davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Book Campaign

The second campaign for the col
lection of books for men and women
in all branches of national service is
scheduled to begin tomorrow and to
continue until March S. During the
two months period it is hoped that
the total of 100000 volumes con-
tributed in 1912 will be surpassed.
But the objective of the drive is
not so much quantity as quality.
Some classifcations of books obvi-.
ously are unsuited to the needs Of
the fighting forces and supporting
personnel in the prevailing. crisis.
The literary material desired in
cludes: Technical books published
since 1885, popular fiction of recent
date, nonfiction representing mod
ern scholarship and research, stand
ard classics of current significance,
humor. poetry, short plays, impress
Sions of travel, practical nature lore.
If the campaign is to be successful
in the complete and accurate mean
ing of the word, more than little
sacrifice on the part of the CO.
operating public naturally will be in
volved. Last years endeavor cleared
away vast quantities of books that
easily could be spared. On this oc-
casion, however, it is not surplus
volumes that are requested. Good
books, truly worth reading and in
unchanged condition, must be found
to meet the existing demand. The
slogan of the drive is: ANY book
you really want to keep is a good
one to give"
What is at stake in the campaign
is a phase Of Cultural and spiritual
morale. During the First World War
British soldier wrote: II am sitting
in dugout waiting for the signal
to go forward. Should not return,
I would like you to know that the
little book Of John Keats poems
which you gave me at Waterloo Sta
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Benedicite

The balsam tree burns incense all
the year,
In summer ,Uhen the sun Is hot
and high;
One almost sees blue uapor, and can
hear
A benediction In the pind's faint
sigh.
In early spring ,Dhen first the buds
begin
To sUell, they yield subtle, fra
grant balm,
As though priest gaze sacrament
,pithin,
A holy place Uhere poices breathe
q psalm.
In autumn when the NAPLES, GRIM
son flare
Is seen upon the hills, the balsams
tDait
In quiet dignity. We see them there
Wearing the uestments of a high
estate.
All Through the ,ointer, ice-clad, they
1Dill sing
OF bliss to be and TRIUMPHANT
spring.
HARRIET LYON LEONARD.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Getting at the Cause

Increased traffic fatalities in 1912
followed a pattern so we'll established
by past statistics that the number
and age group and circumstances of
death in 1943 might be predicted
with almost mathematical accuracy.
The typical traffic victim in 1943 I'M
doubtedly will be the pedestrian,
over thirty years old, who tried to
cross street between intersections.
There is undoubted significance in
the fact that in about seven cases
out Of ten the victim will not have a
drivers permit, indicating his I'M
familiarity with the operation of an
automobile.
Too many people, of course, will die
in accidents legally attributable to
carelessness or recklessness in driv-
ing automobiles. But these will con-
stitute relatively small percentage
of the total deaths The chief prob
lem in Washington is the pedestrian
who has not learned to respect the
hazard of stepping into a street at
time and place where the automobile
or streetcar driver least expects to
find him. Perhaps the fault lies with
the driver-men or women whose re-
actions are too slow to act quickly in
an emergency. But that has not
been proved, nor is there any known
method of remedying the condition
If it could be proved.
What has been proved fifty-two
times in 1912, and about as many
times each year for the past several
yearS-is the danger of crossing a
street between intersections. AS
usual, the authorities are saying now
that they plan an intensive program
of education designed to reach the
people who have not become con-
scious of this danger. That may pro-
duce results in time. But undoubted-
ly the most effective program of edu-
cation would lie in adequate regu-
lations against crossing between in
tersections and persistent enforce
ment of such regulations.
This has been opposed in Washing
ton on the ground that the regula-
tions could not be effectively en-
forced. But even partial enforce
ment would represent more direct
program of education than painting
so-called safety slogans on trash
boxes, distributing literature and de-
livering lectures. We know what
causes most of the traffic accidents.
But very little is being done to elm
mate the cause.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

non-aggression, but that "the United
States will not participate in Euro
pean political negotiations and
settlements and will not make any
commitment whatever to use its
armed forces for the settlement of
any dispute anywhere"
1t is easy to picture the satisfaction
with which that declaration was re-
ceived in the capitals OF the aggressor
nations. And it also is easy to un-
derstand the lesson which we must
learn from it.
The assertion often has been made
that the League of Nations failed
because we did not adhere to it. But
that Is not merely unfair, it is incor-
rect. Through various treaties we
assumed obligations commensurate
with those which would have de-
volved upon US as a League member.
We were disposed, at least our chiefs
OF government were disposed, to back
them up. But the treaties failed, as
the League failed, because of a dis
inclination by others to respect their
terms or to compel compliance with
their terms. The great problem of
the peace that follows this war will
be the establishment of machinery
that will force compliance with
agreements. 1t is hard to see how
there can be any guarantee of peace
unless there are guarantees of en-
forcing the terms of agreements to
maintain the peace.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
THIS AND THAT
By Charles E. Trace,ueH.

ing Of them solely as bait or even bird
food.
But isn't it truly wonderful, the CO.
operation in Nature-the worms help the
farmer by helping the soil and they help
him also by providing food, however
unwillingly, for the birds who help the
farmer by eating evil insects that would
damage crops.
THE next earthworm I see, promise
more appreciative eyes and mind.
VERY truly yours, T. ]. O'C."
**
The humble earthWorm is one sort of
worm which does not strike most persons
as obnoxious
Our correspondent we'll points out
some Of the many ways in which they
help mankind.
Too many of us think of them solely as
bait.
Their main help is to agriculture
And this includes our small home
gardens in city and suburbs Some
home gardeners have the idea that
earthworms will make the earth sour"
Perhaps there is not much to fear in
this respect, after all. Few of us will
have to worry over such a problem, be-
cause probably there are always too few
worms, seldom too many.
One oddity of these interesting crea-
lures is that the hemoglobin of their
blood is in the fluid of the blood.
Tn otl Z.
it is in the red blood cells.
The skin of the worm acts as the
membrane, similar in function to our
lungs, which permits the intake of
oxygen.
We see that earthworms are red in
appearance due to their good red blood.
These interesting creatures pass many
tons of earth through their digestive
systems during a year.
The food they are after, however, is
not the earth, itself, but dacaying par
ticles of vegetable matter.
1t is no wonder, then, that a fish
goes for the angle worm when he
finds it on the end of a hook.
The fish not only gets meat, but also
the vitamins of the particles of vegetable
matter.
Earthworms do not have ears or eyes,
but possess sensory cells in the skin.
These cells respond to light and sound
waves.
The reason earthworms like moist soil,
and refuse to remain aloft in dry
weather, is that the skin must be moist,
just as our lung tissue must, to be able
to interchange oxygen and carbon di-
oxide.
This process can go on only in the
presence of moisture. Wetting dry soil
in summer often brings the worms to
the surface.
Earthworms boast several hearts, at
least five pairs of them, to function in
all the blood pumping.
AS all small boys know, earthworms
come to the surface to prowl around in
the dew at night. and it is then that
with the aid of searchlght, one catches
them easiest.
Scientists tell us that it is not the
early worm which the early bird catches
but the belated worm, which is late in
getting back into its burroW,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
OFF the Track

With a grinding roar. the crack
train of the PRL piled through an
open switch into a head-on collision
with a freight on a siding. There
was really no excuse for it. A COM
plex system Of lights had been in
working order, signaling a block to
any one but a blockhead, yet therein
lies the rub. The engineer was not
only incompetent; he had not even
the right to run the train. When
quizzed, he sheepishly admitted this,
giving the lame excuse that he had
run the train only to make sure it
was o. K.
A fantastic tale? Not at all. It
happens often, around this time of
year. The PRL is the Play Room
Limited, brought out from it's box
in the cellar for the Christmas traffic.
1t really belongs to Junior, the only
licensed engineer. The offender knew
this, but violated the law. It is up
to him to keep the rolling stock up
to par, by making good on the
damage to each miniature tank car,
fiat or locomotive put out of commits
sion by his meddling. Some have
known how to wreck railroads for
profit, according to report, but
Juniors father lacks the knack. He
may have to go to some bank and get
it to underwrite him a six per cent
equipment loan to get the railroad
back in shape. If he will not do 1t
voluntarily, all Junior need do Is to
appeal to mother to act as Interstate
Commerce Commission, and that will
cot&la fhA ~ offor
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Proposes Warning NaZis
OF Horrors to Come.

To the Editor of The Star:
Given a crowd as utterly determined
to win, at whatever cost, as the Nazis
are, and considering how desperate the
Nazis steadily are becoming, and how
many souls are completely in their
power and you have situation Of such
horrible possibilities as to stagger the
imagination.
Therefore even though we cannot
reach those hyenas directly, we must
not allow ourselves to forget that We
too, can make certain threats, and make
them with the guarantee that they will
be carried out to the full. I do not
believe in torture, even for such devils;
and I do not believe the threat of tor
ture would move the Nazis any more
than would the threat of death. But we
certainly should not delay one moment
in making all such threats as we have
the viii to carry opt.
We can make terrifying use of our in
creasing air superiority by not merely
bombing factories and defense installa-
tons, but "Rotterdamming" latter the
Nazi's own fashion, the residential Sec
tons. If Nazi atrocities continue be-
yond such dead line as we may set, we
IN retaliation should bomb without
mercy. BOILING 5OMERvIILE.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

@. What was the largest crowd ever
assembled to hear a speech?-R. r.
A. One of the largest crowds ever
assembled for such purpose was the
one addressed by the Irish statesman
Daniel O'Connell from the hill Of Tara,
on August IS, 1843 The London Times
reported that over 100000 persons at
tended !
O Where is Anton Bruckner, the
noted Austrian composer. buried?-
P. L. A.
A. He is buried beneath the organ Of
the Foundation Church of st. Florlan
in Austria, the instrument at which he
presided for many years.
@. How tall is the Duke of WindsorP
"A. F. w.
A. He is 5 feet inches in height.
@. How long does the Christmas sea-
son last?-R. C. N.
A. 1t ends on January 6, the Feast
of the Epiphany. sometimes called
Twelfth Day because it occurs IL days
after Christmas
O. Where can I find accurate infor-
nation on the pronunciation of chemi-
cal names?-T. r.
A. Such a guide is included in the
Condensed Chemical Dictionary pub
lished by the Reinhold Publishing
Corp New York N. Y.
Hn-
mascus blades?-E. F. D.
A. These blades were so keen that
they could cut floating gossamer; SO
hard that they would shear an iron
spear in two as If it were reed, and
so elastic that they would bend to a
right angle and then spring back as
straight as ever.
@. At what time of day does the mind
work best?-O. N. L.
A. Psychologists generally agree that
the threshold of highest mentality is
reached about IL am. The mind is be-
lieved to be less active when fatigued.
O. How is wine mulled?-B. N. E.
A. BY thrusting a red-hot poker into
pitcher of the wine, or by heating 1t in
a pan, usually with lemon and spices.
@. Did Shakespeare's mother influence
his writing?-M VIC.
A. Halleck's English Literature says:
1.-THE plays of his fourth period. 1903
1913, are remarkable for calm strength
and sweetness. The fierceness Of
'Othello' and Macbeth is left behind.
In 1908 Shakespeare's mother died. Her
death and the vivid recollection OF her
kindness and love may have been strong
factors in causing him to look on life
with kindlier eyes"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
"QUESADA STREET.

O6dT Or.
Maybe this is funny time of year
to be bordering the ways OF earthworms.
Perhaps 1t is a side line of that fireside
gardening you write so delightfully."-
about.
80 many people think earthworms
are harmful. that they make the soil
acid, and perhaps even eat the roots of
plants. Personally, have always mar
veled at the amending quantities of them
there must be, to supply all the Lilly
Bellies and other worm loving birds.
"On doing some reading on this mat
ter, I have found out several interesting
facts. OF course, most people have
heard that if you cut of the head or tail
! of fish worm, clean cut, either part
can be regrown, that is, two worms will
thrive where one grew before.
II always thought worms ate dirt, but
I learn that they eat dead leaves. They
drag these into their burrows, which
they help to furnish with comfortable
softness, while decaying into food for
the worms, and at the same time en-
riching the soil.
THE earthworm burrows are often
more than foot deep. They take in
the soil, and thep coming to the surface
Of the earth, tail first, void the earth
that has passed through their digestive
tract, making the familiar earthworm
castings familiar to all gardeners.
"The earthworms gizzard is said to
be one of the most important mills on
earth, or in the earth, to be literal, for
this grinding OF the soil exposes more
of it to the action of wind and rain and
sun, making 1t more useful. Bacteria
are brought to the surface, where the
sun and frost can kill them.
1.-The worm tunnels let air and rain
into the ground, and make easy growing
for plant roots. The worms bruise the
soil and plough 1t and fertilize it with
the decaying leaves.
Darwin estimated that in cultivated
ground, with an estimated $1,000 earth
worms to an acre, 10 tons of soil would
be brought to the surface In year. He
watched an unploughed field over a
period Of 80 years, and at the end of
that time, the field which had in the
beginning been covered thickly with
stones, was completely covered with
worm castings so thick that a horse
could gallop across the field without
striking stone with its Shoes
"Earthworms also drag Improbable
objects into their burrows; being blind
creatures, they mistake the feel of things,
and cherish strings, feathers, ETC. On
the other hand. they show an uncanny
knack of handling difficult leaves like
twin needles of pine, which they seize
by the base. Often they pile small
mound of pebbles over the opening OF
their tunnels to protect it from heavy
washing rains, and intruding centipedes
There is often an enlarged chamber at
the lower end of the burrow, to enable
the worm to turn around easily.
Darwin says 1T may be doubted If
there are many other animals which
have played such an important part in
the history of the world as these lowly
organized creatures If Darwin found
them worthy of such serious considera-
ton, it looks like all of us might pause
to study them little instead of think
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Explains Discrimination Against
Government Workers at $1,000.

To the Editor of The Star:
Twenty years ago two men entered
the Government service in the same po-
sitions and at the same salary. "a was
industrious and applied himself to his
work and his efficiency rating always
was excellent, SO that by the end of 1912
he was receiving a salary of $4,000 per
year. "B' did only enough work to get
by, and his efficiency rating as a rule
was fair and sometimes good, so that by
the end of 1912 he was receiving a salary
of $4,000 per year.
In December, 1912, Congress passed
the pay raise bill. This bill provided that
any one receiving an annual salary of
less than $4,000 and working 48 hours
week would receive 2Oe per cent of
$4,000 if his salary exceeded that amount
but did not exceed $1,000.
Both these men will work 48 hours
per week in 1943. According to the new
law, "A' will not receive any additional
pay for his overtime work. however, his
base pay will be reduced as follows:
Reduction of per cent of $4,000
for retirement fund - $3.50
Reduction of 10 per cent of $4,000
for bonds --- - 500
Reduction of per cent of $1,000
for Victory tax $50
Total reductions -$ 81 900
Therefore, "A" will receive $4,000 cash
for his services in 1943
B" will receive 2o6 per cent of 1900
for overtime pay, which amounts to
$597 40, and "B" will have deducted:
per cent of $4,4o0 for retirement
10 per cent of 440O for bonds $4,000
per cent of $4,997.4O for Victory
tax Observation-Disclosures 249.87
Total reductions 5000 81
Less overtime pay--------- SGT 40
Net reduction from base pay of
3D." therefore, will receive $4,087. SO in
cash for his services during 1913, or
1878 more than "a" receives, who has
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

The noted Sioux chief Red Cloud
once made the following pithy OBJ
servation in council "He is great
warrior, but one does not give the
care of the people into the hands of
a man just because he is strong in
fighting" White military men with
lurking political ambitions might
take note.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. Haskin.

reader can get the anstper to any
question OF fact by uriting The Eue-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdskin, director, Washington.
d. C. Please inclose stamp for return
postage.
@. When will the new United Nations
stamp go on sale?-E. F. I.
A. The stamp will be placed on first
day sale January IA in Washington ex-
clusively. 1t will be a 2-cent stamp.
red, and Of the regular size.
@. What President was unable to
recognize the melody Of the Star
Spangled Banner"?-C. T. N.
A. Etude recently stated that the late
President Taft was tonedeaf and could
not recognize the national anthem
when it was played. To avoid embar-
rassment he had his secretary sit beside
him and give him nudge so that he
would know when to rise.
@. Please explain what Tommy gun
is.-B N.
A. The term Tommy gun" refers to
the Thompson submachine gun, which
weighs pounds and Is ounces and can
be fired fully automatic at rate Of 400
rounds per minute or seni-auto-
matically.
O. Which Is the most agile animal?-
A. H.
A. The channels, which lives in the
lid
has its first lessons In climbing on its
mothers body.
@. How many bells are there In the
carlton at Valley Forge Pa.?-E. N. S.
A. At first there we're Is. representing
the original Colonies. The number Is
now 49, each State having made
contribution.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

ton has been more to me than bread
and meat out here in France. I
have read every line Of it again and
again, and it has made me proud of
the chance to do something for
England"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Names Another Writer
Born in HinduStan,

To the Editor of The Star:
Frederic Haskin, when asked to name
some authors born in India, replied with
the names of Thackeray, Kipling and
Tagore. I should like to add Eden Phil
potts, the celebrated Dartmooor novelist
poet and philosopher, now living near
Exeter, still writing books well worth
reading even in time of global war He
first saw light of day at Mount Aboo,
November 4, 1862. F. w. j.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

written and published october 49,.
weeks after the heating season started.
To have held the many industry con-
ferences that were necessary, consider
and discard all the possibilities, write
the law and steer it through the legal
maze Of Washington in seven weeks
was creditable performance. But then
there was no time for proper education
Of field forces, of local boards, with the
result that mistakes have been made,
but these will be cleared up on review.
Most boards have cleared all coupon re-
leases and are now reviewing appeals.
ROBERT GRAY,
Business Manager, Fuel Oil
and Oil Heat.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Letters to the Editor

Letters to the Editor must
bear the name and address of
the 1Oriter, although the use of
pseudonym for publication is
permissible. The Star reserves
the right to edit all letters Nth
q Uie1U to condensation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

Hitler recently told his Teutonic
dupes that this winter cannot pos
sibly be harder than the last" To
use a current popular phrase.
Gould be-"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

Editors Note: The Star is glad to
publish Mr.. Grays account OF the
origin Of the fuel oil rationing plan.
In Washington, however, the Diff
Guilty has been concerned more with
supply and delivery than with the
nature Of the rationing plan itself.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

worked hard for the 20 years, giving the
best that was in him to his Government
and will continue to do so as long as he
is in the service.
There are thousands of such cases in
the Government service. similar to the
above today. Can any of the thousands
ice develop formula which would JUS
tify the above condition?
A MEMBER OF THE SONS OF
THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Expresses DiSapprobation
OF Certain Unnamed Song.

To the Editor of The Star:
Your occasional religious editorials
are so fine the entire standard of your
paper so high, that believe you will not
refuse me space in which to say that no
one as yet has seemed to be able to write
national war song good enough, but
some one certainly wrote one poor
enough to be very offensive to God
loving people. Esq.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
The Children's Bookstores and

The Children's BOOKSTORES and
verses chosen from some of the best
loved classics of childhood. 1t also
includes riddles, paper folding, scram-
bled names and lots Of other inter-
esting things to occupy the children
on rainy days Among the poems in
Guided in this little publication are
MY Shadow" The Three Little Kit
tens" Rain" The Swing" THE
Owl and the Pussy Cat and such
stories as The Hare and the Tor
toise," The Cherry Tree" and
Brownie and the Cook" To secure
your copy of this publication inclose
10 cents in coin, wrapped in this clip
ping, and mail to The Star Informa-
ton Bureau.
Name
Address
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

A. the Associated Press is exclusively entitled to
me use tor republica ton of all news diSpa tches
credited to 1t or not otherwise credited in this
paper ana also the local news published herein
All rights Of publication of special dispatches
herein also are reserved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04
Member of the Associated Press

Entered Is second-class matter post office,
Washington, D. C.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-01-04

Name
Address