davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-10-27
|696-I946
By A. A. HoehIins

no plumbing at all are legion. ~
The Prince Georges General Hos
pital, Cheverly, has 100 beds, and
the Leland Memorial Hospital, Riv-
erdale, 65. The minimum bed ratio
considered necessary for a county's S
or a city,s needs has been placed
at Az beds per 1000 population.
Prince Georges stands at little more
than one bed per 1000 persons.
DR.. Byers says that maternity
cases present the greatest problems,
as there are not even enough beds
in Washington to take the child
birth cases from Prince Georges.
He feels the county is lucky not
to have had more epidemic prob
lens. However, the county has five
new cases of tuberculosis a month
serious enough to require admis-
sion to the State sanitorium.
There is hope next year for in
creased facilities for the sick. A
120-bed addition to the general
hospital has been approved, includ-
ing a health center and health
department Offices. Federal funds
for the project will have to be ap-
proved when Congress takes up
hospital grants next year.
The two greatest individual activi-
ties in the county are the Depart
Evening star., 1946-10-27
Kane
CONTINUED From Page C-3)

thought of abandoning her place
on this roller coaster of trials for
the human spirit which she had
chosen so that she could clear her
name.
As her litigation progressed, she
throbbed with almost daily insults,
bore three children, braved pesti-
lence which cost the life of her first
husband, escaped death at the
hands of a would-be assassin. was
ostracized by all but the very poor.
Her battle struck cold fear into the
hearts of an intrenched legion OF
beneficiaries of her fathers fabulous
wealth, and they seemed to be will
ing to use any means to COW her
spirit.
Over all this she triumphed, and
only once did her heart whisper she
might have spent her life otherwise.
The endless battle. shifting from
New Orleans to washington, made
her a well-known figure in the Ma
tion's Capital. She lived in board
ing house on I street, opposite
Franklin Square, for q time, and II
was here that personal tragedy,
almost sundered her spirit.
Harnett T. Kane, whose earlier
works, Louisiana Hayride," Deep
Delta Country" and plantation
Parade" have forged for him firm
place as an American writer, has
enriched his reputation with this
book. New orleans Woman" seems
bound inevitably for Hollywood and
the best seller list.
Evening star., 1946-10-27
s ! = Y Y The HorseIess Carriage

in this city, beginning with the
Locomobile and subsequently add
ing the Rambler, a gasoline-pow-
cred vehicle.
Rudolph Jose, who later became
the first president Of the Wash
ington Automobile Dealers Asso-
ciation, began his long career in
1898 by opening an establishment
at 1914 Fourteenth street for the
distribution of the Kensington elec-
trio.
Charles E. Miller and his brother
opened for business in 1892 as
bicycle dealers, and seven years
later took the agency for the Bris-
bane- Walker steam car, which was
known as the Mobile" Their first
customer was DR.. Harvey w. Wiley
then chief chemist of the Depart
ment of Agriculture. The first
gasoline-powered vehicles handled
by this firm were the French OAR
Evening star., 1946-10-27

the first one being a White steamer
which was later replaced by the
Pierce Arrow, a gasoline driven
motor car. It has been generally
believed that Theodore Roosevelt
was the first President to ride In a
horseless carriage, but Leo Pascal,
a member of the Columbia His
torical Society, has been quoted as
stating that William Mckinley,
when shot at the Pan-American
Exposition in Buffalo in 1901, was
carried to the hospital in an electric
automobile ambulance.
The horse-drawn carriage con-
tinued in, use for many years in
formal affairs and it was not until
the Inauguration of Warren G.
Harding on March 4, 1921, that q
motor vehicle was used to take the
President along Pennsylvania ave-
nue. in an inaugural parade. On
that occasion Woodrow Wilson and
President Harding rode in an open
Evening star., 1946-10-27

ment of Agriculture's Research
Center at Beltsville and the Uni
versity of Maryland at College Park.
On the sprawling 1890 acres OF
the research center scientists are
learning how to do things previously
thought impossible for plants and
animals. At the experimental farm
Of the center there are 5000 farm
animals, including COWS, horses.
sheep and hogs; also 10000 fowl.
The studies in chickens afford an
example of the results Of the
center's work. Research has pro-
duced healthier flocks; a new type
OF "streamlined" turkey, smaller and
so shaped that 1t has more white
meat; eggs with thicker, stronger,
less easily broken shell, and eggs
that will keep better in hot weather.
Poultry nutrition, too, has been
improved until 1t has been shown
Evening star., 1946-10-27

touring car, while Mrs. Wilson and
Mrs. Harding followed in an In
closed landaulet.
On May 7, 1903, the Board Of Com
missioners adopted regulation re-
quiring that operators Of motor
vehicles take an examination to
prove they were competent to be at
large on the streets in an automo-
bile. The first examinations were
held on August II and by June of
the following year 858 permits had
been issued. These permits were in
the form of a certificate signed by
E. F. Vermillion, chairman of the
Board of Examiners, and William
Tindall, secretary to the Board of
G Commissioners.
This regulation further provided
that motor vehicles moving north or
Evening star., 1946-10-27

ton from the IA system of educa-
tion to the new Statewide program
which calls for six years of ele-
mentary education, followed by a
six-year secondary school program,
consisting of three years of junior
high school and three years of
senior high instruction. The current
school term marks the completion
of the junior high school organiza-
ton in the county. The program
will reach its ultimate goal during
the 1949-50 school term when the
graduating class of that year will
be the first to complete II years
of public schooling.
'This expanding program touches
all areas of the school-the cur
riculum. the teaching staff, the
school plant, school equipment, ma
terials of instruction and all other
activities which are designed to
meet the needs of growing boys
and girls. Prince Georges County
looks ahead in education, accepting
the challenge to meet the problems
created by her expansion and
growth"
County Health Officer Faces
Still Greater Problem
A greater problem is that facing
DR.. John M. Byers, youthful county
health officer. With q staff of only
AZ nurses and clerks he must min
lister to the health Of q county
which is dotted with substandard
dwellings. Homes with archaic OF
Evening star., 1946-10-27

racq" and the American
Searchment."
c. Royce Hough, who was prom
inently mentioned in connection
with the early automobile races
which were held at the Brightwood
Driving Park, also had been bicycle
dealer, an early president Of the
dealers association and Washington
manager for the Pope-Hartford Co.
&c. Graham Secured Agency
For Six Cars in 1904
E. C, Graham, now chairman of
the board of the Hamilton National
Bank, was the founder of the Ma
tional. Automobile Sales Co. which
was incorporated in August Of 1904.
The firm became the agency for the
Packard, the Buick, the Oldsmobile,
Evening star., 1946-10-27

enrolment Of pupils has more than
doubled, there being at present more
than 21,000 students and tbs
teachers.
According to Supt. G. Gardner
Shugart, the county has lowered
the pupil ratio per teacher wherever
classroom space was available" The
ratio has dropped, he says, from
so pupils per teacher to IS.
Growth" Mr.. Shugart explains,
"has brought with it the need for
providing more adequate housing
An extensive building program is
being planned to meet this need.
"Other demands such as text
books, teaching aids, stationery and
art supplies, cafeteria service, play
ground equipment, as well as bus
transportation have risen CORE
spondingly in amount.
To-day, the major problem con-
fronting the county is the transi-
Evening star., 1946-10-27

agreed that the first gasoline-pow-
cred vehicle was built by Karl
Benz in Mannheim, Germany, in
the year 1886. Six years later a
similar vehicle was developed in
this country by Charles E. Duryea
In Springfield, Mass.
Authorities differ as to which of
the early experimenters deserve
precedence, but the weight of evi-
dence places Duryea first, with
Henry Ford second in 1893 and
Elwood Haynes third in 1894.
Other names prominently asso-
ciated with early development are
Ransom E. Olds, Alexander VIM
ton, Charles B. King and Hiram
Percy Maxim, inventor of the
Maxim silencer.
At any rate the Duryea cars were
the first to prove themselves in
competition. A Duryea road wagon
won road race over snow-covered
streets in Chicago on Thanksgiving
Day in 1895. OF the 16 entrants
only six were able to get away from
the starting line, and only two
the Duryea and the German Benz
were able to finish the 52-mile
course.
In this country the first sale OF
a gasoline-powered vehicle is gen.
orally credited to Alexander Win
ton, who in 1898 built four cars
and succeeded in selling one. 1t Is
possible that H. P. Maxim, asso-
ciated with the Pope Manufactur.
ing Co. of Hartford, Conn, may
have made an earlier sale. Records
of the Automobile Manufacturers
Association indicate there were 1884,.
900 operating in 1908.
There have been approximate!
$500 different makes of automobile
manufactured in the history of th'
business and only a handful hav'
survived. Many of them were stocl
promotion schemes and few wer,
operating with anything approach
ing adequate capital.
At least six cars bore the name
Evening star., 1946-10-27
Mrs. A. L. Barber Purchased
Electric Model in 1897

I was surprised to find used cars
advertised in the classified columns
of The Star as early as 1906 and to
note it was customary in those. days
to publish listing of the licenses
issued at periodic intervals.
The first owner of a horseless car
riage in the District of Columbia is
believed to have been Mrs. A. L.
Barber, who acquired one of the
original Columbia Electrics in the
spring of 1897. It was, of course,
an open model-"a surrey with the
fringe on top"
The first woman to undertake
driving her own automobile here
seems to have been either Miss
Annie French, daughter Of DR.. VIII
liam B. French of Capitol Hill, or
Miss Grace Thompson of the
Thompson Dairy family.
With the possible exception of the
influx of population brought about
by Americas participation in two
World Wars, the automobile has
done more to transform Washington
into a modern metropolis than any
other single factor. It~has done
much for Washington and it has
done much for our country. There
is hardly an aspect Of life-eco-
nomic, social, political, cultural OF
religious-that the automobile has
not radically changed.
Evening star., 1946-10-27
| Books
PRIESTESS OF THE OCCULTs
BLAVATSKY
Continued From Page C-2)

the coarsest fiber and most ruth.
less determination.
In the person of . journalist, Col.
Henry Steel Olcott, she annexed .
new disciple and partner, the col
onel abandoning his family to b
her factotum and remaining faith
full to her throughout her life. She
founded the Theosophical Society,
claiming that she was the earthly
representative of spiritual fra
ternity, the Brotherhood of Luxor.
Egyptian sages who had chosen her
to teach their truths to humanity.
She conveyed the truths through
the usual techniques of table rap
ping, materializations and voices
produced from a cabinet in dark
room. In 1878, having found Amer
lea inexcusably ribald, she sailed for
India. The Luxor Brotherhood
thereupon became "the Mahatmas,"
a group of spirits domiciled in Tibet
and needing Madame to carry their
saving gospel to a sinful world. Shs
announced that she had in her
youth spent a period in Tibet as .
student of these ghostly masters
sometimes it was seven years, some
times it was three.
1t appears from Mrs. Williams
story that everything about her was
of the crudest, yet she succeeded
brilliantly. She enrolled distin-
guished men and women in her So
ciety, she set up branches in most
of the civilized countries. In 1884,
however, the Society for Psychical
Research investigated her and is
sued the uncompromising statements
that she was an imposter. Certain
of her confederates at the same time
published exposes of her frauds.
She fed from India, seemingly
ruined. But, incredible woman, ms
staged comeback in Europe, gath
cred new and impressive defenders
and lived to be honored for seven
more years. The Society is still
alive and hourishing.
No Real Explanation.
Mrs. Williams tells this story with
great discretion. She admits that
there Is no real explanation for
Madame's power over people who in
every way were her superiors. Ac-
cording to her the woman had no
beauty, no charm, no tact. She was
gross, physically dirty, drug addict
and given to fishw1fe RACES; she was
ignorant and too clumsy to conceal
the fact; she was . bigamist-at
least; she was liar. She had no
loyalty; she was cruel to the most
devoted Of her followers. And yet
she was able to command and hold
loyalty herself. Apparently her Sc
cret was q phenomenal vitality. In
Mrs. Williams words she was like =
statue come to life"
There was something Of the Ras-
putin in her, one feels.
At any rate the drama of her
shoddy household, dragging itsek
halfway around the world, Won
dering where the next meal would
come from, cadging shamelessly and
claiming communication with tho
very gods, is something which must
stand as nearly unique. Mrs. VIII
liams does most satisfactory job
Of reporting 1t.
Evening star., 1946-10-27
By A. Leftwich Sinclair, Jr.
+ N the strict sense Of the word the
automobile was not an inven-

N the strict sense OF Cne WOrQ tne
automobile was not an inven-
ton. It was the application Of
an engine, source of power, to
vehicular transport by highway,
which evolved through the efforts of
many experimenters in several ma
tions.
As early as 1887, Oliver Evans OF
Philadelphia, petitioned the Mary
land Legislature for patent on the
manufacture and operation OF
steam-propelled vehicles, and in
1904 he ran through the streets of
Philadelphia a strange contraption
consisting of a wagon which carried
and was driven by-a steam
propelled fiat boat.
It was not until 1925 that the first
real steam carriage was developed
in this country. In that year
Thomas Blanchard Of Springfield,
Mass, built and secured patent for
a car, but there was no demand for
it and the idea was forgotten for
several years.
Because of the atrocious roads Of
the period, the concentration on
railroad development, and the pas
sage of prohibitive legislation. little
progress was made until almost the
close of the 18th century.
While the first self-driven high
way vehicles were propelled by
steam and attained some consid-
cradle degree Of usage, they were
much more popular with engineers
than with laymen. People were
afraid of the steamer. They did
not like to ride in a carriage that
had a boiler full of steam under
the seat, and the electric became
the leading type of horseless car
riage.
Limitations in both sources OF
power gave the impetus to the de-
velopment of the gasoline driven
motor vehicles we know today. The
steamer was continually running
out of steam, just as the electric
was continually running out OF
electricity.
Historians seem rather generally
Evening star., 1946-10-27
riince

them being servants or redemp-
TONERS. Their knowledge of the
ancient languages was superior to
their habits, discipline and quality
of teaching"
Surviving as reminders of the past
are number of old structures. The
oldest is the Fred w. Wilson home
in Marlboro, built by Edward Digges
in 1704 and once used as tavern.
The oldest standing religious
edif1ce is the st. Johns Protestant
Episcopal Church at Broad Creek.
which was built in 1923. 1t contains
the pew used by the Royal Governor.
Other landmarks familiar to old
time residents are the Old Marlboro
House, built in 1852, which was the
former residence Of Gov. Pratt and
later the Planters Bank; the Old
Courthouse; Trinity Protestant
Episcopal Church, built in 1s4e; st.
Mary's Catholic Church, erected in
1898, ana the private homes, Mount
Lubentia, Melwood Park and Mont
pelier.
George Washington, who visited
in or passed through the county
many times, stopped in the last
three houses named.
School System of County
Is Indicative of Growth
The birthplace of John Carroll.
a signer of the Declaration of indie
lpendence, was in Marlboro (Which
was named after the Duke of Marl-
borough. The house originally
stood on the grounds now occupied
by the Courthouse.
indicative Of the size and growth
Of the county is the school system
During the past 20 years the average
Evening star., 1946-10-27

portion of the building program il
the Glenn L. Martin aeronautical
research center. An 10000 wind
tunnel is under construction, and
it is expected that a great deal Of
work will be done in supersonio
fight when the entire project il
completed.
Evening star., 1946-10-27

Historical repie1Ds OF the auto
mobile industry 10ere augmented
recently 1Dl1en A. Letttoich Sim
clair, jr., Washington dealer, od-
dressed the Columbia Historical
Society. His research into Wash
ington aspects of dutomottDe
progress includes interesting
contributions from Presidents,
Inventors, early oaDners and
sportsmen. FOLLOWING are some
OF Mr.. Sinclair,s remarks:
Evening star., 1946-10-27

played in the center OF the moor
area, while actual demonstrations
were made on an elevated circular
wooden runway which had been
constructed for this purpose.
Succeeding shows, put on by the
Washington Automobile Dealers
Association, were held at the Ar
mory of the Washington Light In
fantry on Fifteenth street until
January %, 1907, when "a different
makes were shown on two floors OF
what is now the Haley Building at
202O M street. Over 1000 people
attended the first night and music
was provided by the 50-piece or
chestra- band under the direction of
William A. Haley.
These early shows were done on
a grand scale. Experienced show
managers and decorators were i'm
ported from larger cities Tor the
occasions.
First White House Car
In Taft's Administration
Some sort Of record must have
been established on February 8,
1918, when the President OF the
United States formally opened the
Washington show at Convention
Hall by pressing a button in the
White House which unfurled a large
American flag and simultaneously
lit 1900 electric lights, whereupon
the United States Marine Band,
under the direction of Capt. Will
liam H. Santelmann, commenced
the evenings musical entertain
ment. President Taft expressed his
regret at being unable to attend
the formal opening in person be-
cause Of a cabinet dinner, but prom
ised to be present later in the week
as he had not missed show during
his administration.
William Howard Taft was an en-
thusiastic motorist and automobiles
became official equipment at the
White House while he was in ofice,
Evening star., 1946-10-27
First Show Held in 1901
At Convention Hall

The first Washington automobile
show, which was sponsored by a
group of individuals, was held in
1901 on the second floor of Conven-
ton Hall. The vehicles were dis
Evening star., 1946-10-27

south were to have the right-of-way
over those moving east or west. No
doubt the driver was expected to
resort to the use of a compass when
breezing along over some OF our
diagonal avenues.
BY September IS, 1907, there were
1900 cars operating in the District
and a standard license plate was
adopted. This plate was 6 by 10
inches, in black enamel with white
numerals. Prior to this, motorists
made their own-any shape or size
picking numbers to suit themselves.
The Commissioners decided this
created confusion.
The office of director of traffic
was not created until March 81,
1925. on which date the Commis-
sioners appointed M. o. Eldridge,
VINO is still serving in that office
as principal assistant. 1t was under
Mr.. Eldridge's direction that the
first traffic light was installed in
the District at Eighteenth street and
New Hampshire avenue, on Novem-
Der 26, 1925.
One advertisement which caught
my attention in a 1909 copy OF The
Evening Star, was placed by the
Automobile College Of Washington,
which had been doing a thriving
business training chautfer- -mechan-
les. It encouraged the public to
obtain chaufeurs from its list
of graduates. In bold type it
advertised: "Save $50 to 500 per
month in repair bills" This must
have delighted the automobile
dealer of that period. Their theory
seemed to be that your chauffeur
would cost you nothing, since he
could also repair your car.
Cline, Jose, Miller, Hough
Among Pioneer Dealers
Arthur L. Cline, who later in
1909 was president of both the
Auto Livery Co. and the Federal
Taxi Co., is generally credited with
introducing the steam automobile
Evening star., 1946-10-27

DJACENT to the District OF
n Columbia north and east
~ lies political subdivision
- of the State of Maryland
that this week is celebrating It's
25oth anniversary-Prince Georges
County.
Not so very long ago 1t was little
more than a vast sweep OF unde-
veloped land with few scattered
houses and fewer winding, rutty
roads.
It achieved historical prominence
during the War Of 1912 when the
British defeated our forces at
Bladensburg and marched into
Washington.
But today the county bears scant
resemblance to the wilderness OF
Colonial and Revolutionary times.
With population of 10000. it now
boasts "a incorporated towns and
one village. The population is dis
tributed throughout the townships
for it is, essentially. an agricultural
area.
Evening star., 1946-10-27
University Now Spending
Sc, $50, 900 on BUILDINGS

The Maryland State College w.
chartered in 1856 under the name
Of the Maryland Agricultural Coll
lege, the second of its kind in the
Western Hemisphere. Two years
later it commenced operation and
six years after that it received sup
port through the now-famous Land
Grant Act.
At present the university is in tlA
midst of an ambitious building pro-
gram which will cost about $780,
900. 1t will affect buildings both at
College Park and Baltimore.
Perhaps the most spectacular
Evening star., 1946-10-27
Cline, Jose, Miller, Housh
Amont Pioneer Dealers

Arthur l.. Cline, who later in
1909 was president of both the
Auto Livery Co. and the Federal
Taxi Co., is generally credited with
introducing the steam automobile
Evening star., 1946-10-27
County

to be practicable to produce a 21k-
pound broiler on 9 pounds of feed.
Concerning livestock, the center
has proved to the satisfaction of its
scientists that selective breeding is
all-important
Through selective breeding, also.
the Bureau of Animal Industry has
been able to produce steers that
grow and gain faster and reach
slaughter weight several weeks
sooner than unimproved stock.
The University of Maryland this
fall enters it's 88th year with an
enrolment of 5000 students.
The university, as now known,
came into being through a mer-
ger in 1920. The College Of
Medicine of Maryland, one of its
units, however, was organized in
1907 and the first building of the
college was built in Baltimore in
1872