davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-10-09
"FAIRFAx COUNTY, Va.

Dear Sir:~s
Throughout the many years that
members of my family have enjoyed your
interesting column I have often been
tempted toowrite our appreciation for
the pleasure and profit it has afforded
us, perhaps to include some unusual
event of birds and animals in our shrub
enclosed garden, upon which you might
shed new light.
Last evening is case in point, when
I found Tstrange looking, bedraggled
bird on our driveway He seemed un-
afraid, or perhaps too weary to move,
and I might have picked him up, but
just then a car entered, and the bird,
viSibly gathering strength, fluttered into
our open garage.
"He settled on rafter and closed his
eyes. He was plainly pigeon, but un-
like any I had ever seen. We identified
him in our bird book. He was a band
tailed pigeorg now in danger of becoming
extinct. whose kind thrived up and down
the Pacific coast, Mexico and Guate-
mala, after the disappearance of the
passenger pigeon.
II fetched. a pan of seed and placed
it on top of bur car directly under him.
He reused, stretched his beautiful purple
neck, with its bar of white on upper
nape, unveiled his lilac-ringed eyes, and
peered keenly down at the food as much
as to say, Yes, see it. but please don't
disturb me now
1T was then I observed that he car
ried band on one Of his yellow legs and
Evening star., 1950-10-09
The Blood on Their Hands

According to the latest count by American
authorities, the retreating Communist aggressors
are guilty of having murdered Is 900 men, women
and children in South Korea This fgure-which
does not include slain prisoners of war-is still
tentative, the chances being that it will have to
be revised sharply upward on the completion of
the investigation now being held throughout the
liberated area to determine the full extent of
the Red atrocities.
This investigation, incidentally, is unique. 1t
is not being held solely by Americans, or South
Koreans or the overall military command of the
United Nations forces engaged in action against
the aggressors. For the fact is-and it is some
thing new in the history of the world-that
special international commission is on the scene
over there to make its own independent inquiries
and to report impartially to both the Security
Council and the General Assembly of the U. N.
The commission-which is an experienced one
and which includes representatives Of countries
like India-has been taking direct look at the
grisly evidence left behind by the Communists,
and in due course it undoubtedly will submit
detailed accounting to the world organization.
And that accounting judging from reports
received thus far, will add up to shocking
indictment of the North Korean Communists
an indictment accusing them not merely Of
aggression but also of having beaten, tortured
and slaughtered thousands upon thousands of
defenselesS. civilians Gncluding women and chill
dren) in what history is likely to record one
Evening star., 1950-10-09

OF the vilest crimes against humanity in this
century Of vile crimes. The crime, moreover
appears to have been plotted deliberately to wipe
out as many as possible of those persons actually
or potentially qualiied-by virtue of their expert
ence. education, environment or free, democratic
spirits-to play leading role In Korea's future
as a united, independent, non-Red land.
1t may be assumed that the U. MS Korean
commission, in gathering. and documenting all
evidence bearing upon this terrible display of
systematic barbarism, will also make a special
effort to identify the Communist commanders,
the political commissars and the key Pyongyang
policy-makers who have the blood on their hands.
It may be assumed, too that the day will come
when at least some of these criminals will be
apprehended and brought before the bar of the
United Nations-the bar of world justice-to
receive the punishment they deserve.
Evening star., 1950-10-09
Van Gogh Mystery Solved

MODERN methods of deduction have been used
oy the Bureau of Customs to solve one of the
most interesting art mysteries to come to public
notice in long while. self portrait of the great
Dutch expressionist Vincent van Gogh, has been
authenticated by calling into play the Sherlock
homes technique of observation and logic Pro-
1essional critics, including jury of four museum
directors, had disagreed on the origin of the
picture. Some declared it was in fact a work
by Van Gogh. Others had expressed serious
doubt" that 1t was his The owner decided to
submit the issue-and the painting-to Govern
ment test. II the portrait were production of
van Gogh, as he confidently believed, it was
entitled to entry into the United States duty free
On the other hand, If it were copy" or "re-
production" duty would have to be paid.
The Bureau of Customs examined the picture
with care to discover what evidence 1t contained.
fore and aft. On the front there were sketch
from japanese print and certain japanese
script as well as a line in French on the back
there was more handwriting covered with paper
applied for reinforcing. The Customs men en-
listed the help of Japanese scholars to check
the Japanese ideographs They summoned the
expert who had identified the kidnap note in the
L1ndbergh case with Bruno Hauptmanns hand
writing and requested him to compare the French
inscriptions with accepted samples of Van Goghs
calligraphy. X-rays were employed to read the
hidden inscription on the reverse The nvestiga-
tion went into every facet" of the mystery. 1t
lasted five weeks. Finally the verdict was rem
dered. 1t said: Insofar as concerns the Bureau
of Customs, the painting is authentic"
OF course, the museum directors came out of
the ordeal pretty thoroughly contradicted The
theories of esthetics upon which they had de-
pended were demolished by "factual investiga-
ton" Modern methods of detective science had
scored another triumph. And Why not? The
time, it seems is passed when paintings should
be judged by nothing more than the whims of
dealers. One of the features of this Van Gogh
mystery which made 1t seem like a radio or
movie "whodunit" was the report that combina-
ton of picture merchants in France and America
having failed in an effort to purchase the
painting as an original were threatening to deny
its authenticity and thus ruin its value for those
who had disappointed til I'm.
Evening star., 1950-10-09

dictatorship at the top permitting SEEM
ingly broad democratic functions at the
bottom.
The Soviet citizen, for example, is free
to complain so long as his criticism is
directed at the execution of policy and
not at the policy itself. This accounts
for the numerous critical comments pub
lished in the Russian press, which mis-
takenly have been interpreted by some
outsiders as indicating a growing oppo-
sition to the regime.
In this way much of the discomfort
ment with the government is DETECTED
toward the local leaders. Constant pres
sure is maintained on the officials re-
sponsinle for carrying out Stain policies,
while the Russian dictator apparently
retains great popularity among the
masses. :.
Free elections at the lowest levels give
the average Russian feeling of i'm
portance. This exercise, however. has
only local effect, and there is no pro-
vision for influence Of state policy by
the masses. Candidates are chosen by
the party and are, therefore, politically
reliable The free choice is between
Tweedledee and Tweedledum.
Many of the principles dearest to the
personal---very. Bolsheviks are not in
evidence today. Some of them have been
quietly buried, others renounced and most
of the remainder put aside temporarily
for possible later revival. The net result
is that Communist Russia today is not
what the leaders of the 1917 revolution
were trying to establish.
1t is significant that many ideas which
Westerners and orthodox Marxists both
assume to be capitalist have been sub
stituted for Communist principles under
Evening star., 1950-10-09
Letters to The Star

Youth Corps Of that society and Of the
Korean Democratic Party. According to
the 1948 edition. he was chairman Of the
Daehan Nationalist Party and the Dae-
dong Youth Corps. He was longtime
chairman of the Dong -di Hoi in America.
Great Father" incidentally, is an erro-
neous translation of cyl Paksa," which
means simply "Dr. Rhee."
How President Rhee welcomes and
commends honest and constructive oppo-
sition" has been well documented. Though
freedom OF the press and congressional
immunity are guaranteed by the consti-
tuition. the government closed down the
Seoul Shinmun and other large news
papers for failure to print government
handouts, and imprisoned 13 National
Assembly members after they asked the
U. N. Commission to abolish foreign
military missions in Korea. During the
recent May elections, said the commits
sion's 1850 report, candidates. their man
ayers and supporters were arrested
chiefly on charges of violation of the
National Security Act or :. of the elec-
ton laws. Withdrawals from the
campaign took place in sufficient numbers
to suggest the use of pressure. Thus
candidates were subject to fear that criti-
cism of the administration might be
regarded as a reasonable attack on the
Republic of Korea
President Rhee is not the freely
chosen sovereign leader" of the South
Korean people. He was voted into Office
by the National Assembly in 1913; his
popularity has never been put to the
test Of nationwide popular election His
attempt to postpone National Assembly
elections last spring resulted in Secre-
tary Of State Achesons warning April 8,
that United States aid has been
predicated upon the existence and growth
OF democratic institutions within the Re-
public"
The economic record of DR.. Rhee's
government has hardly been impressive.
Secretary Acheson's aforementioned
reprimand revealed that "tax collections
have not been increased, aid goods have
been underpriced, and governmental sub
sides have been expanded The danger
Gus practice of voluntary contributions
has been used as an inefficient substitute
for sound taxation system"
1t is difficult to understand why we
should be asked to support such a govern
ment as DR.. Rhee's, which has failed
utterly to meet the legitimate economic
and social needs of the South Koreans.
Dorothy w. Allan.
Evening star., 1950-10-09
By Brooks Mcclure

A 'sPEcTER is haunting Europe
A<7the Specter of communism"
With these words Karl Marx and Fried
rich Fngels opened their Communist
Manifesto" in 1848 and officially launched
system which was to haunt the entire
world more than 100 years later.
The present Specter of communism,
howeyei, would hardly be recognized by
Marxsand Engels.s For, after nearly "a
years of trial and error, Soviet Russia
has developed a system which in
corpoPs tes much capitalistic method
and Communist economics with police
terrors'and primitive grass roots" de-
mocracy. International communism still
Is attacking capitalism everywhere, but
merely as an agent of Russian foreign
policy
How and why Stalin's bureaucratic
dictatorship emerged from Marks dream
OF statelesS society is explained in a
new history of the Bolshevik movement
by Darlington Moore, jr., Russian Schol-
ar on leave from the University of
Chicago. His 500-page book, Soviet
Polit,cs+-The Dilemma of Power" CHar-
ward University Press, So, is q study
of official state and Communist Party
documents and the circumstances which
caused the present Russian system of
government to be created
The result Is an exposition Of the
failures and successes of the Communist
movement as 1t grew. In terms Of orig.
inal Marxist doctrine, only one ulti-
mate goal of pure communism has
been achieved: Public ownership of the
means of production. Beyond this. the
extent to which the Russian system
has benefited the people or brought the
aims Of real communism closer to real
ization is a matter of opinion which
Dr. Moore prefers to leave to others.
The facts, however, speak for them
selves, and Stalin's own rise to absolute
power can be measured almost sta
tisticaily. Right after the creation of
Party Control Commission in 1921 to
fight opposition to Communist Party
decisions, Stain succeeded in having
four Of his supporters elected to the
seven-man board. Two years later the
commission announced mass enroll
ment" Of new party members, and his
supremacy was assured
In 1923 party membership was esti-
mated at $4,000; year later it had
risen to 735,881, with the new members
chosen by the pro-Stalin group. In
1929. the figure reached 1851 ,238-al-
most ais per cent rise since 1923.
By 1925, according to Dr. Moore, "the
tanning of the rank and file" was largely
finished Criticism Of the party lead
ers-which by then amounted to Stain
and his lieutenantS-had been eliminated
from the press, and curious dual sys-
tenn OF government developed. with the
Evening star., 1950-10-09
The Peacock

The peacock spreads his plunlaoe, boldly
preenS,
Demanding admiration. nothing less,
Erdcting stares of 1Donderntent By means
OF toell-displuyed and richly-jeUeled
dress. 4
His rideScent seQuins catch the light
And hold it in a tDell OF matchless blue
Against a feather fabric iDarmly bright.
A masterpiece OF Uariegated hue.
He lifts his brilliant feathers kno,otng
1DelI
Their grand effect. Although he mag
be vnit
His vibrGnt intermingling colors spell
A JOYOUS symphony ,Dith deep refrain.
The shameless Danity in which he lives
Is supy justified By joy he giues.
FLORENCE PEDIGO JANSSON!
Evening star., 1950-10-09
This Promise Should Be Redeemed

About five years ago, in 1945, residents of the
Cleveland Park neighborhood successfully COM
pleted an unusual campaign to raise $4,000 for
purchase of branch library site at Connecticut
avenue, Macomb and Newark streets. The money
was turned over to the Commissioners, the Dis
trict contributed the balance of the purchase
price, exceeding $4,000 and the transaction was
concluded.
Since that time there has been less success
in getting start on the branch library. 1t is
true that the Commissioners and Congress- have
been faced with financing many other unmet
needs of the city and the money needed for
start on the construction of the building had
been withheld year after year. Not only that,
but the designs for the building have been shaved
and so many corners have been cut-with the
steep increase in construction costs-that little
remains now of original plans. If the building
were constructed in accordance with the plans
now on paper, its completion would provide little
more than bookshelves and two reading rooms
But Cleveland Park residents are not going
to let the matter drop where it is. The Cleveland
Park Citizens Association is circulating petitions
among residents of the community. Its spokes-
men have been preparing strong arguments, to
be placed before the Commissioners next week
at the public hearings on the budget estimates.
A renewal of the fine spirit which brought about
purchase of the lot is evident. The citizens are
not content with the skeletonized branch library
now designed they want the original plans
carried out for combination library and COM
munity center, providing facilities for meetings
as well as books and reading rooms.
The Star wishes them all success. It is a
wholesome thing in Washington to find citizens
working for their communities The municipality,
by its acceptance of the money raised for pur-
chase of the lot, is under unique obligation to
begin the building And as we seem destined
to live in an era when one emergency follows
another, with little time between, this year Is as
good as any to redeem promises made and to
make real start on the building that, for many
years past, has been planned for the lot in
question.
Evening star., 1950-10-09
Overall Civil Defense Plan

The forthcoming conference Of civil defense
authorities of the District of Columbia, Maryland
and Virginia is necessary preliminary step
toward ultimate coordination of all civil defense
activities and resources in the Washington Met
ropolitan Area. The Commissioners are the right
officials to take the lead in this movement. In
fact Maryland and Virginia have been waiting
for this type of leadership.
The nearby counties already have gone about
as far as they can in making plans for mutual
aid and mobile support" in an emergency OF
atomic proportions Regional councils are being
organized to supervise the planning being done
by the various communities surrounding the
National Capital But more than a chain OF
loosely coupled regional units will be required to
insure prompt and orderly mobilization of the
civil defense forces of the Metropolitan Area.
The National Security Resources Board has
recommended the creation of overall councils
in such urban centerS as this one. This is a
relatively simple matter where the city and its
suburbs are entirely within one States jurisdic-
involved as is the case here, cooperative action
by the distinct governmental Setups affected Is
necessary. For Washington, this may call for
legislative action looking toward a compact
among the Federal and District Governments and
the two adjoining States. Such compact already
exists in the river pollution field. similar
agreement for civil defense would insure adequate
representation and proper sharing of RESPONSE
bilities throughout this sprawling target area"
Evening star., 1950-10-09
Building Our Strength

1t is most important, especially at this
time, to recognize the fact that modern
war is an all-out, technical matter, where
the services Of almost all men, women
and even children are indispensable; and
that 1t therefore requires not only combat
training which occupied only one third
OF our manpower in World War II, but
highly skilled technical and industrial
training obtainable only in full-time
courses in schools, and experience which
can be gotten only through years of
working at these skills. And next to that,
defense preparation means the develop
ment Of physical stamina which can be
acquired through efficient education in
health and adequate equipment to de-
velop it.
1t would be impractical even if it were
possible, to take all these people out of
their homes to give them this training
Therefore, we should use our efforts to
see that program be developed provid-
ing the most efficient preparatory and
advanced training for defense by making
it a matter of ordinary good sense and
patriotism that:
ID Every able-bodied boy and man be
given combat training; and every girl,
woman and man be given thorough
training in technical and industrial skilis,
right where they are, in schools, labora-
tories or factories. over period of years.
Cd That the Government provide uni
versal assistance through scholarships to
students of high mental ability, so that
our country can get the best return
! for this investment
60 That more health education, espe-
cially in nutrition, be given universally,
in schools and out; that much-needed,
better-quality food be made available
that athletic fields and equipment be
provided everywhere and calisthenics es-
pecially be fostered as daily routine of
i every student and worker.
+ "a That all military service academies
! such as West Point and Annapolis be
made post graduate schools, teaching
military science exclusively, and that
they be opened to all men in the United
States equally. instead of by appoint
ment.
Evening star., 1950-10-09
Marx Wouldn't Know His Specter Today

pressure of actual test. The individual
profit motive, for instance, today func-
tionS in Russia much the way 1t does in
other countries.
Although 1t had no strong support from
Marx, the principle of complete equality
of wages was one of the pet projects of
the Bolsheviks. During the first two
years Of communism rule in Russia, this
idea was enforced in practice, for the
country was fighting invasions and the
supply Of goods barely met the minimum
needs of the people.
Once the external threat was removed.
however, it was quickly discovered that
equal wages meant the end of initia-
tive. The result, in 1921, was Lenin's
new economic policy, which permitted
farmers, for instance, to sell produce in
the open market after the state allot-
ment had been filled. BY 1880, Stain
was able to denounce equalitarianism
as "petty bourgeois" idea Of the '1eftist
bloekheads" in the party.
Other early basic theories on equality
seem to be undergoing significant
change, judging by information supplied
by Soviet sources. Equality of oppor-
tunity-and particularly educational
opportunity-is the principal of these.
Recent information reported by DR..
Moore indicates that 10 Of every 20 Rus
sian children leave school before the
10th grade. "The major reason" he
writes, appears to be about the same
as in capitalist societies: Poor people
need to have children earning as soon
as possible"
Another factor is the drafting of chill
dren for state labor reserves. In Sep
tember of 1946 the reserves took 1000
boys and girls between IA and 16 years
of age. At the time the labor reserves
were created in 1910, tuition fees were
introduced for the last three grades of
high school and higher institutions,
although allowances were made for
scholarship students.
This whole trend in education would
seem to indicate at least that children
from families with greater incomes have
educational opportunities denied to those
who are poor. The extent Of this de-
parture from old Bolshevik-and Marxist
principle is indicated by the fact that
higher education was limited in the early
'20s almost exclusively to the "prole-
tariat" who could not have afforded any
tuition.
A review of Soviet history might re-
assure the American about his own
system, but DR.. Moore warns against
any assumption that the average Rus
sian Is deeply dissatisfied with his lot
Brought UP to different kind of po-
litical thought. constantly directed by
clever propaganda and isolated from the
capitalist world he is taught to hate, the
Soviet man-in-th street gives no sign
Of turning against his leaders.
Evening star., 1950-10-09
Enduring Criticism

Maybe Harry Truman won't run in
1852. His place in history is safe. He's
the only President who ever took on
the United States Marines and John L.
Lewis in the same year!
If the office of dogcatcher would not
lend respect to Lewis. John l.. would
lend lot of respect to the Office.
What like about the United States is
that those who cannot stand public
criticism very well do not hold public
once very long John HI. Curtin.
Evening star., 1950-10-09
BY THE HAsKIN SERVICE.

g. When and by whom was the flag
Of the United Nations designed?-N. F.
A. The flag of the United Nations was
designed at the San Francisco Confer
ence. group composed of representa-.
tives of the Department of State and
the Office of War Information was re-
sponsible for the design.
Q. Last year, how many people quail
fed to teach in elementary schools were
graduated from teacher-education in
stitutions?-I. L. T.
A. DR.. James Harold Fox, writing in
the bulletin of the George Washington
Victory Council, say that, in 1949, only
$4,000 such people were graduated. It
is estimated that there were $4,000 va
cancies to be filled
@. What f1avors are contained in root
beer?-D. r. M.
A. Root beer is non alcoholic bever-
age made from roots of various plants,
as sassafras. Among the materials which
are used for flavoring are juniper ber-
r1es. plps1Ssewa, sarSaparilla, spikenard,
wintergreen, and various barks and
roots.
@. How often do solar eclipses occur?-
N.F.
A. According to Oppolzer, there are
237.5 solar eclipses on the average in a
century. OF these 1913 are partial, 773
annular. 10.5 annual and total (the ver-
tex Of the moons shadow just reaching
the earth) and $50 total eclipses; ~ per
cent of all solar eclipses are total.
Q. Who said. mo place is ever
deserted; that's the first lesson In
discretion?"-W. P.
A. This observation is made by Max
Lawrence in THE Vinegar Tree" The
play by Paul Osborn was popular OF,
the New York stage 20 years ago.