davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-08-07
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles Z. Trace,pell.

Hunger brings out all the intelligence
and meanness in man or beast
This has been shown in European
communities where food riots have taken
place.
1t may be demonstrated in little in
any yard where bird feeding is car
ried on.
Erect a feeding station in such a
way that squirrels or pigeons cannot get
to the food, they will Immediately turn
on all their wits
They will become belligerent where
before they were calm and peaceful.
The other day we grew tired of a
dozen pigeons which frequented feed
ing station designed for smaller birds.
We had tried before to get rid of
them, but, not being willing to add to
the bloodshed now bathing the world,
we wanted to outwit them.
Persistence will often accomplish re-
suits where harsher methods fail.
Unfortunately, the pigeons know this,
too.
They may be accounted the most per-
sistent of all feathered things.
This time, we thought, we will be more
persistent than they are.
Easier said than DONE" the pigeons
would have said, if they could have
used words.
Whitley. in particular. would have
spoken so, we feel confident.
Whitley Is mild d-mannered bird, one
usually run around by the others
She had never pecked at another,
nor chased after them.
We secured an old wire trash burner,
placed saucer Of seed and grain on
the ground, and inverted the burner
over it.
First we had wired the burner 50 that
the pigeons could not stick their heads
through at the bottom.
This scheme, however, did not work,
because squirrels could get in, and these
scattered seed out in all directions, some
OF 1t to points where the pigeons could
stick their necks through and get it.
So we upped the burner, and lined the
sides at the bottom with heavy paper.
The idea was to prevent the seed from
being scattered out through the wires.
4 +
1t is easy enough to build bird feed
Ing station so that only the desirable
songbirds can get into 1t.
1t is quite another thing to construct
one SO that they cannot scatter seed
and grain below
Whatever is thrown out will feed
pigeons.
The pigeons which come where bird
feeding is carried on are usually un-
desirable common species.
Pigeon fanciers hold them In con-
tempt.
Wiring their necks," is the usual pre-
scription given by pigeon fanciers.
Evening star., 1943-08-07

of national honor If we win the war
and knowing that its redemption
would be of relative unimportance
If we did not.
The real mystery about this cur
rency, however, is why its history, the
authority behind it and its purpose
should be considered a military Sc
cret. What is the secret? That
we are using it in Sicily? That
we used its counterpart in North
Africa? That we may use more of it
in Italy and Germany? From whom
is it necessary to keep this secret?
From the Germans and Italians?
What would they do about it if
they knew? A secret from our own
people? Why should they have to
wait to find out until Mr.. Morgen-
thau decides that all can be told?
What is there, as a matter of fact,
to tell?
1t is hard to understand why there
should be any secrecy about our in
vasion money or any other kind of
money that bears the seal of the
United States. And the danger of
making military secret out of it
is that it tends to clothe with sus-
picions, if not ridicule, other infor-
nation withheld on the same ground.
When the Treasury chooses to share
its secret about invasion money it
should also reveal what made the
money a military secret.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
A Marked Man

A marked man Is Leo Laverne,
wanted by the FBI for parole viola
ton. Leo Is walking gallery of art
the tattooer's art: and If, In the
present laundry crisis, he ever loses
his shirt. along with 1t he will lose
his liberty. For be 1t known that the
shirt conceals a large shield with
eagle, two American flags, sailboat
and rising sun. Tucked away in
odd anatomical corners are two
stars. a heart. a crucifix. another
bird. a rose and bracelet. In the
vast open spaces of the vest are
scene from Pearl Harbor, another
sailing ship, another eagle and
dragon. The words ~. S. A., 1881"
and Manila, P. l.. 1922" also assist
Identification. A setting sun, three
more hearts, butterfly and
bouquet of flowers are additional
adornment. to say nothing of three
pretty girls. Through the tangle, in
close quarters, races a string of
thoroughbred horses, and here and
there are occasional glimpses of Leo
himself.
Leo also has flngerprints on file,
but even Mr.. ]. Edgar Hoover admits
that this is gliding the lily, and that
they will hardly be necessary. Any
one spotting Leo In the raw is re-
quested, as soon as his eyes recover
from the glare, to stagger to the
nearest telegraph office and notify
the F'BI.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Mount Etnu History

British troops are fighting on the
slopes OF Etna. The burning noun
tain is the symbol of Sicily. When it
Is taken, the whole island will be-
long to the Allies. Meanwhile, how
incredible it is that only a few
months ago none but a few profess
sional military men had thought of
the road into the Axis fortress of
Europe as leading past the steam
ing crater which allegedly was Vul-
cans forge The classics are being
brought very close to living genera
tions.
For instance, consider Empedocles.
How strange it is that he should owe
his present fame to Hitler! The
time in which he lived was the fifth
century before Christ. He was ma
tive of Agrigentum, the son of
citizen Of wealth. Even as a youth
he won celebrity for his knowledge
of medicine and natural history. In
his maturity he was known as a
poet, a philosopher and a statesman
all combined. His consequence
became at length so great that
he ventured to assume several OF
the distinctions Of royalty, particu-
larly purple robe, golden girdle,
Delphic crown and train of at
tendants." Miracles OF healing were
attributed to him. His conception
of the deity was rationalistic and
logical. He glimpsed the modern dis
covery that there is no real destruc-
ton of anything in the universe but
only "a change of combinations" :"
His theory of human knowledge
glorified pure intellect" above the
evidence of the senses. He died at
sixty, and dwellers in the hills about
Catanta still insist that the manner
of his death was deliberately dra-
matte. In order that he might spend
eternity with the gods, they believe,
he threw himself into Etna's flames.
The volcano cast out his bronze
sandals to solve the mystery of his
disappearance.
Other, more reliably documented
eruptions were those of ATS BIC. and
396, the former described by Pindar
and Aeschylus. The lava reached
the sea in 1859. 1929 and 1881. Espe-
edally devastating was the activity
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Wartime Impressions
And a Hint Toward Peace.

To the Editor Of The Star:
To any one interested In teeming
humanity there Is no more alluring and
absorbing spectacle today than Is found
in our Nations Capital
They come from all sections Of the
United States, these many thousands;
they represent all classes, professionally,
indGstrially, socially. Each newcomer is
a recipient, gratefully or the contrary, of
the citys many advantages. And each
is a contributor to its well-being-or the
contrary.
That the housewives Of America are
among the Nations most patriotic
citizens cannot be disputed. Cheerfully.
they adapt themselves to rationing; the
tedious process Of selecting, making the
points" reach; the long waiting in line;
the carrying home OF the heavy bundles.
Have you seen that crippled woman
doing this? She Is doing 1t every day.
Have you noticed those elderly women
with packages too heavy for their weak
ened backs and arms? And the younger
woman with child Cor severaD toddling
at her side-sometimes babe In arms
for young children cannot be left at
home alone.
Women are not complaining Of this,
their job, their contribution to the cause.
They do protest, however. against the
insolent treatment they often receive
from those who serve, the persons behind
the counter, men and women. Those
iI-bred individuals who mistake dis
courtesy for efficiency should be in
structed that poIteness pays and that 1t
requires no more time than rudeness.
That goes for all employees everywhere.
1t means those who serve in public
eating places. in ofices and elsewhere.
1t means those streetcar operators who
drive as though hell-bent to exterminate
the Huns and Japs. That driver who
ignores the value Of human life, who, in
a dangerous emergency fails to slacken
his speed-what can we say Of him?
We've seen it so many times-storm
and sleet, binding the eyes; slippery
crossing; glare from passing autos; the
burden of an umbrella and perhaps
bundles. The pedestrian having all these
to contend with must meet the jangling
imperious approach of streetcar whose
operator sits high and dry. Sometimes
the threatened victim is a child-We pity
him as he scampers for his very life.
Sometimes an adult, possibly infirm. No
allowance is made for disconcerting Cir
cumstances. What does it matter that
a human life is at stake? The casualty
report reads: He walked directly in
front of the car
Speed has become fetish. No time
for the things that make for peace.
After this war is over we're going to
have peace. Oh! Yeah! Are we? Yes,
when people realize that peace is q
product of right attitudes in human re-
lations, and it must begin in the indi-
vidual before ever it can be realized
between nations.
MRS. L, J. LAWSON.
Evening star., 1943-08-07

OF 1862 The number of important
disturbances since 100 are reported
as forty-thr Gladstone, Queen
Victoria's democratic minister,
climbed to the edge of the sulphur
GUS pit in 1888 and left a vividly
graphic account of the experience
in his journal. How deep is the cav
ity may be guessed from the enor-
nous quantities of molten rock ex-
PEELED upon the surrounding ter
rain. One prehistoric flow exceeded
1,100 million cubic feet; and there
have been several comparatively re-
cent carpetings of equal dimensions.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Count the Costs

NO American WOuIQ Qeny 10 Cne
armed forces anything that will aid
them, preserve life, and bring more
speedy victory. The cost of war Is
something else. 1t can be higher or
lower, depending on the wisdom OF
the program and the efficiency Of
procurement and economy in ex-
penditure. President Roosevelt, in
his recent summation OF the 1914
budget, makes no plea for careful or
curtailed expenditures. His plea is
for the spending of at least $100, ,000,-
100000 in the present fiscal year.
Expenditures of money are essential
to the war. They will not necessarily
win the war. On the other hand.
excessive taxation may sink the
American people.
The Chief Executive and his Sec
retary of the Treasury are demand
ing a greatly increased revenue from
taxation. Sitter" taxes is the pro-
posal. Secretary Morgenthau has
made public tables showing that this
country is meeting 35.9 per cent OF
total Government costs-which in
cludes the cost of war-as compared
to All per cent by Canada and SIT
per cent by Britain. The impression
conveyed by these percentages would
be more accurate, however, If it were
pointed out that the United States is
spending a great deal more on the
war than either Britain or Canada.
The reaction of members of Con-
gress to the demands for greatly
increased taxes is both natural and
to the point. Chairman Doughton
of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee, Chairman George Of the Sem
ate Finance Committee and Senator
Harry Byrd OF Virginia have prompt
ly suggested that some effort be made
to keep down the cost Of war. These
are signs that the Congress in the
future will be more particular; that
it will demand fuller information as
to the needs for huge appropriation
bills, which follow the estimates sent
to them by the Executive.
Senator Byrd has pointed out that
the appropriations and authorize
tions for appropriation already made
by Congress have far exceeded the
actual spending ability of the Gov
ernment for war purposes. Indeed,
the President himself, in his budget
summation, said that in the three
year period ending June 80, 1943,
$3.50 900 ,000,0 900 had been appro-
priated for war purposes and that
only 100000 had actually
been expended. At that rate, the
Virginia Senator said, enough money
has already been appropriated by
Congress to carry on the war for
another two years If the Presidents
goal of 100000, 100000 annual ex-
penditure Is reached.
The time has surely come when
there must be closer scrutiny of ap-
preparations as we'll as of expendi-
f1,rec
Evening star., 1943-08-07

We were determined to outwit the
birds.
Usually such outwitting is nothing
more than the use of bit more brains,
combined with persistence
Unfortunately, when the latter in
gredient is used, one is entering the
personal province of the pigeons.
Wher 1t comes to persistence, as we
have often said here. there is no other
bird, probably no other creature, quite
their equal.
Having lined the bottom sides, for a
distance of inches up from the ground.
We sat back to see the realization of
pigeon dreams.
We could see them, we thought, find
ing 1t impossible to get food, and finally
going away, one by one, until all were
gone.
Well, the frantic efforts Of the big
birds to get at the seed were extremely
interesting.
They went around and around the
burner. like the wooden figures of a
merry -go-round, minute after minute,
trying to find a way to get at the seed.
Each pigeon thought, 1t was plain,
that he could find entry.
So around and around they went
poking their bills at the paper, even
trying to pull it down with their feet.
This went on for many minutes. with
Whitley turning from mild to vicious.
She began, for the first time in her
life, to chase other pigeons.
She would peck at them, as they came
around the circle, and succeeded In
frightening most of them away.
Finally, only she and another pigeon
were left.
1t was working!
But we had forgotten about pigeon
persistence.
Finally Whitley managed to make .
break-through in the paper.
A few seed were kicked out by the
birds, and these were devoured by
Whitley and her companion.
They were enough to renew their de-
termination.
They spent the next few days hack
ing away with their bills at the heavy
paper.
The next morning we looked out of
the window.
Whitley and her pal will be gone,
we thought.
But nothing of the sort. Wl,itsv va
there with II others, all milling around
the wire container.
She had torn down an entire section
OF paper, and a squirrel inside was CO.
operating to the extent of throwing food
In all directions, In his effort to get at
the sunflower seed.
Evidently nothing but wire mesh will
do the trick. But where is one to get
wire mesh these days?
Evening star., 1943-08-07
SATURDAY
How Are We Doing?


In an address delivered at the East
Texas State Teachers College,
Speaker Rayburn apparently has un-
dertaken to squelch criticism OF this
country's war effort. And since the
Speaker made public considerable
amount of military information, it is
presumed here that he spoke with
the knowledge and approval of the
President.
Mr.. Rayburn had no apologies to
offer for the job we have done in
raising. equipping and transporting
the Army. And he told the "grum-
lins"-a composite grumbler and
gremlin-that our war effort is "bet-
ter than we know" Mistakes here
and there were conceded and the
Speaker acknowledged that some
things had been done the wrong way,
but on the whole he spoke as a man
who is we'll satisfied with the job
that has been done and full of conf
dence for the future. Now it may
be that this attitude is justified by
the record. Certainly our accom-
plishments have been anything but
small, and it may be true that we
have done better than we had any
right to expect.
But, II this be the case, what Is
the average citizen to think of the
warnings and exhortations which
have been coming from the top men
In the Nations war effort-men like
Secretary of the Navy Knox, Under
secretary Of War Patterson, General
Somervell and Donald Nelson? They
tell us that production Is slumping
dangerously, that complacency, over
confidence, strikes, etc, on the home
front are threatening to prolong the
war and needlessly sacrifice the lives
OF American soldiers at the front.
Only this week, Mr.. Byrnes, the
~assistant President" called in Ber-
nard Baruch to advise him on
methods Of checking the drop in
warplane production. How is all this
to be reconciled with the satisfied
tone of the Speakers address?
It Is possible, of course, that there
Is no direct conflict between what
Mr.. Rayburn had to say and the rela-
lively gloomy statements which have
been coming from these other equally
authoritative sources. But it can
hardly be doubted that the impress
sions the public will receive from the
two sources are completely at va
rance.
According to the Speaker, we are
doing a swell job. According to the
others we are falling by the wayside
in a most alarming fashion. Won't
somebody put us straight? How
are we doing?
Evening star., 1943-08-07
The Twins
Bhthely, one laid aside hts homel

Bhthely, one laid aside hts hon,e,p
gear,
Looked long Dhtle oper the golden
teld;:
There ,Dds no room IN hts yonro
heart for fear;
Gladly he faced future xr-
repealed.
To-day, he scars Ger strnnce and
tur-of lands,
And deadly are the peapons IN hts
hands!
The brother plods the round OF toll
some tDuys,
He tends the farm, he knops his
fathers cares;
His mothers lope makes stoeet his
somber days.
Yet in his dreams, phat glorious
deeds he sharesi
Day after lonely day, he longs in pain
For him ,oho oayly dripes a silper
plane!
EMMA FRANCES LEE SMITH.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Criticism of Mr.. Grafton
Linked With That of OWL.

To the Editor OF The Star:
I especially enjoy the coluMnists' page
of The Star and often have said that
David Lawrence's articles alone, not to
mention half dozen other interesting
writer's are worth the entire subscription
price of the paper
I was disappointed, however, that you
gave space to such writer df, indeed,
he can be called thaD as Samuel Graf
ton Patiently, the object of Mr.. Graf
tons diatribe in The Star of August 3
was twofold: ID To whitewash the or
Evening star., 1943-08-07
But Maybe Yes!
FROM the Leayenworth Timex

from the LeaVenWortn Times,
One of the exchanges opines that as
the fourth-term plans shape up the
Nation should insist that Harry Hopkins
run for something and face the voters.
That's a fine idea. We dare Harry to
office. If he only should, wouldn't his
face be red when all the votes were
counted? He may be Mr.. Roosevelt's
fair haired boy all right, but he isn't
the public's-not by a whopping big
majority.
Evening star., 1943-08-07

Just think of it: There are now
100000 officers in the United States
Army. That is more men than Gen.
U. S. Grant ever commanded at one
time. Their shoulder insignia alone,
If melted all together, would prob
ably equal the weight OF all the
artillery he ever had at one time,
also.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Veto of Antistrike Law o.
Approved by Nonunion Man.

To the Editor Of The Star:
The Presidents veto of the antistrike
law was expected, for this law was a
compulsory labor law written between
the lines which was almost violation
of the Constitution.
Each conviction for violation of the
said law will be brought about by a
vetoed law, which nearly violates the
Constitution itself
am not and never have been a union
man, but I am opposed to laws in the
interest of capitalists.
This writer stands one hundred per
cent with the President on his veto of
the antlstr1ke law. I. v. SMITH.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the Uriter, although the use OF
a pseudonyn, for publication is
permissible. The Star reserUes
the right to edit all letters Dith
q DieD to condensation.
Evening star., 1943-08-07
Huskin's S Answers
To Questions
Bv Frederic J. Hdskin.

~ EfSeSfsS A1ohsRs
A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by ,oriting The Zoe
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. C. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
Q. How much blood has the American
Red Cross collected?-L. O. 8.
A. The American Red Cross collected
3,230,362 pints of blood between Feb
ruary, 194l, and the end OF June, 1e43.
O. For every ton of steel manufactured
in the United States how much coal must
be mined?-A. w. G..
A. For every ton Of steel manufactured
one and one-half tons of coal must be
mined.
@. What part Of the Columbia River
flows through Canada?-D. H.
d A. The Columbia River rises In the
Rocky Mountains In Canada and flows
400 miles through that country before
entering the United States in the north
eastern corner of Washington State.
The river is 1910 miles in length.
Evening star., 1943-08-07

@. What is the color OF the camoufage
suits In the Army?-Y. 8. H.
A. The camoufage suits are reversible
green on one side for jungle fighting.
brown on the other for desert and noun
tain warfare.
@. How long does 1t take a submarine
to dive?-D. E. P. ....
A. A submarine on the alert can crash
dive In less than a minute.
G. What city preceded Rome Is the
capital Of Italy?-E. L. n.
A. Florence was the capital of the
kingdom of Italy from 1865 to 1871. when
1t was transferred to Rome.
@. Is the climate in China similar to
the climate OF the United states?-O.
F.T.
A. The controlling factor IN the cH-
mate Of China Is the monsoon wind and
It's influence on precipitation. The sum-
mer monsoon, blowing warm and moist
from the south, and the winter monsoon.
coming dry and bitterly cold from the
interior, divide the year sharply into .
hot, rainy summer and . cold, dry winter.
@. How many families does bet have
In one year?-F. 8. ....
A. Bats have but q single family 8
year. About four young are born In
each litter.
@. What was known as the A, B, c, D
of the Navy?-S. r. B.
A. For about 20 years after the Civil
War the United States built no new
ships. In 1883 Congress authorized the
construction Of four modern cruisers.
These were named Atlanta, Boston, Chi
cago and Dolphin and were known as the
A, B, c, D Of the Navy.
O. What is the source of the quotation,
Beautiful that war and all its deeds
of carnage must in time be utterly lost"7
r. A. r.
A. This quotation is from Walt Whit
mans Reconciliation"
@. Does the term enlisted men" in
clude men who are drafted?-D. C. T.
A. Enlisted men include all privates
and noncommissioned men in the Army
whether they volunteered or were drafted.
@. What is the origin Of mourning?-
o. E. @.
A. Robert Briffault, in his novel, ELL
ropa," says that the origin Of mourning
Law, IN, 70 tLa
Of the ghosts of the departed by dress
ing in black, thus being as inconspicuous
as possible.
@. Are there any copies of the first
edition Of the McGuffey Primer in ex-
istence?-V. A. G.
A. OF the first edition of the McGuffey
Primer only one original is known to
be In existence. This Is the property of
Miami University.
c. How much nickel will be saved BY
using the new scent pieces?-B. P. A.
A. The new scent pieces will save 43s
tons of nickel a year.
Q. What are the requirements TO be-
come short snorter"?-P. M c..
A. The chief requirement to become .
short snorter" Is that one must have
flown an ocean at least once, in any ca
pacity, whether as q flyer or passenger.
A member must also carry q one-dollar
bill inscribed with the words Short
snorter' and the date Of his induction.
which he ran nreSHnt II hallspoad
Evening star., 1943-08-07

Fortune Telling-If you were born
between July % and August II you
have the external brightness of the
sun and the internal courage Of the
lion. Yours Is an honorable and up
right nature. You despise anything
that Is mean or underhand. These
are only a few of the characteristics
OF a person born under the sign of
Leo. Additional traits and qualities
Of persons born under different signs
are given in this booklet. Also in
cludes dictionary Of dreams, playing
card fortunes, signs, omens and super
stitions. To secure your copy of this
publication inclose Is cents in coin,
wrapped In this clipping, and mail to
The Star Information Bureau.
Name
Address