davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-08-24
JUDGMENT of Solomon

A Judge In Buffalo had a tough
nut to crack. Two litigants were be-
fore him, each claiming ownership
OF a house. The issue was too in
volved to tell who was right. His
honor, searching legal lore since
Blackstone, found no precedent to
guide him. Consequently, he went
back before Blackstone; In fact, all
the way to about 900 BIC. The case
had come to trial then in the Su-
preme Court at Jerusalem, Justice
Solomon presiding-the celebrated
case of the infant claimed by two
women, where King Solomon's sug-
gestion that the infant be divided
by sword instantly brought out the
truth.
So the Buffalo judge ordered the
house shared on this basis, substi-
tuting a saw for knife and a car
penter for an executioner, and sat
back to await results. They were
psychologically disappointing, even
though the case was settled. At
present, a carpenter is saving the
house into two dwellings and caus-
ing no apparent anguish to either
claimant. AS the cruel teeth bite
in and shed fresh sawdust, the own
ers look on with surprising equa-
nimity. The whole trouble, of
course, is that these men are woe
fully deficient in the maternal in
stinct.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Fuel Oil SHORTAGE

The seriousness Of the fuel oil sit
uation is emphasized by the action of
War Production Chief Nelson In
naming a committee to determine
whether rationing is to become nee
essary in the East, and to what ex-
tent. On1cials are Of two minds as
to whether fuel eventually must be
parceled out. One group sees no
other alternative If the limited sup
plies are to be used to best advantage.
The other is trusting to voluntary
cuts in consumption and widespread
conversion OF heaters to coal to Of
set the shortage. Time will tell who
Is right, but Mr.. Nelson is getting
ready now to meet the problem in
stead OF waiting for a showdown.
Meanwhile, more relief is prom
ised by the ban on hauling automo-
tive gasoline by rail in the Midwest
and Southwest. which will free about
5000 tank cars for service in the
East, where 10000 already are at
work. With this addition, about 10
per cent Of the total tank cars OF the
country will be on the Eastern oil
haul.
Oil men believe that this latest
move, affecting twenty States, may
result in spread OF gasoline ration
ing, but only to a limited extent.
Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Da-'
kotas may feel the pinch, but else
where In the territory most Of the
gasoline already liz being handled by
truck
Despite the efforts that are being
made to cushion the East against the
shortage, there still is huge gap
between needs and available sup
plies. Fuel oil deliveries were sus-
pended August in order to build
up stocks, and the ban will remain
In force until September is, because,
according to some officials, reserves
are only about half of what they
normally would be.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Mrs. Alice Duer Miller

1t is difficult to think of Mrs. Alice
Duer Miller as being gone. No woman
OF her time more vibrantly lived. Her
Joy in action, her pleasure In creative
enterprises OF every sort. her passion
for getting things done and then for
pressing on to the performance of
other tasks equally attractive-these
were characteristics which were ap-
parent to even the casual stranger
meeting her in a public place. She
shared the dream OF America rs a
consciously progressive Nation
great Republic in which every indi-
vidual has work to do and deserves
ample reward for doing it well.
It was her privilege. too. to see q
number OF her aspirations richly
realized. She campaigned for woman
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Member Of the Associated Press.
Water System Enlargement

Now that agreement has been
reached on a hospital-building pro-
gram for the Metropolitan Area, and
awaits only the approval of Federal
Works Administrator Philip B. Flem-
ing and allotment of the funds. i'm
mediate consideration should be
given by the newly established Vital
Area Board to needed additions to
Washington's water supply system.
Six months ago District authorities
were warning Congress that there
is not sufficient filtered water to sup
ply" anticipated needs of the rapidly
increasing population of the District.
The water supply system was built
for a population Of about 300, 1000.
Additional reservoirs must soon be
built or the city will be facing q
shortage of water that may become
very serious.
Projects In this connection, calling
for an expenditure OF about $5,000,-
600, are under study by the Federal
Works Administration, which is
allotting funds appropriated in the
Lanham Act for necessary public
works construction throughout the
country. These projects include
construction Of two new reservoirs,
mains and pumping facilities. The
reservoirs are especially important
now, in view Of the fact that an
enemy air raid conceivably could put
out OF commission Washington's
water supply system, and If a margin
OF safety is to be provided additional
storage Of filtered water must be pro-
vided.
The Federal Works Administrator
Is faced with tremendous RESPONSE
bility in the approval Of emergency
projects ranging in nature from
school buildings in defense centers to
military highways through Canada
to Alaska. The construction needs in
the District OF Columbia are a small
fraction Of those for the country at
large. But because Of the location
here Of the National Governments
workshop and the tremendous
strains placed on community facili-
ties by wholly unexpected increase
in population the need for prompt
decision on emergency construction
projects is unusually urgent.
II the water system additions can
not be supplied from Lanham Act
funds, they must be supplied from
other sources. It is highly dangerous
to postpone action indefinitely.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
"TH1RTY-sIxTH STREET.

Dear Sir.
There is peculiar grating noise COM
ing from our walnut tree these days.
"It is made by the squirrels, as they
gnaw through the outer shells. This
noise goes on all day long from first
light to last.
THE funny thing is that We had some
guests the other day, and they could not,
for the life of them, discover who or
what made the noise. 1t was = great
mystery to them, but not to us.
"The walk beneath the trees has to be
swept clean every day. An amazing pile
of shells is gathered up. 1t is rs If the
animals had used chisels.
~ wonder how many people there are
who hear this sound and do not know
what 1t is?
Yours, B. B. N"
Score another point of interest for the
squirrels.
This is one creature which does not
have to read = book on how to have
friends.
1t makes them as 1t goes along.
This is partly because everything the
squirrel does is interesting.
Certainly the grating noise. referred to
above, would attract the attention OF any
one.
1t goes on for days and weeks at q
time, and attests to the wonderful biting
power Of the creature.
Is nkl
adapted to its needs. Various nuts and
their hard outer coverings offer no par
ticular obstacle to a squirrel. It's teeth
will get to the meat of q nut In about
30 seconds.
Bringing up baby squirrel is task
which sometimes falls to the lot Of the
suburban dweller.
It Is done with q modified milk formula
fed through medicine dropper.
Squirrels make wonderful pets, but
their quick ways are very upsetttng to
some temperaments, 80 that not every
one should undertake the task Of bring
ing one up.
The truth Is that the parent squirrels
can find their young, rs birds cannot
When = young bird falls out OF the nest,
1t will lose It's life unless some kind
hearted human finds 1t.
The young squirrel will be seen by its
active parents, and will be gathered uu
few minutes after 1t has fallen out.
In case the parent cannot find 1t, the
best thing to do Is to put the youns
squirrel IN . crotch of the tree where
the nest is.
Then the mother will come down thu
trunk IN = flash. and take the baby
back to the nest. But first she places 1,
over limb and washes 1t carefully al
over, both to clean 1t and to restor.
warmth.
Then she takes 1t In her mouth snt
darts up the trunk to the nest.
y
There are few sights in suburban
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Toll of the Tide

Da,Dn's quiet ,pas broken by the cry
OF noisy oulls. Upon the quay
A slender yoman called "Good-by"
As small boat slipped out to sea.
Noon brought gale that blotted out
The cordial sun, tchtle totnds OF
might
HarroUed and tossed small boats
about
And made the uaues OF ocean
after the storm, upon the shore,
Men found a broken boat, and on
reef
Close By, a lad pho DiH no more
Sail cobalt paters. Boued NTH
grief
A ,ooman sobs beneath a sky
Intensely blue, and croons hts
name;
While sunfotcera h. a hedge nearby
Burn NTH candles pellow fame.
JOHN RICHARD MOREI4AND.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles Z. TrdceiOell.

natural life more interesting than the
play Of two or three young squirrels In
the great tree which Is their first home
It Is usually about a month before
they dare to 90 to the ground. But dur
ing these preliminary weeks they get
plenty Of exercise. They learn how to
take care Of themselves in the one place
where they are most at home. The tree
is even more important to a squirrel
than 1t is to bird. 1t is both home and
refuge, and, above all, food, II 1t Is =
nut tree.
Baby squirrels are born with perfect
coordination. They do not seem to have
to learn anything. Specimens no more
than three weeks old can dart and play
in the branches as gracefully as their
parents. just what becomes of the old
man of the family Is something Of a
puzzle. The mother brings up the young
sters; the father is never in sight.
At this time of year squirrels will let
bird feeding stations alone, because they
are 50 busy eating acorns and walnuts.
There is really no danger OF squirrels
harming birds at feeding stations. as
some persons think. The two get along
very well. 1t is true that while squirrel
Is on the shelf Of = station no bird will
ny down, but squirrels are such active,
restless things that they do not stay
put" very long.
When the worrying beholder thinks
that the squirrel in the feeder will never
60 away, he has not more than thought
this than whizz! away flies the rodent
intent on getting back to home base
tree.
Then the birds fly in at once.
Most Of our birds are not afraid Of
squirrels. When, one OF the bushy tailed
fellows is In the feeding station, the
birds are spread out on the ground be-
meath.
The animal nuzzles out many seeds, In
its search for sunnower seed. The ones
pushed over the side fall to the birds
below.
In this way everybody has q chance to
eat. Squirrels ut times make darts at
birds, but they seldom catch any. They
do not, indeed, seem to have any idea OF
catching any. Their intention is mis-
chief. rather than harm. Perhaps the
birds, know this, too, and hence do not
put too much stock in the apparent
swiftness OF the squirrels. Most observ-
ers would be willing to swear that q
squirrel could catch bird, II 1t had q
mind to 1t. The fact that 1t seldom does
| proves that the animal had no such idea
In the first place.
Most suburban dwellers come In time
to feel that their grounds offer them nc
more interesting residents than theil
squirrel friends. The gray squirrel is Z
much more pleasant animal to hav.
around than the red squirrel, which |.
not seen very often hereabouts. tn,
gray Is . natural comedian, withou
many harmful traits. 1t Is q benefit t.
the home grounds, and is at all time
more fun than the proverbial barrel O.
| vaa~Lay,.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Letters to the. Editor
Denies Value of Ragweed

Denlee VaIue OF Kagweed
Al "Soil Binder"
TO the Editor Of The Star:
In The Star for August II the follow
ing appeared on the editorial page:
Hay fever victims who long have been
agttated by destruction Of raxweed have
been asked to desist because rsgweed
acts as 4 soil binder and fertilizer. It
u an argument not to be sneezed at."
As result Of this statement in The
Star. telephone calls have been received
In this ofice to learn If the Soil Con-
servation Service, USDA, Is defending
ragweed as soil binder.
The Soil Conservation Service is
f1rm believer in the use of vegetation for
erosion control and soil improvement
However, there are many thousands OF
various kinds Of grasses, legumes and
other plants that are much superior to
ragweed for soil-binding purposes. In
fact, on vacant city lots, along high
ways, on abandoned areas, and situations
where ragwsed might cause suffering, it
would be much better, from the stand
point Of erosion control and soil I'M
provement, II the land were in grass or
other permanent vegetation. Ragweed
Is nothing but m annual which reseeds
itself each year, is 4 nre hazard in the
winter, and in no case Is 1t Of much
value for soil protection.
Weeds have been called "whiskers of
neglect" and ragweed is one of the
longest whiskers Of all.
It should be brought out that ragweed
does have one important place and that
is in tobacco production. When weeds
are allowed to grow in q tobacco field
for year or two between tobacco crops,
very high quality tobacco can be pro-
duced. Ragweed is generally one of the
most prevalent in the tobacco field How
ever, 1t is doubtful If our hay fever suf-
ferers would be much affected by these
occasional fields OF ragweed.
1t is my understanding that approxi-
mately per cent OF the people in the
country suffer from hay fever during
the ragweed season. II control of rag
weed could materially reduce the hay
fever affiiction, 1t would be quite an
important contribution in our all-out ef-
fort to win the war
Weeds In general are very unsightly.
Many of our towns and cities have regu.
lations which require property owners
to keep the weeds moved or have them
moved by the city at the expense of the
land owners. Why should not the City
OF Washington pass such an ordinance
and grow grass and trees instead Of
weeds? CIR. ENIOW
Chief, Agronomy Division, Department
OF Agriculture.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Give and Take

The results OF one week of fight
Ing may not be sufficient to remove
all doubt as to the fighting qualities
Of the American Flying Fortresses
when pitted against the best that the
Germans have to offer, but on the
basis Of their performance 50 far 1t
looks as though the British critics
OF the big bombers are going to have
to swallow lot OF their words.
According to reports from London,
some commentators there have con-
tended that the Fortresses could not
be used effectively over the continent
because they lacked speed, carried
too small bomb load, were vulner-
able to the best German fighters and
could not be depended upon to bomb
accurately under the stress of actual
combat. These critics proposed that
the American bombers be used pri-
marily for Atlantic and North Sea
patrol work, leaving the task of
bombing Germany to British planes.
During the past week most of these
arguments have been rather ef1ec-
lively destroyed. The Fortresses are
known to have attacked three places
-Rouen, Abbeville and Amiens-and
the testimony of eyewitnesses is that
their bombing was devastatingly ac-
curate. In fourth foray against an
undisclosed target across the North
Sea, eleven Flying Fortresses were
attacked by a squadron of from
twenty to twenty-five Focke-Wul
1905, supposedly the Germans best
fighter plane. In the twenty minute
battle that followed six of the Nazi
ships were shot down and all of the
Fortresses succeeded in returning to
their base, although one was badly
damaged. In fact, not single Fort
ress plane has been announced as
lost on any of the missions under
taken so far.
The principal British criticism
which has not been broken down is
that the Fortresses cannot carry the
exceedingly large bomb loads that
the biggest British bombers can ac-
commodate. This is a fact, but all OF
the evidence indicates that the
Fortress bombardiers obtain excep-
tional results with the bombsight OF
which some OF the British are skep-
tical. They can bomb, and bomb
very accurately, from attitudes which
may seem Impractical to the British,
and II the run which must be made
10 use the sight Is dangerously long
Evening star., 1942-08-24

Q. How many times wss Rome saeked7
III. M. e.
A. Rome has been pillaged . dozen
times, notably by the 0Auls In 800 BIC,
by Alaric and the visigoths In 40 AID,
by the Vandals In ass, the Normans of
Southern italy in 1854 and by the troops
Of the Constable de Bourbon in 1927.
q. When was the first Miss America"
beauty contest held7-E. L. l..
A. The Miss America" pageant was
inaugurated In Atlantic City, N. J.. In
1871.
g. When did the United States recog-
nizs the Franco government IA 9patn7-
M. T. e.
A. The present Spanish government
was recognized by the United States on
April l, 1889.
@. In what State was land once meas
ured by the distance man could walk2
e. R. E.
A. In 1887 the Proprietors Of PENN
sylvania obtained from the Delaware
Indians grant OF land extending into
back country as far as . man could
walk. Three fast walkers were hired
who covered about S. miles.
9. Why is signature often spoken Of
- John Hancock2-N. D. p.
A. The term John Hancock q q syn.
onym for . signature IL based upon the
famous remark, Of John Hancock upon
signing the Declaration Of Independence:
There, guess King George viii be abs
to read that"
@. What Is fog?-L. G. J.
A. Fog is vapor condensed to fine par
ticles Of water on dust nuclei In the
atmosphere. 1t differs from cloud only
in being nearer the earth.
Q. Who is the patroness Of good eye
sight?-T. j.
A. Santa Lucia
@. What makes chinchilla fur 50 soft7
ID. D. c.
A. 1t is because Of its extreme fineness.
The animal has q multiple hair follicle
and there are as many as 30 hairs grow
ing from q single follicle.
Q. Who posed for Thomas Eakins'
painting, The Concert Singer
NJ G. C..
A. 1t is portrait OF Weda Cook CMrs,
Stanley Addicks), = well-known singer.
The conductors hand shown In tie pic
ture Is that Of Charles Schmitz ds43-
1879. He was friend of Walt Whit
man, and wrote the music for 20 Cap
tain, My Captain"
Evening star., 1942-08-24

The Davis Cup of tennis fame Is
gathering tarnish In an Australian
bank vault for the duration. Not
withstanding the TACT that getting
1t back to. the United States will be
one OF the pleasanter postwar
chores, the regulations of the men
who took 1t to Australia will never
tarniSh.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Differs With Critic
On Value Of Operetta.
To the Edit

To the Editor Of The Star:
don't think that J. w. stepp was
quite fair in his review of The Choc-
olate Soldier" presented at the Water
Gate. He states: THE silly proceedings
Of Mr.. Strauss best-loved work need not
be rehashed here. If you are not ac-
quainted with It's topsy-turvy course of
love comedy, you have no right to 80
much as mention the name OF Oscar
Strauss. Also you will not be missing
. thing"
"The Chocolate Soldier" Is a comic
opera, the story OF which is adapted
from George Bernard Shsw's Arms and
the Man." with practically no changes
except the names Of the characters.
Arms and the Man" ran foe q fortnigi,t
Evening star., 1942-08-24
as claimed, that fact has not been

as claimed, that fact has not been
established 80 far.
What the future will bring, II and
when the Fortresses are sent against
some Of the more strongly defended
points in Germany, is a matter for
speculation. But there Is not the
slightest doubt that these big four
engined planes are tough-that they
can take it as well as they can dish
it out. If they are inferior in any
respect-within the limits of the
work for which they were designed
to other makes of planes, that is
something which has not yet been
proved.
Evening star., 1942-08-24

The annual milk supply OF this
country, it is estimated, would fill
a river 5000 miles long, forty feet
wide and several feet deep. This
would accommodate some $4,000
bathing Anna Helds without crowd
ing.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hnsktn.

A reader can get the dnstcer to any
question OF fact By toriting The EDe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hnskin. director. Washington.
d. c. Please snclose stamp for return
postage.
@. How long did Louis Paulsen delib-
crate in his chess match with Paul
Morphy?-J. N. o.
A. Paulson is said to have deliberated
IA hours and 28 minutes before making q
certain move. The match was won by
Morphy.
G. How many doctors served in the
First World WARP How many were
killed2-B. l..
A. In the First World War there wer.
2l,000 medical doctors in the .aed
service. OF these, 4ls died, uying in
action or from wounds rec ed In action.
@. Where is the snest point in Eu-
rope7-E. D.
A. The high st point is Mount Elbrus
in the Caue sus whose elevation Is 49,
468 feet
@. Was Jim Grow q real person7-
r. E. D.
A. Jim Grow was . character played
by T. D. Rice in the original Negro min
strels brought out at Adelphi In 1885.
@. When did stradivarius first put his
own labels In his violins?-N. r. G..
A. Stradivarius began to insert his own
label on his violins in 1855, while still q
pupil of Nicolas Amati. Because Of the
many reproductions, 1t has been said
that Stradivarius' name has been forged
more frequently than any other.
O. Where are the highest tides on the
Pacific Coast of America?-G. B.
A. They occur at Tlrnagain Arm, Cook
Inlet, Alaska.
@. Who used the words "Ecce Homo"
In referring to Jesus?-T. c. N.
A. This is said to be the Latin version
Of the words used by Pontius PLATE In
presenting to the Jews Christ wearing
the crown of thorns.
Evening star., 1942-08-24
Says japanese Were Unfriendly
Nearly Third Of . Century Ago.

says japanese were Unlf1endly
Nearly Third Of . Century Ago.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Some day Japan will learn that Hong
Kong, Singapore, Java, Bataan, Corregi-
dor-all combined-do not spell victory.
Then will be commenced q peace of
fensive. This may be launched partly
from within the United States. The
Nipponese war lords may use, as unsus-
pecting tools, blundering idealists here.
Because this could easily result in great
gains for the Japanese militarists, even
eventually nullify our coming military
victory, dare the writer offer the follow
ing out OF his experiences in Japan.
China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Java,
Hindustan:
Before 1911 Americans had invented
what was then called "the American su-
pervlsed or character building play
ground" 1t was something new toward
the wise use of recreation in the then
coming eight-hour day. The writer vol
unteered to handle the overseas problems
involved. Avisit to the Far East brought
reactions worth study today, because
these show that what is characteristic
today also was fundamental In 1911-l2.
Hindustan was suspicious, accepted
even this American concept with re-
luctance. The Philippines were fertile
ground because OF the American public
school stan transplanted there, also be-
cause OF Chinese influence. The latter,
IN the Philippines, in Malaysia, in Java,
as well Is in China itself, accepted the
idea enthusiastically. Our return Of
Boxer indemnity was helpful here.
Only the dominant group in Japan was
unfriendly. The idea was cold shoulder
ed with: I'VE want nothing from the
great democracies of France, Britain,
America. The future Of Japan lies in
the direction OF q strongly centralized
state, modelled on Germany's."
The above should warn Americans that
the militarists Of Japan have not
changed in nearly 4 third Of . century
Should the United Nations not beware
that soft peace might bring third.
and perhaps, for us, fatally unsuccess-
f,l world war? q. N. GOETHE.
Evening star., 1942-08-24

A sundial, it is stated, agrees pre-
cisely with a clock but four times a
year. Some Of us have young sons
who do not approach even that
record.