davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-05-18
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles Z. Trdce1UeH.

Several years ago cardinal pair set
up housekeeping in the fence, and there
raised four fine youngsters.
The first morning the babies came out
and sat in the vine, grackle discov-
cred them.
This was just after daylight on Sum-
day morning, a favorite time, evidently.
for marauding.
The grackle killed all four cardinal
babies by biting their heads off.
Then it completed its work of destruc-
ton by tearing of their legs.
All this was done before human aid
could come. The frantic parents sent
up the alarm, but there was nothing
they could do against the fiendish cruelty
and power Of the much larger bird.
Robins are among our friendliest birds.
1t is a wonder that they do not build
close to habitations more often.
One thing they will not use. accord
ing to our experience, and that is a
robin shelf.
This shelf Is recommended by all
persons who have bird houses to sell
Several years ago we purchased very
fine one. made out Of cedar, according
to the best specifications. These cali
for the shelf to be open on three sides.
This. we are told, is to enable the birds
to fly in and out at will
They would not occupy any other sort
Of place, the man said.
Well II we can believe our own ex-
periences. robins do not take kindly to
such shelves
Although there have been scores Of
these birds in the yard since, not a one
OF them has ever looked at the robin
shelf" so-called
Certainly none has ever built in 1t.
We would appreciate hearing from
any one who ever built or purchased a
robin shelf" and has it occupied by a
robin.
The only thing We ever have had In
ours was squirrel, and he looked highly
disguised at finding no food in 1t.
There is no doubt that robins are the
favorite birds Of children.
And robins, as II knowing this, often
build their nests where little ones may
watch them.
There is no sight prettier than robin
in its nest. and none which more inter-
ests the young child
Americas robin is not q robin at
all, but belongs to the thrush family.
The English robin. from which We
borrowed the name. is much smaller
bird. with really red breast.
Our robins breast is rusty, even orange.
The young robins have very spotted
breasts. showing their relationship to
the thrushes.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Recreation Fund

The urgent request OF Chairman
Frederic A. Delano of the National
Capital Park and Planning Commits
sion for restoration to the independ-
ent offices bill of the 100000 fund
earmarked for purchase Of land for
certain Fairgrounds is thoroughly
justified. The Senate eliminated this
Item on recommendation of its Ap-
preparations Committee, although
the fund had been voted by the
House after approval by the Budget
Bureau and the Commissioners.
While the desire of the Senate to
economic in appropriating money
for non-defense purposes is under
standable and commendable, the fact
should not be overlooked that the
money sought in this instance will
be a charge against the District Of
Columbia, not against the Federal
Treasury and that, for the most
part, 1t Is to be used to protect an
Initial investment in playground
sites. As Mr.. Delano explained in a
letter to Senate and House conferees,
most of the fund is needed to COM
plete projects already started and
which would be seriously imperiled
II private construction were to be
permitted on the adjacent land.
Moreover. 1t is far cheaper to acquire
these properties while they are un-
improved than to wait until build
ings have been erected on them.
Consideration also should be given
to Mr. Delano's additional argument
that the acquisition of these poten-
:ial recreational sites will contribute
to the well-being Of a city whose
population is growing by leaps and
bounds, while the shortage of play
grounds and parks becomes more
and more acute. With juvenile de-
liquency distresSingly on the increase
in recent months, no reasonable
effort should be spared to provide
more adequate facilities for super
lvised play and recreation. Here is
another reason for hoping that the
Senate conferees will agree to the
restoration Of the playground pur-
chase item.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Suggests Plan
For Moving" Materials.
Bristol, Tenn.

For Moving" Materials.
70 the Editor OF The Star:
The following is a plan whereby sur
plus material or supplies now on hand
may be utilized to relieve the shortage
In critical vital metals:
Manufacturers, wholesalers and re-
tailers acting as an overall industry or
q group in certain localities should be
requested to list their surplus materials
in q common pool or clearing point.
Needed materials would be quickly Sc
cured from such agency or location,
thereby saving new metal and time to
manufacture new items. transportation,
delay, reduction Of stock Of slow-moving
items and a conversion of slow-moving
inventories into cash.
Such plan could be successfully op-
Grated with the basic idea that vast
quantities of strategic materials lying
idle for the duration could be used for
the war effort. Many items OF heavy
brass, large-Sized copper fittings and
valves. are carried in stock for years
and years because they are too valuable
to be junked. The owner Of such items
would be glad to dispose Of same much
below cost. JOE HIGH.
Evening star., 1942-05-18

ton, have almost eliminated famine and
plague which formerly took q terrible
toll Of Indian lives.
Whatever Gandhis intentions toward
them, the "untouchables" still are un-
touchable to the overwhelming majority
Of his supporters. Their chief benefac-
tor, again, has been British rule which
has made all men equal under the law.
Previously 1t was no crime to murder
an untouchable; today 1t is the same
crime as to murder the most exalted
parsonage in the land.
OF the breakdown of the Cripp's ne
gotiations, Miss Truell says: Let us
rather blame the clay feet of a laissez-
faire imperialism what is laissez-faire
imperialism) which, in its own way as
vicious as the militant Fascist imperial
ism OF the Axis powers. for l80 years has
kept India in political bondage, victim
Of economic exploitation" So America
has as her chief ally In her life and
death struggle against the Axis a people
who are "as vicious as Hitler. Mussolini.
Tojo and the rest of that international
criminal gang?
Will Miss Truell supply some of those
readily accessible statistics" to demon
strate political bondage" economic ex-
ploitation" and the vicious laiSsez-
faire imperialism"2 incidentally. there
nowhere seems to be refugees from this
bondage and exploitation. 1t was by no
means silly" of The Star. as she says,
to sugges. that some of the Indian
leaders are moved by personal ambitions.
Indeed. they would be the first imper-
sonal politicians in all history If they
were not
England Is an advanced democracy.
As to that quote Price Collier, the emf
nent American journalist, who knew
England intimately: Again repeat
England Is the most democratic country
In the world; where the rights of the
individual are more respected, where the
individual has more of personal free
dom and where the individual is less
trammeled by barriers of birth or class
in his efforts to rise than anywhere else
In Christendom'
ANGLO AMERICAN.
Bristol Tenn.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
PIeu for Insurance

Roswell Magill, professor Of law at
Columbia University and a former
Undersecretary of the Treasury, has
added his Endorsement to proposals
that life insurance premium pay
ments in limited amounts be treated
as a deductible expense for income
tax purposes.
Speaking in New York last week,
Mr.. Magill pointed out that existing
tax schedules make it almost impos-
sible for man in the middle class
to assure protection of his family
except through the purchase Of life
insurance.
At present there are about IS ,000,-
600 life insurance policies in effect
in the United States, representing
insurance to the face value OF $125,-
000000,000. Premiums on this in
surance are fixed charges, however,
and, with much higher taxes in pros
pect next year, it seems inevitable
that much of this family protection
will be dropped unless relief. Is
granted by the Government. Should
this come to pass, as Mr.. Magill
pointed out, it might we'll mean that
the American tradition of individual
provision for ones own dependents
would be broken down, with great
loss to the Government and to the
country as whole.
The former Treasury official also
called attention to the fact that the
Government logically ought to en-
courage investment In life insurance
because it tends to reduce the danger
Of initiation. Like the purchase of
War savings bonds" Mr.. Magill said,
"the money that goes into life insur-
ance premiums is not used for con-
sumption. but for investment (by in
surance companieS) in government
and industry. AS matter of aid to
the country's war effort, 1t is about
as good an expenditure as could be
made"
The corTectnsss Of this reasoning
Evening star., 1942-05-18

authority on the history of ship archi-
lecture. He had written a voluminous
book on the subject and illustrated it
with drawings from his own hand. Wit
sen, therefore, was the very man to act
as Car Peters adviser when he came to
Holland.
At Zaamdam. busy shipbuilding CEN
ter, they still show sight-seers the little
house where Car Peter lived as ship
wright's apprentice. The fabulously
wealthy despot who came to Holland to
live and work among ships carpenters
soon became a legendary figure. He was
the talk Of the country and the hero of
various folk tales.
The Asiatic despot cannot have ad-
mired a social order that permitted q
servant girl to scold him and would not
let him cane an impertinent valet. Nor
could the Amsterdam burgomaster ad-
mire a despotism that created equality
by degrading all subjects into slaves.
Still, the two men and the policies they
represented could exchange courtesies
and maintain diplomatic relations with
out fear Of detriment to either system.
Nicolaas Witsen and his fellow burgo-
masters. while dealing amicably with
Car Peter, never forgot to reject the
dognaas and practices Of despottm.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Patriotism Defined

H. L. Mencken, in his New Die
tionary of Quotations" recently pub
lished. brings together twenty-on
definitions Of patriotism which, COL
lectively, are worthy Of notice at the
present moment. A casual glance
over the assembled excerpts will suf-
flee to show that they are subject to
classification under negative" and
positive" headings
For example, the editor could not
overlook DR.. Samuel Johnson's ia
nous remark to James Boswell:
Patriotism Is the last refuge OF
scoundrel" But the reader is ex-
pected to understand that it was
pretense Of patriotism, not patriot
ism in any honest application Of the
word, that the Grand Cham had in
mind. Thus interpreted, the maxim
should be listed with the constructive
expressions.
On the other hand, George Bernard
Shaw's decision that: You'll never
have a quiet world till you knock the
patriotism out Of the human race"
has a perverse significance, and for
that reason must be appraised as
dysgenic. Associated opinions are
Thorstein Veblen's: Patriotism may
be defined as a sense of partisan soli-
darity in respect of prestige" and
Stanislaus LeszcynSki's Patriotism is
nothing more than feeling of well
fare and the dread of seeing 1t dis
turbed." President Calvin Coolidge,
1t would seem, was in dangerous COM
pany, more or less, when in 1928, he
suggested the practical but uninspir-
ing theory: patriotism means
looking out for yourself by looking
out for your country"
A basically sounder conception is
that of Ralph Waldo Emerson, who
had the natural genius to realize
that: ANY relation to the land, the
habit of tilling it, or mining 1t, or
even hunting on 1t, generates the
feeling of patriotism" Of the same
order is W. E. H. Lecky's: Patriotism
Is = to most men, a moral neceS-
sity. 1t meets and satisfies that
desire for strong, disinterested en-
thusiasm in life which is deeply
implanted in our nature" and Ben
jamin Disraeli's: Patriotism depends
as much on mutual suffering as on
mutual success, and it is by that
experience of all fortunes and all
feelings that a great national char
acter is created"
Possibly the noblest Interpretation
offered by Mr.. Mencken is the logical
and beautiful doctrine of Friedrich
Won Schlegel, set forth in 1894, to the
effect that "the highest bliss Of the
human soul" is love and "the noblest
love" is devotion to ones fatherland.
Patriotism, by any accurate def1ni-
tion. certainly Is passion OF en-
thusiastic affection and loyalty. It
Evening star., 1942-05-18
SILVER SPRING, Md.

Dear Sir:
"Is 1t not rather unusual when a robin
nests so near ones front door that 1t is
possible to stand on the doorstep and
look into the nest?
when the nest was under construc-
ton in an evergreen by my door I de-
stroyed it, thinking that only sparrow
would attempt to build so near door.
But the birds persisted and a few days
later saw the completed nest with one
blue egg in 1t. One by one they were
laid until there were four.
And four birds were Matched last
Thursday and Friday. and now they are
beginning to get their feathers.
THE parent birds have gradually got
ten more confidence, and sometimes they
stay on the nest when we 90 in and out
the door
MY three children are greatly inter-
ested in watching the birds feed their
young.
very truly yours, E. M"
Robins are likely to build their nests
almost any place.
Several years ago builder called up
to tell OF pair building in the hole in
the wall OF the bathroom OF a new house.
This hole had been cut to allow the
Insertion of the medicine cabinet, but a
mother robin selected it first, and built
her nest.
The builder carefully removed the nest
to selected site over the front door.
There the mother bird went ahead
LAYING her eggs.
The f1edglings we're hatched and
brought up over the front door. Pros
poets" brought by salesman had a good
view Of the proceedings.
1t Is always a red letter day in the
life OF any suburban home when some
bird builds nest so that 1t may be
easily watched.
Many persons have called up this
column to tell Of wrens and robins
building In such positions
Often a nest will be constructed bv
catbird, or any other OF the species
spending the summer here, In such
position IN tree that it may be easily
looked into from an upper window.
Catbirds often build their nests in
shrubs close to porches. These are easily
watched by humans, and. alas, by cats.
Cardinals like to build on fences, in
thick rose vines, but their babies are
open to marauding birds
They also like SNOWFALL bushes for
sites.
One OF the worst marauders is the
purple grackle.
This Is handsome creature, but II
handsome Is as handsome does, as the
old saying has 1t. then the grackle Is
really hideous fellow.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Defends British Government
OF India Against Critics.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Two recent correspondents took ex.
ception to your editorials on India which
had seemed to me admirably judicial In
tone and conspicuously wise and mod
crate in outlook
Margaret Wragg, for all her assertion
that she has made a comprehensive
study Of India's problems for over II
years makes statements which any mi
nor agitator would hesitate to make:
The atrociously brutal misrule forced
upon India by her British landlords:
"in the First World War India was prom.
1sed dominion status (manifestly mac.
curate since dominion status did not ex-
list till l93D; she was double le-crossed in
the most heinous manner the Hindus
being subjected to the most horrible bru-
talities that the mind Of man could in
vent"
The same correspondent speaks Of the
slavery OF the Indian masses" slavery
was abolished throughout the British
dominions at least so years earlier than
in the United States of America) and
says: "The British draw the hearts blood
of the Indian people for their own bene-
f1t' and that: "As lon, as the wealth OF
India is there. the British are going to
grab while the grabbing is good"
Just what does all this rhetoric mean?
Does Mrs Wragg know that England
does not receive one penny Of tax or
tribute from India; that the money Eng
land has invested in India-to that
country's great advantages less than
she has In the Argentine, and that the
rate OF interest she earns on this specu-
lative investment averages less than S
per cent, and that nearly all these in
vestments can be bought and sc.d in
the open market just like the stock of
General Motors or American Telegraph
& Telephone? Does she know that,
though few maharajahs can dress from
head to foot in precious stones. India
Is not wealthy. but very poor, coun-
try?
No responsible authority would accept
Constance Truells assertion that but for
Gandhis pacifism there would have been
revolution. India has been at peace
since 1857 and never before In her his
tory has she enjoyed such prosperity as
under British sovereignty. The mere
fact that her population has increased
by 100 millions in the past 40 years is
sufficient evidence of this. Transporta-
tion. irrigation. medical services. educa-
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Important Letters

Even before the war the Govern
ment was becoming largely alphabet
ical, beginning with AAA and going
no one knows how far, but heretofore
the letters applied to vague agencies
that were always somebody else's
responsibility. Now three Of the let
ters, A, B and x, are every ones
affair.
In times past A. B-1, b. and B-3
referred to vitamins. while x marked
the spot. Now they are gasoline
letters and sub-numerals and are far
more important. The AS and BIS still
function somewhat like vitamins;
their presence Is necessary to keep
life In the old bus. Neither car nor
driver can get along without at least
an A, which Is barely sufficient to
maintain existence; and for really
going places. B-3 is highly desirable.
The cream Of the crop is x. the great
unknown-the letter designed for
taxi and truck drivers. In algebra 1t
represents a variable. but on a ration
card it represents an amount fixed
only by the holders ability to pay.
x has been appropriated by some
Congressman. on the not unreason-
able theory that a Congressman
needs plenty Of gas not only to get to
Congress, but to stay there. Other
members Of that legislative body,
however. remembering their A con-
stituents, have refused K cards. on
the principle that v for votes is more
important than K for Xtra GAsoitna.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Partners

Arrays In spring they plow patch
OF ground
For early garden. often we can
hear him
Speaking to his horse; his oentls
whoa"
Is scarcely needed. Old Ben kno,p,
the fence
Forms the far boundary, and tho
apple trees
Are on the south. He pulks NTH
careful tread
While cultiDattng soil and seldom
steps
On eroUing plants. 1t seems the old
horse knoDs
He Is intrusted NTH a Uorthy plot.
They Uork, the two OF them, NTH
many thoughts
Passing betpeen them. Nop and
then Word
From man to beast; and old Ben
shakes his head
Sedately, proud to be the chosen ons
When there Is careful labor to be
BILLY q. COOPER.
Evening star., 1942-05-18
Pardon for Browder

In deciding to pardon Earl Browder,
former leader Of the Communist
party, after he had served fourteen
months OF four-year prison term
for a passport fraud, the President
must have known that his action
would be severely criticized in some
quarters.
During the 1910 presidential cam
paign, Browder INDUCED in the most
extreme criticism of the President
and the administrations foreign
policy. That was before the German
attack on Russia, when the policy of
the Communists in this country, fol-
lowing the party line, was to do
everything in their power to aid the
Axis and hinder the Allies. In the
minds Of the American people, Earl
Browder cannot live down and will
not be forgiven for the utterly Gym
ical part he played in that effort.
But the fact remains that his
sentence for Justification In obtain
ing a passport-four years in jail,
$4,000 fine and the loss Of his citizen
Ship-was not in keeping with the
gravity Of that offense In a meas
ure. at least. the severity OF the
sentence was Influenced by Brow
der's thoroughly undesirable political
background.
During the fourteen months that
have passed since Browder went to
Jail, however, the international pic
ture has undergone a profound
change. We are now fighting with
Russia as an ally, and the. Russians
are bearing the brunt Of the battle.
Certainly. under these conditions,
there would be little point in keeping
Browder in jail because he is a Com
munist. And since he has already
been adequately punished for the
passport olfense, the ends Of justice,
in the strict sense at least, have been
served.
The President may or may not be
correct in his expressed belief that
the liberation OF the Communist
leader will promote national unity.
But. the facts being what they are,
1t may be worth a trial. Ardent
Communist that he Is, Browder prob
ably can be depended upon to pro-
mote the war effort for the present.
without regard to what he has done
In the past or may do in the future.
Evening star., 1942-05-18

@. What language did Jesus speak?-
T. r. L.
A. Scholars believe that the language
Of Jesus was Aramaic. This was a
Semitic tongue used in Babylonia,
Mesopotamia and Syria. and spoken by
the Jews during and after the Baby
lonian exile. Fragments of the Old
Testament and the gospel of St. Mat
thew were written originally In Aramaic.
O. Why did A. E. Houseman return
the check sent to him by an American
publisher for series OF his poems?-
N. ND.
A. Houseman explained that he never
took money for poetry.
@. What does the word -mtkado"
mean?--D. D. U.
A. 1t means exalted door or gate
Mikado is the popular title used bv
foreigners to refer to the Emperor Of
Japan. Tenno, meaning heavenly
sovereign" is the official designation.
Q. Is the place in Chesapeake Bav
where The Star Spangled Banner" was
written still marked by buoy?-M A.
A, The United States Coast Guard
says that the red, white and blue buoy in
Chesapeake Bay which formerly marked
the spot where The Star Spangled
Banner" was written by Francis Scott
Key Is no longer there, having been re-
moved on November 2. 1914.
Q. What infantry regiment Is called
the Rock of Chickamauga"?-B.
A. The 18th Infantry. 1t was organ
lied In 1861. The regiment gained iu
sobriquet in the Civil War.
@, Is there any place in the world
where the air Is free Of dust?-H N. @.
A. Dust-free air does not exist any,
where in nature. Near the eartf's sur
face the dust is mostly blown up from
the soil by the winds Also every great
volcanic eruption spouts up enormous
quantities OF dust to great heights.
Moderate to strong winds blowing on
soil that is loose and dry raise clouds OF
dust in the lower air When great
areas become very dry, atmospheric dis
turbances produce dust storms, which
may do great deal of damage.
Q. What is the inscription on the
Rushmore Memorial In South Dakota7-
T. S. D.
A. There is no inscription on the
Rushmore Memorial, and 1t is not con-
templated that there ever will be one.