davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Christmas
Cactus

The Christmas cactus, sometimes
called the crab cactus, is native of
Brazil. One of the incest things
about it is that it blooms so freely
while still young thing and con-
tinueS to bloom even more abun-
dainty as it grows older.
This cactus likes richer and loos-
er soil than its desert relatives. Use
plenty of leafmold and sand. Be
sure to stake it firmly from the
beginning.
Sometimes florists graft this form
OF cactus to some stronger stem
stock, thereby developing a standard
or tree form, but for most of us the
smaller, wen-branched form is fully
adequate. 1t is lovely thing when
a bright flower springs from every
little leaf tip.
Best results are obtained by rest
ing this cactus all the month of
October by placing it in a cool, dark
place without watering. In Novem-
Der begin to water it a little. In a
months time it will be ready to take
Its place In the window garden. Do
not oVerwater. Every other day
should be enough, but again, yeu
! Will need to be guided by the amount
tof sun it receives. -.. .. -.---
When the buds begin to form. a
hall cup OF weak liquid manure given
every 10 days will greatly increase
tine bloom. When Towering is done
again greatly decrease the amount
Fot water, given and give no more
manure. = -:
| When the time comes to repot the
cactus, do it in late spring. It will
not need to be repotted for several
years. The applications Of manure
! keep it well fed,
Evening star., 1945-12-23
At Soldiers Home

The Soldiers Home Symphonette
Franklin B. Charles, conductor. will
give concerts on Thursday and Sat-
urday nights only, the Tuesday pro-
gram being omitted due to the holi-
day.
In Stanley Hall at $50 pm. or
Thursday the symphonette will
play Sousa's "Stars and Stripes
Forever" Suppe's overture, Journey
for Luck" Tosellis "Serenade," Sc.
lections from Humperdinck's Han.
sci and Gretel," Charles "Reve du
Printemps," Waldtenfel's "The
North Star" and NVenrich's "Wher
Everything Is Harmony"
On Saturday the program will be
Jewels "The March of Time" Gas
overture, LA Fee Melusine," foul
gypsy songs by Brahms, HE, zigeu.
ner," "Kommt dir manchmal,'
"Roslein dreie" and 'Lieber Gott
Du weist," selections from Kern's
The Show Boat" Dvorak's Gals die
Mutter sang" Becucci's "Tesorc
mio" and Charles Reunion"
Evening star., 1945-12-23

into spring for some, then they
should for all. Perhaps we can find
the reason for your failure-if you
fail.
First of all it is better to have one
plant to a pot rather than a poin-
settia accompanied by ferns or what
have you.
When brought into the house,
place the plant or plants immedi-
ately in light window where
temperature of about IS degrees
can be maintained during the day
and at night does not go below so
degrees. Be sure there are no doors
nearby to be opened apd shut at
intervals causing bad draughts. The
poinsettias like fresh air, but it
should not cause a sudden chilling.
The soil should be kept barely
damp, not as wet as for African
violets. If the plants are in small
pots and the house is very warm and
dry, it will probably be necessary to
water them twice day. Again, the
amount of sun, the temperature and
humidity must determine the
amount of water required.
When finally the leaves turn
yellow, several weeks after Christ
mas, less and less water is given.
The dry plant is stored until spring
at about go degrees. A warm spot
can probably be found in the base
ment.
In May cut it back to 6 inches.
shake it free of the old dirt and
repot it using the same size pot or
perhaps just one size larger. Use
potting soil of one half loan, a
fourth dried cow manure and
fourth leafmold, and water thor
oughly.
Very soon new growth will begin.
This can be cut off. The cut ends
should be dipped in very hot water
for just minute and then about Q
inches of each shoot buried in sand
that is warm and moist. Be sure
that the earth is we'll firmed around
each cutting-one cutting to a pot.
Covering with a glass tumbler will
hasten the forming of roots.
When roots have formed put the
young plants in 3-inch pots, or two
in 5-inch or three in 7-inch pot
When the nights are warm and the
days long and sunny, put all of the
poinsettias out of doors. They will
do best if the pots are sunk into
the soil in a fairly sunny spot in the
garden. If the summer is dry it
Will be necessary often to water
between showers, washing the dust
on the leaves at the same time.
Early IN the fall, while the nights
are still warm, bring the plants in
side and put them in a sunny win
dow. During November feed the
plants with little liquid manure
or dissolved fertilizer every two
weeks.
1t is interesting in passing to note
that the poinsettia is a shrubby
member Of the rather large Eupher-
bla family, several of whose mem
bers we know very well, though we
would not think them related to
the SNOWY poinsettia, Euphorbia
pulcherrima. The E. splendens we
know as crown of thorns. 1t comes
from faraway Madagascar. 1t is
not as commonly grown as the poin-
settia but still is often seen. Three
other relatives are often seen in
gardens, e. corollata, the f1owerinp
spurge; E. marginata. the we'll
known snow on the mountain, and
E. heterophylla, the Mexican fire.
plant. q busflY annual
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Rachmaninof Fund
Announces Contest

Plans for the selection of this
eountry's most talented pianist are
announced by the Rachmaninof1
Fund. established March %, 1914
the first anniversary of the death OF
Sergei Rachmaninoff. The funds
purpose is the discovery and encour-
agement of exceptional talent in the
fields of pianist, composer and con-
ductor, in all three of which Rach-
maninoff achieved eminence. The
first of these will be pianist con-
test.
The project will be instituted by
regional contests in key cities, to
take place after September l, 1916
the exact date to be announced later
Fifteen solo numbers and three con-
certos, to be selected from a list
prepared by Vladimir Horowitz
president, with the assistance OF
Isabel Vengeroya, are required to be
played by each contestant. The
winner of each regional contest will
be given an appearance with lead
ing symphony orchestra in his To-
cal1ty and a recital before the ma
tional final sponsored by the Re
gional Committee.
The national final will be held In
New York City in the spring of 1947
The prize will be coast-to-coast
tour in recitals and as soloist with
leading orchestras, followed the next
season by tour of Russia, if plans
for RuSsia's collaboration mature
Candidates must be native-born or
naturalized Americans between II
and 25 years of age as of September,
1916. Those who have served in the
armed forces may enter the contest
if they have not reached their 29th
birthday anniversary on that date
Further information may be OBJ
tanned from the funds national Of
flee, 113 West Fifty-seventh street
New York CITY.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Famous Virtuoso
To Give Recital

Robert CaSadesus, the famous
French pianist, will give his an
nual piano recital in Constitution
Hall on January 6, two weeks from
today, under the local manage
ment of Dorothy Hodgkin Dorsey
Virtuoso and musician, composer
and tone poet, Mr.. CaSadesus
comes of unique family of mu-
sicians, members of which, both
men and women, have made a
name for themselves in their pro-
fession. Among these are Francis
Casadesus, founder of the Amer
ican Conservatory at Fontainebleau
Henri Gustav, founder of the So
ciety of Ancient Instruments, anC
Rose Casadesus, who was the pian-
lists first music teacher. 1t was
"tante" Rose who has taken care
of Mr.. Casadesus' two children ir
Paris, when he and his talented
wife Gaby, also a pianist by pro.
fession, circled the globe on con.
cert tours together.
For the past four or five years
the Casadesus family exchanged
their luxurious quarters on the left
bank of the Seine for an old stone
house in Princeton, N. j., tavern
in revolutionary days, said to be
haunted by the ghost of a Hessiar
grenadier who met his death in 8
brawl before the open fireplace ot
the tavern on Christmas eve, ane
that each Christmas eve he re-
turns to visit the scene of his de.
mise. The reason that Mr.. Casa.
desus never saw the ghost is at.
tributed to his heavy concert sched.
ules, which keep him away from
home at holiday time.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
OF Interest TO Veterans
By the Master Gardener

Families, sweethearts and friends
OF returning war veterans are eager
ly studying every article they can
ind on the veterans readiustment
to civilian life. They feel that they
can help make the readiustment
easier only through an understand
ing of what their men have been
through and the reasons behind
changes in mental attitudes and
personality.
Every one with a loved one In
service should be prepared for
changes brought about by the war
experiences of these young men.
We have young veteran in our
own family, and on his return from
Is months of overseas duty found
the problem has not been exagger-
ated. In our case the changes at
first seemed slight, but as time went
on we noticed a forced gaiety, a
constant restlessness, resort to arti-
fetal stimulus of continual activity
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Christmas Cherry
The Christmas cherry

The Christmas cherry, some
times called the Jerusalem
cherry, is another excellent plant
for this season. 1t requires a
cool place and is especially sensi-
tive to gas fumes.
When it drops its fruit in Feb
ruary or March, it will drop its
leaves, too. The time for rest
mas come. Cut each branch back
to two buds and move the plant
to a cool place, about 40 degrees.
Full light will be needed but only
a little water.
When growth starts again put
the cherry into a warmer place
until time to move it outside, in
May. All summer keep the plant
on the porch or in semishade in
the garden.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Christmas PROGRAM

c. Eugene Stewart, organist al
st. Patrick's Church, will present
"a half-hour program of orgar
music, consisting entirely of music
for the Christmas season, this eve
ming at 7 pm. This recital will be
followed by the benediction of the
blessed sacrament. The program
will be: Offertory on two Christ.
mas hymns, "NoeP' and "Adeste
Fideles," Guilmant; "In Dulci Ju-
bilo," Bach; The Manger" (pas.
torale and adoration), Guilmant:
"Gesu Bambino," Yon; Silent
Night, Holy Night" arrangement by
the organiSt.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Choir at Art Gallery

A program by the Washington
Cathedral choir of men and boys
under the direction of Ellis C.
Varley, acting organist and choir
master, will be given tonight in the
National Gallery of Art at 8 o'clock.
Several of the familiar Christmas
hymns will be included among the
selections beginning with 20 Come
All Ye Faithful" Less well known
numbers will be Weelkes' "Hosanna,
to the Son of David" Phillip James
Jesus Lying in a Manger," David
NICK. Williams "The Stork," Hugh
McKinnon's IT Hear Along Our
Street." Sweelinck's Born Today"
the old French Noel de Thevet,'
the Bas Quercy carol, THE Shepherd
Boy and Peter Warlock's "Balula-
low
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Local Group Assists
At Tree Ceremony

The Washington Choral Society
will take part in the Christmas Tree
lighting festivities tomorrow at
O'Clock. Under the direction of
Louis A. Potter, the group will sing
Come All Ye Faithful" "It Came
Upon Midnight Clear" ooh, Little
Town of Bethlehem" and Silent
Night" The program is sponsored
by the D. c. Recreation Department
and President Truman will press
the button that lights the tree.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
|VFW Department
Service Groups
Christmas Dinner

The District Of Columaia Depart
ment, Veterans of Foreign Wars. i
sponsoring a turkey dinner for serv
ice men and women at Mrs. Steed'
Service Club, Ninth street and Penn
sylvania avenue NV, beginning a
2 o'clock today. Department Chap.
lain William L. Smith is chairman
Members of the auXiliaries will serve
the dinners.
Pentagon Post voted a sum o1
money to support the national home
Comdr. Eugene Orrell presided.
donation was also made to the Dis
trict of Columbia tuberculosis fund
Government Printing Office Post
will hold a welcome home dinner
tomorrow at Pythian Temple from
2 to pm. for their members re-
turning from World War II.
Edward w. Dabbs, Thomas B
Dabbs. James Galassa and Daniel
r. Let's were obligated in Fedora!
Post last Monday night at the En-
bassy Club by Department Adjt
Clyde w. KERN.
Comdr. Joseph G. Conrace of Co.
lumbia Post obligated Caleb G
Fanshaw, Michael J. Ready, John
B. Peterson, Jesse S. Molina, Joseph
j. McQueeney, Charles Cohen
James E. Ballard, Leo H. Carr, AL
fred J. Ambrosio, Robert w. Good
Robert Cannon and Daniel E. Man.
ming.
In Follow Me Defense Post
Comdr Earl E. Maud obligated John
P. Reback, Edgar E. Mayhem, Walk.
er J. Burns. William George, C. H
Sartain, Paul c. Hook, David ]
Burke, Arthur F. Di Guiseppi
Charles Mann, William Makara
Charles Erdman, James w. Harri-
son, Herman Meeks, Harold J. Buck
ingham, Edgar Portlow, Marvin w
Moore, Edward Weber, Charles
Granville, Raymond Greenwell
George w. Bordinas, Fred D. Jones
and Alfred C. Refs.
Washington Post, with Comdr
Gerald Ryan presiding, on Wednes-
day dedicated new colors. Depart
ment Comdr. Frank Topash spoke.
The following were obligated:
John Borzi, w. S. Robinson, N. j
Ceccerelli, F. S. Sedgwick, Andrew
Fisher, L. r. Garcia, j. H. Cowan, r
]. Walter. C. P. Bolen, ]. E. Conrad
R. A. Edwards, A. H. McCrae, o. j
Brakeman, G. A. Plonpit, r. J. Turn
er, c. j. Clark, J. Mcfarland, S
Metzger, W. Conroy, H. Oxenham
J. Bates, w. Mott. R. Golf, B. Cole.
man, w. Martin, T. McNellis and C
Brown.
Meetings this week:
Monday-Front Line Post, can.
celed.
Tuesday-Pentagon Post, can.
celed.
Wednesday-Police-F Fire Post, II;
ID street NV; Honor Guard, 1915
D street NV.
Thursday-Potomac Post, can.
celed; Follow Me Defense Post, 1906
Rhode Island avenue NE.
Friday-Internal Revenue Post
1919 K street NV.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
American Legion
National Leader
Entertained Here

National Comdr. John Stelle, OF
the American Legion. was guest OF
honor of the National Press Club
Post Tuesday night at the National
Press Club. In conformity of a long
standing rule of the post, speeches
are banned" Comdr. Stelle "just re-
lated some stories" according to
Comdr. Carter Brooke Jones, who
presided.
Fort Dupont Post delivered Christ
mas gifts, donated by members, to
A children and mothers of war vet
Grams at the Glenn, Dale Sanitarium
last Sunday. Presenting the gifts,
on behalf of the group were: Comdr.
George H. Ross, Chaplain Genevieve
Sparshott, Sergeant at Aims How
ard H. Kramer and Archie Selby.
The post will deliver gifts to the
District orphanage on Nebraska ave-
nue. today.
United States Internal Revenue
Post met Thursday at the Stansbury
Temple with Comdr. Chester Ben
nett presiding
Past Comdr. John A. Long, who
was appointed national assistant
sergeant at arms by the national
commander, made a report on the
proceedings Of the national conven-
ton held in Chicago. Maynard
Smith, who is the only Congress
sional Medal of Honor man in the
District of Columbia Department,
has been appointed by the depart
ment commander as a member of
the newly formed Department World
War II Veterans Committee. Ma
tional Executive Committeeman Joe
Malloy is chairman of this COM
mittee.
Sylvan King, chairman for the
District Gifts for Yanks Who Gave
campaign, stated yesterday it has
been a success, having collected
more than $4,000 gifts and $4,000
to purchase additional ones.
Distribution has already been
made at Walter Reed and Forest
Glenn Hospitals while a similar
event will be held today at Mount
Alto Hospital.
National Cathedral Post will hold
Christmas party for children at
the Washington Home for Found
lings at the meeting on Wednesday
Department of Agriculture Post
had indorsed Past Department
Comdr. Lee Pennington for national
executive committeeman next year
while Bureau of Engraving and
Kenneth Nash Posts have Endorsed
1t. Col. Joseph Malloy.
Meetings this week are:
Monday-Tank Corps and District
Taxi Posts, Legion clubhouse.
Tuesday-James Europe Post, 1914
Vermont avenue NV.
Wednesday-National Cathedral
Henry G. Spengler and Bureau ot
Engraving Posts, Legion clubhouse.
Thursday-Department Executive
Committee, Legion clubhouse; James
E. Walker Post, Twelfth Street
YMCA.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Concert Cancelled

The concert scheduled to be
played by the Marine Band SYM
phony Orchestra under the direc-
tion OF Capt. William F. Santel-
mann on Wednesday night has
been Cancelled. Band concerts will
be given in the band auditorium
Marine Barracks, on Friday after.
moons at l o'clock and on Satur.
days at 2 pm. AL concerts are
free of charge.
Evening star., 1945-12-23
IOES Activities
| In Local Chapters
Meetings scheduled are !:

| Meetings Scheduled are:
Bethany pter-T Thursday
Boosters with Mrs. Bertha M. Stark.
The chapter will have charge of
the Masonic Service Center on
Thursday and Saturday.
Brookland Chapter - Wednesday,
initiation and Christmas party.
Harmony Chapter-Th Thursday,
New Year party.
Columbia Chapter Tuesday,
meeting called of.
Lebanon Chapter-Tuesday, meet
ing called of. January 8, entertain
ment. f
Chevy Chase Chapter-Wednes-
day, Christmas party.
Hope Chapter - We esday,
Christmas party.
Mount Pleasant Chapter-Decem-
ber 80, 4 to 7 pm, tea; home of
matron, Mrs. Jane Wall Pitts, for
members and friends. January S,
annual banquet.
Federal Chapter - Thursday,
Christmas party.
Bethlehem Chapter - Meeting
changed to Wednesday. Christmas
party.
Victory Bond savings are q good
way to build up cash surplus so
that. you can buy the. things you
want when the fear Of imitation has
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Local Events

The Asbury Female Ensemble will
make its debut tonight at 8 o'clock
with a program of carols of many
nations presented in the Asbury
Methodist Church. George w. Muir
ply is the conductor and R. Earl
Anderson the accompanist. Soloists
will be Lenore E. Owens. contralto,
and Alberta Patrick, soprano.
Under the direction of Homer E.
Phillips, the choir of Metropolitan
Baptist Church will present a spe-
clal Christmas program tonight at
7:45 o'clock. Solo parts will be taken
by Martha Louise Micci, Frank
Bartlett and Blanche Elaine Phil
lips.
The YWCA Music Hour will pre-
sent the Christmas story in song
and tableaux this afternoon at 4::30
in Barker Hall. The all-association
choral and dramatic groups will take
part.
Lit. Marvin Gardner, baritone. is
on terminal leave prior to dis
charge from the Army after two
years service overseas. Sunday.
November Is, he was soloist for the
services at Third Church of Christ,
Scientist, and on November Is was
featured soloist in the Victory Pag-
cant sponsored by the Business and
Professional Womens Club at the
Shoreham Hotel.
Lillian Evanti, lyric coloratura
soprano, made a tour of the USO
hospitals for camp shows during
November.
The National Lutheran Chorus, R.
E. Snesrud, director, will give an a
cappella, sacred concert in Consti-
tuition Hall on January 2S. The
chorus of 200 voices from the Luth-
eran churches in the Washington
area, which made its debut at the
Water Gate in June, has recorded
hymns for the radio program, 1.-The
March of Faith
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Bridge
BY Frank B. Lord

Washington bridge players who
attended the annual tournament of
the American Contract Bridge
League at Atlantic City brought
home the story of very unusual
deal that occurred in the mixed pair
event. 1t was within one card of a
perfect deal yet not one player out
of the hundred pairs conteSting in
the match ventured a bid upon it
and the board was accordingly
passed out, with each pair receiving
a neutral score. The deal was not
perfect in the sense that any hand
held solid suit of spades or of
hearts, but it was near perfect in
the matter of distribution of the
cards. Each hand held an ace, a
king, queen and a jack of diff
ferent suit and each hand held pip
cards that corresponded in denom-
ination with the pip cards of diff
ferent suits in every other hand. In
not a single hand with a one card
exception was card duplicated and
the distribution was three, three,
three, four, which the experts say is
ideal for a no-trump contract, but
not so on this deal.
This WAS the dial.
Evening star., 1945-12-23

the prewar city; 6pfg, violet, same
type of bear with shovel raised
against a background of wrecked
buildings; 8pfg, red orange, bear
against "criss-cross" shield; 10pfg,
brown, bear in act of setting window
in reconstructed wall; 12pfg. car
mine red, bear carrying piece Of
timber; 20pfg, blue, bear rampant
in white on dark shield with civic
crown above; and 30pfg, olive, small
tree-perhaps linden-putting out
leaves against skyline of burned-out
houses
The series is colorful and attrac.
tive. 1t apparently is intended to
represent the beginning of period
of reconstruction. Each design car
ries the inscription: "Stadt Berlin"
meaning Berlin City" or even "Ber-
lin State"
AS to the bear as a symbol, the
name of Berlin has been interpreted
to signify ''tne city of the bear"
| One of the mythical or semimythi-
can founders of the medieval town
was Albert the Bear, and his trade
mark" may have been "ein junger
bar or possibly "ein crosse bar"
j The same collector who brought
back the Berlin local postage stamps
also has in his possession specimens
! of second set of nine values which
show no label except the word
+ post" four miniature posthorns and
| colored numerals on white circles
in frames with somewhat crude.
floral sprays. The denominations
are: 5pfg, brown; 6pfg, green; spfg.
purple; l0pfg, dark brown; 12pfg,
red; 15pfg, yellow; 2opfg,. slate
green; 25pfg. blue, and 40pfg, car
mine lake. For what city or town
this series was produced is a mys-.
terry.
A cruder, less attractive set Of two
values only-6pfg, black on green,
numeral in circle in ornamental
frame; 12pfg, black on magenta,
shock of wheat standing in front of
farmhouse-likewise do not display
geographical Inscriptions.
Equally mysterious, however. are
a pair of adhesives-6pfg, green;
l2pfg. red-of conventional lozenge
design brought back by the same
phllatelic enthusiast. They carry
the words: "Deutsche Post" for
German Postal Service" and "Leip-
ziger Musterschau Erzeugnisse, :"
theoretically for Muster Show
Production at Leipziger" with the
dates: 1921 Oktober 1945."
Two additional novelties are old
Hitler portrait stamps-6pfg, purple;
l2pfg, red-overprinted 'Deutsch-
lands Verderber," meaning Ger
many's Destroyer"
Washington collectors, who yester-
day examined the material listed
above remarked that: Germany
seems to be right back where she
started from a hundred years ago
back to city posts again"
1t has been announced that the
Texas commemorative will be blue
IN color, It will go on sale at Aus.
tin, December 20.
The Washington Philatelic So
clety will have Christmas party at
the Sheraton Hotel, Fifteenth and l.
streets NV, Wednesday evening
at 8 Mrs. Grace Lowering McKnight
is to be in charge of arrangements,
There will be program of enter
tainment to which all stamp collec-
tors and their friends are invited
and to the success of which each
member and visitor is asked to bring
wrapped white elephant" gift for
exchange.
The next meeting of the Collec-
tors Club of Washington will be
held at the Pythian Temple, 1o12
Ninth street NV, on Tuesday eve
ming, January at 8 o'clock.
For the 14th time, the Stamp Edi-
tor OF The Star makes use of this
I
Evening star., 1945-12-23
Wintertime Gardening
Pomsettias Need Special Care
If They Are to Keep Healthy
By Louise Hendey

Few plants bring such great Joy to recipients Christmas
time the ponsetta bring disappointment
few days later go
to worse until thing of beauty is thing of
This surely not be- If
have failed to make plant
Evening star., 1945-12-23

Help yourself to future security by
buying all the Victory Bonds you can
afford. Then trim the edges of your
expenses and buy a few more.