davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-04-04
THIS AND THAT
This does not mean that we might not
BY Charles E. Truce1ueu.

This does not mean that we might not
prefer bluebirds, when we get sparrows,
but simply that we do not grow red in
the face because nature does not always
meet our every demand.
Nature has a way of her own, in all
such matters Gas witness the recent snow
storm, just when everybody was con-
vinced, including the birds, that spring
was at hand.
We put out bird house, the sooner
the better now. and hope for the bird
we want. but If we do not get him-and
her-we try to make the best of it.
Wrens often get into bluebird houses,
and are as persistent In driving away
those gentle birds as any sparrow could
be.
Old Whitley, the part-albino English
sparrow, had nest in what was sup
posed to be wren house.
Surely her progeny were very much
worthwhile, and, looked at complacently,
quite as cute" we feel sure, as wrens
could have been.
Starlings take over holes drilled by
flickers. They do this by persistence. One
startling goes in. The flicker chases it
out, but while it is doing this, another
startling goes in.
After time given over to chasing out
starlings, the flicker gives up the nest
ing site as bad job, and goes to the
woods.
SOME of the i'll will against the more
persistent bird species, one may feel sure,
Is caused by a lack of imagination. That
is, the person who sees more desirable
species chased away from his own yard
does not stop to give the ousted bird
credit for little persistence on its part.
Because he sees it chased away, he is un-
willing to give it credit for going some
place else. But he should realize that
the world at large, and that yonder woods
often suits the birds better than a back
yard.
All types of bird houses should be put
into place as soon as possible now.
Those of natural wood and bark, or
painted dark green, are best.
This does not mean that many species
will not take to houses in varied types
and colors.
There does seem to be decided pref
erence, however, for dark green. The
tint liked is usually sold as blind green.
There are, of course, many variations of
this; naturally some are better looking
than others. Be critical in choosing a
blind green. Some of them fade badly,
and quickly, becoming a sickly tint in
short order. Others hold up we'll, grow
ing darker with age, blending perfectly
with summer leaves.
One bird book we like is the bird guide,
Land Birds East of the Rockies" by
Chester A. Reed, published by Double
day, Doran & Co.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Lo, He Is Risen

Let Easter morning be an open door
Where flooding sunshine sets the
spirit free;
A sacrament and symbol let it be,
A torch for all the future holds in
store.
The lilies shine again; the great bells
pour
Upon the April air their melody.
From out the riven tomb, Dictor-
iously,
The resurrection angel speaks once
more:
"Lo, He is risen. You ,Dill not find
Him here.
He has unbound the cerements of
night,
Nor is the harsh ,Dorld His abid-
ing place.
But in green fields, by ,1aters stiE
and clear,
He leads His flock and makes the
pastures bright,
And there the pure in heart behold
His face"
INEz BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
airplanes aroused worldwide interest
early in the century.

airplanes aroused worldwide interest
early in the century.
But in recent years the Langley
had begun to outlive her usefulness
as flight-deck plane carrier, al
though she was of great service to the
Navy as an experimental ship. Les
sons learned from the Langley were
incorporated in her immediate sue
cessors, the Lexington and Saratoga.
In 1887 the Navy rebuilt her into an
aircraft tender, whose chief purpose
was to transport and service planes
of the fleet arm, rather than launch
them into the air. At the time of
her last stand she was carrying sup
plies to Allied forces in the Java
area. She was unable to send a
single plane against the waves of
dive bombers which sought her out
and finally sent her to the bottom of
the Indian Ocean.
The japanese officials had claimed
the sinking Of the Langley on three
separate occasions during the first
weeks OF the Pacific war. Actually
she came through the hoStilities un-
scathed until the fatal encounter
late in February. The Navy an
nouncement thus ends all specula-
tion regarding the fate of a vet
eran ship that never was designed to
cope with the aerial hazards Of mod
ern warfare.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
ROOSEVELT STREET.

Lear Slr:
Since moving out here I've grown in
terested in birds and your column.
know little or nothing Of the birds but
want to learn. Can you suggest a good
book for me, which will help to identify
them? ! would like one which would just
cover the ones might see.
I've put up feeding box and little
house, supposedly wren house.
II thought wrers were brown.
my tiny pair are gray with a black
cap and throat. Just tiny birds and too
cute for words.
Yesterday in the woods in back of our
house and almost half block away I
about three times the size Of the cardi-
nal. Both birds jumped up the trunk Of
two trees and jumped from one tree to
the other.
Il guess they were some kind Of wood
pecker. caught glimpse Of red on the
head of one. They were very dark gray,
almost black. Will you please help me
out with the name?
Thank you so much for your help and
for This and That.
Sincerely, L. M. A."
Our correspondents "wrens" were
chickadees, an exchange which we would
always be willing to make.
Chickadees are, indeed, "too cute for
words" We imagine the person who
coined this expression had these birds
in mind.
Certainly few birds are as cheerful in
appearance, fact which is immortalized
in the popular song from Snow White"
One must not think that because a
wren house is put up it can attract moth
ing but wrens or that a bluebird house
will draw nothing but bluebirds.
If conditions are just right, and the
house is made with the right sized en-
trance, wrens may come to what is
called a wren house.
But it isn't necessarily so.
Often sparrows nest in bluebird houses.
and sometimes even in wren houses
when the door is a mite too large.
**
The best we can do, in erecting houses
for the birds, is to make them correctly,
according to the best experience.
Then we hope that the intended bird
comes along and decides to stay.
There is nothing to compel a given
species to take house designed for him.
1t may be correct in every detail, but
somehow the birds do not like it.
Jenny Wren is shrew, when it comes
to a house.
She will not like what Johnny prefers,
and often will take over an old nest
which her mate does not like at all.
The true philosophy of bird watching.
we believe, is to be satisfied with what
one gets.
Evening star., 1942-04-04

to the richness of surrounding ter
ritory, now in the hands Of Japanese
armies.
But, OF course, only a fraction Of
total production in any given area
is available for export. The theo-
retical hold of the invaders does not
insure unlimited exploitation of
paddles still planted and harvested
by local owners.
Nevertheless, the morale of the
civilian communities in Japan prob
ably is being stimulated by promises
of feasts to accrue from military &C
tivities performed by bitter sacrifice.
Millions of people who have lived on
the starvation line for a decade or
more at last may hope for all the rice
they can eat, providing only that
ships are available to transport 1t
to them.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Advancing Recreation

A program which should prove
beneficial for public recreation in
Washington is now shaping up at the
Capitol and the District Building.
Following the recent passage by
the Senate of the bill to provide
separate and single governing body
for recreation, it was announced by
the Commissioners that 100000 of
Lanham Act money will be allocated
by the Federal Works Agency to de-
velop seven major recreation sites for
immediate use.
The significance of this latter move
can only be appreciated by those who
have watched over the past few
months the gradual withdrawal of
recreation land for defense conStruc-
ton or military occupation. Tennis
courts, softball fields, baseball fields
and facilities for many other health
full forms of recreation have gradu-
ally been disappearing. Recreation
leaders saw temporary buildings ris-
ing on their play fields and courts,
buildings which would bring to
Washington thousands of additional
persons who would want to avail
themselves of the very recreation IA
cilities that were being taken away.
While appreciating the need for
the Withdrawals by the Government,
these officials could only hope to
convince those who control the purse
strings of the need for requirements.
They have succeeded. Although the
development of these seven sites
already owned by the District and
awaiting improvement for use-will
not replace all Withdrawals or pro-
vide the necessary space for the
thousands who have come here in the
past few months, it is a long step in
the right direction. The provision of
recreational facilities is a necessary
part Of the war effort in crowded
Washington. Recreation, in the
broader sense, is not mere play. It
should be regarded as essential in
keeping men and women physically
and mentally f1t for their arduous
work.
1t IS fitting that the funds should
be provided by the Lanham Act,
the purpose of which was to re-
lieve local communities whose facili-
ties have been overtaxed by the de-
fense effort. In previous ALLEGATIONS
to the District under the Lanham
Act, the Federal Government has
equitably apportioned grants and
loans. 1t is to be assumed that the
same equitable formula will be ap-
piled to this project
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Conquest of Rice

A bulletin of the National Geo.
graphic Society calls attention to the
fact that the fortunes of war have
given Japan predominant control of
the rice crops of Asia. The signifi-
canoe of Nipponese occupation of
French Indo- China, Thailand and
the coasts of Burma, when viewed
in the light of this knowledge, is
seen to be that of a major achieve
ment not at first fully comprehended
outside the Orient.
Japan proper consumes in normal
times approximately 10000 tons of
rice a day. About half of the mini
mum requirement is grown at home.
The rest in recent years has come
from Formosa and Korea. If pro-
duction in those dependencies de-
clined, famine was threatened in
Toxic. The danger of stock food
shortage has been one Of the argu.
ments which the Black Dragon mill
tarists have used with effect in deal
Ing with their pacif1Stlc opposition
at the court of the Mikado.
Gross gains for Japan in terms of
rice thus far reported in less than
four months of campaigning include:
The Philippine Islands, 100000
tons; the Dutch East Indies, 3,20O,000
tons, and British India, an undeter-
mined quantity. Rangoon, the cap
ital of Burma, was the worlds lead
ing rice port before the outbreak of
hostilities. To what extent its famous
elevators were wrecked is problem
atical. No doubt, however, exists as
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Not Consonunt with Victory

This is the tale OF a humble SER
geant at Fort Riley. Kansas, on duty
in the cavalry replacement center,
and living the life of Riley until re-
Gently. True, there were recruits
continually coming in, and there has
never yet breathed a sergeant with
any love for recruits. but he had the
authority to put them in their place,
even if it was not the precise place
he might wish in some of his more
annoyed moments. From long prac-
tice he learned to put the right in
tonation into his bark of Smith"
so that the unfortunate Private
Smith would Jump and obey.
Now he is stumped. Into his
lap, fresh from civilian life, have
been dumped draftees Korzaniewski
Wzentek, Prezyna, Pieczonka and
Woycziewezkol, respectively. This
jaw-breaking quintet constitutes no
mean problem when the sergeant
calls the roll. With only one such
name on the roster, he might take a
chance and sneeze, but what can he
do with five? Perhaps he has sug-
gested that they be demobilized be-
fore they trip over their own names
in action, or possibly he has put in a
requisition for another assistant SER
geant from the Polish Army in exile.
Neither solution seems perfect.
Draftees showing up at camp with
full boards are required to shave off
the excess growth to fit more COM
fortably into the Army. How about
a regulation requiring any soldier
loaded down with a name like Woyc-
ziewezkol to sacrifice a few conson-
ants in the cause of freedom? They
could be checked with the War De-
partment, and given back later if he
ever decided to return to Poland.
Evening star., 1942-04-04

trying TO do their part on the home
front If or when this does happen,
our country already will have lost a
major campaign, and those who later
may return to take up their civilian
tasks where they dropped them may find
that they really have nothing worth
coming back to.
AS was implied at the meeting, so
must it be said directly that residents
of the areas named have no objection
whatever to the erection of temporary
housing in whatever quantity may be
required in Montgomery County, but
they do object most strongly to the
advancement of this project to its pres
ent state and upon this particular tract
of land without the knowledge Of any
of these communities, three of which
have their own governing officials. when
reasonable doubt still exists as to the
genuine necessity for 1t. The reasons
for the objection to the use Of this
tract for the purpose indicated were
made clear at the meeting and were
outlined in full in the resolution as
passed.
1t would be greatly appreciated,
believe, if the unfortunate impression
created by the mention Of jeers could
be corrected. Neither the presiding Off
Ger nor the members of the organiza-
tions present would be so rude
NORMAN S. MEESE.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Production Outlook

With two congressional groups
issuing somewhat conflicting state
ments concerning the progress OF
our war production effort, it is to be
expected that the picture, from the
public point of view, should be con-
fused one. This confusion, however,
seems to be largely superficial, and
the facts which have been disclosed
would appear to justify considerable
encouragement with regard to the
progress being made in the Nations
war plants.
The Truman committee, following
survey of West Coast aviation CEN
tiers, has reported that delays in
delivery of vital parts have hampered
the plane program, even necessitat-
ing the slowing down of some
assembly lines in the big plane fac
tories. This is blamed on poor job
of overall planning" by the armed
forces and the old Office of Produc-
ton Management-a circumstance
which might be explained by the
many revisions in the early estimates
of the size of the program-but it is
significant that the committee also
found that production in West Coast
plants now is several times greater
than it was year ago, and that it
Is increasing every month. The bot
tlenecks found by the committee, as
well as all other bottleneckS, are a
very serious matter and must be
eliminated with all possible expedi-
ton. but the encouraging fact is that
the plane program, despite these
flaws, is forging ahead.
This is borne out by the statement
of four House members, who, after
listening to the testimony of high
production officials in closed COM
mittee hearings, have expressed their
belief that the United States is win
ming the battle of production. Their
tone of optimism, if it may be called
that, was a restrained one, but in
general they were agreed that the
production goals which have been
laid down by the President for
planes, guns, ships and tanks are
going to be met. Further supporting
this view is the announcement from
Detroit that the Fisher Body division
of General Motors has turned out its
first all-welded medium tank in
forty-seven dayS-a new record.
From this same source it was also
announced that the entire tank
building program is seven months
ahead of it's original schedule and is
being stepped up rapidly.
As the volume of production moves
upward, however, it is important to
.beaf in mind the admonition of the
four House members that shipping
now constitutes our greatest short
coming. Without ships to transport
them to the fighting fronts, our guns,
planes and tanks will be of little
value, and for this reason the an
nouncement that contracts have
been let for the merchant ships
which the President says we must
have in 1912 and 1943 is highly sig
niflcant.
All in all, this production outlook
tssnot an unencouraging one. At the
least, it should serve to convince the
people of the United States that we
can produce the tools needed to win
the war if we are sufficiently resolved
to do so.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Approves Editorial
On Fund Raising Drives.

AppiOtCc LuitOihdA
On Fund Raising Drives.
To the Editor of The Star:
Thank you for your wise editorial Of
April 2, In regard to the failure OF the
District to raise its Red Cross quota.
entirely concur in what you say, and
in addition, would add that all the
drives seem to come between November
and April the time when household ex-
penses are the heaviest, and when the
worst of the taxes fall due. Most Dis
trict residents come In the middle
bracket" class, and many of them are on
monthly salary. I believe that If they
are only given time they will send in
their Red Gross donations; but many
of us budget our charities as we budget
our households, and cannot stop eating
for month because half dozen organi-
cations Jump on a particular week for a
campaign. If some of them will wait a
bit, they may hear from us yet; but there
is a limit to what people can do in the
short winter months.
WASHINGTONIAN.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Differs With Correspondent
On Farm Production of Alcohol.

To the Editor of The Star:
In The Star for March 81, Edward
Wolesensky questions the testimony of
DR.. William J. Hale before the Senate
Committee on Agriculture, reported in
The Star March 81.
Mr.. Wolesensky grew confused in read
ing and trying to reproduce the testimony
of DR.. Hale, whom he quotes as saying
alcohol can be produced from grain at
less than 10 cents gallon" Then few
lines later he complains at his own in
ference, "if this alcohol brought 10 cents
a gallon, it would only bring 25 cents a
bushel for corn" Of course, DR.. Hale
said nothing of the sort.
Mr.. Wolesensky dwells with delight on
the elements of labor, heat and power,
taxes and interest as though they were
something new to the advocates of get
ting alcohol from farm products. One
: item he neglected to mention was the
great value of grain as cattle feed after
the alcohol had been removed.
Agriculture in America appears to be
a unit in support of the great project of
producing alcohol from farm crops.
1t is to be hoped that Mr.. Wolesensky
will make complete study of the entire
subject, which has for its purpose pro-
viding a sure market for all our surplus
grain with abundance Of alcohol for all
the industrial arts.
Germany has many distilleries now
engaged in extracting alcohol from farm
crops, potatoes and beets as well as grain,
insuring plenty of fuel and "anti-freeze," !"
which may be one reason for her pres
ent superior power in the air.
DR.. Henry J. Knight of the Depart
ment of Agriculture has prepared figures
on the subject Of .distilling alcohol from
farm products available to any person
seriously interested in the subject. DR..
Knight followed DR.. Hale as witness
at the hearing, saying nothing to indi-
cate the slightest conflict Of views on the
matter Of expense Of operation.
LEGO CHEMICO.
Evening star., 1942-04-04

O. What is the shortest railroad In the
United States?-T. S. D.
A. The Valley Railroad, one mile in
length, at Westline, Mexican County, Pa,
is the shortest line-haul in the United
States.
@. Is it true that there are scales so
delicate that they can weigh a persons
signature? S. T
A. Such a delicate weighing instru-
ment is used in the making of electric
lamps. 1t has been found that the sig
nature of George Washington, written
in pencil, weights .O00S9 grams.
@. Has Jesus Christ ever been repre-
sented on postage stamp?-A. B. j.
A. Christ after the Resurrection is de-
picted on an Italian stamp issued in
1928. In Latin inscription He is en-
joining His disciples: Go ye into all
the world, and preach the Gospel to
every creature"
@. When did the practice Of measur-
ing rainfall begin?-R. NJ.
n. OO 1dI dS u hIIOhIl,
rain was first undertaken in India some
centuries before the Christian era. San
skirt texts give figures indicating the
existence of rain gauges and their syste-
matte use.
@. How old is the ocesn7-R. D. N.
A Geclogists of the Omitted States
Geological Survey have accumulated evi-
dence to show that the ocean Is at least
100000 900 to 100000 900 years old instead
of only 36oO0o,O0O as recently calculated.
c. How far do bombers have to fly in
order to attack Berlin?-P. B. S.
A. Berlin lies on the River Oder, about
100 miles from the city of Stettin on the
Baltic Sea. With France and Poland
conquered, bombing of Berlin neceS-
states a long distance fight Of 600 miles
each way from Britain and a 1000
mile flight from the neighborhood Of
Moscow in Russia.
@. How long have giraffes been known
outside their native lands?-F. r. D.
A. Giraffes have always been rare in
captivity, but one was included in some
shiploads of wild animals to the
Egyptian Queen Hatasu. The first seen
in Europe was obtained from Alexandria
by Julius Caesar and described by Pliny.
A giraffe presented to Lorenzo the
Magnificent by the Sultan of Egypt be-
came the pet of the city of Florence.
Tt was allowed to walk through the
streets and fed on fruit and cakes ex-
tended to it from the balconies.
Q. What noted American writer took
up the profession as the result of bet?-
S. P. K.
A. James Fenimore Cooper, author Of
popular tales of Indian life, became
writer as the result of bet. He was
retired naval officer with no thought Of
literary career, when after reading
certain novel, he threw it down in
disgust saying, II bet I could write a
better story myself" A friend took him
up on it, whereupon Cooper wrote Pre-
caution" published in 1920. 1t was
praised by his friends and in the follow
ing year The Spy" won immediate popu-
larity both in this country and in Eng
land.
Evening star., 1942-04-04

1t may well be that in the Nip
ponese the United States has met its
unexpected match. However, meeting
ones match is a far different thing
from meeting ones master"
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hdski1.


A reader can get the arswer to any
question OF fact by tDrittng The Star
Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has
kin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please tnclose stamp for reply.
@. How many warships did the United
States scrap as a result of the disarma-
ment conference.-the. g. z.
A. AS result Of the agreements made
at the Washington Naval Conference in
1921, the United States scrapped seven
battleships and four battle cruisers in her
effort to take the lead among the nations
of the world in disarmament by example.
@. Can the President of the United
States adjourn Congress?-M. c.
A. In the case of disagreement be-
tween the Senate and the House Of Rep
resentatives with respect to time of ad-
journment, the President may adjourn
them at such time as ne may think
proper" according TO section 8, article 2,
Of the Constitution Thus far no Presi-
dent has ever exercised this power.
Q. To which group Of airmen Is the
name Flying Tigers appied?-K. r.
A. The Flying Tigers are members of
the American Volunteer Group fighting
in China.
Evening star., 1942-04-04

An Eastern university is establish
ing classes to train Army personnel
in the questioning of enemy prison.
ers. Good work; now all we need is
some prisoners.
Evening star., 1942-04-04
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Uriter, although the use of
a pSeudonynr for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters NTH
q Uie,U to condensation.