davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-10-15
FALLS CHURCH, Va.


while walking up Twelfth street
Northwest noticed four sparrows, all
dead, at the base of a tree. This seems
to me to be rather unusual, and I
thought perhaps you could give some
reason for four all at one time AS live
in the suburbs, felt perhaps 1t would
be better If the birds could have better
resting place, so took them to the Office,
then on home, where buried them near
a maple tree.
"The bodies were cold when I touched
them, but no marks were on the body,
although did notice that the eyes were
either sunk in or gone. After this
shall keep further watch for any more
little sparrows while I am out on my
lunch time. Have always wondered just
how the birds downtown managed to get
enough food to exist on.
ut seems to me that folks don't quite
realize that war is going on, and the
sooner we all get peace in our own
hearts the sooner it will be over Espe-
cially in thoughtfulness for the things
OF nature around us, so entirely devoid
VI oiA VIC oOlloW dIu ltdl IIldI SuTTOuI1Q
us humans
my birds had grand time this sum-
mer with the Sunflower plants in my
garden, which I hadn't planted. They
came up from seeds that the birds had
missed during the winter. I was able to
obtain few heads, so now I have some
seeds put away, as the chicken scratch
which I buy has very little sunfower
seed in it.
Il always enjoy your splendid articles
and wish you continued success with
them.
Sincerely yours, M. B. G."
There are several explanations of the
mystery of the four sparrows.
One is that these birds composed a
young family whose parents had been
killed
The four birds then starved to death
Sunken eyes are often a sign of starva-
ton, either as result Of inability to get
food or because the food obtained could
not be utilized because of some disease.
Sparrows have young very late in the
season ana IL Is a possibility that these
babies, always as large as the parents,
were left to find food for themselves and
did not obtain it,
There is possibility that they may
have been the victim of grackles some
times called blackbirds These big ones
specialize in mistreating the young of
other species. They often tear off the
legs OF young birds and sometimes peck
out their eyes
1t is not very likely that the four
sparrows suffered an attack at the paws
OF cat, for there would have been evi-
dences Of other bodily damage.
The four sparrows might have died as
the result Of eating some poisoned insect.
Tons of poisonous sprays were used in
Victory gardens and many birds lost
their lives through eating poisoned in
Evening star., 1943-10-15
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trace1oell.
sects. In some cases such deaths are
very slow, amounting to starvation.

sects. In some cases such deaths are
very slow, amounting to starvation.
-
The lives of downtown birds, including
the sparrows and pigeons, are getting
tougher all the time.
Motor vehicle traffic has diminished,
making just so much less food tossed
overheard.
Cleaner streets result in less debris for
pigeons and sparrows
1t is amazing to watch these birds in
the heart Of the city, how they wrest a
living from SO little, and what great
chances they take in traffic to get what
they do find
Lessening OF street selling of food plays
part, too, because people have less to
offer the birds in the parks.
Wise sparrows left for the suburbs
years ago. They discovered that bird
feeding by kindly people is a fact,
not just legend. In the suburban Sec
tions the common sparrow takes on in
creased weight and length, with glossier
feathers. Why the downtown birds do
not emulate them is mystery. If they
too, would migrate to the outskirts of
the city, they would find, in most in
stances, better living.
The sparrow was the first bird to play
part in mystery stories. The famous
nursery rhyme, who Killed Cock
Robin?" had the sparrow for its hero
and villain,
T." said the sparrow,
With my little arrow,
killed Cock Robin"
And he wasn't in the least ashamed OF
his deed
Many homeowners find that sunflower
seed comes up by itself"
1t is good idea to cultivate as many
plants as possible, if one is interested in
feeding the birds, because sunf1ower seed
Is becoming increasingly difficult to buy.
Canteloupe seeds may be used in its
place. We have found that cardinals, in
particular, like it as we'll as sunfower.
Almost every yard has some place
where sunf1owers may be grown. Usually
the place back Of the garage is feasible.
Here a row of sunf1owers make an
attractive addition, and attract many
birds. Some of the heads should be
permitted to remain, for the wintering
birds. We believe that the songsters
prefer to find their food in nature, and
get more of "kick' out of it that way.
However their minds may work, they
have enough Of the universal in them,
one may feel sure, to find that food
which they rustic up for themselves
tastes just little bit better than that
which is put out for them.
1t must not be forgotten that sun
flower seeds are a favorite confection
of our brave Allies, the Russian people.
We were In store recently where sun
flower seed is sold, and watched some
Russians take a handful and eat the
seeds as if they were candy.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Wood

Wood is a strangely glad, inspiring
thing
I touch it and feel the kindlv
hand
That planted it to make d couerino
For all the naked creatures of His
land.
My eyes caress bro1Dn board and
sturdy rafter
That come to help incase mn ne,p-
heaOn house;
They aoill endo,D it uith the uind-
cleaned laughter
They boarded from a thousand
song-s1oept boughs.
A tree 1oith raindrop tears upon her
hair
Is IN the sacrilegious lumber-uard.
I close my eyes and see her standing
there
All trenulous and proud-I swal-
lolD hard ..
The sob that 1OellS, then turn and
call it good
That all her grandeur comes to me
tn Uood.
JEAN CHALMERS DONALDSON.
Evening star., 1943-10-15

OF all papers, The Star, seems to be in
capable of placing itself in the position
OF the man with a small income. So it
was when the President proposed the
s25,000 salary limitation Thus it is
with reference to the proposed overall
sales tax
That large proportion of the workers
in the Washington area are in the low
income group is evidenced by the fact
that even The Star help wanted" ad-
vertisements seldom offer more than
S35 per week and most of the offers are
less. 1t doesn't take an expert mathe-
matician to figure out that with such an
income man with even a small family
has difficult time paying for his rent.
food, utilities and contributions. If he
has anything left for clothes and medi-
cal treatment, he manages only by the
most careful planning Consequently,
1t is idle to talk about his spending as
the cause of imitation.
On the other hand, those who are
in the s3,000-a-year class or over can
AFFORD to pay increased taxes Those
who can afford to drink liquor or beer
can also afford to pay double or many
times the taxes We already pay. Those
OF us who can afford to pay $50 per year
for tobacco can either afford to pay an
additional $50 for taxes or reduce our
smoking by that amount. Truly, there
are persons whose buying power en-
genders imitation, but they are not the
family men earning 81 800 year, nor the
single men or women in the 81 ,0OO-a-year
income class.
Furthermore, it should have occurred
to both the press and Congress that a
sales tax would fall heaviest on those
who can least afford it. To those who
already are spending the greater part of
their income on food, 10 per cent would
almost mean that much of an increase
in the cost of living. For the person in
the s5,00O-s20 900 class sales tax would
be levied on only a small part of his
income
o. T. BACKLUND,
Evening star., 1943-10-15
A Good BEGINNING

Decisive action should be taken
promptly by the Commissioners on
the recommendation of committee
OF public officials and private busi-
ness executives intended to correct
faults in the personnel, policies and
operation of the Water Registrars
Office.
The Commissioners probably will
act without delay because they are
aware of the present difficulties and
because the investigating group,
headed by Corporation Counsel
Keech, obviously has made a very
painstaking study of the whole
problem and has spared no one in its
findings and proposals Perhaps not
all will agree with all the many sug-
gestions coming from the groups
three-month study, but at least the
voluminous report is a signpost to
long-needed corrective measures.
Among the many complicated sub
jects surveyed, the Keech group holds
the low paid meter reader to be the
key to the whole situation. Bills can
not be rendered on time if meters are
read late or inaccurately, and if they
are late or incorrect, trouble piles up
when the data are run through bill
Ing and accounting machines.
Declaring there is an appalling"
differential between the pay of Dis
trict water meter readers and similar
workers Of the gas and electric COM
panies, as we'll as of the United States,
the group recommended pay stepups
for them and others paid too little"
for the District to expect "an honest
days work" Also it was urged that
there be a cleanout of any and all
employees found inefficient or unwill-
ing to work.
Many reasons were offered as to the
desirability of making the owner &C
countable for payment of the water
bills OF tenants-this in reply to COM
plants Of the Office of Controller
General Warren that the District has
lost thousands of dollars" annually
through collection failures-but the
Keech group added that the need
might be dissipated substantially II
the registrars Office were placed on
the hoped-for efficient basis.
The proposal to eliminate a top
heavy supervisory staff, under which
too many contradictory" orders
were reported sounds reasonable.
No change was suggested for the
rather confusing, though perhaps
Justifiable, system of rendering bills
on minimum charge basis, adding
next year the bills for the excess over
the metered allowance for the past
year plus the minimum for the new
year. 1t is disappointing that no
simpler, workable basis was discov-
cred, though 1t must be agreed the
guarantee or deposit plan or other al
ternatives have their own objections.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Mr.. Ickes Bows Out

Although he acted under legiSla-
tive mandate, it is fair assumption
that Secretary 1ckeS restored the last
of the Nations coal mines to private
operation this week in the expecta-
ton that this would not be followed
by another strike by the miners And
the reaction-or lack of reaction
from the miners indicates that most
Of them will stick to their jobs. There
have been some scattered walkouts in
Alabama, but there is not yet any
evidence of a concerted strike move
on the part of the miners.
When the miners went back to
work in June, they laid down two
conditions that contained promise of
future trouble One was the stipula-
ton in a UNIV Policy Committee
statement that their return to work
was on temporary basis, with the
strike to be renewed after october 81
unless their wage demands were met
in the interim. The other condition
was set out in this language in the
Policy Committee statement: This
arrangement (the return to work. is
predicated upon operation of the
mines and their collateral produc-
ton units by the United States Gov
ernment and will automatically ter
inmate if governmental control is
vacated prior to the above mentioned
date"
In returning the mines, of course,
Mr.. Ickes has vacated control by the
Evening star., 1943-10-15

proper perspective-does much more
than satisfy the country's curiosity;
it educates the people as a whole
and helps promote a sound national
morale. II this is to be a continuing
White House policy, it will be univer-
sally welcomed, not by newspaper
men alone but by general public
hungry for those significant little
details that put flesh on the bare
bones of official communiques and
make them meaningful.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Refreshing Chance
the Christian Science Monitor.

From the Christian Science Monitor.
During World War No. l, when Eng
land was faring badly, Lloyd George ap-
peared at cabinet meeting seemingly
fully refreshed and rested, this in sharp
contrast to the other harried members.
One of the latter could not restrain his
curiosity. How do you manage to keep
fit under all this work and worry?" he
asked.
"Oh," said the bright-eyed Welshman,
with me, change Of trouble Is as good
As q vacation"
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Report on Personnel

The highly critical report on en-
ployment practices presented to the
House by the Civil Service Com
mittee puts Government establish
ments in poor light. One count of
the committee indictment is that
inexperienced and inefficient per-
sonnel officers have constituted a
real bottleneck" in the war effort by
discouraging qualified applicants for
important positions. Even worse,
however, is the allegation that in
Hundreds" of instances, employees
with one to three years service have
been permitted to obtain undeserved
pay raises ranging from $500 to
$1,000 annually, by system known
as blowing up jobs that practically
amounts to misrepresentation, and
which has cost the Government mil
lions Of dollars.
Documenting the latter charge by
citing specific cases, the committee
said:
Sd1dl Id usually duC w
a change in title. The title is arrived
at by describing the duties of the
job The employe who seeks a real
location of his position, himself
writes up the description of the job.
Obviously, those skilled in per-
sonnel jargon are able to write up
impressive descriptions of the job he
or she seeks" Conversely, it is added,
less-favored employees have been
frozen" in the same salary brackets
for as much as twenty years.
It is ridiculous, of course, that any
one should be able to write his own
ticket in this manner. For an in
dividual to magnify his Importance,
may be excused, perhaps, as failing
of human nature. The advancement
of subordinate, however, is prima-
rily the responsibility of those at the
top, and an administrative officer
who has permitted the development
of the conditions described by the
committee, simply has confessed
unf1tness for the post he holds
The committees principal COM
plant about personnel officers is
that they have been chosen too often
without any regard for experience,
but rather on the basis of a college
background, and whatever knowl-
edge of personnel administration
they may have acquired in a brief
Government tenure. AS the report
we'll says, such experience Is too
narrow for the delicate and respon-
sible career of personnel relations"
The report repeats the contention
previously advanced by Chairman
Ramspeck that the start of the COM
mittee investigation several months
ago was responsible for checking the
rate at which civilian manpower was
being recruited for the Government.
Whether this is correct, or whether
the war agencies finally had ap-
preached the Saturation point after
months of unrestrained hiring, is
debatable question. At any rate,
there has been a slackening.
The committee also takes credit
for bringing about economies in the
War Department., the largest of the
war agencies by drawing to the at
tontion of the Appropriations Com
mittee conditions disclosed by it's
inquiry. AS is evident from the
present report-which does not
name any of the offending agencies
cited by the committee-therei is ad-
ditional material which should be
laid before the committee when the
annual appropriations hearings get
under way in the next few weeks.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Praise for
Commissioner Mason.

To the Editor of The Star:
Citizens of Washington who have been
active in civic affairs for the past few
years will rise up in rebellion against the
proposed custer of Commissioner Mason.
There has never been a harder work.
ing Commissioner in the history of our
city than Commissioner Mason. On
many occasions he has functioned for
the entire board. Now Congress wants
his scalp because he had the courage
and manhood to tell the truth about the
attitude of the Congress- toward the
District of Columbia at appropriation
time and exercised dignity in not snoop-
Ing around looking for flaws in the va
rlous departments under his jurisdiction.
Our city would be better off today if we
had more Commissioners like him.
Bring suffrage to Washington and I
will join with the thousands of others
who will vote for Guy Mason because he
is honest, courageous, fair-minded and
capable
C. HERBERT MARSHALL. MD.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1oriter, although the use OF
a pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters auith
q uietU to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-10-15

, When the Russians retake cities
and towns from the Germans, they
commonly find them in ruins. Pol
tava, famed in song and story, is a
case In point. The Nazis left it in
ashes. Calling such people beasts"
Is libel on the generality Of animals.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Federal Sales Tax Objected To

rcucTAI SalcS lax ODJcCted 10
AS Hardship for "LOw-IncOme" Group.
To the Editor of The Star:
Why does the American press usually
aiign itself with the high-income group
and against the low-income group?
1t the four freedoms, enunciated by
President Roosevelt this policy seems
consistent on this issue), mean anything,
they should mean that there is, first of
all, semblance of freedom from want"
In our United States.
But the press, generally speaking, and
Evening star., 1943-10-15

@, In the present Congress. how many
members are named Smith?-N. B. J.
A. The House has five and the Senate
one, each from different State.
Evening star., 1943-10-15
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

When troublesome questions arise
apail yourself of the service of thi,
Information department. Send in
your inquiry about any tactual matter
and you 10iI receiDe personal reply.
AdUice cannot be given on ho,p to
inUest money. Go to banker for
help in such matters. Address The
EDening Star Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Wash
tngton, D. C. Inclose stamp for re-
turn postage.
Evening star., 1943-10-15

Q. How would Abraham Lincolns edu-
cation be rated according to present
standards?-C. B. L.
A. President Lincoln had less than a
years schooling which amounted to
nothing beyond reading, writing and
arithmetic. However, he eagerly read the
few books which came into his possession.
These included Pilgrims Progress"
"Aesop" Robinson Crusoe," Weems'
Life of Washington" and Franklins
Autobiography"
Evening star., 1943-10-15

@. In what year did baseball reach its
greatest popularity?-S. N. B.
A. The Sporting News says that judged
by attendance figures, baseball reached
its highest popularity in 194l, when both
the major and minor leagues enjoyed
their best season financially.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-27
THURMAN WILL.
SPEAK A I Y
Anniversary
E G h t e en- t h Annua !
Banquet Slated For.
March %

Thursday, March Is, the men,
bership committee will present the
Rev. Howard Thurman, dean Of
Rankin Chapel, Howard universe
~. Washington, DC, at the
Branch's eighteenth annual BAN
quet. According to A. Roscoe Tay-
lor. banquet chairman, the guests
will be limited to $50 and he fears
many friends OF the Rev. Mr.. Thur
man will be disappointed in not
hearing their favorite Holy Week
speaker, VINO has appeared at the
branch for over period Of twelve
Years.
The eighteenth annual banquet
promises to be one OF the most
unique in many years. Mr.. Tyler,
the chairman and supervisor of the
Great Lakes Mutual Life Insurance
company, has combined his ~
experience and that gained from
many years of the insurance ousi-
ness. 10 revitalize and recharge all
y" committeeman 10 the purpose
OF getting a larger membership and
service for the men and boys OF
Detroit. The l943 Patriotic Honor
Roll. showing the names OF ~"
friends who are helping the "Y'
TO carry on-by-enrelling s-mem-
Der. is an example Of his ingenuity,
Mr.. Tyler is treasurer OF the
Michigan Underwriters, member of
Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, and
mas served in various supervisory
capacities, insurance organizations
throughout the country. He says
that all real ~" friends will en-
roll a member and be present at
the "Y" banquet, Thursday, March
-. 7:30 pm. at the Lucy Thurman
Y.W.C.A.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-27
TUeIue Horsenen
Is Neu Elk Lodge

Grand Exalted Ruler J. Finley
Wilson, IB,P.OE. OF W, has just
announced the establishment OF an
other Elk Lodge for this city TO be
known as The II Horsemen Lodge
organized from the membership Of
the popular II Horsement club To-
Gated at Erskine and Brush streets.
The Temple for the Lodge will
be the Lady Camille Temple. This
Lodge and Temple will be insugu-
rated Monday, April rs Caster
Monday and the occasion will be
celebrated that evening at a dane
ing party TO. be given at the Mirror
Ballroom, 2940 Woodward avenue
which will be attended by the
Grand Exalted Ruler and all OF the
National Grand Lodge officers OF
Elkdom.
Jimmy Davenport's band will fur
nish music and an imposing array
OF vocal talent will help feature
the affair. ,r
II will be remembered that the
other local lodges OF Elkdom gave
one OF the finest dancing parties
to be held in the Motor City in
many moons on George Washing
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-27
WI Refused
To Hire Girl
As Operator

Miss Otha Davis reported % tho
National Association for the .Ad-
vsncemcnt of Colored People tha.
Western Union refused TO hire her
as a telegraph operator although
there were advertisements in tic
daily papers for operators.
Over the telephone Miss Dav.s
w.. told by representatives OF Wes-
terri Union that there VIZ a class
for operators starting soon. The
ST, ting salary after training was
$24 per week and after six months
the trainee received $50 per week
When she told the manager she
was colored she was told:
The only thing we have for COL
ored is messenger or janitress. They
have been talking about colored in
tho field, but all the orders have
come from the general management
at the main Office, and I haveh't
been given any instructions to hire
colored for those Jobs"
- The NAACP referred the case TO
the FEPC.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-27
W.B. Beatty
Resigns For
John Texas

w. Barton Beatty, who for tie
past three years has been secretary
OF boys work at the ST. Antoine
Street YMCA,, resigned that po-
sition Monday 10 I'll a position as
executive secretary OF the Moore
land branch YMCA.. in Dallas,
Texas. He will leave Detroit in a
few days and his wife. Mrs. Nor
velle Beatty. at present assistant
director OF the John r USO, will
Civ up that position within the
next three weeks 10 take up resi-
dence in Dallas.
Mr.. Beatty began work as secre-
.ary OF boys work a; the local
YIN a, following graduation
from the University OF Michigan
where lie also recei.ed his masters
degree He is a member OF the
Alpha Psi Alpha fraternity and has
been active in social and civic or
carnations in the city. No success
sor has been named for his position
as We went 10 press.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-27
MEETING WILL
POINT OUT A
Big RESERVOIR
De m ons tratiOn Will
Be II G | d Sunday In
Cadillac Square

Over 10000 workers ana ,.iscrS
will demonstrate Sunday April Il
81 Cadillac Square against dis
criuinsto~v work coNd tonr p be
trot war plants The dcmou>'ra-
ton viii also point out tho large
reservoir a. Negro power
which IS available far emp. ,ucnt
In industry
A. q meeting q The Joint Inter,
racial Committee uAW-ClO and
Tire N.AACP. Labor Comm .0cc
Friday. plans were completed. To-
sponsoring tho demonstration
which starts a the Detroit Irvtr-
tute 81 Arts and continues go the
Square which houses the monu-
rnent Of SoJourner Truth
Floats. banners. and Signs de-
pictlng iniolerablc working cond.-
tons and .scumIuanoH VIII be
featured In The parade. The com
nitteeS are:
Speakers Glos,er B Current.
Judah Drob Rev l. Il Miron
Mobilization Pat Rice, George
DAVIS. KIRBY Jones. Horace Shelf
field. and Mrs I.averta Harvey
Parade: Luke FenHell. Jesse Par
IRISH. Leonard Mcpherson. James
Bell. Frank Holley.
Ptst4ifef4t 4-GaH-4d- Bavd Car,
ter, Hnlcv Young. Paul Harvey.
A. Y GrubhS.
Finance, Compton Rowland. An
drew Johnson, Leonard Newman.
Evs!yn Hill, Leroy Halliburton.