davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-07-18

way" To have chosen the quickest route for
that horde Of ex-slaves fresh from the stubble
fields of Egypt would have been to lead them
into the jaws of.death.
In the processes Of the Infinite 1t often hap
pens that the old proverb II fulfilled, "The
farthest way round is the nearest way home"
This principle is one well worth pondering in
our day which exhibits almost . mania TOR
getting there" quickly.
OF course, there are vital realms in which
short cuts are consummations greatly to be
desired. They save valuable time and conserve
needed strength. There Is no virtue, for
instance, in putting up endless flights Of stairs
when by the shortcut Of the elevator one can
reach the destination In an instant with no
expenditure Of physical or nervous energy.
There is a sense in which the urge for
short cut has been the mother Of invention and
the handspring Of discovery. Columbus discov-
cred America not because Of any passion to
find new continent, but because he hoped to
find short cut to India.
Inebriated by his material short-cut con-
quests, his bridges, tunnels. railways and air
planes, modern man Is q creature OF feverish
impatience unwilling to brook delay in any
realm Often there Is a mistaken tendency to
apply the shortcut technique to the inner life
Of the spirit. We live in q world In which going
and getting have exceeded the widest dreams
of more primitive day. But we also live In
world in which for multitudes being must
be classed among the lost arts. The solemn
thing Is that there are no short cuts to any
of the "blesseds" Of the Beatitudes, the pure
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Detecting Bank Frauds

Governor Driscoll Of New Jersey, IN
ordering an investigation Of the amazing
Pellechia bank embezzlement case In
Newark, said that he wants to f1nd out
"how it was possible for police court
Judge to gamble away that much money
($e57, ,000), and where" That is peril
nent question, since James Pellechia, jr,
was presiding Judge Of Newark's Police and
Family Courts as well as vice president
of the Columbus Trust Company. But .
question which should have preferential
attention is how it was possible for this
bank officer to make away with 50 much
money over 2K-year period without
detection.
The discovery of the Newark defalca-
tions resulted not from routine examina-
ton of the banks books under State and
Federal bank inspection laws, but from
confidential "tip." Primary responsibility
for examination rested with State authori-
ties, since this was State bank. Because
the bank also was member OF the Federal
Reserve System and was protected by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, 1t
has been the practice to have inspectors
from both of these agencies assist State
examiners.
The unhappy fact Is, however, that en-
bezzlements are not easy to detect during
the type of routine examinations which
State and Federal agencies are accustomed
to make And even If there were enough
examiners to keep one on duty In every
bank at all times, experience has shown
that frauds would still be hard to uncover.
Bank examiners usually can do little more
than check the soundness of a banks
assets, make sure that all laws are being
compiled with fully and satisfy themselves
that the procedures and policies respect
ing loans and investments are in accord
with good business practice. A detailed
investigation OF each note and other
transaction is impracticable.
According to Lester A. Pratt, local auditor
who has written an authoritative book on
bank frauds, there are more than two
hundred ways to embezzle money from
bank-for a time All methods can be
detected eventually, although some are so
clever that it may be years before the
culprit is tripped up. Often the break
comes when suspicion is aroused by out
side activities of the embezzler. 1t is only
under such circumstances that exhaustive
examinations of a bank officers or en-
ploye's accounts are undertaken.
While the scope of bank examiners
operations necessarily is limited, there is
no restriction on the supervision which
the banks directors have duty to main
tain on their institution and its pprsonnel.
Mr.. Pratt and other authorities have de-
Evening star., 1948-07-18
World Food Outlook

In these hectic days OF polttico -diplo-
matte tension 1t is encouraging to note
that one basic factor in world affairs is
making for stability. This is the worlds
food situation, which is vastly better than
that of last year. Prospects of record
corn yield in our own country, together
with the outlook for increased cereal crops
throughout Europe, indicate that the acute
food crisis in food supplies which gripped
most Of the world in 1947 Is nearing its end.
Except in portions of the Southern
Hemisphere, last year witnessed COM
btnataon Of climatic abnormalities the
result Of which was unfavorable for agri-
culture almost everywhere and in some
regions downright catastrophe. Europe
was the worst sufferer. The winter of
1s46-47 there was Arctic in its severity, the
coldest In several decades. When the
record snowfall melted, the resultant floods
not only drowned out such of the winter
wheat crop as had not perished from cold
but likewise delayed spring planting. And
on top of that came prolonged mid
summer drought with extensive crop
damage. The upshot was that Europe
1AIFCStco lcoS tlldlt bWO~tII1lQS VI lGS
normal cereal crops. Germany was very
hard hit, while France had the poorest
harvest in more than century. Soviet
Russia came out trifie better than West
ern and Central Europe, but even there
the 1947 harvest was below average,
although better than that of 1946 which
was hit by severe drought which ex-
tended into parts of East-Central Europe
as well. And of course the European food
deficit had to be made up by imports,
mostly from the United States. But we
ourselves were suffering from climatic
handicaps Our winter of 1946-47 was less
severe than Europes, but we likewise
suffered from excessive spring moisture
followed by a prolonged midsummer
drought. This was especially bad on the
corn crop, the main source of our meat
supply. Indeed, some of our wheat had
to be devoted to animal feeding. So,
although our wheat crop was fair, COM
bined domestic and foreign demands
resulted in a tight situation.
This year, by contrast, nature has been
kind. Europe's winter was exceptionally
mild. spring rains have been adequate, and
planting has been early. Europe's crop
expectations are good, in some cases
approaching the prewar average. Rela-
lively little is known about Russia's pros
spects but what evidence we have is
favorable except in the Caspian Caucasus
area. which has suffered from drought
Canada's wheat prospects are slightly less
favorable than ours while in the Southern
Hemisphere Australia and Argentina may
not quite equal last years excellent har-
vests. Still, no part of the world has a
really bad crop outlook Only exceptionally
severe summer droughts could change the
present bright picture adversely.
The chan|s are, therefore, that the
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Should Murderers Hang?

The muddle into which Britain's Parlia-
ment has been projected as result OF a
long and bitter legislative battle over
capital punishment has developed absurd
aspects. The nature of the absurdities
was well described by Winston Churchill
In criticizing a compromise substitute for
q proposal to abolish the death penalty
for trial period of five years. This orig
inal proposal had been approved by the
House OF Commons, but the House of
Lords rejected it.
The compromise measure seeks broadly
to distinguish between murders deliber-
ately planned and those Of less malicious
origin. Specified as warranting the death
penalty are certain types Of homicide,
including those impelled by malice" those
committed in the course of robbery, rape
or prison-breaking and those resulting
from systematic poisoning" All other
killers would escape the moose.
Mr.. Churchill told Commons that the
proposed law provided instructions to
would-be wife-slayers in how to accom-
plish their objective without fear Of the
gallows. "You can strangle her." he de-
clared, "hold her head in gas oven until
she expires-that Is not my language, that
is what we are asked to put on the
statute books-stab her, cut her throat or
bash her brains out" All of this, provided,
apparently, that it was not too deliberately
planned. And the systematic poisoning"
stipulation presumably would mean that
one quick lethal dose would be safer from
the murderer's standpoint than a series
of small doses cunningly administered.
The victin1 of course, would be just as
dead under either method.
There Is nothing funny about the situa-
ton, however, to a number of convicted
murderers whose fate awaits final deter
mination by Parliament of the DEATH
penalty issue. When the House of Com
mons voted a few weeks ago to suspend
hangings for five years, the government
ordered postponement of all executions,
pending final action. But the condemned
mems hopes were shattered when the
House of Lords refused to 60 along It
has all been very confusing and disturbing
to law-enforcement authorities, who are
faced with serious rise in crimes of
violence since the war. The real danger
is that any modification of the penalties
for murder may tend to encourage crime
just when more stringent law enforcement
is desirable. The opponents of capital
punishment certainly chose an inoppor-
tune time to wage their campaign in
England. ..- ,.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
,s........ s, se,.ls.

In heart, the poor In spirit, or to the meekness
which shall inherit the earth. In the midst Of
the amazing success Of mechanical short-cuts
1t Is high time to cry out that God and the
Godlike does not always take the nearest and
most rapid routes.
Many are vainly seeking to reach speedily
with . minimum Of labor and . maximum
Of comfort goals and possessions which only
effort and struggle actually can realize. Co.
getter statesmen and shortcut experts do not
get very far in any realm where capacity and
character are the passports to growth and
achievement. The eternal law running across
Gods method is, FIRST the blade, and then
the ear, and after that the full corn in
the ear"
There have been a good many interpretations
Of what usually has been called the Temptation
Of Jesus. But, after all, that dramatic account
simply comes down to this: The One Perfect
Man was tempted to take q short cut in q
realm where that technique is futile folly. In
that recital. the evil one made no attempt to
question or to change the holy purpose or the
golden goal which the man Of Galilee accepted
at His baptism. Satan did not come In the
traditional guise, with horn and hoof, to offer
sensual and repellent enticements to a pure
and noble soul. No, the breathtaking contest
on the Mount OF temptation had to do with
the offering Of short cut for the accomplish
ment Of a great purpose. But the record con-
corning the One thus tested is: He set his
face steadfastly to 60 to Jerusalem" which was
the long and hard way round.
John the Baptist came with an ak laid at
the root OF the tree. His work was doubtless
needed. But Jesus was not wood chopper; He
was . gardener. And John the wood chopper
became disheartened and full Of doubts because
Jesus would not use the ak.
The kingdom of love and of peace cannot
be brought in with an ak, nor with an axis
whose sign is the swastika, or q hammer and
sickle. It's longer way than that.
There is no short cut to excellence, to virtue,
to character, to sainthood, or to a social order
purged Of selfish. exploitation. Peril and toll
and pain, blood and sweat and tears, mark the
steep ascent of any heaven. If the Kindly Light
is followed patiently and obediently, 1t will
lead at last DER moor and fen and crag and
torrent to the promised land. But when God
is the Guide it may not be the shortest way;
1t may involve q divine detour.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Fifty Years AGO

Hail century Dack there was considerable
discussion about the need for the teaching of
history in the schools of the
Historyin land. The subject was dealt
The Schools with by Principal w. F. Gordy
of Hartford, Conn, in a
speech to the annual convention Of the Ma
tional Educational Association assembled at the
Grand Opera House on July 8, 1885, According
to The Star, he said: "The great aim of edu-
cation Is to reveal physical and human life to
the individual, to the end that he may under-
stand his relations to them and especially his
socia. obligations to his fellow men. History
Is study of the human will, Of which actions,
Deeds events are but the expression. Events
are the material facts. They are the symbols
Of the moral facts constituting the real truth
Of history. Back Of material facts lie the feel
ings, thoughts, inclinations and motives Of
men-of individual men a. =. We study the
lives Of men as revealed in history that we
may learn to live ourselves"
lengthy account of the running of the Ascot
race for the Gold Cup, dated London June co.
was published in The Star for July O.,
Ascot 1s98 "The race track" 1t was ex
Dov planned "is the dividing line between
the two estates-society and the pop
ulace. Society spreads itself through the grand
stand, the royal inclosure in front and other
Enclosures thanking royalty's lawn, whose spe-
cial distinctions are apparent only to the initi-
ated. The general effect Of this half Of the
field is of very minutely pieced and deli
catesy colored MOSAIC" Women in "the most
gossanery fabrics" and men in the tyranny OF
top hats and frock coats" represented the
aristocracy. "The people over on the plebeian
side Of the track are very small factor in
the occasion. They seem to be subdued
and are not at all uproarious and amusing like
a Derby crowd. . +" The carriers sit about the
grass with their arms around their girls In
the most matter of fact way, while whole fam
lilies camp on one little two-wheeled donkey
cart and pass around the whisky bottle with
out neglecting the children who are almost
too small to lift it for themselves
The auxiliary cruiser st. Louis, announced
The Star on July II, 1893. arrived at Ports
mouth, N. H., the previous
Admirol day with 745 Spanish prisoners
Ap,;eon.r on board, among the number
being Admiral Pascual Ger
vera Topete. 1t was reported that the
former commander of the enemy fleet destroyed
while endeavoring escape from Santiago had
been Ill during the voyage north, out ne was
suf5ciently recovered to be interviewed by
newspapermen, to whom he said: Il have
many friends In America, but every man has
a duty to perform to his country, and all
spaniards tried to perform that duty. There
has been much feeling In Spain. and I want
ali Spain to know the truth. that every ship
Of my squadron fought until the last, and
when we could do no more, We surrendered"
The admiral subsequently was transferred to
Annapolis and still later was returned to his
native land, where he was honorably acquitted
by the supreme naval And military court Of
the realm. He died In poo.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Independence National Park

Wnen 1t became known some months
ago that the site of the building in which
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration
Of independence was occupied by hot
dog stand, attention was directed to the
Importance OF rescuing other buildings of
historic Importance in Philadelphia from
like fate. The result is disclosed by Hillory
A. Tolson, acting director of the National
Park Service, who announces the estab-
nshment of what hereafter will be known
as independence National Historical Park.
Under authorization of the Eightieth
Congress, the Secretary of the Interior is
to acquire edifices and sites intimately
associated with the American Revolution
and the founding and growth of the United
States" Meanwhile, the State Of Penn
sylvania will acquire and develop a mall
facing independence Hall and "co-ordi-
mated in plan with the national historical
park" and the City Of Philadelphia will
carry out related Improvements bordering
the general park area"
When the overall project has been nm
ished an area of three blocks, including
land surrounding Carpenters Hall, where
the First Continental Congress met, the
old City Tavern, where Revolutionary
patriots gathered, and Franklin Court,
where Benjamin Franklin had his home
and printshop, will be embraced under
permanent protection by the Federal Gov
ernment. The active assistance Of the
officers of the Carpenters Company and
of Christ Church, where George Wash
ington and many other members of the
Constitutional Convention worshipped, has
been secured.
It is agreed by all concerned that mo
changes or alterations shall be made in
the properties except by mutual agreement
between the Secretary of the Interior and
the other parties to the contracts" This
insures the integrity of the existing struc-
lures as much as it can be insured but
does not bar repairs made necessary by
the wear and tear of passing centuries.
An advisory commission of eleven members
has been provided by Congress to col
laborate with the agent of the Nation.
The entire scheme merits the approval of
the whole public. It is pity that it was
not conceived and put into effect four or
five generations ago.
Evening star., 1948-07-18

goals and desired
havens Is not always
the chief considera.
ton.
Back In the fas-
cinating story Of
Exodus 1t Is recorded,
regarding the escape
Of the Israelites from
Egypt, that as they
headed for the Prom
ised Land God led
them not through the
land Of the Philis-
tines, although that
was the shortest
Evening star., 1948-07-18

world will have enough 10 eat this year.
But it will not get its food cheaper. To
begin with, there will be no overall super
abundance to bear down on existing price
levels. And even local surpluses will be
carried by Government controls assuring
sustained prices to farmers. The days of
cheap food are gone, and there are no
signs that they will soon return.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Labor Debarf,ne enf

Now that the Democratic convention is over,
President Truman is expected to speed appoint
ment OF q new Secretary of Labor and three
assistants. But there may be still another
resignation. John w. Gibson, the CLOS
representative among the Assistant Secretaries,
is the lone occupant of the departments
mahogany row." Reports persist that he wants
to get out, too. Because of the gamble that Mr..
Truman may not be in oflce after January,
there are not too many applicants for the
vacancies. A possible choice for Secretary is
John r. Shelley Of San Francisco, prominent
West Coast AFL leader. Another is A. r.
Whitney, head Of the Brotherhood Of Railroad
Trainmen Mr.. Truman may name woman
to one Of the Assistant Secretary spots.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Italy Meets Red Test

Although an aftermath Of violence per-
sists and might intensity should Togliatti
succumb to his wounds, everything indi-
Gates that the democratic coalition gov
ernment headed by Premier de Casper
is emerging victorious from its test OF
strength with the Communists and their
the general strike misfred. It was volun-
tarily called of by the Communist domi-
mated Labor Confederation within twenty
four hours in order to avoid patent fasco.
Meanwhile, Communist attempts to seize
power locally in industrial centers such as
Genoa, Milan and Turin had been vigor-
ously met and overcome by the determined
action of the police and carabinieri, backed
by troops. Lastly, q Communist effort IN
Parliament to undermine the cabinet
fizzled in fisthghts and name-calltng.
The upshot of all this should logically
mean a strengthening of the government
and a further weakening of the Com
munists. It is still uncertain whether the
Communist high command really intended
coup detat to overthrow the government
by force and establish Red dictatorship.
The government has termed the whole
business an "insurrection" but If the aim
was genuinely revolutionary, the plan was
ill-conceived and ul-executed. In sense,
the Communist leadership was put on the
spot by an unexpected event-the attempt
ed assassination OF Palmiro Togliatti by a
nationalistic fanatic acting apparently
quite on his own. Such an act tactically
demanded a drastic Communist demon
stration to express indignation at
dastardly crime and vindicate the Red
claim to control over the working classes.
Up to a point, this was golden oppor-
tunity to gain popular sympathy and
arouse the sense of labor solidarity. But
unless the countermove was ably handled,
this Red asset could turn into a liability.
And it would seem that the Red strategists
should have appreciated the fact that their
power in italy had been on the wane for
the past year.
The one chance they had Of precipitating
what Communists term q revolutionary
situation" was weakness or tndecision
shown by the authorities. But, on the
contrary, they everywhere ran up against
official vigor and determination. The real
hero OF the affair is Mario Scelba, who has
shown himself a truly great Minister OF
the Interior. During his tenure Of ONCE,
scelba has been Transforming the police
and carabinieri into reliable instruments
of public order, while the Army has like
wise been strengthened and purged OF
doubtful elements. Scelba's tactics were
extremely clever. He permitted demon
strations and allowed the demonstrators
to "blow of steam"-up to certain point
But wherever public order was endangered
and the governments authority was chal--
lenged, stern measures Of repression were
invoked, with frank warnings that even
tougher means would be employed If they
should be needed. Before this uncona-
promising display Of governmental power
and efficiency, revolutionary hopes with
cred and order was soon restored. With
the Red upsurge thus met and mastered,
second attempt, now or in the near
future, would seem to be most improbable.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Spires Of the Spirit
Some Shortcuts Best Avoided
The Longest Way Is Sometimes the Best in Seeking
Spiritual Proeress

In the geometry Of the highest realm .
straight line is not always the shortest distance
between two points The divine directive often
calls for q detour. Rapid transit to beckoninR
Evening star., 1948-07-18

Keeping in mind the smooth Dewey
efficiency at Philadelphia, one surmises
that the inaugural address is already writ
ten and rehearsed, and contacts made with
the milkman, etc, on the Pennsylvania
avenue route.
Evening star., 1948-07-18

A dietitian talking up seaweed as a food
says the Jap soldiery consumed it freely
However, our boys did OK. too, and with
out recourse to the marine types OF
spinach.
Evening star., 1948-07-18

Revised figures on savings by the
Eightieth Congress are in, and one gathers
that the enthusiasm of the governing class
for public economy is not yet out of control
Evening star., 1948-07-18

Our thoughts are with the peacemaker,
Bernadotte, In his thankless task of deal
ing with customers who cry: II reject
your proposal! What is it?"
Evening star., 1948-07-18

Baffied psychiatrists examine Chicago
boy who broke into ten homes, taking a
bath in each. In the first place, are they
sure it's boy?
Evening star., 1948-07-18

Winning a million bucks at the horse
tracks Is now within the realm OF the
possible, II you're horse.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
T o0kin0 Ahead Some Shadows of Coming Events
AOOhA1S AAA>oN Are Noted Here and abroad

water-short areas Of the Pacific Southwest.
Preliminary tests show that jojoba pronounced
"ho-ho-bay') will thrive on to 2 acre-feet Of
irrigation water a year. Research indicates
that 1t will produce a commercially useful wax.
Evening star., 1948-07-18
Syphilis Worry

The Veterans, Administration is worried about
an estimated 100000 veterans who contracted
syphilis before and during the war. VA says
it's no great problem now but that unless these
veterans get treatment the cost to the Nation
in caring for them as syphilitically insane will
run to considerably more than $1,000, ,ooo'o 900
within as years.