davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1942-05-06
OralIhanks
Sometimes
Enough
When Appreciation
Is Evident Letter
Is Unnecessary
By Emily Post

The principal Of q school In .
Western city tells that the class In
social relations would like. very
much to have the answers to the
following questions: ct might be
more interesting to my readers if I
give the questions Is sent me and
the answers below.)
l. Must all gifts be thanked for
in writing?
:. Should the tissue paper that
covers each engraved invitation be
removed before mailing?
;. May invitations be written In
fancy script?
4. Should title such Is doctor
or professor be used on invitations?
Answer G-Not If you sufficiently
thanked the giver verbally, "sufn-
GENTLY" meaning If you had time
really to look 1T it, and your ap-
probation Of it was plainly evident.
In other words, brides thanks at
the wedding are not considered SUI
teient; flrst. because wedding pres
EMS are no triding present to most
givers; second, giving thank you"
to people passing In . queue seems
too casual to be sincerely appre-
ciAtive.
Answer (O-Yes, according to
best taste-unless the ink is not
entirely dry, which Is likely If the
climate is damp, In which case they
would smudge without the tissue
papers.
Answer (O-I would say in care
ful script rather than fancy. Let
tertng suggestive Of engraving. yes;
that with many hourishes. no.
Answer tD-Doctor meaning ND,
yes always. Professor II holding
chair in college Or university, yes.
Otherwise, no ..
Dear Mrs. Post: Will you please
advise me. II q friend sends flow-
ers to her hostess after being en-
tertained at luncheon, does that
mean the obligation is considered
returned and no invitation Is neces-
sary for luncheon or otherwise7
Answer-It IS accepted rs 4 re-
turn, yes; and 1t usually means the
guest Is unable to make other re-
turn. But 1t can be an impulse Of
friendliness or Of appreciation by
one who likes to send flowers, and
who perhaps Tor perhaps not may
also return the hospitality.
Emily Posts booklet, THE
Etiquette Of Weddings," will IN.
| al khA AvsA~tinvss ~h>r< -
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Import BUYING

BY veSting in the Board of Eco
nomic Warfare full authority to make
on-the-spot purchases of foreign
goods deemed essential to Americas
war production program. President
Roosevelt has removed a serious
handicap under which our import
agents have labored in some foreign
markets. Heretofore, the board
could 60 no farther than to make
recommendations to other Federal
branches in connection with the pro-
curement Of supplies from abroad.
The actual purchasing was done by
such agencies as the Rubber Reserve
Company, the Metals Reserve Com
pany or the Defense Supplies Cor
poration, which are subsidiaries of
the Reconstruction Finance Corpora
ton
According to Government officials,
this roundabout procedure occasion
ally has worked TO the disadvantage
Of the United States. While several
groups were occupied with formu-
lating recommendations, preparing
specifications, drawing up orders and
issuing necessary checks In consum-
nation Of . proposed transaction.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Air-Ruid Rehearsal

washington's AFRAID rehearsal
last night was encouraging not only
, from the so-called observation aspect
but from the Highly important opera
tional and safety standpoints. 1t was
lust practice, but had enemy aircraft
actually been approaching the city
they would have been denied the
advantage OF an illuminated target.
But this does not mean that Wash
ington has completed preparations
for all-out, sustained attacks from
, the air. Many homes still are with
out permanent blackout equipment
for windows. These households COM
piled with blackout regulations last
night by the simple but unsatisfac-
tory expedient Of swapping of all
lights for the duration Of the alarm.
II a real bombing raid or series of
raids should come, however, occu-
pants OF these houses would find
themselves seriously hampered In the
performance of essential domestic
activities. One OF the purposes of
the recent blackout tests. was to i'm
press upon the average citizen the
necessity for making installations in
homes and business establishments
that will enable the city to carry on
almost as usual In the event of pro-
longed aerial attacks. The rehearsals
cannot truly be said to be wholly
successful until the Importance OF
installing blackout materials at win
dows and doors has been recognized
by every inhabitant of the Metro
politan Area,
In the operational field, too. there
remains some room for improvement.
For example, centralized control
for quickly turning off all street lights
Is an immediate need. Under the
present system, wardens are assigned
TO pull scores of switches in various
parts of the city. Last night they
were given advance notice and were
Mt their stations, ready to act, when
the sirens sounded. Enemy flyers
may not be so considerate, however.
Civilian defense officials are fully
aware of this dangerous situation
and have taken steps to centralize
control of street lighting. Priorities
are said to be delaying fulfillment of
this program.
Those in charge of last nights
blackout and the citizens who CO.
operated in the experiment are to
be commended on the progress in
afraid precautions which obviously
has been made They should not be
content with things as they are,
however. More rehearsals are needed
to keep the population alert and to
bring about the degree OF prepara-
ton which is demanded by the
potential threat which hangs over
the Nations Capital.
Evening star., 1942-04-15

efficient Axis agents, hampered by no
such red tape, have. as one board
official expressed it. beat US to the
punch"
BY relieving Federal Loan Admin
istrator Jesse Jones and agencies
under his supervision from primary
responsibility in the procurement OF
strategic and critical imports, the
President has authorized a shortcut
procedure that has much TO justify
it in time of war, however inadvisable
such a method might be in normal
times. The all-important objective
now is to acquire as rapidly as pos
Sible as large stock pile of war ma
terials as foreign production and
as transportation facilities permit.
Under the new arrangement. repre-
sentatives Of the Board of Economic
Warfare almost literally will carry
checkbookS in hand during their
quests for vital supplies for the Army,
Navy and the civilian population.
The order, in short, was directed
at a system which, while capable of
functioning effectively in a business
aS-usual era, has proved to be cum
berSome under the stress Of war con-
ditiOnS
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Appeals for "Checkup"
On Alleged Failure" Of Democracy.

To the Editor of The Star:
Here in my little town, where dollars
have never been any too plentiful for the
majority, I know man who has spent
more than rs per cent of his hfes
earnings for what most of us would con-
slider foolish and harmful things, and
vet, with the aid of his wife, he has
managed to acquire fairly comfortable
home with a nice little garden, And
also know big, cheerful fellow who now
is completing the rearing Of large
family of children, some of whom weigh
over 200 pounds, and he has never been
on public relief, either during the de-
preston or at any other time.
Are these examples evidence that de-
mocracy has been a failure, as the advo-
Gates of new forms of government"
tell us, or are they testimony that maybe
a lot of us are not doing our part for
well-being under democracy?
In any event, may I suggest that before
we decide that democracy is a failure,
let us frankly check up and see what We
have done and are doing to make our
lives a success under democracy?
J. J. SPERRY.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Criticizes Plan for Saving Wool
BY Eliminating Trouser Cuffs.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor OF The Star:
1t is obvious that the genius who
devised the method Of saving wool by
eliminating the second pair of pants and
the cuffs on mems suits never had to see
how long he could make a suit last. For
his information and the edifcation Of
the public who accept such a law unques-
tioningly, 1t Is precisely that second pair
of pants and the cuffs that prolong the
life of a suit.
The fact that the trousers are worn out
long before the coat of suit shows signs
of wear Is indisputable. And many wife
or tailor has cut off the ragged bottom
of a trousers cuff and used that cuff to
make those trousers presentable again.
Furthermore, those very trousers cuffs
are not eliminated in the manufacture of
the suit despite this new law. They can
not be- The trousers must be made long
enough so that they can be adjusted to
the requirements of the individual who
buys the suit. After the suit is sold the
excess length will be cut ofi-under our
new law-but of what value Is 1t then as
compared to It's value on the suit?
r. r. CUNIN.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
THIS AND THAT
Bp Charles Z. Tracepeu.

a superscription should not be necessary,
that its very utterance gives touch OF
insincerity.
Who would sign himself. "Insincerely
yours?
Charming young things might well
end with "Breezily." etc.
Which gets around TO such impromptu
letter endings as In haste" and As
ever"
These are always good. when appro-
pirate. because they say no more than
the writer means.
Such an ending does not claim that
the writer is anything more than he
has ever been.
There is in such an ending none Of
the Victorian effusiveness which some
how strikes the modern as both unneces-
sary and silly.
We only manage TO endure conven-
tional letter endings because we never
think of what the beginnings and end
ings really say,
We sit down and start off Dear So
snd-So." when the personal addressed
may be an old so-and-so, as the phrase
has 1t.
Certainly a stranger cannot be dear"
in any real sense, yet millions OF letter
are addressed each day in such en-
dearing young terms.
We only stomach 1t because We are
used to it. The salutstion is right be-
cause it has been used so much and so
long that we never stop to think OF
what it really says.
Every one has made efforts to get
away from the old stock phrases, with
out any enduring good coming out Of It,,
1t is always possible to sign Cordially
yours" or Faithfully" but how are these
any better than plain Yours truly" or
Sincerely?
They aren't, and that Is the joke OF it.
Custom has made something altogether
different out of the letters and sounds
and ideas they represent. when 1t comes
to the ending of business and social
letters.
If we write Dear So-and-So," 1t is just
beginning; but If We say, MY dear
So-and-S So" 1t means that we are just a
trifle on the angry side.
Custom alone makes such things.
This age has decided that custom is
often wrong. and fashion always right,
but in the end it remains to be seen.
1t is a good thing, We think, to ex-
pertinent with letter endings.
We like Casually" and might hope
that others will try hand at finding
new endings for letters.
We cannot always be earnest or true.
or even sincere, when We write letters
in the days work and pleasure. Maybe
little insincerity creeps in, despite all
we can do, because we are all so woefully
ignorant. in the last analysis, and have
so much to learn.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Lesson UnIeurned

Thirty years ago today the world
was horrifed by news Of the loss of
the largest and supposedly the safest
ship afioat. Eight hundred miles
from Cape Race the magnificent
White Star liner Titanic, making her
New York. had collided with drift
ing iceberg and two hours and forty
minutes later. had sunk in the cold
Atlantic. Five different times and
from five separate sources the cap
tain had been warned Of floating
"growlers," yet he had maintained
his speed OF q knots. Six other YES
sells were in the approximate vicinity,
but the one that was nearest-actu-
ally within sight Of rockets sent up to
summon aSSiStance-made no at
tempt to help. Subsequent investiga-
tion indicated that at least ITS
persons might have been saved
Instead, only I'll were rescued. The
casualty list, as finally computed,
reached 1913.
Even when the worst was known.
however, the tragedy of the Titanic
was not clearly understood by those
who mourned her unnecessary de-
struction. She represented the best
that men could do in the art and the
science Of making great ocean craft.
Her designer had declared her un-
sinkable, The managing director Of
the company whose property she was
had not thought there was any need
for boat drill, Facilities were pro-
vided for the emergency transfer Of
merely one-third of the ships capac-
ity. Not a single voice had been
raised to challenge the notion that
she was completely Seaworthy in
every respect, She was we'll and truly
constructed, Her crew was valiant.
The generality of her passengers be-
haved with noble distinction in the
face of danger.
What. then, was the explanation OF
the Ttanic's loss? The answer TO
that question is the answer to the
whole monumental problem Of the
eataclysmic times in which the pres
ent generation lives. Man is en-
dowed with a natural genius 10
create wonderful and beautiful
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Warns Against Salvage
OF Paper From Federal Offices.
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
I would like the privilege Of comment
ing on an article in The Star of April
IL. Navy Is Only Agency Salvaging All
Paper, Treasury Unit Says"
Has 1t ever occurred to any one that
the wastepaper from Government de-
partments ought not to be salvaged? All
paper from Government buildings should
be burned in the buildings where it ac-
cumulates, under the direction of trusted
employees.
Many important data find their way
into wastepaper baskets for one reason
or another. Some valuable paper might
be put into the basket deliberately. 1t
could happen.
What an opportunity for our enemies
to obtain information The small amount
Of saving by salvage is not worth the risk.
LAURA K. POLLOCK.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
TronspIunted

ConUergino in distance, the turrotDs
ran
FGrm-length and broDr and hdr-
rotDed for the seed
He planned to sow, but some far older
man
Could take his pldce-he felt his
country's need.
Yet sometimes coursfng high above
the earth
In that neU 1Dorld iohich holds his
bombing plane,
He finds htrself bound By an acres
gfrth-
Where clouds should be, blotos rips
and tdsseled grain.
ANOBEL ARMOUR.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
10th STREET.


Dear Sir:
The dove turtle. Carolina or whatever
its title, is ventriloQuist II can be very
close by but when 1t calls or coos. it
sounds as If coming from a great dis
tance.
The writer and neighbor saw one
on the electric wires in front of the
house in North Carolina home, and it
cooed several times while there. and it
sounded as if coming from deep in
wooded section far across the road,
1T seems to take great effort for the
dove TO sing, for 1t contracts every
muscle. it appears, then expands or
relaxeS, and rests awhile before calling
again. Or it may be the other way about,
maybe it inhales first the same as deep
voiced singer of the human species.
Anyway, it shows very plainly when it
is singing. The noise doesn't just roll
out, as is the case with most birds,
with inferior voices. The effort or the
vibration, one. causes this little bird to
shake all over, when 1t coos. 1t shows
as plainly when 1t coos as q COW shows
when she moos.
Casually, z. w"
Mrs. w. wins our admiration, not only
with her observations on doves, but also
because Of the ending of her letter.
Casually" indeed!
It Is about time that some one got
away from yours truly" and sincerely"
There has always been a paucity of
imagination used in correspondence. 1t
has seemed to many persons who have,
nevertheless, done nothing about 1t.
Most letter writer's have gone on sign
ing themselves Sincerely yours" as II
they would be insincere If they didn't.
Perhaps a new era in letter writing Is
going to be issued in by the war
If a correspondent really feels deeply
about thing, from now on, he will sign
his letter, "Fiercely yours" etc.
Or he might say, in certain circum-
stances, "Shyly yours"
He even might declare himself to be
"Unremittingly," or perhaps "Devastat-
ingly yours
He even might get so bold as to say
fiat-footedly. Not yours"
Why should letter writer's 60 on for
ever palming themselves off as Yours"
when everybody knows they are not2
4
In the old Roman days, 1t was the
custom to sign letters "sine cere," which
meant without wax" that Is, as pure
as honey should be.
Our word, sincere" comes down to
us in direct lineage.
When we sign Sincerely yours" We
are really declaring that we are Yours
without wax" or without adulteration.
But 1t would seem, offhand, that such
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Macarthur Street

Boston is popularity supposed to be
about the most difficult city for a
stranger to find his way about, and
indeed 1t is true that many of its
streets are so crooked and so short
that they offer no logical campaign
OF exploration to the hopeleSSly wan
derlng neophyte-but if plans now in
the making for Los Angeles ever
rlpen, Boston by comparison will be
a cinch
Not that Los Angeles streets are
crooked or short. Far from it.
They are wide, straight and long,
especially long. Those that reach the
city limits have TO be long, because,
if gag writer's are to be believed, the
Las Angeles city limit is a far-off,
vague line about halfway to Denver,
though still short of Toxic in the
other direction. No, it is the names
which threaten the sanity of visitors
and mailmen alike, for it is proposed
TO name no less than thirty-nine
streets after General Macarthur.
1t may be possible to alleviate the
distress a trifle by having a Mac
Arthur street, a Macarthur boule-
ward, a Macarthur highway, a Mac
Arthur concourse, etc, all the way
down to Macarthur alley, with va
riationS such as Douglas Macarthur
parkway, but somehow this seems too
much Of good thing. General Mac
Arthur himself cannot be everywhere
at once. Also, the general has many
colleagues worthy Of recording, Why
not call one of the thirty-nine
streets Wainwright vay9
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Calls for Return to Gold
To Avoid Imitation.
TO the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Laws limiting wages, prices of ma
terials, profits, etc, and supplementary
measures, with death as a penalty for
disobedience, have not prevented wher-
ever tried and will not prevent explosive
monetary imitation If the currency is
valueless, however much gold and other
wealth the issuing government and its
citizens may possess.
That Is true because the valueless
thing, currency, will not be accepted
in exchange for property and work and
people cannot be compelled by law to
accept 1t. Such currency consists of
promises and promises are worthless II
the promissor refuses to perform and
cannot be compelled to perform.
Such laws may be effective to prevent
boom prices provided the currency Is
sound.
The dollar was fixed" at Is 5/21 grains
of gold O9 fine by the proclamation of
the President of January 81, 1884, but
the title to the gold had been passed
to and vested in the United States, and
its coinage and payment stopped by the
Gold Reserve Act of January 81, 1884.
Therefore, every promise to pay dollars
is false and is intrinsically valueless
and will be as long as the United States
persists in its refusal to perform its
promises and contracts to pay gold.
Therefore, We inevitably shall have
explosive monetary initiation unless our
present monetary policy is changed.
Hamilton said that good faith Is the
basis of the public credit and Wash
ington that honesty is the best policy
in public we'll as in private affairs
EDWARD HENRY NEARY.
Port Washington, N Y.
Evening star., 1942-04-15

radio broadcasts for daily reports on
ditto sheets.
Effective the first of this month. nearly
all the boys and girls were raised from
81 ,440 to 81 $50. except handful includ-
ing myself. When we inquired If there
was definite standard or criterion for
these raises we were given the usual
"brush-off"
Yet notice that our supervisors were
raised from $4,000 to $4,000, not grade
Increases, but seven-league- boot strides.
How does one get ahead in the Gov
ernment service7 BY faithful conscien-
tious effort or by hoping that the super
visor takes to you? x
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Proposes Limiting Number
OF Soldiers Granted Leave.
To the Editor of The Star

TO Lhe Editor OF The Star:
Men on leave from their training
centers seem to be creating somewhat
of furor among the social set in
Washington. Some folk are proposing
10 purchase additional housing to accom-
modate the boys from the camps.
I suggest that troop commanders in
the Washington area arrange that only
a certain number of men be allowed the
coveted leave over the week days and
week ends, the number to be kept down
to the accommodations the Capital City
has available. A VETERAN.
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Discusses Vote Against c. I. O.
In Election at Columbus Plant.

I was interested in a Columbus dis
patch in The Star describing a Labor
Board election in the Curtiss- Wright
plant. The result was: Plant employees.
4,206; voting, 1858; for c. I. o., 1857;
for A. F. of L., 382; for neither union,
TIC; defective ballots, g.
I do not criticize the board election in
this particular instance, but let us see
the practical result which was: More
than half the plant employees. the l 543
not voting and the 716 voting for neither
union, a total of 2259, did not ask for
the C. I. O. as bargaining agent. The
2,259 outnumbered the 1857 by more
than 700. AMUSED,
Evening star., 1942-04-15
Praises Artistry
OF Mr.. Proctor.

To he Editor of The Star:
The finest piece of writing to appear
week after week in the pages of The
Sunday Star is to be found in the
columns of John Clagett Proctor. In
the midst OF strife, war and confusion
it is a real pleasure to read his articles
on Washington of q bygone day. He
has that rare talent of combining history
and good writing. and The Star indeed
Is fortunate 10 have him as member
Of its star. APPREC1ATIvE READER