davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin.

A reader cdn get the drs,Der to any
question OF fact by ,Driting The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdsktn, director, Washington,
DC. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. How many States will elect gover-
nors in the coming elections?-D. D.
A. Thirty-four States will elect gov
ernors in the November elections.
@. Can an earthworm grow 4 new
head?-T. r. L. t-= .,
A. Earthworms can regenerate missing
parts. A tail may grow a new head or
q head may grow a new tail. 1t is also
possible to graft pieces from several
worms together to make long worm.
@. Where was Whistler living when he
painted the portrait of his mother?-
M. C. d.
A. Anna Mcneil Whistler sat for her
portrait in her sons studio in London.
@. What per cent of the people Of the
United States attend church?-G. r.
A. Slightly more than 40 per cent of
the population reported as church men,
bers in 1941.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Insists That Americans
Did Not Disapprove League Ideals.

To the Editor of The Star.
The arguments set forth in letter,
signed "Westmoreland" and published
in The Star of June Is, were too many.
and too vulnerable, for one to presume
upon limited space to answer them all.
However, would like to comment briefly
upon this one particular paragraph from
that letter: Another well-worn argu-
ment is that the League Of Nations failed
through its selfish dominance by Britain
and France. That, too, is partly true.
But it might not have failed had we not
refused adherence or had 1t been pro-
vided with an instrument to enforce its
decisions"
The ideals envisioned IN the League of
Nations never were questioned by the
American people. Selfish dominance
by Britain and France" made realization
of those ideals impossible, as subsequent
events have proved. Their policies have
in time damned themselves, and America
need make no apologies for having
refused to adhere to them.
PHILIP LIGHTFOOT WORMELEY, w.
Evening star., 1942-06-19

opinion expressed by Miss Perkins to
the pattern makers conforms closely
to the findings of a survey conducted
several months ago by Princeton
University. This study was based on
an examination of the experiences
of 40 concerns employing 2,000, 900
men and women throughout the
country. The results indicated that
peak efficiency of the average work.
man can best be maintained with
forty-eight-hour week. while expert
ments with sixty-hour week re-
suited quickly in lowered efficiency
and loss Of working time.
Fortunately, this question of the
ideal work week Is one which has be-
come largely academic since Pearl
Harbor because the great majority of
war plants long since have aban-
doned the forty-hour week to the
extent that their raw material re-
sources permit. 1t Is we'll, however,
that the question has been resolved,
and Miss Perkins is to be congratu-
lated for her readiness to revise her
earlier view in the light of more
recent experience.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Summer Seq

Backward and tor,Dard, the waues
coming shoreward, --..
Azure and cobalt and beryl and
blue,
Quickly retreating and suddenly
meeting, -
sight euer old as it is euer ne,p.
Quietly merging, their small crests
conDerging
They shado1o but lightly the hue
OF the land,
And endlessly coming, soundleSsly
hun1nltng,
Run up in foam to the edge of the
sand.
Today Is no roaring or Dildly ot1-
pouring
Mountain of ,oaters, dark valIeys
betDeen;; a
Only light ripples that clear sub
light stipples
With turquoise and silver, topaz
ana green. z
Backward and torward, the ,0auss
come In ShoreDard,
Skinner OF gold light oper the
,Dhole;
Gaily aquatic, brightly prismatic:
This is sea for. a summer sick
soul!
- MARION H. ADDINGTON!
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Incentive for Landlords

The first step toward making
available to incoming war workers
accommoda tions in private homes on
a large scale has been taken with the
introduction of a bill by Chairman
Randolph of the House District Com
mittee designed to make it easier for
homeowners to get rid of unsatis-
factory tenants.
Under the landlord-tenantc code of
laws, grounds for eviction of tenants
are limited and specifically stated
and lengthy notice and legal pro-
cedure in the landlord-tenant court
are involved. The new bill would
place outside the legal definition of
"rooming house" private homes
which take in no more than four
roomers.
A series of articles now appearing
In The Star discloses that there are
an estimated 5000 or 10000 rooming
houses being operated in the District.
Always big business here, it is now
reaching colossal proportions. Those
interested in housing have estimated
there is reservoir of $4,000 rooms in
private homes which has not yet
been tapped. The problem has been
to persuade Washingtonians to take
In war workers under zoning relaxa-
tions of last December, which permit
up to four roomers in residential
restricted areas.
Those supporting the Randolph bill
have reasoned that homeowners in
tereSted in taking in roomers for
financial reasons have already done
so; that other homeowners must be
convinced of the need and patriotic
duty involved in providing accommo-
dations for these workers.
But unpleasant experiences in the
last war left their impression on
homeowners who, having taken
roomers into their homes, found
themselves unable, under the land
lord-tenant laws, to get rid of unde-
slrable tenants without lengthy and
expensive legal proceedings. These
laws are of course necessary for the
protection of tenants and should be
retained in the case of lodging houses
run on professional basis. But for
the private homeowner who is will
Ing to rent one or two rooms, they
are burdensome. Few homeowners
are willing to run the risk of being
bound by rigid landlord-tenant laws
for the sake of renting a few spare
rooms. Moderate amendment of the
laws, as suggested by the Randolph
proposal, would stimulate the open
ing of private homes to war-worker
tenants without breaking down the
necessary protection of tenants as a
class.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
DoIlcr-u-Yeur Men

The diametrically opposite reports
on dollar-a-year, men issued within
forty -eight-hour period by two
congressional committees are bound
to prove bewildering to the public.
In fact, the public has been be-
wildered from the outset of the dis
pute which has arisen over the value
of the services of industrialists called
to Washington to aid in the battle
of production. Charges and denials
have flown thick and fast during the
controversy, which came to a head
when Robert r. Guthrie resigned
from the War Production Board last
March in protest at what he termed
the lack of cooperation, insubor-
dination and the unwillingness of
some dollar-a-year men to divorce
their private interests from the
public welfare"
Investigations were begun by a
special Senate committee headed by
Senator Truman Of Missouri and by
the House Military Affairs Commit
tee. The trend of publicity from the
Truman committees hearings was
such as to alarm Donald Nelson, who
expressed fear that blunderbuSs
charges against business executives
who happened to be serving their
Government on dollar -a-year basis
would hamper him in inducing in
dustrial specialists to accept vital
jobs here. Senator Truman dis
claimed any intention Of impugning
the integrity or motives of all dollar
a-year men, some of whom, he con-
ceded, were above reproach
The House committee, after careful
Inquiry into the Guthrie charges,
reported Tuesday that they could
find no evidence to support them.
In most instances, the committee
said, men drawn from industry,
whether as dollar-a-year men or
compensated for their services, have
rendered valuable, sincere and con-
scientious service to the war effort"
But the Truman committee has come
forward with formal report to the
contrary, supplemented by a state
ment by Senator Truman charging
that his committee has repeatedly
concluded that the work Of the OPM
and WPB has been hampered by the
extent to which their personnel was
predominantly drawn from the big
business groups" He contended that
the attitudes and associations which
these men have acquired through
the years make it undesirable to rely
upon them exclusively for direction
OF the war production programs"
Senator TT I'm a ms complaints
would carry more force if he could
point to any serious breakdown in
production. As a matter of fact,
production miracles are being per-
formed on every side. and it is un-
doubtedly true that the men against
whom Senator Truman complains
are largely responsible for this
success.
Evening star., 1942-06-19

stage of naval warfare. We are fully
justified, in the light Of our recent
resounding successes in the Pacific,
in rushing construction of score
or more of new carriers with view
to attaining overwhelming superb
ority sufficient to Offset substantial
losses resulting from vulnerability.
Such a preponderance Of carrier
borne airpower would greatly sim
plify our task of protecting our battle
fleet when the time comes to start
moving against the less-well-pro-
tected main fleet of the japanese
Navy. In this final showdown 1t may
well be that battleships will play a
very vital role.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles z. Trnce1UeH.

ness Is none too sure. As climber, 1t
is good, but in . tree, with jays after 1t,
it is not up to its usual standards.
Accordingly, all cat can do is hold
on, and wait for the flying attacks to
cease
Prokofiev, in The Tale of Peter and
the Wof," uses an unnamed bird and a
cat to harass the big bad wolf "a flute
represents the bird. . clarinet the cat)
The bird does most OF the harassing,
the cat most Of the glaring (from the
safety Of limb.
The mockingbird takes the cake, in
most respects, when it comes to attack
ing animals and humans.
If any one approaches too close to its
nest, the male will flash directly at the
intruder.
1t does not content itself with trying
to peck at the back, but will fly directly
at the face.
At nesting time the male mocker will
attack any moving thing which comes
into the yard.
1t seems to work up a special ven-
geance against some particular dog and
cat, and chase 1t every time it comes
within sight.
This means that the bird will fly at
the animal wherever it sees 1t, whether
it is near the nest or not.
At other times of the year the mock
ingbird pays little attention to animals.
The ganging-up of various species of
birds on an enemy always attracts the
attention OF observers.
They may have seen an individual
bird get after an animal, but they have
not witnessed score or more of birds
Of several species uniting to drive away
some maurauder.
This is usually directed toward the
house cat. The songsters seem to sus-
pect, with good common sense, that the
cat Is an animal which may be ousted
by such . sudden show of force.
For their parts, the various species
seem to realize that 1t is case of all
for one, one for ALL" The nest Of one
bird alone is threatened but all the rest
join in to protect it.
Probably 1t comes about because they
all hate cats.
The little wren, in such assaults, re-
minds one Of the Pekingese dog, small
but with the heart of a lion
The blue jay is the leader in all such
forays.
The kingbird. or bee martin, often
seen in nearby Maryland. will fly directly
at crows and hawks. Whether it does
50 at dogs and cats we do not know
Perhaps 1t merely confines its activities
in this regard to the air.
There is very little harm that any
bird can do an animal, but it is best to
have q wholesome regard for that sharp
bill. and to keep away from it, and to
keep ones household pets away from it
Evening star., 1942-06-19

frst-no narrative protesting authority
can fail to take into full account the
amazing literary collaboration of my
parents. No biography Of the poet can
claim truth whose every page does not
bear, witness to the pervasive, critical,
yet self-effacing aid given by Anna
Catherine Markham. My mother at the
time of her marriage to the poet, sacri-
feed what then actually seemed more
promising literary career than his, to
become in the truest sense of the word
a helpmate. Through the hours, weeks
and years they shared the evening lamp.
No work of his but bears the imprint of
her approving and restraining hand.
This statement holds true whether the
work be book such as california the
Wonderful" an essay such as that on
Poe, q verse narrative like THE Juggler
of Touraine," or one of the pithy -four
liners" as he called the quatrains that
he and his public loved. The manuscripts
Of his prose works, such of them as are
extant, exist for the most part in her
handwriting! The authentic original
manuscript of "The Man With the Hoe"
Il call it such because the poet himself
so described its in my possession. 1t
is the penultimate version, unified and
coherent, yet wanting some final touches
before being sent to the printer and to
posterity. It consists of two sheets. Por-
tions of both are in his writing, portions
in hers In the light of the genesis of
the poem, this is a phenomenon which
scholars may long ponder and interpret.
Finally, the unpublished poems number
several hundred. hope that publication
will soon be arranged for the most
memorable of these. Toward this end I
have had the valuable advice of two of
my fathers friends, both distinguished
in the realm Of poetry. Certainly "Our
ISRAELI" "The Ballad of the Gallows
Bird" Judas Against the World the
Lincoln lyrics and goodly number of
the sonnets, well deserve to take place
beside the Hoe" the Lincoln" THE
Wharf of Dreams" and "The Homing
Heart" VIRGIL MARKHAM.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Aircraft Carrier Proqrum

In view of the leading role played
by aircraft carriers in the Coral Sea
and Midway battles, it is not surpris-
ing to learn that the Navy is shift
ing emphasis from battleships to
carriers in future construction pro-
grams. The Navy-Sponsored bill Just
passed unanimously by the House
calls for an estimated twenty or
thirty of the floating air bases" but
not single battle wagon" More
over, it is reported that construction
of half dozen super battleships of
60,000-ton displacement will be held
up in order to give priority on the
ways to the new carriers.
But legislators and naval experts
join in voicing cautious note with
respect to predictions in some quar-
ters that the day of the battleship is
over and the day of the aircraft
carrier is at its zenith. 1t would be
Just as risky to assume that battle
ships have no further use as to con-
tend, on the basis of performance to
date, that the carrier is the ultimate
in capital ship perfection.
There can be no disputing the fact
that the carrier has proved to be
deadly offensive instrument, armed
as it is with destructive artillery"
of a range limited only by the flying
range of its torpedo planes and
bombers. 1t was because of the long
range Of this air-borne striking
power that surface units of the
United States and Japanese forces
never got within sight of each other
during either the Coral Sea or Mid
way engagements. At the same time,
however, the carrier was demon
strated in both battles to be highly
vulnerable warship. This weakness
Of the carrier quite probably is CIV
ing Admiral Yamamoto and his aides
more concern than the loss of the
Lexington has occaSioned on our
side.
Since there seems to be no salts
factory way Of combining the resist
ance of the battleship with the for
midable airpower of the carrier, and
since our enemies continue to put
their faith in both categories, we
would be inviting disaster If we
neglected either class of ship at this
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Drop in Liyino Costs

The disclosure by the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, following a special
survey, that living costs in the United
States declined slightly between mid
May and the beginning of June
seems to indicate that the general
price ceilings imposed by the Office of
Price Administration have achieved
their principal purpose, that Of
stabilizing the cost OF living. Ac-
cording to the bureaus figures, aver
age living costs dropped 0.1 per cent
between May IS and June 2, the first
decrease recorded in more than
year and a half. Since the price
ceilings became effective in retail
trade on May 18, Federal controls
undoubtedly were the principal fac
tor in ending the long rise in living
costs.
Though most of the goods pur-
chased by wage earners and lower
salaried workers declined, food costs
in many cities continued to advance.
About 40 per cent of the average
family's food budget is spent On COM
modities which are not covered by
the retail price ceilings which went
into effect last month. Prices of un-
controlled foods registered a sub
stantial advance, with an average
increase of "a per cent for these
items. The rise In foods subject to
maximum ceilings was much smaller
another evidence of the effective
ness of the price control measures.
Since the outbreak of the war in
Europe living costs in this country
have increased more than II per
cent. Though a longer period will
be required, no doubt, to reveal the
full effects of the OPA ceilings on
price trends, the results of the sur
vey made by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics provide good reason Tor
believing that living costs are being
stabilized and in the light OF the
bureaus latest figures higher wage
demands lose their force. To keep
our war economy on an even keel,
both wages and prices must be
stabilized. ~-
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Calls for Air Transport
OF Heavy Materials.
Ta fhe Editor of The Star.

To the Editor of The Star:
We should start now to experiment in
the transportation Of heavy raw ma
terials by air from factories to dis
tributors and developers.
, For example, lumber, much needed
commodity for building houses or ships
OF war, could be shipped much faster
from the mills Of California, Oregon,
Washington or Maine to the points Of
construction by air transport than by
any other modern. means of freight
shipment.
But there would be no need to elimi-
nate shipments by railroad or motor
trucks and trailers. Those facilities are
still necessity to American commerce.
Only the very important materials that
are urgently needed today should be
shipped by air, thus saving time, gaso-
line, wear and tear on motor trucks and
tires, and guaranteeing longer usage by
the railroads of coal and trackage need
ed for the interstate shipment Of other
materials where speed is not so impor-
tant FREDERICK g. FROST.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
SHEPHERD STREET.

Dear Sir:
How many Of your readers have seen
= Stuka-dive in their own backyard?
I'm pine tree near our dining room
two wrens have a nest
"As we were eating breakfast q gray
squirrel came along and began to eat
bird seed which We had placed under
the tree.
THE two wrens took turns in making
dives at the squirrel. each time nipping
him In the back and causing him to
Jump.
This performance was repeated at
least eight times until the squirrel. tired
Of being wren-pecked, went away dis
gusted.
THE next day the performance was
repeated In almost the same fashion, the
wrens again demonstrating the military
superiority OF air power.
Sincerely yours, D. D. L."
1t is true birds have been demonstrat-
ing what air power can do all these
years, but mankind paid no attention
to them until recently.
Any one can see this demonstration,
and 1t is always new and interesting, as
our correspondent shows.
Writing about q bird flying down at
an animal is not 50 thrilling. perhaps,
but the actual sight Is often very
much so.
This is because there is color and mo-
ton right before ones eyes. We are
eye minded, as the psychologists tell U.s.
Things we see take on a vividness all
their own.
Any observer in q suburban backyard
is able to tell Of many similar incidents.
Blue jays and mockingbirds are spe-
cial advocates of chasing cats and dogs,
and sometimes human beings, through
q bomb-diving attack.
Friends Of birds often applaud them
as they launch themselves at a cat.
This always makes an interesting gar
den picture, and one In which little
harm resides, despite the action. because
OF the dissimilarity In size between the
two contestants.
We will never forget the picture made
by a yellow cat and a blue jay in a tree.
The cat had gone up just to get a
little climbing.
But the jays seemed to think 1t was
up to something or other.
They perched on q limb about 2 feet
above the cat, and from there repeatedly
launched themselves squarely at the
animal
Each jay in turn skinned the back
of the cat, at times landing a good solid
peck.
The cat had to content itself with
twisting its neck and glaring at the
birds. A cat In a tree is never an alto
gether happy creature. Its sure-footed-
Evening star., 1942-06-19

@. What is the origin of the name
whist" as applied to the card ganne?-
s. A.
A. Whist is an old English term mean
ing keep stilp' or silence" The game
originally was always played in silence.
Q. How much of a watermelon is
water?-R. M. D.
A. About 924 per cent is water.
@. Who was the French soldier whose
name was ordered to be carried perpetu-
ally upon his company's rolls?-D. c. D.
A. La Tour d'Auvergne. This was
done by decree of Nepoleon, and ever
after, when his name was called, the
color sergeant stepped forward and
answered to the call, Dead on the field
of honor"
@. When was the first census taken7-
G. FL
A. The first numerical tabulation that
can be called a census in the modern
sense of the word was made in Sweden
in 1886. A proposal for a census made in
England in 1853 was rejected by the
Commons as possibly infringing on per-
sonal liberties. ..
@. How did the custom of having three
prizes in horse racing originate?-C. c. r.
A. Frank G. Menke says that in 1909
an English silversmith was ordered to
make a silver ball to be awarded as the
prize for a race to be held at Chester.
The first ball made was not satisfactory,
neither was the second, but the third
suited. And so Robert Ambrye, who put
up the prize, decided to make three
awards.
@. Please give some information about
the man-eating tree Of Madagascar
S. T.
A. This tree has been described by
the natives as of enormous size and
containing an amber liquid which,
when drunk, affects the brain. 1t is
reputed to draw to 1t and crush any
one who touches it accidentally. Its
existence has not been verified.
@. At what time of the year is the
earth nearest to the sun?-I. F.
A. The earth is nearer to the sun in
winter than in summer.
@. How did Bonin Island receive its
name?-H. c. F.
A. This group of islands in the West
ern Pacific was originally called Bonin,
a corruption of the Japanese Munin To,
empty of men. The Japanese them
selves use the name Ogasawara Jina,
after the first discoverer.
@. Why is the word number alb
breviated as "No"2-S. j. E..
A. The word number" is abbreviated
as 1t is because of the spelling of the
word from which the abbreviation is
derived. 1t is "numero," ablative of the
Latin "numerus"
@. How large is the city of Tokio?-
G. G.
A. Toxic covers an area of 257 square
miles. The city attained its present
rank in area and population in October,
1882, by annexation of outlying districts.
Evening star., 1942-06-19
Opposes "Stooping" to Level
OF Ranting Dictators.
tn the Editor nf Thu Ct

There may be occasions when for prac-
tical reasons it is necessary to initiate the
Axis in order that it may be defeated.
But have wondered If there is any
imperative necessity for STOPPING to the
level of the dictators in the use Of words.
The greatest statesmen and the great
est soldiers have been those who did not
rant; did not have recourse to ridicule or
sarcasm. did not rely upon epithets.
5.3- TX. Y T..
Evening star., 1942-06-19

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the lDriter, although the use OF
a pseudonynn for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters 1Dith
a piecD to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-06-19

Care Of the Feet-An authori-
tative booklet giving general in
formation on foot care. Summer
time recreations require healthy
feet. To enjoy golf, tennis, bath
ing and dancing the feet must be
in good condition. Learn how to
exercise your feet properly and
how to make your feet comfort
able by home treatment. To Sc
cure your copy of this practical
publication inclose 10 cents in
coin, wrapped in this clipping,
and mail to The Star Informa-
ton Bureau.
Name
Address