davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Draft Dilemma

The uncertainties of Selective
service are quite perplexing to the
men awaiting call to active service.
After the initial lottery is over, they
are held in suspense by a series
OF announcements. rulings. memo
randa and speeches which chart
the developing course of draft poll
cies from day to day. In an under
taking of the magnitude of Amer
ica's World War II draft of man
power 1t is inevitable. of course,
that some confusion should exist, but
to the selectee who is on the anxious
seat" the variable nature Of the draft
program Is rather bewildering.
The latest of the uncertainties
had to do with the question of
whether the most recent roster of
observation-disclosures from twenty to
forty-four who signed up February
16-should be called up before or
after those remaining from the
previous registrations. The War De-
partment wanted the new men in
Quoted first. while selective service
officials argued that the old lists
should be exhausted first. The con-
troversy has ended in a decision to
requiSition men from the old and
new lists simultaneously. Boards
which run out of men from the
pre-Pearl Harbor registrations be-
fore June l will summon men from
last months roster. But after June
a different procedure is in prospect.
Meanwhile. men in ga classical
ton deferred because Of depend
entS) are in a quandary over various
statements that have been made
regarding plans to reclasSify them
with a view to possible induction for
immediate duty. Selective service
authorities announced more than
ten days ago that the shortage of
man power had become so acute that
dependents no longer could be rec
ognized as an automatic basis for
deferment. Unless the ga men are
employed in an essential industry.
it was explained, they might find
themselves reclassified in IA. Yet
the attitude Of the War Department
seems to be that newer, younger
registrants should be given priority.
All Of these things do not add to
the peace Of mind of the men in ga
or in the other classif1cations which
may be affected by changing draft
policies. 1t is not the prospects of
active service which dismays them
but the uncertainty of the situation.
All they wish is a fair opportunity
to put their family and business af-
fairs in order before marching off to
war. Army and selective service
authorities should exert every effort
to give due consideration to these
human factors in carrying out the
difficult task of total mobilization.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles z. Trdce1reH.

Is how most homes In the neighborhood
have pair of robins.
In the fall, robins group together
again In small bands for the return
South.
Just why they do this is unknown,
but 1t may be because together they are
much better able to find food on the
southwark flight. What one bird finds,
the others may enjoy.
There is something particularly en-
gaging about large flock of robins. per-
haps because most Of us are so used to
thinking of this bird by one and one, or
at most by pairs.
That is the way we mostly see them
on the lawn in their most characteristic
attitude, catching angle worms.
The fairness of robins Is one of their
outstanding characteristics, but this is in
appearance only, as actually they are not
much more plump than many other
species.
A junco, for instance, has quite as
much girth. and besides 1t wears white
"waistcoat" which accents the natural
plumpness.
A robin is plenty wide, but he has
great deal more to his air than that of
a fat politician. :
His air is that of self -sufficiency. in
a good way, not in the way of self
conceit.
1t is impossible to attribute to this
bird any but good motives.
Our correspondent rightly speaks of
him as great musician.
Once a watcher sees this in this bird,
he makes a great gain.
Thereafter, the robin Is no longer Just
worm catcher, to be noticed now and
then, but an incompatible musician, to
be listened for with as much delight as
one hears the wood thrush or hooking
bird or catbird, other famous singers
OF the washington summer.
1t is good to keep in mind that we
still are blessed with the strains of
these natural musicians, no matter how
much man-made foolishness cutters the
atmosphere around them.
Happily, they know nothing Of bombs
or bombing, and let us hope they never
will.
In the meantime, listen for the robins
sorg.
1t Is as well worth hearing as any
bird melody. Certainly not enough
praise has been given it by the average
appreciater of bird life.
We go on" about the mockingbird,
and sometimes admit that even sparrows
and starlings have nice notes, but few
Of us stop to think of the humble robin
as great musician in his own right.
But he is. Listen to him, both in the
morning and at eve, and hear music
fresh from the heart of a nature which
never intended. We feel sure. that her
creatures should use their brains to blow
each other to bits. Something has gone
wrong, all right. and it isn't the birds
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Submarine Sinkinqs

The announcement that twenty
eight enemy submarines have been
sunk by American naval and military
forces since the start of hostilities
provides impressive evidence of the
fact that Axis raiders are not hav-
ing things all their own way. Since
hostilities against German U-boats
began long before Pearl Harbor, it is
assumed that the total includes the
fourteen submarines sent to the bot
tom of the Atlantic by our "sink on
sight" patrol forces before war was
declared. OF the remaining fourteen
sinkings, about half took place in the
Atlantic after the first of the year.
Thus analysed, the actual toll Of
U-boats sunk by our naval and air
forces since the beginning of Ger
many's intensified submarine cam
paign in American waters may seem
to be relatively small. However, the
figures do not tell the whole story. The
Navy's communique pointed out that
there is evidence of additional sink
ings, but formal announcement of
these will not be made until full con-
firmation has been received and then
only when it is certain that the en-
envy can derive no benefit from the
knowledge.
Moreover, a comforting note was
sounded by Rear Admiral Manley H.
Simons in dedicating the Nays new
lighter han-air base at Elizabeth
City, N. C. 1.-THE Axis has paid a ter
rible price in both submarines and
men to achieve its record Of sinkings
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
EAST FALLS CHURCH, va.

Dear Sir:
1--WE are among the many who enjoy
your daily news'-more refreshing and
everlasting than the blatant headlines.
I'VE are fortunate in having not only
the first robin, but dozens OF them, be-
cause we have an old holly tree (taller
than the house,, filled with berries,
which seem to be the robins favorite
dish.
This morning I looked out Of the
kitchen window and saw an array OF
birds sitting on the limb OF black wal
nut tree.
They we're robins!
There was a heavy wind but the
birds kept visiting their chosen feeding
station 1--WE have put out suet and apple
but they are very shy and do not come
to our man-made cafeteria).
They wake us early In the morning
with shrill cries but their song at dusk
sometimes equals that of the mocking-
bird
I'VE wish we could share our legions
Of robins with those who merely note
his girth and consider him paunchy
politician instead of listening to his song
Your truly, RIA. S.
Robins like all the berried trees. but
particularly the holly.
This grand specimen Is not planted
half enough.
Persons with new properties and
grounds by all means ought to plant
the holly tree
1t not only has vivid association with
things Of the English spirit, but it Is
a fine tree in every way.
Plenty Of space should be given 1t.
In time II will grow, with good fortune,
into a really big tree
Many species OF birds like the holly.
The American holly is Hex opaca,
which ranges from IS to 80 feet, coca
sionally going as high as so feet.
Forty-fve species frequent the holly
These include the flicker, robin, blue
bird, cedar waxwing and mockingbird;
and, In the woods, the hermit thrush.
The American holly is sometimes called
the Christmas holly.
Robins frequently come to suburban
sections in small fiocks
These have flown together from the
South, where millions OF them congre-
gated IN preliminary "roost."
Sometimes as many as so robins will
fly in together, spreading out over a
chosen lawn.
This is one of the finest sights in local
bird watching, but unfortunately it is
not often seen, because it happens right
out Of clear sky" as it were. and I'M
less the watcher is at window, he will
not see 1t.
The birds fan out in almost military
deployment. They remain not more
than Is or 20 minutes in this forma-
ton That IS why they are often missed
Then they begin to break up, and that
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Aid to Argentina

1t is undoubtedly with reluctance,
but with justifable firmness, that the
United States is following a policy of
frank distinction against Argentina
In the military and economic CO.
operation it is extending Latin
America.
Argentina has invited such dis
tinction by deciding not to con-
tribute in any effective way to the
common defense of the Western
Hemisphere, for the time being, at
least. In fact, by continuing diplo-
matte relations with the Axis and
thus facilitating fifth-column &C
tivity under the cloak of diplomatic
immunity, she actually is increasing
the danger to those other American
nations that have taken their stand
against the Axis.
Since this situation became clear
the State Department has informed
Argentine that unless she assumes her
share of the load in hemisphere de-
Tense, it will be impossible for the
United States to give her the same
kind of assistance in materials for
her military and civilian needs as is
being given other Latin American
nations. Those neighbor countries
actively cooperating in the defense
effort will be supplied everything this
country can spare In the way Of de-
tense equipment and will be treated
equitably In the rationing of civilian
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Discusses Need for Humility
On the Part of Group Leaders.

To the Editor of The Star:
I, never have been able to understand
why the political and labor leaders of
the Nation have considered themselves
so superior in the better efforts and at
titudes of life as to be qualified to de-
nounce big businessmen for deficiency
in those efforts and attitudes.
Certainly, the reason is not that those
leaders have done more for the spiritual
and physical well-being of humanity
than have the businessmen, for the facts
reveal that the businessmen have con-
tributed their proportionate share of
time, effort and money to the religious.
educational, charitable, health and other
services of the Nation.
ASsuredly, it is not because the pc
ntical and labor leaders have been more
patriotic or law abiding than the bust
nessmen. for the Nations military and
court records, believe, would show a
both cases. And undoubtedly it is not
that the political and labor leaders
have been any less possessive minded
than the merchant princes, for the re-
cent requirements of not too inexpen-
sive estates by some of the labor lead
ers. and the almost unanimous enact
ment of the late politico pension bill is
convincing evidence to the contrary.
What other reason, therefore, could
give adequate grounds for this superb
ority concept?
To my way OF thinking, there is no
reason for the concept. Factual testi-
mony discloses that the businessmen
and the political and labor leaders. are
pretty much brothers under the skin"
In our eagerness for freedom and
equality, feel that we should not over
look the fact that justice is also
fundamental of democracy, and one of
the qualities of justice is to recognize
ones own faults. j. J. SPERRY.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Pays Homage to Pioneer Producer
OF Operas in Washington.

To the Editor OF The Star: -.-
One day last week The Star published
short announcement of the death of
Gustave Hinrichs, "91-year-old German
born musician"
Very likely there are a few of us who
may recall with a kindly remembrance
the Gustave Hinrichs Opera Co. OF a
half century or so ago. and offer a gar
land Of grateful recollections as a tribute
to its director, for to some Of us this
company brought our first hearing of
the worlds great operas and one or two
Of the worlds great singers.
In Philadelphia the Hinrichs Opera
Co. had f1ourished for several summers
prior to a three-week engagement here
in Washington in the spring of 1894 at
the old Academy of Music, which, like
the National Theater, was under the
management Of w. H Rapley. Here at
the academy, on May IA, 1894, "Pagli-
acci' was sung for the first time in
Washington, with Albert Guile as Canio,
Selma Koert-Kronold as Media and that
great old baritone, Giuseppe Del Puente,
as Tonic. During the same engagement,
in addition to the Verdi favorites,
"Rigoletto," "Trovatore" and Aida" and
the new Mascagni opera. ''Cavalleria
Rusticana.' which had its first WASH
ington performance a year and a half
earlier by the Minnie Hauk company,
such rarities as La Juive' and Les
Huguenots" we're sung.
In all of these operas Guile sang, and
no tenor, not even the great Caruso, had
a greater, Sweeter or more powerful
voice than this physically deformed,
dwarfish but deep-chested, gnomish-
looking Guile. Had he possessed the
physical characteristics and charm of
his contemporary, Campanirf, or of the
later Caruso, he would have been the
greatest of all tenors. He became
great favorite with the audiences which
crowded the theater during this WASH
tngton engagement with every one from
the British Minister in the lower box
to the enthusiast in the top row of the
upper gallery. At the last performance
of this engagement, farewell night" a
double bill was given-"Cavalleria Rus
ticanna" and Trovatore"-and when the
final curtain fell Guile was wildly
cheered, and Lord Pauncefote from his
box tossed a flower to the grotesque
little tenor
Philadelphia. especially, should feel
grateful to Gustave Hinrichs, for before
Cavaliers Rusticana" had a hearing
in any other American city, or, indeed,
before 1t was sung in Paris or Berlin,
Gustave Hinrichs had given it in Phila-
delphia. And here in Washington it
was he that gave us "Pagliacci" before
it had its first presentation in New York.
BENJAMIN M. CONNOLLY,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02

supplies in which there are shortages.
This Government takes the position
that 1t would not be fair to the CO.
operating countries, nor In our own
defense interests, to give Argentina
a seat at this family table" under
present circumstances. officials here
still hope that Argentina will decide
to assume her proper place in the
defense of the hemisphere. But If she
prefers another course, the American
government will be forced to act &C
cordingly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Warns Of Peril of Greed
Among All Glasses Of People.
To the Editor Of The Star.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Yes, we are in struggle not Of our
making. and we are called upon to "face
the music" but there is another danger,
to my mind far greater. because it is so
unnecessary. and that is the attitude of
our own people, who have let CONNER
cialism take possession of them.
These citizens are from the highest
to the lowly of our country; II they
would stop, look and listen. believe
they would sidestep anything which
creates a stumbling block to the safety
OF our land. We should make our coun-
try as harmonious as we would our
homes. LILY DAVIS WHITE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
One-Mun Town

The "one-horse" town is a familiar
figure of speech, and now comes the
one-man town-or, to be exact, 1t
actually came in 1920, when Millican,
Oregon, was founded. It's population
consists of the Honorable william A.
Rain, mayor; w. A. Rain, chief of
police; William Rain, chief of the
fire department.; Will Rain, town
treasurer; Bill Rain, postmaster;
Billy RAIN, municipal dogcatcher;
Will A. Rain, superintendent of the
municipal water bureau, and Willie
(Go-Getter) Rain, president of the
Millican Chamber of Commercial
one and the same man, and Mill
cans sole resident.
1t is doubtful If even Boss Tweed
in his palmiest days ever dreamed of
such complete municipal control of
the somewhat larger city of New
York, but Mr.. Rain, when not acting
in his capacity as president of the
Chamber of Commerce, is extremely
modest, as he shows curious visitors
documentary proof from the post
Office that Millican is sure enough
real town. eff moved to New York
I would be relatively obscure" he
admits ST would be eclipsed by the
Little Flower. Here am the works"
1t does, indeed, seem likely that
the Rain machine is invulnerable.
Citizens of other towns may shudder
at the brazen way the mayor, the
treasurer, the postmaster, the dog
catcher and the rest of the gang help
themselves to the municipal funds,
with the connivance of the chief of
police; but as the taxpayers, consist
ing Of Mr.. Rain and nobody else.
seem satisfied, why worry
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
lmpusse in Indiu

The unfavorable reception &C
corded the British governments
proposals for India has caused sur
prise and disappointment in America,
which hailed the offer Of full Do
minion status after the war as a
StateSman-like solution of a thorny
problem.
The Hindu-dominated Congress
Party has not yet given its formal
answer to Sir Stafford Grips, but its
leaders, including both Gandhi and
Nehru, repeatedly are unfavorable.
And the most discouraging aspect of
their opposition is that they are
standing out for immediate transfer
of authority over the armed forces
to themselves. Nothing more I'M
realistic could be imagined, If the
defense of India against the Japa-
neSe Is their primary consideration.
Even If they were fitted for the job,
which is almost certainly untrue, the
Moslem, Sikh, and Gurkha regiments
that are the backbone of the Indian
Army presumably would refuse to
take Hindu orders. BY and large, the
Hindus are not the fighting element
in India; so Congress control would
be diSsolvent rather than a cement
Of resistance to Japanese invasion.
But the matter Is much more COM
plicated than split between Hindus
and Moslems. Over much of India,
there are minorities within minori-
ties. The Sikhs have fatty refused
Sir Stafford's offer because they fear
it would subject them to the Moslems
OF Northwestern India, among whom
they live. And yet the Sikhs, being
religious dissidents OF Hindu origin,
are Just as resolved not to fall under
orthodox Hindu control. There is a
similar rift among the Moslems,
which fiared out only three days ago
in a bloody riot between orthodox
Moslems called Sunnis and a hereto
minority termed Shiahs. The police
had to fire into the crowd to check
the riot, described by press dis
patches as the elimination Of a
long standing dispute between local
Sunni and Shah factions which had
gone to the law courts and had been
examined by British authorities and
Moslem leaders, "but so far has de-.
fed solution" ..
This is by no means exceptional.
Religious riots in India are an i'm
memorial commonplace. Almost
anywhere, and at any time, grave
disorders can be precipitated by such
seemingly trivial incidents as Mos
lem killing of COW, Hindu throw
ing of pig into a mosque, or even
the playing of certain provocative
music. Religious and caste barriers
keep Indians in many separate COM
partments, inStill undying antagon-
isms, and prevent the rival groups
from anything more than the most
formal contacts. The completely of
these domestic problems staggers the
Western imagination. We cannot
understand them. so alien are they
to our minds. Yet we must strive
intellectually to comprehend them
before we can realize the obstacles to
effective action. Unrealistic simpli-
fication merely beclouds the issue
and leads to establishment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-02
Problem to Be Studied

A rebuke was implicit in President
RooSeveltS comment Tuesday con-
corning the failure of residents of the
District of Columbia to meet their
quota In the emergency war relief
drive of the American Red Cross. But
perhaps the correction implied by
his remarks may be the more quickly
effected because of the questions
which he has raised.
Washingtonians additionally are
proud of their record in response to
genuine appeals. They have contrib
uted generously in the past. and
there is no valid reason to believe
that they will not subscribe as readily
and as unSelfiShly in the future. 1t
happens, however, that they have
been confused by a multiplicity of de-
mandS. One campaign has followed
another so rapidly that the people
simply have not realized the distinc-
tions between them. Even in sea-
son of crisis it would seem the part
of wisdom not to crowd the calendar
too much. Certainly, it is an error
to attempt to stage two or more cam
paigns coincidentally.
For a number of years, also, there
has been growing evidence of care
lessness in the preparation of appeals
for funds. A single pattern has been
employed for variety Of different
purposes. Organization endeavor
has conformed too rigidly to a model
now outmoded. It no longer suff1ces
merely to recruit committees, enlist
distinguished names-and then wait
for the public to respond without fur
ther solicitation. Men and women
already overburdened with response
bilities must be educated to sense
of the justification of social causes
and agencies before they can be eX-
pected to give with conviction and
enthusiasm.
The tagging response to the Red
Cross appeal suggests that the entire
problem Of how best to finance the
useful social agencies of the Nations
Capital should be studied anew with
particular attention to the preven-
ton of too many and too trivial
public appeals which confuse and
even antagonize the public. The war
Is creating conditions which must be
taken into account If future drives
are to succeed.
Meanwhile, the people of Washing
ton certainly have no conscious desire
to shirk the duty or avoid the privi-
lege of contributing to the Red Cross.
It was here that the American branch
of the worldwide organization Of
mercy was set up by Clara Barton
and her associates in 1881, and it is
here that the national headquarters
Of the American Red Cross are main
tanned. The honor and reputation
of the city are involved in the laxity
to which the President referred-and
let it be remembered that he did not
exempt those thousands Of citizens
who only recently have come to live
In the District. Government en-
ployes, including admittedly many
who never have been asked to con-
tribute, are among the number who
have not subscribed. The financial,
utilities. professional and special
gifts" groups have not done their
share. But the quota must be met.
A total default of $3.50, 900 remains to
be eliminated. The appeal now is in
behalf of the communitys good name
as we'll as in the interest of the SOL
diers. sailors. marines and dependent
civilians who look to the Red Cross
for sorely needed help.