davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-02-28
By Charles E. TroceWeH

Crow trials have been mentioned
often.
Observers say the birds gather to-
eether, 'talk" in an excited way, then
proceed to kill one of their members.
They feel that the birds have con-
demned to death member and have
executed the culprit.
Cynics say nothing of the kind; to
them the birds are merely giving way to
an animal dislike of the unusual men,
ber of the group, which by reason of
blindness, sickness or peculiar odor has
set itself apart from the group. Thus q
crow unfortunate enough to get itself
covered with oil would excite the killing
dislike of the others. Such cynical OBJ
servers point to the way the pengulns
kill all-white babies born to the flock.
Even the mother joins in the universal
condemnation.
It is significant Of the crows intelli-
gence that it puts out sentinals, just as
the starting does. The starting, by the
way. is not too distantly related. 1t be-
longs to the same order and suborder OF
birds. but to different family. The
actions of crows. starlings and blue
jays are worth studying with this rela-
tionship in mind Crows can be taught
to talk" but 1t is not at all necessary
to cut their tongues to make them do
so. It is more matter Of training from
childhood than anything else. Another
similarity between the three birds is
that they all like to steal bright objects,
such as scissors or thimbles. The Cam
ada jay, or whiskey jack, is more likely
to steal than our own wood bully.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
This and That

light in trees, but do not often come
down to feeding station intended for
the small species.
Only once in 20 years have we seen
a crow on the ground near our own
feeding place.
He was welcome visitor, but the little
birds did not seem to share our enthusi-
asm; they waited for him to depart be-
fore coming back for more food.
They were not, however, as afraid of
him as they are Of the various hawks.
To crow about something is to exult,
even to boast, but probably the old
proverb comes more from roosters than
crows.
The sound made by the crow is COM
monty written "caw." and that is as
good as 1t can be done.
Within its limits this cawing can be
very musical.
At times the caws Of a crow will seem
to be words, and every one can hear
something he wants to hear.
The crow is classed as a songbird, not
because his utterances are really songs.
but simply because his throat muscles
are much the same as those Of the real
songbirds. At times. he even MARBLES q
little.
Fish crows are smaller than our COM
mon crow, but look very much like 1t.
In voice, the two birds are not at all
alike; the common crow has his in
dubitable cav while the fish crow has
q cracked sort Of voice. very nasal IN
character.
Evening star., 1950-02-28

Crows are pretty much crows, wher-
ever you find them.
The crow-jay family of birds is so
widespread that just a few places, no
tably New Zealand and Polynesia, are
without members.
Colonel C. A. S. of @ street writes:
'You speak of the jay being related
to the crow which reminds me that in
visit to Northern Japan some years ago
I was astonished to see crows behaving
much as jays do here.
"In villages it was common to see
them on house tops and flying down into
yards for such scraps as they might be
able to pick UP.
"They acted about as tame as pigeons
do here, and what is more to the point,
the crows were not fed as the people did
not have much Of anything to spare In
the feed line.
"It must have been that the crows,
possessing much intelligence. just knew
that the people were friendly.
Whereas the American crow probably
knows that man in these parts has for
long been his enemy
Jays and crows, of course, do not much
resemble e\each other in appearance
Our jay is about II " inches long, blue,
gray and white. with some black, and a
distinct crest.
The crow is over 10 inches long, black
all over.
Jays are common in our suburban
gardens.
!. Crows often fly over, and sometimes
Evening star., 1950-02-28
Modern Atlas

secretary Brannan, in outlining his
controversial farm plan to Congress last
spring, posed the basic problem as fol-
lows:
GAS an isolated individual the farmer
has no control over the prices he will re-
ceive and no adequate way of adjusting
the total market volume of his COM
modities to changing demand. After he
has planted crop he is at the mercy of
weather, price and many other forces
with which he is powerless to cope.
"On many occasions in the past he
has labored all season and produced
good crop only to find that, because of
circumstances beyond his control, his
labor would go uncompensated and
sometimes his cash investment in seed,
fertilizer and other operating costs
would be only partially recovered. A
Evening star., 1950-02-28
Precedent

The red barn nestles silently beneath
The slope of hill. The air is blurred to1th
s7toD.
within its stalls, the cattle, nrunching
hay.
Are tpeu secured against the Dtnter
storm.
Old Duke and Dan, the gentle Sorrel team
Stand drowsily, unn1i7,dful OF the mind
That blo1ps tpitaout. There is a prece-
dent
Which recall from childhood: NeDer
rest
At ease spithin your heart unless you
kno1D
That your farm animals are fed and
DGTm,
And safely sheltered from the sleet and
S7lO1D
IT is rule that fosters character
Within the uery young, and lends then,
pride
In their responsibilities. A child
Well taught IN ki1dliness. 1DiH Glapdys be
Able to Iue each day NTH dignity.
BILLY B. COOPER.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
Sir Harry Lauder

There was only one Harry Lauder. Dozens
of entertainers tried to initiate him, but they
never quite succeeded. He was unique off the
stage as well as on. Crowds followed him when
he appeared in the streets. He was by all odds
the most famous music hall performer of his
class and time Kings and Presidents were his
friends. He was recognized universally as a
good will ambassador for his native Scotland
and for the whole British commonwealth of
nations His travels took him to every portion
of the globe, and wherever he joked or jgged he
left memory of kindliness and fellowship that
did not fade soon. The knighthood he received
in 1919 was an acknowledgment of his services
to the empire in World War l.
But Sir Harrys constructive activities were
by no means limited to great crises. For half
a century he toured and entertained and fur
nished an example of wit and cheerfulness that
no contemporary excelled. Many of his songs
contained philosophic observations which helped
other people to face the problems of their day
to-day existence. He said OF himself that he
was a medicine of sort. His audiences forgot
their troubles when he trod the boards before
them They gave m tremendous applause for
his ''Roamin' in the Gloamin'," II Love Lasse, !"
"It's Nice To Get Up in the Mornin'," "Stop Yer
Tickling Jock" and She's My Daisy" The
words and the music were his own, and he proved
again and again his right to be regarded as a
first-rate composer.
He was short and homely and inclined to
be mournful, his boyhood and his youth were
marred by poverty, his middle years were spoiled
by the death OF his only son in battle, he had
many disappointments and sorrows, but he was
faithful to his job as a Snowman, a clown, a
minstrel and professional Scot Up to the
last he insisted he never would retire until he
was kicked by dead horse.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
What Should We Pay for Potatoes?
Bv Malcolm LambOrne, Jr.

THE lowly Irish potato, not unlike the
i atomic bomb, has set off a chain
reaction that shows no sign of letting
up, And it continues to cause headaches
al both ends Of Pennsylvania avenue as
taxpayers in growing numbers ask:
How Gomez"
Why, they ask, has the Government
had to spend about $500 million since
the war to support the price of potatoes
and then either give them away or
destroy them?
The answer in part, from the Agricul-
ture Department is that Congress wrote
the law and the executive branch has no
alternative but to follow its provisions.
In addition, the experts point out that
potato yields have increased tremend-
ously because of the use of better land,
closer planting, good growing weather
and, most important of all, wartime de-
velopmenC of DDT and other improved
insecticides.
Critics of the Administration counter
that the present law provides means by
which spud production can be reduced
and money saved the taxpayer.
All this and more came out last week
and again yesterday during debate over
the proposal by Senate Majority Leader
Lucas to remove 1850 crop potatoes from
supports until Congress writes drastic
controls over both the planting and
marketing of spuds. The Senate said no,
not this year. and instead adopted a
plan by Senator Aiken, Republican, of
Vermont, continuing supports unless
growers reject marketing agreements in
y.afnp
agreed to restrict potato marketing in
1851.
Interestingly enough, Secretary of Agri-
culture Brannan, who remained silent on
the subject last week, felt that the Lucas
proposal would have put his Department
on the spot with farmers. There is a
long-standing policy of not changing
support plans in the middle of the grow
ing season.
This years potato planting already has
begun in some States. In fact, with
40 million bushels of the 1949 crop yet
to be purchased. the Government already
started buying 1850 potatoes. Zone Gov
ernment official observed privately the
other day that the process is "just like
a treadmill."D
Potatoes are among long list Of
agricultural commodities which the Gov
ernment guarantees shall not drop below
a specific price. At this point, the tax
payer might ask: But, why?"
The answer is that we are committed
to a policy of avoiding another world
shaking depression such as the collapse
of the 1920s. That collapse had its roots
in drop in farm prices and resultant
economic chaos on American farms
Economically speaking, as the farmer
goes, so goes the Nation.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
A pseudonym is permissible only
Uhen letter carries correct name
and address of 1Driter. Please be brief.

manned in the United States, yet there IS
no remuneration of any kind for thou
sands of men like me. It was no fault
of my own that was not in the service.
I also wish to 60 on record to the
effect that the boys who did leave the
United States should receive every con-
sideration that the Government can
possibly give them. However I do think
that the civilians should be given just
as much consideration as the men who
were sitting behind desks.
Being a Washingtonian, I'd like the
opportunity to purchase home as the
uniformed" veterans do. Then maybe
could live within my salary. ]. A. T.
If Mine Seizure Is the Way,
Turn-About Would Seem Fair Play
If the seizing of private property by
the Government is the key to the solu-
ton of an industrial dispute, why con-
fine seizure to the private property OF
one of the parties concerned? Why not
seize the private property of both parties
and assign two sets of impartial ap-
pointees to administer the affairs OF each
party to the dispute until a working
agreement has been drafted and ac-
cepted for incorporation in work-con-
tract?
If the seizure of the coal mines is
justified in the existing circumstance.
by exactly the same token it would also
be justified and appropriate to seize the
private property of the miners union
their Offices, their records and their
finances.
Such program If authorized and en-
forced is more likely to result in fair
terms for both parties concerned.
NON-PARTSAN OBSERVER.
@, and A. On Political Dinners
In January President Truman insisted
chat all tax loop holes be plugged.
In February, however, Republicans
had to pay 20-cent tax on their 81 box
supper, whereas Democrats paid no tax
whatsoever on their $100 a person
dinner.
Democrat explained 'Theres no tax
because people make contribution to
the party and they get complimentary
ticket to the dinner"
@. When is loop hole not loop
hole? =,
A. When Fair Dealer crawls into 1t.
New York, N. Y. o. PITSCHMAN.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
Britain and Cyprus

Refusal of the British authorities to consider
the validity of plebiscite recently held by the
Orthodox Church organization on the question
of Cyprus union with Greece is the latest phase
in controversy between British imperialism and
Hellenic nationahsm that has harassed the
islands life for many years. Cyprus has been IN
British possession for more than seventy years.
1t began with grant of occupation rights by
the Ottoman Sultan in order to give Britain an
adequate military base when it was backing Tur-
kew against Russia in the tense diplomatic crisis
of the 1870s. When Turkey joined the Central
Powers in World War Britain formally annexed
Cyprus to the Empire as Crown Colony. It's
strategic Importance has greatly increased for
Britain both as AN air base and as the sole
remaining foothold in the Eastern Mediter-
ranean, now thatSits former bases In Egypt,
Palestine and elsewhere no longer are available.
Unfortunately, these imperial necessities
clash with the desires of the great majority OF
the population which speaks Greek, is Orthodox
in faith, and ardently desires to unite with what
1t considers to be it's homeland, albeit Cyprus
has had no political connection with Hellenic
government since it formed part of the Byzantine
Empire back in the Middle Ages Nevertheless,
Greek nationalist propaganda has long persisted,
the latest manifestation being plebiScite held
late in January in all the Orthodox churches
Naturally, union gained an Overwhelming major
ity in the vote, since only the Greek Orthodox
participated. But the Moslem minority, number
ing ne-quarter of the population, would have
nothing to do with it, since it is bitterly opposed
to exchanging British for Greek rule. And in
this opposition they are backed by public opinion
in nearby Turkey, which insists that if the British
leave Cyprus it should go back to Turkey, which
held the island for more than three centuries
previous to the British occupation.
The British authorities maintain their posi-
ton that union with Greece is not a negotiable
issue. While they did not forbid the holding OF
this plebiscite, they expressed their disapproval
and warned the participants that it would make
no difference in British policy Some of the
nationalist leaders talk of bringing the issue
before the United Nations, but it would be hard
to find provision in the charter under which it
could be brought.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
Letters to The Star
Reactions to Mrs. C. B. c. Who Wanted
American Legion of Nom Uniformed Vets

Reactions to Mrs. C. B. c. Who Wanted
American Legion of Nom Uniformed Vets
Mrs. C. B. c. must have been very
good and sincere defense worker.
really mean this, because, as she said.
members of her immediate family had
been in the E.T.O. for "a to SO months.
You had very good reasons to be hard
worker, Mrs. c. B. c. praise you for
that.
But, take into consideration the count
less thousands who didn't have very
real reason such as yours for their hard
work but who on the other hand did
everything in their power to beat the
draft" The very best way in which they
could do this was in some vital job in
defense work. have been told by several
persons and with no qualms about it
that they had literally made the down
payment on their homes by using the
overtime pay that they got in their jobs.
The war could never have been won
had it not been for you millions of
workers producing all the implements OF
war for the soldiers to use, and getting
them to the soldier.
But the average American here in the
States could, upon finishing his or her
days work, retire to his or her home.
listen to the war news on the radio, go
to a movie, stop in at the corner drug
store or beer tavern for a coke or brew,
perhaps even stand tour OF duty as
an air warden or other commendable
duty.
Perhaps the average combat soldier
shouldn't complain too much about his
lot. He could also retire after q days
work. with permission or exhaustion. He
could retire in the mud, or the sand, or
in the jungle and dream about some
thing or other
He listened to the war news also.
Not from the news commentator at the
broadcasting station in the next town.
He got his news from the next town,
the sky the valley just over that little
hill, that hedgerow across that field.
that pillbox up in that cliff over yonder.
He had movies, in technicolor, no less.
Star shells. bursting grenades, tracer
bullets and sundry other color making
devices of which the flame thrower was
very spectacular. The sound effects could
outdo anything on your screens.
You folks made our Army, our Navy
our Marine Corps and our Air Forces the
Evening star., 1950-02-28
Whistler Collection

Washington at the Old Ford Theater can
boast a great Lincoln collection and at Mount
Vernon goodly showing of relics of the life
and achievements of the Revolutionary COM
mander and first President whose name the
Federal City bears. 1t possesses in the Folger
Library more of Shakespeare than his native
England has, and the books and manuscripts
of Scotlands most famous poet in the Scottish
Rite Temple probably are unparalleled in interest
and value anywhere on earth. Now to this list
of treasures must be added the James Abbot
McNeill Whistler collection in the Freer Gallery.
scholarly pamphlet by Burns A. Stubbs,
recently published, proves the richness of the
accumulation illustrating the career OF the
famous impressionist painter and etcher who
lived and worked here in his youth. More than
27O letters written by Whistler himself or by his
wife at his direction head the inventory. The
Freer building likewise houses the celebrated
Peacock Room which Whistler created for
Frederick Leyland's beautiful residence in
Princes Gate, London. Mr.. Stubbs catalogues
in his booklet 65 oil paintings, So water colors,
7S pastels crayons, TAB etchings and drypoints.
1872 Autographs and lithotints 38 original copper
plates, including the Coast Survey Plate No.
with which Whistler's creative history began and
the Cancelled plates OF the Thames SERIES All of
these materials were brought together by
Charles Lang Freer, a Detroit railroad car builder
who was the artists friend and patron for roughly
twenty years.
But the Whistler collection is much more
than the assembled debris of distinguished
artistic life. Mr.. Stubs pamphlet really is a
biography of the painter annotated with refer
ences to the Freer Gallery holdings. It recreates
one of the most magnetic personalities of the
Victorian age. Whistler's struggle to accomplish
worth while results is reflected in the text so
that the reader discovers in Whistler fellow
contender for success "the hard way" There
was nothing easy about his self-deyelopment.
Whistler was an individualist and he had to pay
the penalties of his non-conformities. Yet he
does deserve admiration for his willingness to
take punishment rather than submit to coercive
circumstance. Mr.. Stubbs says in conclusion,
GAS time goes on, he emerges as man with
extraordinary sngleness of purpose, with great
interpretative power, creator Of beauty in line,
form and color, and an astonishing versatility in
his masterful control of the various mediums he
used"
Doubtless the best procedure in the reading
Of the new booklet would be that of taking it
into the gallery and perusing 1t where the
Whistler pictures are available for inspection.
If that is not convenient, 1t can be read at home
with occasional reference to twenty plates
which Mr.. Stubbs has reproduced. In any case
we have here useful guide to another Washing
ton collection of cultural Importance.
Evening star., 1950-02-28

best equipped, the best clothed and the
best fed, in the world. You did that
We got the dehydrated potatoes, de-
hydrated eggs and the dehydrated milk.
We got the K-rations and the ten-in-one
rations. We got them until we actually
believed that potato wasn't something
round and with peeling on it. Eggs
were never associated with a fowl as
far as we were concerned. -Hst=
In closing, I would like to say that
members Of my immediate family (and
my daughter, who was born while was
gallivanting around the World) told me
just how rugged and terrible life had
been for them during the war.
VETERAN.
A bit of sympathy is in order for poor
Mrs. c. B. c. who wants to belong to
veterans organization, but can't because
she hasn't worn q uniform.
How terrible that members of her i'm
mediate family had to stay in a bad old
overseas station for from "a to So
months. 1t must have been horrible,
and SO far away from home, too.
Imagine that!
I'm sure that if her family made only
$50 month during the war like the
mean old soldiers did, she wouldn't be
waving SO many flags nowadays. And
she forgot that this $60-a-month man
worked overtime, too (and nights, too,
and days, too =. and forever. it seemed.
Don't let her kid you that the home
folks didn't like the extra overtime they
had to work. They loved it, and asked
for more.
Mrs. c. B. c. seems to me very good
example of the great American Home
Front Hero. GUY D. REYNOLDS.
First Lieutenant, CE.
Fort Belvoir. Va.
agree 100 per cent with Mrs. c. B. CT
letter. I was working for the Govern
ment prior to World War II and during
the war was transferred out of town,
and working very many long hours at q
low salary. After the war was trans
ferred back to Washington, consequently
I had to pay high rents. inasmuch as I
have been financially unable to buy a
home. have three children and with
paying high rent have found 1t hardly
possible to live these days.
It seems to me that have done just
as much as those service men who re-
Evening star., 1950-02-28

program to help him to meet those basic
difficulties is the very minimum for
which we should strive"
1t is difficult to refute the basic agri-
cultural position as stated by Mr.. Bran
nan. It makes sense. But one wonders
if the pendulum hasn't swung too far
in one direction.
In the case of potatoes, there has been
obvious abuse of program designed for
the benefit of all farmers. Congress, as
witness the Senate action, has been slow
to take steps to correct flaws in the
program-even though the department
has been warning since 1946 that there
was trouble ahead. One explanation is
that potatoes are grown on between
100000 and 100000 American farms.
AS the folks down home say, that's a
heap of votes.
Evening star., 1950-02-28
ECA Aid Is as Vital as Ever

The testimony of Economic Cooperation Ad-
ministrator Paul Hoffman and Secretary of State
Dean Acheson before joint session OF the Senate
and House foreign policy committees has en-
phasized both the imperatives and the difficulties
of our international situation.
Mr.. Hoffman has urged congressional ap-
proval of approximately So billion for the thlro
year of ECA operations as the absolute mini
mum needed to prevent an economic slump
in Western Europe with attendant advantages
for communism. Secretary Acheson has under
scored the danger in the grimmest terms,
bluntly charging Soviet Russia with deliberate
"design for world dominion" and stress1ng the
vital Importance of continuing to counter that
design with the Marshall Plan. To cripple the
plan or even destroy it, before its goal has been
attained, would be, as he has stated, not only
poor economy, but a direct threat to both our
own security and the whole free world.
Yet there is strong sentiment in Congress for
Just such economies, some proposals going even
so far as to advocate an ECA cut Of between
and 2 billion dollars 1t would be mistake to
attribute these proposals solely to isolationism"
or to domestic political considerations in an elec-
ton year. The Communist triumph in China ana
the Russo-Chinese pact open up vast potential
demands upon our aid for still-free Asia, while
revelations of Soviet military preparations sug-
gest the need for greatly increased armaments
on our own account. All this raises questions as
to how much of a burden our present economy
can stand and how commitments should be ap-
portioned. In view of Western Europe's improve
ment during the past two years. the temptation
is strong, in some quarters, to cut back the
Marshall Plan in favor of other phases OF our
foreign policy which have assumed urgency.
Mr.. Hoffman and Mr.. Acheson, however, have