davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-10-20

reason to hope, although. 1t is not yet
fact, that time will bring a grad
ual extension OF this margin of
superiority.
If there is one broad inference to
be drawn from the report it is this:
There is no justification for the pes
simism that has prevailed in some
quarters regarding the quality of our
own planes. Mistakes were made
and in some important respects we
had fallen dangerously behind the
procession in engine and plane de-
sign. But none of our planes was
as bad as some of our more pessi-
mistic commentators had led the
people to believe On the other
hand, they probably are not as good
as some of their more enthusiastic
champions have pictured them. Sta
tistics showing enemy losses out of
all proportion to our own losses in
particular clashes are factually cor
rect, but they are misleading in that
they fail to give the whole picture.
The probability is that these striking
successes have been due to local tao
tical or other factors which favored
our units, and which may not always
be present. These abnormally IA
vorable statistics should not be
permitted to give rise to unduly
optimistic expectations, which may
be dashed in the future.
In the matter of our planes, as in
other things pertaining to the war,
we may expect bad news as well as
good, and every effort should be
made to steer a balanced mental
course between the extremes of
Wishful thinking and unwarranted
pessimiSm.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Haunted Wood
Here under this blue fire OF autumn-

Here under this blue fire OF autun,n-
al afternoon
The coppery beech leares are tyons-
fred as carpen things:
No toind deploys the silent bronstna
leaves OF oak,
No creature stirs. no ,otld bird sings.
Sharp as ounshot, a t,oig snaps un-
dertoot,
And In the echoing hush are the
footsteps still;
Across this toarmth OF sun and am
Der boughs
There falls a shadow OF toreboding
chill.
The heart remembers this ,rood In
another time,
Rich tDtth green fern and song and
summer light:
Now only a dry pine cone breaks the
silence tuith It's fall,
Only the heart IS loud with empty
fright.
FREDERICK EBRIGHT.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
SILVER SPRING.

Dear Sir:
"An autumn leaf is many things to
many persons.
"To the schoolchild. it is something to
kick through, or to pick up individually.
ITO the grown-up. an autumn leaf is
something to admire on the trees.
ITO some persons autumn leaves are
just nuisance, to be swept up.
ITO still others, they are bonfire ma
terial with which they may pollute the
air of their own home community, in a
time when air is about the only thing
that is still free.
ITO the home gardener autumn leaves
are the best material for compost max
ing.
1T seems to me that too little is done
with leaves in this way. Now that many
materials are getting scarce, fertilizers
will be among them.
AL persons who are able ought to
rake up leaves and pile them together.
Usually some lime is mixed in, and the
whole left to weather in the rain and
cold until spring.
Leaves are so many things to 50
many persons that I am sure all of
us ought to think about them as they
are falling down.
VERY truly yours, v. c.
The compost pile is something which
many householders intend to make.
That they do not do it is due to a
variety of reasons.
One of these is doubt that the prod
uct will be worthwhile
Compost is good if it is made properly,
but almost worthless if it is not.
AS our correspondent points out, every
one with small plot of ground ought
to think seriously about this matter this
autumn.
Commercial fertilizers will be increas-
lngly difficult to get, if they are avail
able at all. Organic fertilizers have been
hard to get in recent years, and will be
more so from now on, owing to trans
portation difficulties.
Do you know, by the way, that wood
for the fireplace and kindling are almost
impossible to find?
Autumn leaves are in such abundance
that only small part of them can be
put into compost heaps.
Yet if every one made as large a pile
as possible, vast amount of good fer
tilizng material would be available next
spring and summer.
Time is the essential element in this
work. 1t is impossible to hurry a COM
post pile. Something may be done, it
is true, with special chemicals sold for
the purpose-if they are available.
Lime is good, mixed in between layers
OF leaves, but it takes longer. Yet at
best a compost pile is no hurry-up af-
fair. Probably that is the real reason
few suburban dwellers try their hands at
making their own compost.
1t many cases, if rains and frost have
not been right, the resulting brew" is
not fine enough for use in the spring.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trnce1DeH.

Then 1t has to go over until the next.
This all seems too, too weary process
for the small gardener who wants re-
suits in hurry. He cannot wait. He
demands quick results.
~ X 4
A we'll constructed compost heap needs
plenty of leaves, plenty Of water, plenty
Of time and above ALL plenty of patience
It is best put in some out-of -the-way
corner.
That corner behind the garage, where
the old rusty wheelbarrow-which should
go to the victory dumps reposing, is
just the place for the compost pile.
If for some reason 1t cannot be dug
into the ground, some arrangement will
have to be made of old chicken wire, so
that the leaves cannot blow away.
Alternate layers Of leaves, earth and
lime will take care of this, in most in
stances. Soaking the leaves with water,
when they are first put it, starts the de-
composing process, and at the same
time helps to prevent the material from
blowing away.
Great sodden piles of all sorts of gar
den trash are not wanted. Long stalks
of old ANIMALS do not make good compost
material. They would require several
years to rot away, even with the aid of
chemicals.
The finer the material, to begin with,
the shorter the process.
X X ~
This sort of compost, even when
ripe" is not quick fertilizer, In any
sense, but depends upon its ability to
tighten up the soil. 1t also is good
organic material for many kinds of
plants and shrubs.
1t will not, however, give quick growth,
and the user should not look to it for
this.
Probably more mistakes are made in
home gardening through failure to
tighten up the soil than from any other
reason.
The hardest clay soils become almost
perfect growing mediums when sand,
ashes or good compost are incorporated.
Roses grow to perfection in such soil.
Old worn-out farm lands, such as
found in many suburban sections, will do
very nicely, once they are we'll mixed
with suitable compost material, or with
some sand, or even coal ashes.
All of these materials do good because
they permit the plants to get what fer
tility is still left in the ground.
That is their real service. Ashes and
sand, however, are not mice" materials
to use.
They lack the feel" Of a good COM
post made of the leaves which house
holders so recklessly burn every autumn.
The action of frost on the compost
pile is one of the essential "ingredients, -
and this may be helped by stirring the
pile. from time to time, and watering it
in dry weather.
Oak leaves are best left out, since they
are too acid for anything except rhodo-
dendrons and other shade-loving plants
Cutting leaves into as small pieces
as possible before incorporation is a good
| idea.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Denies Approval of Compromises
OF Gen. Nedich of Yugoslavia.

To the Editor Of The Star:
The Star in its issue of Saturday, Oc-
tober II, published an article under the
heading Capital Interested as Yugo-
slavs List Nedich as Quisling," in regard
to which I feel bound to make clear one
or two references made to me personally
in the course of the article.
For the second time within a few
weeks your reporter has placed en-
phasis on the fact of my distant rela-
tionship to Gen. Nedich from which he
seems justified to draw the conclusion
that have been tolerant of him and
of his policy of collaboration with the
Germans. I should like to state for the
information of your readers that on
September 2, 1941-i.e just as soon as
the news of the formation of the Nedich
government in Belgrade had been con-
flrmed-I at once took the opportunity
of condemning him and his govern
ment" for their anti-national policy in
a radio speech over the Mutual System
in coast-to-coast broadcast. I have
consistently denounced his action since,
and there has never been any diver
gence of views between the government
and myself about the attitude toward
Gen. Nedich and his crimes against the
nation. All of us are behind the heroic
fight Of Gen. Mihailovich against the
Axis and its puppets.
My attitude toward the policy of COL
laboration with the Axis has never
changed and was made particularly
clear during the fateful month of March,
1941, when the then rulers of Yugo-
slavia signed the Tri-Partite Pact with
Germany and Italy. This may not be
known to your correspondent, but it is
very well known to the responsible
political quarters in Washington.
CONSTANTIN FOTITCH,
Ambassador of Yugoslavia.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Local Rent Control

1t is not at all clear that in passing
the bill to give the Office of Price
Administration authority to control
rents over the Nation the House
intended.to do away with the District
OF Columbia Rent Control Act. But
the bill that passed the House, and
which is now under study by a Sem
ate committee, seems to do just that.
Would it not be wise before this
legislation is enacted to clear up the
confusion which so plainly exists
now?
If Congress wishes the national
act to supersede or otherwise to
repeal the local rent act, such a
decision seems eminently unWise to
those familiar with the background
and the effectiveness of the local act.
Debate in the House indicated no
such intent. But unless the final
version of the bill is more specific,
local rent control will be made much
more difficult.
The Districts rent-control act rep
resented a very earnest attempt to
reach substantial agreement on the
part of landlord and tenant interests
on the most effective methods of rent
control, avoiding mistakes of the
past The OPA took part in its
preparation and it received Mr.. Hen
InrcnYo'C h1occiY,T Govt q if1ly If
to have produced desired results. In
February Of this year the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, commenting on
decrease in local rent levels, re-
marked that the decrease reflected
the enforcement of the new rent
control bill" and again, in March,
the bureau observed that the sta
bility of rents in Washington is due
to the rent-controi bill in that city
limiting and restoring rentals in
Washington to the level of January
/, 1941."
The success of local rent control
administration, moreover, is demon
strated by the fact that of some
1000 cases disposed Of, only seven
teen were appealed to the Municipal
Court, which has revised its rules
and procedure to handle such ap-
peals. In none of the appeals does
the amount involved exceed $40 a
month. About 1000 cases are await
ing hearing now and the rent COM
mission is receiving some 100 tele-
phone and personal inquiries a day.
If the local act is repealed, the i'm
preston of some House members was
that the OPA would merely designate
the personnel of the rent commits
sion to enforce provisions of the
national act. But the national act is
chiefly a delegation of power to the
OPA, lacking the specific provisions
and designations of jurisdiction
which have facilitated administra-
ton of the District law. 1t is feared
that repeal of the local law would
raise innumerable questions of va
liditv, procedures, etc, which would
place in jeopardy much of the con-
troll already gained by the rent COM
mission over the local rent level.
During the hiatus between repeal of
one law and establishment of ma
chinery for administration of an
other, the situation here might get
out of hand.
A sensible arrangement would be
to retain the local law and for the
OPA to designate the rent commits
sion as the administrative agency
for such added provisions of the
national act as control of Office
rentals.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Discusses Law Of Life"
In War as in Peace.


In War as in Peace.
To the Editor Of The Star:
One hears so many people discussing
whether we should change our ethics
in time of war.
1t seems to me that they are confusing
the issue. We should have the same
ethics in peace and war, but we should
not have the same ethics with all people.
For instance: We should do unto our
friends as we would want them to do
unto us. We should do unto most people
as they do unto us. But, we should train
and condition ourselves so that we can
do" our enemies before they "do" us.
Do not forget that the knights of old
had a sliding scale of chivalry, too.
Their gentler side was shown to their
friends and people of their own class,
and with others only under certain con-
ditions. However, there was nothing
namby- -pamby about those fellows. They
had intestinal fortitude and knew how
to fight.
We have admonished our young people
to fight only in lf-defense, and told
them that the meek would inherit the
earth, when we should have taught them
to beat the other fellow to the punch,
and that God always favors the bold
and strong hearted.
American mothers have forbidden VIII
lie and Johnny to play rough games be-
cause they might get hurt, and have
thwarted manly traits in their on
spring by so doing.
We have failed to realize that you
cannot train race to act ike sparrows
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Huskin's S Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Hnski7,.

A reader can get the anstper to any
question OF fact BY aDriting The Zoe
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hnskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
Q. What are the weights Of the packs
of American and British soldiers?-
G. r. D.
A. The War Department says that
the total weight of the pack OF United
States soldier with arms. tools, equip
ment, and clothing is 68 pounds 3A
ounces. The British soldier Is required
to carry pack weighing from 40 to 50
pounds for 10 miles at time.
@. How many Federal judges have
been named by President Roosevelt?-
M. q. H.
A. According to recent figures Of the
Department of Justice. 1874 Of the 294
Federal juriss have been named by
President Roosevelt.
Evening star., 1942-10-20

@. How long would it take to count
to 100000 ,000?-B. D.
A. Assuming that one number Is
counted each second, 1t would require
81 7/10 years of continuous labor. On
take lifetime.
@. How many bones has q snake9
j. D.
A. In some species there are more
than 300. They are nearly alike from
the head to the end of the body.
@. What is meant by melee" in refer
ence to diamonds?-V. A.
A. Small stones ranging from one
quarter carat downward in size are
known as melee. They are used chiefly
in mounted pieces.
@. What was the name of the woman
who influenced Abraham Lincoln to
revive Thanksgiving day?-W. H.
A. National revival of the holiday by
Lincoln is said to be due to the activities
OF Sarah Josepha Hale. editor of the
popular woman's magazine, Godey's
Ladies' Book.
Q. Are any volcanoes continuously
active7-A. G.
A. Stromboli, in the Mediterranean
Sea, has been in continuous eruption
since the beginning of recorded human
history. mild explosions occurring every
10 or Is minutes.
Q. What is the Oldest existing legisla-
tive body in the world?-A. j. D.
A. The Althing of Iceland is the old.
est parliamentary assembly, having cele-
brated its 1,000th anniversary in June
| of 1890.
@. Were newspapers in some of the
Southern States published on wallpaper
during the Civil War?-R. B.
A. At least 13 newspapers, all of them
published in Louisiana and Mississippi,
are known to have been printed on wall
paper.
Q. Has Hitler named his successor?-
| P. L. A.
A. In 1889, Hitler announced that II
anything happened to him he would be
succeeded by Hermann Goering.
Q. How many kinds of fieas are there9
M. B. E.
A. Approximately 800 varieties are
known. Fleas are found on almost every
animal and bird.
@. What was the basic price of wheat
In the last war?-F. w.
A. The basic price of wheat during
| the First World War was fixed at s2.2o
a bushel by the Fair Price Committee of
IL appointed by President Wilson.
Q. What were the last words of Soc
| rates?-C. Med.
A. Socrates last words before his
death were: Il owe cock to Ascelpius:
90 not forget to pay it." Critic replied:
The debt shall be paid. Is there anv.
thing else?" There was no answer.
Q. What is the origin of the custom O,
| firing gun at reveille and retreatp-
c. McC.
"A. The Army War College saws that
| this custom is an ancient ceremony with
no recorded origin. 1t probably is as old
as gunpowder.
Q. Where is the British crown kent
| when not In use?-B. r. D.
A. The crown is kept in the Tower
OF London and only brought forth on
special occasions such as the coronation.
| when under strong guard 1t may be
taken to the national jewelers. to be
reset or renovated
Evening star., 1942-10-20

Americas Favorite Poems = The
spirit of a people Is shown by the
poetry they like. Their valor shines
in the martial glow of their verse.
Who would not thrill over Paul Re
vere's Ride, and the Charge of the
Light Brigade? Who would not rise
to Barbara Frietchie. Old Ironsides,
and In Flanders Fields? These are
all included in an attractive 48-page
booklet-poems that will live forever
in the hearts of Americans. To Sc
cure your copy of this publication
inclose Is cents In coin wrapped in
this clipping and mail to The Star
Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Quotes Shakespeare to Show
Former knowledge of Old Trade Route

Quotes Shakespeare to Show
Former knowledge of Old Trade Route.
To the Editor of The Star:
To forget is much more freouent
lapse OF man than to err Apparently
the world has to be discovered anew
every century. A little over 1000 wears
ago the Norwegian navigator Ohthere
reported in detail to Alfred the Great
OF England how he had sailed north
from Helgeland, Norway, doubling North
Cape on the sixth day, thence eastward
Tor four days, thence south into the
White Sea reaching the mouth of the
great Russian river Dvina in five more
days. That was about $50 AID. BY 1854
it had all been forgotten when Richard
Chanceler, looking for a short cut to
Cathay, covered the same course dis
covering" route to Russia, where he
was entertained by Ivan the Terrible.
Thereupon, the Muscovy Co. was
established, leading to a fourishing
trade over the route from Archangel up
the Dvina to Vologda, down the Volga
to the Caspian Sea, across the Caspian
to Persia, thence overland to the Persian
Gulf. This trade brought to England
tales of wild adventure in this newly
discovered" world along with outlandish
styles OF dress and trinkets. In the
sailors hangouts In London Shakespeare
must have met many roustabouts who
knew every mile of the way from Arch
angel to Teheran and Bokhara as we'll
as he knew the Thames. The Muscoyites
and Persians furnished basis for many
reference in his plays, a few of which
may be cited here:
Approach thou like the rugged Rus-
sian bear" Macbeth.
Foolish ours that run winkinp into
the mouth of a Russian bear and have
their heads crushed like rotten apples.
You may as we'll say that's valiant
hea that dares eat his breakfast on the
lip of ion." Henry v.
Il am bound to Persia" Comedy OF
Errors.
by this scimitar that slew the Sophy
and the Persian prince" Merchant of
Venice.
II do not like the fashion of your
garments. You will say they are Persian
attire, but let them be changed" King
Lear to Edgar.
"A mess Of Russians" and "Apparelled
like Muscovites." Loves Labors Lost.
This will last out night in Russia
when nights are longest there" from
Measure for Measure,
And now once more In 1912 we are
discovering the great strategic i'm
portance Of the natural trade route from
Archangel to the Persian Gulf.
Z. v. WILCOX.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the Uriter, although the use of
a pseudonyn1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserUes
the right to edit all letters 1Dith
a Uie1U to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-10-20

, The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
the use Tor republication of all news dispatches
credlted to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper and also the local news published herein.
Al rlehts OF publication of special dispatches
Evening star., 1942-10-20

In the early days Of the war Hit
ler's plans went frst rate; now they
are going frustrate.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Objects to Drafting
OF Junior Citizens.

AZ tuc GultOr OI Inc Quar-.
As an enlisted veteran of the First
World War, may have space in your
valuable paper to protest the drafting
OF 18 and 10 year old boys in the Army,
unless the million or more married men
without children are first called into
service; also most of those who are being
deferred by draft boards at the request
of industry?
I claim that there are not more than
q dozen men in any industry who cannot
be replaced In very short time by older
men, or women
CHARLES v. GAFFNEY,
But They Will Be Men
Even ut is Years Of Age.
To the Editor Of The Star
Commenting on the Midway battle last
June, Admiral King pointed out that
the reason for the pertinacity and ef-
fectiveness Of the japanese was that
"they never send a boy to do q mans
work"
From present indications 1t remains
for VI to do thatl MOTHER.
Evening star., 1942-10-20

IN time of peace; but to fight like eagles
in time of war.
If we win this war, it will not be be-
cause OF our ethics and morals but in
spite of them.
Now, as always, to the victors belong
the spoils. To them will come world
domination. To the loser will come
slavery and degradation. This is as it
should be for it is the way of life.
VIM OWEN.
Evening star., 1942-10-20
Member of the Associated Press

Entered as second class matter post office
Washington, D. c.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-24
Past Comes TO Fore

Something OF the same fright
ening flavor marks this one, too.
Miss Reed plays a nice lady
murderesS who finds her past
right in the path Of her sons
future.
Facts about her crime, COM
mitted 30 years before the play
opens. come to light just as her
son is about 10 marry into a
socially prominent family, caus-
ing plenty Of tension.
With Miss Reed in this third
offering of the Spring Dramatic
Festival in the Lydia Mendels-
sohn Theater will be Carl Ben
ton Reid. Francis Compton, Ann
Burr and Robert Scott.
OF course. maybe it's just our
great admiration for that mimi
table comedian. Edward Everett
Horton. but we believe that he
could do a male Cornelia Otis
Skinner in his current vehicle.
Despite the fine acting by
Miss Lawson. Miss Wilson and
Mr.. Muir, we believe that Hor-
ton could make a one-man show
out of "Springtime for Henry
and entertain US completely with
nary another character on the
stage.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-24

stage SCReen
By Charlie, Gentry
Fancy Vies With Realism:
Jungle Book VS.. 'Moontide
E, and 'Dumbo' VS.. Kings Row

ITS fancy versus realism on local
screens this week with The Jungle
Book" at the Michigan competing with
stark drama of "Moontide" at the Fox;
the charm of "Dumbo" at the Adams
wing with the sixth week of Kings
Row at the United Artists.
So don't say you have no choice
With the exception of the notable
debut of the French star, Jean Cabin,
at the Fox, we're afraid we swing to
the fanciful.
Perhaps it's just a matter of lotus
eating, but we're more content to drug
ourselves with the delightful Kipling
story, starring Sabu, than to face the
weird pathological personalities that one
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-24
Free and Equal TO Open
at Cas-; 'Sprinetime for
Henry EIetes Detroiters

WHILE "Springtime for Henry con-
" tinues 10 blossom merrily as no
other recent theatrical offering has at
the Lafayette, the Cass is putting up the
letters which spell Free and Equal on
its marquee. along with other premiere
preparations for the opening here June l.
John Goldens production of George
O'Neals play is already deep in re-
hearSal in New York's ST. James Theater
and will arrive here in time for two
dress rehearsals Sunday, May 81
The star is James Barton. late of
Tobacco Road" who again has an
earthly though more polite role. This
time it is an easy-goins South Carolina
sheriff. a sort of "Lighalin'" character.