davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Sane People Held Insane
TO the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
am glad to see that people are becoming
interested in the "railroading" Of patients to
mental institutions. It seems to me that this Is
one of the worst practices in this country today.
Often it is not a case Of ones mental defect
but case of not being wanted by families or
friends.
I personally have made study Of patients
at one of our largest asylums and it is full to
overflowing with old people who are just as
sane as am and more sane than the people
responsible for their Incarceration. If persons
commit crimes they realize they must pay the
penalty but these poor old men and women
who are put away by relatives for one reason
or another have done nothing to merit i'm
prisonment.
Imagine being declared insane when you are
sane enough to know that you are being
railroaded for the convenience of others and
then spending year after year in such place
with the only hope Of release being that Of
death. It is simply unbelievable to a person
with any human feeling at all that such a
crime could be committed against helpless
people.
Aren't the courts and judges who declare sane
persons insane for the convenience Of others
as much to blame as those who ask for the
insanity decision? MRS MARY E. SHAW.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Stars, Men and Atoms
War AiIment That Affects
Best Mont CONS Reported
Finest Battle.Seasoned Soldiers
Suffer Nervous Malady
By Thomas X. Henry

By Thomas r. Henry
new kind of nervous breakdown in war
which affects only the best soldiers after pro-
longed battle experience-the "old sergeant
syndrome"-has just been reported to the VIII
liam A. White Psychiatric Foundation here by
DR.. Raymond Sobel Of Bellevue Hospital New
York
He was psychiatrist of the 34th infantry
division, composed of Iowa and Minnesota
troops, which fought through the African and
Italian campaigns and had one of the longest
combat records of any division in the Army.
From time to time, DR.. Sobel found, key
enlisted men, usually non-coms, suddenly
would suffer general emotional breakdowns
characterized by uncomfortable fits of weeping
or violent temper tantrums. Usually the first
episode was of short duration but was almost
certain to recur with the result that the victim
had to be withdrawn from action.
Men Exceptionally Stable.
Victims were invariably men OF exceptionally
stable emotional makeup with excellent COM
bat records. The reaction was quite different
from the battle fatigue" which affected thou
sands and was one of the great medical prob
lens Of the war. It was the very strength
of the man which brought the eventual smash,
as DR.. Sobel diagnoses the syndrome.
OF the utmost Importance, he says, was the
fact that these men had been in the lines a
long time. They had started as members of
relatively small groups-platoons or COM
panies. Every battle experience brought the
men of such groups closer together. They grew
to depend on each other. The mere fact Of
survival made them select group. So long
as this condition obtained it served to prevent
nelrotic reactions because one man was too
proud to let himself break down in the presence
of the others.
But then, Dr. Sobel points out, "came actual
physical loss of the group itself. The normal
attrition OF battle produced this in even the
most experienced squad. The members who
were left felt themselves to be helpless without
their former comrades. Being unable or dis
inclined to form permanent attachments to new
men, the old sergeants found themselves run
ming on depleted reserves"
Leadership Turnover . Factor.
At the same time, he explains, there was
rapid change of leadership. The old men could
not have much confidence in the new officers
who were without battle experience. They
found their own responsibilities increased while
the oflcer replacement was becoming adjusted.
This, DR.. Sobel says, usually was the end.
The violent nervous break might be precipitated
by relatively trivial incident. But once it
had occurred the mans remaining confidence
In himself was exhausted so he was almost
certain to break again. It was considered
matter of military necessity that such q man
be removed from combat. He no longer had
anything to lean on.
Added to this was the constant feeling that
his luck was running out and that he was sure
to be- wounded or killed the next time his outfit
went into action.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
At Dusk

No,D to find in this spent SUI, sinking lo,D
The fresh colors of an earlier doton;
And in these shadows that furtiDely groto,
The first bright signs of promise since
gone;
Read In this cryptic procession of clouds
The clear deep purpose OF the morning
blue;
Look behind this darkening air that
shronds
The unwarernig ptsion ne once kne1n;
Discover In this euening hush the 1oord
We uttered seeking Fate to inaportune;
Hear In this anxious t,uitter OF q bird
The sumn,oning trumpet OF lusty noon:
And to see By this trefy's little light
The ever onDard rushing OF the night.
SAMUEL YELLEN.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Low Pay of Top Men

The resignation of Charles r. Denny as
chairman of the Federal Communications
Commission is further evidence of the need
for a lifting of the ten-thousand-dolla
ceiling on most Government salaries. Mr..
Denny is the latest of a number of top
ranking Federal servants who could not
afford to remain longer on the civil service
payroll when more lucrative jobs in pri
vate industry were available. The financial
sacrifices which men of such caliber are
making are much greater today than they
were when President Truman, in 1945,
urged Congress to do something about the
"pitiful wage scale" for higher officials.
The Governments difficulties in obtain
ing good men for important administra-
tive and technical positions are largely the
result of the relatively low salaries paid
these specially qualified business and pro-
fessional employees. The New York State
Chamber of Commerce, in a study of the
situation, has found that of sixty-fve
members of Federal boards and commits
sionS, only twenty-three receive more than
ten thousand dollars yearly special
permission of Congress- Members of the
Communications, Securities and Exchange,
Power, Civil Service, Federal Trade and
Tariff Commissions are limited to ten
thousand. Members of the Interstate Com
merce Commission and the National Labor
Relations Board are paid twelve thousand.
Congress indicated an awareness of the
problem when it raised its own salary
ceiling last year from ten thousand to
twelve thousand five hundred dollars, with
two thousand ve-hundred-dolla ex-
pense account thrown in for good measure.
But it has steadily refused to raise the
ceiling for Federal employees In general.
Until this is done, the Government will
continue to lose the services of some of its
kew employeS
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Where Borrowing Is Sensible

Engineer Commissioner Gordon r. Young
wants to know whether local taxpayers
wish to restrict community improvements
Capital expenditures) to $4,500,000 in the
next fiscal year. If not, do they want to
raise more money for bigger public works
program?
The proper and traditional method of
answering such a question would be
through the ballot box Citizens of almost
every other community have been voting
"Yes" or "No" on bond issues. It is the
only intelligent method of putting such
q question and getting an answer.
Here in Washington General Young's
only recourse is to throw out the question
in a speech. He may get some response.
But what he gets will be merely the per-
sonal opinion of those few who take him
up and answer him.
A four and half million dollar fund
for capital improvements is not enough.
The schools alone are asking twice that
much. We have a carefully prepared
catalogue OF needs in new construction,
arranged in the order of immediate i'm
portance. The total is in excess OF $780,
100000 A rate of annual expenditure
governed by money available from current
taxes, which is what General Young talks
about in his query, is too low to make more
than a dent in this program. Yet local
taxes should not be increased. They are
: too high now.
It seems to The Star that the Commis-
sioners would be we'll advised to prepare
legislation authorizing Treasury advances
to the District repayable at low rates OF
interest. During prewar years the District
took advantage of such arrangements. At
one time our Indebtedness to the Federal
Government reached $20000,000. Part OF
it was represented in advances under the
Capper- -Cramton legislation for park pur-
chase, which authorized in lump sums
money-repaid in annual installments-
that never would have been available
through current taxation. We were able
to secure public works here, under preWar
legislation authorizing loans and grants,
that would not have been obtainable any
other way. In fiscal 1914 we repaid as
much as $6,OO0Oo0 on such loans. In two
years we repaid over $10,0oO00o. We are
now clear of debt.
We repaid these advances far ahead OF
schedule, thus saving interest, because we
could not spend the money for anything
else. Now that construction is needed, we
should borrow again. A city that is debt
free is in a sound position. But If freedom
from debt is to be gained at the cost OF
inadequate public improvement, we are
needlessly penalizing ourselves to remain
in that position. There is no logical reason
to place on the shoulders of current tax
payers the extraordinary accumulation OF
unmet need in public improvements
created by the emergency of war.
The Commissioners should propose to
Congress some method OF borrowing to
finance our public improvement program.
Otherwise the long-range building pro-
gram prepared by General Young and
citizens committee is worth no more than
the paper 1t Is printed on.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
PrinceIy Troubles in India

Two new complications IN the tnOrny
question of the native princes threaten to
sharpen the already tense relations be-
tween the Hindu dominated Dominion OF
India and : the Moslem Dominion OF
Pakistan.
Both of these complications are due to
cross-cutting of religious allegiances with
princely prerogatives. The first case Is
that of Junadagh, small native state
living on the Arabian Sea, midway between
Bombay and the Pakistan capital, Kara
Chi The ruler of Junadagh is Moslem,
but most of his subjects are Hindus. This
ruler, who has the title of Nawab, recently
declared his intention of joining Pakistan,
which apparently accepted his offer. How
ever. the government of India promptly
denied his right so to choose, holding that
this would create an intolerable enclave
of Pakistan territory in region pre-
dominantly Hindu which had become part
of India.
Indeed, Hindu leaders in Bombay had
recruited an unofficial army to invade
Junadagh and depose the Nawab. Pos
sibly to head off such action, the Indian
government has landed regular troops on
the borders of Junadagh. Meanwhile, the
Nawabs miniature army of some 200 men
stands ready to resist all comers. In view
of Pakistan's acceptance of Junadagh, the
complications which could result from q
Hindu subjugation of that state are
obvious.
Meanwhile, another event of similar
nature, but in the reverse sense, has oc-
Cured in the far north Of India. The
small district of Chitral has declared its
accession to Pakistan. Chitral is in
habited by jealous Moslems. But for
nearly century it has been subfeudatory
of the large State of Kashmir, likewise in
habited mostly by Moslems. but with a
Hindu reigning dynasty. Chitrals action,
taken without the permission of Kash-
mfrs ruler, could provoke grave conse-
uuences Kashmir adjoins Pakistan and
its Moslem inhabitants naturally gravi-
tate that way. Should the ruler of Kash-
mir try to coerce Chitral back to its ale
Evening star., 1947-10-13
First OF tho urticles)


The suit filed in District Court by a pupil
from the Browne Junior High School to test
the legality Of the Districts segregated public
school system follows contention that Negro
boys and girls are not receiving equal educa-
tional opportunities here in Washington.
Similar charges are made In a study recently
completed by Howard Universitys bureau of
educational research This study says that
because of segregation, discrimination exists.
The study contends that basically mo system
requiring the separation Of the races can be
equal" and that as result, thousands Of
colored children in the District are being de-
MED an education equal to that furnished white
children.
Segregation in the schools is fact. 1nequali-
ties also are fact. Whether one results from
the other depends on a. point of view.
School Supt. Hobart M Corning and the
Board Of Education, realizing that conditions
in the colored schools are not what they
should be, point out they have been making
strenuous efforts to improve them and bring
about unquestioned equality Of facilities. Par
ticularly in the matter of construction Of
schools has this been true
The inequalities that do exist are the result
of factors beyond the control of school officers
and the Board Of Education. DR.. Corning con-
is practiced in Washington, he says.
DR.. Garnet G. Wilkinson, first assistant super
intendent in charge of colored schools, follows
the theory that the inequalities are caused by
the segregated system itself.
1000 Children on Part Time.
He maintains that on the basis Of the existing
facts, if segregation were abolished there would
be seats available for most of the school children
f,, cit orod
the past year, more than 1000 children had to
go to class part time. So far this year, more
than $500 are in the same situation. The
majority are colored boys and girls.
Dr. Wilkinson points to the crowded colored
schools alongside the empty seats in the white
schools To abolish the segregated system,
would do away with wasteful building duplica-
tion he adds
In lieu of the abolishment Of the dual school
system, DR.. Wilkinson Is an advocate Of the
plan to have the District government borrow
from the Federal Government the estimated
$50 00O, 900 needed to bring the school system up
to par Immediately.
As for the legal basis Of the separate schools
for white and colored children, the District has
been operating under setup traditionally so
and interpretations of the law which place the
segregated system within the law. The District
Code of 1910 provides that funds for schools
should be allocated on the basis of the white
and colored population between the ages Of 6
| and II years.
| This is the first time the right Of the Board
Of Education to operate segregated schools has
been questioned specifically in court.
| Just what are the facts about the contrast In
| education offered the colored and white pupils
| in Washington?
Breakdown Of Enrolment Figures.
| Enrolment figures from last year, used be-
| cause peak enrolment is not reached until
| November, show:
| In the white schools-junior highs, 1,40s
below capacity; senior highs $3.50 below
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Medicines Being Wasted

To the Editor Of The Star:
All this talk about waste in food prompts
an observation regarding another considerable
waste, lie. in medicines. Doctors repeatedly
write prescriptions that are 10 to 20 times too
large for the temporary and acute conditions
they frequently are called upon to treat. Two
or three doses Of a prescription are taken and
the rest is wasted because, according to author
tiles In these things, unused medicines should
not be kept, nor should they be given to
anybody else. 8. ANDERSON.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
No Charity at Present Involved?

TO the Editor Of The Star:
It Is hard to conceive that charity is the
principal influence behind the administrations
policy to feed Europe as some Of your cor
respondents have been suggesting.
Webster's Dictionary defines charity as:
"Whatever is bestowed gratuitously on the
needy or suffering for their relief" Such a
definition, Of course, hardly describes the pres
ent practice Of exporting food to the sup
posedly starving Europeans at prevailing high
prices.
Let the administration reduce, or, better
still, eliminate entirely the charges on the
food that is being exported to the starving
Europeans and then there viii be Justification
for playing up the charity angle.
J. J. SPERRY.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Lilienthal of our Atomic Energy Commits
sion declared not long ago, such projects
are needed everywhere to promote an in
formed public opinion, without which
"schemers or fools or rascals or hysterical
stuffed shirts" may get nuclear fission into
their hands for the undoing of all of U.S.
The people of Prince Georges County are
doing their bit to guard against that. They
ought to be emulated throughout the
country.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Marshall Plan Impractical?

To the Editor Of The Star:
It looks like Russia is calling our hand and
calling it hard in the establishing of an inter-
national Office for communism in Yugoslavia
However, I hope we do not 60 off half cooked as
a result. We have done too many things re-
Gently savoring of that nature. I have no
sympathy for or with Russia or communism,
but am tremendously interested In this
country.
We should have had definite understanding
with Russia before we poured billions into her
war machine and making efforts Is to
what she was fighting for and would seek at
the end Of the engagement. That we did not
do and now we find that we have crushed one
monster only to set up greater.
But that's water over the dam. More re-
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Hard Words for Deadly Species

Hard Words for Deadly Species
To the Editor of The Star:
Perhaps there always has been a certain
class of people among whom young girls and
women have held their self-respect lightly.
Last week while shopping in the District
of Columbia, saw poor, undernourished.
ti-kept woman, ill on the streets from alcohol,
and group of smart, well-groomed so-called
sophisticates drom the Greek, believe, mean
ing wise fools) tipsy and loud In the streets
during the noon-day lunch hour. Later in the
afternoon four girls from to IA years
stood just across from the school lighting
cigarettes and using words they hadn't learned
in school.
Perhaps it's bit far-fetched, but not i'm
possible, that some day the more deadly Of
the species will be extinct and just what will
replace it is horrible to imagine.
LOUISE L. SMITH.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

q. What portion OF Lne WorloS monetary
gold is held by the United States?-E. w. M
A. At the beginning of September 1t was re-
ported that the United States held $2l, ,765,-
GOT 900, or three-ffths, of the worlds monetary
gold stocks. At the end of 1946 the United
States had 81 per cent
@. When will an unknown soldier of World
War II be officially chosen?-H M. P
A. An unknown United States serviceman OF
World War II probably will be brought to this
country late in 1949 from overseas for burial
in Arlington National Cemetery. He Will repre-
sent all branches of service.
@. Are fishes born with or without scales?-
A. Fishes are born without scales. The scales
develop from nuclei and grow in size as the
fishes grow.
@. What is the origin of the term "blus
blood"?-G. Mob.
A. The expression originated in Spain where
fair skinned persons, whose veins have blue
appearance, claimed pure descent from the
Spanish stock, without Moorish or Jewish ad-
mixture.
@. Please state the height Of the last Viceroy
of India, Lord Louis Mountoatten! no" oio
is he?-C. j. F.
A. Viscount Mountbatten is approximately
feet inches tall. He was born on June 22 lSOo.
O. How many different species OF fl1es are
there in the United States?-W. J. s.
A. The two-winged or true n1es conStltute
the order Dptera. There are approximately
10000 described species Of flies, and about
II 900 occur in North America.
O. What is meant by the tenth muscle. E. T.
A. This sobriquet is often applied to woman
poets. The earliest use of the term was made
by Plato, who so designated Sappho
@. How long have soy beans been nown'-
v. A. M. ,.
A. Soy beans have been cultivated in China
and japan since long before written records
were kept The earliest written reference TO
SOY beans was made in 1888 BE- by Chinese
emperor They were introduced into the United
States in 1904.
@. How many persons had swum across the
English Channel before the Peruvian VINO re-
Gently accomplished this feat?-G. M r.
A. Daniel Carpio was the oath person 70
swim across the Channel He swan 1rom oap
Girls Nez in France to Dover, England, IN II
hours 46 minutes on September 5, 1947.
@. Have the Great Lakes a direct outlet to
the ocean?-M. M
A They have an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean
via the st. Lawrence River and via the OsWego
and Erie branches of the New York state
barge canal system and the Hudson River.
q How much paint is needed to paint huge
s,,snension bridge like George Washington
HridRe over the Hudson River at New York
Citr9 How long does the job take?-E. w.
The lob of painting this particular bridge
-an,,;res approxinately 1000 gallons OF paint
and takes about four years to complete
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Letters to The Star
Urges Smaller Packages

Urges smaller Packages
To the Editor Of The Star:
Don't blame the homemaker for waste Of
food
Why don't the Gamers make smaller cans Of
fruits and vegetables? I live alone and after
getting two meals from each can I still have
half a can left, so have to throw that away.
This should follow in all things; make things
in smaller sizes. am sure there are many
folks like me. MARY JONES.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Forehanded Pittsburgh, ordering side
walk repairs; in anticipation of longer
skirts, might arrange also for high winds
at carefully selected downtown corners.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

That flattened individual, resembling a
gingerbread man, would be the Wash
ington daredevil who set out to roll back
prices.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
More on Asylum Inquiry

To the Edito- of The Star:
Allow me to express my entire agreement
with L. Furman Cargile, in his letter OF
october 8, wants Investigation of Asylums."
A legal house-cleaning OF the mental hospitals
is in order In the 48 States. SAM MANN.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Great interest attends hunt, in Argen-
tina, for the thief who stole flfty-four oc-
cupied beehives. This, If any one, is the
lad to take over u Ms Palestine problem
Evening star., 1947-10-13

it leaves town, yet time comes when II
must be recalled to avert disaster.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

The White House, according to its occu-
pant, is the worlds finest JAIL" One notes
that candidates are trying with all their
might to get their faces on wanted"
circulars
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Very charming, these schoolboy letters
of FDR, but are they genuine? None seems
to open with please send money! am
broke again."
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Like the weather, they're always going
to do something about Franco, but never
do. This is the little statesman who for
years has been in the middle he played
both ends against,
Evening star., 1947-10-13

The old home town was too small for
mashers. There was, though, barber shop
NJ c. to announce any passing attraction.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
Questions and Answers

reader can get the answer to any question
Of fact by writing The Evening Star Information
Bureau, 316 street NE. Washington 2. D. c.
Please inclose cents for return postage.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Let the nursery tale be warning. The
girl in the chic new hooded coat should
never address a wolf on the street under
the impression that it's her grandmother.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
Driter, although it is permissible for
writer known to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1947-10-13
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

O. What portion Of the worlds monetary
gold is held by the United States?-E. w. M.
A. At the beginning of September 1t was re-
ported that the United States held s21, 1885,
9O7 900, or three -fifths, of the worlds monetary
gold stocks At the end of 1916, the United
States had 81 per cent.
Evening star., 1947-10-13

@. How many persons had swum across the
English Channel before the Peruvian VINO re-
Gently accomplished this feat?-G. M r.
A. Daniel Carpio was the 24th person 70
swim across the Channel He swan from Cap
Girls Nez in France to Dover, England, In IA
hours 46 minutes on September 5, l947.