davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Vacations End

Seldom do we question our way of life
more sharply than on the day we come
back from vacation. We step briskly into
the Office, tanned and glowing, lungs still
bursting with sea or mountain air, feeling
ten feet tall from the great good fellows
we have been for those two weeks with pay
Defation sets in Immediately. The Gus
tomary greeting to the transformed re-
turnee is cool: "You been away?" Tales
of prodigious performance in the surf,
in the berry PATCH at the square dance are
barely listened to. Coworkers are no more
genuinely interested in playback OF our
vacation joys than they are in pictures OF
other peoples children. BY the end of
the endless first morning, that closed-in
feeling assails us after IA days al fresco,
and we feel that we are in decompres-
sion chamber. We pick at our lunch
remembering those picnics on the rocks
when the egg salad sandwiches tasted like
something from the hands of some master
In cuisine. Fingers that have gripped oars
or plucked berries tumble at typewriter
keys. The telephone jars on ears that have
listened to nothing more shrill than the
happy cries of little campers for two weeks.
. Comes the afternoon, and the detail OF
the Office seems unbearably trivial. Board
ing the homeward bus, we figure desper-
ately that if we really cut corners we could
earn living at lobstering or berrying or
even just sitting in the sun. What is this
life that requires us to work eight hours
day for fifty weeks of the year so that we
can earn two weeks respite, we want to
know.
But the vacation hangover, acute while
it lasts, is gone with the next dawn. Rou-
tine lays its soothing, iron hand on our
rebellion and before the clock has gone
around again, we are again its slave, half
forgetting that we have ever been free.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
MARVIN G. MIDLAND.
Lack Of Balanced Diet
Relieved Cause Of Eating Paint
= a. -. RaIka. NJ The 4tAr:

Lack of Balanced Diet
Believed Cause of Eating Paint
To the Editor Of The Star:
The tragic death of the little girl Claud-
ette Carver of lead poisoning, resulting
from chewing the paint from furniture re-
calls to mind a condition which observed
during long years of residence In Latin
America, This was the habit OF many chill
dren of scratching the whitewashed walls OF
their dwellings and eating that substance.
LACKING this, they would eat dirt with an
almost horrifying voracity.
During our travels questioned numerous
physicians about this strange behavior OF
the children, and they almost all agreed tnat
It was due to a lack Of calcium In the system.
Although as a layman could not refute the
experts' opinions, cannot help but believe
that such a peculiar urge is caused purely
and simply by the lack Of balanced diet.
The diet of majority Of Latin American
children consists primarily Of beans, rice,
corn and chilli Vegetables are almost un-
known among the rank and file.
This information is submitted IN the hope
that it may provide clue to the reason Tor
little Claudette's death.
The snuffng out Of this child's life should
awaken all Of us to the bald fact that we
have much missionary work to do right here
at home before we can qualify to tell the
rest Of the world how to behave itself.
VIRGINIA M ORNELAs
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Letters to The Star i.
Parents of Noisy Children
Criticized for Their Conduct In Public


Criticized for Their Conduct In Public
To the Editor Of The Star:
I should like to register a protest against
an inconsiderate group Of parents Of very
young children. One meets this group at all
public gatherings, for example: The band
concerts at the East front Of the Capitol, at
Meridian Hill Theater. at the Watergate
concerts, and in the movie theaterS. These
parents attend the gatherings with small
children, from mere babies in arms upward.
Now, we all realize that 1t is difficult. If
not impossible, to hold young childs at
tention very long; and that is where the
trouble starts. Before very long the babes
become uncomfortable, and knowing no other
language, they begin - express their tiny
unhappiness with powerful exhibitions Of
lung potential. Added to the crying, the
toddlers become restless, and they wriggle
and squirm. and their slightly older sisters
and brothers run up and down the aisles
squealing in delight over their new-found
freedom; and not few Of these cry when
they fall down or when they get lost in the
crowd.
To make long tale short little children
make patrons Of theaters and concerts ut
terly miserable.
We cannot expect these tots to UNDER
stand how disconcerting they make them
selves, but surely their parents have eyes
and ears. But do the parents make any ef-
fort to protect their fellows in the audience?
The categorical answer is, No! These incon-
siderate parents sit and make wry faces at
the little ones in vain effort to allay the
noise. The net result is that neither pa, ents,
children, nor patrons derive any pleasure
from the efforts of the actors or musicians.
In my own defense, let me make two state
ments: Cd realize that baby sitters are diff
cult to find, and when located are very costly.
CD am very much in favor Of exposing
youngsters to the arts Of the theater and the
masters in the music world; however, If any
benefit is to be derived form this exposure to
the better things in life child must be suf.
f1cently grown up to sit quietly for two hours.
1t is foolhardy to expect child of less than
five or six years of age to be silent and static
for 100 minutes.
Would it be too much to ask that parents
Of these very annoying tots gather up their
charges and depart? II were a parent,
should not hesitate to do So
NATHAN r. RCSENTHAL.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Business and Fiscal Policy

Representing a wide cross-section OF
American industry, the Committee Tor
Economic Development is an authoritative
spokesman of its kind for our private
enterprise system. Accordingly, when 1t
expresses its views on Federal fiscal policy,
It commands attention, particularly SO
when those views constitute a marKeo
departure from the position held by most
businessmen twenty years ago.
AS explained in a recent speech az
Laramie, Wyoming, by w. Walter Williams
chairman of the CED, the departure Is
one in which a majority OF American
business leaders have abandoned the
orthodox belief that the Federal budget
should be balanced at all times. Their
attitude now, as indicated by Fortune
magazine poll of $4,000 executives, is that
in periods of recession or depression
deficits should be accepted as an active
device to bolster the economy.
For its own part, according to MIR. VIII
l;ams, the CED advocates what it calls
"stabilizing budget policy" It holds that
efforts to balance the budget, regardless
of overall economic conditions, would
tend to accentuate depressions. 1t holds,
too, that the managed compensatory
budget" (under which taxes would be cut
and spending increased in times OF recess
sion, and vice versa in times of prosperity
probably would not work because OF the
difficulty of forecasting economic condi-
tions. So the CED favors middle course,
which would keep tax rates stable In the
recessionary period and allow for some rise
in Federal expenditures, such as In the
fields of unemployment compensation and
farm price supports.
In other words, although Mr.. Williams
has explained that the present rising
trend of expenditures for various purposes"
Is not called for by the CED's principles,
the CED supports the general nature OF
the budget policy now being followed by the
administration. It is policy In line With
the idea of "stabilizing budget" AS
Mr.. williams has put it, that idea is based
on the belief that it would be undesirable
for the Government to try balancing
income with outgo during economic de-
clines. that the way to reduce the debt
is to assure large surpluses to be used for
debt retirement in good times, and that If
depression were our normal state grow
ing debt would be only one of our worries.
AS set forth by Mr.. Williams, the CEDs
viewpoint is that under certain economic
conditions deficits can be more wholesome
than balanced budgets. Twenty years ago,
Federal spending was only minor thing,
but today 1t is the largest single factor
in our economy, and there is no sign that
it will decrease in the near future. In
Mr.. Williams words, since we must live
with it, we should use it to the best
advantage. This means that in periods
of decline, we ought to employ II
as q stabilizing influence, for any drastic
turning of of the spigot would deepen
the decline.
The CED, judging from MIR. Williams
speech, is not overly worried by the size
OF the Federal debt. For one thing, j
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Color TeIevision

Within recent days the Radio Corpora
ton of America and the Columbia Broad
casting System have both asserted that
color television can be put into operation
without rendering obsolete the 100000 or
more black-and- video sets now IN
stalled in homes throughout the Nation.
If their claims are not exaggerated, the
Federal Communications Commission,
which is to hold hearings on the subject
late next month, will have real reason to
omen up the air channels to this important
development.
Although each has worked out differ
ent system, both RCA and CHS are in
agreement that color television for general
public use has reached the practical stage.
This means, according to their claims, that
existing transmitting facilities and video
receivers can be readily adapted to 1t at
moderate cost CHS, which tried two years
ago to have such telecasting licensed, now
declares that 1t has developed methods
that have overcome the objections raised
against the idea at that time by other
members of the industry and the FEC.
The main feature of the CHS development
n
about SITS if mass produced-to equip
black -and-white sets to receive color pro-
grams. The rival RCA Development
which is to be tested here over WNBW
during next months FEC hearings-is
represented as enabling present sets, with
out any device whatever, to receive color
programs in black and white, or to receive
the full color by means Of an adapter
similar to the CHS converter. As for trans
mission, stations apparently would need
only a small amount of new equipment to
shift to color telecasts.
It may be, Of course, that the FEC hear
ings will show that there are still too many
bugs" involved to warrant a go-ahead
decision at this stage. But there can be
little doubt, judging from the progress
already made, that black -andwhite sets
will be easily adaptable to color and that
the color telecast will be common occur
ence in the relatively near future. In its
present form, as audience and advertising
surveys have shown, television has q tre-
mendous impact. When 1t comes arrayed
in all the hues OF the rainbow. it will bs
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Explains Routine Checks
OF Veterans Administration

To the Editor Of The Star:
Payment of dividends on National Service
Life Insurance by the Veterans Administra-
ton is complicated by the sheer magnitude
of the task. It is vital to the understanding
of this problem to recognize that 1t was
mandatory to review and summarize indi-
vidually 100000 premium record cards,
because otherwise there could not be an
accurate, equitable distribution of any divi-
dends to policy holders who might be en-
titled thereto. Most accounts had not been
verified and reviewed since the insurance was
issued.
During the war years, the Veterans Ad-
ministration had the responsibility Of secur-
ing enough personnel to process the unprec-
edented number of NSLI contracts, and at
the close of the war millions OF allotments
had to be discontinued upon the discharge OF
the servicemen at an extremely rapid rate.
In the months following rehabilitation. 1t
was not always possible for the Veterans
Administration to check its records with
the care normally demanded. Therefore, 1t
was necessary to spend great amount OF
time to adjust these cases.
The greatest problem was the calculation
of the number Of months the insurance has
been in force for each policy, In oroer 10
make equitable dividend payments: HOW.
ever, many servicemen carried the 1ull
amount of insurance while tney were IA
service, dropped it for short time after they
were discharged, then converted part OF the
amount of insurance to permanent plan
and later reinstated an additional amount
of their original term insurance. All OF these
actions had to be catalogued In DETAIL pe-
cause each action basically affects the divi-
dend to which the insured would De en-
titled. -,
The Veterans Administration Will make
certain that the dividend checks VII Do
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Controversy on Aid to Education
Not Av,.uSin0

Controversy on Aid to Education
Not Amusing
To the Editor Of The Star:
AS have been subscriber to The Star
for many years, submit short letter In
answer to Aloysius Schwartz who speaks of
the comparison Of Catholicism to Commun-
ism as amusing.
wish to state that there is nothing anus
ing about this (schooD controversy; it is q
very serious matter.
In family whose members served in the
Civil War this controversy is enough to
make good Americans. who have passed on
rise up and run about and wonder If they
can still see the Flag "by the dawn's early
light" and If the Statue Of Liberty still is
there. Let us abide by the laws OF our coun-
try and keep our schools free in the complete
separation of church and state.
MRS. M. Y HART.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Grand Army of the RepubIic-l94s

The Cipil War 1D1S long ago:
A. boy once young, noD bent and old,
Can still remember camps that jgIoto
Where drums of last retreat are rolled
TO tell the tales 1pe ought to knoao
That histories haze never told.
Four score and sepen Yankee years
Haze marched away since 'Sirty-t,oo,
When farm and pillage volunteers
Wore forage caps and Union blue:
Yet one surDiuor still appears
A soldier at his rendezvous.
Where names of battles ,Drittes doton
In bronze reveal the 1Dlten and hoD
The par 1oas tDon, his high reno1on
The aoords on monuments Gvoto::
A faithful sentry for his toaon,
The boz stands straight IN granite notn.
CARL JOHN BOSTEIMANN.
Evening star., 1949-08-29

more striking still. Though not yet out Of
its infancy it is clearly well on its way
toward bloomington good or ill-one of
the most potent forces of all time in the
field Of mass communication and the
shaping of mems minds.
Evening star., 1949-08-29

received by all persons entitled to them,
whether their insurance Is in force or has
lapsed, and whether the insured is in or
out Of the military service. However con-
trolls and checks must be instituted to safe
guard not only against dividends due not
being paid, but also to prevent duplicate or
unauthorized payments. Therefore, there
fully arranged distribution, application forms
for dividends which the servicemen and vet
Grams will complete. BY this method. after
the forms have been completed and returned
the Veterans Administration will have the
current address Of all persons entitled to a
dividend payment, and thus there will be
much greater likelihood that the dividend
checks will be received without complica-
ions. DAVID DORFMAN.
Suggests Replacing Senators
Who Hold Up Appropriations
To the Editor Of The Star:
The public again is witnessing the inefd-
cheney Of the politicians who, before election
day, proclaimed themselves servants Of the
people. It is my belief that they have called
their own bluff by proving their incompe-
tence in the case Of Federal appropriations
The Senate has permitted itself to be caught
with log jam which prevents 1t from taking
action on the appropriation bill. The threat of
payless paydays which faced some 2,500.000
Government employees. did not rally the
enthusiasm which the honorable Senators
possessed before the November elections.
They were willing to indict upon these
100000 members Of the public needless
financial hardships, while they themselves
slumbered.
Are these the same members Of the Senate
who before election day promised efficient
management of the Government? venture
to say that inability to provide funds for
veteran payments and continuation of the
ECA program does not constitute efficient
management
I think that the Senators should remind
themselves that they were placed in Congress
to serve the people, and when they cease to
do so they can be changed in the next
election. LOUIS ]. BONANNI, Jr.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Capital Punishment
Held to Be Murder.
To the Editor Of The Star:

Efforts were made by Carlyle B. Haynes,
through the means of various Old Testament
quotations. to show that capital punishment
is supported by the Scriptures, with the
statement that this injunction (for capital
punishment) is repealed nowhere in the Old
or New Testaments. It seems to me that any
law condoning killing for any purpose is very
simply and effectively countermanded by
the Fifth Commandment, Thou shalt not
kill" Surely this Commandment transcends
the rather tawdry and revengeful aspects of
capital punishment. Two wrongs do not
make right, and executing murderer does
not serve to right the wrong of the murder.
Capital punishment accomplishes nothing
for either the criminal or society. except for
the mundane possibility that society will save
itself the cost Of supporting the criminal
during an imprisonment. Death is final. and
serves only as an escape to the criminal.
A more realistic punishment is to confine
the criminal for the rest of his natural days
and to keep him there, unless exceptionally
exemplary behavior, vouched for by compe-
tent authorities. such as prison chaplains,
wardens, doctors and psychiatrists. warrants
that he should be released as rehabilitated
member of society. Life imprisonment also
serves as a safety valve against possible
miscarriage Of justice, for there is no way
of correcting an execution resulting from
an erroneous conviction.
Even the aforementioned possibility Of
economic saving to society through capital
punishment is discounted when it is consid
cred that many prisoners perform productive
tasks. and that sales of their products can
be made to maintain, at least in part, the
upkeep of prisons and prisoners, and possibly
earn profit. Society thus stands to gain
from the fact that it has not committed mur-
der through capital punishment, and inSureS
itself against all chances that 1t will bring
trrevocable discredit upon itself because of
faulty judgment.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
History Repeating
With Usual Results of Devastation
To the Editor Of The Star:

Justly or unjustly, students Of history al
ready are classifying the Truman admins
tration along with those Of Grant and
Harding. In both cases, the President was
blind to the faults of his friends It might
be well for some now in high position to
read again their history books. The public
is not deaf, dumb or blind, and the truth
ultimately will prevail, even If 1t hurts
bit the fame of some men now temporarily
in high places. F. T. WILSON.
Durham. NJ H.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
BY THE HASKfN SERVICE

n y S9s ss rs.
ias.Sn asS ssses y IS cents iOf
By THE HAsKiN SERVICE
@. Has India become republican,. q.
A. The National Congress Party decided
last June that India would become a republic
on January 26, 1885, The birthday ami
versary of Gandhi, October 2, was chosen
as the date for the adoption of constitu-
ton by the Constituent Assembly.
@. Why are the scarlet coats worn by
hunters called "pinks"?-G. D.
A. The name is not related to the color
of the coat. Some authorities claim that
the hunting coat became known as pink"
because London tailor named Pink is
credited with its origin.
@. Please define the word "chrestomathy."
C. H.
A. A chrestomathy is a compilation Of
selected passages from the writings of an
author or authors, with notes of explanation.
The term is generally used of books of this
type used in the study of foreign languages
and is derived from two Greek words mean
ing useful" and Ito learn
@. What hospitals for lepers are there in
the United States and its possessions?-T. K.
a. Lie MdIlllc I1OSpltdl, OdIVllle, Lid, Is
the leper colony in the United States con-
trolled by the Federal Government This
hospital for lepers is nationally known and
has about 400 patients. It is said to be one
of the best equipped hospitals in the world.
Another leprosy hospital is the Culion or
Leonard Wood Memorial Hospital in the
Philippines, operated by the American Lep-
rosy Foundation. The United States Gov
ernment also has hospitals for lepers In,
Panama, Hawaii and the Virgin Islands.
@. Can pillows be washed without remov-
ing the feathers?-M. OH.
A. Pillows can be washed by dipping In
lukewarm suds in tub or a washing ma
chine, If 1t is large enough. After several
rinses in water Of the same temperature as
the suds, they should be hung to dry in
the sun.
@. In what presidential election did the
highest percentage Of eligible persons vote?
ID. c. @.
A. Estimates based upon the census show
that the greatest proportion Of eligible citi-
zens, about 80 per cent. went to the polls
in 1896.
Evening star., 1949-08-29

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
aoriter, although 1t Is permissible for
priter kno1Dn to The Star to use
nom de plume Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-08-29

Then there was the amnesia case,
stranger in Washington, unable to re-
member his own name or address or which
five-percenter was lining up his deal.
Evening star., 1949-08-29

AS the starlings already are eating up
the Japanese beetles it presumably will be
impossible for the beetles to eat up the
Starlings. Still, we can't have everything.
Evening star., 1949-08-29
Questions and Answers

A reader can get the answer to any question
{sct BY writing The Evening star, Washingtol
tngton 2. D. G. Please inclose three 90 cents fc
return postage
Evening star., 1949-06-21

mittee Of New York, and Senator
Harry p. Cain Of Washington.
500, wRC-Martin-L.ewis SHOW:
Tony Martin visits the two comics.
s:0e. wTOP-we. the People: An
airline pilot who new q planeful
Of expectant mothers from Munich.
Austria. 10 New York and o woman
who wants TO introduce IN annual
Old Maids Day are Dan Seymour's
guests.
$3.50, wRC-The Kings Men: Bob
Crosby visits The Kings Men.
Evening star., 1949-06-21
RADIO HIGH LIGHTS.

sec, WRC-Hogan's Daughter:
Premiere Of q show starring Shirley
Booth In the role OF q girl who
works In . i've and dime store.
$50, WIfAL-Town Meeting OF
the Air: Els Our New Rent Law
Fair to Tenants and Landlords
is debated by Senator John Spark
man OF Alabama; Tghe e. Woods
Federal Housing Expediter: William
E. Russell. General Chairman Of
the metropolitan Fair Rent Com