davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Put the House in Order

A proposed FBI investigation of Sesqul-
centennial Commission contracts or letters
of intent issued in connection with the
Freedom Fair, makes big headlines
But it seems to The Star that such an
investigation is bit premature Wnat
ought to be done first is for the Sesqul-
centennial Commission to investigate IL
self. It is to be hoped that some such
decision to do that will be reached TINS
afternoon at meeting of the commissions
Executive Committee.
It is about time for the Sesquicentennial
Commission, composed of distinguished
men and women in public and private
life, to sit down quietly, take deep breath
and find out precisely where 1t is at.
The commission was not hurriedly
thrown together. But number OF things
appear to have been hurriedly done with
out the knowledge of the members OF the
commission-the request for an FB1 inves-
tigation, for example, being merely one
of them For the members are busy
people. The President of the United States
is the chairman ex-officio. Such eminent
men as the Speaker of the House, the
~
Senate, the chairmen of the House and
Senate District Committees, Commissioner
John Russell Young and others equally
renowned, are the members from official
life. Robert " Fleming, Joseph C. Nc
Garraghy Robert Woods Bliss and Mrs.
Philip L. Graham are members chosen
from private life. Carter T. Barron is the
executive vice chairman and Edward
Boykin, assisted by large and well PAID
staff, is the director
= The Executive Committee, of which
MIR. McGarraghy is chairman, has author
ity to act for the ommlssion-WhoSe
meetings have been few and far between.
Mr.. Barron evidently has authority also,
as executive vice chairman, to act.
Mr.. Boykin, it seems, also has authority
to act. In such circumstances, many
actions can be taken, but not always
taken with the knowledge of everybody
else. In consequence, the Executive Com
mittee may not know of everything that
Mr.. Barron, as executive vice chairman,
and Mr.. Boykin, as director, have done.
There should be nothing secret about
anything that has been done. Certainly
there is no desire by anybody on the
commission to make anything secret.
So, in the process of self-examination,
the important thing to do first is to find
out precisely what commitments have been
made, by whom and to whom, and what
obligations and responsibilities are out
lined, and who has what job and for
how much.
upon the public records, 1t can be decided
whether it is necessary for the FBI to
step in and do anything. The Star doubts
the necessity. But as for an investiga-
tion of the Sesquicentennial Commission
by the Sesquicentennial Commission
The Star is all for it, The public can
then learn not merely whittier we have
come, but whittier we are going.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Hervey Allen

Hervey Allen was an intensely personal
artist. That was evident particularly In
his attempts to write straight history
His study of Edgar Allan Poe, for example,
is far less a revelation of Poe than it Is
reflection of its author. He was skilled
researcher, a tireless seeker for facts, but
he saw what he found through his own
eyes, and his own eyes were not those OF
other people Perhaps it was just as well
that he was so individualistic. His train
ing as a candidate for the Navy at An
napolis, his soldering on the Mexican
border and in France, his teaching at
Columbia and Vassar, his endeavors to be
q philosophic poet-all of this background
had the effect of confirming his personal
distinctiveness. Other men might have
been regimented. Mr. Allen instead was
made unique.
There was no other writer like him. He
created whole worlds Of events and people
in his books. Anthony Adverse" is not a
portrait of the Napoleonic era so much as
It is projection Of what MIR. Allen
imaeined it to have BEEN Its 1,224 pages
constitute a brilliant tour de force OF
dreaming. The Recommendation OF it will
not stand close examination. Yet the book
is not falsehood. It iSso carefully based
on Mr.. Aliens reading that it gives an
impression of perfect plausibility And
that is its secret of popularity More than
1900 900 readers have loved the story be-
cause of the charm of its verisimilitude.
It Anthony and Dolores did not actually
live, they should have done so.
Mr.. Allen found it hard to repeat his
achievement His "Action at Aquila" is
masterful labor, and its fruitage Is con-
siderable. But the public did not take to
It with enthusiasm. Conceivably the author
was too anxious to teach something, preach
a sermon on the wickedness Of wars. The
Pennsylvania series, "The Forest and the
Fort" Bedford Village" "The City in the
Dawn" and Toward the Morning" is .
picture of the keystone commonwealth
prior to the Revolutions fascinating
theme surely. What hurts it is its slow
ness, it's heaviness Of detail. Yet it is
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Finds Radio Advertising
More Objectionable Than Signs

To the Editor Of The Star:
I wish to call attention to an editorial
in The Star Of December q. entitled PRO
tect This Roads Beauty" In this editorial
appears the statement: ut is to be hoped
that the board (Fairfax County Board Of
Supervisors viii not bulge from its an
nounced purpose Of keeping the highway
itself free of commercial enterprises" The
highway referred to is the new Shirley Me-
mortal Highway. The editorial commends
the board for keeping the highway itself
free Of hot dog stands roadhouses. bill
boards and neon signs"
Now, / agree fully with the sentiments OF
this editorial What cannot understand
is why The Star does not extend this laud-
able attitude to include the banning Of ad-
vertising on public vehicles. II advertising
is Objectionable to the eye, 1t is the more
50 to the ear as It is easier to avoid looking
at something than 1t Is to avoid hearing
noise broadcast in streetcar or bus from
which the only escape Is to walk to your
destination. PAULINE LANGLEY.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.


@. What is the present average length Of
life Of white women in the United States?
C. c. A.
A. The average life expectancy at birth
Of white women in this country Is 706
years, which is over five years more than
Me expectancy Of men.
q. A press dispatch last year stated that
an African tribal chief had requested the
father, in accordance with provisions Of the
Versailles Treaty ending World War I. What
are the facts about Mkwawa?-E. D.
A. Mkwawa, who was chief of the Wahi-
his, tribe of German East Africa which
was hostile to the Germans, claimed that
he could not be captured and when captured
was imminent he committed suicide. Sergt.
Merkl whose superior was Capt. Won Prinz.
cut off Mkwawas head and preserved
it in alcohol at the nearest fort against
the time when he could claim the 5000
rupees which had been offered for it.
short time later Negro warriors broke into
the fort, stole the head and buried it. leav-
ing in It's stead the head Of freshly killed
native. The warriors who had committed
the theft were retainers of the former Sui
tan and It was decided not to prosecute
them.
@. What kind Of fish has markings on its
body that resemble Arabic writing?-L c. T.
A. The Chaetodont or Butterfly fish (Ho-
lacanthus semicirculatus) The dark color
of head and body is broken up by series
of white stripes and the caudal I'm has SINH
lar ornamentation. In one specimen that
was found In fish market at Zanzibar.
East Africa, these markings bore a remark
able resemblance to old Arabic characters,
reading on one side Of the tail. There is
no god by Allah" and on the other side. "A
warning sent from Allah" This event caused
great excitement and the fish, which had
originally been sold for q penny eventually
fetched 5000 rupees.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Visitor From Iraq
Treated As = Negro

saw him standing gazing at statue Of
an American hero in Lafayette Square. He
was visitor from Haq currently senior
at the University of Michigan. He was
seeing Washington for the first time. He
had come via Dixie, but never again. he
said
In Texas he had been denied meal.
Twice he had been herded into Jim Grow
car. What kind Of nation do you have
here?" he asked Of me. could only say
"Stay out Of the South" had to advise him
to show his passport even here in Washing
ton.
But wondered: Here we are spending
lot of taxpayers money to keep the goodwill
of our Eastern allies. and we are en-
phasizing the virtues of democracy. But the
impression this one student gets of our
Nations Capital probably will do more
harm than million Of our dollars can
offset.
How long are we going to let our prejudices
blind us to the opportunities we have to
work for world peace?
E. B. HENDERSON.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Memories Of Christmas
In 4 Children's Home

To the Editor Of The Star:
The following is a copy Of my diary OF
Sunday and Monday at a children's home
here in Washington, D. c. am Govern
ment employe General Accounting Ofhce)
and help evenings, Saturdays and Sundays
with the children's care. Every day brings
interesting experiences and surprises, but
this has been Christmas I never will
forget.
Now quote from my diary: Johnny, g.:
Betty, 10, and Louise, II, got up very happy
this Sunday morning. All the other chill
dren had been taken out for Christmas by
parents or relatives. The mother of these
three remaining youngsters was to come at
9 to get them for the day and an aunt
would get them Tuesday and take them to
the country for the week.
1.-THE gifts were nicely wrapped for
Mother and Dad and the children were
dressed in their Sunday clothes. Twelve
o'clock came and no word. Two o'clock and
no word. We had a lovely dinner at two.
The superintendent had tried to contact the
mother. She had moved, and we never did
contact her. At four O'Clock we really gave
up and I started to take the children for
a walk and wound up going with them to a
movie. While it is against my way of life
to attend Sunday movies, that was what
they wanted, SO I took them and not one
of us realized it was Sunday till the show
was half over.
"On Monday the children waited and
waited, hoping the aunt would call. Johnny
tried to be brave, but knew by his eyes
that he had couple of cries all by himself.
Two brothers, and 10, came home Monday
night. as well as two other boys, so Johnny
was not so lonesome, and besides the aunt
called and said she would get them Wednes-
day morning So Johnny was happy. He
came to me just before bedtime at $3.50 and
asked if they could stay up till g. I gave
them permission. and they all five lay on
the floor around the radio. The two little
brothers sleep in one dormitory and the
other three in another. I heard the broth
ers say their prayers and the little fellow
pray.
Then heard talking in the first dormi-
tory and went down to that end of the hall.
The two little brothers were in their beds.
singing up on the Housetop' 1t was SO
nice, couldn't tell them they must stop
and go to sleep.
Louise is sweet. and / told her that, while
1t seemed hard yesterday, maybe 1t was best
after all She doesn't see it yet, and ]
couldn't tell her, but I know this brother
and his sisters will be closer to each other
IN later years because they were together in
their sorrow and brother and sisters love
has grown greater"
VOLUNTEER WORKER.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
This and That
Bv Charles E. TyaceweU


No one would have suspected it, by looking
at the dignified Templeton Jones. that he
wanted Santa Claus to bring him an ac-
Gordon.
"Of all things!" smiled Santa Claus
helper. when Jones timidly broached the
subject.
But on Christmas morning, there was the
squeeze box" with big red ribbon on it,
Picture the scene, If you can, as Jones
timidly lifted the accordion.
His smile widened almost as much as the
musical instrument, as he timidly pulled it
out.
II always did want one Of these things u
he said. This ought to be easy"
'It's easy" said Santa's faithful helper.
"rhe book says all you have to do"
Jones at this point had got up enough
courage to press one Of keys.
The accordion let out an indignant
squawk.
The pup barked.
The cat jumped OF the davenport, tail
twice its usual size. eyes cleaning.
And Mrs. Jones laughed.
Laugh If you must" grinned Jones, "but
some day, when I am a famous accordion
player, things will be different"
Mrs. Jones held up the song book 1T says
in here. just press down on the key. and
pull, for one note, press for another"
Sounds easy, but am beginning to think
maybe it is not as easy"
He pressed and pulled, and this time the
instrument made only wheeling noise.
"Now what is the matter?"
"I don't know, said Jones, rather at q
loss.
Maybe you forgot to press the key"
"Sure enough, that is it. You see. one has
to become familiar with the thing"
Templeton Jones took a good stance.
pressed down finger and pulled.
The resulting noise made the cat shiver.
and the pup bark. Mrs. Jones said later
that man in car slowed down, and then
went on, but Templeton Jones always denied
this.
"He was just looking for number" he
says.
What is the first tune one plays on an
accordion?" asked Jones, as he f1exed his
muscles.
"This thing he went on. takes more
elbow grease than I realized"
The sounds were rolling out now. but
Jones stopped, and shook his arms.
cts good exercise" he flung out.
'Now what's the best tune"
'How about old Black Joe,' isn't that
what all people want to play first?"
IT don't know" said Jones. II thought I
might try the Blue Danube
Something little simpler, at FIRST
timidly suggested the audience.
Nonsense said Jones. II will play the
Blue Danube provided can find the key" "
He struggled manfully to find them, but
every time he touched the right one, which
was not too often, he pulled or pushed just
exactly the wrong way
X X X
When he got three notes right in success
sion. he put the accordion down, shook
out his arms, and pronounced one word:
"Whew!"
The cat looked alarmed, the pup puzzled.
IT think the next lesson said Jones, will
be on Old Black Joe,' or maybe old Aunt
Rhody.'. or something.
There is one thing have acquired. as
we'll as tired arms. and that is q deep respect
for any one who can play an accordion.
"To think, I thought it an easy instru-
ment to play! Maybe I'd better take up the
violin"
Evening star., 1949-12-30

Eric West, who has been in head-to-hip
cast for the past year. to make sure that
he had an electric train to run as he waved
his response to the toot-toot greetings Of
passing trains also showed wholesome, sin
cere and thoughtful interest in the welfare
of others at Christmastime.
There must be numerous stories from time
to time along this same line. clearly showing
high standards of character and genuine,
friendly spirit among Americans.
FRANKLIN T. MILES
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Asks If American People
Know whittier They Are Headed

Know whittier They Are Headed
To the Editor Of The Star:
The report is current that former Sec
retary of State Byrnes is considering re-
turn to public life. With telling criticism
of the Truman administration IN recent
speeches, the intimation seems quite clear.
Mr.. Byrues is exercised over the tendency 10
concentrate more and more power IN WASH
ington and the ready demand TO satlsly
public yearning for more and more security
from the public purse without regard 1or
the cost or where the money is coming from
He also stated that some Of the programs
under discussion may lead us down the
road to statism, and further. if the States
continue to yield obligations, power and rev.
enue to the Federal Government, local re-
sponsibility may become seriously impaired
and to impair local government is to I'M
nair national government" Let the states
reclaim their duties and meet their obllga-
tions, and the clamor to have new power
in washington will lose it's appeal
The American people. however reallze we
must have regulation of many private ac-
tivities in the public interest; the cause OF
mispiving is the failure of the administration
to draw any line between essential functions
and the increasing substitutions of govern
mental authority.
The belief is expressed that people are
acquiring the dangerous habit OF thinking
that they may obtain all the good things
of life by voting for them instead OF work.
ing for them This trend cannot continue
unchecked without 'maneuvering the Gov
ernment into position of master, and the
people into the role of servant" The people
should experience grave concern because
of expanding socialism and increasing con-
troll by government.
If you rob the people of initiative and
incentive of the will to work and produce
and accomplish spiritually and materially
you will just as surely destroy them.
The question arises, do we want our lives.
our activities dominated by Washington
and, above all, do the American people real
ize whittier we are headed?
Bluemont, Va. WALTER I. PRIEST.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Letters to The Star

Letters for publication must bear
the signature and address of the
1Driter, although it is permissible for
a ,Driter knol0n to The Star to use
a nom de plume. Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Questions and Answers

A. reader can get the to any question
OF fact by writins The Evening Star Informati1r
Bureau. BIG Eye st ne. Washington 2. D, C.
Evening star., 1949-12-30
Stories About Generous Railroaders
Appreciated BY a Reader


To the Editor Of The Star
So much is being reported day by day,
Of activities by persons in positions OF respon-
sibility betraying their trust and exhibiting
lack of character standards that. it seems to
me, The Star is to be congratulated for
printing two fine and wholesome news stories
in its Christmas eve edition.
I refer to the AP reports Of two almost
identical acts Of generosity and helpfulness
done voluntarily and with no hope or
expectation Of reward by two certain rail-
roads Both at Lovejoy, Ca, and Steuben-
vile, Ohio, railroad men took time out from
their own duties and personal interests to
extend helping hands Of Christmas cheer.
The thoughtful act Of stopping q fast
Atlanta Savannah train at the home Of
little 5-year Grace Purcell who has only
stumps for arms: Of having red-suited
Santa Claus engineer hop down from the
locomotive cab bearing bundles of gifts. in
cluding new dress, gay tree, and almost
$500 to help pay for artificial arms was
typical Of the railroaders' friendly spirit
down through the years. The other story
Of how n men Of the New York Central
Railroad chipped In $50 for little 3-xear-old
Evening star., 1949-12-30

noble performance. Mr.. Allen was working
on the final volume of the sequence when,
too young at sixty, he died.
The Nome nugget., 1949-08-22
Military Aide And The Battle Of
 Grain Rationing

WASHINGTON (P)-Senatoria sources said Saturday that Maj. Gen. Harry H. Vaughan once gave an agriculture department official particular hell' about a grain ra- tioning order after alcoholic bev- craze makers reportedly com plained about the edict.
 Senate five percenter investiga- tors already have been told that Vaughan, who is President Tru- mans army aide, intervened at the department in another case in 1946.
 The testimony was that Vaughan at that time tried unsuccessfully to aid a New Jersey molasses com pany accused of violating sugar ratiOning.
 The account of intervention by Vaughan in the grain rationing case came separately from two of- ficials who did not want to be identified. Their stories are sub- stantially the same.
 Apart from those sources, Sena- tor Mundt R.-S. D. told neWsmen he has heard reports about the matter. He said he plans to ask for an investigation by the special Senate subcommittee conducting the five percenter inquiry. Mundt is member of the group, which is checking whether improper in- fluence has figured in the hand ling of government business.
 In the grain rationing episode, Vaughan in 1946 or 1947 reported ly asked Clinton P. Anderson, then secretary of agriculture, whe- ther any change was contemplat- ed in the federal order which re- stricted the amount of grain which
 Continued on Page Seven
The Nome nugget., 1949-08-22
Attorney General Seeking To Raise Loan In Seattle

SEATTLE, (P)-A new effort to obtain a $1,OOO,OOO loan for Alas ka has been started in Seattle by J. Gerald Williams, Territorial at tOrney general.
 The money would be used to pay S400,00O in existing Territo- rial warrants plus expected ex- penditures between now and Feb ruary 1, proposed expiration date of the loan, Williams said.
 An earlier attempt to secure $1,000,000 fell ugh and brought the charge from treasurer Henry Roden that Seattle inter- ests were attempting to force the Territory to repeal some taxes which had been enacted by the 1949 legislature.
 Other sources said the loan ne- gotiations collapsed when it was learned that Alaska owed more than the amount represented.
 Williams said his negotiations also were with Seattle interests, although he would not name them. He also said he did not want to comment on whether or not he though prospects were bright.
 "We're going to try to raise the money in Seattle" he said. "We think Seattle should help us-that Seattle has a greater responsibil- ity than eihter Portland or San Francisco"
The Nome nugget., 1949-08-22
CONGRESS ROUNDUP

WASHINGTON, (P) - A mys- terious memorandum and a secret letter beginning Dear Pop" took the center spots today in two sep arate Congressional investigations.
 A Senate drive to cut President Truman's $1, ,450,00O,O0O foreign arms aid program got new sup porter.
 And the Senate argued over whether it would reconsider the S17, ,500,0O0 appropriation it voted for rent control. Rent director Tighe Woods has said that if the amount isn't upped he will have to life controls from one-third of the areas still having them.
 Senator Mundt R.. s. D. said the Dear Pop" letter is shedding new light on the perfume oil and home freezer aspect of the five
 Continued on Page EighD
The Nome nugget., 1949-08-22
Strike DeadlOcked; Call for COnciliatOr Cyrus Ching

HONOLULU, (P) Deadlocked union and employer negotiators in Hawaii's 112-day dock strike asked for federal mediation Satur- day.
 After three days of renewed peace talks got nowhere, both sides cabled federal conciliator Cyrus Ching to come to Hawaii "as quickly as possible"
 Harry Bridges, head of the strik- ing CIO longshoremen's and ware housemen's union, and chairman w. R. Starr of the struck steve doring firms negotiating commit tee joined in sending the cable Friday.
 Then they called a recess until Ching replies. Ching has indicated he won't be able to come here but would be glad to meet both sides in Washington, the union is will ing to go. Employers don't like the idea.
 The 2,000 ILWU longshoremen of Hawaii struck May l for 32- cent wage increase. They now
 Continued on Page Three)
The Nome nugget., 1949-08-22
News of the World At A Glance ---
Friday. August ls. ls4s

The council of the organization for European economic coopera- tion (OEEC) began consideration of a rock-bottom estimate of s. 621 ,600,0OO for Europe'S 1949-50 Marshall Plan needs. The U. s. Senate and House have named committee to split the difference in the total amount of Marshall aid money voted. The House has voted S3,568, 100000, and the Sen ate 8,O0O,0O0. Disappointed European delegates here had hoped for more.
 The Truman administrations foreign arms aid program, bat tered by the House, looked to the Senate for gentler treatment. The program was slashed and restrict ed before the House passed it last night, 238 to l22. A 50 per cent cut has been imposed on the S1,l60,- 990,000 earmarked to help West | ern European nations face up to the possibility of Soviet aggres- sion.
 In China, the battle for Canton, the capital of the battered nation aliSts, moved nearer. The com munists took Tayu, key city ITO miles to the northeast, virtually clearing the road to Kukong, where the battle for Canton will begin in earnest. Kukong is l20 miles north of Canton on the rail way to Central China and the Yangtze valley. Its loss would iso- late Canton from the 100000 man army of Gen. Pal Chung-Hsi, commander of the nationalists' front to the north.
 In South America, the govern ment of Chile, armed with new emergency powers, moved three army regiments into Santiago to help halt rioting it said was com munist-inSpired. Eight persO n have died and 300 have been in- jured in street fighting in the last few days, touched off by protests over increased bus fares.