davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-09-24

Nevada. They spend their winters
in Southern California.
Red-breasted sapsuckers are col
orful woodpeckers slightly oyer 81a
inches long. Their head, neck and
chest are brilliant red. Their
nasal tufts, front and lower part of
lores are dull white with yellowish
tinge. The part of the lores close
to the eyes is black. The breast Is
washed with bright red, contrast
ing effectively with the yellowish
white Of the sides, flanks and un-
dertail coverts. There are V-shaped
markings of dusky gray, and the
general color Of the upperparts, ex-
cept the head and neck, is black.
There is a longitudinal white patch
on the wing coverts. 1t is not diff
cult to identify this lovely bird when
you have these field marks in mind.
While this sapsucker does much
good in consuming about SO per
cent animal matter and not in any
instance feasting on useful species
of insects, he Is guilty of girdling
trees for sap. Red-breasted is a
well-known drinker. His bars" or
places of refreshment are OCCASION
ally apple trees. But the aspens,
willows and soft naples are the
trees he taps regularly.
After a puncture has been made
in the bark so that the sap may
flow, the imbiber sweeps the liquid
in with his brushlike tongue. His
spouse teaches their children the
trick.
The trees tapped are usually the
ones used for nesting sites. Telltale
chips at the base of the trunk are
clear evidence of building activi-
ties. Madam Sapsucker makes a
very narrow entrance to the nursery.
Indeed, it Is tight squeeze for her
to enter or depart. Perhaps she
realizes only too we'll wide-open
portal could mean the loss of her
nestlings.
There are from five to six babies.
The eggs are white, of course, ac-
cording to woodpecker tradition,
and the mattress is made of chips.
The home is high in the trunk of the
tree.
Nearly all the woodpeckers have a
wavy, galloping flight. They spend
their time on the surface of the
trunk or flying in the air. ALI men,
bers of the clan are experts in To-
eating grubs under the bark. AS a
family they are less migratory than
most of our birds. Their tongue is
used almost like a harpoon. 1t is
cylindrical in form and extremely
long. At the front end it terminates
in hard point, with barbs on each
side. When not in use it is curled
up around the back of the skull in
its special groove, for the tongue is
almost twice the length of the head.
The strong beak has a chisel shaped
point and, as you know, is q most
effective wood-cutting tool. Sharp
claws, stiff tail feathers ending in
sharp spines enable the worker to
Evening star., 1943-09-24
Uncle Roy,s Corner

Recently 4-year-old boy talked
with me about the days OF the
week. and one Of the questions
he asked was.
What day is 1t after Thursday
gets used up?"
After Thursday Is used up. we
have a day which long ago was
called the DAY Of Venus"
That was in the time OF the
ancient Romans. The Romans
prayed to Venus as the goddess of
love and beauty, and they named
the sixth day of the week in her
honor.
The people In Great Britain and
Northern Europe took the Roman
ideas for days Of the week, but
changed them in one way or an
other. Instead OF keeping the
names of Roman gods and god
desses. they used names taken from
their own religion.
The history of all our weekday
names is fairly clear except for
Friday. In this case there is some
doubt as to whether the name came
from the goddess Freya or from
the goddess Frigga.
Freya. goddess of love, was
honored In Norway, Sweden. Dem
mark and Germany 1000 years ago.
Evening star., 1943-09-24


goddess Frigga spun clouds into
thread and ,Uoue the thread into
cloth for her garments.
Since her sepcial interest was In
love, the same as that of Venus,
her name would seem to fit with
the DAY of Venus" Also It is
plain to see how the spelling of
"Freya's day. could have been
changed to Friday"
The Norsemen said that Freya
was very beautiful, with her blue
eyes and golden hair. She was a
special friend of the fairies.
The goddess Frigga, also beau-
tiful, was known as "the queen of
the gods Her husband, said the
Norsemen, was Odin.
Frigga wore a golden necklace Of
great beuaty. This necklace was
said to have been made by the
dwarfs.
The Morse stories spoke of Frigga
and Freya as different goddesses,
but in Germany it was the custom
to say that the same goddess was
called by the two names.
The name FRIDAY" grew up In
Great Britain, where there were
Morse settlers as we'll as Anglo
Saxons. Perhaps we never shall be
certain whether it came from
"Freya's day" or "Frigga's day." In
any case, Friday carries the name
of goddess to whom people prayed
more than thousand years ago.
Evening star., 1943-09-24
1~eAs 1a4

II you wish, a copy Of the leanet
Flying Machine Pioneers Just send
stamped envelope bearing q Scent
Evening Star. 57g
Evening star., 1943-05-13

on the principles of architecture,
painting and sculpture, and, above
all, a tactful and diplomatic executive
of wide and varied experience. He
was associated with Andrew w.
Mellon from 1922 until his death in
1887. Much of the detail of the plans
for the Greater Washington devel-
oped during the Coolidge and Hoover
administrations passed through his
hands. He had something to do with
the designing of the National Gallery
Building and has been consulted
about plans for other institutional
structures both in the District of
Columbia and elsewhere.
The Fine Arts Commission will be
busy during the next few years with
problems incident to the war and to
the period of reconstruction which
will follow it. Many corrections are
imperative in the picture of Wash
ington as it stands today. With those
matters Mr.. Finley inevitably will be
concerned. The city is fortunate in
having him in post where he can
serve effectively.
Evening star., 1943-05-13

by spokesmen for industry, and will
strike the average observer as rea-
sonable. Supervisors are the repre-
sentatives of management in plant
operation, and it is difficult to
adapt that role to the ordinary proc
esses of collective bargaining. Fur
ther, as the board concludes, there
is the possibility of clash of inter-
ests between organized supervisors
on the one hand, and the rank and
file employees on the other, which
would make for a highly undesirable
condition.
An important by-product of the
board ruling may be its effect on
the current efforts of the United
Mine Workers to organize supervisory
workers in the mines. Lacking Wag-
ner Act protection, it would seem
that this move, which is part of
John L. Lewis wage program, is
doomed to failure.
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Doubtful Honor

Just when the average civilian has
learned, fairly we'll, various military
and naval titles unfamiliar to him
in peace, comes a brand-new one
the honorary private. The rank was
created by General Degoutel of the
French colonial army and is intend
ed as a mark of great honor, the first
recipient being no less a parsonage
than Major General Waiter Smith.
chief of staff to General Eisenhower.
Out of a clear sky. with no warning,
General Smith became Private Smith
OF the Second Spahis, complete with
regimental cloak and badge, and
there was nothing he could do but
accept graciously and put General
Degoutel on his own staff as return
compliment.
1t may be the better part of valor
II General Smith decided not to go
wandering off on a busmans holiday
to the Second Spahis. A good defini-
ton of a buck private is "the guy
that things happen to"-and it would
be extremely embarrassing for the
general to run up against predatory
French sergeant of the Spahis and be
led off to bin full of potatoes and
decorated with the order of the
pairing knife, first class, with orders
to peel or be shot at sunrise.
Evening star., 1943-05-13
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Traceuell.

+ to this country about the beginning OF
what may be termed, in future histories,
the Age OF Augmentation.
Everybody argued with everybody else
1t was national pastime
After World War I, quarrelsomeness
on the part of the two-legged creatures
in trousers, as distinguished from two
legged creatures in feathers, increased
at rapid rate, until universal amity
broke down into World War II.
Who is there (who is intellectually
honest) who did not feel the increase
OF augmentation and the following
rapid build-up of ire?
1t was plain everywhere.
Even IN daily conversation, it was
impossible to say thing without i'm
medlately meeting with argument.
No matter what one said, there was
always some one ready to pop up with
exactly the opposite.
Now we have the thing In full flower.
and 1t has corroded into slaughter, as
might have been expected.
Where the starlings come in is exactly
this:
That they had to meet opposition.
especially mental, when it was gather
ing strength.
So it is not to be wondered at that
many persons argue against them.
Fortunately for these wise birds, the
laws of the United States, since 1914
have protected them.
Persons Who through interest in the
things of nature, study them carefully.
will come to find them very interesting,
inceed.
Specialists tell us that not only do
they eat many inimical insects, but
they have pleasing whistles and many
SOFT notes which commonly are attrib-
uted to other birds.
outside of the public buildings, they
do little if any damage to other struc-
lures, and are not a nuisance in anv
sense in gardens where bird feeding is
carried on.
lhey seldom come where bread is not
put out. So there is tip, in case you
don't want sterlings.
Inc starting is almost as wise as the
proverbial owl. We have seen them. In
a deep snow, fly down onto the back of
a comrade, and lean over his shoulder
TO snatch a crust of bread in his bill.
There have been instances of them
hylng down to rescue a fedgling SPAR
row from puddle, and they show their
intelligence in cold weather by seeking
out the lodges of heated Government
buildings to keep their feet warm. They
know that Uncle Sam will have heat
If nobody else has.
For downright sheer bird intelligence
1t is difficult to beat the starting. A
study of him, whether down town or in
the home garden, will give reward sur
passing similar amount of time put
on some better species, perhaps, if ones
mind is of the curious turn, and given
to sticking up for the under dog"
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Triumph of an Idea

iiIOiiPI VI I'll lOSu
Regardless of the final form in
which it will be written into the bill,
adoption by Congress of the basic
principles of the Ruml skip-a-year,
ay-as-you-go taxation is now as
sured. There is no longer any diff
ference Of opinion as to the merits
OF taxation at the source, nor is
there any substantial difference of
opinion, in Congress at least, over
the principle of transferring the tax
assessment from 1912 to 1943 income.
In the Senate the amount of the
1912 taxes to be abated provides most
OF the debate, not the morality or
immortality of forgiveness"
The astonishing survival of this
basic Ruml principle, in the face
of bitter opposition by the admins
tration, is one of the extraordinary
developments in the history of tax
alton. When the Ruml principle
was first suggested to the Senate
Finance Committee last summer.
Senator Bennett Clark of Missouri
was one of the few members who
even gave it serious consideration.
1t was presented to the public more
as novel idea than a real possibility.
But the more people examined the
idea, the more popular became it's
simple, commons appeal. The
strength it showed in the House
Ways and Means Committee brought
the Treasury's opposition. which was
oased, IN the main, on the Immoral
aspects of any proposition to "for-
give taxes. If ever an idea was put
in jeopardy by name, it was when
the term forgiveness was applied
to the Ruml plan. For on the dis
torted conception Of forgiveness.
the bills opponents sought to build
the impression that the Ruml plan
favored the rich at the expense of
the poor.
Having thus condemned the plan
as dishonest, its opponents then be-
gan to compromise with the degree
OF dishonesty. forgiveness" was
wrong. But little forgiveness was
all right. The illegitimate infant
could be accepted because it was
such little baby" And it was
righteous to forgive some of the
taxpayers, but sin to forgive others.
This illogical as we'll as disingenuous
form OF opposition would not have
got as far as it did had the issue of
tax reform not become matter of
partisan consideration
The opposition of Chairman
George of the Senate Finance Com
mlttee to the skipping in full of 1912
taxes voted by his committee, is not
based on any scruples as to the prin-
clple OF so-called forgiveness" He,
with others who share his view
point, is looking at the matter from
the reVenue-raising possibilities.
That is a point of view which merits
full respect. That there must be in
creased revenue from taxation is
generally accepted. Whether it
comes in the form of higher rates
now, or by the abatement of only rs
instead of 100 percent of 1912 in
come, is important only as it con-
Germs the efficacy of the method.
The important thing to consider now
is that public opinion has won out
in struggle to put income taxation
on a current, and essentially honest
basis, instead of keeping the tax
payer perpetually in debt for taxes
on income already spent.
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Civil War Economist
Quoted on Initiation.

To the Editor OF The Star.
Analyzing the results of the census of
1870, Francis c. Walker, noted economist
of the post-Civil War years, observed
that the greatest industrial change" of
the decade since 1860 was an estimated
40 per cent increase In the number of
persons engaged in trade. What does
that signify?
Since Walker was not only veteran
of the Civil War but student of that
wars monetary imitation, his answer to
this question has timely Importance in
our present efforts "to hold the line"
According to his opinion, nothing but
the perversion of the economical sense
of the country has rendered it possible
for the trading class to multiply so
rapidly" The perversion of the COM
munity's economic sense, he attributed
to debasement and perversion of the ma
tional currency. The latter was produced
through issue of "greenbacks" and other
inf1ationary elements of the Civil War
period
Walker continues: IF the economical
sense of the community is deceived by
a false standard of value, if by introduc-
ton of credit into the currency, every
one is made to feel full and flush; If,
without any reason in the case, people
are sanguine and easy tempered; if they
look into their purses and count their
money by hundreds when it's real pur-
chasing power is only in flfties; if they
are under this economical illusion, which
may be as complete as any optical illu-
sion which it is possible to produce. then
prices will work their way up, little by
little, under the acquisitive and pro-
gressive force of the trading class. One
dealer puts up the price of an article a
few per cent. His customers feel too
Indifferent to inquire strictly for the
reason, or to seek lower terms elsewhere.
The imposition passes unrebuked, and
soon the whole trade are abreast of their
more adventurous comrade. Even those
dealers who seek to enlarge their busi-
ness and work into public patronage
through reasonable prices fail to be
appreciated and rewarded They find
that people do not care enough for a
little saving to go much out of their way
for it, or to leave the more accessible or
more fashionable localities, and they
soon give in to the plan Of large profits
and small sales, which has become the
great factor in American retail trade In
such condition, the effect Of competi-
ton to bring down prices becomes re-
duced to a minimum, while the power
Of individual or associated acquisitive-
ness to advance prices rises to maxi
num-"
In Walkers view, it was an inflated
Evening star., 1943-05-13
In EveY Town

There are persons in our toUn
Who insist that Horace Dropn
Is as crazy as a loon
Since he argued that the moon
Controls the tides but not tho
1Dedther:
Putting ta0o and t1Do together,
They concluded that his brain
Has been sottened by the rain.
A neighbor-hidden by screen
OF briars-claimed that he had seen
Horace kneel at candlehour
To kiss the petals of a fower.
A loQuacious 1Doman said,
~ sa,o bird perched on hts head!"
And 1Dhen she told the Ladies' Aid,
Mothers said they mere afraid
To haze their children playing nea,
A man so Enthusiastically queer,
But ,ohat they said 1Das less to him
Than caterpillars on a limb.
The gears toere petals falling do,Dn
Upon the head of Horace Droun.
HARRY ELMORE HURD.
Evening star., 1943-05-13

dollar that destroyed the saving vein of
consumers. When they no longer looked
after every penny to see that it brought
its worth, steady and constant pres
sure on the trading class was lost. Hence,
the increase in number of exchangers
beyond the actual wants of trade and
at the expense of the consumers of the
country.
Retention of an honest dollar is the
basic requisite for preserving the eco
nomical sense of the community. Our
efforts and counter efforts in that direc-
ton are well-known. On their success
hinges not only protection of the boys
at the front but also defense of a post
war economy. Can we not profit from
the observations of an accurate scholar
who saw the Civil War imitation and its
consequences? w. P. McLENDON,
Evening star., 1943-05-13
FALLS CHURCH, Va.
Sir.

DCdl oil
"a number of times I have read with
a great deal of interest what you had to
say in your column in praise of the star
ling. One afternoon while waiting for
bus at Tenth and E streets, NV, I
was passing the time observing some
starlings foraging for food when my
attention was soon concentrated on one
individual in particular, which was going
over the ground in a very methodical
and businesslike manner.
He came to a sheet of writing paper
lying fiat on the ground, and I took it
for granted that he would pay no atten-
to 1t and pass on. A hen would have
scratched, blindly and aimlessly, until
she either had moved the paper or torn
1t to shreds, and a duck would prob
ably have poked her bill and head
under it and found whatever WORTH
while 1t happened to cover.
But not so my startling. Taking hold
OF the lower left margin of the naper
with his bill, he neatly and deftly tipped
it completely over to the right, lust
as any office worker would have done
in rearranging the papers on his desk.
This was no accident on the part of
the starting, as I saw him turn over
several other scraps of paper in exactly
the same manner. I have yet to see a
more clever or ingenious performance
by any other kind of bird.
Very truly yours, w. F."
X
This is first-hand testimony to the
cleverness of very intelligent creature.
For downright sheer headwork, prob
ably no other species can excel it.
Ornithologists marvel over the wav
the starting, brought to a new CONT
nent has managed, in comparatively
short period of time, to build up wholly
new migration routes.
Despite all the opposition to it from
man, the startling has managed to make
Its way, doing exactly what the pioneers
did before them. They go right ahead,
expanding westward. If native birds
their Indlans-get in their way, it is lust
too bad for the native birds. But the
starllngs, We believe, have not done as
harshly with the native songbirds as
the pioneers did with the Indians.
Little credit is given the starting in
general, for this conquest of his If we
look at it in the light of conquest, we
may feel with all sincerity that few con-
quests have been made so decently.
Although the startling is a large and
strong bird, with very capable beak, it
does not do very much damage to other
BIRDS, their eggs and young. All in all,
II gets along very we'll with them. This
may be observed at any bird-feeding
station. They never attack anv other
species, although the latter will flv awav
upon the first entrance of the starlino
X
The opposition to the starting has
oeen increased because they were brought
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Mr.. FinIey's Appointment

News of the appointment of David
E. Finley to the Fine Arts Commission
has been received with appreciation
everywhere AS director of the
National Gallery of Art since it's
establishment in 1888, he was an
obvious choice for an existing va
cancy in the Advisory Council
charged with the duty of guarding
the beauty of the Nations Capital.
But it happens that quite aside
from his position as head of the
greatest institution of its kind in the
Western Hemisphere, Mr.. Finley is
qualified by gifts Of his own for such
service to his country. He is a
scholar, lawyer, skilled counselor
and administrator, a writer and
speaker Of distinction, an authority
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Postwar Soldiers
rom the New York Times.

rTOIH the new YOfK IlneS
We shall want, when the war is over,
to bring home at the earliest possible
moment the men who have been fighting
overseas on many fronts. But we can
see clearly, even at this distance, that
we shall need other men to take their
places. For this reason it is not too
early to consider amendments of the
Selective Service Act which would pro-
long the life of that measure, and of its
provisions regarding overseas service,
through the period of postwar uncer-
tainty and readjustment. Action of this
kind, taken now, would have one i'm
portant Incidental result. It would
strengthen the ties that bind the United
Nations. For it would demonstrate that
we have already begun to consider seri-
ously the proposition to which both
political parties and the great majority
of our people now stand dedicated; the
proposition that the United States shall
play an active and effective part in any
collective efforts made to safeguard
peace when peace Is won.
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Unions for Foremen

In reversal of policy, the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board now
holds that supervisory employees can
not claim the protection of the Wag-
ner Act to organize for collective
bargaining.
Dismissing a petition by the CIO
Marine and Shipbuilding Workers for
recognition as the bargaining agent
for certain supervisory groups at
the Maryland Drydock Company,
Baltimore, the board says:
I'VE are now persuaded that the
benefits which supervisory employees
might achieve through being certi-
fed as collective bargaining units
would be outweighed not only by
the dangers inherent in the COM
mingllng of management and en-
ploye functions, but also in the pos
Sible restrictive effect upon the
organizational freedom of rank and
file employees"
The Wagner Act is silent on the
rights Of supervisory workers, but
the board, dividing two-to-one, has
held in number of cases that the
law entitled these classes to organ
ize. When John M. Houston re-
Gently succeeded DR.. William M.
Leiserson, an advocate of unioniza-
ton, on the board, it was decided
to reconsider the issue, and Mr..
Houston's vote in opposition, with
that of Gerard D. Reilly, tilted the
scales the other way. Chairman H.
A. Mills dissented.
The findings of the majority COIN
eide with the arguments advanced
Evening star., 1943-05-13
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
Bu Frederic J. Haskt7'.

A reader can get the anst1er to any
question of fact by priting The Eue-
nina Star Information Bureau, Fred-
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
DC. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
Q. How many radio stations have the
United Nations as compared with the
Axis powers?-A. w.
A. The United Nations have At, the
Axis, So.
O. What was the mileage OF Presi-
dent Roosevelts recent trip which carried
him into Mexico?-M. L.
A. The mileage Of this trip, which car
ried the President through 20 States
and into Mexico, was 1877.
O. Please give the names of some IA
nous members OF the Caterpillar Club.
p. L. w.
A. Many famous flyers, including Maj.
Gen. James H. Doolittle, Maj. Gen. o. D.
Hunter, Charles A. Lindbergh and others
have qualified as "Caterpillars." The club
was organized as a permanent active
body on April g. 1943, as a group de-
voted to air safety.
@. Who was the original of Little Miss
Muffett?-E L. H.
A. Mary, Queen of Scots. The big
spider which sat down beside her is sup
posed to have been John Knox.