davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21
Teacher At Byam
Resigns; Pupils To
Be Brought Here

The resignation of Mrs. Mabel
Peterson, a teacher of the upper
four grades of Byam school, eff
fective at the beginning of the
present Christmas vacation, has
been received by the board of
school district T., Laurel. The
board plans to not make replace
ment, but to transport the pupils
to the Laurel schools.
An additional bus will be pur-
chased to take care of the increase
and to relieve some of the other
buses which are now slightly
overloaded.
Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21

Room In the Inn" Members all
took part in a candlelighting SER
vice followed by a poem, IA
Christmas Benediction," by Ray
Harris.
About 80 were present for the
evening and were served refresh
ments by Mrs. Charles George.
Mrs. Harold Richardson and Mrs.
W. A. Freeberg. Plans were made
to have a New Years party and
also to take part in the watch
night service to be at the Metho-
dist church.
Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21
Curved Movie Screen

The narrow limits of a motion
picture screen can now be broad
ened so that viewers in any part
of the house car see the movie
without receiving a distorted view.
Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21
Churchill as Painter

Experts say that the best paint
ing by Winston Churchill is the n
Of a bottle Of brandy and a bottle
of Scotch with two glasses along
side.
Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21
British Livestock

Britain has played the leading
role in the development of modern
farm livestock, and is still the stud
farm of the world.
Laurel outlook., 1949-12-21
Florida Citrus

Florida produces nearly half OF
all grapefruit and oranges grown in
the United States.
Evening star., 1949-12-23

is further strengthened by the conduct OF
the Kremlins representative on the Allied
Control Council. Far from offering any
convincing explanations, he has evaded the
question by staging his walkout In an en-
ragged fashion-a reaction suggesting that
he has no evidence good enough to refute
the figures cited by the United States.
At any rate, unless and until Russia can
satisfactorily explain the discrepancy be-
tween those figures and its own claim that
it now holds only 10000 prisoners, nobody
can be blamed for believing that 1t has
actually let some 375,000 Of these men die
in internment camps. As far as the people
of Japan are concerned, such a belief-bar-
ring proof to the contrary-is bound to
create additional ill-will for the Kremlin
and the Japanese Communists. As for the
rest of the non-Red world, the whole
shocking business-again barring proof to
the contrary-will be regarded as Just one
more item to be entered In the voluminous
and growing record Of the Soviet Unions
callous disregard for humanity.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Where Are They?

Confronted with an embarrassing ques-
ton, the Russian member of the four
power Allied Control Council tor Japan has
angrily taken walk rather than give an
answer. The question-which has been
raised by General MacArthur's representa-
tive-has to do with the whereabouts OF
Japanese war prisoners. About 1,30o, 900 'of
them have been returned to their home
land by the Soviet Union, and the Kremlin
has announced that it still holds only 10000
others and that all these are criminals"
who will not be released. The United
States, however, has refused to accept this
accounting and It has done so for very
good reason.
The reason is simply this: That re-
liable official count indicates that the Rus
slams have failed to repatriate almost
SIS, 900 japanese prisoners. Worse, In the
opinion of the American occupation au-
thorities, there Is ground for the suspicion
that all these individuals are dead-vtctims
Of disease, exposure, malnutrition or other
forms of misfortune, neglect and mistreat-
nent while in Soviet hands. The suspicion
Evening star., 1949-12-23

mented by "such further measures as may
be appropriate, in the absence Of prompt
action by the Hungarian Government"
The Department does not indicate the
nature of those further contemplated meas
ures, which might range all the way up to
4 complete break Of diplomatic relations.
However, it is unlikely that our Govern
ment will content itself with more words,
especially since another outrage seemingly
has occurred, that Of Isreal Jacobson, head
of the American Joint Distribution Com
mittee's Hungarian Office, who similarly
disappeared week ago and undoubtedly
is under arrest, albeit the Hungarian police
as yet disclaim knowledge Of him, Just as
they at first did with Mr.. Vogeler. That
compounds the Hungarian offense and in
tensihes the requirement for effective
action by us.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Peuce-For q Period

One would have to clutch at the tiniest
OF straws to derive much comfort from the
professions of peaceful intent which have
come out Of Moscow as an aftermath Of
Stalin's birthday.
It was left to Georgi M. Malenkov, of the
Politburo, to speak for the Generalissimo
on the subject of peace. Writing In Pravda,
he recalled with emphasis, according to
the news dispatches, that Stain has put
himself on record repeatedly that "the
Soviet Union proceeds from the fact Of
unavoidable coexistence for q lengthy
period Of the two systems socialism and
capitalism-and firmly maintains the
course Of loyal peace-loving relations with
all of those states which display desire
for friendly cooperation under the condi-
tions of observance Of principles Of
reciprocity and fulalment of obligations
taken upon themselves"
This is q kind of mumbo Jumbo which Is
full of escape routes. What Is meant by
"a lengthy period?" Does it mean that the
unavoidable coexistence" of which Mr..
Malenkov speaks is to last for q year, for
five years, or only until the Russians feel
strong enough to risk direct and open
challenge? And who Is to determine when
state has ceased to display desire for
friendly cooperation" with Russia? II
the decision Is to be left to the Russians,
there Is not much in recent experience
which leads one to believe that their idea
OF friendly cooperation amounts to any
thing better than slavish submission TO
the Kremlin.
Another Pravda writer for the birthday
edition was Anastas I. Mkoyan, also Of
the Politburo. His was a comment which
seemed to be somewhat at variance with
the Malenkov thesis. Long ago, Mr..
Mikoyan declared, Stain developed in
detail the tactics and strategy Of the
Chinese revolution. And that. he added,
"is why the Chinese Communist party,
hallowed by glorious victories, recognizes
Comrade Stain as its great leader"
Somewhere in there the Politburo got
its wires crossed. Comrade Stain cannot
be both the champion Of peace with his
neighbor states and the architect Of
successful revolution in foreign lands.
At the Christmas season the longing for
peace among free men is especially strong.
But the somber fact of our times, as
President Truman said at Arlington, is
that we live in an age when peace must
be protected, and we must look to our
own strength to that end. Perhaps the
day will come when we can put our trust
in Soviet professions. But we cannot trust
them now-either on the basis Of their
words or their deeds.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Our Bon on TroveI to Hungary


American citizens to Hungary is a posi-
tive action which goes beyond the writing
of protest notes to this and other Commu-
nist-run Soviet satellites whose conduct
toward this country and its nationals has
grown increasingly outrageous. Mere diplo-
matte protests have got us precisely no.
where. The most recent instance OF that
futility is the summary reflections BY the
Bulgarian Government Of our sharp ad-
monition regarding the vilification and
threats against our Minister and other
members of the legation at Sofia.
This travel ban was specifically mott
waited by the case Of Robert A. Vogeler, as
sistant vice president Of the international
Telephone and Telegraph Corporation and
its Central European representative. Mr..
vogeler disappeared while travelling by
private automobile from Budapest to
Vienna on November Is. At first, the
Hungarian police disclaimed all know
ledge Of the matter, but later the Foreign
Office admitted to our onicial inquiries
that he had been arrested and had "con-
fessed" to espionage and sabotage. How
ever, all attempts by personnel OF our
legation to see him have been evaded and
he has been held incommunicado ever
since.
So fragrant an outrage against interna-
tional law and comfy, to say nothing Of
Hungary's commitments under its peace
treaty with us and other powers, Is ex-
coriated by the Department In its diplo-
matte protest as arbitrary, inhumane, and
q clear denial Of justice" And the note
broadens the issue by citing the Vogeler
case as typical of the state Of affairs In
Hungary, the Red Government "continu-
rights and freedoms to its own citizens,
while also depriving persons Of other ma
tionality within Hungary Of those same
rights and freedoms" The note dismisses
as wholly false" the charge Of espionage
and sabotage against Mr.. Vogeler and ac-
cuses the Hungarian Government Of being
motivated by "ulterior purposes In this
affair" What those purposes are Is not
hard to divine The I. T. & T. has valuable
property In Hungary on which the Red
rulers are casting covetous eyes, as they do
on all foreign-owned property, seeking
every opportunity for harassment and
pressure leading to appropriation.
Drawing the inevitable conclusion from
the vogeler case that American citizens no
longer are free to transact their normal
business In Hungary, or even to visit there
without suffering surveillance, arbitrary
arrest, and other intolerable molestations
at the hands Of Hungarian police authori-
ties and other infringements Of their
rights" the Department announces that
passports no longer viii be granted our
nationals for Hungary. And it further
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Another Test for Fringe Lots

The decision to give fringe parking
another tryout in Washington Is sensible.
This plan Tor relieving the parked-car
bottlenecks in the downtown section
deserves a better test than has been given
It here. The advantages of fringe parking
lots, connected with the center Of the city
by shuttle bus service, are so great that
the idea should not be abandoned until
fair trial of the system has been conducted.
The fringe parking experiment spon-
sored by group of merchants last year
was not decisive test. The lots used were
not well located, one being too far of main
thoroughfares and the other too close to
the downtown business district to serve
its goal Of keeping private cars away from
the heart of the city. Nor was the program
suniciently brought to public attention. In
Hartford, Connecticut, fringe parking was
4 losing proposition for considerable
periods before motorists learned the
benefits Of leaving their cars on the out
skirts Of the traff1c-congested district. The
fringe plan has been successful, too, IN
Chicago, New York City and Philadelphia,
according to Charles M. Upham, head of
the District Motor Vehicle Parking Agency.
New York's famed commuter system Is
built around what, in effect, is one OF the
countrys pioneer fringe-parking programs.
Cooperation Of the transit interests Is
essential to the success OF fringe parking,
but this cooperation cannot be expected
unless the patronage Of the lots warrants
the special bus service. Mr.. Upham says
the next time the plan is tried here, lots
further out from the congested part Of
the city will be selected. Parking areas so
placed, convenient to main approaches to
the city and charging fees low enough to
make the plan attractive to the average
motorist, should prove as successful In
Washington as they have elsewhere.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Inn-Keeper's Wife

I think she ,pent to Marys aid,
There IN the stable yard,
And mtnistered to her, and made
Him stDeet NTH sptkenard.
I think she gaze the ss0addling clothes
70 torap the Baby IN,
And sd,o that Mary found repose,
As one tuho felt akin.
Though history does not record
Her presence or her name,
As godn,other to infant Lord
Might tueU haze been her fame.
< MAUD K. ELLIOTT.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Where the Responsibility Lies

II any Federal law was violated by the
perpetrators of the fortunately abortive
dynamite bomb plot against the C1O
United Auto Workers Union In Detroit, the
Government should lose no time in taking
over investigation of the case. But there
AZ no evidence so far that any Federal
statute was transgressed when unknown
hands placed a large box OF explosives
against the UAW building. Until such
evidence is uncovered, the responsibility
for solving the crime is q joint State
municipal one that justifies no interven-
ton by the Federal Bureau OF In
vestigation.
Attorney General McGrath, in ordering
the FBI to conduct an inquiry at Detroit,
indicated that this VIII be merely an
exploratory operation, to determine
whether any Federal laws were broken.
Similar preliminary inquiries have been
made In relatively small number OF
crime cases, chiefly those in which there is
q possibility that the civil rights statute
has been violated Mr. McGrath says there
is such q possibility in this case, although,
In the absence of further explanation, It
Is difficult to see how this could be so
In the Detroit outrage. The civil rights law
is designed to assure citizens the full
protection of the law to which the
Constitution entities them. Although the
police have failed to find the assailants Of
the Reuther brothers in two previous cases,
there is no indication that they are not
trying hard to solve the past and present
crimes. The Attorney General also sug-
gested the possibility Of violation Of Federal
laws regulating interstate transportation of
explosives and making it Federal offense
to escape across State lines to avoid
prosecution.
The FB1 properly stayed out of the two
previous UAW cases, despite much
agitation by the UAW for FBI Intervention.
The Attorney General should be careful
not to order the G-men to 60 beyond this
authorized field in the present instance.
Unless the FBI finds that some statute
within its enforcement scope has been
violated in the dyamite case, it should
limit its participation to the laboratory
and other technical assistance usually
given local authorities in non-Federal
investigations.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Pretty, but Dangerous

While nearly everyone else Is merrily
preparing for the Christmas holidays, the
National Safety Council, as in the past, is
viewing them with alarm. The council has
good reason to anticipate Christmas with
mixed feelings, for accident records un-
fortunately show that the Yuletide is
particularly hazardous time Of the year.
Christmas fires cost the lives of thirty
eight children last year.
Christmas trees and Christmas decora-
tions in general are pretty, but can be
dangerous, too. The council does not, of
course, suggest doing away with Christmas
trees. It does recommend most earnestly
that trees and other decorations be made
as fire resistant as possible. A few simple
precautions will greatly reduce flre hazards.
Even so-called flame proof trees have
been known to catch fire from short-cir-
cults or fireplace sparks. 1t is always q
good idea to stand the tree In water and to
keep the water pan filled during the holi-
day season. Trees absorb a great deal Of
water in this way and thus become more
flre-resistant. Trees ducked in or sprayed
with borax solution Of the type sold in
some stores will be even less inflammable
In addition, warns the council, stand the
tree at safe distance from an open fire-
place, check the wiring Of lighting systems
and do not use lighted candles on or near
trees.
And fires were not the only killers Of Joy
and human beings last Christmas season.
Fifty persons died in freak accidents, such
as falling while trimming trees or becom-
ing casualties OF sleds, guns or other gifts.
BY far the greatest killer, however, was the
automobile, with 277 victims over the 1s4s
Christmas weekend. No wonder that safety
authorities are inclined to view the season
Of good cheer with some misgivings.
For fun while learning, nothing beats
course In the roller-coaster school Of
economics, or spending yourself rich.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Argues That Century Began
On January /, 1900
TO the Editor Of The star:


On January !, 1900
TO the Editor Of The star:
In your letters column for December 40.
one who signs himself II. q. stated that DR..
George Gallup was In error when he said
that the middle Of the 20th century was
about to come about In = few weeks.
On the contrary. II. q. Is the one who is
In error. Any school child can tell you that
from the beginning Of 1900 to the beginning
Of fD0l Il one year. and. subsequently, from
the beginning Of 1900 to the beginning Of
1850 Is 30 years. or half century. On New
Years Day. 1901, one year has passed: on
New Years Day. 1907, two years have
passed, and on New Years Day. 1860, 50
years viii have passed. II seems that II. q.
has forgotten to consider the year 1900.
In another way, from the end Of 1899 to
the end Of t949 Is also 50 years. Dr.. Gallup
has made many mistakes. but this was not
one Of them. D. n q.
Evening star., 1949-12-23

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address OF the
scrtter, although It Is permissible for
sUriter k1o1nn to The Star to use
nom de plume. Please be briet.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Hormone in Spring Grass
Hustens Maturity in Mice
Tests Made by Scientists In Wales
Fail to Reveal Specific Substance
Bv Thomas II. Henry

By Thomas X. Henry
There apparently II = sex hormons !.
spring grass
Some unidentified substance hastens the
maturity Of mice by Is much rs 10 days.
according to tests Just reported by Drs.
l. Arthur and w. c. Evans Of the University
College Of Wales.
It has been recognized for several years
that the springs first crop Of pasture grass,
the color Of which is q somewhat different
green from that Of later growths, was an
effective growth promoter, but this had been
explained on the assumption that it con-
tanned . better concentration Of basic nu-
trients. Presence of an unidentified vitamin
also has been postulated.
Added to Basic Diets.
A more specific substance however, is re-
quired to explain the Welsh experiments.
Three groups Of II mice each were reared
on three different diets. One was the basic
diet used in laboratories, containing all tho
essential food substances. In the second
diet there was added to this cuttings Of late
summer and fall pasturage. To the third
cutting Of spring grass were added.
The last group Of animals reached sexual
maturity almost two weeks earlier than the
first The second group were accelerated
by about i've days, showing that even the
later erowths have some Of the mysterious
substance which seems to decrease In
amount as the season advances.
The response, according to the Welsh ex-
perimenters, is about what would be ex.
pected from some Of the so-called oestrogens,
new grass which hastens maturity. they
believe, chemically Is closely allied to one
Of these.
Radioactive fu virus has been produced.
Incorporation Of exploding atoms Of phos-
phor1ls In the inflnitesimally minute organ
ism responsible for influenza has been re-
ported to the British scientific journal
Nature by Drs. e. r. Graham and Laurella
McClelland Of the University Of Toronto.
In . program supported by the National
Cancer Institute Of Canada, incubating
eggs frst were innoculated with the virus.
This now is the classical method Of pro-
ducing virus cultures in laboratories all
multiply rapidly in the embryonic tissue Of
the Matching egg. Three hours after the
nnoculation minute amounts Of radio
phosphorus were injected into the eggs.
Objective Of Work.
Phosphorus apparently Is one of the
elements necessary for the microscopically
invisible. rod-like bodies of the organisms.
When the pure virus culture later was
separated from the egg substance with an
ultracentrifuge it was found that the virus
particles had taken up q considerable part
Of the radioactive material and it could bs
detected by Geiger counters.
The objective Of the work, the Canadian
doctors explain, is not to develop q hu
treatment with radioactive isotopes but to
reach q clearer understanding Of the chem.
istry Of the virus itself. The experiments
seem to demonstrate clearly that phos.
phorus is one Of its requirements.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. What causes some trees and bushes
that normally bloom In the spring to have
flowers occasionally In the fall?-E. e. q.
A. This second blooming is not due to
mild weather as is commonly believed, &C.
cording to the Department Of Agriculture.
Out-of-Season bloom usually indicates that
. tree or plant has gone through hard times
and Is Towering in order to survive or per.
petutate its line. During long sunny fall
. tree may suffer from drought so that it
loses its leaves. As . result 1t puts out
new leaves and also blooms to avoid ex.
tinction. Drought. fire. disease, insects or
other damage which defoliates q tree may
bring on unseaSonal bloom.
@. Which types Of duty in the Navy are
considered hasardous?-S. e. H.
A. Nine types Of duty designated as
''hazardous' and authorizing incentive pay
for their performance have been established
under the new pay system. They are: sub.
marine service, aerial fight, glider flight,
parachute jumping. intimate contact with
persons afflicted with leprosy, demolition
duty, submarine escape training, tank service
and duty at the Navy Deep Sea Diving
School or the Navy Experimental Diving
Unit.
Q. Has 1t ever been proved that the sky
appears black at very high altitudes9-D. N:
A. When Capt. Orvill A. Anderson and
Capt. Albert w. Stevens reached an altitude
of over 13 miles in q balloon in 1885. 1t was
found that with increasing altitude the
color Of the sky changed from pale blue
to deep sky blue and finally to such dark
blue as to be almost black. Had 1t been
possible for the balloonists to see the sky
directly overhead, it is probable that 1t
would have been as dark as midnight
sky and that stars would have been visible.
However, the great balloon floating imme-
diatefy above prevented such view.
@. Who interested magazine readers In
making Thanksgiving legal holiday-B. J.
A. It was largely through the efforts Of
Mrs. Sarah Josepha Buell. Hale u789-1870
that Thanksgiving Day became q national
holiday. For 40 years she was editor Of
"0odey's Lady's Book" forerunner Of today's
women's magazines. Mrs. Hale wrote to
President Lincoln as well as to his prede-
cessors, urging an observance Of the day ON
the last Thursday In November In every
State Of the Union.
Of the number II In regard to the members
Of jury?-o. H. w.
A. Various explanations have been offered.
An interesting theory with respect to the
number Of men on the jury was advanced
In 1852 by Lord Summers and corroborated
by Lord Coke This theory recognized that
the purpose Of the jury was to ascertain
the truth, recorded the fact that twelve
major prophets Of the Bible foretold the
truth, the twelve Apostles preached the
truth, representatives Of the twelve tribes
Of Israel were sent to Canaan to investigate
and discover the truth, and the Holy City.
New Jerusalem was founded upon twelve
stones Of truth.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Questions and Answers

4 reader can gst the answer to any question
bureau. 316 Eye st. .n.e- Wa.hineton Q. b. c.
Evening star., 1949-12-23
Advanced Class Explains
Why Il Esteems Latin Highly.

To the Editor of The Star:
We, an advanced Latin class. have noticed
in The Star several articles concerning the
place Of Latin IN our schools and We wish
to state that We are finding Latin very
beneficial. The fact that we are building =
frmer English foundation through Latin
than we would be Il We were not taking It
shows that it Is course which Is proving
to be Of pronounced value to us.
In our opinion, this fact in itself Is Z
SUFFICIENT reason for taking Latin In high
school. In addition to building . stronger
English q lndation. however Latin makes Us