davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

and send them down to Mr.. Edison
and his helpers.
There was one rule in this house.
hold: Mr.. Edison was first; no mat
ter what he wanted, 1t had to be
done. Every one understood this
rule and we were only happy to do
everything for him as we knew ne
was working for every mans bene-
fit.
Mr.. Edison's mode of life left no
room for halfway measures. What
ever he undertook he went into
strenuously and deeply.
He loved music and although he
didn't play musical instrument,
he collected and read all the books
he could on music. He thumbed
at the piano and the organ and
was proud of the tunes he could
pick out on the keyboards of the
instruments he kept near at hand.
He was tremendously interested in
medicine and he could have made
great physician. At one time he
actually developed medicine for
arthritis. I always called him my
doctor. I rarely had to call in a
physician as he would tell me what
to do.
But you must not think that Mr..
Edison ever would have preferred
any other life than the life he fol-
lowed. He had no regrets.
Mr.. Edison would work endlessly
on a problem, using the method OF
elimination. If person asked him
whether he were discouraged be-
cause so many attempts proved un-
availing, he would say, mo. I am not
discouraged because every wrong at
tempt discarded is another step
forward" A failure was always an
incentive for him to try something
else.
He invented so many things; but
of them all, I think he was most
attached to the photograph because
of his love for music. He wanted
everything to be perfect. He was
never satisfied, not even with the
photograph. He never ceased trying
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

mass meeting Of citizens on May
8, 1912, with Commissioner John
Russell Young as chairman. With
out dissenting voice the group
voted to form a joint campaign
organization and to invite the parti-
cipation of organizations which
otherwise would raise money separ-
ately. Thus the Community Wa1
Fund came into existence.
The desirability of one appeal fol-
the Washington area was demon
strated during the ensuing war
years and a stronger peacetime
Chest organization has emerged
All the six Community Chests OF
the area, those Of Washington
Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax
Montgomery and Prince Georges
have become members of the Com
munity Chest Federation, which is
the natural heir of the Community
War Funds utility and effective
ness. ...
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

had memorized them. A. short time
later he slowly tapped out a mes
sage to me which I was able to
understand.
Just what that message said
consider too sacred to repeat, but it
was one of the steps that led to our
marriage.
Years later, the Morse code I had
learned proved to be useful. When
we would go riding in an automobile
Mr.. Edison would sit in the front
seat. Because of his deafness, had
a little contraption rugged up with a
light and would fash messages to
him from the back seat.
Although Mr.. Edison never drove
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
By Mary Frances coedeII

mothers and unsupervised children
Demands on all types of local well
fare agencies scared with the num-
Der Of new residents, and in direct
proportion to the mounting tensions
that global fighting brought to the
home front.
This phase of the Community
War Fund, caring for local welfare
needs, did not end when the fighting
ceased. The job Of giving help to
neighbors who need it is one with
which the community is constantly
concerned. Although the War Fund
now can 60 out OF existence, local
welfare agencies are more necessary
than ever to help veterans readjust
to civilian life and others to meet
new situations created by the war
The final story of the Community
War Fund, and perhaps the most
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
By John CIogett Proctor

Mrs. Bacon of Toledo, and Col. and
Mrs. Lamont. The Vice President
had also arrived meanwhile and was
received by members of the. Recep-
ton Committee in the room adjoin-
ing the Presidents"
Among the notable guests upon
this occasion who attracted more
than passing notice were Mrs
George B. Mcclellan and the widow
of President Tyler.
The attendance was given as
about 5000.
In 1889, the Harrison and Morton
ball attracted 10000 persons, In
GLIDING such notables as Gen. Will
liam T. Sherman, William F. (Buf-
falo BID Cody and Frederick Doug
lass.
In 1893 Mr.. Cleveland began . re-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

- HE Community War Fund
which gave us the opportu.
nifty to lift our horizon be.
yond purely local welfare
needs and participate in world
wide relief program, goes out of ex.
istence Tuesday. But the co-opera-
tive spirit that grew out Of this
united effort will mark the first an
nual meeting Tuesday of the Boare
OF Directors of the Community Chess
Federation Of the National Capita.
Area.
Created in the spring of 1912, the
first campaign of the Community
War Fund was started in the fall
for funds to carry on its work ir
1943. It's story is one of which Wash.
ington can be proud. 1t is story OIL
service that started here with YOU
contributions and went around the
world. 1t is story of service thai
reached a peak of willing, almost
joyous sacrifices as war came ant
forced upon the world degree o.
suffering never before known.
1t is the story of help to China
first of our Allies to resist aggres.
sion and scourged longest by war
China was superbly equipped witt
mental and spiritual qualities of re.
sistance but ill-prepared with mate.
rails to fight civilian suffering. tt
orphaned children, starving ane
homeless families, we're counted Ii
millions; it's babies. born in war
grew to school age without knowing
peace, home, family life or school
But through United China Relief
which was in the Community Wa
Fund, you had a share in providing
shelters where children could b
cared for and trained, and you CAV
medical supplies for skilled doctors
to use in treating wars wounds.
Assists for Other Nations
Are Sideliehts of the Fund
The fund is the story of Greece
whose spirit never died, but wa
badly battered. Through the Greel
War Relief Association your dollar
helped send milk for babies, food
and medicines.
To France the story goes, ant
to Britain, Holland, Belgium, Nor
way, Poland, Czechoslovakia, LUX
embourg and Yugoslavia, all O
whom felt the sting Of the ag
gressor's lash and the humiliation
of his subjugation. Through relic
groups, members of the fund, the.
shared the solace you could give.
Norway. conquered by treachery
needed such little things as needle
and thread for patching worr
clothes, kitchen utensils for eve,
the simplest cooking, tools to repair
their homes and blankets, all O.
which you helped to send through
the Norwegian Relief.
Russia, which for so many month:
bore the brunt of the Nazi war ma
chine. needed wheat, building ma.
terials and medicine and 20,
helped through the Russian Wal
Relief, which was an agency of thu
War Fund.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

Some of these war relief agencies,
feeling their work is not yet COM
plete, remain In existence and will
conduct drives for funds; however,
their future campaigns will be sep
arate undertakings and not parts of
united community drive.
But this story of aid to our Allies is
only part of the story of Com
lnunity War Fund services.
Selective Service and then war
Drought on concern for the recrea-
ton, leisure time and out-of-camp
social life of the men who had so
recently been civilians.
To meet this need the United
Service Organization was formed.
Little known when it conducted its
first campaign in. 1941, its initials,
USO, had acquired a special mean
ing to servicemen away from home
when it became a member Of the
local Community War Fund the
next year.
USO, helped by your dollars, skill
fully and resourcefully has served
from peacetime draft through all
phases of war to Rehabilitation. 1t
went to all places where our men
were stationed and needed touch
of home and the reinsurance that
they were remembered. 1t repre-
sented clubs. all over the Western
Hemisphere where man and women
in uniform could find friendliness,
fun, food and relaxation; camp
shows that brought talent to a
remote camp or to the battlefront,
and here in Washington warm hos
pitality at service clubs, canteens
and in dozens of special services.
Also included in the war hospital
ity services were United Nations
Service Center. Officers Service
Club, an information service and
the Soldiers. Sailors and Marines
Club which is still functioning. And
recreation facilities for merchant
seamen were not forgotten.
These various clubs will be re-
membered by each seryiceman in
his own way-the Saturday night
dance, the girls in pretty dresses,
the quiet library, the homemade
cake. Your contributions to the
War Fund helped to ease wars
experiences a little for him.
The Story of the War Fund
Comes Back to d. G.
Now the story of the Community
War Fund comes back to Washing
ton, which, in way, it never really
left.
In either war or peace certain
fundamental problems exist which
no, enlightened community would
want or could afford to neglect.
These are services to the handi-
capped and old, to abused and I'M
wanted children. to those over
whelmed by illness or tragedy, and
to young people growing up under
abnormal conditions.
These normal problems were ag-
gravated and multiplied here by
overcrowded homes, war-working
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
By Mrs. THONGS A. Edison
WEST ORANGE, N. j.

WEST ORANGE. N j.
the today of the great develop
vX mens memories back many
wv evenings would sit in this living
room would talk of the things that lay IN
the
thought tremendously interested Mr. Edison
today the wonderful strides In science
I know engrossed would be in atomic research.
he always said there great undeyeloped
of which knew nothing That were merely scratching
the knowledge Edison had intending curiosity about
everything questioned fes mysteries and he wanted
know meaning of things.
Yet dreaming His mind eternay
this contained Of which
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

This ttn-fon photograph, Mr.. Edi-
sons tnporife invention f1S771. tDGs
exhibited here at the National Academy
OF Science and later at the White House.
inset: Mr.. Edison In later life.
Wide weird Photos
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
CLOSE PURSUIT
By Katharine Newlin Burt.
(Scribner; 49,
Reviewed by
MIRTAM GUTENBERG

In the days when George Wash
ington stuck to his planting and
Thomas jefferson was a popular
visitor at the Governors mansion,
runaway noblewoman in the dis
guise OF a governess came to Vir-
ginia's Tidewater country. The story
of the runaway. Clemency Carr, and
her romance with a Virginia squire
is told against the background OF
Colonial virginia's growing dissatis-
faction with British imperialism.
Mrs. Burt has faithfully related
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
Mrs. Edison Says Inventor Put Home inst

fThe following article prepared exclusively for the Assoc
coed Press tdow Thomas Edison publication IN
connection centennial OF the famous inventors BIRTH
Februory married for IS and this Is the
his death In 1881
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
Elaborate Chandeliers Held
Edison's Electric Lights

Our home here originally was
lighted with gas which had to be
pumped every night. Mr.. Edison
soon decided we should have cleo.
trio lights. It was only fitting that
the man who gave light to the WORLD
should have it in his own home. He
didn't supervise the installation, as
this was done as q Tribute to him
by the Edison Electric Light Co. In
their desire to show their high re.
gard for him, very elaborate chande.
liers of that period were installed
You should have seen them! We
keep one as a museum piece.
The years have brought many
important changes. Mr.. Edison ha:
been responsible for so many o.
them: Some almost wish he hadn1
done. No, I don't mean exactly
that. I mean I wish that Mr.. Ed.
sons inventions had been used a!
he intended them to be used. Wher
I 60 to the motion pictures and SET
some of the disgraceful things,
regret it, as Mr.. Edison's idea was
that the films should be educational
as well as entertaining.
Looking back, can say that, alb
sorbed as he was in his work, it was
the love and peace of his home that
he most sought.
There have been, through the
years, great persons who have Wis
tied this home and this room, but to
me the most wonderful of them all
worked at this desk, which I never
allow to be disturbed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

Office, has been contemplated for
some time, and, indeed, a few years
ago the Government went SO far
as to select a new site for the Ac-
counting Office at Fifth and G
streets, where excavations for the
foundations were made, but further
progress was delayed due to the war.
However, it is understood that work
upon the new building will be taken
up in earnest and pushed to COM
|pletion, with the old Pension once
due to come down.
While there is nothing particularly
old about the Pension ONCE, the
walls being as solid today as when
erected in the early sos, much his
tory can be written around the
building.
Ground was broken for the Pen
sion ONCE in the fall OF 1882, and
by March, 1883, nearly all Of the
foundations were in and the brick
laying under way. Because Congress
had urged haste in erecting the
building, in order to save rent, Gen.
Montgomery G. Meigs. the super
vising architect, speeded up the work
to such an extent that the inaugural
ball of Cleveland and Hendricks was
held there March 4, 1885, and the
Office force began to move in on June
Is of that year.
OF all the public buildings here,
this one has come in for the most
criticism. Gen. Meigs got his archi-
tectural idea from the Fainese Pal
ace, at Florence, Italy, the lines Of
which, however, he did not strictly
follow. Perhaps the most reasonable
part of the criticism against this
building was its exterior barnlike
appearance. But Gen. Meigs had in
mind the health and comfort of the
clerks who were to occupy the build
ing and wanted them to have plenty
of fresh air and light.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

EMOVAL Of the old Pension
. Office Building in Judiciary
. Square, long occupied by
- Tho ccparo1 Acooi1pfip0
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02
Scene of Seven
Presidential Balls


While the building was under con-
struction, an account gave the cost
Of the structure, provided by Con-
gress, as $4,000.
Army engineers are very exacting
and technical, and any construction
work given them is likely to be well
done. Gen. Meigs, in particular,
was one not to neglect details. As
an illustration, the competing bid
ders for the buildings 10000, 900
bricks were required to submit sam
Piles, which were tested at the
United States Arsenal, Waterford,
Mass. Each sample was compressed
between castiron platforms, to de-
termine how much pressure they
could take.
Perhaps Gen. Meigs' best-known
engineering work is the Cabin John
Bridge, though, as engineer, he also
worked on the Capitol and erected
in whole or in part other public
buildings.
To the visitor the most interesting
thing about the Pension Office is the
fact that seven inaugural balls were
held there--Cleveland, 1885 and
1893; Harrison, 1889; Mckinley, 1897
and 1901; Roosevelt, 1905, and Taft,
1909.
In the writer's opinion the most
elaborate and successful ball was
that held in honor of President
Cleveland and Vice President Hend-
ricks in 1885. This was the first
time the Democrats had elected a
President since James Buchanan
went into the White House in 1857,
and they celebrated the occasion as
lit probably had never been done
before or since.
The Star of March 5, 1885, gave
an extended account of this ball,
saying in part:
1855 Inaugural
A Brilliant Affair
1.-THE new Pension Building, where
the inaugural ball was held in a
blaze of light last night, and the
homes in the immediate vicinity
were Illuminated and decorated,
while hundreds Of carriages filled
the thoroughfares and the scene
was perfect carnival of animation,
which was made all the more daz-
zling by the glare of the electric
light that almost turned the night
into day. Upon entering the
huge ballroom, with its nearly 40
600 square feet of floor space, it was
difficult to refrain from CALCULATIONS
of surprise at the. beauty of the pic
ture. The eight mammoth pillars,
rs feet in circumference, were each
covered with white cloth and then
entwined with a chain Of evergreens
and trimmed with palm leaves and
remnants and flags Of bright colors,
giving majestic grandeur to the
scene.
without the least fear of exag-
geration, the scene presented within
the ballroom may be said to have
been the most magnificent in point
of dazzling brilliancy and varied
richness ever witnessed in America,
and Doubtless will never be excelled,
If, indeed, it can ever again be
equaled here. =
ut was II o'clock when the Presi-
dent arrived at the ball building,
accompanied by his sister. Miss
Cleveland; Mrs. Hoyt. Rev. w. A.
Cleveland and his wife and two
sons, Mr.. Hastings and Miss Hast
ings, nephew and niece respectively.
of the President; Miss Nellie Yeo-
mans and Miss Anna Yeomans. the
-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1947-02-02

to eliminate in1perfectionS IN record
fpgs.
As I said, he sought perfection in
everything. Take the motion pic
ture. We had sound synchronization
IN his laboratory long before it be-
came public, but he didn't consider
it ready for release.
Mr.. Edison, incidentally, preferred
the silent films because his deafness
prevented him from fully appre-
|ciating the talkies. Discrimination
of the silent Aims deprived so many
deaf persons. including Mr.. Edison,
OF great source of pleasure that I
have always regretted they were no
longer available to those SO handi-
capped.
Mr.. Edison didn't like tragedies.
He always wanted the picture to
have . pleasing ending. That's the
way he felt about current literature.
too, but he did read detective stories
IOE Tcl6XdGlOu.
Mr.. Edison always had q pleasant,
friendly smile for every one, espe-
cially the children. They took to
him Immediately. I never saw a
child who was shy with Mr.. Edison.
He preferred the smaller towns.
He never liked New York. Always
as girl I had dreamed of marrying
and having a stone house for a
home. When Mr.. Edison and I were
married there were two properties
that interested him. One q stone
house on Riverside drive in New
York and this wooden house. Mr..
Edison wanted me to see them and
said could have either. But know
ing he desired to establish a great
new laboratory in the country, I
didn't even 60 to look at the stone
house
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-10
MYSTERY PERFUME|
REPORTED IN THEFT
Housewife Says d o r
DulIed Sences As Sill
YER Is Taken

HUNTINGTON, W. Va, Aug 8
-R-Pol:ce were asked today to
look out for a dark-complexioned
woman smelling Of citronella oil
who. a Huntington housewife said,
seemed to have bewitched her into
parting with her silverware.
The housewife. Mrs. Pearl
Hayes told police Il couldn't
bring myself around tc stopping
the woman whose oro1 of arc
matte salve and citronella seemed
to get into my nose and stay
there"
The woman. Mrs. Hayes said,
appeared at her front door, and
after much conversation asked if
she would 'like to have her for
tune told Ind her valuable bless
ed"
Then the unbidden guest whip
ped out a handkerchief exudlng
the strange perfume and, in Mrs.
Hayes words, Il just let her in;
! didn't seem to have the power
10 keep her out"
She remained powerless when
the visitor asked to bless the
silverwarc. promptly picked it up
and. along with a large supply
of b%athtoWles from the bathroom,
disappeared.
Mrs. Hayes said not until some
"a hours after the mysterious
event did she realize what had
hapnened.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-10

South Topsail near the old Coast
Guard station and the party took
to one of the old buildings for
shelter.
With the dawn a tired group
continued to ponder a way out of
the situation.
In the meantime Porter had
contrived a steering apparatus but
low tide had caught the boat at
its mooring place SO nothing was
left to do but wait for the craft
to float as the waters raised.
An cupboard m%otorboat carrying
two fishermen came to the sound
and supplied the party with eggs,
bacon, bread, coffee ard smokes
at a time when it looked as though
the next meal was hours away,
if ever.
Several planes had flown over
head, circling' low and efforts
were made to attract their atten-
ton.
To make matters worse the bat
terry had been become wet and
had shorted out making it impos-
sible to start the motor.
The two fishermen offered til
services of their craft and the bat
terry was taken to Hampstead for
repair. Telephone calls were made
to Wrightsville Beach to inform
relatives of those aboard of the
situation and it was learned the
Coast Guard had been called into
the search for the missing party.
A craft from the Wrightsville
Marine Ways was dispatched by
the Coast Guard and water, sand
witches, soft drinks were brought
to the stranded group.
Assistance was offered and sew
eral of the party were returned
to Wrightsville by the aiding
craft, the balance of the party
making their way down the water
way ala the Volga Boatman as
it moved along slowly it'll a hand
rudder being handled by Avison
as Porter fed the gas.
AS to the fishing angle of the
story.
After the party had been placed
into the safety of the old coast
Guard structure Leis Baisch -
he is the gent who caught the Sc
pound amberjack off Southport in
194O-gave the surf a try.
Baisch landed a "a pound chan
mel bass, a founder and several
blues while your writer was happy
to hook two small puppy drum.
However Baisch kept up his rec
ord of getting the big 'un'.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-10
Eric johnson
Censors British
Over Film Tax

NEW YORK, Aug. g. -P-Con-
sternation among both movie-goers
and leaders Of the film industry
on both sides of the Atlantic fol-
lowed today in the wake of the
American %industry's decision to
suspend Immediately the export
CT all feature pictures and short
subjects to Britain.
The ban is in retaliation for the
new British tax which the indus
try estimates would take away
IS percent of the earnings of
American films shown in British
theaters.
The suspension was announced
yesterday by Eric A. johnson,
president of the Motto. Picture
Association of America.
IF the British do not want
American pictures, that's one
thing Johnson said. II. they do,
they shouldn't expc> It to get a
dollars worth of films for a quar-
ter"
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-10
STATES BUTLER

Polishing the whole array of
state silver is his job-and he re-
sents anyone shining UP a fork
while his back is turned. And he
also answers the telephone and
the door with a flourish.
When Uncle Dave planned a
trip to Washington to see his
brother, he got a h%ankering to see
how things run at the White
House. The governors Office call
ed the staff of North Cardinals
Sen. William q. Umstead. Uncle
Dave will get to the White House
to the kitchen and all around
behind the scenes.
Uncle Dave said he might wear
civilian clothes ON his trip. But
when he goes to the big mansion
On Pennsylvania avenue, he will
be wearing those Ia. stripes.
"The uniform - that's for the
White House." Uncle Dave said.
The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-10

Widow Marries
Step-Son, 80

MURPHYSBORO, ILL.,, Aug. o.
W.H-The fourth husband Of IS
year-old Mrs. Mabel Genevieve
Pitts is a 39-year-old stepson by
her third marriage.
The slight little bride and Vic
tor Robert Pitts were honeymoon
ing today in a two-room frame cot
tage after their marriage Thurs
day in the parsonage of the first
Lutheran church.
"All my other husbands died, so
thought I'd get me a young man
this time" she said.
Mrs. Pitts said that her new
husky, six-foot husband was pre-
sently unemployed and that she
hoped to obtain work to supple
ment her $50 monthly old age
pension. Her third husband died
two years ago.