davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-12-23
The Shopping Ordeal

AS elsewhere in America, the Districts
department stores are achieving new all
time highs in the dollar volume of Christ
mas sales But the statistics, though
doubtless exciting to economists who sit
around taking the pulse of imitation, have
little real life in them. They do not tell
the human side of the story. Although they
portray for us the cash-register gains at
this place and that, they do not give even
an inkling of the ordeal suffered by the
flesh and spirit to make those gains
possible.
Some student of humanity should deal
with this subject in the most searching
manner. He ought to spend a day or so
going from store to store and experiencing
all the experiences that Christmas shop
ping entails. The dense crowds, the pick
ing, the choosing the waiting to be waited
upon the elbowing, the crush in the ele-
vators, the ups and downs on the escala-
tors, the formidable women who push
every one else out of the way and intimi-
date the salesgirls, the queuing up to get
purchases wrapped in gift boxes, the
tramping from counter to counter and
from shop to shop, the aching feet, the
harassed mind, the pun1meled body, the
bruised psyche, the dwindling purse and
the final, inutterably fatiguing process
of going home laden with bulky bundles
from toe to head-these are the living,
pulsating realities behind the cold sta
tistics What they mean is that the CASH
register intake is record breaking only
because people-most of them in an amaz-
ingly cheerful way-hnd it perfectly nat
ural to submit to physical punishment in
order to rid themselves of their money.
Yuletide shopping in this sense-the
rigors of it and the generally good-humored
acceptance of those rigors-is social
phenomenon of the first magnitude. The
figures on the dollar volume of purchases
no matter how thrilling they may be
to the economists pallid things COM
pared to the story of what the buying pub
lie endures to make the merchandising rec
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Eosier Suid Thun Done

Wilbur La Roe, jr moderator OF the
General Assembly of the presbyterian
Church, has just made statement which
indicates that he shares the confusion OF
thought which hampers many well-inten-
toned people In their approach to the
grave international problems OF the day.
Speaking before New York audience,
Mr.. La Roe called upon Christians to take
a firm stand against the pagan battle
line" OF the cohorts of totalitarlanlsm
whether in the form Of communism or
fascism At the same time, he said, ne Is
against "the spirit of hostility, the melting
to hatred, the hip-on-the-shoulder atti-
tude which almost challenges the other
fellow to fight"
The trouble with this is that one cannot
tell precisely what Mr.. La Roe is talking
about. Who is guilty of inciting to hatred,
OF almost challenging the other fellow
to fight? 1t is easy to agree that these
things should not be done, but that does
not help in identifying those whom Mr.
La Roe believes to be guilty of them. Is
he talking about the Presidents policy in
Greece? Is his reference to the Marshall
plant AS lUilS do N1i. Ao AeoS oS~Ao AAA
generalties, it is little hard to see just
what should be done, or should not be
done. In taking the firm stand against the
pagan battle line which he advocates.
Another evidence of this confusion Is
found in his criticism of the use OF the
United Nations as vehicle for spreading
infiammatory propaganda. Russia, ne
says, is the worst offender. And Russia,
he adds, Should be made to understand
to what extent she is making difficult II
not impossible the finding of peaceful
solution of the worlds problems.
That has fine ring to it, but it is one
Of those things that is easier said than
done, How is Russia to be made to under
stand that she is putting peace in jeop-
ardy? Mr. La Roe does not say, and one
suspects that he has not the falntest
idea how it can be done.
One may also pect-although Mr.. La
Roe evidently does not share the suspicion
that the Russians are perfectly well
aware that they are making it impossible
to find a peaceful solution Of the worlds
problems. There is good reason to believe
that they have settled deliberately on
policy of creating chaos, believing that
ultimately chaos will serve their purposes
better than peace If this is so, then Mr..
La Roe and those Americans who think
like him are playing, however innocently,
into the hands of the Soviet strategy
makers
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Bombs Away
70 the Editor of The Star:

70 the Editor Of The Star:
am an employe of the United States
Government. I am quite confident that I
am not Communist. Still hope no atomic
bomb will be used by the United States in any
future war. I consider the atomic bomb and
other means for general human destruction
to be unsuitable for policing any part Of the
world. Innocent people are present In al
populated areas. If punishment Is required
1t should be inflicted only on guilty individuals.
think the defense against atomic bombs
will be found more In . spirit leading to their
abandonment than In their possession. I
believe In love for all mankind. including
those who choose to be our enemies.
BYsTANDER.
Evening star., 1947-12-23

ords soar. There should be long and
dramatic book written on this subject, and
somewhere in it, incidentally, there should
be chapter lecturing little boys and girls
on a proper appreciation of what their
elders suffer to increase their happiness on
Christmas Day. Children take so much for
granted Except for the ones who still have
a genuine faith in Santa Claus, it is high
time they were told that their stockings
are filled over the nearly broken bodies Of
their parents.
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Ruble Up-Dollar Down

TO the Editor Of The Star:
The Russian government, by repudiating
about so per cent Of its debts, is trying to put
the new ruble on a par with the dollar. And
unless Congress re-enacts the excess profits
and other taxes for the purpose of reducing
the national debt. our Government is liable to
become over-extended, which might cause the
dollar to decline in value below that of the
new ruble. As foreign exchange does not have
any friends, the money that will buy the most
is the most valuable. DEMOCRAT.
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Supersonic PROGRESS

The recent tightening up on informa-
ton regarding velocity OF new-type mill
tary planes makes it difficult to confirm
published reports regarding Supersonic
speed tests. The secrecy order itself nat
urally gives rise to conjecture that history
making feats are in the making. If it Is
true that the Bell xS-1, an experimental
rocket plane being developed by the Air
Force, has succeeded in crashing through
the supersonic sound barrier, new chap
ter in aviation history has been opened.
A prelude to the chapter already has
been written as the result of supersonic
speeds achieved by pilotless rockets, such
as the German-type W., and by the Navy
sponsored ram-jet missile. The problem
has been to devise pilot-carrying craft
capable of crashing through the mysterious
air barrier which builds up in front of an
object travelling at or above the speed of
sound. This was relatively easy to solve
with expendable rockets. It is something
else to risk the life of test pilot in
craft whose performance characteristics
under critical conditions can only be
guessed.
According to Aviation Week Magazine.
the Bell XS-1 has pierced the sound wall
several times, with no harm to pilot or
plane. This experimental model Is pow
cred by four rocket motors. It is launched
from the underpart of B-29 This assist"
solves take-off problems, conserves fuel
and lengthens the range of the tiny ship.
Once across the sound barrier frontier.
military aviation will be confronted with
innumerable new problems which must be
solved before supersonic warfare can be
regarded as practicable. Jet planes, with
speeds just under that of sound, already
have brought revolutionary changes in
plane design and in weapons. If rocket
planes are to hurtle through the skies
at speeds approximating those of con-
ventional bullets, guns must be redesigned
to give missiles greater power. Moreover,
at speeds in excess of that of sound (660
miles an hour at $4,000 feet altitude) gun
ners would have to be miracle men to hit
another supersonic plane or even still
target. Electronic controls, working auto
matically, probably will do the aiming and
firing in the aerial warfare of the future.
Considerable progress is said to have been
made in the development of such weapons
and controls. From all available indica-
tions, long period of research and expert
mentation lies ahead before SuperEonic
aviation emerges from what is still
essentially laboratory stage.
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Report on Future Education

Report on Future Education
To the Editor Of The Star:
In your issue Of December 49, an editorial
writer takes exception, in a sense, to the
main thesis developed by the Presidents
Commission on Higher Education" in the first
volume of its report editorial captioned "A
Privilege-Not q Right~. This thesis is, as
you quote from the report, that American
colleges and universities must become the
means by which every citizen :. is enabled
and encouraged to carry his education
as far as his native capacities permit" Your
criticism suggests that this implies that
college education should be regarded as an
inalienable right" You wish more emphasis
on higher education as privilege reserved
for those who have the capacity to take ad-
vantage of it, rather than the right Of all
citizens.
But is this not precisely the concept con-
tanned in the Commissions report? The
phrase "as far as his native capacities permit"
certainly places the same restriction on uni
versal higher education that you advocate.
Whether the restriction converts into "privi-
lege" what would otherwise have been
right" Is a more or less trivial question-one
for the photographers to argue If they WISH
But even granting this conversion. you have
no basis for criticism, for the commissions
report apparently doesn't use the word fright"
at all in the statement Of its thesis.
As far as the matter of emphasis is con-
cerned contend that the commission would
have had it in the right place even If they
had used the word right If a choice is
necessary between viewing equality Of oppor-
tunity in education as right or as privilege,
then let's call it right. And it is exactly
this that the commission advocates equality
of opportunity in education.
see no hint in their statement that they
advocate free higher education for those who
are incapable of proftting by it; in fact, as
have pointed out, exactly the opposite Is true.
Your editorial is reprehensible because 1t
suggests that the commissions report is not
wholly sensible document. This tends to
create measure Of unfavorable public reaction
to it, since not all who read will detect the
triviality Of your remarks. Since the success
of the program advocated by the commission
is wholly dependent on public approval, your
editorial constitutes obstructionism, where
what is needed is enthusiastic support. The
reports recommendations will bring forth
enough Of petty criticism and the raising OF
false issues from those who think that things
are just fine the way they are, but might be
improved bit by return to the conditions
Of 20 years ago. have never thought that
The Star was q member Of that club.
L. v. BLAKE.
Evening star., 1947-12-23
On Citizenship The Hard Way

On Citizenship The Hard Way
TO the Editor Of The Star:
It was with a great deal of interest and with
at least some misgiving that read the recent
letter to The Star written by Mr.. John A.
Thornton.
Mr.. Thornton discusses number OF things
with which he disagreeS, to wit: high rents,
high prices imitation ETC. I am not concerned
in this letter with his complaints or with his
conclusions. They may or may not have their
merits But do disagree with the first two
paragraphs of his letter. First he describes
himself as an American "of pre-Revolutionary
stock" and then he implies that all compare
lively new arrivals" disagree with the social,
economic and political order of their adopted
new homeland. He refers to radicals, aliens"
and new arrivals" and, by implication, uses
these terms interchangeably.
Mr.. Thornton, to say the least. appears to be
misinformed. If one wants to apply the term
radical" to the new citizens of this country
it should only be in the sense that many Of
them have been radically" opposed to the
totalitarianism and intolerance of the Old
World. In this sense, their "radicalism" paral-
lels that of the Pilgrims, the Huguenots, and the
Quakers.
L
immigrants came to this country because they
yearned for that political and religious liberty
and freedom which we're denied them in Europe.
What makes Mr. Thornton think that these i'm
igrants suddenly change their minds after they
begin to live in this country? Does he have
insufficient faith in the righteousness of our
system or could it be that he takes too many
things for granted because he acquired citizen
ship by the accident of birth rather than by
the infinitely more difficult and complicated
process of voluntary adoption and naturaliza-
ton?
He writes that he won his citizenship the
hard way = = by pioneering here = - by fight
ing for the country when it was In danger
- =" Well, when Mr.. Thornton opened his
eyes for the first time he was, without any
effort of his own, an American citizen. I do
not know how much he engaged in pioneering
but do know that he as native citizen, has
no monopoly on his citizenship because of his
fighting for the country when 1t was in
danger" During the war our armed forces
did not differentiate between native-born and
naturalized citizens. Neither did German
buzz-bomb or Jap machine gun.
I have never seen a battlefield, but when my
husband left me to 60 overseas before D-day
in order to defend our home and our country
my heavy heart and my tears differed very little
from those Of millions Of other American wives.
My naturalization papers gave me neither more
privileges nor more responsibilities did my
small share toward winning the war like
millions of other American wives.
II any distinction Is to be made 1t Is the
naturalized citizen who often realizes to
greater extent the values of freedom and liberty
that we fortunately possess in our country. Per-
haps it is because he. in many cases, knows
what it can mean to live without them.
MRS. G. F. MALSH.
Evening star., 1947-12-23

Of both apprenticeship training and theoretical
education. Recognized by few people from
either school Of thought, these schools never
theless, fulfin a definite purpose in the ad-
vanced education Of many Americans.
Several Of your points were well taken In
regard to seriousness of purpose, intellectual
merit and fitness Of students and financial
assistance In few places do students apply
themselves more industriously than In our
technical schools Education is stripped OF
frills and applied strictly to the task of tech
nical preparation. No student must drudge
through dreary required" courses in which
he has no interest. Progress is aimed at q
strict objective with no detours from the path.
This type Of school attracts students who are
interested in gaining knowledge, as opposed
to the type Of student who seeks only the pull
ing power Of a degree.
Financial assistance is not q curean for
intelligent but needy students, whose earn
ings are essential to their families. The
technical school, with relatively short courses,
solves this problem almost completely. It
also teaches more in shorter time than the
average low paid apprenticeship, where most
of the time is devoted to work far below the
intelligence or ability of the individual.
The disadvantage of technical school edu-
cation lies in the iron-bound class conscious
ness of education itself. The lower paid
technical worker must serve an apprenticeship,
which is ridiculous for a graduate Of good
technical school, while the higher paid tech
nical worker must possess a degree, regard
less of how or where 1t was attained Our
own Government Is, perhaps, the worst Of
fender in this respect
II our Government would change its tradi-
ton bound qualifications for employment and
Judge man instead Of his background, more
qualified men would be available for every
job This would have far reaching influence
on all employers. More adequate examinations
and the necessity for good judgment would
be involved, but modern aptitude tests are
excellent instruments in this respect The
result of such policy, besides enlightening
many of those responsible for employment
everywhere, would rapidly expand all good
technical school facilities Such policy would
not cost the Government anything, would
take care of our shortage Of facilities, would
open up educational opportunity to more peo-
pie and would help to insure high future
technical proficiency for all American industry.
T. THURSTON HURST.
Evening star., 1947-12-23

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
,oriter, although It IS permissible for a
tortter kno,Dn to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1947-12-23

The President now has expressed himself
both ways on price controls; also on sus-
pending antitrust laws. Could this be
play do you suppose, for the seven per
cent with no opinion? so 80
Evening star., 1947-12-23

"An automobile compass-the gift ideal
for any car owner"-and particularly the
westbound motorist headed east at the end
of the long skid.
Evening star., 1947-12-23
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

@. Was there an increase or decrease IN
the United States population last year - Z
result Of births and deaths?-M. j. j.
A. According to the Bureau Of the Census
estimates there were 100000 babies born in
1916 and 900 persons died. These figures
are subject to revision. Other factors, such
as emigration and immigration, affect the
population.
Q. Were plays given at Ford's Theater after
Lincolns assassination?-T. M. z.
A. The building, which was originally a
Baptist Church and used rs such for more
than IS years, served as q theater from 1862
IS but never after the tragedy.
O. Who controlled the early slave trade into
the Americasp-L. r. D.
A. The Portuguese had Q monopoly on the
trade because OF their explorations on the West
Coast Of Africa, beginning in 1442. The English
went into the slave trade in 1852, when Haw-
kins took slaves to Hispaniola.
@. What is the estimated population Of the
countries that make up the Arab League?-
w. L. e.
A. The seven countries included In the Arab
League are Saudi Arabia Egypt, Iraq, Yemen,
Trans Jordan, Syria and Lebanon. Their pop
ulations total 100000. occupying territory
about half the size Of the United States.
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Ia III. Editor At The star.

To the Editor Of The Star:
In regard to your recent editorial on educa-
ton, . few thoughts will suggest themselves
to any instructor In technical schools. These
schools lie In . hal-worid, on the frtnges
Evening star., 1947-12-23
Questions and Answers
Bv Gould Lincoln

reader can set the answer 70 Any question
Bureau. SIS street NE. Wsshinsten !. B. e.
Please inclose cents for return POSTAGE.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-12-06
Free X-ray Service
Till December Il

The Free X-ray service being
offered by the Boston Health De-
partment at the Whittier Street
Health Unit in Roxbury.
Will continue through December
II, every day between / and 4
p. M, Monday through Friday
and on Wednesdays from l to s
p. mfl The report of your x-ray
is confidential; no appointment
necessary, no undressing, no
waiting. Just walk in and have
your chest x-ray taken. All
adults are urged to take advan-
tage of this opportunity to
check their lungs and know
for Sure" that they are free from
tuberculosis.
The Roxbury Committee aid
ing in making this program avail
able to resident of the district
are: Mrs. Laura Morris, Urban
League; Florence LeSueur, N. A.
A. c. P. Florine Wood, Shaw
House; Rev. Ravenell, Ebenezer
Baptist Church; DR.. johnson Hill;
Anna Jackson; David Lane;
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-12-06
Free Concerts At
New England
Conservatory

The New England Conserva-
tory Of Music announces six free
concerts in the month of De-
cember, given by the Conserva-
tory. The public is cordially in
vited to attend, there is no
charge and no tickets are neces-
sary. The schedule is George
Faxon, organist, of the ConServ-
atory Faculty, organ recital,
Dec. 8, in Jordan Hall at s:15
p m; Rhodora Buckle Smith, So
prano, Song Recital in Brown
Hall, Dec. 10, at 8:15 p m. Three
Advanced Student Concerts in
Brown Hall and Jordan Hall,
Dec. II, IT, and % at 8:15 p m;
Marjorie Woods, pianist, Piano
forte Recital, Dec, IS in Brown
Hall at BIS p n Buckner Gam
by Of 10 Albemarle st will play
in a Student Recital on Tuesday,
Dec. l6, n Brown Hall. He will
play Beethoven, Sonata in E
fiat major, Op. 81 no. 3.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-12-06
ChiIdren's Chorus
Gives Fine Concert

The Youth for Christ Commun-
ity Chorus OF Columbus Ave. A.
M. E. Church appeared in concert
in Jordan Hall Monday evening,
Nov II, under the direction OF
their organizer director accomp-
anist, Mrs. Mary j. Sheridan
Davis.
Participating on the program
were; Anthony Wynam, Jr., Bar
bara Ward, Eleanor Pearson, San
dra Jordan, Louis and Dudley
Jordan, Wilma Pearson, William
Pearson, Helen Jordan, Harriet
johnson, Caesar johnson, Rachel
Walker, Sarah Cheatam, Gloria
Hill, Norman Jordan, Virgins
Hopkins, Jeanette johnson.
Also Mrs. Mary Jeffreys, Mrs
Marian Wynn, Rev. Mrs. vern-
allie Daniels Shuford, (guest
speaker,) Jesse Reddick, Mary J.
Sheridan Davis, Sons of Harm
ony, (Homer Snuggs, mgr, ana
Jesse Bennett, secretary. Mis-.
tress Of Ceremonies was Mrs
Retha Hill. AccompaniSt were
Mrs. Mary Sheridan Davis, Viii.
ma Pearson, and Virginia Hop.
kins.
An appreciative audience
warmly applauded all the part.
cipants. Most of the young per.
formers are still in their teens
Helen Jordan is elevn year old
mezzo-soprano whose teacher
Mrs. Davis, is convinced that the
young miss has a bright future
before her.
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-12-06
William {. Carter
Post Auxiliary

The Ladies' Auxiliary to the
w. e. Garter Post No. l6, Ameri-
can Legion, has outgrown its old
meeting place on fremont st
and has now established head
quarters at the Everett School
on Northampton st. At the
meeting Of NOV. % there was a
large attendance Of the mem
bershlp, including many who
had not been to meeting for
a long time. To keep this new
meeting place at the Everett
School there must be at least
so persons present. The presi-
dent has asked each member to
bring another member to the
meetings. The membership is
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-12-06

large and each member should
attend at least one meeting a
month. Mrs. Susie Lewis is mem
bership chairman and anyone
wishing to become a member is
asked to write her and she will
attend to writing the applica-
ton. Fer address is TIA Shaw
NUT ave. She will call to see you.
The Child Welfare Committee
Is planning a sale Of beautiful
articles suitable for those Xmas
gifts YOU will wish to make your
friends at the holiday season.
You are asked to come and pat
ronize the committees effort.
There will also be a supper
served. The sale comes on Sat-
urday, Dec. 8, from 10 a m till
midnight at 691 Shawmut ave.
The proceeds will go into the
fund to send children to camp.
Mrs. Florence Wood, Rehabili-
tation Committee chairman, re-
ports that donations for the dis
abled veterans in the State Hos
ritals are coming too slow for
he success Of the fund. We
must not forget the boys at
Xmas time and they need all
the cheer that we can give
them. Members and friends are
asked to send their contribu-
tons either to Mrs. Wood at SO
The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1947-12-06
Town Hall To Get
Carver Chair

NEW YORK - The famous
Town Hall which seats over 1900
will have a memorial chair in
honor Of the late George Wash
ington Carver. The chair off,
cially was dedicated at Honors
Day Program Dec. 4 at which
time a bronze plate bearing the
famous peanut scientists name
was attached to the chair.
Heading the dedication cere-
monies is Mrs. Ogdon Reid, pres
ident of the New York Herald
Tribune. Speakers at the pro-
gram included Tusksgee's pres