davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Births Reported

yernis and Marjorie Absher. girl.
Georse J. and Mildred Basby. boy.
Charles and sally Barthel, Eirl.
Edwin Edwin. and nd DoTothy .3T,,n ssrueh: .sa girl.
William and June Bieriein. IT,. boy.
Uric and Liese Bronfenbrenner, girl,
Wilbur and Anita Buddenbers. boy.
Edxard saei sd and Vnf Virsinia m coffman. girl.
Harold EaId and and Rpth Cole boy; u,r,
Joseph and Margaret Gross. girl.
Robert and Vera Davis, girl.
Wisd ySHsph and and Aspss WSsnea 1s7E brst. T, ,r
samuel and oiea Eller boy.
ksnn.h SSan shd ana Sans MaTss4st Eysns fssor s' .
s.S'R Scssp snd snd Eaiss EaRs sne5 srd f'I boy
aEaaSs apras.m 'aa and Mssths Ess.is dsps s sf nG
R Rsymond i and Msrs.Tst al.seos, boy.
gesepS ssa'R ana and s9e berethg Hseeisy' 1irl
S;s }smsS; u; and cssh.Idine Hal Han girl.
osorse and Amy Henry; girl
Louis LOUIS and i'd FRANCES Jackson, girl.
Walter and Ksthryn JENKINS, boy
Robert and VIRGINIA Jones, boy.
TaD Thomas and and Mildred Iavery. riri.
Hsn4s HaGd ans and Aeien Aaen Iis Isoxsf saz girl
Otto and Kathryn Lund, girl.
Clay ana Mandy Medine. girl.
James s and W Helen Monroe. boy 'l
James and az dlssys s.s me- McMshaa Ma boy or,
s1nsIs ana ins Rasi.s ssH:RCn a'
Edward and nd EleanST sII. Nelson glTI
.na ma cssssrns ststs seSMa Po1ts1. so3
Paul and Mary Quinn. boy: It.,
william and Elizabeth Saunders, sirl.
DS.n: GS.4:s .a ana dodi. :n smpsen snsseT f5 bo1
Richard and Mamie Stark. boy;
RolIin and Elisabsth Stevens. si.l.
Henns Henns' .na nao M.1s rassI Ivsra Iaoq Boy 00'
Anthony and Leonilda villella. boy.
yehR i''.s and h MsIy n.t,v. WaTEsn; WS;;. boy
james .nd Msrssret sisneh.rd. sirl.
imss t9ss .nd and G,,ei GnartY AreSn 59neT soy girl
Robert and Helen Butler. Tirri
Raymond and Rachel Hrownsr; girl.
Leslie and Lottie Gaines. girl.
| Henry and Eunice Gill. girl.
| William and Neale Goyan, girl.
| Wildrow and Mary Harley, boy.
Elmer and Hattie Holmes, girl.
David and Margaret Herndon, girl.
Leroy and Lille Jackson, boy.
| William and Bernice Jennings boy.
Peter and Christie johnson, girl.
Louis and Bertha Kimbrow. girl.
William. and Lula Richa rdson, boy.
Roosevely and Margaret Tolliver, boy.
Mckinley and Louise Wslker. boy.
william and Marie walker, twin stfls.
Frank and Eva Williams, girl.
Harry Hry snd Annie winston, {in.
Regihald and julia Wfikht. siY1.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Borr to Be Returned
For HoIdup Trial Here

John j. Barr. SO, released on bail
yesterday by Federal District Judge
in Philadelphia after being held in
the penitentiary on detainer in con-
nection with the 10-year holdup OF
the Washington Mechanics Bank,
will be brought back to Washington
to stand trial. Assistant United
States Attorney John w. Fihelly
said.
Barr, whose sentence for a 1893
bank robbery in Philadelphia was
commuted, is alleged to have been
one Of four men who held up the
Mechanics Bank at Eighth and G
streets Sc. and escaped with ST.
6s9.19. The other three pleaded
guilty and received jail and prison
sentences.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Henderson Initiated
Into Suints and Sinners
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Dec. 24.-Leon Hen
derson, former OPA administrator,
was initiated yesterday into the
Circus Saints and Sinners Club
which assured him it would "over-
look his recent reformation from
the Office of Profit Annihilation
and hang him for his past"
Wearing large red tag which
read "Ex-price Fighter" Mr.. Hen
derson was the fall guy Of two
hours of ridiculing skits and speeches
about himself and former associ-
ates.
He was introduced to the $500
members and guests of the fun
making organization Of prominent
New York businessmen as a man
who "blew into the public eye Like
any other irritant,"
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Is Pct. Gain Reported Here
In Department Store Sales

Department store sales in Wash
ington for November scored q sharp
gain of is per cent over the cor
responding month a year ago. re-
flecting an early Christmas rush for
gifts for overseas servicemen, the
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond
reported yesterday.
The upturn pushed sales in the
Capital in the first II months of
this year per cent ahead of the
like period in 1912. The November
advance in the whole Fifth Reserve
District was II per cent and IL per
cent in the II months, with 76 de-
partment stores reporting.
Greenville, S. c., led the November
rise in leading cities with a 80 per
cent increase over last year.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
BougoinviI|e 'Possum Captured
For Soup Becomes Marines Pet

brought into camp tonight and pre-
sented to Capt. william H. Shaw,
Of 1855 Arlington Ridge road, Ar
lington. Va.
Makes good soup" suggested
some one.
Capt. Shaw and the marines be-
came 50 attached to the 'possum
however, they decided to keep 1t as
a pet. They are gathered in the
center of the camp now, watching
the 'possum climb pole.
Bougainville natives call their
'possums "kopul," and their pigs
simply pig"
There are also a few crocodiles
and small kangaroos on Bougain-
vile,
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Judge Saves Marriage
OF Soldier at Front
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHICAGO, Dec. 24-A circuit
Judge refused yesterday to annul
the marriage of 17-year -old school,
girl and 20-year-old soldier who
begged the court in cablegram not
to destroy the only thing that keeps
me going"
The marriage Of Pvt. James Bruce
Godar, now fighting in New Guinea,
and his childhood sweetheart. Muriel
Vial, was ruled valid by Judge Rob-
ert j. Dunno, who dismissed an an
nulment suit brought by the brides
father, Paul E. Vial of suburban La
Grange
Pvt. Godar and Miss Vial were
married April % at Fort Sill, Okla,
where they gave incorrect ages to
circumvent laws requiring parental
consent.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Jewe!ry Store Loss
Set al 100000
In Two-Alarm Fire
Six Firemen Overcome
By Smoke in Shop
On Seventh Street

A costly two-alarm fire In the
Kay Jewelry Co. store, 400 Seventh
street NV, snarled trafic and at.
tracted throngs Of Christmas Shop
pers to the scene about $50 pm.
yesterday.
Starting in the basement, the
blaze spread rapidly through the
two-story store and threatened ad-
joining business establishments be-
fore 1t was brought under control.
About rs customers and Is sales
people made q hurried exit from
the building when some one noticed
smoke seeping up through the floor.
Firemen Use Gas Masks.
Firemen, six Of whom were par.
TALLY overcome by smoke, donned
gas masks, threw up an extension
ladder and climbed to the roof to
combat the blaze. They also climbed
through smashed windows on the
second floor. Marble beneath plate.
glass windows on the first floor was
ripped out to get hose lines into the
basement.
c. D. Kaufman, vice president
Of the Kay Associated Stores, esti-
mated damage would run between
100000 and 100000. He said the
stores fixtures were complete
loss. Firemen said origin of the
fire was undetermined.
Streets Blocked OFF.
Minor smoke damage was report
ed to the adjoining Boston Shoe
Store.
Policemen herded thousands Of
spectators back from the fire area.
Traffic was blocked of from E street
to Pennsylvania avenue and from
Ninth to Sixth street.
Another fire about $3.50 last night
in the office of the National Associ-
alton Of Government Employees on
the ninth floor OF the Westory
Building. COS Fourteenth street
NV, was quickly brought under
control. Firemen said the fire,
which began in a desk, caused DAM
age to furniture and walls.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Christmas Calendar
TODAY.

1oDh1.
Christmas eve tree celebration on
White House grounds beginning 2:l5
pm, with public admitted to
grounds at LAS pm.
Tree celebration at the Pentagon
all 80 am. to noon, community sing
Ing.
Formal dance at Phyllis Wheatley
sYWCA, 9Ol Rhode Island avenue
NV, 9 to II pm, sponsored by city's
three USO clubs for colored service
linen and war workers.
Parties for white servicemen and
hostesses at YWCA, YMCA and USO
Clubs, usually beginning at pm.
z Party and dance for officers in
armed forces, SCOTS Hotel for Girls,
- pm.
Party for servicemen and host
.sesses, Service Mems Club No. and
Masonic Service Center, at pm.
Carol singing followed by refresh
ments, New York Presbyterian
Church, pm.
Party given by SPARS for service
men and women, United Nations
Service Center, 7:30 pm.
TOMORROW.
Gifts for servicemen and women
at United Nations Service Center
near Union Station, throughout day
ess Open house at USO Clubs for
white and colored Dance for COL
islored servicemen, 3 to IL pm, in
sFWA dormitories, Wake Hall and
; Midway Hall; dance also in Lang
ston Recreation Hall, Twenty-third
street and Oklahoma avenue NE.
Band concerts In morning by
Metropolitan Police Boys Club
Band, starting at 6:15 am, at hos
pitfalls and homes of prominent OFF,
cials, including Commissioner j.
Russell Young. ~
Wounded servicemen from all
branches of service accompanied by
yservicewomen, luncheon, music and
J gifts. Uptown Washington Lions
Club, the Broadmoor, 1901 Con-
rfecticut avenue NV, 1890 pm.
: Turkey dinner for servicemen with
floor show in Service Mems Club
No. l at 8 pm; party, at 8 pm.
Party for servicemen and host
esses, Arlington Recreation Center
- pm. Gifts for servicemen.
- Formal Christmas dance for serv.
dcemen, Masonic Service Center,
pm.
Evening star., 1943-12-24

lives at 1914 South Carolina ave-
nue. Sc, evidently expected to en-
Joy some thrilling experiences for
he had written to her asking for
a diary as a Christmas gift, but it
is conjectural whether he expected
anything like the incident he sur
vived to win the air forces highest
! medal.
Smelling Breaks Oil Line.
In Mondays raid on Bremen the
: shellfire of a German fighter plane
broke the oil line on the flying
fortress, Tenn Knights in Barr
Room" piloted by 1t. Robert w.
Geib, of Great Neck, N. Y.
Oil sprayed all over the ball tur-
ret under the planes belly, block
ing Bridges vision. Although his
electrically heated suit was not
working properly. Bridges braved
the frigid gale to continue shooting
and is credited with helping hold
the Nazis at bay.
After the heavy attack was over
his comrades found him uncon-
scious, his hands and feet FROST
bitten.
Mrs. Bridges said her son orig
inally was in the tank corps but
transferred to the air service. In
the former branch he received two
broken ribs while on maneuvers
during a blackout when the tank
lin which he was riding, toppled over
bank. Later, while in training
at Walla Walla, Washington, he
underwent an appendectomy.
Sent Yule Greetings.
His mother said the first inkling
she had that he was going into
the war zone came in letter in
which he asked "how would you
like to get letter from England2"
Only last week she received a cable
gram from him sending Christmas
greetings to her and other men,
bers of the family.
An amateur boxer and football
player, Sergt. Bridges had been in
California about SIX years before
entering the Army about three
years ago. He attended Eastern
High School.
Mrs. Bridges has another son,
Sergt William Bridges, "a, a men,
ber of a plane ground crew. now on
duty in the Mediterranean theater
sof war.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
DC. Draft Registrars
Being Sent Forms 10
Aid Psychiatry Tests
information Is Sought
As Part Of Nationwide
Medical Survey Order

Two new information blanks are
being sent to registrants by District
draft boards to assist induction sta
tion psychiatrists in deciding
whether the men should be rejected
or accepted for the armed forces.
Part Of the medical survey
ordered nationally. the two forms
are sent to men classified or about
to be classified as available for. in
duction. v., .....
. These forms are the springboard
for a thorough background on each
individual in line with orders from
national headquarters that an
adequate medical, social and edu-
cational history be sent to the in
duction station for every registrant.
Identity Verification."
One Of the forms. the identity
veriflcation," asks for the regis
trant's name and address, his mari
tai status, the names and addresses
of his parents and of his family ply
sician. the registrant's previous ad-
dresses for the past five years and
the names and ages of his children
or brothers and sisters. This form
will be sent to mental hospitals to
determine II the registrant every
was treated or committed for
mental disease.
The second form, the "educa-
tional verification" Is a tracer for
the registrant's school history. On
this form, the prospective selectee
tells whether or not he can read
and write the English language and
other languages, how many years
tof school he completed, the name
and address Of the last school at
tended, his age and the date when
he left school and his reasons for
leaving school.
In announcing that the forms were
being distributed, selective service
emphasized that the registrant was
to name the last high school or
grammar school he attended and not
list vocational school or college.
Schools Send Histories.
District schools are already send
ing patches" OF school histories on
students over Is years of age to
draft boards for forwarding to Dis
trict headquarters The educational
verification is also sent to headquar-
tiers. If there isn't a matching
school history for the educational
verif1cation, the draft board asks the
school last attended by the regis
trant to supply special school his
tory.
The special history is briefer than
the ones now being sent In by the
schools and comments on the quality
Of the ex-student's work, his atti-
tude toward his teachers. his tend.
ency toward truancy. his dependa-
bility and how his classmates felt
about him.
The rest Of the forms on the pros
pective selectees are filled out by
medical field agents now being re-
cruited by District selective service.
Wanted are qualified professional
social workers who will serve on a
volunteer basis.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
4 Million Gallons Of Wafer
Flood Streets Of Buffalo
Nv tn. Assoe;.t.d p,s..

By the Associated Press. G.
BUFFALO, N. Y, Dec. 24.-Four
million gallons of water were lost
and the city's water supply was cut
OIL for two and a half hours last
night before a break in a 60-inch
main was by-passed.
Streets flooded SO rapidly that
John Arnold, 80, and his two sons
were marooned in their automobile
They were rescued by Coast Guards
in a rowboat.
-Four fire alarms were sounded
during the break, but firemen ex-
tinguished blazes quickly.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Black Market Prices
On Yu|e Turkeys Hi
IS Gents a Pound
Shortage Is Reported
About as Acute as
At Thanksgiving

Black market operators here were
asking as high as IS cents q pound
today for turkeys-appfoximately
20 cents over the legal ceiling as
stores distributed what's left Of their
meager supplies.
The black market was described
by the local Once Of Price Admin
istration as small but active. The
volume OF complaints OF overcharg-
ing Is heavier than at Thanksgiving,
an OPA spokesman said.
Reports Of violations are being
turned over to local ration boards
for investigation and enforcement
officers are continuing q vigorous
campaign to halt above-ceiling sales,
he said.
The very highest price allowed
under ceilings is 81 cents a pound
for young frozen turkeys. This
type Of bird was a rarity here, how
ever. Most OF them were either
dressed or drawn.
In stores in retail groups l, 2 and
3, top price on dressed turkeys of
average weight is So cents a pound
and for drawn birds, So cents. In
group 4 Qargest) stores, dressed
turkeys were 50 cents; drawn, 50
cents, and frozen, 66 cents. Live
turkeys over 20 pounds weight had
ceiling of AZ cents.
All available supplies Of turkeys
were being snatched up. At large
farmers market in Bethesda, house.
wives gathered before dawn in a
last effort to find bird. Most of
them went home empty-handed.
Supplies Of turkeys generally were
described as about the same as
Thanksgiving. Dealers admitted
there was not enough to go around.
Many persons were turning to
chickens as substitute but they,
too, were not plentiful. The OPA
said it doubted there were any black
market operations In chickens, how
ovor
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Miss TimberIoke Named
To Recreation Post

Miss Marion Timberlake has been
appointed director of recreational
activities for the Arlington County
War Recreation Committee. it was
announced today. s'
Miss Timberlake and Mrs. Nell
Deming, who has been appointed
clerk, will begin their duties jan
uary /.
The committee also announced
that fire escape has been COM
pleted at the Clarendon, center and
q seven-day program Of activities Is
being planned.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Charles Whiting Dies;
Was Alexandria Barber

Charles w. Whiting, 70, of e14
queen street, Alexandria, died yes
terday after an illness of six months
A native Of Alexandria, Mr.. Whit
ing had been a barber there for So
years, operating a shop at Fairfax
and Princess streets. He retired
about six months ago.
Surviving are q daughter, Mrs.
Helen Coats; a sister, Mrs. Matilda
Lucas, and two grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at
pm. Sunday in the Shiloh Baptist
Church, Alexandria, with burial in
the Bethel Cemetery, Alexandria.
Evening star., 1943-12-24

to beat OIL a
swarm of Ger
man fl 6 h t e r S
until 40-degree
b e low zero
weather chilled
him into uncon-
sciousness, h a S
won him a rec
ON m e n d alton
for the Distin-
guished Flying
Gross, according
to an Associated
Press dispatch
from England.
Sergt. Bridges,
Evening star., 1943-12-24
No Star on Christmas

anotner step IN the conservation of newsprnt paper
and IN order apply savings made this year against further
drastic reductions of supply in 1914 The Star not be
published Saturday Christmas Day. unless the receipt of
extraordinary news requires it. Publication also be
suspended for New Year Day-the following Saturday.
This will be the first time in % years that The Star has
not printed Christmas The same step taken now
was found necessary Christmas Day. 1920 which also fell
On saturday during . serious paper shortage.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Forest Fire Sweeps
10 Acres in FairIund

From 10 to Is acres of woodland
in the Fairlands section of Prince
Georges County, of Powder Mill
road. were burned by a forest fire
which hared up again today after it
had been brought under control late
yesterday.
Firemen reported that the blaze
spread over q section Of woods near
Beltsville, but that no dwellings
were threatened. Fire companies
from Silver Spring and Takoma
Park aided Prince Georges County
volunteer firemen In fighting the
blaze.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Republican Critics
Challenge kcKe|din
To Run for Senate
BY the AsSociatA6 Press.

6S lhe AsSOciateC f1ess.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 24.-Mayor
Theodore r. McKeldin OF Baltimore
is becoming storm center in Re-
publican party politics in Maryland.
Mayor Of the sixth largest city In
the Nation, he easily holds the top
job among Free State Republicans
and is being discussed as a possible
contender for Democratic Senator
Tydings' seat next year when the
latter comes up for reelection.
However, the Maryland Repub-
lican League. accusing Mr.. Nickel
din of "hetraying his party" issued
challenge to him to enter the
senatorial race, saying 'he would
be the worst defeated candidate ever
to enter a Republican primary"
Opposed BY COP Paper.
Further opposition to Mr.. Nc
Keldin's possible candidacy for the
senatorial nomination and to his
administration as Mayor of Balti-
more came from the News-Tribune
a Republican publication with offices
In Baltimore and Towson.
The paper asserted in a 'front.'
page editorial that Mr.nMckeldin
and Galen Z. TA4t Spnbli6an State
Central Committee chairmaa, we're
responsible for "the greatest sellout
of;any political party in Maryland. "
Insists He Is Not Candidate.
The paper Sid that Of 10 Key ap-
pointive positions in the city gov
ernment, Mr.. McKeldin had given
only two to Republicans. IL to
jackson Democrats" and one to a
Democrat and one to q jackson
Republican" The Jackson referred
to is former Democratic Mayor
Howard w. jackson.
Mr.. McKeldin has insisted he Is
not candidate for Senator Tydings'
seat, but commented that in all his
campaigns he filed only few min
utes before the deadline.
The Mayor earlier this week held
a conference with a representative
'of a group backing him for the
Senate.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Florida Governor Forqot
California Ruises Prunes

By the Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-When Gov.
Spessard Holland couldn't get his
usual grapefruit for breakfast at q
local hotel he ordered prunes.
He said he'd rather eat prunes
than Californa grapefruit.
A fellow visitor at the Municipal
League meeting then modestly re-
minded him that prunes come from
California, too.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Ali Council Elects

The Montgomery County Senior
All Council, has elected the fol-
lowing officers: Patricia Browning,
president; John Rolfe. vice presi-
dent; Marion Linthicum, secretary;
Warren Howes, treasurer.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
200 D. T.. Se|ectees
Allowed 10 Report
|Aiter YuIe al Home

Two hundred District selectees,
among them, a number Of fathers,
will be able to spend Christmas
with their families as a holiday gift
from Uncle Sam.
The armed forces halted induc-
tions for Christmas eve and Christ
mas Day are not requiring any
men to report for active duty until
Monday.
Included in the group reporting
Monday are 127 men for the Army,
64 for the Navy and 9 for the
Marine Corps. Their names follow:
Evening star., 1943-12-24
War Worker Fashions
Dirks for Soldiers
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ALCOA. Tenn.-Luke Bradley. q
war plant worker, has started a war
plant all his own.
He converts automobile springs
into razor sharp dirks for use Of
soldiers. Mr.. Bradley says
at least 100 soldiers on the battle
lines are equipped with his weapons.
Evening star., 1943-12-24

Blood plasma saves those fighting
to save you. Brother, can you spare
. pint? Call Blood Donors, District
$50, for % snsaseuasnt 70 give your
blood. =, -'f ~, =.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
Donces Planned

. LEONARDTOWN, Md, Dec. "a
(SpeciaD The Leonardtown Fire
Department will sponsor a dance at
9:30 pm. tomorrow at the St. Mary's
Hotel. The Prince Frederick Fire
Il, Department also will hold dance
at the same hour tomorrow at the
Town Hall.
Evening star., 1943-12-24
D. T.. Fortress Gunner
Cited for DIE After
Bremen Air Battle

The heroism Of Sergt. Donald l..
Bridges, 20, of Washington, who
stuck to his guns in the wide open
turret of flying fortress and helped
Evening star., 1943-12-24

"t y
Waller. John L.
Grant. James
Greene. kershaw T
carson. Elmer H.
Minor, John T.
Wilbanks. Alyesier
Andrews, William H
Lucas James H. ir
~ I.~, Robert A.
Bic; = George w.
Younger. Wilmer H
=. Kinard. Herbert L.
Arts, George, tr.
Mongo, George D.
Robinson. Eugene p
Mitchell. S. c., IT,.
Jones. Walter
Garland. John T.
Mitchell. Albert T.
Tins, James M.
Gilchrist. Fories I.
Sneed, Robert
Robinson. John
Hart, John A.
Thomas. Robert L.
Swityer, William J.
Kramer, Jack l..
Jordan, Tony
Jenkins. La wrence I.
James. David W.
Franklin, Julian o.
Uberman. Chain NJ.
Yanof. Harold
Goldberg. Benjamin
Schweikher. r. W.
Buckingham. ". o.
Needle. Gilbert
williams. MA.
White. Philip c.
Goodm an. Mickey Z.
Gochenour. w. B.
Phipps, Glenn A.
Blanche. Laurence Z.
Gross. George w.
Baxter, William H.
Loiacono. Ell.
UrcioIo julius
Cooper. Chester L.
Ettle. Jack L.
Hogan. James A.
FRANKIE. Joseph r.
Moore. David W.
Lobasack. Joseph 8.
Edmonston. T. E., jr.
Johnston. Norman D.
Kalitkewicz. Peter
Mckinnon. Angus X.
Pritchett. James L.
Aston, Willie
Bankett. w. P.
Lane John L., ir.
jackson. Simon
Moss, Ernest
Evening star., 1943-12-24

BOUGA1NVILLE Delayed The
wild life found by marines here
have been pigs and 'possunls.
The pigs are a small, scrawny
breed that run through the jungle
faster than raider. The Leather
necks, when pressed for Chow
shoot the pigs and find that they
make not bad dinner.
The Bougainville 'possum Is also
an undersized breed, compared with
the American variety. One was
Evening star., 1943-12-24

(The Jollo,Ding story pds
.uritten by Stdf Sergt. Milburn
McCarty, jr., OF New York City,
a Marine Corps combat CORE
spondent. ..