davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
THIS AND THAT
BIZ Charles E. TrGce1CeN.

"A new cage was bought for him, and
the next day the bird began singing
Justify as if none the worse for his night
out. Sincerely. L. w. w"
"THORNAPPLE STREET.
Dear Sir:
Il frequently read your column in The
Star and I find it very interesting and
instructive.
The robin has always seemed to me
to be the harbinger of spring, and I was
overjoyed and surprised to see one to-
day.
TT seemed very early for one, and
looked the matter up in a bird book.
where I was very much surprised to read
that this bird winters throughout the
United States.
Even though this is true, will still
look forward to seeing the robins back
in force, which will be to me definite
sign of spring.
Sincerely yours H. NJ. B. Jr."
&*
"E STREET NE.
Dear Sir:
Perhaps this will strike your fancy,
and help briefly to hearten those read
ers who are depressed by the thought of
the gloomy and cherries days in
February.
'MidWinter Revery of Summer.
"A huckster calling, Red ripe water
melonu
The clopping of horses hoofs upon the
street;
A swarthy ce-cream yender, dressed In
white,
Moving along, beneath the arChng trees.
Kaleidoscope Colors from a truck,
Laden with lettuce lemons and tomatoes;
An old man, browsing in the MONDAY sun,
His pet dog, apprehensive and alert;
Small, barefoot children, romping on a
lawn,
Playing at tag and looking for danda-
lions,
The querulous chirping of sparrows; the
blue
Of jays, fitting among the maple leaves
The smell of freshly cut grass; the deli
cate
gust of wind stirring the mqrgolds,
Making their shadows dance upon a
wall;
The rumble of distant thunder; fluffy
clouds,
Like puffs of cotton, blown across the
sky;
A swirl Of dust, and then a sudden calm;
The quietude which comes before a
storm:
And then the rain, drenching the SUM-
baked streets,
Cooling the air; scattering young and
old"
We thank these correspondents for
proving anew. even in a time of war. that
it is good thing to keep ones sanity,
common sense and poise.
To listen to some people go on. espe-
cially over the radio, you might think
no one dared act like human being.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
The Food Problem

The decision by Secretary Wickard
to press for adoption of the admins
trations farm subsidy plan, despite
five-to-one adverse vote by
House subcommittee. invites a COM
parison of the subsidy program and
the alternative of higher prices,
which seems TO be favored in Con-
eress.
In advocating the subsidy, or in
centive payment plan. spokesman for
the administration have expressed
the belief that it would stimulate the
production Of such foods as Irish and
sweet potatoes, dried beans, peas,
soybeanS. grain sOrghumS, fax and
some vegetables This would come
about, they say, because the farmer
would be assured of special aid in
otherwise eat away his profits. AS
these administration officials see it,
the subsidy plan is desirable because,
while adding to the cost Of Govern
ment, it would not contribute directly
to rise in the price of food
The alternative advocated in Con-
greSs calls for a revision in the
method Of computing parity prices
TO cover the cost of farm labor, in
Guiding that Of the farmer and his
family. 1t is estimated this would
increase food costs by about 20 per
cent. which certainly would add to
the pressure for additional wage
boosts. Furthermore, the proposed
change in the parity formula would
mean higher prices for all farmers,
those who cOlIabOrate in the war
food program as we'll as those who do
not. Another thing to consider is the
strong probability that the inclusion
by law Of farm labor costs in the
parity formula would be permanent
and not temporary matter. II is
quite likely that the subsidy plan
would be discontinued after the war.
but If experience Is guide the higher
living costs involved in the altered
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
FRANKLIN STREET NE.

From day to day as read This and
That column. concerning the apprecia-
ton of birds, think Of the experience
that came to me in the escape of my
canary bird. Perhaps it may be of in
terest and help to others.
One summer afternoon my canary
escaped through an open door to the
out flew to a group of elm
trees in the yard and commenced sing
ing Justify.
Every possible means was tried to
coax the bird into his cage, but to no
avail. He seemed delighted to be free
and hoped around as if in high glee,
but soon he became excited and be-
wildered at his freedom and, chirping
nervously, he flew across the street
Flying was easy for the canary, as
In being allowed to fly around the house
every day, his wings were strong, and
now he kept flying farther down the
street
BY dusk the canary had winged him
self half a mile from home.
GAS I followed the bird I kept calling
his name, Little Sing, Little Sing and
occasionally he would answer me with
a feeble cheep.
"A friend in trying to comfort me
suggested that the cage be hung low on
limb of the tree in which the canary
had seemingly chosen to spend the night,
stating that perhaps the bird would en-
ter the cage.
Night came, and in desperation, I left
the canary in the tip top of a tree.
The night was severe one with rain,
thunder, lightning and the wind high.
In knowing that the bird could not
forage for himself, it was fact that he
could not live longer than one day. even
If he survived the night, and if he did.
I knew the wild birds would attack him;
so the night was a hectic one for both
the bird and myself
"At daybreak the following morning 7
went to the tree where the canary was
last seen, to find that some one had
taken the cage
To my great surprise, at the call of
Little Sing there came feeble cheep.
and for two hours I tried to get my
pet to come to me, but he remained high
in the tree and flew around.
1T seemed as if further attempts to
regain the canary were useless, so T
walked slowly home
L had not been in the house more
than 20 minutes before there was a IA
miliar chirp in the yard, and on open
ing the screen door, there 1 saw my
canary clinging to the door post.
He became frightened and away he
went again; but now there was hope for
his return, and soon he came back and
flew inside with such force that he al
most stood on his head, but he gathered
strength to hop up on the dining table
and commenced eating breakfast cereal
from saucer.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Psychological Isolation

Perhaps the greatest progress
achieved in modern times is that of
the transportation of people and
goods between one point and another
on the surface of the earth. A COM
pany Of aircraft builders advertiSeS:
Mo spot on the globe is more than
60 hours distant from your local
airport" A traveller, 1t is alleged,
may go by swift lOng-range plane"
from New York to Chungking in 38
hours. The same person could make
the trip from New York to Moscow
above the clouds faster than he could
journey from New York to Miami
on a railroad track.
Such affirmations are startling
largely because everybody realizes
that they are true. Equally impress
Sive, however, is the fact that in the
field Of psychological geography there
has been very little advancement in
recent years New York and Chung
king are nearer than they used to
be in miles, but their peoples still are
very far apart. The same observa-
ton applies to Moscow and Miami,
to Berlin and San Francisco, to Mon
treal and BuenoS Aires, even to
Minneapolis and St. Paul and Dallas
and Fort Worth. By way of illuStra-
ton Of the difficulty, the experience
of a WaShingtonian on tour of the
United States may be mentioned.
Sightseeing in Cleveland, Detroit,
Chicago. Kansas City, Omaha and
Denver and talking with chance
acquaintance in those places he
learned how little he knew Of
the Capital In which he was
born. The questions Of strangers
obliged him to confess that he never
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Chinu's Voice


Nine. Chang Kai-shek may not
have come to Washington on an
official mission. She is travelling as
private person and bears no Gre
dentials as an ambassador. But
when she speaks at the Capitol today
1t will be the voice of China that will
be heard This beautiful, talented
and charming woman is one of the
great leaders of the world, and no.
where is that fact more notably ap-
preciated than in the Federal City of
the United States.
Her story has been told again and
again and needs no repetition now.
What should be stressed at the
moment is the Importance of the
noble cause of which Nine. Chang
Is the living symbol. Her country SO
short time as a dozen years ago
was land of turmoil, her people
were bewildered, her own opportunity
to serve them had not yet come. The
military masters of Japan realized
the weakness of the Chinese republic
and thought to take advantage of it.
How faulty was their reasoning has
been made apparent by the miracle
OF resistance developed by their
attack.
Nine. Chang herself is to be
credited for much of the courage,
determination, faithfulneSs and 10y
atty which the citizens of China have
demonstrated since 1887 Her patri-
otism Is in solemn truth a new life"
which quickens into creative action
each soul it touches. Strangers seeing
her pass, hearing her say only a few
brief and hurried words, feel in their
hearts an ardent and inspiring zeal
unprecedented in their experience.
A transcendent power is her endow-
ment. She stirs into fulfllment
great human hopes and aspirations.
No Axis nation has produced any
such magnificent woman.
The dynamic strength Of China
perhaps has been proved in no more
dramatic way than in Nine Chiang's
marvellous genius of leadership. AS
student, as a sociologist and philan-
thropist, as reformer, as a diplo-
matist and a negotiator, as writer
of effective books, above all as the
interpreter of her country to other
countries, she is factor of meal
rulable significance in the struggle
currently prevailing.
Out of the strife there must arise
A new civilization common to every
portion Of the earth. The materials
TOR world order, world justice, world
cooperation and world peace already
are available. When they have been
assembled in a single universal struc-
ture, Nine. Chiang's name will be
associated with it as one of its prin-
cipal architects. She does not need
to be told that the American people
are her friends and Chinas What
she asks is granted-to the limit Of
the resources OF the United States.
Her country is an ally especially
esteemed and dear, not the less so
on her own account
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18

due him since then-and understand that
he earned this money, or at least estab-
hshed right to it by doing certain
definite things he was requested to do
by the Agriculture Department during
the crop year ended June 30, 1912, such
as restricting acres planted to wheat
and to corn, the use of lime on land
and the planting of legumnous crops.
AS you say, the incentive payments
will do no good. On my own farm plan,
as recently worked out with members
OF our county committee, I will do
nothing I would not have done anyway,
but l am supposed to be earning an
incentive payment of an amount not
yet known to any one. Yet I was told
That II l cut down on some planned
acreage in Soybeans I would earn more
than if I planted the full field, and
soybeans are supposed to be one of the
crops needed. I need them, so I am
going to put them in the ground if I
can get the land in condition and the
necessary fertilizer. Enough protein
feed for my cattle and hogs will be
worth more to me next winter than
the incentive payment" I may get in
April or May, 1914, for the work 1 do
in 1943.
Frankly, it is my belief that if all of
the employees in Soil Conservation, Ag-
ricultural Adjustment Administration.
Farm Security Administration and every
other nom essential activity OF the Agri-
culture Department were transferred to
war work until the war is won, the
country and the farmers would be better
for the change.
AS to the labor, it is "mell of a hess"
and MeSsls. Byrnes and McNutt and all
other planners are just making a noise
ana producing nothing SO far as farm
labor is concerned. The damage has
been done long ago and none of them
can unScramble the eggs. Offered $50 for
5-day, 40-hour week as against $50
for 7-day, 84-hour week, which would
any sane man take? My own place,
raising beef cattle and hogs, does not
require such long hours but neither can
1t pay such wages.
AISItl4tu 10 tne gFdnC songs sung after
the last war and every one swore that
next time things would be different, and,
unless good friends lied to me, the
Army and Navy really had a plan to
handle manpoWer. But what happened?
Well, you tell EN-. So long as labor or
any other group is played off against
another group or is given special favors,
just so long the country will have COM
petition for self -advantage.
Incentive payments are just another
gadget to keep a big gang of people
busy doing nothing good. And, in my
own opinion, incentive payments are an
insult to the farmers who need no such
brides to produce everything they can
Give them balanced fertilizers, machin-
cry and efficient supplemental feeds now,
so they can plan for their spring crops
on the basis of labor they now know
they have and every real farmer will do
his job, without bunch OF Department
of Agriculture employees checking on his
acreage to figure out some measley bride
under the fancy title Of incentive pay
ment" D. N. BURNHAM.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18

had been In the White House even
for single moment, never had wit
messed meeting of either branch of
Congress, never had assembled to the
top of the Washington Monument,
never had been inside the Lincoln
Memorial, never had visited the
Folger Shakespeare Library or the
National Gallery. SO far as intimate
knowledge of those features of the
District of Columbia was concerned,
he might as we'll have been an in
habitant of the Belgian Congo!
Proximity is nothing unless it is
put to use. The grandest SpectacleS
Of North America-Niagara Falls and
the Grand Canyon-are within easy
reach of most citizens of the United
States, yet probably not one indi-
vidual in so has viewed either of
them. The average American never
has been more than 500 miles from
his birthplace More important,
though. is the circumstance of his
intellectual isolation. He speaks no
language save that to which he is
native, he corresponds with nobody
IN any friendly foreign country, he
reads none of the classic books of
antlQulty-nOt even the Bible; he is
able to earn his bread in only one
profession or trade, he never has
been in a church of another de-
nomination than his own; he listens
only accidentally to a cultural dis
cuSsion, symphony concert or an
opera; he cannot make repairs in
his own house or on his own car, he
is not even sure of the location of his
own heart in his own body-perhaps
for the reason that it is in his mouth
pretty generally nowadaysi
Barriers" the aircraft company
declares truly enough, have been
leveled Off" Mountains and oceans
no longer mean anything to those
who fly over them. But the mere
elimination Of geographic phenomena
is not enough. There never will be
peace in the world until the peoples
of different races and national origins
have been educated to comprehend
and to sympathize with one another.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Farmer Discusses Payments
To Be Made in Unknown Future.
To the Editor OF The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
Anent your editorial in The Sunday
Star Of FEBRUARY IA, Incentive Pay
ments," and the article by Owen l..
Scott, Pressure Groups Blamed for
Imitation" may I comment as follows?
The farmers who are expected to pro-
duce more foods and fibers in 1943 than
i'll any past year are still restricted as to
the acreage they may plant in wheat
and corn, both of which are necessary
In feeding cattle and hogs They cannot
buy now, as in the past, the special
feeds of the same high protein content
necessary to high milk production and
economic finishing of cattle and hogs
They do not have the usual labor, and
so must handle additional tonnage of
such feeds with reduced labor force.
They cannot procure labor at any price
they can afford to pay-especially as
their labor cost is not considered as
part of the present parity base.
just what are these incentive pay
ments? The farmers are asked to do
certain definite things and are promised
that il they do them extra payments
will be made at some future time. But
to do those things to get food this year
takes money-not next year but now
every week for labor, every month for
feed, seed and fertilizer and on the
barrel head for such necessary oil and
gas for tractor and truck use and for
such tires and machinery as he can
convince his ration board he actually
needs.
I regret to say it, but I do not think
that many of the farmers put too much
trust in long-range promises of future
payments for performance today. And
farmer cannot be blamed either for his
crop year, under soil conservation and
AAA practice ended June 80, 1912 The
farmer in Maryland, after TX months,
mas not seen a penny of the money
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Dangerous Black Market


dangerous black market in meat that
has established itself even in adj
vance of meat rationing. Unless it
is stamped out, the men in uniform
will not get the meat they need,
our lend-leaSe commitments to our
Allies cannot be met, it will be more
difficult to control prices, impossible
to control fair rationing and there is
definite danger to public health in
vOlVed in bootlegging of uninSpected
meat products. 1t must be stamped
out. o
But it will require more than ap-
peals to patriotism to stamp it out.
1t will require enforceable regula-
tons, for one thing, and existing
regulations obviously are not being
enforced. 1t may require some yield
ing on prices by the Government.
1t evidently will require better en-
forcement machinery. And it will
certainly require greater understand
ing by the consuming public, as well
as the farmers and the dealers, than
now exists.
a The black market is deplorable,
yet it is not altogether the result of
racketeering or bootlegging or lack
of patriotism. These are inevitable
accomplishments, not the cause, of
the black market. The black market
is the result of price ceilings eS-
tabliShed on meat products-with
livestock prices northumberland
limitations on the number of animals
slaughtered for civilian use. In re-
spect to the first, price ceilings on
meat products have remained fixed
while prices on livestock have gone
up, catching many dealers between
the alternatives of evading the price
ceilings and thus becoming black
market manipulatorS, or going out
of business. Limitations on slaugh-
ter apply only to the slaughterer,
and these limitations are not being
observed by thousands of farmers,
unfamiliar with the OPA regulations
or disregarding them in view of high
prices for their livestock. Nor are
they being observed by butchers and
professors who, cut off from their
normal meat supplies by restrictions
on the regular slaughter houses, are
going to the country and buying
livestock from the farmers and
butchering it on the spot.
The black market must be elimi-
mated, But so complex is its struc-
ture that appeals to patriotism will
be fruitless and will tend to weaken
other appeals made in the name of
patriotism, unless such appeals are
accompanied by a careful re-exam-
ination of existing regulations. Price
Administrator Brown is correctly de-
termined not to give way easily on
prices. But no change in regula-
tons, provided the amended rules
can be enforced, can possibly be as
dangerous as the creation of an I'M
controlled black market. Various
suggestions are being made, includ-
ing the purchase of livestock only by
the Government, raising the present
ceilings on meat products, permits
sion to slaughter only by certificate
and more control Of local conditions
by county war boards If mistakes
have been made in existing regula
tons, their quick acknowledgment
and correction now, while there is
time, is the sensible course.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
Bp Frederic J. HdSkin

A reader can oct the dnSlrer TO any
question of tact bv ,oritinq The Ere
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J, HdSkip, director. Washington.
D c. Please inCloSe stamp for return
postage.
Q. Is glass a liquid or a Solid?-N 7. r,
A. Glass is liquid. though rigid
one.
Q. How many soldiers Of Napoleons
army returned home after the campaign
in Russia?-S. Y.
A. Even though Napoleon did not lose
real battle in this campaign, not more
than 100000 of the original force of
about $4,000 came out of Russia
@ Is the irish Free State stiu part
of the British Commonwealth OF Ma
tions?-H. Ct
A The first article of the ConStItu-
ton declares that the Irish Free State
is co-equal member of the community
Of nations forming the British Com
monwealth of Nations.
@. Where in the Bible is St Pauls
greatest argument for resurrection?--
I. NJ. T.
A. 1t may be found in I Corinthians,
chapter Is.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 70riter, although the use OF
q pSeudonyn for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters NTH
a Uie1U to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-02-18
Breeds of Dogs-A 46-page Govern

Breeds of Dogs-A 46-page Govern
ment publication to help the dog
fanCier in selecting dogs for various
purposes. Includes breeds best known
and mostly widely raised III the United
States. Many of the breeds described
and pictured are useful for such pur-
poses as handling livestock, guarding
the house and premises against ma
RAIDERS and hunting Others included
are kept primarily as companions and
pets. The history of as breedS-frem
Airedale to Whippet. To secure your
copy of this publication inclose s
cents in coin wrapped in this clipping
and mail to The Star Information
Bureau.
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