davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Letters to The Star

pages Of the same Humanist we hnd
Mr.. Blanshard's attack on Catholicism.
Yesterday it was the Episcopal Church. to-
day through Mr.. Blanshard the Catholic
Church. Tomorrow will it be the Methodist,
Baptist or Lutheran Churches? Short sight
edness makes for strange allies.
The New York Times refused to either re-
view or accept advertising for Paul Blan-
shard's american Freedom and Catholic
Power" and put its refusal in these words:
1T was regarded by our daily book reviewer
as being excessively contentious. quite un-
fair in its criticism of the Roman Catholic
Church, and with no large literary merit
-. The book constituted biased attack
on the rites, customs and teaching Of .
religion with millions of adherents in the
United States" -,
While we may disagree with Roman
Catholics on points of doctrine, we do not
regard their church as a menace. 1ntelli-
gent Protestants do not subscribe to the
sentiments expressed so often by such men
as Bromley Oman. We expect Of our lead
ers at least the good taste and discernment
exhibited by high caliber newspaper, and
when it is not Forthcoming we truly are
distressed. HENRY F. SNOWDEN.
Evening star., 1949-12-25

Union that we are more than little con-
cerned over Yugoslavia's future.
This does not mean that the President
has promised anything specific. But his
words, by implication, lend additional
moral and psychological support to Tito
in the all-out cold war being waged against
him now by the Kremlin and the puppet
members of the Cominform. Added to the
recent moves made in an effort to help
him economically, the development GER
tainly emphasizes that the sympathy of
the United States, along with other West
ern powers, is fully behind Yugoslavia in
its struggle to remain independent. That
fact, besides encouraging Tito, conceivably
may be helpful in persuading the Soviet
Union not to risk the use of armed force
in attempting to get rid of him.
In any event. even though the President
has said no more than that the United
States is opposed to aggression everywhere,
the Russians have reason to think long
and hard over what might happen If they
attacked Yugoslavia directly. In that case,
In addition to risking the outbreak of
general war in the Balkans, they would
have to reckon with the possibility that
some form of Western military aid would
go to Tito. Such aid might not In fact be
sent, but If it were-as is conceivable-the
Kremlin might find more trouble on its
hands than it had bargained for To that
extent, Mr. Trumans statement may have
value as a deterrent.
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Supporting Tito

In declaring that the United States Is
just as much opposed to aggression against
Yugoslavia as against any other country,
President Truman has given an indirect
boost to Marshal Tito. At the same time,
although his statement does not 60 beyond
the enunciation of an old principle, 1t
serves at least as suggestion to the men
of the Kremlin to bear 1t in mind in case
they happen to be toying with the idea OF
launching a direct attack on the Yugo-
slavs-a development which is by no means
out of the question. -
The statement, of course, may actually
have no greater significance than one
placing the United States on record as
being opposed to sin. The circumstances
surrounding it, however, make 1t seem
particularly pointed, the President having
made 1t in connection with George v.
Aliens impending departure to take over
his new ambassadorial duties in Belgrade.
In effect, both because Of Its timing and
the way In which the 'voice Of America"
has broadcast 1t to countries behind the
Iron Curtain, it thus has the earmarks OF
being . measure of assurance to the en-
battisd Tito and notice to the Soviet
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Wants Weekly Pass Kept
Even at Increased Price

Even at Increased Price
To the Editor Of The Star:
It is interesting to read of the Capital
Transit Company's proposed increase in fare
and elimination of the weekly pass. I
am regular patron of the Capital Transit,
riding several times a day on their cars.
Generally the cars are so crowded that pas
sengers stand on each others feet The
waiting on platforms is an endurance test
OF patience. Yet the company claims it
makes no profit.
In each car the weekly pass is promi-
nently advertised. Some charming example
OF feminine pulchritude is exhibited with
a statement as to the unprecedented value
OF the weekly pass. Why then is the pass
to be eliminated? am relatively cer-
tain. from my conversation with other in
dividuals. that weary travellers would pay
more for the pass in order to have its con-
venience. Without it, the poor motorman
will add to his nervous debility, for what
Is more exasperating than to wait for pro-
crastinating passengers to fiddle around in
overstocked handbags. seeking for a stray
token hidden among handkerchiefs, kleenex
and cosmetics? While the seerch continues,
group Of miserables trail behind.
Any increase in the motorman,s salary
will help to pay his doctors bills after
few of these maddening sessions.
Let the Capital Transit Company increase
its fares and the price of pass. But in the
name of humanity, let it keep the pass!
WEARY TRAVELLER.
Evening star., 1949-12-25
By Frank X. Kent

exactly at what time the blaze started"
but ut is evident that the flames had gained
considerable headway before they were dis
covered" Servants quarters were ruined
and some of the maids lost all their saw
ings their pocketbooks beings in their
bureaus and containing all the money they
had In the world" Most Of the students
had left for the holidays. Mother Fidelis,
mother superior Of the academy told re-
porter that the property was fully insured.
~
The Star on December %, 1899, printed
an editorial discussion of the theory that
the goth century would begin on January l.
1900, explaining: "As
Twentieth Century everybody is presumed
Middle to know, there are just
as many cents in q
dollar as there are years in century Let
it be supposed, then, that the sum of $40
is to be paid out. Now, in this business
transaction. when is the 10th dollar COM
pleted? - You commence on the Goth
dollar at $19.01. and the 20th dollar Is
realized when the full sum of 1000 cents
has been handed over. and not until then
It is just the same with the centuries. The
10th century will be completed at midnight.
December 81, 1906, and the Goth century
will accordingly begin with the first day
Of January, 1901"
Evening star., 1949-12-25

the glorious succession Of dreamers who,
in spite of the stare of the wise and the
worlds deriSion, have never bartered what
is over their heads for what is under their
feet-to be pioneers, brave but believing,
of the coming distant day when the earth
will be redeemed by men Of good will, when
the government shall be upon the shoulders
Of the Prince of Peace, when men shall lay
aside their weapons of violence. when lust
shall be refined into love and greed into
goodness in finer order, cleaner and a
kindlier world.
This is Christmas-To take religion out
of the creeds, and turn it into deeds Of a
loving kindness which knows nothing Of
class or race. For Christmas is the most
70 ical and revolutionary season Of the cali
endar. Christmas involves a love for all
peoples, of all races, of all colors Of all
creeds and of all tongues. It means to be
raised out Of the deep grooves of selfishness
which have become the graves of good res
olutions and the walls which separate US
from our fellows.
This is Christmas-To think little of our
rights, and much of our responsibilities, to
thrill most of all at the chance of putting
little more into the common pool than we
take out; to remember that the faces of men
and women are but masks they wear, that
behind every one is heart longing for
sympathy and understanding: to remember
that to the extent that we live to get we
are kin of the beasts. Only as we live to
give are we in very truth the sons of God.
Y
To give Is to live.
This is Christmas-To minister to the
needs of babies and children, to remember
sympathetically the shadows. the shrinking
from the inevitable the poignant loneliness,
Of those who are growing old. This is
Christmas-To bear one another's burdens:
to have done with pride and prejudice, with
ugly thoughts and wounding gossip: to be-
lieve that love is the greatest thing in the
world, greater than evil or falsehood strong
er than death.
This is Christmas-To be saved from a
gay festivity that knows nothing of recep-
tivity-from decoration that forgets dedica-
ton; to realize that holly is holy only when
its scarlet beads are emblems of the crimson
myrrh of sacrifice. the glad gift of contrite
hearts.
Till we, too, boldly pressing
Where once the angels trod,
Climb Bethlehem's Hill of Blessing
And find the Son of God"
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Russio's Growing Seopower

Admiral Sherman, Chief OF Naval opera
tions. has revealed some details regarding
Russia's growing seapower which, added 10
information in the latest edition OF James
Fighting Ships, dispute the contention In
some non-naval quarters that naVies are
obsolete. Admiral Sherman told the Bos-
ton Chamber of Commerce that there Is
sample evidence" that while other mari
time nations have been reducing their
fleets, q warship- building boom Is develop
ing behind the Iron Curtain.
The new CNO declared that Russia has
doubled its ship production capacity since
1910 and is rapidly turning out not only
long-range submarines but various types OF
heavy surface ships. It's cruiser strength
already is greater than that OF the United
States Navy, counting only ships IN COM
mission. And according to James, 1t Is
building three battleship-type vessels de-
signed to launch aerial torpedoes"
sumably Of the guided missile variety. Our
lone venture in this specialized battleship
field ended with the stopping OF work on
the q. s. s. Kentucky, which was to have
been primarily a guided-missile platform.
OF most concern to the American Navy,
however, are the alarming reports OF Soviet
submarine-power expansion. Admiral
Sherman estimated the Russian submarine
feet to be around 270 vessels which COM
peres with James estimate Of about 900.
But both Admiral Sherman and James
agree that Russians submarine strength Is
growing month by month. James mem
toned reports that the present construc-
ton program calls for . build-up to from
75o to 1000 submarines within year or %.
It Is on the basis Of such intelligence that
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Instability in Syrio

For the third time in less than ten
months group of Syrian Army officers
has staged a military coup d'etat, virtually
without opposition. This series of violent
changes, coupled with their character,
evokes grave reflections on Syria's national
stability. And unfortunately, what is true
of Syria applies also to some of the other
Arab states, where latent instability like
wise exists in various degrees.
In order better to evaluate these Army
interventions into politics, their frame of
reference should be understood. Only the
first OF them was avowedly an attempt to
establish a military dictatorship. The
second was ostensibly aimed at re-estab-
fishing parliamentary rule. Special elec-
tions ensued for constituent assembly to
revise the constitution and establish
civilian government. But the Army group
real power behind the administration, and
now that group has been overthrown by
another group of officers, none Of whom,
including the, leader, Colonel Shishakli,
seems to possess more prestige or compe-
tence than his predecessor. The civilian
government thus appears to be a mere
facade without political authority or popu-
lar backing. And under such circumstances
there may well be still other coups of the
same amorphous nature.
Such breakdown of parliamentarism
suggests that Syria is today more or less
of political vacuum. Perhaps the first
stage in this disintegrative process may be
traced to the attainment of independence
six years ago. Syrian nationalism had been
built up around resistance to alien rules
first of the Turks and secondly of the
French after World War I. But the very
attainment of its goal tended to weaken
its dynamic unity. Thereafter, political
leaders and parties had to grapple with
problems of domestic reform and recon-
struction. This they did badly, with much
jobbery, favoritism, and corruption. That,
in turn, engendered widespread popular
discomfort which expressed itself, not
through the discredited old parties, but
through new groups characterized by an
impatient extremism. It was here that the
Army officers found their opportunity to
impose what they considered to be the
needed or at least the popular, solutions.
The Syrian Army is like that of some Latin
American states, incapable of doing much
against foreign foe yet we'll nigh irre-
sistible at home. And in both categories,
this is an incentive to irresponsible Army
rule.
Now the same chain of reasoning applies
to the other Arab states whose attainment
of national independence has not been
accompanied by fruitful domestic recon-
struction. Indeed, in the largest sense,
most of the Arab world is today power
vacuum, caused by the sudden withdrawal
of British or French control. And until
the rise of enlightened leadership which
can both appeal to and marshal behind it
the dynamic forces of public opinion, the
chances are that instability will continue
to prevail, in open or latent form.
Evening star., 1949-12-25


This is Christmas-To bow at the maEser
where lies a little Child. For there is not
problem in us or our world that the
cradle cannot solve When a wrong needs
righting or work needs doing. or truth
needs proclaiming, or social order needs
reconstructing, God sends baby into the
world to do it. Every social evil can be
stopped at the cradle. Every prejudice
poisoning and warplng class, national and
racial relationships can be made to vanish
into thin air at the cradles of the world.
It is the pathos of our blindly scientific
generation. with its bitter sophistication,
its glittering cleverness and its towering
pride, that 1t has so often missed the secret
Of the child heart by which alone the simple
sublemities and the sublime simplicities can
be found.
This is Christmas-To thrill with the as
surance that not on one wondrous night
alone did star Of promise light the heavens
and rain its radiance upon the earth; but
that straight down the croWding years the
starlit pathway leads, reminding our EARTH
filled eyes that always the highest truth
Is born In lowly places and clad in humblest
garb. Always the angels Of Christmas
whisper that starry ideals must be followed
patiently and obediently. no matter over
what burning sands or to what lonely deserts
our faltering feet are lured. For only sign
in the sky above guides surely to light and
life and love.
This is Christmas-To set our feet in
Evening star., 1949-12-25

Admiral Sherman and his associates at the
Navy Department are concentrating on
anti-submarine warfare. Such warfare re-
quires carriers for reconnaissance and for
attack on lurking underwater forces and
their shore bases, augmented by new type
of fast hunter killer ship. The latter type
is already well developed. But further
strengthening of our anti-submarine forces
will be necessary to keep pace with Russia's
subsurface fleet. There is no cause for
complacency in the naval news leaking
through the tight Soviet censorship.
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Mr.. Rockefeller and the Parks

The famous jackson Hole country III
Wyoming is in the news again. John D.
Rockefeller, jr., has given 33,562 acres Of
it to the Nation, fulfilling plan he formu-
lated about twenty-five years ago. Sec
retary of the Interior Oscar L. Chapman
accepted the gift last week. The property
transferred to the National Park Service as
trustee for the American people, he ex-
planned, includes areas in both Jackson
Hole National Monument and Grand Teton
National Park adjoining.
One constructive effect of the donation
may be the termination of long and tedi-
Gus debate More than half century back
Owen Wister, the novelist urged that Jack
son Hole should be preserved as a
sanctuary for elk, bison, white tail deer,
trumpeter swans, sage grouse and other
animals and birds extinct or gravely
threatened elsewhere. Horace Albright
interested Mr.. Rockefeller in the project
in 1924. Originally it was proposed that
the Grand Teton range and Jackson Hole
should be embraced in Yellowstone Ma
tional Park. President Franklin D. Roose-
velt finally made Jackson Hole a. National
Monument in 1943. Cattlemen, however,
opposed the extension of the Federal
domain, and Congress in 1914 passed
legislation abolishing the Monument. But
Mr.. Roosevelt exercised pocket veto de-
claring: "The effect of this bill would be
to deprive the people of the United States
of the benefits of an area of national
significance from the standpoint of
naturalistic, historic, scientific and recrea-
tional values"
Mr.. Roosevelt was right, and future
generations of Americans will have reason
to thank him and Mr.. Rockefeller for pre-
serving unspoiled one of the most
beautiful areas in the country. Local
opposition was based on the losses OF tax
revenue-as well as grazing areas-but it
Is probable that these in future will be
more than made up by other gains. Mean
while, Secretary Chapman has disclosed
that Mr.. Rockefeller gave s., ,000, 900 to Great
Smoky Mountains National Park, North
Carolina, and $3,000,000 to Acadia National
Park, Maine. He also has contributed to
Yosemite, Crater Lake, Mesa Verde, Shen-
andoah and several other National Parks.
His philanthropy saved the redwoods of
Bull Creek Flat California, and restored
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. Not the
money so much as the ideal represented by
his benefactions in this respect should be
stressed. The Nation might have saved
any or all of the land reserves mentioned
without the help of any individual. But it
did not do so. The leadership came from
private citizen, and he is entitled to credit
accordingly.
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Quotes Scriptures
On Spanking Children

On Spanking Children
To the Editor Of The Star:
Your recent editorial on the spanking Of
children when necessary is timely advice.
More parents should adhere to it.
It is noted that one Of your subscribers
wrote to you, requesting suspension of her
subscription to The Star merely because Of
the appearance Of the editorial. If this in
dividual believes in the Holy Scriptures, she
should read the following verses:
"Chasten thy son while there is hope.
and let not thy soul spare for his crying"
Proverbs 1913.
'fIe that spareth his rod hateth his son:
but he that loveth him chasteneth him be-
times."-Proyerbs 1924.
"Foolishness is bound in the heart Of a
child; but the rod Of correction shall drive it
far from him."-ProverbS 22:15.
do not believe that corporal punishment
retards children mentally or contributes to
nervous breakdowns except when used in
judiciously by sadistic parents. The Bible
ie the guide Of the Christian, whatever the
opinions Of some psychologists and one can
never go wrong" In following its precepts.
WARREN ADAMS.
Evening star., 1949-12-25
The Unendinq Song

Christmas morning da,ons toith bells,
Ddpns with running feet,
Merry whispers on the stairs,
Carols II, the street. .
Christmas pricks the cnllonsed soul,
Bids old dreams atDdken, I
Touches 1Dith its tenderness ?,
Lipes too long forsdken.
In the East, the Magfs star
Shines NTH JOY again,
And the angels are not far :
From the hearts OF men
with song that shall not be
Silenced through eternity.
INEZ BARCLAY KIRBY.
Evening star., 1949-12-25
Expresses Regret Over Attacks
On Roman Catholic Church
To the Editor Of The Star:


On Roman Catholic Church
TO the Editor Of The Star:
The article in The Sunday Star by Casper
Names headed "Protestants Make Historic
stride Toward Unifcation' is interesting.
That our leaders show concern for the rise
In secularism Is most gratifying. But at
the same conference at Greenwich, Conn.,.
the Roman Catholic Church came in for q
perennial attack. placing 1t on par with
communism as menace to Protestant
freedom It Is this latter attitude which
disturbs me as Protestant layman.
George H. Shuster. president Of Hunter
College, la the current issue Of Harper's
Magazine relates that there Is Catholic
feeling that some Protestants stand ready
to make an anti-C Catholic pact with any
body, even Communists" He must admit
that some, Of our leaders have helped con-
yey such an impression and thus give
false picture OF the average Intelligent Prot
estant layman. Sponsorship Of Paul Blan-
shard by some OF our clergymen Is but .
single example.
Very recently Mr.. Blanshard has written
under the auspices Of "The Humanist," the
official organ of the American Humanists
Association. While this group is opposed
to Catholicism, 1t is no less opposed to
Christianity In general. It proudly claims
as its own Robert Ingersoll, described as
"the greatest enemy of religion In his gen.
Grafton" Mark Twain was OF the same
strange cult and the Humanist takes
delight in publishing excerpts from THE
Mysterious Stranger" ridiculing the idea
Of q Christian God. The National Coun-
Gil Of Protestant Episcopal Churches Is
attacked because 1t claims that for true
national security and q lasting. democracy
belief II God y necessary.~ IN tho
Evening star., 1949-12-25
In COMMITTEE
By Bruce Barton

On the afternoon of May 20. 1927, at four
o'clock, Charles F. (Boss) Kettering, who
invented the electric self-starter and has
for many years. presided over the General
Motors Research Laboratories. was bent over
his desk, deeply immersed in problem.
Suddenly the door Of his Office flew open
and a breathless young man cried: BOSS,
Boss! Have you heard the big news?"
"what news?" asked Ket. not looking up.
'Lindbergh has landed in Paris.
No comment.
Don't you understand. Boss? LiIadbergh
has landed In Paris. He few the Atlantic in
q little plane. He did it all alone"
Prom your excitement Ket observed,
IT thought you were going to tell me that
he had done 1t in committee"
Each Of us at some time feels the need Of
counsel-of the two heads that are, proverbs
ally, better than one. ! know that seldom
make an important decision without talking
to nay wife, or one of my partners, or my
secretary. or, II think am In danger Of
becoming old-fogy, to my son. .=s
In the larger area. the business or profess
sional convention Is a valuable American
custom. Americans love to gather In big
meetings, boast about their achievements
and discoveries, explain their new systems
and technicues. They proceed generally on
the assumption that the only man who needs
to be afraid OF having his idea stolensls the
man who is afraid he never viii have an
other. AS result. ideas have been shared
and American business has leaped ahead.
But now, think. we are In danger Of
carrying our gregariousness to an extreme.
Talk often begins to take the place Of de-
cision; and compromise chrrupts policy.
It's good thing to be reminded as a
friend of mine reminded me recently. that:
'It was Nelson who devised the victorious
tactics of Trafalgar-not a junta OF the
rank and file. It was Watt who built the first
successful steam engine mot group OF
farmers near Greenock, where he was born.
It was Faraday who unlocked the secret
Of electro-magnetism-n some manufac-
turers' association. It was Fleming who dis
covered penicillin- a labor union. It was
Gray who wrote the immortal Elegy-not
some government commission
have another good friend whose wife
says she has already written his epitaph:
"0ons-to another meeting"
Evening star., 1949-12-25

the mystic luSCer OF
a shining glory. It
Is the time when in
sights are deepest.
hate Is faintest and
love is brightest. Its
greetings. It's gifts,
its carols and its bells
are freighted with
kindlier thoughts
than glorify any
other season. The
marvel to mortals
made known as the
silver'y trumpets Of
the Christmastide
peal is that mankind