tDtH
Ddr and tDdne,
Certain before this season OF Arc
turus comes to end,
We shall deploy on our udys and
neDer krotD again
Just such an euentro and such
peace, my friend.
The hour Is short -ltved as Is this ne,o
and fragile leaf,
The candles ,ocrer and already
distant guns bark pdr;;
But knoto this fnterlude Das
bright because so brtef
Because In oil of time tt iDfH return
no more.
FREDERICK EBRIGHT.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hnskt,t.

A reader can get the dnstper 10 any
question of fact by Urittno The Ere-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please incIose stamp for reply.
@. What is the height Of the average
American soldier?-M. s.
A. The ONCE of the Surgeon General
says that in a representative sample Of
100000 men who qualified physically for
the United States Army, the average
height was 1928 inches.
@. How did the custom of carrying Q
bride across the threshold originated
N. c. o, n--
A. In ancient Rome, the bride was
lifted over the threshold, or. slightly
jumped over it in order to avoid the
chance of stumbling. 1t was thought to
bring ill-luck 70 stumble in er altering ones
home for the first time after the wedding.
The bridegroom carried her.
Q. How many members OF the present
House Of Representatives served In the
First World War?-H. S.
A. There are 140 members Of the
House of Representatives who have
served In the World War.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
ShyIock Revised

DR.. Carlson of the University OF
Chicago has a startling proposal to
boost simultaneously two important
assets-the health of the Nation and
the contents of the Treasury. He
claims that excess weight is in
furious to health and efficiency, and
that fat persons are tempting fate.
The overweight man or woman who
orders a nut sundae is retarding the
war effort, and the soda jerker who
dispenses it is saboteur. There
fore, says the doctor, let the Gov
ernment slap a tax of $40 pound
on all weight in excess of the amount
natural to each citizens height and
build. In other words, as long as
Uncle Sam in the past has been
known as Uncle Shylock, let him
live up to the name and exact pay
ment for his pound of flesh.
One guess is allowed as to whether
DR.. Carlson himself is built along the
lines of Cassius, who had lean and
hungry look, or along the lines Of
Falstaf. The reader wins; the doc
tor is on the lean side, and appar-
emily with nothing to fear-but wait!
Is 1t not true that skinny, under
nourished citizens cannot give Of
their best to help win the war? Ger
tainly. What, then, Is to prevent
some jolly fat little DR.. x from pro-
posing $40 tax for every pound be-
low normal? Better let well enough
alone, DR.. Carlson.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Spreading Alarm

It would be difficult to imagine a
more absurd situation than that
which results from Southern Cali
fornia's air raid-false alarm con-
troversy.
If one prefers to accept the War
Departments version, some fifteen
unidentified planes were sighted
over Los Angeles early Wednesday
morning. They few at attitudes Of
from 5000 to $4,000 feet and at speeds
officially described as from very
slow" up to 200 miles an hour. For
more than an hour Army search
lights probed the California skies
and the Thirty-seventh Coast Artil-
lery Brigade fired 1,430 rounds at the
intruders without scoring a hit, ex-
cept for minor damage inflicted on
civilian establishments by shrapnel,
Despite this detailed official de-
scription Of the incident from the
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Doubts Need for Rationing
OF Gasoline "Next Summer
BIZ William McGd6fn.
Wide world News.


Recently there has been an announce
ment that gasoline rationing soon will be
put into effect and that already the Di-
vision Of Petroleum Administration Is
preparing the groundwork Of such ra-
tioning. But can they be 50 sure we are
going to need gasoline rations? With
tires getting thinner and the prospects
for getting new ones getting thinner than
the tires themselves, people are not 60
ing to burn up the roads and gasoline
next summer the way they have in the
past. If gasoline rationing proves nee
essary, by all means let US have it, but
by all means let us avoid anything like
we had last fall. Things like that only
destroy peoples confidence in the Gov
ernment and destroy their confidence In
the ability of the Government to carry
out the defense program.
CLARENCE ARMSTRONG,
Baltimore, Nd.
Evening star., 1942-02-27

@. Was any President of the United
States other than Grant ever arrested?-
r. s. K.
A. Upon one occasion President Pierce,
while returning on horseback from the
home Of william Morgan, accidentally
ran down the wife of Nathan Lewis. A
constable named Stanley Edelin, placed
President Pierce under arrest He was
Immediately released, however.
@. How many infantile paralysis cases
occurred in the United States last year?
M. A. r.
A. The total number Of infantile par
alysis cases in the United States, accord
ing to preliminary reports for 1941.
shows s,ss8 cases.
Q. Where was the apostle John living
when he wrote the Apocalypse?-J. B.
A. Upon the island of Patmos In the
Aegean Sea. 1t was to this islet that he
was banished under Domitian In AID. e5
and here he Is said to have written the
Apocalypse.
@. Who was the author of the COM
mand. Don't shoot till you see the whites
Of their eyes"2-P. TR.
A. The origin Of this alleged command
to the patriots at Bunker Hill, June II,
IT'S. may have been Col Prescott's order
powder being scarce) to reserve fire and
aim low. 1t is said to have been passed
on by Israel Putnam in these words:
Men, yo'I are all marksmen. Don't one
Of you fire until you see the whites Of
their eyes"
@. Are there any records of individ-
uals having been struck by falling me-
teorites?-D. N.
A. There Is no authenticated case of q
human being ever having been struck by
q meteorite, though many have been
seen and heard to fall short distance
from an observer.
@. When did the Confederate raid in
Vermont occur?-R. A.
A. The raid at st. Adams, VT, occurred
on October 10, 1854. 1t. Bennett Il.
Young of the Confederate Army with
about 80 men not in uniform came down
from Canada in retaliation for the dep
relations of Sheridan in Virginia. The
attempt to burn the town failed. The
raiders escaped to Canada, were cap
tured, but later released.
@. Do conscientious objectors have to
go to labor camps or can they serve the
Government In some other way?-N S. T.
A. Conscientious objectors, If called for
training under the Selective Training
and Service Act Of 1910. must 60 to q
labor camp or to some noncombatant
branch Of the Army.
@. How long has the tax on gasoline
been levied?-N. o. L.
A. National Highway Users Conference
says that the gasoline tax was inaugu-
rated by the Oregon Legislature and be-
came effective February rs, 1919. Within
10 years the levy was adopted by all
States and In 1882 the Federal Govern
ment inaugurated a duplicating tax on
gasoline.
@. What Is the meaning Of the term
Comeback" in reference to rubber
G. D.
A. Camelback is uncured tread rubber
used in retreading worn tires. Formerly
1t was made with hump in the center,
reminiscent Of the bulge on q camel's
back. Hence the name.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Blames 'Blinker Lights"
For Death of Pedestrian.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
Reading about the death of a woman
on Rhode Island avenue, wondered why
the real cause of her death was not
mentioned.
I have conversed with several persons
who were at the scene of the accident
and it was their opinion and its my own
opinion that the fault lies with the
Traffic Bureau for not setting the lights
to coincide with the new war time
When the accident occurred the lights
were still on blinker. The victim could
not cross during a lull In traffic because
Of this fact.
This blinker system does more harm
than good because it only confuses the
average driver. He does not know
whether to stop or slow up. Most drivers
speed up.
INDIGNANT PEDESTRIAN.
Evening star., 1942-02-27

author has not said what he must have
meant to say. If were a schoolmarm
Gas am not, I should turn this sentence
over to fifth grade pupils to criticize.
HULDY ANN HANKINSON,
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Ortter, although the use of
q pSeudonyrn for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
q DietD to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Questions Civilian Defense Officers
About What They Have Accomplished.

Questions Civilian Defense Officers
About What They Have Accomplished.
To the Editor of The Star:
The newspapers quote Chief Air Raid
Warden Clement Murphy to the effect
that people in Washington are going to
experience merciless bombing raids
within six months and that people are
going to die by the thousands here on
these streets" Earlier, Col. Lemuel
Bolles over the radio had reproached
citizens refusing to take the task Of CT
william defense seriously.
While these iu-timed statements un-
doubtedly will have the effect Of fright
ening the citizens Of Washington, it also
is hoped that they will have the effect
of frightening both Col. Bolles and Mr..
Murphy. wonder If either of these
gentlemen is even yet in position to let
the Washington citizens know If we have
any AFRAID sirens, and, II We do have
any, do they blow the standard signal
for air raids, and also, since this signal
has been changed so much, Just what
the signal is that now is In effect? How
many gas masks have these gentlemen
supplied to the citizens Of Washington?
How many AFRAID shelters have they
built or even advocated7
POTENTIAL; AIR RAID VICTIM
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Uncle Sans Almanac-A store

Uncle Sans Almanac-A store
house of facts, figures and tables
covering 200 subjects. Includes
many new and timely features,
such as family income expendi-
lures, food for defense budget,
rank and insignia of Army and
Navy, and some 1910 population
figures. Also material on sports.
aviation, radio, taxes, as well as the
usual almanac and calendar pages.
To secure your copy of this publi-
cation inclose 10 cents in coin,
wrapped In this clipping, and mail
to The Star Information Bureau.
--------------z---
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-02-27

London: The great capital and
metropolis of the British Empire and
the place from which interested
Americans get the real news about
what happens to their battleships
and cruisers.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Discusses Alleged Error
OF "Distinguished Author" "
70 the Editor Of The Star:

TO the Editor Of The star:
In the course Of some very compelling
human events there came to my desk
an essay entitled, How to File Your In
come Tax: The Simple Way" by that
distinguished author, Henry Morgenthau,
jr.
When. in my careful reading Of the
essay, discovered his thirdly" sud-
denly felt my corporal seismograph go
into violent tremors, for I read "The
filing of = return is required by all sin
gle persons having gross incomes Of
$3.50 or more, and for all married per-
sons having gross incomes Of $500 or
more"
Surely It Is not necessary to point out
to readers of The Star that tbs eminent
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Sees Need For Cultivation
OF Love and Happiness.

TO the Editor Of The Star:
Never in the history Of human exist
ence has man been as Indifferent, brutal
and cold toward his fellow man as he is
today. And never has man needed the
sympathy, help and understanding Of
his fellow man more than he does today.
We pass on, but some day we come to
the end of very dull, unhappy life only
to reflect upon q sorrowful past. Then
we gasp for breath and realize for the
first time-but too late-that true love
and happiness in this world, like beauti-
full flowers, are things to be cultivated
from the soil of the good earth and from
the heart and soul of human beings.
ART RUSSELL COLLINS.
Evening star., 1942-02-27
Expresses Appreciation
OF Columnists' Writings.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Please accept my thanks for your
splendid columnists- Lawrence,
Frank R. Kent and Constantine Brown.
I always have been sorry you allowed
'Muddying the Waters" (about Mr.
Lindbergh) to reach the public. Time
Is proving that he was right about air
supremacy.
This America of ours must, be pre-
served, regardless of what any one man
may think. Billy Mitchell, Al Williams
and Lindbergh-our pioneers-but we
needed them not. And do not blame
the people when there has been must
order for everything except defense.
Thanks for your stand for the
parasites"
MRS GEORGE n RRANDT