davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-08-24
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles +. Truce,peu.

The shrewdest shrew in town was
observed the other day at the northeast
corner of Nebraska and Connecticut
avenues.
There goes a mouse!" shouted an
observer on the opposite corner.
1t was not mouse, but shrew, one
of the smallest of all mammals.
Yet he did look uncommonly mouse
like. one had to admit, as he scurried to
get across the street.
1t didn't succeed in its purpose, how
ever, for just then several gigantic trucks
zoomed up and stopped for the red light.
These confused the shrew.
1t could have gone on across the street,
but for some reason known only to itself
it decided to try and get back to the tree
from which 1t had come.
It zigzagged for few seconds in a
most erratic fashion.
Then, seeking safety, It huddled
squarely beneath the front tire of a
truck!
This, no doubt, seemed a safe retreat
to the creature
How could it know anything about
wheels?
A cry Of dismay went up from the
driver9 Or should they let nature take
its course?
Sometimes interference in such mat.
ters is the sure way to lead to the doom
of an animal
Every one held his breath.
The light had changed, the truck driver
went through the appropriate motions,
and the engine started.
Evidently the wheel under which the
shrew had taken refuge gave a small
preliminary lurch, or shudder, for it was
enough to tip off the mammal to danger.
1t gave a sudden dart, and went
through the jungle of great wheels be-
tween it and the curb like bat out of
hell" as the picturesque phrase has it.
A cheer went up.
its safe!" cried some one.
Sure enough, the brave shrew had
gained the sidewalk.
Now it was clear to every one that this
thing was not mouse, for 1t went up
the tree "like nobodys business" in the
popular phrase.
\ II
High into the tree it went, at least 20
feet, where it stopped on limb.
It's troubles were not over yet. They
never are, in nature. Man. for time,
seemed to eliminate some of his troubles,
but that golden age is over, too
The shrew was safe from automobiles,
but not from boys.
Two teen-age youngsters, who no doubt
soon will be eligible for the draft, saw
the creature go up the tree.
Evening star., 1943-08-24

should be commonplace, but by that
date it is to be hoped they will be
finding their place in a peacetime
rather than a war economy.
There are two additional reasons
contributing to this shift in en-
phasis. One is the success which has
been achieved in coping with the
submarines plus the remarkable
shipbuilding record that has been
made. The other is the splendid
results obtained with planes already
in production.
The DC-3 has proved itself, and
even now is giving way to larger
craft. One of these is the cargo
version of the four-engine Liberator
bomber, known as the C-87. Another
favored four-engine model is the
C-54A, capable of carrying a 14,0OO
pound pay load for 1000 miles.
Smaller loads, of course, can be
hauled greater distances. Other
models which have been performing
-
tbs Commando and the Constellation,
which is just getting into production
The latter is the largest of all our
preSent-day cargo planes. This air
craft has a Widespread of 1913 feet
and is said to be faster than a Jap
Zero at high attitudes. 1t is powered
by four 2,200-horsepower engines, can
carry flfty-f five persons comfortably
and has gross weight of $4,000
pounds.
This concentration on smaller
planes does not mean that the Army
would not like to have the big models
still on the drawing boards or in
various experimental stages. They
would like very much to have them.
but since the war will not wait they
are doing their not inconsiderable
best with what they have at hand.
Evening star., 1943-08-24

Instead of rejoicing, their only Thought
was hunting. No doubt that Is a good
thing, in such times as these.
one picked up a stone-small stones
always seem to be at hand even on
paved streets-and SHE'D 1t up into the
tree.
The other boy tried his hand at it, and
similarly missed
The shrew. meanwhile. kept his ground
he old not seem to have as much brains
as the squirrels. A squirrel would have
promptly gone around to the other side.
u
That's cruel" said one spectator on
the other corner.
What can you expect?" replied an
other. ut Is good training for them
Soon they will be throwing things at
Japs"
The shrew still looked down at the
boys, and the boys looked UP at the
shrew.
AW, come on" finally said one. and
both of them went away and left the
animal in peace
The common shrew is one of our most
interesting small mammals. 1t usually
Is about A inches long, often mistaken
Tor mole, and sometimes for a mouse.
The body is fatter than that of a mouse.
While they eat many insects, they also
consume worms, scraps of meat, and even
small birds, at times, although it is prob
able that few birds are lost in this way.
One OF the common names of the ami
NAL is shrew mouse.
The tail Is fairly long, and we'll haired.
1t sometimes lives with moles, but often
in hollow trees.
The shrew is pleasant looking, but is
said to be bad actor with other animals,
particularly mice, which it seems to
despise
Experiments have been made, in which
mice four times as large as the shrew
have been confind in cage with it.
The mice were so afraid of the shrew
that they ran around the cage until
exhausted, although in all that time the
shrew did not attack them.
When angered, the common shrew
makes strange chirping sounds, barring
its teeth, and flinging its head from side
to side.
The notes are very high, and almost
approach the proportions of song.
A dry summer means death to shrews,
for although they are not aquatic, they
seem to need water more than many
other animals.
A tree mouse" let us keep in mind is
not an animal, but bird! 1t is the
white-breasted nuthatch, common year.
around resident of local suburbs, whose
fondness for tree trunks earns such a
name for it,
Evening star., 1943-08-24
Khurkov Retuken

The effort of the German high
command to minimize the loss of
Kharkov, latest prize of war to fall
to the hard-driving Red Army. is
easy enough to understand.
According to Berlin, the loss of this
key Ukrainian city. which has
changed hands four times since the
Nazis marched into Russia, is hardly
worthy of more than passing men
tion. The city itself is a mass of
ruins and was evacuated in the
course of planned detaching move
ments." 1t is almost as though Hitler
himself had planned it this way.
But the best refutation of this easy
explanation is to be found in the
thousands upon thousands of Ger
man soldiers who have died in the
futile effort to hold Kharkov, and in
the great masses of material which
the Nazis have sacrificed. If Kharkov
is of so little Importance, why this
prodigal expenditure of life and
equipment?
The answer, of course, lies in the
fact that Kharkov is of very great
Importance. AS an industrial COM
munity, the city undoubtedly has
been ruined. But as q road and rail
center it can be used to great ad-
vantage by the Soviets, and, con-
versely, its loss will gravely handicap
the Germans in the transportation
of men and materials along the
southern part of the front Rail-
ways, especially, are vital to the con-
duct of war in Russia, and the cap
ture of Kharkov gives the Red Army
unobStructed use of the double rail
line running from Moscow through
Orel, Kursk and Belgorod
In these circumstances, it would be
absurd to believe that the Germans
withdrew from Kharkov with any
degree of willingness. They gave up
the city because they were driven
out by the Soviet forces, and this
raises again the question whether
the Nazis will be able to stop their
retreat in the south short of the
Dnieper River. If the loss of Khar-
kov means that the Germans are in
full retreat, then their troops spread
across Southern Russia to the Sea of
Azov, the Crimea and the Caucasian
bridgehead are in grave danger of
being cut Off unless promptly pulled
back. AS yet there has been no in
dication Of such a withdrawal, and
until it begins the Germans will not
have reached the stage OF truly
disastrous defeat in the Ukraine.
1t is significant, however, that the
Germans are talking now only in
terms of their ability to stave off
disaster. A year ago they were driv-
ing hard toward Stalingrad, and
there seemed little hope that the
Russians would be able to hold that
bastion on the Volga But hold it
they did, and now, in the span of
one year, it is the Germans who are
reeling back under the sledge-ham-
mer blows that are being rained upon
them. II Stalingrad marked the
turning point of the war in Russia,
it Is hardly an exaggeration to say
that Kharkov is a milestone we'll
down the road to final defeat for the
invaders.
Evening star., 1943-08-24
French Leaders Discussed
As United in Purpose.

To the Editor of The Star:
One assertion cast haphazardly into an
editorial in The Star demands amplif-
cation and requires defense.
'As yet there has been no real settle
ment of the differences between Gems.
Giraud and De Gaulle," you state. with
out further comment
What can lead you to think that there
has been none? What more can these
two loyal and patriotic characters do to
convince you?
The administrative details of inte-
grating the two heretofore separate
Free French armies have been COM
pletely worked out. De Gaulle formally
has relinquished his own battle-scarred
veterans of three years hard service
with moving speech directing their full
allegiance to Giraud, whom he warmly
praised. Giraud composed an admir-
able order of the day in which he as
sumed command, striking the keynote of
unity for French liberation. All this
was preceded by most cordial exchange
OF letters between the two generals and
took place three full weeks ago. The
American press took scant notice. The
Committee for National Liberation ever
since its formation in early June, has
worked methodically, but, of course, less
dramatically. to achieve a similar inte-
grafton of effort in civil administration
throughout all the territories of the Free
French nation. Whatever The Star
thinks about it, the committee and its
leaders are, in fact, of one mind.
Skeptics who are interested in the
question may wonder what lies behind
this fusion of interest. The realistic an
swer is that they desperately want
voice in the settlement of matters grow
ing out of the italian collapse, which will
require that they be recognized as one
of the United Nations. For three years
they have been fighting our battles for
us, while vainly knocking at our door
for recognition as an entity and as an
ally. Now there remains no pretext on
which we can deny them. Our recogni-
ton will come, albeit belatedly and un-
graciously. 1t must be granted
MADELEINE M. SMITH.
Evening star., 1943-08-24

sons with milk bottles may become re-
luctant to turn them in, except in ex-
change for full bottles, for fear that a
little later they will be unable to buy
milk without having empties on hand.
Similar fears are still keeping some old
phonograph records out of scrap chan
nels. Hoarding of old and little-used
commodities is increased by the posi-
bllity that they may be required for
trade-in purposes later
incidentally, it also seems to me that
this policy is contrary to the spirit of
OPA principles that customers should be
treated alike without preferences or re-
strictions. SOUTHEAST RESIDENT.
Evening star., 1943-08-24
Says Celebration of Victory
Should Be Avoided.

To the Editor Of The Star:
I want to express a thought which
should help in achieving durable peace
following final victory.
All such demonstrations of hilarity as
have occurred in the past should be ex-
cluded, nor should there be any pompous
parades, but rather the event should be
celebrated in quiet way as is Thanks
giving. Neither should any monuments
or other such structures be constructed
for our heroes.
The basis for the aforementioned sug-
gestions is that, in my opinion, all cele-
brations, parades and statues tend to
idealize war in the minds of the people,
particularly the youth. Their minds are
filled thereby with the importance of
war to the extent that it is welcomed
rather than abhorred.
Our well-merited appreciation of the
men and women who have endured,
suffered and died should be expressed by
aiding their families to enjoy a happy
future.
7 am confident that If a consensus
were obtained from our fighting forces,
large majority would choose to discard
the parades and public celebrations. 1t
is still a natural truth that a duty we'll
performed is its own reward
PHILIP WAGSHAI,,
Evening star., 1943-08-24
European Planning Board
Not Political in Purpose.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Recently your paper published an ar
ticle under the title: Seek Union for
Peace" A geographical map was pub
lished with this article From this, and
the fact that the article treats purely
political problems, one can misunder-
stand the aims and functions of the
Central and Eastern European Planning
Board of which L was one Of the organ
izers and its first chairman.
The Central and Eastern European
Planning Board has been created as a
consequence of the common stand of
CzechoSlovakia, Greece Poland and
Yugoslavia at the International Labor
Conference held in New York in 1941.
The organization of this board came as
result of this work and it set as its
aim the study of economic, social and
cultural problems for which a common
solution for as large as possible a region
could be found. And, naturally, always
within the framework of the activities
and aims of the International Labor
Office. The board, neither by it's statutes
nor its organization, has political aims.
All of us who have collaborated in
the Central and Eastern European Plan
ming Board are opposed to every attempt
to have our work used for the sake of
aiding the creation from our national
territories of any military buffer state"
because this would destroy the idea of
sincere, open, democratic collaboration
and the betterment of life of our people
for which we are fighting
SAVA N. KOSANOVICH.
Evening star., 1943-08-24
Bottle for Bottle Redemption
Objected to as CONTRARY" to OPA.

To the Editor OF The Star
When we attempted to buy three bot
ties of a popular soft drink at a local
chain store, they refused to sell us any
because we had no empty bottles of that
particular bottling company to turn in.
This policy of requiring bottlefor-
bottle exchange is unfair and Short
sighted.
1t is unfair because some of us turned
in all our empty bottles several weeks
ago, when the newspapers suggested it.
Now, in effect, we are penalized for
promptly turning in empty bottles, while
less patriotic persons who boarded their
bottles can continue to buy drinks.
This policy is short-sighted because it
will encourage further hoarding. Per-
Evening star., 1943-08-24
John Adams
Remembered.

To the Editor of The Star:
In the first of Haskin'S answers, as
they appeared in The Star for August
20, questioner was told that the only
fathers who ever lived to see their sons
as President of the United States were
DR.. Harding and John Coolidge
Why, even a President father lived to
see his son President! John Quincy
Adams was inaugurated President March
4. 1926 and John Adams lived until
July 4, 1926. DIXON MERRITT.
Evening star., 1943-08-24

The consumption of soap now
considerably exceeds production.
This is one shortage that can be
adequately taken care of by Amer
ica's small boys.
Evening star., 1943-08-24
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 10riter, although the use of
a pseudonyn, for publication is
permissible. The Star reSerUeS
the right to edit all letters 1Uith
UieaO to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-08-24

@. What proportion Of the family
incomes goes for food?-H. L. D.
A. SO far this year food costs 10 per
cent of the average income. IN 1919.
food absorbed 33s per cent of the aver
age income.
Evening star., 1943-08-24

@. How does grasshopper breathe
without a nose?-S. b.
A. 1t has many nostrils distributed
along each side Of the thorax and the
abdomen.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-06-19
Red Cross Contributors

W. J. Erskine < Go. employee; w. J. Erskine $1O; P. J. Wat. kinson, Wm. K. Steele, Henry Futoransky, Frank Bassett $5; Harriette Brain, Cliff StevensS2; Evelyn Breslich, M. HiIdebrand, Lavarre Joy, Val Laurel, Ray LewIs, Glen McMurry, Beatrice Martz, Mildred Muller, Char lotte Nachand, Mary Sargent, Nettie Sargent, Ralph Shreve, Jim Travers, Aileen Wells, Frank Williams, Lala Williams $1.
 J. D. Dooe $1; TheIma Will Hams $5; MT. & Mrs. Louis Me Farlin $5; Frank McConaghy & Go. $50; Bernie Erickson $1; Evelyn Bliss $1; MT. & Mrs. Jack Metzgar $l0; Mrs. Nick Miell $5; Lucille Doyle $l; Mrs. Maurice Gunderson $5; Stan Austerman $l0; MT. & Mrs. s. Burnham $5; Mir. & Mrs. l.. Harvey $2; John StenIund $5, |Mr. & Mrs. H. Pope S5; c. w. Mitchell $2; MT & Mrs. c. R Wilson $2; Mir. & Mrs. Dan Sipary $2; Nick Hansen g.; Otis Trim $2; Mrs. Fred Sar- gent $5; Frank SignorelIi $5; Betty Orme $I; M. c. Coon $l5; Arthur E. Snow $50.
 $l each: Mrs Bob Reynolds, L E. Grandson, Mrs. Madsen, K. L. Clifton, c. J Todd, E. E.. Bromley, Mrs. Albert Naughton, Mrs, H. A. Howe, Joann Howe,
Kodiak mirror., 1943-06-19

Capt. Holden Bryan, Mrs. An derson, Mrs. Holt, Mrs. Torsen, Edna & Peggy Torsen.
 $2 each: MT. Norman Sutliff, Mrs. Kelly Gregorioff, Mrs. Joe LoughrAn, Stan Hughes.
 $5 each; Chas Madsen, Mrs. Art Kizer, John Thevik, MT. and Mrs. Robert Adams, c. H. Gundlock, Mrs. Jack McCOrd, Mrs. c. Anderson.
 s each: Mrs. Fred Sundberg, Mrs. Norman Sutliff, Basil Clark.
 John Norton $4; Jean Andrews $20; Charlie Hopp $25.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-06-19
NOTICE

All garbage cans must be put where they are accessible to trucks or garbage will not be picked up. Thismeans they must be at road side.
 Bills are payable at our office.
 Island Transfer Go.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-06-19
IN THE PROBATE COURT FOR THE TERRITORY
 OF ALASKA THIRD DIVISION KODIAK PRECINCT,
 AT KODIAK In the Matter of the Estate
 of J. M. BLINN, Deceased. Notice To Creditors

NOTICE IS HEREBY CIV FEN by the undersigned, admin istrators of the estate of J. M. Blinn, deceased, to the creditors of and all persons having claims against the said deceased, that within six (6) months after the first publication of thls notice they exhibit them, with the nec- essary vouchers, to the said ad- ministrators at the office of War reu A. Taylor, Brooklyn Avenue, Kodiak, Alaska, that being the place for the transaction of the business of the said estate.
 Dated at Kodiak, Alaska, this 20th day of May, 1943.
 Jess M. Blinn
 George Blinn
 Administrator of the Estate
 J. M. Blinn, deceased
 Date of first publication May P, 1943.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-06-19

Local Boy Scouts have receiv- ed notice of appointment as gov erment dispatch bearers, and it will be their duty twice a month to distribute to all the business houses regular issues of Office of War Information posters.
Kodiak mirror., 1943-06-19

Julius c. Eng, pharmacist at Bert's drug store, left recently for the States.
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-24
Better Health

THIS COLUMN has been
l. deeply shocked at the news
paper news which refers 10 the
epidemic OF smallpox at Lewis
ton. Pa.
In particular we are shocked
at the reports. whether true
or not. that the authorities were
trying 10 control IT by quaran-
tine.
Long. long ago DR.. George
Dock. then professor Of medl-
cine at the University of Michi-
gan, published a long article
which was called Smallpox
Quarantine in Practice and Its
Failure. )"
His whole thesis was that IL
is impossible to control small
pox epidemic by quarantine
alone.
LIS experience was obtained
IL especially in an epidemic OF
smallpox which broke out in an
institution for the feeble-minded
at Lapeer. Mich. in 1910.
Although the institution. was
uuarantined. attendants n d
worknen from the institution
appeared on the streets OF the
adjacent city.
State troops. company of
infantry (three officers and 40
mem appeared.
They threw out a line of SEN
tries a mile and a quarter in
length around the home.
These troops stood guard for
seven nights and seven days.
None Of them had more than
four hours sleep at any one time.
Range lights were placed
around the patrol line 30 that no
refugee could get out Of the
grounds without exposing him
self"
In spite OF these precautions
a great many stragglers did get
out and smallpox spread in the
city and neighborlng communi-
ties.
IT IS perfectly impossible 10 in
i stitute quarantine under mod
ern conditions.
In the first place. nurses and
doctors 20 into ward and
when they come out they are
carriers.
The milkInan arrives, the ice
cream man arrives, the grocer
arrives and then they all depart.
Smallpox is notably disease
that is carried by fomites: in
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-24

spirited playing in those days
but very little fighting among
the players.
HARRY JAMES. Second best
IL trumpeter in the country.
Louis Armstrong is the first.
Hedy La Mari. Her favorite
indoor sport is moving furniture
around her house.
She is a Super-furniture mover
because she moves things from
one room 10 another.
During recent discussion as
TO whether the first year of
marriage or the sixth year was
most difficult. Hedy said:
my first year Of my frst
marriage was very difficult.
NV husband gave me II dogs
and insisted that 1 keep all OF
them"
Rita Tivy. One Of the all
feminine quartet known as the
Four Charms.
All the girls in this act have
sweethearts in the armed forces
and they specialize in songs of
the Am 1 Blue" and Robin
Adair" type.
II you are not familiar with
Robin Adair." IL is the song
that starts. What's this dull
town to me? Robins not near"
Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-02-24

THE other day ! was reading
- about a fellow who amazed
ali his friends with the amount
of work he got done.
fellow was = Writer-alSo
q, teacher in high school also a
bootie-buffer in a gremlin fac
tory, or something equally sig
nificant.
Everybody always was asking
him how did he get so much
done and what was the secret Of
his success, and his answer was
considered 10 be highly illumi-
mating as we'll as inspIrational,
'xA / put il down here AT the
risk of infuriating the millions
Of superior souls who don't
give a boot about being inspired
or stimulated 10 greater produc-
ton,
Z --'T get so much done" he said
smugly, "only because I use the
littie minutes when ! am not
doing big things
; 1.-THE little minutes 30 care
Iessiy wasted nv Others
r And then he went on 10 elabo-
lrSse. as though we didn't know
Ply what he meant by that
crack.
IT SEEMS he always carried a
"A piece OF paper and pencil
wsth him. and snatched every
spare minute TO write.
80 While committing, for ex-
ample, he didn't waste time try
ing 10 read his neighbors paper.
He wrote and wrote. until his
neighbor left the train and the
paper in his seat.