davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-09-13
End Of the Roma

1t is not possible to read of the
violent end which overlook the Ital-
ian battleship Roma in the foam
flecked blue waters of Bonifacio
Strait without experiencing the hope
that the death of this great warship
marks the beginning Of a better day
for the Inflated fleet that was to
convert the Mediterranean into
Mussolini's lake.
The Roma, with other Italian war
ships, was steaming for Malta to sur
render to the Allied forces. She was
just clearing the strait between Cor
sica and Sardinia when bombers ap-
peared high overhead. The black
crosses marked them as German and
the Italian squadron opened up with
all Of their antiaircraft guns. But
the Romas time had come A single
bomb plunging out Of the blue sky
struck the 35.00O-ton battle wagon
amidships, and within twenty min
utes the Roma broke in two and
settled to the bottom Of the Medi-
terranean. Only the oil patch,
spreading across three-quarters OF a
mile Of water. marked the last rest
ing place Of this trim ship which had
been built to fight, but which had
never been put to the test OF battle
until she was caught by the Jun
kers 88s.
There will be many to wonder how
it happened that the Roma, one Of
the finest Of Italy's ships, was de-
stroyed by a single bomb. BY our
standards, at least by our lay stand
ards, a modern battleship should be
able to take more punishment. Some
of our own battleships have sus-
tanned direct bomb hits without be-
ing put out Of action. When the
Bismarck was caught in the North
Atlantic she took infinitely more
punishment before finally being sent
to the bottom. And the Repulse and
the Prince Of Wales were hit time
and again by Japanese bombs and
torpedoes before they went down.
Was this just lucky hit that hap
pened to find vital spot on the
Roma? Or have the Italians, in
building their battle feet, gone too
far in sacrificing toughness for speed
and fire power? Perhaps, before long,
we shall know the answers, for it
may be that the future will find the
Roma's sisterships fighting with the
Allies against the remnants of the
Axis. If that day comes perhaps the
Roma will be avenged. And it may
be that what remains Of the Italian
fleet, which has been the laughing
stock Of the world, will attain re-
spectability in the fight for freedom
which it could never hope to achieve
while serving the purposes Of a
uyo111d.hn fvrorf
Evening star., 1943-09-13
La ScuIu

No lover OF music will fail to regret
the destruction of the Teatro della
Scala. Surpassed in size only by the
San Carlo in Naples, the famous
Mllanese opera house has been an
institution Of worldwide significance
Tor generations. It's place in the his
tory of drama sung to orchestral
accompaniment was the highest.
To illustrate the value of the estab-
hshment, the judgment of Lewis M.
Isaacs, writing in the Americana,
may be quoted. From the year 1900
to about the middle of the eighteenth
century," he says, opera bears prom
lnently the ineradicable mark of the
land OF its nativity. I" . From Italy
the new art early found its way to
France, Germany and England, con-
voyed by Italian producers, sung by
Italian artists, the music set to Ital-
Ian libretti." It was at La Scala that
this movement reached its apogee.
The building was constructed be-
tween 1776 and 177S under the SUPER
vision OF Giuseppe Piermarini, who
also designed the Villa Reale at
Monza and other important monu-
ments. Most critics regarded the
vast theater as externally unin-
pressive," but the interior was well
arranged and beautifully decorated.
Enrico Caruso referred to the acous-
tics as heaven for singers"
According to tradition, the opera
house acquired its name from the
circumstance of having occupied the
site OF a church founded by Beatrice
della Scala. She was a lady of the
celebrated family to which the great
scholars Julius Caesar and Joseph
Justus Scaliger also allegedly be-
longed. Her husband, Bernabo WIS.,
CONT, is chronicled as one of the
most powerful princes of his time.
Ruling Milan and its environs from
1878 to 1885, he was an able but quar-
relsome dictator who did not hesitate
to challenge Popes Innocent VI and
Urban v as well as the Emperor
Charles ~. Incessant war obliged
him to levy taxes which the local
community regarded as unbearably
oppressive. His wife, however, was
gentle and pious, and she figures in
many legends which still prevail in
the neighborhood where her life was
spent.
Fascinating stories likewise have
been told Of the distinguished must
Evening star., 1943-09-13
Good Judgment-ond Bad

When Congress gets back tomor-
row, the legislators will be confronted
with at least two proposals to curb
inductions of men for military serv-
ice. One of these plans has been put
forward by Senator Wheeler, who
would stop inductions of fathers un-
til January /. The other is the pro-
posal by Chairman May of the House
Military Affairs Committee to halt all
inductions until we get the home
front adjusted to the fighting 'front.'"
The validity Of all such proposals
as these depends on what the armed
services need for the successful prose-
cution Of the war, and this, in turn,
comes down to a question Of whether
laymen in Congress or the experts
Of the military high command should
make the decision. There is no doubt
that the members Of Congress who
differ with the military men are per-
fectly sincere. But the record does
not indicate that their Judgment in
matters of this kind Is to be pre-
ferred.
Many members Of Congress op-
posed the Selective Service Act, con-
tending that 1t was not necessary and
that we should rely on voluntary en-
listments. They were wrong. Gen.
orally speaking, the same members
opposed extending the term Of mill
tary service beyond one year, assert
Ing that a year Of training was
enough. They were wrong. Similar.
", this group fought vigorously
against the proposal to lift the ban
on sending troops out Of this hemi-
sphere, again asserting that there
was no need for such a step. And
again they were wrong, as events
have shown. Finally, 1t was Chair
man May who advanced the remark
able prediction that the war "prob-
ably" would end in 1912 and that it
would "unquestionably" end in 1943.
Mr.. May was wrong as to 1912, and
there is very little reason to believe
that he was right as to 1943.
On all Of these points the high
command differed with the members
OF Congress, and in every instance
time has proved that the high COM
mand was right. Therefore, on the
basis Of the record alone, 1t is to be
hoped that Congress will not override
the judgmentof our military leaders
on such matters as the induction OF
married men or the induction of any
men. If the experts of the high COM
naand believe 1t is necessary to induct
married men, and If they believe-as
they certainly do-that we cannot
afford to stop all inductions, the
chances are that they are right.
Evening star., 1943-09-13
Price Fixing
Challenged.

IACC r AAHS
Challenged.
To the Editor Of The Star:
OF the two activities OF the OPA, one
Is legitimate while the other Is illegiti-
mate. Rationing in time OF war may be
necessary in order to provide fair dis
tribution of things which have become
scarce, but prices of all things, including
wages and rentals, are accurately de-
termined by supply and demand, and
these rates cannot be increased or de-
creased by the Government without
robbery OF either the buyer or the seller.
Under normal conditions all prices are
accurately fixed by the two contending
forces OF supply and demand. This
naturally has been the rule since the be-
ginning of civilization. Market prices
are therefore immutable. Every one de-
slres maximum incomes and minimum
expenses. 1t is the primary aim of DO
htlcal economy and wise craftsmanship
to secure this combination, but this can
not be done by governmental fiat or leg
lslation. 1t is pitiable indeed when leg
1slators resort to the childish method Of
passing laws intended to fix prices.
Ihere is no royal road to prosperity.
This can only be attained by fidelity to
sound economic principles.
HENRY WARE ALLEN.
Wichita, Kans.
Evening star., 1943-09-13
Russia's Case Argued
In Reply to Mr.. Brown.
To the Editor Of The Star.

10 the Edltor OF Ine Star.
Perhaps more than this reader Of The
Sunday Star wished you had omitted
Constantine Browns admittedly very
readable column from the issue of Au-
gust 20. Presenting no new authentic
fact, it built up an elaborate speculative
theory leading to the conclusion that
Russia would make a separate peace.
In the days before columnists and
and commentators attained their pres
ent pinnacle of editorial immunity, had
the common garden variety OF reporter
turned in a batch Of copy In which pow
erty OF fact was padded out with an
affluence of ut is believeds," ut is COM
monty concludeds," or "in many quar-
tiers 1t Is helds," his editor would not
have been deceived. Nor would he have
been restrained in the explosive quality
OF his disapprobation. He would have
leaped to the unhappy conclusion that his
faithful scribe, far from being out con-
ducting poll Of public opinion, had in
truth conceived and given birth to the
entire article in Mikes back room"
where the poor wight, stimulated by
scuttles of suds, had substituted fancy
for required leg work.
THE conclusion is being reached
here" blandly AYERS Mr.. Brown and
again "a number of Washington military
observers believe a Russo-German peace
this year must not be excluded" Just
where is this conclusion" reached, and
how many are "a number" since all of
us who follow the progress of the war in
The Star are, broadly speaking, wash
1ngton military Observers? Incidentally.
a few hours later Max Hill, former A. P.
chief. came on the air over The Stars
own station and stated categorically
(boy, boy, there's a commentators pet
$64 word, and you get it for nothine)
that United States military experts"
were sure Russia would make no separate
peace.
It's my observation that little boys
who in school can never make their
predicates and subjects agree, but are
hot stuff in mathematics, grow up to
become prosaic bank clerks, or enter the
hardware or insurance business, while
the kids who never know where to put
the decimal point are likely to be great
shakes at English and go on to glamor-
Gus careers in literature and journalism.
Maybe that's why some of us dull dogs so
frequently spot grotesque errors involv-
ing, usually, ciphers and decimals on
the front pages of our most carefully
edited journals. Within the week
famous literary light and top-fiight
commentator took dip into higher
mathematics long enough to advise his
public as to the relative velocity Of light
and the modern airplane. He missed the
right answer by matter of slightly
over 100000 miles.
Mr. Brown largely avoids figures.
The Allies furnished Russia billions of
dollars worth of materials" and he adds
''she obtained from us the weapons with
which to fight the Germans" Actually,
our lend-lease to Russia stands at
slightly less than two and half billions
at last report, and not over per cent Of
her war material comes from her Allies.
Russia's civil and military war casual
ties he estimates ut 26,500, 900. He could
have gone ahead and computed that this
Evening star., 1943-09-13
A Granite Determination

Usually it is distressing for busi-
ness firm to lose large order once
considered as in the bag-but not
always. Certain Swedish quarries,
for instance, had such an order and
yet look with ill-concealed compla-
cence over its recent cancellation.
Many tons of granite had been or
dered by Hitler and gang for use in
victory monuments to be set up all
over the Reich. and now. for some
mysterious reason, the Swedes are
told that the order is suspended
until further notice.
It cannot be said that the notifica-
ton has caused much surprise in
Sweden. 1t was very polite of the
NaziS to tell them, but hardly neces-
sary. for it has long been suspected
in that land of neutral observers"
that a slump in victory monument
planning was overdue in Germany,
and for that reason, along with nu-
merous others, very few Swedish
quarry workers had thought it worth
while to work up much of sweat or
toll in twenty-four hour shifts at the
sour task of getting out granite with
which to immortalize the features of
Nazi leaders. The most the Swedes
could lose would be quantity Of
peanuts, lemons or whatever stolen
goods the German government might
be using for money at the time of
payment, and that is more than Off
set by distinctly unneutral salts
faction with the backward progress
OF the Nazi victory business, now no
longer booming but boomeranging.
Evening star., 1943-09-13

clans who in comparatively recent
times have worked at La Scala and
resided nearby. Their careers were
commemorated in a museum at
tached to the structure now reported
wrecked. Among them the most
gratefully remembered is Giuseppe
Verdi, who just hundred years ago
achieved Immortality with the first
two OF his long series of operatic
masterpieces, "Nabucodonosor" and
I Lombardi," produced at Milan in
1912 and 1843.
Evening star., 1943-09-13
THIS AND THAT
BY Charles Z. Trdce,rell.

Purple jasmine climbers filled the air
with perfume
"A million stars shone overhead and
the only sound came from the woods
nearby.
"Firefiies fitted through the air and
you could hear the mournful croak Of the
frogs.
THE night was dark and still and
1t was then that inconsistencies crept over
me. Suddenly I wanted, with all my
heart, to be home.
THE farm was horrid place and I
hated It,
I could never spend six days here. I
could not even spend the night.
Then kind Of panic seized me. How
could get homer Could walk the 6
miles, and how could tell my host that
I didn't like his place?
All these conflicting emotions flooded
my childish mind and great lump rose
IN my throat. The tears would not stay
back. and I begged them to let me 70
home.
Il remember vividly how patient the
members of that family were, how they
tired to comfort me, and brought out
the old tiger cat and kittens, hoping to
take my mind away from my troubles.
But 1t was no use. The one kitten
and we're going home, II we had to
walk all the way alone.
I shall never forget how happy I
was to see the old homestead in the
shadows. had never considered it of
much real beauty, but 1t looked like a
palace IN the moonlight as we drove up
IN the middle Of the night
Nothing else mattered.
Il was home.
And so hope my niece does not
suner the pangs Of homesickness that
her aunt did 80 many years ago.
Sincerely, H. +. B."
EA
Inconsistencies Is an emotion known to
Thousands Of persons now In Washing
ton.
Fortunately for them, the National
Capital has all the excitement Of a great
city.
NO place IN the world can make one
as homesick as farm, especially If one
Is from town or city.
There is something about the loneli-
ness and the different sounds which are
enough to make any one feel longing
for home.
Our correspondent brings this out. In
memories OF yesteryear, by speaking in
one sentence Of the quiet, and then In
the very next Of the country sounds.
Those very sounds reinforce the quiet
ness.
What one misses on the farm ia tl,s
city noise. whereas IN the city one Il
very likely to curse it.
Even the suburban dwelIer At FIRST
resents the singing Of the birds at dawn
while the shrill voice Of the spring
pepper Is the last straw.
AS time goes by, the suburban dweller
comes to value the morning bird chorus
and looks forward eagerly to the annual
noise Of the peeper. For nothing /,
either good or bad but thinking makes
1t so.''
Evening star., 1943-09-13
SECOND STREET.

Dear Sir:
within the past few days q young
member of our family took her de-
parture for the largest city in the world.
How eager she was to go! She left be-
hind quiet home in small town where
she was born. Every member Of that
family is waiting to see how the venture
will turn out.
Her departure brought to my mind
the first time left home, and the MEM
ory Of that tragic journey comes back
to me as plainly as though it were yes
terday, yet quarter Of q century has
elapsed.
II was 10 years old and going to =
large farm to spend q week. How I
looked forward to that trip! I counted
the days and could hardly wait. My
little straw satchel had been carefully
packed and at last the great day ar
rived.
II was up at dawn and after hurried
breakfast went to the corner where I
was to meet the man who was to take
me to the farm 6 miles away. What .
great distance in those days OF poor
roads.
MY first disappointment was not be-
ing able to sit on the high wagon seat
and drive the horses.
II was to sit in the back, on some large
sacks of feed; but it was very uncom-
Portable, bouncing about, 50 I finally
settled at the edge Of the wagon and
let my feet dangle below.
This was not unpleasant and the long
jolting drive along the dusty tree Lined
road was delightful.
I'VE finally arrived at the old farm
house and I had glorious time gather
ing the eggs, watching the evening milk
ing, feeding the little calves and pigs
and playing with an old mother cat and
six kittens.
MY Joy knew no bounds when was
told might select one to take home.
II remember chose . striped one
and called 1t Tiger
Supper was served in the big, old
AAoAAAOAASAt Ao1lP.As AAtCI1clls
I can see the table now, with its red
and white striped cloth, its large glass
pitcher Of rich, creamy milk, homemade
butter. churned that afternoon; great
shiny blackberries, picked from the
country roadside, home ham and
huge mound Of snowy mashed pota-
toes.
The odor Of fresh homemade bread
filled the air.
There was yellow golden bantam
corn that had been growing in the field
not an hour earlier; plump sugar peas
from the garden, and last, the wooden
freezer Of vanilla ice cream that had
been ripening' in the cellar since early
afternoon.
I was permitted to lick the daslaer
when 1t was lifted from its frozen white
ness.
X
Later, in the cool, quiet evening. all OF
the family sat on the vine covered back
porch.
Evening star., 1943-09-13

was at least 40 times those of her two
partners.
No one doubts Mr.. Browns loyalty and
sincerity. But were saboteur, I'd not
waste time placing incendiaries in fac
tories-fire departments can put them
out; nor would I blow UP bridges that
skilled engineers would promptly replace.
Ia be columnist BY adroit aspersion
and deft innuendo I'd plant rumors that
would spread beyond any quenching, and
undermine confidence between INV
country and her allies. Once confidence
is destroyed, where is the engineer who
can replace that?
DWIGHT r. SCOTT,
Evening star., 1943-09-13
Hawthorne's Classic
Remembered.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In your edition for September S, John
Clagett Proctor, reviewing the "old
landmarks" Of lower Seventh street, re-
fers to the fact that the National Era,
in which Harriet Beecher Stoves Uncle
Toms Cabin" first was published, had
its office in that neighborhood.
Mr.. Proctor overlooked the publica-
ton in the same periodical Of an Amer
sican story Of certainly greater literary
value and OF equal interest, namely,
Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Great Stone
Face" George Henry Nettleton in his
notes on this allegory says: The Great
Stone Face'-The following sketch first
appeared in q periodical, q four-pags
Washington weekly, the National Era.
1t occupied four and half columns Of
small print In the issue for January "A,
1850" JAMES W. BERRY.
Evening star., 1943-09-13

Alexander the Great was a first
class looter and Napoleon I also
fancied himself along that line. 1t
appears that both were chewing
gum thieves compared with a certain
A. Hitler. Another difference is that
the last-named will have to put it
all back.
Evening star., 1943-09-13

A new tool has been. developed for
war work that drills square holes.
Even greater efficiency is expected
when another device has been de-
veloped to see to it that these square
holes are not filled with round pegs.
Evening star., 1943-09-13
Eloquent Silence

From the Vancouver Province
We may paraphrase about Quebec a
certain famous saying and remark that
never In history were 80 many saying
nothing about 20 much.
Evening star., 1943-09-13

1t has gotten so that Messrs.
Roosevelt and Churchill see each
other rather more frequently than
do close friends residing in New
York or, for that matter, Washing
ton. Stain still lives "in the sub
urbs," but it is thought that he, too,
can manage to meet up with the boys
some way or other.
Evening star., 1943-09-13

With the Danes acting as they are,
Adolf is losing his prize exhibit OF
benevolent Naziim.
Evening star., 1943-09-13
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the ,Drtter, although the use OF
a pseudonyns for publication is
permissible. The Star reserpes
the right to edit all letters NTH
DtetO to condensation,
Evening star., 1943-05-20
U. 5. Aide Reported Moving
From He|sinki 10 Sweden
By the Associated Pr,

By the Associated Press.
STOCKHOLM, May 20-Uncon-
f1rmed reports circulated in Stock
holm yesterday that Robert M. Nc
Clintock, American Charge DAT
faires in Helsinki, would leave the
Finnish capital and make his head
quarters in Stockholm. Mr.. Nc
Clintock remained in Helsinki with
one assistant when other members
Of the American Legation there left
for Stockholm last month.
There was no confirmation in off,
cial quarters of the new reports, but
Evening star., 1943-05-20
Dr.. MeikIejohn Hits ldeo
OF Re-educutinq Nuzis
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press. -.,
NEW YORK, May 2o.-Dr. Alex
ander Meiklejohn. retiring presi-
dent of the American Association
for Adult Education, said last night
it was childish arrogance" to as
sumo that the United States should
undertake the re-education of Ger
many after a United Nations vic
tory.
Speaking at a conference on adult
education, DR.. Meiklejohn said
Americans were a pressure group
people and said that I'VE, too,
need re-education in democracy.
He said that before the country
Evening star., 1943-05-20

competent observers said such q
step was possibility If the United
States decides against an outright
break Of diplomatic relations with
Finland.
Observers here pointed out that
by transferring operations to Stock
holm from Helsinki, the United
States could express dissatisfaction
with Finland for the cooperation
given Germany while leaving the
door open for quick reopening of
the Helsinki Legation when the Sit
uation warranted,
Evening star., 1943-05-20

entered the war interventionists and
non-interventionists, despite their
differences, both made appeal not
to uor reason, but to our selfsh-
ness"
Evening star., 1943-05-20

The sooner you get that War saw
ings stamp in your book the sooner
you will get victory in the bag.
Evening star., 1943-05-20
Buses Save Gasoline

Changing OF $50 buses in London
from liquid fuel to producer gas Is
expected to save 100000 gallons of
gasoline year.
Evening star., 1943-05-20
Nine. Poincure, Widow
Of President, Dies

BY the Associated Press.
Nine. Raymond Poincare, widow
Of the President of France during
the last war. died in a Paris hotel
yesterday, the Berlin radio said In
Evening star., 1943-05-20
juice. Pour over peaches.

JUICE. Fotf over peaches.
Sift d cup -four With baking
powder and II teaspoon salt. Cut
in Spry hne. Quickly done with
ty.p1s-crsosssd Spey D Add milk to
hour mixture. mixing with 4 fork.
Drop dough by spoonfuls on
peach mixture. Sprinkle With
granulated sugar. if desired.
Bake in hot oven (425oF.) 2S
TO 30 minutes. Serve hot With
cream OF TOP milk. Ssrvss 1 10 8.
Evening star., 1943-05-20

broadcast recorded by the Asso.
ciAted Press.
President Poincare died in Paris
in 1884 at "a. Nine Poincare. the
former Henriette Benucci, was born
in Italy.
Evening star., 1943-05-20

Suits Costly in ItoIy
A suit of clothes now costs in Italy
nearly twice what an Italian semi
skilled worker can earn in a month
Evening star., 1943-05-20

Every time you lick 4 War savings
stamp you help lick the Axis.
Evening star., 1943-05-20
Spry rich in food e,,ergu

wellbalanced diet must include energy foods Harder
work and longer hours due to wartime demands increase
our need for such foods Spy itself OF the richest sources
OF food energy Spy cakes and pies not only delicious
treat; they fill real nurtonal need as we'll so have them
often.