davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1943-09-23
Open Forum
COLUMN
FOR THE VOICE OF THF
PEOPLE
CHANGES IN ASHE

CHANGES IN ASHE
Thirty-five years ago since my
first visit to Ashe county-thirty-
five years and what a change!
Then it was 212 days. trip by
train to Troutdale, Va. I was
met there with a buggy drawn by
two horses. The trip from
Troutdale to Crumpler was an
all-day journey over natures
path, over rocks and bluffs, but
! most always in sight of a stream
of clear water.
Farming seemed backwards
and hampered then and not many
fertile fields of corn did I see
buckwheat and meadow grass and
fruits and vegetables were prin-
cipal crops of the county. When
I saw the threshing done by
horse power, l told Uncle John
Pierce I knew then the farmer
was 400 years behind the march
of progress. The women seemed
most serious in their never-ending
tasks of cheese making, butter
making. drying and canning
beans, storing fruits for the next
long winter. The horse was our
only mode of travel, yet with
hospitality in its old-fashioned
proportions, we managed to visit
some grand old homes and I do
remember the lovely people
would urge me "come and spend
several days., with them. I ap-
preciate the hospitality, particul-
arly that of Uncle Press and Aunt
Bess Gambill, yet I prayed
might not die in these mountains.
To be hauled out, or worse still,
to lie in state waiting for my bu-
rial outfit to be made by hands,
was plenty to cause me to long
to return to my middle Tennes-
see, to live and die.
My second trip to Ashe county
was several years later. It was
clear to see the county had taken
new lease on life since a rail-
road had come in to liven up the
situation. I rode proudly into
West Jefferson on that most pio-
neer little train; each mile of the
trek seemed a happy one and I
never rode all day long on any
train for the sum of $1.00.
By now the citizens had arisen
in their power and might and
built splendid roads. The folks
spent their savings for roads and
cars to speed them on their way
curses or not, they were the proud
possessors of the best roads our
people ever had, even if the roads
had not been dropped down from
the heavens. They were here
and grand to use 'em!
Some, no doubt, rode to pros
perity, some to sorrow, while
some to-the Lord only knows
what or where.
Changes came, and how fast, to
the great county of Ashe!
Here I am again-this August
l came by bus and the trip from
Bluff City to West Jefferson
meant ony six hours through ma
lures lovliest route. I was real
ly charmed every mile of the
way since rich corn fields with
heavy bending ears of corn con-
WINGED one this country was
awake and studying soil building
and very best methods of Coop
Grating with nature and mother
earth to produce foods in great
abundance. The flowers so gor-
geous and gardens fresh as a May
day, made me feel I had really
reached the land Of Corn and
Wine. Coming from a hot dry
section caused me to wonder if
these people know how richly
blessed they are this year.
Everywhere, beans growing in
profusion, then to hear reports
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
T. R. Collection

1.-THE most important collection Of
books and other materials" relating
to President Theodore Roosevelt has
been presented to the Harvard Col
lege Library by the Roosevelt Me-
mortal Association. Formerly shell
tered at the Roosevelt House in New
York, the accumulation runs to
eleven thousand items. Naturally,
much Of 1t consists of theoretically
ephemeral publications-pamphlets
and periodicals not necessarily in
tended by the authors for preserva-
ton. There are also one hundred
and fifty scrapbooks of newspaper
clippings, each volume unique in its
original form.
But copies of most OF the more
important titles, it is good to know,
are available in the Library Of Con-
gress. The law providing for the
deposit of literary productions of all
sorts for copyright registration has
the effect of insuring the greatest
photographic establishment in the
world against being excelled by con-
temporary institutions. 1t does not
detract from the significance OF the
gift to Harvard to call attention to
the fact that Teddy" himself was a
faithful friend of the only foundation
which accurately can be described as
a national library. The bulk Of his
correspondence long since was given
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
to the Division Of Manuscripts Of tn
Library Of ConrreSS.

to the Division Of Manuscripts Of the
Library Of Congress.
Fortunately, however, the science
Of photography has made possible
the reproduction Of approximately
$4,000 OF Theodore Roosevelt's letters
for the potential use Of students at
Cambridge. Microfilm copies Of these
epistles-covering a portion of his
tenure Of the presidency-will 60 to
Harvard by arrangement between
the Library OF Congress and the
Roosevelt Memorial Association. The
same cooperative procedure will
prevail with regard to other mate
rails. It follows, then, that no loss
to any but rather a gain to all the
agencies involved has occurred.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
Fairfax Ration Issue

The decision Of the Fairfax County
Volunteer Rationing Organization to
appeal to their congressional repre-
sentatives in dispute with State
Office of Price Administration au-
thorities grows out of problem,
Il which should not be- too difficult of
solution.
The root of the trouble lies in the
fact that the Fairfax Ration Board is
located in Falls Church, a border
community in the county. This means
that some Fairfax residents have to
travel as much as fifty miles through
; areas not served by public trans
; portation to reach the Office of the
, board and return to their homes.
: Obviously, this often works hard
, ship on the individuals affected and
Involves a considerable waste of
gasoline, since in most cases private
automobiles are the only feasible
means of travel.
Under plan proposed by the
NOAbAiOSSA 6AouP, 5USSAAAAS A~oASAA
books would be issued by volunteer
4 workers at twelve centers throughout
the county. The State OPA Office
has not approved this plan, largely
because a similar program in effect
Z, in the past resulted in what State
officials regarded as a too liberal
distribution of c books. The issue
] goes deeper than the question OF
issuing ration books, however, for
this can be handled by mail. What
is really needed is plan of decen-
tralization which not only would take
care of the issuance of gasoline
books, but which would relieve per-
sons who for various reasons must
appear before the board Of the ne
cessity of travelling all the way across
the county.
~ 4 reasonable solution would seem
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
"LIsNER HOME.

Dear Sir:
1--WE people Of the Lisner Home. in
GLIDING the stan and the ladies' have
been happily studying the birds on our
eight-acre grounds for the past two and
. half years, since our home was opened.
This has been inspired partly by your
column, which we read, mark, learn
and inwardly digest and partly by our
innate love Of the pretty flyers.
This summer we have had many more
varieties Of them to study than ever
before, which, understand, is the re.
port from many other localities.
More food has been given them here
this past winter than previously, and
that probably accounts for our increase.
Our resident engineer, a man Of many
talents, built a birdhouse perched on q
pole on the edge OF our locust grove
which was promptly leased by q wren
couple, and three bird baths in different
places on the lawn are carefully cleaned
and refilled by one Of the most ardent
bird lovers, who looked after the winter
feeding. too.
1.-THE biggest kick we've gotten this
season 50 far. however, was the discov-
cry OF real flicker's nest, occupied and
on full-time duty in . haH-dead tree
trunk only few feet up from the ground.
That was fortnight or more ago and
since then the small nickers have been
seen under instruction from q parent.
Carefully compared notes made by
several of us, sometimes with the aid Of
field glasses, and study Of the book, Birds
Of America edited by Gilbert Pearson,
edition of Book Of Birds Of North Ameri-
ca have enabled US to identify % differ
ent kinds Of birds, which are as follows:
Flicker, vireo, wood thrush, cardinal,
mourning dove. catbird, wren, goldfinch,
blue jay, red-headed woodpecker. barn
swallow. song sparrow, vesper sparrow,
brown thrasher, robin, downy woodpeck-
er, towhee, mockingbird. Baltimore
oriole, bob white, scarlet tanager, least
nycatcher, junco, English sparrow,
grackle, blackbird, startling, ruby -throated
hummingbird.
1--WE have a thrush's nest in our bit Of
woods, too-quite high with a piece Of
tissue paper hanging from 1t, and cat
birds nest in 4 tree on the lawn.
Long life to you, Mr.. Tracewell, and
to your This and That column.
Sincerely yours, j. L. D."
4
One OF the finest things about an inter-
est in birds is that 1t is adaptable to all
stages of life's journey.
1t can be made as strenuous or as easy
as one pleases or requires.
One may take field trips and walk for
many miles just to find one species.
One may stay at home. and never
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
Hope Of the World
From the Montreal lie Jour.

from the Montreal lie Jour.
Liberal-democrat by conviction and by
love Of liberty, we are for social progress
and for many reforms, but we propose
to employ what energy remains to us to
resist the wave which foams today over
the democratic nations engaged in war
and to resist the Missionaries who seek to
demolish them from inside. Our army,
which belongs to neither right nor left,
may be affected for time, but 1t will
not be long in appearing as our only
safety. North America will resist servi-
tude. Founded by liberty and upon lib
erty, accustomed from time immemorial
to individual initiative, to the creative
impulse, to the ease produced by free
enterprise, to the equality of rights be-
tween citizens of all parties and OF all
faiths, it will never forget the flesh
pots Of Egypt. That is why we have
faith in North American patriotism:
it is the hope of the world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ frederic J. HdSkfn.

A reader can get the anstcer to any
question OF fact BY tcrtttn1 The Zoe.
ming Star Information Bureau, FRED.
D. c. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. How many men in the Navy have
been awarded the Congressional Medal
Of Honor?-J. E. B.
A. The Navy Department says that
from December 7, 1o41, to June 8, 1913.
30 awards Of the Congressional Medal
Of Honor have been made to naval
personnel.
q. What is the correct pronunciation
Of tho surname Of the quintuplets?-
r. E. r.
A. The name Dionne Is pronounced
Dee I'm, long 9, short u.
Q. Was there Nazi party in Holland
before its occupation by the Germans?
r.. c.
A. There was apparently small Nazi
party In Holland before the German
occupancy of that country. It was
known as the National Socialist party
and never had over 10000 members.
O. In what part Of the world do the
most tornadoes occur?-D. r. B.
A. This type OF storm is more COM
mon in the interior Of North America,
east Of the Rocky Mountains, than any.
where else In the world.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14

@. Can you name a few persons who
achieved outstanding success In spite
OF deafness?-C. r. E.
A. Ludwig Van Beethoven, Thomas
A. Edison, Harriet Martineau and Sir
Joshua Reynolds are few. Helen
Keller is both deaf and blind.
@. Has Canada a draft law?-E v.
A. Canada has a law conscripting men
for service in the army for home service.
Only volunteers are sent abroad.
O. Which are the largest food hsh7
M. K.
A. Sturgeon, tuna and swordnsh,
which sometimes attain q weight Of q
thousand pounds, are probably the
largest fish caught for food.
@. How many towns in the United
States are named Santa Claus?-D. H. r.
A. Santa Claus, Ind, is the only post
ofice entitled to bear this name, under
q law enacted by Congress.
@. What is being done with the tires
that were acquired by the Government?
"A. r. F.
A. The Office Of Price Administration
says tires accumulated under the idle
tire-purchase plan are being distributed
under an agreement between the Rub
Der Manufacturers Association Of Amer
lea, Inc, and the Defense Supplies
Corp. to tire dealers. Tire dealers may
order and buy these tires through nor
NAL channels of distribution, thus utliltz-
ing established facilities.
@. In the 18th century did an Eiglish
clergyman specialize in music?-R. w. E.
A. Music was considered an essential
part OF a clergymans education.
@. Why does the full moon sail high
in the winter and low In the summer
Il. NJ S.
A. The full moon is always nearly
opposite to the sun. 1t is, therefore,
high In winter when the sun Is low, and
low In summer when the sun is high.
Q. When did Winston Churchill refer
to the Raj as master Of the daylight
air"?-E. L. H.
A. In his speech broadcast on Feb
ruary 9, 1871, the Prime Minister said:
I'VE have broken the back Of the winter.
The daylight grows. The Royal Air
Force grows and is already certainly
master Of the daylight air."
@. When was the salary Of the Presi-
dent of the United States raised to $75,.
000?-A. G.
A. The first salary Of the President
Of the United States was placed at
$4,000. In President Grants second
term, 1t was increased to $4,000. In
1907, $4,000 travelling expenses we're
added, and in the second session Of the
Goth Congress. Mr.. Taft received $751;
900 and $4,000 travelling expenses.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
the watching crowd! All 50 proud Of
the great French Army.

the watching crowd! All 50 proud Of
the great French Army.
But the most thrilling day Of all was
the 18th OF July. 1919, after the First
World War, when the procession came
up the Avenue de la Grande Armee,
through the Arc de Triomphe and down
the Champs Elysees. was on a tall
stepladder, with my husband and chill
dren, my son still in his American uni
FORM We were so near the edge of the
sidewalk that We could look into the
soldiers eyes. I shall never forget the
emotion when Foch and Joffre rode past
and the trouble Foch was taking to rein
back his dancing horse that tried to get
out Of line and lead the way.
What is taking place in France today?
My thoughts are over the ocean with the
people among whom I lived 50 happily
for 50 many years. Surely one day they
will win back the "liberte, egalite, frater-
mite" that was their pride. But. until
that moment comes, great suffering Is
theirs. We must think Of them with
courage, knowing that at last. perhaps
soon, they will come again into their
own. GERTRUDE MAURAN VAIL.
Providence. r. I.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
Warranted Protest

The President seems TO nave Deen
Intentionally equivocal in saying that
he does not consider the law denying
salaries to three Federal officials to
be binding" upon the Executive or
the judiciary. For the question Is
= whether these three men - Robert
Morss Lovett, Goodwin Watson and
William E. Dodd, twill continue
to draw their salaries after next
November IS, unless the President in
the meantime has appointed them
to office and the Senate has con-
af1rmed the appointments. The Pres
ident declined to answer that ques-
ton directly at his press conference
yesterday.
Perhaps it was because he does not
know, and has not yet finally shaped
his course in meeting the issue. The
President may send to Congress the
message he outlined at his press con-
ference yesterday, disputing the
laws validity and condemning 1t as
: unwise and discriminatory, and let
the matter rest there The mechan-
ism of the General Accounting Of
nee then might function to with
hold the salaries all the same. For
the law, which the President signed,
provides that unless the officials are
appointed and confirmed by the
President they are to be dropped
from the rolls. The Controller Gen
eral is stickler for the law as writ
ten, constitutional or unconstitu-
tional, reasonable or unreasonable.
A channel thus might be opened for
appeal to the courts or Congress
might respond to the Presidents
tacit veto" OF the salary rider by
repeating it. {
Whatever the means chosen by the
President to sustain his contention.
that the law is not binding, he was
unequivocal enough in stating his OBJ
jections. And rightly so. For
whether or not this punishment of
men for their beliefs is in strictly
legal sense bill of attainder pro-
hibited by the Constitution, or is
an encroachment on executive func-
tons, there are few who can agree
that the action of the House in
choosing this method of showing its
disapproval of the officials concerned
is in accord with accepted principles
of justice. The men were never &C
cused of anything prohibited by law.
As the President said yesterday, it is
not their competency or loyalty but
their alleged political opinions that
are under attack. And granting that
a majority Of the House, time and
again, has shown its dislike, not so
much of the opinions as to the en-
ployment in responsible Government
positions of men who hold them, this
method of showing disapproval is
fundamentally wrong. While the
prejudice thus indicated may have
temporary popular approval, it is not
to be condoned without inviting
others even more dangerous.
- The President was forced to sign
the bill. He was right in protesting,
and it is to be hoped that he will
find the ways and means to make his
nrotest stjck
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles Z. Tracetcell.

stir from 4 chair, yet see scores Of birds.
The small boy. the man In his prime,
the elderly person
Each fnds bird life interesting and
rewarding.
The invalid, unable to stir, yet discovers
q wholesome interest In the songsters
which come to 4 window sill feeding
station.
The business man, intent on his work,
finds time to watch . sparrow Is he
goes along the street, or to want to
know what Is the name Of the red beauty
he saw on his lawn. Ut was . scarlet
tanager0
There is no period of life in which
bird study will not amuse, instruct and
edify.
This is not only good, from the per-
sonal standpoint, but also from that of
the Nation, because the birds are not
only our nrst aviators and best musicians,
but they are by all odds the most active
insect traps in existence.
Flying and feeding, they are always
on the 60, consuming Is part Of their
daily food the hundreds Of thousands
Of insects. thus helping keep natures
balance, most delicate thing, ut the
same time they feed themselves and
help the farmer and city and suburban
gardener.
Any one, anywhere, who takes an In
terest in the birds, Is helping to keep
Americas balance true. too.
These birds are not Just something
interesting to watch. but are q part Of
our national heritage.
Unfortunately, some persons do not
yet realize this.
1t Is these persons who will be helped
to a better national viewpoint, when
they realize that many other persons
are truly interested in what seems to
them, for the present, uninteresting
As they listen to the talk about birds,
and as they read about them, they in
time will come to see what they are
missing.
The first step in friendship with the
birds is very easy.
All you have to do is look at an Eng
fish sparrow.
We believe this ever present bird has
done more to build up an interest in his
fellow birds than many q person gives
him credit for; he is always in view in
city or country, and Is, basically, pretty
and capable bird
No bird list, as the good list Of our
valued correspondent shows, Is complete
without the English sparrow.
Twenty-eight species identified, in q
few years, is an excellent record. With
further watching this may be run up, in
time, to between so and 60 species. We
congratulate the ladies of the Lisner
Home upon the pleasure they are having
and the good they are doing in being
interested in Americas birds.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
How to Make q Million

At one time the standard method
Of getting rich quick used to be the
cat-and-rat farm, wherein the am
bilious potential millionaire started
with q few Of each animal, bred
both indefinitely and allowed them
to feed on each other. while every
day enough cats were skinned and
hides sold to produce the required
million comparatively soon. Now this
is too slow, and may be replaced by
q new combination, potatoes and
lemons. In Britain, potatoes are be-
ing sold for fodder at Sc a ton-in
America, they retail at 6 cents a
pound, or $120 a ton. Three-for-a-
dime American lemons bring a dollar
apiece in Britain. A simple calcula-
ton shows that in one exchange S.
can be built into $4,000. The next
one, yielding $2,16o,0OO, should be
enough to call it day; or, better
still, two more would pay for the war.
The annoyance of skinning mil
lions of cats is eliminated. There
are, of course, minor difficulties to
overcome. Both Britain and Amer
lea are full of hide-bound stick-in-
the-muds who insist that the At
lantic Ocean should be kept open
for munitions, not potatoes or lem
ons, but there have always been
obstructionists to free trade. If this
were not so, another equally good
scheme would be the sale of 10-cent
hacksaw blades in Sing Sing, where
they would no doubt retail for hum
dreds of dollars apiece.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
Plan for Standardizing
Income Of Farmers Objected To.

To the Editor Of The Star:
It Is claimed that farm subsidies will
reduce the Nations food bill by several
billions Of dollars.
This, Of course, is just another way
Of saving that through the subsidies
farmers will get several billions less
for their products than they would II
farm prices were left to md their
level in the normal way-that is by the
law of supply and demand.
The Justification Is that farmers had
4 prosperous year in 1912, that their
income is substantially greater than
it has been for q good many years
past, and that they now are getting
fair return for their labor and invest
ment.
What is being overlooked is the fact
that the 1912 Improvement in income
on the farm was due to the coincidence
of an abundant harvest and . practi-
cally unlimited demand, and that such
a coincidence occurs on the average not
more than one year in five. In at
least four years out Of five the farmer
CANDLES on this occurrence and loses.
Either his production outstrips the de-
mand and prices fall to distress levels,
or he has short crop with little to
sell at consequent higher prices.
But for the occasional year In which
1t strikes a jackpot, our agriculture
would long ago become completely and
hopelessly bankrupt. BY the same
token, If the Nation now embarks on
the practice Of taking from the farmer
this one-to-four chance OF averaging up
his income, farming, As q way Of max
ing decent living as well as . way of
life, to recall Herbert Hoover's express
sion, will soon be at en- end.
1t seems odd that this administration
which on the whole has been friendly
and helpful to the farmer, should look
with 50 jealous an eye on his temper
airy increase in income. though this in
crease is even yet considerably below
the average gain made in the other
industries. BENJAMIN KIsSON.
Holieong, Pa
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-14
Not Grief
I'm Line Of Duty

lin Line Of Duty
Though he ,uent s,Diftly as signing
breath,
His keen young manhood stilled,
his work nndone,
His lite ,oas full and joyous. Eren
death
Has touched him lightly -. Gold
the sands halt-run.
Griepe not because he stayed so short
a Uhile.
Such perfect joys knop not our
measured time.
The years bring dear-bought tpisdon1,
bring their guile:
Youths tide fo,ps deep and street.
as n,ello,D chime.
One does not grieve for fopers tn
their bright day,
For birds that sang to other April
skies:
The pibrant echo of that song piu
stay,
And petals spread ane,o for tcatch-
ing eyes.
His ready smile ,pill stay to ,pdrn, the
heart.
His gift to lite Dds friendship, this
rich store
Spent prodigal as Natures lduish
art ..
No grief can close for long that
shining door.
His steadtast faith icill I'M the lonely
years,
Will light our ltping memories
and oxr tears.
IVY LINDMEY.