davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Broken Christmas Balls
Yule Tree Decorations Considered as Symbols
of Lost Treasures and Joys
By the Res. Frederick Brown Harris D. D., Liff D.
Harris, D. d., Lit. D.

The smiles Of comrades who their love
forget:
The singing loyalties the years have chilled,
The hopes discarded but remembered yet "
All, who would not like to have some of those
broken balls replaced? But, in spite Of wrin-
king cares, there are other things which the
years need never take If the child heart is
kept-wonder and faith, and good will uncor-
roded by cynicism. These are the things that
give life sparkle. But what II they, too, have
been broken? Well says the proverb, "It's no
use crying over spilled milk" Why, of course,
1t Is! Biography is full of instances when it
has been tremendously worth while to let tears
Of regret and penitence flow over spilled milk -
Spilled milk and broken Christmas balls are
twins Dickens famous Carol is the story of
how dazzling balls of joy and wonder and un-
selfish good will, which once adorned the life
Of Scrooge, could be so pulverized that nothing
was left but gaunt, naked branches where
childlike glory once hung. "The cold within
/Scrooge froze his old features, nipped his
pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his
gait, made his eyes red, his thin lips blue; and
he spoke out shrewdly in his grating voice.
He didn't thaw one degree for Christmas. :"
His life was q barren ruin.
But who will say it was no use crying over
the spilled milk of human kindness? The
Angel of Christmas whipped Scrooge and then
won him, and his darkened life suddenly be-
came like tree when the lights are turned on
and gay balls glisten.
Every Christmas offers to redecorate trees
the years have stripped of their glory. The
only question is, as Henry Van Dixie puts it,
"Are we willing to forget what we have done
for other people and to remember what other
people have done for us? To ignore what the
world owes us, and to think what we owe the
world? To put our rights in the background
and our chances to do little more than duty
in the foreground? To close our book of
complaints against the management of the
universe and look about us for place where
We can SOW few seeds of happiness?"
Broken Christmas balls cannot be mended,
but they can be replaced. In the lowly Manger
shines the secret Of how across the draining
and wearying years human hearts unembit-
tered may find again a lost luster. Thus the
cleaning splendor of Christmas making in
candescent each individual life will bring to
radiant fulfllment the rapturous words of the
ancient prophet: Arise, shine: for thy light
is come. and the glory of the Lord is risen upon
thee"
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Hiqhhundedness in Palestine

Only lew days ago, DR.. Ralph j..
Bunche, in his capacity as acting United
Nations Mediator for Palestine, cheerfully
declared that the Arab-Israeli war had
come to de facto end and that prospects
were bright for the early negotiation of a
final peace settlement. At the moment,
however, it would seem that he made that
statement too soon and in an over
optimistic mood.
At any rate, In essentially the same
manner as the Dutch in tIndonesia, and
seemingly with even less provocation, the
provisional Israeli government appears to-
have fouted the authority of the United
Nations by unilaterally violating its truce
pledges with new military offensive
against the Egyptians in the Negeb area
of Southern Palestine. To say the least,
the justification for this-namely, an
alleged refusal by Egypt to negotiate an
armistice-is every bit as weak as the one
cited by the Netherlands in connection
with its police action" in Central Java
and Sumatra.
Certainly the available evidence indi-
Gates that this latest in series of short
lived truces in the Holy Land has been
broken without any real effort having been
made beforehand to employ all the re-
sources available for honest and peaceful
negotiation. Just prior to it's adjournment
early this month, for example, the United
Nations General Assembly voted to create
a new Palestine Cancellation Commission
to consist of representatives of Turkey,
France and the United States; but the
Israeli leaders, instead of giving this addi-
tional promoting agency chance to
organize itself adequately, apparently have
decided that the course most advantageous
to them is to take matters in their own
hands.
Rightly or wrongly, all this suggests that
Israel, far from seeking to try every avenue
of negotiation, is primarily interested in
taking over new territory by force and then
insisting on retaining it-as fait accompli
when arrangements are finally made for
both sides to sit down peacefully together
to work out def1nitive settlement. In any
case, because its action seems to have been
launched highhandedly and unnecessarily,
the Israeli government certainly has left
itself open to such a suspicion. Further
than that, it has raised challenge to the
authority of the Security Council, and the
Council must respond accordingly.
OF course, because the situation still
contains number of favorable factors
notably the spirit of compromise displayed
by King Abdullah of rans-Jordan-Dr.
Bunche's optimism may yet be vindicated.
But the new outbreak of warfare in the
Negeb serves as a dismal reminder that
Palestine is place where high hopes have
risen recurrently in the past only to be
dashed quickly to the ground. The same
thing is likely to happen all over again
unless the United Nations now takes
prompt and effective measures which the
Israelis-not less than the Arabs-will
faithfully abide by.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Soviet Education Loqs

One of the fundamental aims or the
Bolshevik Revolution Of 1917 was the
creation of an efficient educational system.
Under the Cars, the Russian masses were
largely illiterate. The Soviet Union pro-
claimed its determination to render the
people not only literate-ie., able to read
and write-but to provide at least basic
education in the modern sense. The re-
sultant educational plan is, in theory, not
unlike our own. Under Soviet law, school,
ing is free, universal and compulsory Be-
ginning at the age of seven, children are
supposed to get not less than seven years
of schooling in the cities or towns and
four years in rural areas. And those are
deemed minima, to be exceeded wherever
possible. Translated into our educational
terms, it signifies that Soviet country
children must have at least primary
education while urban children attain the
junior high level.
That program is not up to our stand
ards; because, taking the United States
as a whole, most American children get
eight years of elementary schooling, with
three -fourths of them entering high
school and one-half completing the high
school course. Yet recent investigations
by SPECIALISTS in Russian affairs in this
country reveal that the Soviet educational
system is working badly, falling in prac-
tice far below prescribed requirements.
Most of the evidence for these conclusions
comes from no less source than official
Soviet publications. In this instance, the
evidence is reliable; because, while the
Soviet press never criticizes official policies,
1t can and is supposed to criticize sharply
defects or shortcomings in carrying them
out.
Such Soviet criticisms are numerous ana
cover almost the whole field 1t would seem
that even in urban districts education Is
defective while in many rural areas chill
dren get little schooling or none at all.
Apparently, approximately one-half OF all
Soviet children get at most four-year
primary schooling to the age of eleven,
while only three per cent attain what
corresponds to our high-School course.
Many children lose their minimum school,
ing by being recruited for farm or factory
work at very early age. Other country
children cannot attend school for lack
of transportation or because they have
neither shoes nor adequate clothing for
the rigorous winter months. School
houses are inadequate or antiquated. In
deed, many school buildings, taken over.
during the war for other uses, have not
been returned for educational purposes.
The salaries of teachers are grossly
inadequate, averaging less than the wage
level of industrial workers. For instance,
the average Soviet school teacher would
have to work 100 hours to earn enough to
buy pair of women's shoes Furthermore,
the teaching profession suffers because
teachers must go where they are sent,
often to remote country districts at mini
mum wages The upshot is an acute
| teacher shortage.
I The overall picture is thus ons of gen.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
The Doctors Dissent

There is every reason to believe that
most doctors in private practice are op-
posed to the administrations compulsory
health insurance plan. The soundness ana
the wisdom of their opposition may pe
debatable, but the fact OF its prevalence
is too obvious to be disputed.
In view of this, there may be some sur
prise at the existence OF an apparently
substantial body of opinion within the
District Medical Society in opposition TO
the $25-per member assessment Wnlcn
has been levied by the American Medical
Association. In the light OF the basic con-
siderations, however, there is no reason
why any one should be surprised.
For one thing, there is certain dis
ingenuousness about the assessment plan.
The official representation is that the
money is wanted for an "educatlonal
fund" A spokesman for the ANA has
told the local society that the money is TO
be used to go to the "grass roots" with the
story of what American medicine has done
and what it will do in the future. Yet that
is only part of the story. The larger aim,
one might well say the real aim, is to
finance a propaganda campaign designed
to ward off enactment OF compulsory
health insurance legislation. If the doc
tors want to do this, there is nothing
inherently wrong in doing it. The ANA
has as much right to propagandize as has
any other group. But the chances are
that the assessment would have been more
favorably received by the professional men
upon whom it was levied If all OF the cards
had been put face up on the table.
It may also be wondered whether the
resentment is not due in some substantial
measure to adoption of the assessment
technique. More than few doctors, al
though undoubtedly a minority, are
opposed in principle to the stand which
the ANA has taken on compulsory 1nsur-
ance and they are not going to submit to
any assessment. The indications are that
there are considerable number OF others
who will not pay the assessment, but who
would have made voluntary contributions
to the fund if the matter had been prop
erly put before them.
What punitive action, If any, will be taken
against the dissenting doctors remains to
be determined. It has been pointed out,
however, that the associations judicial
council has authority to take such "dis-
ciplinary actions as it thinks necessary.
This is decision to be made by those
empowered to make it. But layman Is
entitled to the belief that the ANA will
be biting off great deal more than it can
chew if it undertakes to fight compulsory
health insurance with one hand and to
punish its own dissenting members with
the other.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Better BuIunce Needed

The Judicial Conference has made out a
good case for the appointment of more
judges to speed up the processes of justice
in the Federal courts. If Congress ap-
proves the recommendation of the con-
ference, twenty-three new Federal judge
ships will be created to assist in reducing
the backlog of work facing many of the
circuit and district courts. Two new
judges are recommended for the United
States Court of Appeals for the District
of Columbia, three for other circuit courts
and eighteen for district courts outside
of Washington.
The congested dockets of the courts
studied by the conference give ample
evidence of the need for additional judges.
There can be no doubt that the appoint
ment of twenty-three new judges would
improve the courts The expansion of the
judiciary not only would expedite trials
but would present good opportunity to
bring the bench into better political
balance.
The Federal judiciary is badly out of
balance now, as a result of an evident
tendency in recent years to regard judge
SLIPS dS pIUpCE IcWdIUS 1OT pOlIIlCdl ScIV"
ices rendered to the administration in
power. The record speaks for itself. A
survey year ago showed that since 1888
there had been appointed to the Federal
district courts total of 146 Democrats and
only two Republicans. At that time there
were total of 191 Democrats and six
Republicans sitting in all the Federal
courts. The situation was aptly described
by Senator Wiley as grossly lopsided"
It would be absurd to argue that this
overwhelming preponderance of Demo-
cratic appointments was accidental. The
conclusion is inescapable that improper
emphasis has been placed on the politics
of candidates. Such political preferment
is out of place in the choosing of members
Of the judiciary. A judiciary that is polit-
ically lopsided suffers the handicap of
being subject to suspicion-whether un-
fairly or not-that some Of its decisions
may reflect partisanship. In any future
enlargement of the courts, care should be
taken to see that the appointees are
chosen for their fitness to administer
even-handed justice-without regard to
their party Affiliations or services.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Proaress in Germany

TWO virtually Simultaneous events dItes1
a positive coordination Of tripartite policy
by the Western Powers in those portions
of Germany under their control. The
first of these is the setting up of Western
Kommandatura for the American, British
and French sectors of Berlin. The second
is an announcement that agreement IN
principle has been arrived at by the
Western Powers over the vexed question
of the Ruhr.
So far as the Berlin Kommandatura Is
concerned, it is matter of more than
local significance. AS the Western allies
consider it, this is not new body but
revival of the original Kommandatura
which was paralyzed last June when the
Soviet authorities walked out and declared
1t terminated. The Western viewpoint Is
that Russia has no right, by unilateral
action, to abrogate four power agency
which, under the rules originally laid
down, requires unanimous consent for Its
modification or termination. The Western
Powers admit that, for the moment, this
tripartite Kommandatura cannot function
in the Russian sector of Berlin. But the
door is left open for the Russians to return.
MednWQll6, Clle WcSGcIl DCA1Al1 cASiAiiiAAo
tration can work better under tripartite
directives, while the rump regime set up
under Soviet auspices in the Russian sector
is ignored 1t will be interesting to see
whether the Western Powers will apply
the same logic to the Allied Control Coun-
Gil, originally set up on four-power basis
for all of Germany. That agency has like
wise been sabotaged by Moscow. Will the
Western Powers now start 1t functioning
again, with or without Russian participa-
ton?
At this writing, the details of the new
Ruhr agreement among the Western
Powers have not yet been published. But
1t is authoritatively stated that meeting
of minds has at last been achieved on all
outstanding points. It should be under
stood that the diplomatic conferences over
the Ruhr have included not only the three
Western Great Powers but also the
Renelux trio-Belgium, the Netherlands
and Luxembourg. The stumbling block
hitherto has been Frances opposition to
Anglo-American plans for the Ruhr, plans
which the French feared did not give them
- proper strategic or economic security. The
belief in informed circles Is that notable
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Too Many Carbon Copies

A research committee of the Hoover
Commission has shown commendable
courage in tackling one phase of the
governmental red tape problem that has
resisted successfully most reform efforts
of the past. Reference is had to the busi-
ness of keeping records-and particularly
to the keeping of useless records.
It has been the traditional rule in many
departments that a certain number of
carbon copies must be made of every letter,
report, memorandum or other paper. The
military services are especially strict about
this. So many multiple carbon copies
sometimes are made that the problem
arises of what to do with all of them. How
to decipher the fainter copies also often
presents difficulties. Whether the copies
are legible or not and whether they ever
will serve any useful purpose to anybody,
many of them find their way into files
already bulging with old and frequently
unnecessary papers. 1t Is all part Of the
system-a system which includes an un-
written but nonetheless inviolable rule:
If you do not know what to do with a
document, file it and forget it.
Out of this system has grown sprawling
collection of Federal records that defy
description Mr. Hoover's committee says
that If all the files were brought together
in one place, a structure six times as large
as the Pentagon Building would be needed
to shelter them. The keeping Of these rec
ords costs the Government about 81 1,200,-
100000 year and requires the services Of
a vast army of file clerks.
But the committee is not opposed to the
keeping of records. 1t stresses the i'm
portance of keeping them-provided only
that they are essential records and that
they are kept efficiently. The group found,
however, that some of the records overlap
and others are totally without any current
or any imaginable historic value. 1t is
convinced that more than half Of the
bulging files can be eliminated from the
departments either by destruction or
transfer to inexpensive storage centers.
Such housecleaning would save the Gov
ernment about $16,0O000O year for the
next two years, and $6,000O00 a year
thereafter.
The committee is wise, of course, in
recommending that great care be used in
separating the chaff from the wheat
Papers of possible historic value should
be preserved by all means and even those
which might have some future reference
value on rare occasions should be stored
in warehouses. All documents found
to be worthless should be destroyed. And
the committee is right, too, in denouncing
the frequent practice Of some high
public officials in taking with them into
private life records that properly belong
in official files The important thing is
to reorganize the Governments record
keeping system along more businesslike
lines. If the committees suggestions are
carried out, long step will have been
made toward elimination of time-consum-
ing, confusing and senseless red tape in
Washington. r
Evening star., 1948-12-26

concessions have been made to the French
in order to bring them into line. How
such changes will affect the Ruhr's eco
nomic rehabilitation or German public
opinion remains to be seen. Nevertheless,
a general agreement even If imperfect to
Anglo-American concepts, may well be
better than the disputes which have long
held up the formulation and execution of
a definite Ruhr policy.
Evening star., 1948-12-26

there to be clothed
with the star-decked
uniform of Christ
mas. For little chill
dren and for chill
dren of larger growth
Christmas would be
Christmas still, no
matter what other
( a m iliar customs
might be discarded, If
the bedecked and
lighted tree cast its
radiance at the BIRTH
day Of the CT - Child.
yNyho@ ax.ffcf,,sr ~
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Spires of the Spirit
By the Req. Frederick l

Regiments Of living green have invaded the
Capital These sentinels from the silent forests
bivouacked in the streets and waited to be
billeted one by one, in the homes OF the people,
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Filipino Vets

An agreement opening the way for $38, 900
additional American aid to Philippine war
veterans is expected to be signed next month.
A program authorized by Congress provides
for $22,0000o0 for hospitals, the balance for
maintenance for five years. .s.s
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Aiyliff

BERLIN.-Some high American officers pre-
dict the airlift may continue year or even two
years-depending on how soon the Russians
decide their blockade has failed and 1t is time
to negotiate. 1t is expected the airlift, a
British American effort, will reach 5000 tons
daily as soon as present continental fogs end.
Neap York Politics
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Prince Charlie

LONDON.-Prince Charles and his parents
Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth will move
into their new home in March. Clarence Hohse,
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Neso Phon0grabh

NEW YORK.-Ofhcials of RCA-victor won't
confirm it-or deny it-but the company Is de-
veloping q cheap 7-inch phonograph record
that will contain as much music as a conven-
tional l2-inch record. It will require special
player.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Oscars

HOLLYWOOD-As of now, Lawrence Olivier
and his Hamlet" appear virtually unopposed
for best actor and best picture "Oscars"-
unless they get special awards such as Olivier's
"Henry v" received. No other front-runners
are in sight. Jane Wyman "Johnny BelindaD
and Olivia De Havilland cThe Snake Pit)
appear neck and neck for best actress award.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
New York Politics

NEW YORK. Although Mayor William
O'Dwyer has not disclosed his plans, top
city Democratic leaders back him for re-
election next year. He also has been mentioned
as a possibility for Governor or Senator.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Cancer

NEW YORK.-Ways to detect cancer early
seem on the verge Of perfection Five promis-
ing leads: Blood changes slightly In cancer.
This is said to catch rs per cent OF early cases.
Hormones in bodily excretions also change.
So do the contents of lungs, stomach and
uterus
Evening star., 1948-12-26

How big should the aircraft industry be for
rapid expansion in case Of war? It's deep
official secret. Just why is something OF q
secret, too, since the latest report Is similar
to other studies. However, Defense Secretary
Forrestal is reported to have labeled 1t top
secret" before the Air Co-ordinating Committee
sent it to the National Security Resources Board
last week. The report was prepared by STAN
ford University at the request Of the Air Co
ordinating Committee, representing Govern
ment agencies dealing with aviation. 1t rec
ommends minimum annual production level
of 80, 000, 900 pounds Of airframe. This compares
with current annual production OF '22,O00,Ooo
pounds pounds can be converted to airplanes
by dividing by 100000 Previous studies made
by ACC itself put the level at 60O00,OoO POUNDS
until world peace Is assured and substantial
disarmament has taken place. Separate air
policy groups set up by the President ana
Congress accepted the ACC report The newest
study comes at time when Forrestal, former
Secretary of the Navy and a proponent OF the
big aircraft carrier program, Is trying TO keep
everybody happy with total defense budget
less than three -fourths of the amount re-
ouested by the three services. The general
idea is to split the defense fund into three
equal parts, but that will not jibe with STAN
ford's impartial report on aviation require
ments A Jet air force costs money! lot OF
money If we have jet air force OF the size
recommended, there will not be enough money
to meet the demands of the other services. Hav-
ing such report come out now might play into
the hands of air force and industry leaders
who favor legislation establishing the 7o-group
air force as national policy. Such bill
passed the House last session but died IN q
Senate committee.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
Hey, KidsI.

Some Government officials say chances are
good that candy bars will get ID cheaper-the
nickel bar for a nickel instead of cents-or
(2) bigger or 90 better-more chocolate. Candy
competition is growing and the price of cocoa
beans has dropped considerably.
Evening star., 1948-12-26
A1l Some Shadows of Coming Events
AOOhlllS 1AllSdu Are Noted Here and Abroad

next door to st. James Palace, is being mo
ernized.