davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1949-01-04
10000 Miles on Hour?

. Every minute the comlc-Strlp world OF
Buck Rogers seems to be getting less and
less fantastic and more and more real. A
fortnight ago, highly informed sources
made the rather breath-taking prediction
that the relatively near future would see
the advent of SuperSonic man-carrylng
planes capable of flying about 5000 miles
an hour. This has since been followed by
a statement from Ohio State University
suggesting that the day is not far on when.
it will be easy to hit the moon witfrockets
travelling ten times that fast.
AS explained by Professor H. L. Johnston,
the prospect is not to be laughed on. AS
matter of fact, he says, the fuel already
exists to do the trick. 1t is liquid hydrogen,
and university Observation-Disclosures In
connection with secret project supported
by the United States Air Force-leave little
room for doubt that it is powerful enough
to send rockets to the moon at a speed
of 10000 miles an hour, or to shoot them
off into space as world-girdling satellites
like the one our defense establishment is
working Onto be controlled for such
peaceful purposes as weather forecasting
or for military ends not pleasant to think
about.
In Professor Johnston's words, the whole
business is already SO far advanced that
'all we need is ship to put the liquid
hydrogen in-and that's coming" So 1t
looks as though even the most outlandish
of Buck Rogers ideas may become as
commonplace as television one of these
days. The possibility maybe probability"
is the better word) must be greeted with
mixed feelings. On the one hand it de-
serves to be hailed as something promising
to give us nearly perfect weather forecasts
or enabling us to make the moon a sort
of dumping ground for the dangerous
radioactive wastes whose disposal will be-
come a real problem in our peacetime
atomic projects. On the other hand how
ever the prospect calls for anything but
cheers, to put it mildly.
Thus, to dwell for moment on the
other hand, we must ask ourselves what
will happen to the world if the peace out
look goes from bad to worse and nations
are equipped with atomic weapon rockets
that can be fired across oceans at speed
of 10000 miles an hour In such situation
it is not difficult to imagine the gradual
development of nervous breakdown on
a global scale, the sudden advent of uni
versal panic, and then, finally, the super
supersonic extinction of practically the
whole human race 1t may be that progress
ought never to be deplored, but. sometimes
1t makes the flesh creep so much that no
one can be blamed for wondering whether
it really is as good as its friends say
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Polly, Put the Kettle On

According to a survey made by its
merchandiSers, tea has suffered such a
drop in popularity among Americans that
a special educational campaign will be
needed to restore it to its former place.
largely on restaurants The latter, they
say, have been handling the beverage in
an atrociouS way; instead of brewing and
serving it with loving care, they have been
very unceremonious with it and thus have
robbed lots of people of taste for it.
But that seems to overSimplify the situa-
ton. 1t ignores the fact that within the
past few decades life has been growing
steadily less gracious and the art of after
noon tea drinking-the epitome of gra-
ciousness-accordingly has fallen upon evil
days. Like candy, it may be dandy for
breaking the ice, but liquor is quicker, and
so our society-generally speaking-has
replaced it with the cocktail party At any
rate, when it comes to teas" most of us
just stay away in droves unless martins
and highballs are being served as we'll
This is a far cry from the days when
Engishmen sang the praises of the bever-
age for all to hear. Thank God for teal"
cried Sydney Smith. What would the
world be without tea? How did it exist?
I am glad l was not born before tea"
And earlier, as any book of familiar quota
tions will show, there was Edmund Waller
lauding it to the sky as an aid to fancy,
repreSsing those vapours which the head
invade" and keeping the palace of the
soul serene" And there was william
Cowper blessing the custom of listening
to "the bubbling and loud kissing urn
and welcoming "the peaceful evening in
with "the cups that cheer but not inebri-
ate" Above all, there was Colley Cibber
with this apostrophe: Tea thou soft,
thou sober, sage, and venerable liquid,
thou female tongue running, smile-sooth-
ing, heart-opening, wink-tippling cordial,
to whose glorious insipidity owe the hap
piest moments of my life, let me fall
proStrate."
1t is because that kind of spirit is lacking
today, and not simply because of poor
restaurant service, that tea drinking has
declined in America and probably in Eng
land as we'll. If the merchants are going
to launch an advertising campaign to build
up the beverages popularity, they could
do worse than try selling all of us the
idea of recapturing little of the grace
and good manners that our society used
to have but now has somehow lost.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Fighting the Common Cold

1t is good news to sufferers from the
common cold-and their numbers are not
to be SneeZed alto learn that serious
scientific attention is being given to their
misery 1t is even better news to learn
that some progress, small though it may
be, is being made toward finding the cause
and possibly the cure of this universal
affliction Cold victims too long have been
neglected in the natural concentration of
medical research on the more deadly dis
eases of mankind.
The cold studies were begun in earnest
two years ago at the National Institute of
Health. The first notable accomplishment
in this Public Health Service project was
the isolation year ago of virus RESPONSE
BILE for at least one common form of the
sniff1es. Since the discoverers, Doctors
Norman H. Topping and Leon T. Atlas, had
reason to believe that there are other types
of colds induced by other viruses, the iden-
tilted type was named MR-l, the initials
standing for minor respiratory" During
the ensuing year Doctors Atlas and George
A. Hottie have subjected MR-1 to intensive
scrutiny with the electronmicroscope and
to all sorts of tests. With the help of
volunteers at Lorton Reformatory, they
have proved that the virus produces
particularly common kind of cold, the
control of which would be a far step to-
ward their goal of eliminating the cold as
a medical and economic factor. More than
that they have found a chemical way to
identify MR-1 quickly and to gauge its
potency in any solution. Thus, liquids
which are likely to cause infection and
those which are free of the MR-1 virus
may be readily determined 1t no longer
Is necessary to 60 through the painful Ito
the patient) and time consuming process
of testing the possibly infectious substance
on a volunteer
That is distinct advance in the crusade
on colds But science still has long way
to 60 before it can announce to the world
that the common cold has been conquered.
Evening star., 1949-01-04

Those other possible minor respiratory
viruses must be identified and ways found
to prevent them from injecting humans
or to nullify the infection once it has
too, it is imperative that they be discov-
cred and brought under control. Every one
who has a cold or fears one will join in
extending to PHs doctors the best wishes
of the cold season and the fervent hope
that they will keep up the good work during
the coming year. They will deserve the
blessings of the human race if they succeed
in doing away with the sneeze and the
Sniffle
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Waldenses' Leaders Listed

To the Editor of The Star
In his letter to The Star, printed Decem-
Der Is, Paul c. Tully asks me to produce the
names of some of the Waldenses who were
active in the fourth, sixth, eighth and twelfth
centuries
Here are the names: Vigilantius Leo, leader
Of the Waldenses. fourth century; Colum-
banus, leader OF the Celtic Church, Co.
lumba, Aidan, Finan. and Colman. sixth GEN.
tury; Ehrenwolf, eighth century; and Henry of
Lausanne Peter de Bruys and Arnold OF
Brescia, twelfth century.
Mr.. Tully can verify this information by
doing some research work on the Waldenses
and other early reformers! To aid him in
research, here are a few authorities to whose
works he can refer: Augustus Neander. De-
Lacy OLeary, J. P. Perrin, Jean Peyran, Peter
of Cluny, Robert Robinson, Francois Eudes de
Mezeray, Henry Hart Milman, William Stephen
Gllly. Adam Blair, William Beattie. Also
Jerome. Against Vigilantius, in Nicene and
Post-Nicene Fathers, I'd Series Vol. 6. re-
cent authoritative work on the Waloenses is
Truth Triumphant" by B. G. Wilkinson.
w. F. ADAMS.
Evening star., 1949-01-04

Letters TOR publication must bear
the signature and address of the
1oriter, although it is permissible for
a tcriter knoUn to The Star to use
a nom de plume Please be brief.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Questions and Answers

reader get the answer to any question Of
fact by oygsitins The EXenins Star nformsti9n
Please inclose three 60 cents for postage.
Evening star., 1949-01-04


strikes me as being just as applicable today ss
it was in 1913, the year it came into my pos
session:
Public Enemies.
If you build line of railway over hills and
barren lands,
Giving lucrative employment to about mil
II you cause score of cities by your right of
way to rise,
Where there formerly was nothing but some
rattlesnakes and flies
If, when bringing kale to others, you acquire
little kale
Then you've surely robbed the peepul and
you ought to be in Jail.
If by planning and by toiling you have won
some wealth and fame,
1t will make no odds how squarely you have
played your little game,
Your success is proof sufhcient that you are
public foe,
You're soulless malefactor to the dump you
It's a crime for you to prosper where so many
others fall
You have surely robbed the peepul and you
ought to be in Jail.
Be chronic politician, deal in superheated
air,
Roast the banks and money barons, there is
always safety there.
But to sound the note of business is crime so
mean and base.
That the fellow guilty of it ought to go and
hide his face.
Change the builders song triumphant for the
politicians wall
Or We'll think you've robbed the peepul and
we'll pack you of to jail
w. c. D.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Un-American Committee Praised

OH-|1EIeI NdH OUI1II1IIttSS dISe0
To the Editor of The Star:
At the present time there seems to be feel
ing of resentment against the Un-American
Activities Committee for it's expose of certain
facts that occurred a few years ago. But
why does particular group object to the whole
people knowing the truth about its activities
when 1t Is of vital Importance to them?
The members of the Un-American Activities
Committee should not. be censored for doing
their duty in the American way. 1t is the men
who have the courage, the ability to do the
things they believe to be right and just IN
the right way that make this old world tick.
ANNIE L. SMITH
Evening star., 1949-01-04
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

O. Did the United States ever have Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor?-M. M. T.
A. The United States had a Department
OF Commerce and Labor from 1908 to 1918.
Created by Act of Congress February IA, 1903,
its Secretary was made a member of the
cabinet. The Department was divided by
Congress in 1918 into the Department of Com
merce and the Department of Labor and the
secretary of each was made a cabinet men,
ber
@. What is the Federal law In regard to mi
gratory bird hunting stamps?-N Y. v.
A. According to Federal law all individuals
over 16 years of age, must have on their person
while hunting waterfowl a migratory bird
hunting stamp of current issue properly vali-
dated. These stamps may be purchased ct
81 each at post Offices.
@. What is the Oldest city in Montana? Has
any other city that Helena been the capital?
C. f. P
A. The Historical Society of Montana says
that the first settlement of size was Bannack
which grew out of the discovery of gold July
%. 1862, by John White. The territory of Mon
tana was organized in 1864 and Bannack served
as the first capital. Virginia City was made
the capital on February 7. 1865 Helena re-
placed Virginia City as capital of the territory
in 1875
@. Has the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing always manufactured our paper money?
M. NJ
A. The early issues of paper money, from
1861 until 1876 were made under contracts with
various bank note companies. After that date
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in
Washington commenced the manufacture of
all United States paper money and has con.
tinued to the present time.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Democracy Versus Republicanism

To the Editor of The Star
The gratitude of the public is due to Senator
Lucas for frankly stating (during an interview
on Meet the PressD the basic philosophy OF
the Liberal Democrats lthe eeemosynary, So
cialistic New Dealers to be: Providing the
greatest benefits to the ajority"
Senator Flanders in an interview on the
same program a few weeks earlier stated that
his liberalism differed from others in that he
was not opposed to the railroads, utilities and
big business, and that he judged measures by
whether they benefited humanity and were
practical The difference between Senators
Flanders and Lucas is about that between
tweedledum and tweedledee; both are about
as clear a statement of democracy as one
could wish.
Democracy is majority, mass mob rule
that inevitably leads to the compulsory state.
which is the antagonist in the age-old struggle
for individual liberty which lest We forget
was won by the builders of the Constitution
of our representative republic.
If now the reactionary standpat conserva-
tive Republicans remembering the principle:
To protect and preserve the Union and the
Constitution will as frankly state their phi
losophy, the advocates of individual liberty
will have an opportunity to decide whom to
support ALICE F. HEITMULLER.
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Taxation and Big Incomes

To the Editor of The Star:
The plight of Jack Benny, who would like to
sell his talents without giving all the proceeds
to the Government. shows how far down the
road of Socialism this country has travelled AS
matter of fact, the press reports actually
minimize the Government take from those in
the higher brackets.
If any one who is interested in the subject
will examine the table on page Is of How to
Prepare Your U. S. Income Tax Return" pub
lished by the Government Printing Office as
guide to victims In preparing their l948
returns. he will find that the Governments
share of an income of $4,0OO,00O is $36l4,320,
and the boob who earns the money gets $685.
180. And if the taxpayer happened to have
an income of 100000 in addition to trans
action that netted $4OOO0O0 then the Gov
ernment would take $l56,820 of the 100000
plus 81 per cent of the 81 100000, or a total of
So, 1876 800 OF course. this does not include
any amount that might be due as State
income tax, which in some instances might in
crease the tax liability to an amount in excess
of the income
Although many people seem TO think that
MI Bennys predcament is much funnier than
some of his jokes, the tax laws of this country
are no laughing matter. In fact, the Com
munists do not need to go to any trouble to
undermine oui Government by dealing with
traitors on the Government payroll. If they
will have a little patience, our conflscatory
taxes and enormous donations to the rest Of
the world will very soon destroy our system
of free enterprise and deliver us into the hands
of the Stalinites without any effort on their
part ROBlERRE
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Budeeting Doctors Bills Difficult

To the Editor Of Tne Star:
Margaret Andersons letter to The Star
December "a on the cost of living touched
on some points regarding payment for medical
care that are of very real concern to wives
and mothers.
Because all of us dread the thought OF debt,
of having to ask for anything like charity,
and because we so completely agree that
doctors should be paid and paid well for their
services wish that it could be said by every
American mother: Our family has always
been able to pay our Doctor But, unfortu
natey, this is not the case. We cannot in
dividually budget for the costs of medical care
as we do for food, clothing and shelter.
One never knows when illness will strike
or how much the care that is needed will cost.
That's why health insurance, which enables
a family to put little sum of money into q
fund each month to pay for the unforeseen
Evening star., 1949-01-04

sickness bills makes SO much sense to me-
And if the fund were large enough were COM
posed of the little sums from every family
there would be enough money to assure us all
of the best medical care our family physicians
know how to provide and enough money to
pay our doctors we'll for their skill their ex-
perience and their efforts
l. like Mr.. Edelman, whose letter appeared
in the same page of The Star as that of Mar
garet Anderson, believe that America should
have national health insurance program for
all its people. MRS. ALICE MCINTYRE.
Not All Church Members Aareed
To the Editor of The Star:
AS church member and church delegate
to the Federation of Churches, disagree with
Dr. Relssig's ideas on racial segregation. To
my knowledge the church representatives have
taken no action supporting or authorizing his
statements in the press. He is entitled to his
personal opinion and there is nothing to pre-
vent him from joining colored church. but
he should grant to others religious freedom of
thought and action.
Individual churches and denominations are
not meeting their budgets. Might not this be
tne silent answer OF the people in the pews
TO the new socalstic social order advocated bv
Churches?
This social order religion" never has been
submitted to or approved by the church men,
bers, so it is presumptuous for any one to speak
in their name
ANOTHER CHURCH MEMBER.
Salary Raises for Contributors
To the Editor of The Star
For several weeks no one has been able
to read Washington paper without being
harassed with lengthy articles concerning the
so-called drastic need of pay raises for the
top Government officials only
sometime ago an article on your editorial
page stated that certain top officials con-
trlouted several thousand dollars each to
nnance the Democratic campaign. Would it
oe possible that these liberal contributors
suspected that every effort would be made
TO legislate salary increases, in case of q
Democratic victory, which increases, in the
course OF four years, would reimburse the
generous contributors as well as provide them
with bonuses OF several thousand dollars,
actually good investment?
AN UNWITTING DEMOCRATIC TAXPAYER
Auto on Ten Dollar Bill
To the Editor OF The Star:
With the new and used automobile businesses
in the news, what about the trade-in value of
the old model which appears on the ten-dollar
bill. Now that the trade-in values are high.
why not turn it in for new model Or do
they figure that money goes fast enough with
the old model? Well, it travels fast all right,
but not far So, if new model automobile
will afford greater mileage than does the old
one. I'm for putting the new one on the ten
dollar bill.
incidentally just what make and model is
the automobile whicn appears on the ten-spot?
ROBERT EMMETT BURKE
Walt Mason After IS Years
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Auto on Ten Dollar Bill
Walt Mason After IS Years

To the Editor OF The Star:
Going through some of my old papers, /
found the following poem by Walt Mason that
strikes me as being just as applicable today ss
it was in 1913, the year it came into my pos
session:
Evening star., 1949-01-04
Letters to The Star
Freedom from Political Medicine


To the Editor Ct The Star:
The wisdom shown in Charles A. Lindbergh's
56-page book, Flight and Life" should be
ator Murray who are Grating long and loud
these days, trying to strap compulsory health
insurance onto our tax-tired backs
Col. Lindbergh writes: "Utopias have not
proved the answer, for the answer is at
deeper level" So is the answer to good health
1t is a physical, mental, moral and spiritual
quality. No government on earth can hand
1t to the people, not any more than it can
hand them good character, happy marriages
and sound minds. You and grow into what
we become by learning to shoulder RESPONSE
bility.
Regardless of Senator Murrays surmises
the middle-class folks know the brand OF
medical care rendered in this country We
live longer than any other people There is
no group more unselfish, nor more truly Amer
ican than our medical men and women. We
average citizens have confidence and faith in
them. Black sheep are an accepted fact.
Ninety-five per cent of our doctors are people
of integrity.
Right after Pearl Harbor many of us started
giving hundreds of service hours to Red Cross,
ETC., and that was only a mite of what our
boys gave to preserve our American way of
life. This is worth fighting for" We are
the selfsame people who can render real serv-
ice by letting our government know, here and
now, that we are still interested enough in
human welfare that we do not want medicine
and politics mixed. 1t never will work to our
benefit. MABLE K STABLER
indianapolis, Ind.
Evening star., 1949-01-04

To the Editor of The Star
DR.. Thomas E. Mattingly and Lawrence Sui
liVan have written wisely about the pitfalls and
dangers of compulsory health insurance But
our health problem does not consist merely in
not being able to afford medical care The
United States spends more on medical research
than any other country, and we also have the
highest standard of living. In spite of this we
are not the healthiest country in the world
According to the Report of the Presidents
Advisory Commission on Universal Military
Training, the United States rates seventh
below the best In infant mortality rates. In
childhood and adolescent death rates, America
is somewhere between eighth and eleventh
below the top. For the death rate at ages after
so. America is thirteenth.
This should prove to any one that medicine
alone cannot solve our health problem.
doctor who had practiced medicine for 40
years said that it foolish for any one to
think that the medical profession alone could
solve our health problem, but that if there
were cooperation between doctors and chiro-
practors together, our health problem could be
solved. Yet. neither President Truman nor
Administrator Ewing will investigate our sec
ond largest healing science, which has millions
of patients on its records.
AS to why We are not the healthiest country
in the world, it may be due to something that
the doctors are doing to the people. Let us
repeal some OF our compulsory medical legis-
lation. If our health problem is to be solved
at all, II will be solved only through the
democratic American way.
ARTHUR RAASON
Evening star., 1949-03-29
Former Pentagon Clerk
Held for Coat Thefts

A former Pentagon clerk was
held for the grand jury yesterday
charged with stealing. overcoats
from an FBI agent and two other
patrons of the Interior Depart
ment cafeteria last month.
He is Francisco Vasquez, 80
who gave an address in the 300
block of Eighteenth street NV.
United States Commissioner Cyril
S. Lawrence placed him under
$4,000 bond when Vasquez said he
was guilty and also admitted he
had jumped bond in a recent as
sault case.
According to the charges. coats
were stolen from o. NJ. Smazal,
FBI special agent: Bynum E.
Hinton. jr. a Navy Department
attorney. and Edward B. McGarry
Navy Department employe.
Evening star., 1949-03-29
'SoIesmon-Driver for Dairy Wins
Trucking Award of the Month

'3. Always thing Of your family;
don't leave a widow with orphans
by jeopardizing your life. Don't
take foolish chances while driving.
Don't be careless and obstinate.
4. Give hand signals when
making turns and stops. Let the
other driver know what you are
going to do.
IS. Keep your car in mechanic
ally safe condition at all times.
Is. Don't drink on your job or
while driving.
~. Always give full time and at
tention to your driving when be-
hind the wheel.
IS. Be a gentleman. Courtesy
pays. Never lose your temper.
g. When traffic conditions are
hazardous in rain, snow or sleet.
be extra cautious in your driving
10. Slow down. Speeding is
dangerous"