davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Syracuse

News of the taking of Syracuse by
the troops of the United Nations "sets
the echoes flying" Americans who
had thought their classical training
wasted suddenly find themselves
happy to remember something of
what in their youth they read in
Botsford and Breasted. The ruined
metropolis of the Western Mediter-
ranean suddenly becomes a place of
contemporary Importance to them.
Perhaps surreptitiously, they bring
out once more neglected textbooks Of
high school and college, and the
pages have a friendly feeling.
Grote's History" for example,
says: Syracuse was founded the year
after Naxos, by Corinthians, under
the leader named Archias, Hera-
cleid, and probably of the ruling
caste" The date of the original set
tlement was 1874 BIC. How soon
thereafter the colonists began to
build the monuments whose remains
still dot an area twenty-five miles in
circumference is matter Of specula-
ton. The Temple Of Minerva whose
materials now are in the duomo,
Santa Maria dele Colonne, was
erected between 600 and 500. In
those days the city was "the most
cultivated as well as the most pow
erful" In the Greek world.
Then came the third Pelopon-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
A New Approach

Opening of fifty-bed unit at GAL
linger Hospital today for the treat
ment of venereal disease marks the
beginning of a new phase in the
attack on this plague in the District,
more significant, perhaps, for the
change in public sentiment which
brought it about than for the imme-
date results to be achieved. The
value of the results, of course, is not
to be minimized. But here we have
the first organized attempt, to be
made through the cooperation of
the police, the courts and the health
authorities, to provide compulsory
treatment for those arrested in con-
nection with the suppression of COM
mercialized vice. The Districts COM
municable disease law will permit
committal of persons so apprehended
in some cases; in others, the law may
have to be amended to permit deten-
ton for diagnosis. Certainly the plan
to commit women for treatment is
more intelligent than sending them
to jail for time or releasing them,
after payment of fines, as carriers of
disease. Combined with the medical
treatment there is the opportunity
for occupational therapy and other
forms of moral rehabilitation which
have proved successful in other COM
munities. The eradication of vene-
real disease is not public health
problem alone, but the new effort
represented at Gallinger is one
important approach.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Crisis in Italy

From this distance it seems more
than passing strange to learn that
German and Italian propagandists
are striving to bolster the fighting
spirit of the italian people with the
dire threat that they will have to
renounce all claim to their colonial
empire, including Libya, unless they
are able to ward off the impending
Allied invasion of their homeland.
This is threat which implies that
the Italians still have claim to their
empire-a claim which will become
enforceable on the day that Germany
wins the war for them. But even
assuming the tightest censorship OF
truth and the most adroit propa-
ganda, the Italian people must know
by this time that the empire upon
which they have expended so much
of their wealth and their blood has
been torn from them. And they must
know also that the promise of victory
and booty, which seemed so bright
on the day when they struck at q
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Labor Board Curb

Labor circles can be counted on to
observe carefully the results of the
legislation just signed by President
Roosevelt to prevent the National
Labor Relations Board from investi-
eating collective bargaining agree
ments if they have been in effect
three months without challenge.
The prohibition, written into the
boards appropriation for the new
fiscal year, is by-product of the
row stirred by the agency's inquiry
into closed shop contracts negotiated
by the American Federation of Labor
at three Kaiser shipyards, which
were attacked by the Congress of In
dustrial Organizations. Supporting
the restriction, the Federation con-
tended it would afford protection
against membership raids by its rival
raids, it was added, in which the
CLIO was aided by the board. The
CLIO has countered with the charge
that the new legislation represents
IAN open and fragrant drive toward
weakening and destroying the Ma
tional Labor Relations Act for the
benefit of the enemies of organized
labor"
One immediate effect of the law
will be to halt any action in the
Kaiser case, leaving the AFL in I'M
disputed possession of the field. The
same is true of any other contractual
dispute where the surrounding cir
cumstances are similar, as the board
is forbidden to spend money on COM
plant cases not instituted within the
prescribed time limit. That this re-
striction may hackflre against all or
gained labor however, seems not
unlikely development. Company
dominated unions continue to be
illegal, but once such an organiza-
ton has existed for three months
without complaint, it does not appear
that anything can be done to dis
establish them under the terms of
the legislation which has now become
law
According to the board, the new
legislation also will work hardship
on management, as the necessity for
filing complaints of unfair labor
practices before the expiration of
the ninety-day limit will mean the
institution of actions without the
careful study now given-a prelim-
mary which also permits large
majority of cases to be disposed OF
without formal complaint.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
President Reproached
For Mercy to Traitor.
To the Editor of The Star:

On July l President Roosevelt COM
muted the sentence of Traitor Max
Stephan from death to life imprison-
ment The President pointed out that
the statute recognizes treason of diff
ferent qualities, that Stephans act was
unprecedented and thereby of lesser
reasonable quality. and that therefore
the extreme penalty was not justified.
This may be true, but Stephan did his
best to help Krug back to Germany to
kill more American boys. He also got
his relatives to help. Even if his act
was unprecedented Che did not know
that a Krug was coming, it made no
difference in the quality or effect of his
effort to destroy America. Now the tax
payers must support this traitor for the
rest of his natural life.
Let us consider another fact. We
know that differing qualities or degrees
of patriotism willingness to serve their
country are found in the men of our
armed forces. Some enlisted, some went
willingly when called, some evaded the
call. But there is no difference in the
perils they face. When struck by bullet
or shrapnel, caught in fallen plane or
blown up by torpedo or mine, they die
the same death and equally quickly.
There is no preference in favor of the
more patriotic. But in the case of
confessed traitor, difference must be
invoked to keep him alive. This should
please our fighting land dying men.
Stephan had boosted from the start
that he never would hang. The Presi-
dent has enabled him to make good on
that Boast. This gives aid and comfort
to our enemies. both the fifth column
lists at home and the Nazis, Fascists and
other barbarians abroad. Americans
have word for this.
The President expresses the hope that
No future President will further COM
mute Stephan's sentence. Why should
they not. Who began the committing of
a traitors sentence? If one President
thought the original sentence too Sc
we're, why should not some later Presi-
dent think the present sentence too Sc
we're? 1t is much easier to start bad
practices than to stop them. Why not
set . good example7 L.
CARLETON r. BALL!
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
"ALBEMARLE STREET.

Lear Slr.
"our bird feeding. which has now been
carried on continuously winter and
summer for several years, Is probably
responsible this year for our having more
birds in the yard than ever before.
Twenty-six species have been identified
actually on the feeding tray. This years
additions to the list include the brown
creeper, brown thrasher. wood thrush
and Savannah sparrow.
But the high light of this season has
been two episodes of bird bathing. Early
in the spring . Maryland yellow throat
and cerulean warbler were seen bathing
together at the edge Of the lily pond.
Today cardinal and scarlet tanager,
both males, took q bath together in the
same bush that was being drencned by
spray from the rotary sprinkler. It GER
tainly must be seldom that one has the
opportunity to contrast the coloring of
these two beauties in such close prox-
unity.
your column continues to be source
OF daily pleasure.
Cordially and sincerely yours p. w."
There seem to be more birds this sum-
mer everywhere.
And they are much friendlier than
usual.
Just why or how this happy result
comes about, no one seems to know, but
no one will quarrel about that.
Sensible people accept the birds. and
try to keep them, because they are a
source of pleasure and interest.
They also tend to keep garden in
better condition, especially a vegetable
garden.
1t is impossible, of course, to prove
just how much good they do. The only
possible way of proving is to slay them
and examine the contents of their
stomacns
Fortunately, this has been done many
times by scientists. Any one interested
may find out for himself In books just
how many insects have been discovered
in the stomachs of birds.
1t reasonably may be expected that
every bird Of the same species lives up to
the record of the specimen which was
used to make the count
So when some one sneers at the birds
as insect destroyers, as some one is sure
to do, remind him that the proof Is on
record In many and large volumes.
Let us accept the birds, then, as espe-
cially good in spring and summer, when
they are feeding their young, and need
ing literally thousands upon thousands
of insects.
Insects are the baby food" of bird
land, since all baby birds are fed upon
them, even though later they may eat
seeds only.
But it is fact that even in autumn
and winter the birds eat millions of
insects, cleaning them up as they can
find them, IN the different dormant
stages.
Even the seed-eatlng birds, those
which remain here all winter, eat grubs
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
THIS AND THAT
By Charles =. Trace.oell.

and worms when they come upon warm
days in winter.
And their insect-eating pals Of the
summer nave gone South, it must De
kept in mind, and are there routing the
insect hordes.
1t may be believed that II 1t were not
for the birds, the tropical and semitropi-
cal countries would fairly crawl with m
sects of various sorts.
The insect conquest of the world,
which many scientists have predicted Tor
years, will begin in the tropics, If 1t begins.
The lush growth there Is ideal for all
forms of life.
The rising tide of insects would over
whelm the North, If 1t were not for the
yeoman work the birds do in our Soutn-
ern States in the fall and winter, pre-
paratory to coming North And then
when you think OF their added need Tor
insects for baby food, while here, you see
how much they help us.
Our correspondent calls attention 10
the beautiful picture he saw wnen Two
This Is one of the best ways to please
the birds IN summer.
Turn the hose, with fine spray, on a
shrub, and let the water drip down
through the leaves.
There is nothing the birds like better,
on hot afternoon.
Many species will fly into the spray
and 10 10 Onnd hath SnrpoHinC their
wings and tails, enjoying themselves
immensely.
Hot summer days make it difficult Ior
the birds to locate insects. Watering the
lawn flushes up the bugs making
them easily available for all birds, espe-
cially the robins.
Many friends of birds think of bird
baths, and see that they are kept nueo,
but they often overlook the part the
hose can play in helping the songsters.
Soak the ground, every now and tnen,
by taking off the nozzle and turning the
stream down somewhat. This is not only
good tor the grass, but helps the song
sters, too.
The fine spray is always appreciated
by the birds. Usually it hits shrub.
falling down through the leaves, making
a watery bower for such species as like
to bathe this way.
Two of them have been named by our
correspondent, two of the finest, the
faithful cardinal and the scarlet tenager.
Almost all the warblers like to take a
bath this way, so any one particularly
interested in these shy birds will find
this one OF the best ways to attract them.
1t is a good idea to select some shrub
not too far from the house. Then keep
q pair OF binoculars handy, so that no
time need be lost when bird is spotted
Looking around for binoculars has lost
a better glimpse OF many birds TOR many
people. Keep the glasses out and open
focused on the selected point. In this
way no time Is lost. This is particularly
| good advice when it comes to warblers
They may be on their way to Alaska, ano
have not much time to waste.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

nesian War, sponsored by ambitious
Alcibiadcs in Ais. Athens sent to
Sicily the mightiest expedition ever
organized by any Hellenic state.
When the attackers might have
gained comprehensive victory, they
preferred to wait for "a more favor
able moon" Thucydides reports the
result. Defeated in two actions in
the harbor, the invaders attempted
to retreat overland. Hundreds were
slain, thousands were imprisoned in
the quarries. The Jowett translation
concludes: "Of all the Hellenic
actions which took place in this war
or indeed Of all Hellenic actions
which are on record, this was the
greatest-the most glorious to the
victors, the most ruinous to the
vanquished."
But Syracuse was less fortunate in
later ages. The Carthaginians were
beaten of in 397 and, by Timoleon,
In 344. Against the Romans, how
ever, resistance was useless. The
city was conquered in 263 and in
212. 1t was sacked by the Franks in
279 AID. and reduced to subsection
by the SaYacens in 878. A series of
earthquakes in 1912, 1898 and 1757
wrecked surviving structures. The
modern community occupies the
rocky island of Ortygia and the
adjacent mainland. Houses are
small, crowded together and not
well-kept. The Museo Nazionale,
boasting a magnificent collection of
Steel artifacts, merited visit; but
tourists in the period before Mus
solini commonly contented them
selves with trip to the Greek
amphitheater, the largest known,
four hundred and fifty feet in diane
ter, from which splendid view of
the harbor was obtainable Saint
Paul is supposed to have "tarried" in
the neighborhood, and Shakespeare's
Ageon was Syracusan merchant.
One turns pack to the news of the
moment with an impression of con-
tinuity. Just recently there was a
popular musical show which testified
to the perseverance of the legendary
eminence of Syracuse which now may
be revived in real fact.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

times the dictionaries bow to the sta
tistics of usage" OF course. they do,
and in so bowling the recent dictionaries
place "ray-shun' in first place, if, indeed,
they list any other pronunciation.
Since he has admitted the prevalence
of 'ray-shun" prevalent means, gen
orally or widely accepted; extensively
existing; widespread'D, how can he de-
clare that 'rash-un" is the fashion"
fashion means 1.-The prevailing conven-
tional usageD, denying the statistics of
usage, the findings of the dictionaries,
and analogy with nation" and sta
ton? I submit what every dictionary
shows-that ration" does conform to
the identical pattern familiar in nation,
station" FRANK o. COLBY.
Houston, Tex.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Pronunciation Of Ration"
Discussed by Orthoepist.

To the Editor Of The Star:
The article in The Star of July 3
quoting Kemp Malone on the proper
pronunciation of the word ration" is
very interesting. 1t also is very confus-
ing. In the interest of accuracy, and
because there is so much public interest
in the pesky word and its pronuncia ton,
I feel impelled to point out that Mr..
Malone apparently has got his facts
sadly awry.
He sweeps aside the pronunciation
"ray-shun" tas in nation, station'D be-
cause 80 ration with the fashion
pronunciation is word derived not from
Latin but from the French" He states
further, SO and in many parts of the
English-speaking word ration with the
nation pronunciation is now obsolete
in good earnest This is not true, for
he himself admits that ''ray-shun" pre-
walls in this country. But If it were true,
he could not know it to be true unless
he had conducted national poll on the
preferred pronunciation of the word.
(The results of my own poll will be
given to the public shortly.)
Contrary to Mr. Malone's statement,
the word ration" does come from the
Latin ratio" If Mr.. Malone will turn
to any good French dictionary, say the
Larousse, he will find the Latin ratio
given as the origin of the French 'ra-
ton" See also any good American or
British dictionary.
He is correct in holding that our word
ration" came into English from the
French. But that fact alone does not
nunciation 'rash-un" to rhyme with
fashion" Quite the contrary if we are
to follow his reasoning, for both ma
ton" and station" are as French as the
left bank of the Seine. Moreover, many
scores of "-ation" words have entered
English from the French: Salvation, ella =
ton, carnation, citation, creation are but
a few. And each was originally Latin:
Salvatio, elatio, carnatio, citatio, creatio
mote that each of these Latin words
ends with the "-atio" as in "ratio").
AS matter of fact, the sufix "-ation"
itself came into English from the French,
a language that is simply corrupted
form of Latin, as are Spanish, Portu-
guese, Italian, Rumanian. Provencal, etc.
Mr. Malone appears to believe that
nation" and station" have no relation
to ration" for, in commenting on the
dictionaries preference for "ray-shun, /"
he states, LAS ration seemed to conform
-
tion,' and the like, most photographers
gave that pronunciation first place"
Now I am truly bewildered.
If "ray-shun" is the prevailing pro-
nunciation in America, and he asserts
that it is, then it must be regarded as
more correct than "rash-un." On the
other hand, If "rash-un" is more correct,
and he asserts that 1t is. because we got
the word from the French, who pro-
nounce it with approximatelyssthe fat
"a" of fashion," then "nash-un" and
"stash-un" also must be correct since
nation and station" like ration, :"
were French before they were English
and are pronounced by the French with
the fiat "a" as in fashion" And this,
then, will have to be true also of the
large number of other "-ation' words
which we have borrowed from the
French.
My puzzlement increases with Mr.
Malone's observation that In recent
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

defenseless France, has gene the way
Of their empire.
For the people OF italy there is
but one real question today: How
best to save their homeland from the
ravages Of invasion. And no matter
how urgently their Fascist leaders
may call upon them to do or die, 1t
must be apparent to the rank-and-
flle that Italy's hour Of defeat is close
at hand. German troops may defer
the final blow for q few weeks or a
few months, but no amount of propa-
ganda can hide the grim fact that
Italy has gambled and lost.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin.

4. ~ . '~ES' ~ - A4cHsSs
A reader can get the nnswer to any
question OF fact By uriting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hnskin, director. Washington.
D. C. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. What was the cost OF the present
war to the United States in 1s42?-H. p.
A. War expenditures by the United
States Government In 1912 totaled s52,-
406 100000. This was 3.8 times the
amount spent In 194l.
@. When was 1.-THE Star Spangled
Banner" sung for the first time as the
official national anthems. e. T.
A. DR.. w. j. Hart states that the event
occurred in the United States House Of
Representatives when the Seventy first
Congress came to close March 3, 1881.
Notice had just been received that Presi-
dent Hoover had signed the bill making
the song officially the anthem Of the
Nation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

Uncle Joe Stain has written a book
that already has sold more than five
million copies. 1t is now thought
that this middle-aged and plain
spoken gent has the makings of a
real author.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

The baby tapir born at the Wash
ington Zoo is, strangely enough. of
the usual gray color It had been
thought that it might turn out to
be red tapir.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

A butcher, foolishly persuaded to
buy carcass OF beef from black
market operator, had to discard it as
inedible. In other words, some one
gave him bum steer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

Crabs are such crabs! They have
picked this, of all years, when there
is a definite and deplorable labor
shortage in the industry, to show
phenomenal increase in their num-
berS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

An Oklahoma City youth who has
been reported dead three different
times is now in the Army A case
OF three times and in," rather than
three times and out"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13

For home consumption to boost
morale, the Nazi radio now operates
on an almost continuous boast-to-
boast hook-up.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Americas Favorite Poems-You are

Americas Favorite Poems-You are
certain to find many of your per-
sonal favorites among the 80 clas-
sizes printed in this 48-page publica-
ton. The poems included in this
selection have stood the test of years
in popularity and literary value.
There is great enjoyment for every
one in this collection of popular
poems. To secure your copy of this
publication inclose- Is cents in coin
wrapped IN this clipping and mai
to The Star Information Bureau,
Address
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-07-13
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address OF
the i0riter, although the use of
pSeudonyna for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
a uieiU to condensation.