davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Something to Talk About

About the only thing to do about
this weather is to talk about it. But
we really have something to talk
about this summer and we should
make the best of the opportunity.
There has not been such an oppor-
tunity, as a matter of fact, since
1872. For III pure cussedness, this
has been the meanest summer in
seventy-one years. The standard for
cussedness is a simple one: Per-
sistence of high temperature. And
the only other summer in the past
threescore years and ten that ap-
preached this one was in 1900.
Thus far this summer there have
been forty-four days with tempera-
ture of 80 or over-mostly over. In
1872 there were fifty-three and in
1900 there were thirty-seven. The
average summer has twenty one.
This does not take into considera-
tion the humidity. Nor does The Star
have any intention of taking the
humidity into consideration and
begs its readers not to write and
say that it is the humidity, not the
heat, that counts. That statement
contains no comfort whatever and
merely complicates situation which
is bad enough as it is.
For instance, lovely June lugged
in sixteen days this year with tenn
perature of over 80 degrees, when
the average Washington June has
only five. In July there were fifteen
days above co. when the average is
ten. Thus far every day, save one,
in August has been over 80 degrees,
although the average for August in
Washington is only six
Whether it is the high tempera-
ture which caused the accompanying
drought or whether it is the drought
which causes the high temperature
is neither here nor there. But we
have had both. Rainfall this June
totaled only 2.43 inches, compared
with an average for the month of
413. During July usually the wet
test summer month"; we got only
146 inches of rainfall against an
average Of All and this month we
are 1.31 behind the average. 1t
would require 7.26 inches of rain to
make up for the deficiency since
January /. And II we should get this
Evening star., 1943-08-12
'KENSINGTON, Nd.

Dear Sir.
Il hope nobody who loves the birds
will take the water shortage so seriously
that they will be deferred from making
a wet spot of ground for the robins.
This is easily done by taking the
nozzle of the hose and laying 1t on the
ground for time. In no sense can this
be called sprinkling' 1t is not, but just
wetting the ground so that the robins
can get worms.
The robin Is unique bird, not only
in his appearance and habits. but also
in his feeding; while he can eat surface
worms, beetles, etc, he much prefers
worms.
often in summer the ground will be-
come so hard that the worms are driven
far down and no robin gets a chance at
them I believe that 1t is the duty of all
householders to provide in this way for
the robins, most typical OF all our birds.
When the boys come marching home,
if in spring or summer, we want them to
see robins everywhere, and there is no
better way to ensure this than to see to
it that our birds have plenty Of 'fishin''
worms
Just little water, at some appointed
spot. will bring up the worms. 1t will
become favorite gathering place, not
only for robins, but also for many other
songbirds.
Il hope you can add your word to this
appeal for the birds. Water conserya-
ton is necessary, but we need not be
fools about it.
Sincerely, c. F. r."
This correspondents plea for water for
the birds is a good one, we believe
From our observation, a brief water
Ing. which in no sense could be said to
deplete any reservoir, will not only bring
up the worms, but also will attract hum
dreds of insects. These bugs" make ex-
cellent bird food
veritable cloud of insects will gather
over any wet spot. in hot, dry weather.
This is particularly true in the morn
ing.
Some way. the water acts much as a
bright light in the evening. The insects
are attracted and some of them get in
the water. Then they are slowed down,
some Of them even becoming immobile.
In this way they are an easy prey, both
for robins and some smaller birds
There are few finer sights in bird
watching than that Of several robins
gathering to wet place in the lawn.
As our correspondent points out, this
need not be complete or even semi
complete watering of the lawn.
1t is just careful use Of some water
to create small feeding place.
Certainly, so used the hose can
scarcely be said to be used in violation
of emergency water regulations
Some of the same good use may be
made with the hose played on shrub.
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Marvellous Women

From the London Daily telegraph and Morning
Post.
During the earlier stages of war there
were considerable grounds for criticism
at the lag in absorbing women into in
dustry to replace and supplement men.
There are now few, If any, complaints to
be laid on this score. Once the organi-
cation was set in motion the women re-
sponded with alacrity, and when Mr..
Bevin recalls that the output Of the
British aircraft industry now surpasses
that of the German, it is plain that it is
they who in large measure rendered
possible that decisive factor in the pres
ent favorable turn in the fortunes Of
war.
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Quebec

The beautiful old city OF Quebec
will add to its fame by the meeting
of President Roosevelt, Prime Minis
ter Churchill and their advisers to
be held there. But even a confer
ence so distinctively important is a
mere incident in the annals Of a
town to which the muse of history
has been kind during more than four
centuries.
No European established the orig
inal settlement at the confluence OF
the st. Lawrence and the st. Charles.
Some unknown Indian hunter of
pre-Columbian times first chose the
lofty headland as his home. Jacques
Cartier, sailing from France in 1885,
dropped anchor within speaking dis
lance of a village which the natives
called Stadacona. The modern COM
munity traces back to Samuel de
Champlain, who fixed the site and
applied to it the name it still bears.
From 1903 until it was captured by
the English under Sir David Kirke
in 1929 its growth was slow. Re-
stored to the French in 1882, it was
made the capital of the royal prov
ince of New France in 1863 The
English, however, continued to want
it. A fleet and an army assembled
by Sir William Phips, Governor of
Massachusetts,, failed before the re-
sistance of the Comte de Frontenac
in 1890. When larger expedition
was launched by Sir Hovenden
Walker in It'll, it was wrecked by
storm.
Thus the French kept Quebec until
1859, yielding the city only when
decisively defeated at the battle of
the Plains of Abraham. James Wolfe
led the British attack, beginning
June q and eliminating in final
victory September 13. His rival was
the gallant Marquis de Montcalm.
Both men died of their wounds. The
treaty of Paris in 1853 formally
ceded to Great Britain the prize for
which they had struggled. During
the American revolution, Richard
Montgomery and Benedict Arnold
attempted to repeat Wolfe's achieve
ment. The former was killed at the
head of his troops; the latter was
less fortunate
Quebec in its modern guise is an
unforgettable experience. It's loca-
ton is magnificent. The view from
the towers of the building in which
the meetings are to be held is unex-
celled. In the "lower town" there
are vistas which are as medieval as
Rouen. Old churches, converts,
schools, libraries, vast harbor works,
gigantic pulp and paper mills, many
hydroelectric developments, the Cap
Rouge Bridge and dry dock said to
be the most capacious in existence
all these are features attractive to
the tourist. The past remains real in
the shadow Of the Citadel, but the
future also Is visible in the neighbor-
hood.
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Shipyurd WAGES

The War Labor Board, in passing
on the request for general wage in
crease for 100000 shipyard workers,
was faced with a hard decision.
Under the terms of the shipbuild-
ing stabilization agreement, which
was signed in June of last year, many
Of these workers gave up wage in
creases to which they were entitled
under the terms of their contract.
They did this at the request of the
President, who said that the pro-
spective increases were "irreconcil-
able with the national policy to con-
troll the cost of living" And there
can also be little doubt that the
workers were influenced by the ex-
pectation that the cost of living
would be held to the then prevailing
level.
In these respects the appeal of the
shipyard workers for a general wage
adjustment to bring them abreast of
the rise in living costs had elements
of merit not found in most such
cases. But, granting this, it seems
evident that, all things considered,
the boards decision was the right
one.
Prevailing wages in the shipyards
are among the highest of the Ma
tions war industries. And in addi-
ton to high hourly rates of pay,
these workers have abundant oppor-
tunity for overtime, so that their
actual earnings have increased in
an amount far in excess of any rise in
the cost OF living. There simply is
no factual basis on which it can be
said that the 9 per cent increase in
living costs since the stabilization
agreement was signed has made it
impossible or even difficult for these
workers to maintain a decent stand
ard of living.
In these circumstances the board
could not have granted a general
pay increase without junking the
Little Steel formula, for the setting
of such a precedent in the case of
the shipyards would nave opened
the door wide to similar demands
from all other industries. And that,
in turn, would lead to an accelera-
ton Of living costs which would soon
Evening star., 1943-08-12
For the Public Benefit

In studying the feasibility of TAX
ing. over operation of public recrea-
ton facilities in the District now
leased to concessionaires, the District
Recreation Board Is taking step
which should increase the value of
its services to the public. The board,
Incidentally, is the first public agency
able to take this step. When it was
created it was given specific powers
under the law to operate public rec.
reation facilities in the District.
For many years the National Park
Service has leased the golf courses,
some of the swimming pools, bicycle
stands, boating rights, etc, under its
jurisdiction to the Leoffler corpora
ton and to the Welfare and Recre-
alton Association. Money paid for
the lease of the golf courses-f1fteen
to twenty thousand dollars annu-
ally-is deposited as miscellaneous
funds of the District of Columbia,
while rental paid by the Welfare and
Recreation Association goes into the
Treasury. The profits, of course, are
retained by the lessees. 1t is this
fact, rather than any specific COM
plant with the operation of the
properties in the past, which makes
a change so advisable.
The funds paid by the public for
the use of public recreation facilities
should be plowed back into the prop
critics, improving them or reducing
the size of the fees. That practice
has been adopted with benefit In
other cities. and should be followed
here. There should be no private
profit involved in operation of public
golf courses and swimming pools.
Nor should the fees paid by the pub
lie for the enjoyment of public facil-
tiles be diverted from recreation into
other Government funds. 1t may not
be possible Immediately to make all
recreational facilities in the District
self-sustaining. But that should be
the goal, along with the constant
Improvement of the facilities them
selves and lower rates for the public.
The contract for the lease of the
golf courses expires in December.
In normal times, the District Recre-
alton Board should be able to acquire
all necessary operating personnel and
equipment without difficulty. It's
ability to do so now will be deter
mined by the study about to be made.
But with an energetic group of citi-
zens and officials, possessing the
powers of the District Recreation
Board and charged with constant en-
largement and improvement of rec
reation in the District, the old system
of leasing facilities for the private
profit of other agencies is outdated
and it should be changed
Evening star., 1943-08-12
The ChiIdren's Hour?

For half century or more it has
been said that this is the young mans
age. when the youth of the country
was given and used its golden oppor-
tunity. Now it is becoming the chill
dren'S hour. Georgia, in referen-
dunn vote on constitutional amend
ment to give eighteen-year-old boys
and girls the privilege of voting in
State and national elections, sup
ported the proposal three to one.
In a measure this is curious mani
festation of war hysteria. A popular
clamor has gone up to support the
declaration that If a boy is old
enough to fight he is old enough to
vote. The girls do not flght-but it
would be politically impossible in this
day and age to discriminate between
the sexes. So the young ladies as
we'll as the boys are to have the privi-
lege of voting at eighteen.
The issue has been agitated in a
number of other States, but in none
has it gone as far as in Georgia. If
the war ended tomorrow, the mat
ter probably would be dropped and
forgotten. But as things stand today
there is every prospect that the ques-
tion of teen-age voting will come be-
fore Congress in the shape of a pro-
posed amendment to the Constitu-
ton to lower the voting age in the
whole country to eighteen. Senator
Vandenberg Of Michigan is the au-
thor of such a resolution, now before
the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Boys have fought in every war of
the United States. This was particu-
larly true during the Civil War, when
youngsters filled the ranks of both
Union and Confederate armies. And
while we have coupled arms-bearing
and the right to vote, no comparable
effort was ever made in the past to
lower the voting age to the age for
military service. Nor have we ever
approached the question from the
other direction and argued that if a
man is too old to fight, he is too old
to vote, or if he were physically in
capacitated he should not 60 to the
polls.
Under most of the laws, boys and
girls do not become of age until they
are twenty-one. And the RESPONSE
bility of voting requires, or should re-
quire, mature point Of view. Mill
tary men have found that boys OF
eighteen make good soldiers. They
can be trained easily and they have
the necessary physical stamina. But
the question is whether, year in and
year out, in times of peace as well as
in time of war, eighteen-year-old
boys and girls should become full
nedged voting citizens merely because
the boys, in time of war, make good
soldiers.
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Presumptuous Puppy
With nil his n,,nnn c,,r;os;tu

With all his puppy curiosity
He shifts dandelion, strangely
Unite.
He pauses, startled, phen from quiet
ness
A fluffy star takes instant flight.
Then standing on three legs of for
titude
And puppy courage having not
fa1D,
He strikes the seemingly nudactous
thing
With one presumptuous, question:
ing pau.
Immediately the starry ponder
breaks
UnaUed and by no means to be
outdone,
He scamperS through the conStella-
ttons like
A rampant meteor In fun!
ROSE MYRA PHILLIPS.
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Another Allied Conference

Prime Minister Winston Churchill's S
sixth visit to the New World since
the start of the war is logically timed.
The momentous developments of re-
cent weeks, political as we'll as mill
tary, have so altered the world pic
ture that fresh face-to-face consul
tations between the supreme Allied
leaders and their advisers are clearly
called for. Despite the perfecting of
long distance methods of communi-
cation, modern science has not yet
replaced personal contacts as the best
way of attaining a full meeting of
minds.
The fact that Mr.. Churchill came
to Canada, is stopping in Quebec,
and is comforting first with Premier
Mackenzie King invests his trip with
an inter Empire as we'll as inter-
Allied character. Canadas role in
the world war is increasingly impor-
tant and is high lighted by the splen-
did showing of the Canadian division
in the Sicilian campaign.
The chief difference between the
factual setting of this and preceding
conferences is that politics and diplo-
macy are more in the foreground.
This does not imply that military
matters are any less important. On
the contrary, military action on a
grand scale is needed to implement
politico-diplomatic trends and has
ten their fruition. An Allied invasion
of Italy appears imminent, while
direct Allied thrusts against German
held Western and Northern Europe
may likewise have become feasible.
Yet the very successes of United Ma
tions arms in the Mediterranean, on
the eastern front, and on the seas
with the partial elimination Of the
U-boat threat, have combined to
cause disintegrating repercussions in
the ranks of our enemies. The recent
fall of Mussolini and the Fascist
regime in Italy, which virtually shat
tered the European end of the Axis,
is merely one phase Of process that
is going on and can be accelerated
by wise and forceful Allied political
action. The hour thus obviously calls
for major decisions in the realm OF
policy as we'll as of military strategy.
The one drawback in this other
wise bright prospect is the absence
of Soviet Russia in the forthcoming
conference. The President has frank
ly admitted that the meeting will be
strictly Anglo-American, while in
ferentially expressing his regret that
not even an official representative OF
Premier Stain is likely to attend.
Thus today, as at Casablanca and on
similar occasions, the Soviet Union
holds aloof from participation with
the Western Powers in their discus
sions and planning.
This studied aloofness may be ex-
planned in several ways, notably by
Moscows disinclination to risk COM
plications with Japan by taking part
in proceedings which logically in
clude the Pacific as we'll as the Euro
pean war theater. Nevertheless,
Moscow's attitude suggests a basic
lack of understanding between the
members of the United Nations on
political aims for both the war and
the postwar period. This is the great
uncertainty which will uneasily per-
sist until it is dispelled by unequivo-
cal evidence that Soviet Russia and
its Western associates in the war
have arrived at a genuine agreement.
Evening star., 1943-08-12
The Difference
From the Topeka Capital.

From the Topeka Capital.
AS we interpret the retorts of the New
Dealers, it isn't politics If the President
or his spokesmen outline publicly their
plans Tor the future. but it is very po-
litical II the other party calls attention
to the vote-appeal phrases in the
speeches. AS said before, it is unfor-
tunate that politics have been wrapped
up in military dress. Just now the Amer
lean people are more concerned with
winning the war, getting their boys
home and establishment Of stable and
workable economic program. They are
impatient with those who use the mill
tary necessities Of the country for politi-
cal aggrandizement.
Evening star., 1943-08-12

all at once, it would be-oh well,
there is no particular use in going
into that.
There are two points in this dis
cussion. One is that almost every
body in Washington can say with
perfect truth that this is the orneri-
est summer we have ever had The
other is that there are lot of folks
in Washington who pose as friends
of the people. If they can do any
thing to prove it, now is the time. II
not, let them hold their peace.
Evening star., 1943-08-12

rub out the illusory gain that lies in
higher wages.
1t is to be expected that the de-
cision will be disappointing to the
men and women in the shipyards
But realistic appraisal of what is
good for the country-and that in
cludes their own best interests
may persuade them that the right
course has been taken.
Evening star., 1943-08-12

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the tDriter, although the use of
a pSeudonynl for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters ,uith
a uie,D to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-08-12

O. Do all reindeer have horns7-
p. s. A.
A. Both male and female reindeer have
horns. Those of the female are smaller,
less sweeping and more simple.
Evening star., 1943-08-12

O. Is orel pronounced as IT Is spelled,
IT. T. s.
A. Orel should be pronounced "or-yol.-
Evening star., 1943-08-12
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hasktn.

y . Ne'e' 70 y T1uoNfIt.
reader can get the dns,Der to anv
question OF fact by ,prttfng The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. HaSkin. director, WASHINGTON.
d. c. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. What proportion OF the men re-
jected for military service were rejected
because of illiteracy9-H. B. r.
A. Almost 100000 men have been
rejected for military service because of
iliteracy. This is about one-third of
those rejected for physical, educational
and moral defects.
Evening star., 1943-08-12

@. Why is the Rock of Gibraltar so
named?-W. B. I.
A. The name of Gibraltar comes from
the one-eyed Moorish conqueror, Gebal-
Tarik, who landed there April 30, TIL,
and to Commemorate his first victory
called the rock by his own name.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20
AVILTON

Quite a few people from this COM
munity attended the funeral of Hiram
S. Coleman, held in Frostburg, on
Sunday The body was brought here
and inferred in the Robson cemetery.
Claud and Mildred Funk, of Fort
Ashby, W Va; Pfc. Earl Beachy,
Camp Mccoy, Wisconsin; Sergeant
Charles Beachy, Harvard Field, Ne
braska; Mildred File, Of Washing
ton, D. c., and Mr. and Mrs. Oscar
CLANCY and family spent Monday eve
ming with Mr. and Mrs Ohio Fike and
family.
Alvin Broadwater spent Sunday
with his father and family.
John Merrill, of Merrill, spent Sun
day with Jesse Merrill and family.
Mrs, Leonard Wilhelm spent Sun
day with her parents. Mr.. and Mrs.
Stewart Grove.
James Robson spent Sunday with
his uncle, Harold Fike
Mrs. Marshal Broadwater is still a
patient at Miners hospital, but is
slowly improving.
Mr., and Mrs. George Fike and
daughter spent Sunday evening here
with his parents.
Oscar Weitzell is spending a few
days with his brother John and
family
Mrs. Marvin Warwick, Mary Turner
and brother, James Turner, spent
Saturday afternoon in Cumberland.
James Turner spent the weekend
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

one If tba racont a,,ivaIs n tba
famed limited States Marine COINS
trainino haso Of par,is Island Sontb
Carolina is Richard 4 NcPohio Of
Swanton Private NcRobio will ba in
basic t,.ainina bore for aho,+ two
tionaI combat scbooIino He is tbo SON
Of Mr. and Mrs Carol NcPohio
49,.
Co,,,.,,., u,;,,..... 7..r. ,r
l ''' ~, r,, '' r wv ''N' C''''e - ms
nome from camp Lee va ana re-
NAMED few days with his parents
near GOrtnpr
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

U-boat ship sinkings were cut in
half in April.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Other news about Men in the
Services will be found on Page Eight.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Albert Thrasher, World War | vet
Gran, gassed in a battle in France,
was taken to Memorial Hospital in
Cumberland on Monday in the Boil
den ambulance Mr. Thrasher's CON
dition is critical. Physicians at the
hospital have advocated a blood trans
fusion and Emroy Bolden, accompan-
led by six volunteers, left here this
for Cumberland to give their
blood if necessary.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Alphonsc Barello, Jr, L. S. Navy.
who is attached to the Great Lakes
Training Station in Illinois, arrived in
Oakland on Wednesday for a visit
with his parents.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Corporal William Fulk, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Clarence Fulk, came to his
home from Camp Lee, Va, and re-
NAMED few days with his parents
near Gortner.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Sgt Emerson H. Fike, of Aberdeen
Proving Grounds, spent a three-day
fmlough here with his parents, Mr..
and Mrs E. R. Fike.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Corp. William Tillett, with an en-
gineering unit in Panama, who has
been in a hospital in Butler, Pa, for
several weeks, is spending a furlough
here with his parents, Mr.. and Mrs.
". NJ. TilIett.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

Charles T. Shaffer, Of Mt Lake
Park, now located in Sparta Wis,
was recently promoted to the rank of
technical sergeant.
The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1943-05-20

ing slowly.