davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-04-24
ARLINGTON, Va.

Dear Sir:
"The other day during the rain a
mockingbird was singing his head off.
Where he was perched I could not see
but everybody in the neighborhood could
hear him.
He went on for hours, never stopping,
singing louder as the rain increased. At
one time ne would initiate a cardinal so
well that you couldn't tell the difference.
Then he put on blue jay act so we'll
that I thought the real birds must be
present.
pretty soon was sure they were, and
looked out the window. Sure enough,
there they were, as if come to demon
strate that no mockingbird, no matter
how clever, could initiate them as well
as they could shrek for themselves.
This mockingbird was but one OF the
songsters which seemed to enjoy the
rain. I keep a feeding station going
every day, and on rainy days make a
point of seeing that it is well stocked.
The birds like rainy days, I am con-
vinced.
"Some of my friends interested in birds
never go out into their yards on rainy
days. They make a mistake there, be-
cause the birds need food on wet days
as well as dry ones.
Sincerely yours, K. L. e.
All natures pure creatures like rain.
We have always suspected that the
birds and beasts of Noah's time slipped
one over on the patriarch.
He believed that the creatures he took
aboard were all that were saved, but no
doubt off on the peaks and crags, thou
sands of animals managed to remain
high and dry.
The dove was not afraid, but flew out
over the expanse Of water, according to
the narrative.
All birds like rainy days.
Human beings fret and fume, some-
times, when rain falls hour after hour.
Not the birds.
They revel In 1t, especially if there is
a covered bird feeding station in opera
ton
Water will not harm grain and seeds,
provided they are eaten up at once.
Old soggy food, which may have been
standing for days, is not good for birds
That is why some systematic cleaning
up around bird feeding station is nec-
essary.
This will remove the chance of the
| birds catching queer and unusual dis
eases. Some investigators claim that
| various spore and germ diseases may be
communicated to birds by old moldy
| grain.
| \
| One Of the best ways to pass rainy
day at home is to watch the birds.
This will be especially welcome tc
Evening star., 1943-04-24
Discouraging Experience
Is Lot of Farm Land Owner.

To the Editor OF The Star:
Your paper on April 10 featured the
need for increased acreage of vital war
foods and your readers may be interested
in personal slant on the local situation.
An experienced and competent vege-
table grower recently came to me and
offered to grow 30 to 100 acres of sweet
corn and mixed vegetables for the Wash
ington market on share basis This
looked like a good proposition because
the vegetables will be needed and may
be needed badly. I have large acreage
of rich Potomac River bottom land have
had experience elsewhere with large-scale
vegetable production and have most of
the equipment that would be required.
But due to the Potomac flood of last
October, when there were 5000 bushels of
corn ready to harvest in my fields now
lack sufficient working capital for a deal
of that size.
AS the Regional Agricultural Credit
Corp. recently was set up to assist farm
ers with loans where lack of capital
alone prevents increased production, I
thought they would assist; and I laid
the matter before their local Montgom-
cry County representative at Rockville.
The answer, however, was mo" My
bottom land was flooded and it might
flood again. The loan was therefore too
risky. Also, would need another tractor
as the tenant who left this spring took
his tractor and equipment with him. AS
have one tractor would not be eligible
for priority for the purchase of new
one. AS used tractors are selling for
twice what they are worth on cost-less-
chase of used tractor at present prices
could be considered. When 1 set up the
project on a hired-tractor basis, that
looked still worse, for the tractor hire
might exceed the cost of a new machine.
I asked about the possibility of a
smaller loan for raising such sweet corn
and vegetables as my regular man could
handle, but I was reminded that the
Production Credit appraisal of my ma
chinery. cattle, hogs, sheep and turkeys
was only $10,500 and the present loan of
$4,000 was as much as was safe" My
equity in a going 923-acre farm, mort
gagged for half of the assessed valuation,
was not considered as affecting the secu-
rity for production loan.
These objections from an agency that
is lending others millions in non-recourse
crop loans may be sincere and may be
valid. I have no criticism to make of
them or of the lending agencies. but
there was one other personal objection to
making loan which can be answered
only by this publicity.
was told, "Mr. Shepard, I, too, grow
sweet corn for the Washington market
If you grow that much sweet corn, you
will ruin the market for the rest of us"
1t seems to me that the only conclu-
sion to be drawn is that under present
local management the Washington vege-
table market will be fully protected.
JOHN B. SHEPARD.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

Atrocities and Promise Of More
Raise Question About Retaliation.
70 the Editor Of The Star:
Two announcements just made present
what appears to be q rather serious
issue for the democracies. Japan has
executed flyers who were captured and
asserts an. intention to execute any here
after coming into their hands. Germany
seems to be preparing to use poison gas.
Fortunately, the reaction Of our people
has not been hysterical. Few have de-
manded ''reprisals." But does that mean
Evening star., 1943-04-24

The original rationers of heat ap-
pear to be the humble honeybees. IN
frigid weather they cling together in
great bali for warmth, and at reg
ular intervals those inside move to
the outside and give their frozen
buddies a chance.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

To Americans who recall 1918 dis
tinctly, those three little flags on the
map of Tunisia, all in row and each
overlapping the other, the tricolor,
the union jack and Old Glory, look
like the good old times.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

A man recently sentenced to
years imprisonment for stealing an
urn sadly reports that for gaining
money there is nothing equal to the
good old-fashioned earn.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

While our raids on enemy install
lations at Kiska are frequent and
severe, 1t seems as though the avail
able targets increase steadily and
ominously.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

A radio comedian has announced
that he will have Victory garden
this summer during his vacation.
Evidently he is determined to have
his corn one way or the other.
Evening star., 1943-04-24
Address

@. What is the location of the silk
worm farm in Eastern United States?-
D. B. L.
A. A large-scale experiment has been
undertaken by c. E. H. Gil at Thornwood
Farms, Morristown, N. j., where 5000
mulberry trees last year fed some 1000
cocoons.
O. What republics have lasted the
longest?-A K. F.
A. The Venetian Republic lasted 1,l96
years; Republic OF Genoa, 802 years;
Carthage, 704 years: Grecian Republic,
554 years; Roman Republic, 504 years.
No other important republic lasted as
much as 500 years.
@. How many post favorites have won
the Kentucky Derby?-H. G.
A. Turf and Sport Digest says that
out of 68 Derbies run, "a have been won
by post favorites.
@. Are the schools In England in
spected?-R. w. G.
A. Inspection is a characteristic OF
the English school system. This is done
to help schools conform to the standards
of the Board of Education
@. When were wire nails first made?
w. H.
A. Wire nails were first made in
France and vere sometimes spoken OF as
French nails. Up to 1850 they were made
by hand In the United States, William
Hersel of New York produced the first
handmade wire nails in 1850. Shortly
afterward French machines were i'm
ported.
Q. Do sea serpents really exist?-
S. w.
A. Fishermen along the coasts OF
Southern Asia, Australia and the Pacific
islands often pull up real sea serpents
in their nets. These snakes are all poi
sonous.
O. What modern building in WASH
ington is modelled after the Mausoleum
erected by Queen Artemisia at Halicar-
nassus, one of the seven wonders of the
ancient world?-L. P.
A. The Scottish Rite Temple.
@. How are the gunners placed In a
bomber?-L. C. D.
A. The Army Air Corps says they are
placed as follows: Tail gunner, in the
tail of the plane; waist gunner, on each
side of the fuselage; turret gunner, in
the top turret; belly gunner, in the tur-
ret that hangs underneath.
@. When did the Rockettes appear i'll
Paris?-M. M.
A. The Rockettes appeared at the
Paris Exposition for one performance on
the evening Of July 2, 1887
@. What was the first book printed
in the English language?-F. R. A.
A. A history Of Troy. probably made
at Bruges, Flanders, in 1474, by William
Caxton.
@. What do the hearts, spades, dia-
monds and clubs on playing cards rep
resent?-T. T. q
A. Espada, the Spanish word for
sword indicating nobility, has become a
spade. Hearts represent the gems de
choeur, the ecclesiastics. Clubs represent
the trefoil and symbolic the peasantry.
Diamonds represent square tiles symbol
izing the merchants. ~
Evening star., 1943-04-24
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Uriter, although the use of
a pseudonyn1 for publication is
permissible. The Star reserDeS
the right to edit all letters 1vith
a Uiea0 to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

who are Indifferent to their re-
sponsibilities. In any event, the i'm
portance OF the end sought is sufn-
ciently great to justify a trial on
national basis of the Baltimore
experiment.
Evening star., 1943-04-24
Forecast Of Rationing Difficulties
Repeated by Its Sponsor.

To the Editor of The Star:
A letter from the undersigned on the
subject of food rationing was published
in The Star of December 81. In my
letter showed by mathematical reason
ing that the then proposed rationing,
which since has been put into operation
substantially as proposed, was based
upon faulty premises and that allow
ances would have to be increased radi-
cally If the plan were to operate sue
cessfully.
Now, with food rationing not yet two
months old, that which showed must
take place has indeed come true-twice
over. Today we have for the second
time great reduction in point require
ments for numerous items.
repeat my thesis of December 81 that:
I'd The inadequacy of coupon allot-
ments will be felt by those who have
not store of home canned foods, ca
that this inadequacy will be caused by
the inflated divisor resulting from in
clusion Of the large rural element who
do have such a store, and CD that a
radical change in the present plan will
have to be made II it Is to work out
successfully
believe 1t is self-evident that events
have justified what wrote.
SIMPLE SIMON.
Evening star., 1943-04-24

American Quiz Book-Seven hun
dred and fifty questions and answers
relating to the United States, its ter
ritories and possessions. How much
do you know about your own country
its history and government. its Gus
toms and culture, present and past?
There's wealth of accurate informa-
ton in this book for every American
who likes historic and general facts
Quizzes on the Presidents, Politics,
Government, Famous Americans,
American Sports, History, States,
Possessions-30 different subjects are
covered in all. To secure your copy
of this publication inclose Is cents in
coin wrapped in this clipping and
mail to The Star Information Bureau.
Name
Evening star., 1943-04-24

that there may not be smoldering a
hatred that eventually will demand an
eye for an eye? Does that mean that
we may not reach the conclusion that
we can save our faces only by resorting
to similar barbaric practices? And if
we do that, what will happen to our
ideals?
America, in fact all the United Ma
tions, have been insisting that the va
rious world families must work together
and that good will is the only basis upon
which they will be able to do so.
The enemy, on the other hand, ap-
pears to have different conceptions.
Japan places no value upon human life
and German leadership places but slight
value upon 1t. A captured Jap is dead
Jap to Toxic. A captured German is
still an emissary of Der F'uehrer, tenn
porarily silenced, but in strict loyalty
bound to violate every rule of law or
reason that we have been taught to
respect.
Ordinarily, therefore, reprisals would
seem to be unthinkable to us-and of no
meaning to the enemy. But suppose that
we should reach the conclusion that such
reprisals would be the means of shorten
ing the war and thus of lessening human
suffering and the number of human
lives destroyed? What would we, what
should we do then?
And what if these outrageous acts not
only continue but grow more outrageous
in their desperation? What will be our
reaction when victory finally comes? We
may have the desire to be uninf1uenced
by them, but shall we have the will?
They can't be forgotten. And the terms
OF peace are bound to be affected by
them
The danger is that these horror
incidents will be carried to such ex-
tremes that we may be unable to think
sanely when the time for writing the
peace actually arrives. REV.
Evening star., 1943-01-06
Lentils Baked
Or Sauteed;
Pea Puree
These. Make Tasty
Dishes for Cold
Winter Weather

Dried peas and lentils, as well as
beans, can be used for a number
OF supper dishes as well as for soups.
Most of the dried peas in the mar
ket today seem to need no soaking
as they become tender rather quick
ly when cooked in water.
The lentils should be soaked, al
though it is not necessary to soak
them as long as beans. Five hours
is long enough for this dried vege-
table. When peas are to be baked
they are generally boiled and rub
bed through a sieve. Baked pea
puree is delicate and delicious
dish. OF course, there is nothing
better than dried pea soup, whether
it is made with the aid of ham
bone or chicken stock, for which
a bouillon cube may be used, and
rich milk.
Lentils may be baked by any
recipe used for beans, or may be
sauteed with onion and celery,
Mecklenburg style. Reports have
not been issued as to whether dried
peas and lentils, which were largely
imported from abroad, will be plen-
tiful this year. Beans, however, can
be used in their place.
There is possibility that we shall
have available. later in the winter,
chicpeas from Mexico. These are
called garbanzas. and you probably
know them as ingredients Of Italian
minestrone. In some sections Of
the country soybeans, so valuable
for their protein content, can be
purchased in market, but most of
them are being used in the manu-
facture of some of our overseas
Army rations. If enough are pro-
duced this year and generally dis
tributed they should be considered
as most important member of the
vegetable family. When this time
comes there will be recipes printed
in this column.
Evening star., 1943-01-06
Dorothy Dix Says>>
Separation, Even by War Job,
Seriously Imperils Marriage

Dear Miss Dix: I have been mar
ried for 10 years and have been very
happy until nine months ago when
my husband enlisted in the Army.
I am not unhappy about his being
in the Army. but my trouble is this:
I am working in town 100 miles
from where my husbands parents
are keeping our 8year-old child. I
support her and visit her twice a
month. My husband, who is perma-
nently stationed about 1000 miles
from here. wants me to come and
live with him and to leave our child
with her grandparents until school
is out.
Should I 60 to live with my hus-
band or wait until my child can 60
with me?
LONELY WIFE AND MOTHER.
Answer-You should certainly go
to live with your husband as he
wishes you to do and go at once.
Nothing jeopardizes a marriage so
much as for a husband and wife
to be separated for a great length
of time, and the more domestic
minded the man is, the greater the
danger.
This does not apply so much to
the men in the war as it does to
civilians. The soldier, living in bar
racks, is in different environment
to that to which he is accustomed
and he is kept so busy he hasn't
much time to get lonesome. Also
he is more or less segregated from
feminine society. and 50. to great
extent, removed from temptation.
But the married man who 4
househroken. 20 to speak, who Il
Evening star., 1943-01-06

order?' to which his guests will
assent. The first barrier has been
cleared.
Then he will place the dinner
order. and he will choose, first, the
principal dish. 1t may be from the
dinner of the day or it may be a
dish to be cooked to order. But it
will be settled upon first. Such a
patron will know about the length
of time required to prepare such a
dish. Then he will order oysters,
let us say, and an appropriate soup,
and a salad to follow the principal
meat order. The sweet he may leave
until later, unless he knows it to be
a dish which requires time in the
making.
Should the principal course sug-
geSt a certain wine, he will know,
in general, the type of wine he
should choose. There we can detect
again the client who can order a
meal and wine He will turn to
that page on our wine list where
such wines are listed. If he finds
what he wiaires,- he will order
promptly, but If not he will ask
us to recommend a wine from our
cellars which may be considered
similar to his preference. And, un-
doubtedly, we have such wine.
I'VE appreciate at once that he
has knowledge and preference, and
it is a pleasure to lend such a one
our corporation. Captain and wait
ers enjoy serving such a host; often
we are eager to give pleasure to
such a party. Such a host and such
a party are served easily and gra-
ciously. Walters rise to the occasion.
There is constant give and take
between the host and the personnel
OF the dining room. The waiter can
perform with credit when the pa
tron is equally as well schooled in
the duties of the host as the waiter
should be schooled in his duties"
Under such conditions, the dinner
period passes pleasantly. It is often
a question of who enjoys it most
the waiter or the guest. Each has
done his part. Each has made the
occasion pleasant for all.
AS the dinner draws to logical
conclusion and the walters and their
captain find within their hands the
proper emolument not too much
or too little, but the adequate sum
the party Is sent forth with bless
ings, following an expression, often
implied, of mutual good will. The
guests and the personnel may both
look forward to future visit. The
dinner was a great success from
the viewpoints of all concerned.
because every one knew his part and
played it adequately-the manage
ment, the waiter and the guest.
Evening star., 1943-01-06

used to a home and home comforts
and spending his evenings in COM
pany with his wife, does not know
what to do with himself when his
routine Is broken up. He doesn't
find any place where they cook like
his wife did and, anyway, it has
been so long since he catered for
himself that he has forgotten how
to order a meal. 1t is lonesome 60
ing home to room that is dark,
and where there is no one to well
come him. and no one to whom he
can tell what he said to the boss
and the boss said to him.
Maybe he Is too tired to 60 to the
movies or to dress himself up and
step out to a club, and so he is only
too apt to fall a prey to some girl
on the prowl who is easy to talk to
or to get to drinking too much with
the boys who loaf around q bar
room.
So If you have a husband you
want to keep, go out where he is
stationed and make home for him.
If your property is worth having,
it is worth protecting. But I strong
ly urge you to take your little girl
along with you. At 8 years of age,
being with you and her father is
worth far more to her than keeping
to her grade In school.
Evening star., 1943-01-06
Drowned Liver |.
Addition to the
Hurried Meal
Short Time REQUIRED
For Preparation
Helpful Now
By Edith M. Barber


1t is certainly lucky for the busi-
ness woman housekeeper when she
and her family like liver. 1t is a
good nutrition practice to put this
important meat on the menu fire.
quently. 1t takes short time to
cook it; overlooking toughens it.
This applies to beef liver as well
as to the more tender calves, lamb,
pig and chicken lvers. Sometimes
beef liver will need longer period
than the others.
There are many recipes in cook
books for the preparation of liver.
Nothing Is quite so good as lightly
sauteed liver. There is a variation
of this which Is particularly good
method for treating beef liver. 1t
begins with sauteeing and calls for
the addition of the contents of a
can of onion soup in which the
Drowned liver simmered 10 or Is
minutes.
Another method has to do with
the preparation of a quick plate
which may be served hot or cold.
Served hot it should be piled on
toast; for cold service it may be
put into a mold and chilled.
DROWNED LIVER WITH ONIONS.
~ pounds liver, sliced.
Flour, salt, pepper.
tablespoons bacon fat or butter.
/ 16-ounce can onion soup.
Wipe liver and remove skin and
tubes. Dredge with -four, salt and
pepper and brown lightly in bacon
fat. If calves liver is used remove
to hot platter. Allow other types
of liver to remain in pan. Add
onion soup, mix with fat remaining
In pan, cover and simmer about 10
minutes until liver is tender. Yield,
six servings.
LIVER PLATE.
Ia pounds liver.
u cup lard or shortening.
4 tablespoons minced onion.
/ bay leaf.
"a teaspoon thyme.
IL teaspoons salt.
u teaspoon pepper.
Cover liver with boiling water and
let stand 10 minutes. Drain and
grind with other ingredients. Place
in top of small double boiler or In
bowl, set over hot water and cook
80 minutes. If served hot, pile or
hot toast; if cold, chill bowl in re-
frigerator before removing liver
Yield, six servings.
Evening star., 1943-01-06
Spanish Mackefe]
Does Not Come
From Spain

Believe it or not, Spanish mack
erel does not come from Spain.
Actually it should be known as
Florida mackerel, for most of the
production comes from the waters
off that Southern State, according
to the Fishery Council. Neverthe-
less it is fish of wide distribution,
ranging north as far as Cape Ann
and in the south to Brazil; in the
West Indies it has been found
around Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
1t is indeed hard to believe that
this fine ting fish, which today
is one of the most highly priced
of all our fishes, until 80 years ago
had no commercial Importance and
was scarcely known in the early
history of this country.
Just how this native fish came to
be called Spanish" is a matter of
historical theory. Some fishermen
hold that the first discoverers gave
it that name because it resembled
a species of mackerel found around
the Mediterranean. Another ex-
PLANTATION is the fact that Florida
was once owned by Spain back in
the days when Ponce de Leon was
looking for his fountain of youth
in that area. He might very we'll
have found it in Florida's winter
sunshine and fine sea food.
Housewives should find this very
interesting. For it explodes the idea
that some may have that Spanish
mackerel is an imported fish and.
for that reason, expensive. In
reality, it is one of the most sub
stantial and economical foods that
| the consumer has available today.
Reaching a weight of 6 to 8
pounds, with an occasional larger
individual, the Florida mackerel are
caught in pounds or gillnets,
though many are taken by trolling.
An excellent game fish, they come
to us only in the spring, summer
and autumn, but are in best abun-
dance during the colder months
from November to May. Spawning
occurs in April and May on the
Carolina coast and in the lower
Chesapeake during the first half
of June.
The spindle-shaped streamlined
body of the Florida mackerel is the
same as other mackerel. However,
its yellowish spots on the upper
part of the sides distinguish 1t from
the bonito and native mackerel,
which have black stripes.