davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-10-29
History Not Neglected

A great many of his countrymen, 1t
safely may be assumed, will be de-
lighted to hear that Professor Erling
M. Hunt of Columbia University has
denied that the teaching of American
history in the schools of the United
States is being neglected. He is
qualified to speak for the generality
of his colleagues, and what he says
Is to the effect that in recent times:
Attention to American history,
American life and American insti-
tutions has increased steadily"
Charges to the contrary are branded
as "uninformed and irresponsible.
Professor Hunt stresses the fact
that emphasis is put upon American
history during those periods when the
largest numbers of young people are
available to study it-"from primary
grades through high school," He
explains: I'm the primary grades
children sometimes study heroes and
holidays, sometimes their community.
In three years Of the intermediate
grades pupils in many towns and
cities study American history from
the Norsemen to the present. A two
year course in American history is
usual in junior high school," What
ever may be the case in colleges and
universities attended by relative
minority Of the population, I'm public
schools American history is a uni
versal Offering and a universal re-
quirement for graduation. In about
half OF the forty-eight States the
Legislatures have enacted such re-
quirement, but the laws are unneces-
sary. Every school board or high
school faculty establishes and en-
forces the requirement. Most
Of the texts are written by distin-
guished American historians.s
It Is admitted that American his-
Evening star., 1942-10-29
II There Were. But One
Golden Tne

II there 1Dere but one gdden tree
In all the toorld, then men ,Dould
come
From eDery corner of theenrth
TO stand before 1t, awed and dumb
1t there ,Dere but one goloen tree
In all the porld.
II sunset came but once year
TO paint the sky NTH hung light.
The toorld .oould dance In festival
TO honor such tuondroe sight
II susset came but once diyear
70 paint the sky.
o beauty lavtshed iDithout tint
On careless men 1Dho ,Dill not sees
May Ue regain our tnnocense
And turn once more our eyes to
thee,
o beauty laushed ,oithoat stint
On careless 1nenl
-ALlCE BOORMAN WILLIAMSON.
Evening star., 1942-10-29
HOLLIS, N. H.

Dear Sir:
will you please be on the lookout
for our Bitty bird? We suppose he left
here on the Moonlight Special for red
eyed vireos on September 81 headed for
the tropics. In case he stops over In
Washington, we shall be happier to
know that you and your readers are
ready to help him.
Should you hear vireo. calling near
your home, please whistle three times
and call 'Bitty' If it Is our friend, he
will answer you and come flying to your
hand. Be sure to have three small
grasshoppers ready for him!
"Bitty is very beautiful, all dressed up
in his brand-new clothes which he &C
quired after shedding his baby feathers.
His topcoat is olive green trimmed in
front at the shoulders with primrose
yellow. His cap is slate-gray edged with
fine black line above the white stripe
over each eye. His shirt front is pure
white, and his shoes and stockings are
blue gray to match his hat. His keen
little eyes are reddish brown.
I'VE found Bitty in early August
apparently deserted in his nest, which
was Is feet from the ground in a sapling
ash. We watched for an hour and no
parent bird came to feed Bitty, in spite
OF his loud crying. In the evening my
husband returned to find Bitty on the
ground, still alone and calling; he was
too weak to resist being picked up, and
rode home in the hollow OF his palm. I
told him we would take care of him for
as long as he cared to stay with us. 1t
seemed as though he understood, fol-
he stopped crying and accepted some
cooked egg yolk mixed with milk and
whole wheat bread. Although he was
SO weak we feared for his life. he finally
began to gain each day and his too
rapid respiration became normal.
X X
"Bitty's diet was more dificult to
provide than that of our other bird
visitors. We gave him ants eggs, flies,
small locusts and caterpillars, cabbage
worms, raw hamburger, mashed cooked
carrots and squash, kernels of sweet
corn, corn borers and apple worms, plant
aphids, blueberries and a great many
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 100 in a single
day. Half-hourly feelings seemed to be
his chosen schedule until he learned to
get his own food. Then the intervals
between his calls to us for food varied.
"Bitty always perched politely on the
handle Of my breakfast tray and had
toast and tea with me. Even after stay
Ing out all night on three occasions. he
came in for breakfast the following
morning. Then he would Sing to the
accompaniment OF my husbands electric
razor.
After four weeks we thought him
ready for freedom, 50 we took him out to
release him. But he wouldn't leave! So
for three weeks he spent his days out
doors, calling to us when hungry and
coming to our hand to be fed his favorite
food-grasshoppers. We tried to teach
him to catch hoppers himself, but he
only perched in a nearby tree to watch
us-cheering when we succeeded.
Every afternoon Bitty came In to
rest while did. Then out he would want
Evening star., 1942-10-29
Responsibility for initiative

Elsewhere on this page today there
appears a letter from President Stull
OF the Federation of Citizens Asso-
Citations which should prove helpful
in remedying an obvious defect in the
Districts civilian defense organiza-
ton. The Star regrets that the edi-
torial which prompted this letter
should have been misleading, for The
Star Is under no Misrepresentation
as to the responsibility OF our citi-
zens' associations in civilian defense,
But there is an obvious difference
OF opinion as to the Interpretation
OF that responsibility which should
not be permitted to remain.
President Stull's recital of the orig
inal role played by the citizens as
sociations in organizing the civilian
defense committees is accurate in
every respect and 1t is true that.
once these committees were set up.
the formal responsibility for their
functioning passed out of the hands
OF the citizens association. The
trouble Is that the formal RESPONSE
bility belongs to nobody for it was
never assigned. II a neighborhood
defense committee fails to perform
adequately, no person or agency is
charged with responsibility for see
ing that it does.
The civilian defense officials have
emphasized from the beginning that
the whole civilian defense machinery
is essentially democratic, that it's
success or failure lies with the peo-
pie themselves. The point that The
Star editorial sought to make was
that remedy for unsatisfactory or
ganization in the various communi-
ties can best be applied by the neigh
borhood citizens associations. They
are the only ones who have the Or
ganized machinery for initiating a
petition-to the Co-ordinator for Ci-
villain Defense, for instance-that the
proper steps in remedy be taken;
That defense committee, which
does not function, be replaced by one
that does.
The citizens associations, as such,
have no more responsibility in the
matter than the man on the street.
But If they do not assume the re-
sponsibility in their own neighbor-
hoods for correcting obvious weak
nesses, and insist that corrections
be made, then nobody else is going to
do it. And If nobody does it, the
citizens association membership in
that particular neighborhood will be
the ones who suffer. The Star re-
peats that there is splendid oppor-
tunity here for the sort of construc-
tive leadership that has made the
citizens associations an asset to their
communities
Evening star., 1942-10-29
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trace,peu.

to 60 until early evening, when he chose
to return to the security Of his inside
homemade trees
50
The weather began to grow cool ana
the books stated that vireos left for the
South In September. What to do about
Bitty worried us. We should love his
company all winter, but to feed him
properly presented serious problem.
Then one day we saw and heard .
blue-headed vireo in the maple near our
feeding station. Bitty ignored this.
cousins visit and what had appeared as
a solution to our problem vanished. Two
days later we saw red-eyed vireo in the
same location with Bitty, watching US.
The next day when Bitty returned from
his early morning flight he brought back
this brother with him-to be fed, we
think, for he new within a foot OF me
as was giving Bitty his 'hoppers. An
other time as my husband was coming
from the garden two birds flew past his
head, one going by each ear. One was
Bitty, who came back onto his hand for
something to eat. If Bitty had been our
house guest earlier in the season, do you
think we could have tanned this second
vireo?
"On September 20, Bitty came in for
the night as usual, but left his perch
three times after dark, flying onto the
window curtains. Then he few back
and forth between us, chirping softly as
If to tell us that the instinct to migrate
was stirring in his blood and he must be
of. 1t was dark, cold and windy night.
so we did not think it wise to let him CO.
and he finally settled down.
"The next evening Bitty indicated his
desire to remain in the tree near the
house. He took three grasshoppers, few
back into the tree, looked down at me
and gently chirped his good-by.
1T was beautiful moonlight night
and quiet-good for flying.
Sure enough, he was gone in the
morning. We miss him very much. Still,
we do hope he joined his family and will
make successful journey to Venezuela
or wherever the vireos go this year.
"A delightful companion has left our
home but not DUR memories. We shall
look for him next spring. Do you think
he will call to see us upon his return?
Il thank you for nstenin', and trust
that if you all do see our Bitty bird, you
will offer him your famous Washington
hospitality.
Hopefully yours, I. r. L."
X 4 X +
On the afternoon of the day that the
above letter was received, red-eyed
vireo flew into the rhododendrons Just
outside the dining room window.
We rushed out to give the three whis-
ties, but by the time we got there the
bird was gone.
Later friend living about mile to
! the north reported the presence of a
| vireo that morning.
just how long one Of these fine birds
would take to fly from New Hampshire
to Chevy Chase, Md, is dificult to say
There is little doubt that pleasant open
weather would slow down a migrating
birds progress. 1t would be inclined to
remain few days at various points, in
stead of flying straight through, per-
haps., r>+r So
Evening star., 1942-10-29
Comments on Stars
Civilian Defense Editorial,


May have the privilege Of comment-
ing on the editorial appearing in The
Star of October 26 entitled plug the
Gaps Now" which, to say the least, is
very misleading?
Your statement that there are gaps in
civilian defense is undoubtedly correct
but your conclusion drawn from that
fact Is erroneous, insofar as you attempt
to lay the responsibility for such weak
ness at the doors of the respective citi-
zens' associations. should like to recite
the facts.
The writer (together with the presi-
dent of the Federation OF Civic Associa-
tlons) undertook to organize the original
meetings called for the purpose of Great
Ing civilian defense organization in
each of 66 areas in the District of Co.
lumbia. They were not citizens associa-
ton meetings; they were meetings of all
persons in the respective areas, regard
less OF their Affiliations. This was a wear
ago, two months before Pearl Harbor,
at which time indifference and COM
placency were general throughout the
city. Not all Of these meetings were
entirely satisfactory, but as a result of
them defense committee was elected
by those present to represent each of
the areas. Some of these have functioned
well, some have changed personnel sew
eral times, and some have been entirely
too inactive. However, the point which
you have altogether missed is the fact
that our responsibility ended when these
meetings were completed The matter
then became community affair em-
braclng all groups and individuals within
the specified areas. This was impressed
upon me when plans were being made
for these original meetings, and 1 in
turn passed this information on to the
several citizens grohps.
Our citizens associations did not auto
matically lose interest in civilian de-
tense by reason Of the selection of these
committees, but on the contrary, in
many instances, voluntarily aided with
contributions of their own funds and by
solicitations in their communities It
was not their responsibility then and It
Is not their responsibility now, and your
statement that the Citizens associations
have never had more important Job cut
out for them" is obviously based upon .
Misrepresentation of the facts. I am
afraid this will result In many persons
believing that task undertaken BY
these groups has been badly handled.
It is true that these meetings resulted
IN the selection of many persons for the
civilian defense committees from the
ranks OF organized citizenry. It is also
true that many so selected had no con-
nection whatever with these groups. I
have no way Of knowing why some re-
sponses were not made to the question:
naire from the local Once Of Civilian
Defense. ] do know-as fact, however.
that in some Of the areas which did not
respond there are existing today excel,
lent air-raid warden services, trained
and ready for whatever emergency they
may have to meet.
You further state: "As this d the time
when citizens associations are organiz-
ing for the seasons program, It 4 also q
Evening star., 1942-10-29

article. persuaded him to remain
silent on the military phase of the
matter. Now that this situation has
peen brought into the open, however,
1t would seem desirable for some one
to put the record straight on the
reasons for this division of command
and the effect that it has had, II
any, on the conduct OF the war.
Evening star., 1942-10-29
Hoskin's Answers
- -
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hnskin.

A reader can get the answer to any
question Of fact By trrtttng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdsktn, director, Washtngton,
D. c. Please tnclose stamp for return
postage.
q. How many elective ofices are
there In the Federal Government?-
NJ. N.
A. There are 53s filled by popular
vote: The Presidency. Vice Presidency,
96 seats In the Senate and 435 In the
House Of Representatives.
Q. Are there any Independent Negro
countries?-K. L. d.
A. There are two-Haiti and Liberia.
Q. How long was the Venetian Re-
public In existence7-N. NJ
A. It was organised under the first
Doge In 697 A.D., and continued for more
than 1000 years. The ancient republican
government was overthrown by Napo-
Icons armies and the last Doge, Lodovico
Manin, abdicated May II, 179S.
Evening star., 1942-10-29

u. are NleTe any elepnanU GnaC 90
not have tusks?-J. F. w.
A. The elephant of Ceylon rarely has
tusks.
@. Wha; is the longest beard on
record?-B N.
A. Note, and Queries says that the
longest on record Is in the museum OF
Braunau Upper Austria, and measures
8 feet inches. The owner, Hans Stein
niger, in 1867, stepped on 1t, fell down.
stairs and broke his neck.
@. Is male black widow spider as
large as female?-J. w.
A. The male spiders seldom grow
larger than three-quarters Of an inch
and are generally about . fourth as
large as tfe female.
A. Who was the blind botanist who
could distinguish flowers by means Of
his tongue?-C. J.T.
A. John GrimshAw Wilkinson. He
could name thousands Of different fiow-
ers by touching them with the tip of
his tongue.
@. How bng has All Saints Day been
observed?-A. T.
A.. It VA instituted in the seventh
century to commemorate all tho saints,
known or unknown. .- -a-..
Q. What Is meant by "fog-drtp",-
N. c.
A. 1t Is the process whereby the
moisture fipm drifting fog or clouds
is caught b, trees and bushes and then
shed upon the ground. The island of
Ascension, h the South Atlantic, OBJ
tains its water supply mainly in this
fashion.
Q. BY wlom was Patagonia named?
B. j. K. D.
A. Ferdintnd Magellan named the
inhabitants @atagonians (big feet) be-
cause he wa. 50 impressed with their
stature when ,e sailed through the strait
bearing his name, in 1921.
Q. Please Eve the origin of the term
mutual admiration society."-s. McA.
A. The phase comes from Oliver
Wendell Holme' "Autocrat of the Break
fast Table"
@. Was the song Praise the Lord
and Pass the Ammunition" based upon
fact?-R. j. B.
A. In his Prise the Lord, and Pass
the Ammunition" Frank Loesser has
expanded on tn, words Of q Roman
Catholic priest w,o, while serving as
chaplain in Pear Harbor, Hawaii, on
December 7, l94l, iropped his Bible and
picked up gun when the japanese
attacked. ~
Q. Where did sdvertising originatea
M. M
A. The history ofadvertising is traced
to the use Of signs md village criers in
Palestine, Rome, Greece and in West.
ern Europe during TIN Middle Ages. The
invention of the prined form opened the
first real era of aivertising and a.
early as the 18th century printed circu.
lars were distributed in England de-
scribing service-books offered for sale.
Q. How much mor heat Is thrown
off by a radiator panied with oil paint
than one painted with metallic finish?
r. E. K.
A. According to the Iational Associa.
ton of Heating and Nntilatine Engi-
neers, an oil-paint finisl radiates about
one-sixth more heat tlan a metallic
paint finish.
Evening star., 1942-10-29

Parliamentary Law-Are you always
silent In meeting when you would
like to take part in It's proceedings
silent because you are afraid of max
ing parliamentary blunder? Do
you know your rights in debate, the
kinds of motions you can make, and
when to offer them? Would you be
able. to preside If you were suddenly
called to the chair? If you were
elected recording secretary, would you
know how to keep the minutes of your
club? These questions point to the
value OF our booklet, "Parliamen-
tary Law" To secure your copy in
close Is cents In coin, wrapped In
this clipping. and mail to The Star
Information Bureau.
Name .s .-.
Address
Evening star., 1942-10-29

Secretary of the Treasury Nor
genthau went to London and visited
the Bank Of England, whose nick
name is THE Old Lady Of Thread
needle Street" The Secretary can
sew a pretty. fine financial seam
himself when he concentrates on it.
Evening star., 1942-10-29

The Norwegian government in ex-
lie announces abandonment of for
mer rights" In China--and ct the
same time determination to tight
on until It's rights Ia Norway are
restored.
Evening star., 1942-10-29
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the 1uriter, although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reSerDes
the right to edit all letters Nth
a Die1D to condensation,
Evening star., 1942-10-29

good time to strengthen, or to rebuild,
the neighborhood civilian defense COM
mittees which have Jagged during the
summer" Again you mistakenly place
the responsibility for civilian defense
deficiencies on the citizens associations
OF course, these citizen organizations are
interested in any important movement
occurring within their boundaries, and
are therefore necessarily interested in
the civilian defense movement, but we
ask you not to charge us with responsi.
bility for the weaknesses of an oreaniza-
ton which is designed for the protection
OF all the people. They are not citizens
associations defense committees; they
are community affairs. We assume our
share of shortcomings of any of our
groups, but please do not hold to the
idea that these defense committees are
directed by or are responsible to the
respective citizens associations. This is
an error into which many persons have
fallen. If the Office Of Civilian Defense
desires that the various organized civic
groups assume further responsibility in
this matter, we will undoubtedly be told
OF 1t, and we will assume any response
olllty which the defense Of our neighbor-
moods require. If the civilian defense
committees in certain areas are not
doing their jobs well, why not throw
them out and replace them with indi.
viduals who will function? We cannot
40 this. 1t Is . Job for those in actual
charge OF these local committees.
HARRY N. STU1L.
President. Federation Of Citizens'
ASS0ciafions
Evening star., 1942-10-29
Argues for Principle
OF Sheppard Bill.

To the Editor Of The Star:
There Is considerable argument In re-
gard to abolishing the sale OF liquor In
and around Army camps and naval sta
lions. A proposal to restrict the sale
OF liquor in those places was included in
the Sheppard bill, which was pending
IN the Senate some weeks ago, ana, un-
fortunately, pigeon-holed.
II the bill had been passed, our Army
camps, by this time, would be safer
places for our teen-age boys, who In al
probability soon will be inducted into
the service.
Evidently some persons are afraid that
the passing Of such bill in time might
bring about the return Of prohibition.
But would any broad -minded person say
that that Is sufficient cause for it, de-
feat?
Let us consider the moral and physical
welfare Of our servicemen, and also their
emciency, ct this time Of national peril.
and let US put these interests frst. Some
may argue that the young men, II old
enough to be in the service, should have
enough restraint to refrain from drink
ing. Possibly 30. but Il they sse older
men drink, are they not likely to do %
also7
CLARA BoYNroN HADLEY.
Evening star., 1942-10-29
Member Of the Associated pr...

=. the Associated Press is exclusively entitled te
the use Tor republication Of ali news dispatches
credited to It or not otherwise credited in this
paper III ano also the local news published herein
al rights OF publication OF Special disnatche,
herein also are reserved ~ ''"''iies
Evening star., 1942-08-26
Ohio Coal Firm Takes
0PA Price Ruling 10
Emergency Court
Denied 'EquoI Access
To River Shipping,
Company Charges

A Cincinnati retail soft coal COM
pany today asked the United States
Emergency Court of Appeals to set
aside an OPA order governing the
prices the firm must pay for coal
shipped on the Ohio River.
The emergency court was set up
especially to hear complaints
against OPA orders.
The Buka Coal Co. told the court
that the OPA order requires the
company to pay more than the
maximum prices for such coal which
tFae price administrator, on April
28. in his judgment declared were
generally fair and equitable
The firm claimed that the reg
ulations it complained of, when read
with the rules of the Bituminous
Coal Division of the Interior De-
partment. CONSTITUTES and contin-
ues in effect monopoly in favor
of certain other coal dealers in the
area.
In substance. the complainant is
denied equal access" In the Use of
the Ohio River as means of trans
porting coal. and the regulations
therefore are unconstitutional, the
company argued.
In another case on file with the
court, the Davies Warehouse Co. of
Los Angeles asked the court to set
aside an OPA order holding that
California warehouses are subject
to its orders fixing maximum rates
to be charged. The firm stores and
handles general merchandise for the
public.
The company, declaring it was
acting on behalf of all other ware
houses in California, claimed it was
public utility, subject to regula-
ton by the California Railroad Com
mission. The commission fixes rates
charged by California warehouses
and, If the OPA is allowed similar
| jurisdiction, such businesses would
be under two price ceilings, the COM
pany told the court.
Evening star., 1942-08-26
Court Imposes SIS Fine
For bIdckout Violation

A fine of SIS was imposed in one
blackout case and a forfeiture of
Sis was accepted in another in
Municipal Court yesterday.
Judge George D. Nelson imposed
the fine on Eugene Kelly, 2Sl4
Twenty eighth street NV, who had
left his light burning while he went
to q movie during the blackout of
August ID. He said the light was
for his 9-year-old daughter, Connie.
who had remained home. He also
pointed out that he had left his
front door unlocked so a warden
could enter in case of an air raid
or practice blackout.
The forfeiture was accepted in
the case of Lucille C. Kahansky
accused of leaving a light burning
in her cleaning establishment at
2910 Nichols avenue Sc.