davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-04-11
Centenary Journal
The Galveston News is celebrat

The Galveston News is celebrating
its hundreth birthday anniversary
today. 1t was on April II, 1912, that
its first edition-a little four-page
folder-appeared. The editor and
publisher was Samuel Bangs, a row.
ing soldier-printer, inspired with the
spirit of the Alamo. He worked in a
tiny shack and by the light OF
sperm candle. His equipment was
a rickety hand-press and a rack Of
jumbled type, but with nothing else
save passionate desire to help the
Republic of Texas, he established an
institution that now properly may
be regarded as a living memorial
Of the period to which he belonged.
1t was, certainly a heroic era.
Mr.. Bangs was a follower of Sam
Houston. His contemporaries were
such worthless as Rufus Choate, Dam
iel Webster, Henry Clay and John B.
Cough. To his printshop came re-
ports of Colonel John c. Fremont's
exploration Of the Rocky Mountains,
Lieutenant Charles Wilkes expedi-
ton to the South Seas, the signing
Of the Ashburton treaty with Great
Britain, the arrival of the novelist
Charles Dickens at New York, and the
appropriation by Congress of money
to build an experimental telegraph
line from Washington to Baltimore.
1t was the time when the destiny of
all the land between the Mississippi
and the Pacific was being decided
by events. And it also was an epoch
when the human character of the
United States gradually was shap-
ing up in distinctive form.
The Galveston News played an
important part in the development
of Texas and of the Nation. at large.
1t survived the Civil War and seven
successive cycles of famine and
plenty. The community to which it
especially was pledged grew with and
because Of 1t. Devastating floods
and fires, naval blockades, bitter
political strife-all these accidents
we're included in the lot of the city
and its principal daily. To say that
both prospered by experience with
trouble is not an exaggeration. What
the future holds for them may be
beyond the power Of man to tell,
but If it's fruition is not vastly diff
ferent from that Of the past there
will be reason for rejoicing. -.
Evening star., 1942-04-11
THIS AND THAT
By Charles Z. Trdce1DeH.

end gardeners" persons who have no
more time to give them.
Such plots have their uses. but they
are too static.
To get fun out of gardening, there al
ways has to be something left to be
done.
II woman's work Is never done, as the
saying has it, surely the gardeners work
Is seldom finished. at least from early
spring until winter
The unexpected snowstorm righted
all this for many persons
Their gardens suddenly changed from
static to ones demanding q great deal
OF attention.
just the day before. one had looked
into the yard, and had seen very little
to do.
Now everything was to be done.
Evergreens bowed almost to the ground
had to be pulled back and held there.
Shrubs had to be pruned, in some
cases mercilessly-as they should have
been pruned several years ago.
Vines which, though withered. had
acted as tents to hold up great masses
Of heavy snow. came down at last
Great rose vines, acting in the same
way, were ruthlessly pruned back, al
though too late
The snow was q good lesson to most
home gardeners
1t taught them what they already
knew. but had disresarded. that man
and his gardens are always at the mercy
Of the weather.
Some persons try their best to ignore
the weather.
But men in planes and men in gar
dens cannot do 30. They must know
what the prediction Is and how much
chance there is for 1t to come true.
Gardeners. OF all men. must build I'D
their own powers Of weather proenosti-
cation
Every man in old clothes with a spade
in his hand. whether he gardens for
profit or fun, must be an amateur mete-
orologist
AAA eAiAo way dko III tilis way Ollly, nc
can enter in . comradeship with the
winds and the rains and the SHOWS.
Otherwise they catch him as they do
city folk, unprepared and unwilling,
suddenly thrown to the ground, and
sullen over the sudden visitation.
Sometimes, in the country, a hailstorm
can ruin a crop in 10 minutes.
In the average home garden of small
size there is no such catastrophe, but it
is good thing to feel In step with what
happens, and to be able to greet the
sudden storm as an expected. not an
unexpected, guest
Let us count up our blessings not
the least Of which may have been the
recent snowstorm. and be glad that it
was not accompanied by a bombing
raid, too.
That really would have been some
thing!
Evening star., 1942-04-11
Politics in War

While many over here complain
that there Is too much politics in
the war, from London comes a plea
for more politics. strange to say.
For some time Britain has been op-
Grating under an informal political
truce, which has had the effect of
keeping in power those fortunate
enough to be already at bat, and
providing no chance for those in the
field ever to reach the plate.
The trouble is that both the ins
and the outs have the same plat
form; they are in favor of winning
the war and against any more re-
treats. That virtually ends politics.
1t results, says Lord Beaverbrook's
Evening Standard, in ersatz M. P's
so dazed by uncontested elections
that they are never the same again.
In some cases, the fact that they are
never the same again is a break for
the British public, but In other cases
it is not. Beaverbrook feels that the
entire membership of Parliament
would be finer, tougher men If they
had had to 60 through a real fight
to get there.
In time this notion may extend to
the United States If it does, it will
be tremendous help to the morale
of millions of Republicans who, up to
now, have been good only for pay
ing taxes and being drafted.
Evening star., 1942-04-11
New Moon

White slender shell descending in
the dusk,
Pale silver goblet that holds the dark
moon yet to be,
Shall the hour OF your julIness find
US here
Still looking on your light NTH such
tranqutlity'
Or shall pe on some unfamiliar shore
behold
Your tuH-blo,on cleaning disk Of
FURNISHED light
And ponder there the shining silence
OF your peace,
Dispassionate above the troubled
night?
Or further still, and on a certain
later day.
Shall our perplered eyes forever Be
withdrawn,
At the hour when your thin gold
scimitar
Sipeeps doDn to cledpe some fery
ddtpn?
FREDERICK EBRIGHT.
Evening star., 1942-04-11
The Rubber Outlook

The possibility OF producing rubber
for civilian needs-a project which
supposedly had been dropped for the
duration-again has come to the
fore.
Vice President Wallace is the latest
and most prominent advocate OF the
proposal to keep the automobiles OF
America rolling, even though they
move on synthetic rather than natu-
raj rubber tires. Mr.. Wallace be-
lieves that solution Of the problem
lies In production Of butyl rubber.
which he says can be made quickly
and without waiting to build fac
tories. This view Is In line with the
opinion recently expressed by Senator
Truman of Missouri, who said that
the only thing that can keep us from
having a reasonable supply OF syn
thetic rubber for military and civilian
needs will be public indifference. In
other words. Senator Truman Is OF
the opinion that the American people
can have tires of the synthetic variety
II they want them badly enough.
The Missouri Senator also advo-
Gates the use of butyl, a process
developed by Standard Oil, which, he
says, can be made from by-products
in every petroleum refinery, thus
eliminating the need for expensive
installations of scarce machinery. 1t
is on this question Of materials-the
extent to which such commodities as
steel would have to be diverted from
war industries the decision
undoubtedly will turn.
At present plans are under way for
a synthetic rubber production OF
, about 100000 tons, enough to meet
the military needs of ourselves and
our allies. The matter in dispute is
whether, while preparing for this
production, we should not also take
the steps necessary to turn out an
additional 100000 tons for civilian
use, having in mind the desirability,
from transportation standpoint of
keeping a substantial number of the
Nations 28,O0O,OOo automobiles in
service.
II Vice President Wallace and Sen
ator Truman are right In their con-
tentions that this can be done
through additional manufacture OF
butyl, without interference with the
war effort, then that would seem to
be the course that should be followed.
The only other possibility is to keep
cars in service by retreading or re-
Gaping the present stock of tires.
Only two ounces of crude rubber
are needed to recap or retread tire,
the rest of the job being done with
reclaimed rubber, which is plentiful
On this basis, the retreading of tires
for 20,00O,000 cars would require the
use of 5000 tons of crude rubber from
our stock pile of some TOO 900 tons.
1t is not for the layman to say
which of these two methods-the use
of butyl or retreading - would be
preferable. But if a supply of serv-
iceable tires can be maintained with
out interference with war needs, then
there will be few to dispute the de-
STABILITY of taking whatever steps
may be necessary now to make GER
tain that some kind of tires will be
available when the need for them
arises
Evening star., 1942-04-11

There were compensations in the gar
den for the loss Of trees and shrubs
caused by the big snow.
One gain was the necessary pruning
required after nature had done her
own work.
1t was commonly found that all over
grown shrubs and evergreens, as well
as climbing roses, suffered the most
from the storm.
They offered most harborage to the
snow and bent over more. Their COM
ing up was slower.
AL this was in the nature OF . sort
Of pruning.
Gardeners who had hesitated to cut,
1op and shear. found that Mother Ma
ture. the real gardener. had taken a
hand for them.
They discovered that she had left
things in such shape, however, that
much remained to be done.
1t was necessary to cut of many long
canes to even them up with those that
had been Topped of.
Some necessity existed in most yards
for severe cutting back as it was found
that in no other way would shrubs, in
particular, look properly.
In fact. it was feared. after a prelim-
mary survey. that many of them would
not live at all unless some drastic prun-
ing was DONE
The happy thing about the storm. from
the garden standpoint, was that the
damage was not as extensive as many
at first had thought.
There was irreparabIe loss Of some
fine old trees. but many trees suffered
no more than = good pruning. The
likelihood was that inside OF a month
most home gardens would be better than
ever.
Another gain was that the necessities
OF the storm removed many a garden
and many q gardener from the static
class
The static garden may be beautiful,
but it Is scarcely interesting
The garden, whether it be large or
small, in which there is nothing more
to be done, Is scarcely as good as the
one In which everything Is to do.
We wonder II the same thing. or
much the same thing, may be said of
gardeners?
Can the gardener who has worked
until there is nothing more to be done
be said to be a static gardener?
At any rate, the plot OF ground where
everything is planted. and all the work
done, is surely static.
Gardens just Of shrubs and ever
green's, the green garden" are still
with . vengeance.
These are often constructed by week
Evening star., 1942-04-11
1nIond Barge Route

In view of the optimistic claims
which have been made recently re-
garding possible development of in
land waterways for wartime ship
ping. President Roosevelt was we'll
justified in ordering study OF this
interesting proposal.
Advocates of the plan declare
that the inland channel which ex-
tends from Philadelphia to Jackson
vile offers one way of beating Hitler's
submarines. This waterway is too
shallow, of course, for ocean, going
tankers and similar vessels, but the
President pointed out at his press
conference that consideration is
being given to the construction Of a
fleet of special wooden barges de-
signed to serve as wartime cargo
carriers. Such a fleet undoubtedly
could transport substantial quanti-
ties Of supplies which now are being
subjected to the perils of submarine
warfare off the Atlantic Coast.
The coastal waterway averages
about eleven or twelve feet in depth
from near Jacksonville to Philadel-
phia. From Jacksonville to Miami
the depth varies from six to eight
feet. Even though it should prove
to be impracticable to make full use
of the shallower stretch in Florida,
the deeper portion of the channel
might be adapted to barge service
capable of carrying considerable car
goes of fuel and other essential ma
terials between points along the
Eastern seaboard.
Wooden barges Of simple design
could be used in developing the in
land route. They could be built
Evening star., 1942-04-11
IndomitobIe Norwuy

Nowhere in conquered Europe Is
the spirit of resistance and latent
revolt against Nazi domination more
widespread and deep-rooted than in
Norway. The second grim anniver-
Sary Of Germany's surprise invasion
finds that rugged country in a con-
dition of whole hearted resistance
which, though taking mainly passive
forms, Is none the less difficult for
the German authorities to handle.
The latest crisis has arisen in con-
nection with the church. The effort
OF the traitorous Quisling regime
to introduce the Nazi Youth Or
ganization, with its control over
the rising generation, thereby alien
ating them from the influence of
established religion and the family.
has aroused the unanimous veto of
the Norwegian clergy. All the bish-
ops have resigned, and the parochial
clergy are ready to quit their pull
pits, even though threatened with
concentration camps or worse. The
people stand solidly behind their
clergy, and the National Lutheran
Church in Norway is a power TO be
reckoned with.
Thus does the breach between Nor
way and It's conquerors become more
absolute and irreconcilable. At the
start, efforts we're made by the Ger
mans to have civil institutions and
officials function with some degree
OF normality. But when Norwegians
refused to obey Nazi orders as mere
puppets. they either resigned In pro-
test or were superseded by Quislings
or Germans. Ever since last Septem-
Der, Norway has been under a state
OF emergency"-virtual martial law.
Many persons have been executed by
courts martial, while at least 1000
are In prisons or concentration
camps. Economically, the country
has been stripped to the bone. The
German occupation has seized 20 per
cent OF all national property and ex-
torts at least Is per cent of the ma
tional income for German uses. The
result is that former land of plenty
suffers desperate shortages Of locally
produced foodstuffs, notably fish, due
to German acquisitions. In these
spring months before the harvest,
conditions among the people are
especially severe.
All this renders Norway a tinder-
box Of rebellion which needs only a
spark to flame into open resistance.
The Germans are well aware of the
danger and have reinforced their
garriSons, especially In Northern Nor
way, which is peculiarly exposed to a
possible United Nations invasion,
since 1t has no land communications
with the southern parts Of the coun-
try. Even though no invasion takes
place this spring, Norway is immo-
bilizinf much German man power
and equipment which could be used
to good advantage on other fronts.
The Germans know that, in Norway,
they can take no chances.
Evening star., 1942-04-11
PIywood Planes

The disclosure that the Navy Is
testing a training plane made Of
plastic plywood directs attention to
the progress achieved by the Ameri-
can aviation industry in developing
substitutes for metals previously
used in the manufacture Of military
aircraft. Wood and plastic glue
constitute 80 per cent of the ma
terial used in the new plane, and
II the tests are satisfactory, It may
Evening star., 1942-04-11
Quotes = Soldiers Toast
Which General Liked.
To the Editor Of The Star:

1t. Gen. skinny" wainwright and I
were second lieutenants together in old
Camp Stotsenburg, just north OF the
Bataan peninsula.
skinny" was fond Of poetry and in the
past few weeks often have thought OF
one of the poems he liked. I do not know
its origin, but it was about cholera cpl
demic in India, when people were dying
right and left. It ran something like
this:
Then stand to your glasses steady.
And drink to your sweethearts eyes:
Here's to the dead already
And here's to the next man that dies !"
II. r. 3.
Evening star., 1942-04-11
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

reader CON get the ansper to any
question OF fact by i1rfting The Star
Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has,
kin, Director, Washington, D. C.
Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. To what extent Is Japan self-sufB-
cient in the production Of foodstuffs'--
N. w. A.
A. Normally Japan is practically self
suficient IN the matter OF foodstuffs,
producing about 80 per cent Of its re-
quirements. Most OF the remainder is
imported from 3ts colonies, Chosen, Tai
wan and Manchuria.
Q. How did the King of England get
the title Defender OF the Faith?-W. J.
A. The title was conferred upon Henry
VIII by Pope Leo x in 1921 as reward
for the Kings treatise against Martin
Luther. Though Pope Paul III later de-
prived Henry Of the title, 1t was con-
frmed to him by Parliament and has
been used by his successors.
Evening star., 1942-04-11

cheaply and quickly, which Is an i'm
portant factor in their favor. At
time when the U-boat menace is
seriously dlSrupting ocean transport,
the inland waterway plan offers
possibilities that merit thorough ex-
ploration
Evening star., 1942-04-11

During the ages of recorded and
depicted history the ladies have worn
some mighty silly sartorial effects.
Modern man, however, will back as
the most comical combination that
of high -heeled pumps and slacks.
Evening star., 1942-04-11

One sometimes gets a pretty good
idea of how successful an anti-Nazi
thrust was by the vehemence with
which the Nazis deny that it had any
measure of success whatsoever.
Evening star., 1942-04-11

The notorious Mr.. g. s. Viereck
lays his recent prison sentence to
"war psychosis." In this case. and
others like 1t. we recall the phrase.
Gee. amt 1t great to be craxy?"
Evening star., 1942-04-11

@. When was Madison. Wise. founded?
s.. DIX.
A. Madison was established a. ths
State Capital in 1896. Like Washing
ton. D. c., it was laid out to serve as the
seat OF the government OF Wisconsin
and named after James Madison who
had just died.
@. What is the superstition relating to
the rhinoceros horn?-N. H. S.
A. There is an ancient superstition
that . drinking cup made from
rhinoceros horn would reveal the pres
ence of poison. In 1762 a writer stated
that when wine is poured into such a
horn 1t will rise, ferment and seem to
boil. but when mixed with poison it
"cleaves in two" This superstition pre-
walls in some parts of the world today.
@. How did the pheasant get It's
name?-T P. A.
A. The common pheasant Is believed
to have come from ancient Phasis on
the southeastern shore OF the Black Sea:
hence Its name 1t was known to the
Greeks and Romans and introduced into
England by the latter
@. What book, aside from the Bible,
is the best seller OF all time?-H. RS.
A. In His Steps," by DR.. Charles NJ
Sheldon, has probably sold more copies
than any other book ever printed, except
the Bible. DR.. Sheldon said he did not
begin In His Steps" as q book but
simply wrote a bit each week to read to
his young peoples group on Sunday
nights.
Q. Who said, God warns His hands
at mans heart when he prays?'-C. M.
A. Part Nv, Widow in the Bye Street"
by John Masefield, is the source of the
line.
@. What is the elevation Of the Car
retera Central in the Andes. said to be
the worlds highest highway?-M. D. K.
A. The Carretera Central crosses tbs
Andes at an altitude of 1927 feet.
@. When was the Great Stone Face"
discovered?-W. D. G.
A. 1t was discovered in 1905 by Ma
thaniel Hall, a member of a roadbuilding
crew. 1t is related that he was hunting
partridge for breakfast when he looked
up and suddenly glimpsed the most
wonderful face he had ever seen.
@. What is the hardest man-mads
substsnce?-H G. J.
A. Tungsten steel is the hardest man.
made substance.
Q. Where is the oldest Christian
church in the world?-N. r. G.
A. What is considered to be the oldest
church still i'll Christian use is the
Church Of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
In character as well as in structure it
remains to large extent the basilica
which Constantine built over the sacred
grotto, the legendary spot of the manger
where Christ was born. Its main res
toration took place in the sixth GEN.
tury during the reign OF Justinian.
O. Where is the largest bell in Amer.
ica?-S. T.
A. The largest bell in America Is the
bell In the Cathedral OF Montreal. II
weighs nearly Is tons.
q. When cormorants are used for fish,
ing. how are the birds prevented from
swallowing the fish they catch?-B. r. S.
A. The fisherman places a metal ring
around the birds neck to prevent it from
swallowing the fish.
Evening star., 1942-04-11
Asks Pointed Questions About
Civil Service Appointments.

Ctvu service appointments.
To the Editor Of The Star:
In q recent newspaper column I read
that, since the declaration OF war, "A ,845
typists have been hired for Government
service Assuming that the civil service
system of hiring Is still in effect in this
country, as we are fondly led to believe.
that would mean that person who was
on the typist register at any time since
December would have been hired i'm
mediately. Yet, although passed a
civil service examination for typist on
September IA, 1941, have not yet had
any results from it beyond 4 bare an
nouncement of my rating, which was
ISIS per cent.
There has been some talk lately about
the discrimination in Government ofilces
against women above IS years OF age,
which might explain the dificulty have
experienced, but II at 81 years of age
can pass an examination with . rating
much better than women almost 20
years my junior I believe have right
to the same consideration in receiving
an appointment. Persons with the high
est ratings should get the first jobs, and
1t Is hardly conceivable that 24,S45 per-
sons received ratings of s5.l5 per cent or
better.
Just how are appointments made now
adays7 Are people chosen at random,
Evening star., 1942-04-11
FAMILIAR SAYINGS - The

FAMILIAR SAYINGS - The
English language, especially as 1t
Is written and spoken in the
United States, Is richly larded with
words. phrases and sayings that
lend 1t touches OF humor and add
immeasurably to its color and
graphic quality. The booklet
FAMILIAR SAYINGS brings to-
gether several hundred OF the
expressions, giving their sources
or origins. It is divided into
topics and Is indexed to make 1t
readily available for reference
purposes. To secure your CODY
inclose 10 cents in coin wrapped
in this clipping and mail to The
Star Information Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star., 1942-04-11

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the t0riter, although the use of
q pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserDes
the right to edit all letters tDtth
q Dfe1D to condensation.
Evening star., 1942-04-11

regardless Of qualification, and II so who
makes the choice?
Before swelling the population of an
already grossly overcrowded city. why
not give appointments to people who are
buying homes here and who have been
Washingtonians for years? And unless
the civil service system Is to be branded
an utter farce, how about giving appoint
ments to those people who head the list,
and who have every right to expect
appointments? C.. M L.
Evening star., 1942-04-11

Suggests Corrective Effect of Time
On Theories Of Government.
To the Editor Of The Star:
There may be other forms OF Govern
ment that are potentially far superior
to democracy. However, before would
be willing to concede them that distinc-
ton, would prefer to either see or know
in some other definite way the results
those forms have brought about after
$50 years of functioning.
Time has the unhappy habit of re-
vealing the defects In an-conceived
things, including forms Of government.
For instance, man once believed that
the ideal. form of government was the
vesting of full authority in the hands Of
one individual, whose title was king"
emperor" "czar," etc. But time finally
proved that that conception was not
exactly ideal, at least, not In the eyes
Of many. J. ]. SPERRY.