davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-12-06
A New Librarian

Inc appointment OF Archibald
MacLeish to be an Assistant Secre-
tary of State, If it is confirmed by
the Senate, will leave the greatest
photographic establishment in the
world without an administrative
head. 1t therefore is inevitable that
friends of the Library of Congress
already are asking. among themselves
what manner of man will be ap-
pointed his successor there. Since
the position definitely is professional
in character, the attitude of the
American Library Association in 1899
is recalled. 1t was argued then and
is repeated now that the ideal in
cumbent would be a scholar with
executive experience, and one who
is possessed of a scientific point of
view concerning the management of
the most important bibliographic
institution on earth.
Obviously, it will not be easv to
find such an individual. If a second
rate nomination were made, it would
be a poor compliment to Mr.. Mac
Leish and to his distinguished prede-
cessor. The tradition which they
have developed during four and a
half decades should govern the
Presidents choice of a new admin
lstrator to carry on the work.
Haste in filling the vacancy is not
necessary. But when a new librarian
nnally Is named, he should be
verltably and literally the best man
available for the post.
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Wants Flag Respected

To the Editor of The Star:
1t Is a disgrace to the Nations capital
to see the American flag hanging from
poles placed outside store windows as
we'll as from poles on the sidewalk in all
kinds of weather day and night.
There Is code which covers the
proper display Of the American standard
and think 1t should be read by many
merchants in Washington, D. C.
I am more than surprised that some
veterans organization does not interest
itself to stop this improper display Of
our flag 1t never should be left out all
night, and those who are too lazy to
take it in at sundown never should
hang it out at ALL
The American flag is the symbol that
we now are fighting for on the battle
fields of the world Let us show more
respect to the flag here at home.
EDWARD JAMES SMYTHE.
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Disagrees With Mr.. Mellett

To the Editor of The Star:
Lowell Mellett in a recent column
in The Star stated in effect that he is
against loyalty investigations by the
Federal Government of persons who are
applicants for Federal wartime jobs. He
loyal every one else in the country is
loyal, too. Therefore, no Federal en-
ploye's loyalty need even be checked.
But large number of people will
disagree with him. They believe that
the very fact that such Investigations
now are made keeps persons with bad
records from seeking employment in
the Government Without such investi-
cations, there would be nothing to pre-
vent fifth columnists from infiltrating
everywhere during such a manpower
shortage as exists today
Mr.. Mellett states that discontinuance
of such Investigations would save the
taxpayers money. Yes, but the saving
would be small compared to the damage
that could be done by employees engaged
in subyersive activities. ALI persons work.
ing in federally supervised war plants
and factories are investigated as to 10y
atty to the Government, and it is un-
thinkable that the people will want this
discontinued so long as we are at war.
One saboteur in favorable position
could do great amount of damage and
waste both lives and manpower.
Mr.. Mellett refers to the Dies Com
mittee in most disparaging terms. He
says its career Is about to be ended.
Here again many people will not agree
with him. They believe the committee
has had very good influence in keep
ing subversiye elements from gaining
headway in this country and has been
worth many times its cost.
FEDERAL EMPLOYE.
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Stone Walls

Some time a historian will write
the story of mans life on earth in
terms OF fences. That was an
epochal day some thousands of
years ago when nomadic wanderer
on the steppes of Eurasia conceived
the idea of erecting a fence to con-
troll his livestock. The split-rail
fence is honey sight to many:
its praise has been sung in prose
and poetry. But few are the poems
and brief is the literature in praise
of stone walls.
Stone walls are the stitching on
the crossword quilt pattern of the
Northeastern landscape. They run
along beside the winding country
roads; they circle small moving
fields and bound the brook -traversed
meadows. They climb over rock
studded, juniper dotted upland
pastures and meander casually
along the brows of low mountains.
One comes upon them deep in the
woods where century ago a farm
f1ourished and cattle and sheep
dotted the thin-soiled land now
claimed again by Nature.
Along the tops of the walls chip
munks and red squirrels dash in
their perpetually frantic forays for
nuts and seeds. On them the par
fridge likes to sit on a bIustery,
sunny March day and send his
rolling, bass drum call echoing
across the field and pasture. Beneath
them the bewhiskered, philosophical
woodchuck often digs his burrow
and from the rock-protected sane
tuary sallies forth to raid the farm
garden or the clover patch The
gaps where King Frost has heaved
rocks to the ground are natural
passageways for the deer, fox and
raccoonS. as they make their daily
rounds.
There are untold thousands of
miles of the weather-grayed, lichen-
covered stonewall fences. In years
gone by rural maxim was: Two
good men, pair of oxen and a stone
boat could build rod of wall day.
No one can accurately estimate the
man-hours spent in building them
Evening star., 1944-12-06
This Changing World
By Constantine Bro,Cn

The American Government is an in
terested bystander in the present crisis
IN Greece. No American troops are in
that territory, which has been placed
entirely under British control.
The troubles which have arisen since
Sunday are being anxiously watched by
the State Department and The White
House because they may have grave
repercussions on the unity of the United
Nations
Prime Minister Churchills speech in
Commons Tuesday is interpreted by
many diplomats as a bomb thrown not
at Russia directly, but at the Communist
camps throughout Europe. In Franco,
Belgium and in all the other liberated
countries these factions are attemrting
to force their leadership with either
the active or moral support of Moscow.
High officials in Washington wonder
what the government inspired news
papers in Moscow will say to Mr..
Churchill's blunt remark that Britain
will resist any attempt to impose by
violence Communist dictatorship" in
strife-torn Greece. 1t is with equal in
terest that diplomats here are watch
ing Moscow's reaction to the British
leaders statement that Britain will not
tolerate Greek partisans' use of tommy
guns given them by Great Britain to
fight the Nazis in an attempt Ito i'm
pose by violence Communist Dictator
ship without the people being able to
express their wishes" 1t was the 1rst
time in II months that leader of the
Big Three had referred by implication
to the Atlantic Charter, which has ow
come to be regarded as dead and buried
X
In all the other Balkan countries
from the Adriatic to the Black Sea
Communist or near-Communist govern
ments have been established The Red
armies which liberated them lent a
strong helping hand to the efforts of
the Communist leaders to establish
themselves in. key government positions
without the people themselves being
consulted.
The Russian military commanders
considered the formation of Communist
directed governments in the Balkans
as military necessity.
The situation in Greece, however, is
different. In Mr.. Churchill's own words
the responsibility of keeping order in
IiaI eouiely 10 "itiilH Ou Mllitdfy
sphere-that is, our military sphere
agreed upon with our principal allies"
The British Prime Minister was re-
ferring to the Teheran agreement in
which Europe was partitioned into
zones of influence and Greece was
placed under British tutelage.
The liberation of Greece followed
that of the other Balkan States. Rus
sian armies entered Bulgaria three
months ago and pushed to the borders
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Where Facts Are Needed

For the fourth successive year the
House has voted to freeze the pay
roll tax for old-age insurance at the
present rate of / per cent for en-
ployers and employees. The Senate
is expected to do the same thing,
leading to speculation that the
President might veto the freeze bill,
unless its attachment as a rider to
some other legislation made veto
impractical. This is not a very
satisfactory atmosphere in which to
dispose of highly important issue.
Both sides in this debate have ad-
vanced convincing arguments. The
majority opinion, represented in the
House vote yesterday, Undoubtedly
is based on the accepted fact that
actual experience to date in the
collection of the tax has rendered
untrustWorthy the previous eSti-
mates of the yield and that the time
has come for careful reappraisal
of the financial aspects of the whole
social security system before raising
the rate.
If this study is undertaken in the
immediate future and completed
we'll in advance of the end of 1945,
the legislation freezing the tax at
present rates is wise. But If the
study is delayed and we approach
the next period for rate increase
without more factual knowledge
concerning the adequacy of existing
rates and reserves than we have
now, we shall be courting difficulties
later on
In 1889, when the Social Security
Act was last amended, it was esti-
mated that a reserve required to
protect the benefit fund would
amount to something over three
billion dollars in 1914, with graded
increases between 1889 and 1944) in
the tax rate. But without increaS-
ing the tax rate, the reserve now has
reached about six billion dollars,
with another billion and a quarter
dollars to be added by the end of
l945. This reserve is from eight to
twelve times the highest annual
expenditure in the next five years,
although Secretary Morgenthau ad-
vised Congress in 1899 that the
reserve need not amount to more
than three times the contemplated
annual expenditure.
The purpose of a new study of
the systems financing, however,
would not be directed to the ade-
quacy of the reserve as measured
against current payments during a
flveyear period, but the adequacy
of the reserve in the next thirty or
forty years, when the number of
benehciarieS will have grown from
one to nine million. The actuarial
estimates indicate that the overall
cost of the system will be between
and per cent of payrolls, as against
the 2 per cent that is now being
collected.
While the present debate has no
: direct bearing on the wise extension
of social security benefits, advocated
by both parties in the past cam
paign, it does emphasize the need
again for a restudy, in the light of
experience, of financing future bene-
fits. 1t is to be hoped that the i'm
portance of this study will be as
vigorously presented and cham
pioned as was the case for postpon-
ing the tax increase.
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Concert

The looes tH ,uith perfumes and sleek
jetDels,
White shirt fronts flank Uhite arms ana
throdts.
The faren-haired conductor lifts bdton
And strings soar up on golden shimmered
notes. Z
The ice-clear passages OF Bach ascend,
The molten passion of Wagnerian drama
Seethes;
Here under glitterinp chandeliers and
nitcrophones
In poised restraint the audience breathes.
And hallway across the ,corld, beyond
the smell
OF blood and cordite and the uearsnsss
OF men,
A orimy soldier croucles by q battered
radio
And captures briefly the lost dream
again.
FREDERICK EBRIdHT.
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Letters to The Star
Readers Disapprove Child's Sale
of Pet in Bond Drive

To the Editor of The Star
Girl Gives Up Her Toy and Pet for
Children's War Bond Sale,' says an
article in The Star for December 2.
But when this guileless little child
offers her live pet to buyers of sawdust-
stuffed toys she is not doing that good
deed her scoutmaster daddy daily urges
upon his troop members.
It should be realized that the brunt
of the sacrifice will be borne by the pet
dog, and for what? Not for those "uncles
and cousins overseas" who still will be
cheated out of the guns and bullets"
by the highest bidder buying the dog
instead Of buying bonds
M. w. KIRSHER.
To the Editor of The Star:
1 find nothing commendable in the
announced sale of children's toys and
pets to stimulate the current War Bond
drive.
Pets are living creatures that have
become dependent upon their owners
for protection and care. A child S
training in responsibility to them and
faithful affection for them becomes a
large part of his own character develop
ment. To disregard these feelings and
callously take his pet away from him
may break the heart of sensitive child
and encourage in the other kind a
ruthless disregard for discomfort and
suffering.
If we as a nation have become so
degraded or SO desperate that we have
to call on our children to sacrifice their
living pets and their own better instincts
in order to appease the god of war, we
are indeed on our downward way
THERESA H. RUSSELL.
To the Editor Of The STAR
think it is fine that children are
being encouraged to make sacrifices to
help our soldiers win the war, but I
wonder If their elders have stopped to
think that pets are not like toys which
have no feeling. Pets, especially dogs
and cats, are, or should be, members
Of the family. They have become at
tached to their homes and their home
folks just as much as the other members
of the family How DO the parents of
the children know that the purchasers
of the pets will give them good homes?
Have they never heard of animals which
have grieved themselves sick over
separation from their former owners?
Many of our soldiers whom these chill
dren wish to help are looking forward
with just as much longing to seeing
beloved pets as to seeing other mem
bers of their family. Let us help the
children to find other ways to raise
funds. c. L. BORJES.
Evening star., 1944-12-06

from the Topeka Capital
We folks at home cannot realize the
sacrlflces our boys are making thou
sands OF miles from home. At best,
life In an Army camp is not enviable.
At worst, it is little short Of actual
torture
Evening star., 1944-12-06

Emperor Hirohito is making more
frequent communications with the
spirits OF his distinguished ancestors.
Said ancestors must be getting pretty
sick and tired of the sort of tidings
the Mikado brings them.
Evening star., 1944-12-06

At a bar meeting a prominent
lawyer confessed that he had had to
help with the family wash. Evidently
when he made his appeal to the Su-
preme Court. she turned him down.
Evening star., 1944-12-06

But we know the stone walls will
remain for generations to come
a memorial to the patient crafts
manShjp Of the men and boys who
helped build nation from a wilder
ness.
Evening star., 1944-12-06

Under present conditions it seems
likely that before Congress can do
anything to help the white collar
worker the laundries will see to it
that there is no such person.
Evening star., 1944-12-06
Progress Note>

From the Philadelphia Record
Louis j. Rubin Of the music depart
ment of Bayonne public schools has
composed tune he calls "Begone, the
Beguine"
Evening star., 1944-12-06
An Ordeal at Best
By David Laurence
Prom the Topeka Capital.

Reproduction rights reserved }
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04
DAVIS S01!)IER
IS ALSO WRITER

CAMP DAVIS, Feb. 3.-Some
, G wish they could make
'ol 1'a money in their offduty hours
SUM- others actually do something
anu o,,t II Pvt. Lester Atwell of the
a lp,,Q4iaircraft Artillery School is Of
A An +yne that puts his off hours
lne rood use and it pays him div.
loI h+y,ell is a fiction writer of wide
aoa1 As civilian he authored
Spp nv short stories and short nov
l'0"I IN the Army he has continued
els; 4, ~ whenever he gets a
" Iance In the past three months
'.a has had two short stories and
1T n l published in national
d nv nozines The novelette, was also
MG nag ~ a swedish magazine, which
s sol@ additional income for At
Nei' teacher of Latin and English
NprooRlyn Prep for some time,
a. t,r 20 first was attracted to art.
~, oSttpnded the Art Students Lea
~ ond Ultimately became an ac-
~" nr,n1isbed artist. Then he bought
Soi' nr,o,Id ike to write, and write
pe AID His stories proved so popu-
,ar w" when published that he de-
ied 10 give up everything else
CHs" Ito himself to fiction. Inst
b p+,s entering the Army seven
r,antbs ago, Atwell worked on a
f tl, stories for the Office of War
Information.
btwell writes his stories in long
hand for he has never learned to
+rne His average story runs about
e nm words. 1t takes lot of week
end time to produce story. An
other Atwell, his brother, is in the
Marines
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04

Niagara Falls has been putting
IN its show for about $4,000 years.
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04
The Importance OF Soil
Is Discussed By Babson

| ginia? The answer is that the soils
fof these valleys-washed down
during the centuries from rocky
hills-contain the needed minerals
to make the best brains. l have
especially in m n d potassium,
phosphorus, iron, iodine, calcium
and magnesium. If you doubt me,
ask the publishers of who's
Who's to give you their opinion
on this subject.
This third factor of the mineral
content of the soil, including the
treatment of the soil, is now very
seldom discussed. The Department
of Agriculture has avoided report
ing on it because it is "hot
potato loaded with dynamite"
However, it is of prime impor-
lance to every family planning to
live on the products of its own
land. Furthermore, the time is
coming when vegetables and fruits
will be sold under the Pure Food
and Drug Act according to their
mineral e n t, whether sold
fresh, canned or dehydrated. Some
beans may be cheap at $40 per
bushel, while other beans, which
appear just the same, may be
worth only $1.50 per bushel and
Hence, by all means consider this
mineral content, NEEDED for brains
and character when buying land.
1t you cannot afford to consult a
high class soil expert, go to the
nearest graveyard, study the head
stones and see how long the peo-
pie lived.
Why Germany is Hard to Lick
I pass on just one mora thought
for readers to ponder over. 1t is
this: Some years ago when I was
in Switzerland making a study for
the New York Times, Swiss
scientist said to me: Europe will
always have trouble with those
P-ussians. There is something in
the soil of Prussia which grows
people With that fighting instinct.
European peace is unalterably
linked up with the minerals of the
soil. Permanent peace in Europe
will come about only by systemat-
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04
By ROGER BABsON

BABSON PARK, Mass, Feb. 3.
Without doubt land is one of the
best h d g against initiation.
hence, 1t is reasonable that land
poom is now starting in the Mid
Gle west. To such readers as are
now tempted to buy agricultural
lana, | wish to say word in my
column this week. Land varies
so much in productive qualities
that it is foolish to talk about any
price as fair for land. The price
should depend upon what kind of
men it produces.
To begin with there is the ques-
ton of crop productivity. Some
land in Nebraska, Kansas or Iowa
is much cheaper at 5000 per acre
than other land in the Dakotas at
$40 or even at 5000 per acre. The
quantity Of corn, wheat or what
not that any acre of land will
raise on a ten-year average is the
first step in determining just
price. Hence, before buying or
selling land get the figures on
what it has produced in the past.
BY all means avoid buying un-
proven raw land.
The second question to consider
is what the lands location and
climate are best suited to produce.
For instance, l have four tracts
of land in mind in Florida which
IN
for one tract, suitable only for
pasture, SIS PEI. acre is a fair
price, for another tract on the
East Coast, suitable for beans,
$500 per acre is a fair price; while
the best bargain of all is a tract
in Sanford, Florida, at a price of
$1,000 per acre, which is ideal for
celery. Yet land may be highly
productive and profitable CONNER
cially while the stuff which it
raises may have very little nour-
ishment. Hence, it will not raise
strong families.
Have Soil Analysed
For those readers VINO want not
a commercial farm but small
sustenance farm for raising and
feeding a good family of children,
there is a third series of ques-
tons to consider. The farm should
be within walking distance of
schools. churches and stores, or
else on bus line; it should have
drained fertile land; and it should
have good neighbors. In addition,
the land should contain the right
minerals for making brains,
Drawn and character. All we are
except for our spiritual and physi-
cal heritage-comes from what we
eat, drink and breathe. This
means that the soil in which our
food and fruit are raised is of
great Importance in determining
our health, intelligence and char
acter.
Why do the best trotting horses
come from Kentucky? The answer
is in the soil and this applies only
to certain small sections. Why
have the best brains grown in Ger
tain valleys of New England, New
York State, Pennsylvania and Vir-
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04
new residence or for other special

new residence or for other special
circumstances.
A certificate authorizing acquisi.
ton of a used tire or new war
tire may be obtained by a truck
operator from his local War Price
and rationing board provided ne
is operating an essential trucking
service and he turns in the re-
capable carcass at the time the
certificate is used.
The OPA tightened its regula
lions specifically on motorists ir
regard to special rations for NOV
ing by providing that no ration
for this purpose shall be issued
until all outstanding supplemental
rations (B or C books are frs
surrounded. When this supple
mental ration is given up, loca
board may include in the specia
ration an allowance, for occupa
tional driving for the period be
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04
0PA ISSUES new
TIRE REGULATIONS


The Raleigh District Office OF
Price Administration announced
Thursday two statements pertain
ing to motor vehicles in the Will
mington area: Essential truck op-
orators in areas where tire re-
Gaping facilities are inadequate
or unavailable may now obtain
a ration certificate permitting them
to exchange with dealers a tire
which needs recapping for a used
ire or new war" tire, "a war
tire is one made from reclaimed
rubber. Motorists must now pre-.
sent their tire inspection records
when applying for special gasoline
rations for use when moving to 6
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04

ically moving people about. That
is the only way physical, economic
and spiritual opportunities can be
equalized."
Certainly there is relation be-
tween soil and fatigue. For sci
entiflc study of fatigue, send ten
cents to the Medical Journal and
Record Publishing Co., 667 Madi-
son Ave-, New York City for DR..
Max B. Gerson's article published
in the. Medical Record of June,
1913.
P. S. Churchill believes in the
importance of soil. This is why
England will try to take Belgium,
Holland and the other Low Coun.
tries into the British Common
wealth and is willing to leave Aus.
tria, Czechoslovakia and the Bal
tic States to Stain.
There are 500 species of animals
IL, India
The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-02-04
VISITING PARENTS

Staff Sgt. William H. Andrews,
Jl., son of Mr.. and Mrs. W. H.
Andrews of 1927 Market street
road, is spending a tWo-Week fur
ough with his parents. As a civil
Ian, he was employed in the Traf-
tic department of the Atlantic
Coast Line Railroad company for
several years. Sergeant Andrews
entered the service in January.
1912 and is now located at Iyn-
aall Field, Fla, in the Quarter
master company, Aviation service.
IN charge Of transportation.