davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-12-03

great curiosity, now these machines are
so common that they attract only the
slightest passing notice"
On November 20, 1900, The Star
announced the death of Halcyon Skinner,
IAN inventor of international
Inventor reputation" the previous day.
Killed He had been run down and
killed by an express train at
Yonkers, New York. The story of his
fatal accident did not explain that he
was the man who had devised the
machine for weaving tapestry ingram
carpet. but such was the fact. He also
was the inventor of the moquette carpet
loom, the success of which stamped Mr..
Skinner as a creative genius" Thousands
of homes still boast floor coverings
manufactured under his patents. He was.
in a sense. the sponsor of a new age
in household decoration. Part of the
wealth he helped to create has gone
into building Washington Cathedral
through the gifts of Alexander Smith
Cochran and Mrs. Percy H. Stewart,
heirs Of the Alexander Smith by whom
Mr.. Skinner was employed for 40 years.
Fifty years ago DR.. Charles G. Abbot,
solar Scientist and long secretary of the
Smithsonian Institution
Dr.. Abbott as until his retirement in
Chancellor 1914. was a singer of no
mean talent. The Star
Of November 80, 1900, reported meet
ing of the Abracadabra Literary Club at
the home of DR.. and Mrs. Abbot. 223
Tenth street NE. at which he rem
dered the song of the Lord Chancel-
lor from "Iolanthe." one of the truly
great Gilbert and Sullivan classics.
Others on the program that evening
were: John P. Clum. who gave talk on
Yellowstone Park; Sidney I. Besselievre,
who read a paper on the designing OF
naval vessels: and Gertrude Gockeier,
who sang Blue Eyes,"
Evening star., 1950-12-03
No Bombproof Cellar
By Bruce Borton

After World War I. people used to tell
the story Of an unfortunate Russian In
the imitation. He put his LIES savings.
about 2,500 rubles, into q carload Of
nails. In two weeks he sold out for 5000.
He was pleased. but not for long. The
5000 rubles bought only o barrel OF
nails. The 10000 which 1t produced. IN
turn, bought only . pound. By the time
the poor fellow had collected $4,000
rubles for that. he could buy just one
single nail. Hopeless, he drove It into
the wall and hanged himself
You and never shall have % sad
q time. But II we think we are not being
hurt by what is going on, We are just
plain silly.
No one in Washington Is making the
slightest effort to reduce government
costs and political subsidies. Yet, on top
of these, come Korea and rearmament,
which will cost many times the ad-
ditional revenue that the new tax bill
is scheduled to raise.
Where will these deficit dollars come
from? From the government printing
presses. Every dollar of printing press
money cheapens every other dollar Of
the currency-the dollar you spend for
food and clothing; the dollar you have
saved.
In 1888, Walter S. Lands. an engineer
on business in Europe, undertook to
study what had happened to the savings
and the lives of French, Germans.
Russians and Poles. His report was
dramatic and terrifying.
One American company, for instance,
had bonded its Germant plant in Ger
man marks for the equivalent Of two
and a half million American dollars.
The mark slid down so fast that the
time came when the whole debt could
be paid off for 100000. Tie directors
felt such action would be unfair to the
German investors and, after some dis
cussion, decided to think about the
problem and meet again in a week. BY
that time the $4,000 had shrunk to
$4,000, and "a hours later it was $4,000.
More terrible even than the money
ruin by imitation is the moral havoc.
Mr. Lands noted that thrift dis
appeared there was no sense in
saving when the material saved lost its
value" There was complete break
down Of the morals Of large mass Of
the population . a period OF riotous
living and RIGHTEOUSNESS :. i. in all the
European cities"
A shrewd man Of my acquaintance
recently made a substantial investment
in the stocks of liquor companies.
They're bound to have high earnings"
he told me. I'm imitation the Devil is
the only winner Even the staid and
sober citizen gets a devil-may-care
attitude Have a drink while a dollar
will still buy a drink; tomorrow the
price will be double Charge 1t on the
old expense account. Who cares? It's
only money"
This is the inescapable lesson of his
tory: When a nation debases currency
it debases character.
1t is a lesson now being written large
across the face of the United States.
Copyright. 1850. King Features Syndicate. InsJ
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Fifty Years Ago in The Star .

"One of the largest Sunday night
audiences that has ever been seen at
the Columbia The
Strauss Orchestra ater heard Eduard
Concert Strauss and his
splendid orchestra
at that playhouse last night" So began
The Stars account of concert reviewed
under date of November 26, 1900 "The
fact that he (Strauss) had played here
during the week seemed to have had the
effect of whetting the appetite of those
who heard him at that time for more
of that class of music of which he is . :. .
the principal exponent, and the program
selected for last nights concert was
made up with the purpose of giving as
much of that music as possible. Two
rather ambitious numbers were attempt
ed-Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody, No.
12,' and an orchestration of Chopin's
famous funeral march, arranged by
Strauss himself, and which was remark
ably effective. The remainder of the
program was taken up with waltzes,
polkas and compositions of much
lighter nature. Strauss new waltz,
Greeting to America, was performed
for the first time and showed the un-
MtSGdkdUlc OtIduSS TllyCIu1. OGIleT
Strauss numbers were the polka Wild
fire. the waltz 'Weiner Blut' and the
characteristic march Caucasian all by
Johann Strauss, as well as number of
other compositions given as encores. One
of these was the Blue Danube and the
enthusiasm which it aroused must have
pleased Herr Strauss immensely"
A cable from London to The Star of
November q, 1900, gave detailed ac-
count of the funeral of
Sullivan the greatest Of British
Funeral composers. With all the
pomp and circumstance
which might have attended the obsequies
of member of the royal family, the
remains of Sir Arthur Sullivan. who died
here Thursday last, were inferred In
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Domestic Enemy

AS if the military situation were not ominous
enough, the rising wage-price spiral poses a
threat to the rearmament program that is grow
ing graver every day. The old inflationary merry
go-round is speeding up, with wages striving to
keep up with living costs (now at an all-time
high) and prices trying to keep up with labor
costs. Unless some way is found to check this
dizzy race, defense funds will shrink in buying
power to degree imperiling the whole war
effort. Defeat on the imitation front would be
no less disastrous than defeat the battle front
On top of round of automatic cost-of-living
wage boosts just granted in the automobile and
some other fields has come the negotiated in
crease for employees of United States Steel. This
approximate 10 per cent raise preSageS similar
general lifting of the pay scales of million
members of the CIO United Steel Workers. en-
ployed throughout the steel industry. This means,
of course, an immediate rise in steel prices.
United States Steel already has announced
SIS per cent increase in steel prices. 1t is esti-
mated that 6 per cent increase in steel costs
would add about half billion dollars year to
the Nations steel bill It would also have the
inevitable effect of adding to the cost of countless
products which depend on steel-including,
notably, tanks, guns, munitions and the ma
chinery used in manufacturing nearly everything
needed for defense.
start of the Korean war already have cut deeply
into funds for the rearmament program. Penta-
gon procurement officials have found that the
defense dollar has diminished alarmingly in
value during the past six months. They are
receiving from one quarter to third fewer
rifles, rocket launchers, field radios and similar
equipment today than they received for the same
expenditure just before the Korean outbreak. The
story is similar in every defense category.
Thus it is painfully evident that much larger
appropriations will be required in the future to
produce the same amount of defense materials
that were purchasable with like sum q few
months ago. But vastly greater amounts of arms
are needed now and the end of the road is not
in sight. Slowly but surely imitation is undermin-
ing our economy and our national security
This economic threat must be met as boldly
as a military threat. The President has made
a significant move in appointing Mayor Michael
Di Sale OF Toledo, Ohio, as price stabiizer. It
is obvious that voluntary restraints are not work
ing. Such measures as credit restrictions and
controls on essential materials undoubtedly have
helped to slow the spiral down. Some Senators
are urging heavier taxes, further cutbacks on
on-essential Government spending a stricter
clampdown on credit and wider controls on
production as the next anti-infiation steps. No
body wants more Federal controls of any kind
but direct restraints on wages and prices will
be the only recourse If the spiral cannot be
curbed by any other means.
Evening star., 1950-12-03

st. Paul's Cathedral today" Queen
Victoria. Kaiser Wilhelm, the Prince of
Wales and other royalties were repre-
sented. Ambassador Joseph H. Choate
headed the official American delegation.
Sir Arthurs own music was played with
Beethoven's, Chopin's and Mendelssohn's.
"On the broad steps of the cathedral
the dean and chapter of st. Paul's and
the white-robed choristers, surrounded
by thousands of spectators, met the
procession. AS the great doors flew open
the sunlight streamed in and the voices
of the choir, strong and sweet broke
the solemn silence which had prevailed
up to that time"
the automobile show as center of fash
ionable interest" said
Horse Versus The Star editorially on
AutomohiIe November 81, 1900.
Comparisons between
mans animal and mechanical friends are
therefore in order, and the horse en-
thuSiasts are pointing to the crushing at
tendance at the horse show as certain
proof that the machine vehicle has not
yet supplanted the equine favorite., 1t
must not De 1OfgOCLen CnaC the morse
show is largely social event. while the
recent automobile show represented
live interest on the part Of the people in
the progress of invention. There is no
denying the fact that the horse is not
proportionately in use as largely now as
formerly. His place has been taken in
great measure by the bicycle and the
automatic vehicle. Even society acknowl
edges the merits of the latter, while util-
izing the annual horse show as an op-
portunity to display the new styles and
to maintain prestige. The streets of
Washington show evidences that even If
the horse is yet large factor In the
transportation of mankind. the auto
matte vehicle has become very popular
Whereas 8 few months ago the sight
Of an automobile was certain to arouse
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Vnginio's New Assessments

The sharp upward revision of real estate
assessments in nearby Virginia could not have
come at more inopportune time, as far as
individual taxpayers are concerned The reas-
sessnent notices, signaling drastically increased
tax bills next year unless present rates are
reduced arrived as officials were bemoaning the
tagging tax collections this year. With Tuesday
the deadline for payment, only 3S per cent of the
total due in Arlington has been paid-and similar
conditions are reported to be general over the
State. War conditions, including rising living
costs, are blamed
In Arlington and Fairfax Counties the realty
assessments have been raised an estimated
average of go to 10 per cent. Some property
owners have found their holdings appraised at
more than double the figures used as base for
this years taxes. If the present tax rate in
Arlington of 1888 500 of assessed valuation,
and in Fairfax of $3.19 a $100, is maintained,
many residents of the counties across the Poto-
mac will be paying from 10 to more than 100
per cent more than this year.
Everyone seems agreed that there was need
for the general reasseSSment of property values
which has just taken place in the rapidly growing
area across the river. Many properties have
undergone substantial changes in value since
the last assessment and hence have not been
paying fair share of the tax burden. The
revauation was designed to apportion the load
equitably throughout the community.
But, because nearly all parts of the counties
have been affected by the rise In property values
in the past few years, the impact of the new
assessments is widespread and, to many hard
pressed taxpayers operating on budgets, quite
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Doctors Physical

AS one OF the doctors deferred to COM
plete their education-but not at Gov
ernment expense-I was among a group
OF seven called up for. physical examina-
ton last week.
We were sent to Fort Myer and put
through physical that required is
minutes from start to finish, exclusive
Of the written Questionnaires. Those of
us who required further study" were
ordered to report to Fort Belvoir the next
day. The colonel in charge of the out
patient clinic at Fort Belvoir treated us
with all the politeness Of a drill sergeant,
and Informed us we'd really be sick when
they got through with us! With that
he turned us over to young Navy lieu
tenant, who was equally happy. He
informed US we were his replacements
II those officers are sample Of the
United States Army. then what are we
fighting for? We are professional men
the same as they are supposed to be.
for one had been rejected for service
by the Army examiners in 1914 at Walter
Reed General Hospital Could 1t be that
the Army is assuming that all doctors
now practicing in civilian life can do
likewise in the Army? If so all disabili-
ties occurring after entering the Army
will be service-connected and subject to
all the benefits accruing therefrom. In
that case, why not officially waive the
physical examinations and save us the
embarrassment Of being treated like
AWOL GIs?
Disguised Doctor.
Evening star., 1950-12-03
To Improve Intelligence

The only surprising thing about the Army's
disclosure that it is creating the nucleus OF
career intelligence corps is that it has taken so
long to launch this project. The announcement
comes as questions are being raised at the
Capitol and elsewhere as to why our intelligence
system was caught mapping by the Chinese Com
munists last Sunday, when the Reds opened
their big Korean drive. Why the Army only now
Is moving to overhaul its intelligence system
along lines recommended by Hoover Comnais-
sion task force two years ago is hard to
understand.
The Army says it is organizing a permanent
G-2 group of officers who will make a career Of
intelligence. Five officers have been selected for
this permanent duty and some 80 others will be
added to the group. This plan is designed to
supplant what the Eberstadt task force of the
Hoover Commission termed the somewhat hap
hazard method" of selecting officers for intelli-
gence work. The Eberstadt committee pointed
out that the Army's CO had had seven chiefs
In as many years-"some of them with no prior
intelligence experience whatsoever"
The Eberstadt report criticized mistaken"
intelligence during the airlift phase of the cold
war in Germany, condemned poor selection Of
personnel for vital intelligence posts and re-
ferred to unsatisfactory relationships among the
various intelligence services and between them
and the Central Intelligence Agency. The latter
Is the overall co-ordinating and evauating
authority.
One of the obstacles in the past to establish
Ing permanent intelligence service has been
the lack of any incentive for officers to seek
this highly important assignment. The armed
services have looked upon intelligence as just
another desk job which offered no opportunities
for advancement in rank or prestige. The
slant turnover of officers has hampered the
tc in i,+o
organizations. To check this turnover the Army
proposes to keep hard core" of career G-2 men
who will be assured of no loss of promotion
advantages through their special services. This
approach however belated is the right one. It
will eliminate the "haphazard" duty system
which has resulted in so much haphazard intelli-
gence work in the past
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Spires Of the Spirit
7lo C111Io 1nl +ko, I11o BY Frederick Harris


What an epic is the story Of the
candle and the flame! Fire Is bit of
the red heart Of nature laid bare. From
the dim time Of cave-w -worshippers of
the sun 1t has symbolized the mystery
around the throne of deity. It Is this
sense OF reverence and awe which is
voiced in John Oxenham's Sacrament
of Fire" when he says: "Kneel always
when you light fire."
Unnumbered multitudes who have
stretched out lame hands Of prayer
have instinctively felt that lighted
candles are the true symbol of the link
between the soul of sman and the soul
of the Unseen and Eternal. Under all
skies they have been emblems Of the
invasion of the human by the Divine.
Common wax feeding and sustaining a
living fire has been an inspiring symbol
of the flame of sacred Love kindled In
human hearts.
A poet made as his list Of the most
beautiful things 2 choir boys voice, a
ship in sail. an opening flower. town
after dark, lovely poem, leaf shadows.
the stars at night, sheep bells on q hill
and q crescent moon. To these sug-
gestive glimpses Of enhancing beauty.
which could be augmented by hundred
sights and sounds that awaken images
Of loveltness, many would add two other
etchings: A stained glass window
illumined from within, and q lighted
candle.
It Is beautifully significant, as in the
cycle Of the year the spell Of Advent
month draws all hearts to the Manger
Child. that on the high altar Of the
Nativity myriads Of candles are ablaze
No wonder that these waiting waxen
tapers are displayed In shop windows
and are available In all the glittering
marts where the spirit Of Christmas
reigns! As time draws near the worlds
supreme birthday we find candles, into
whose smooth-fashioned bodies has been
breathed fiery soul. aflame on trees,
on ms niles, and framed in windows
But their truest setting is in the dim
religious light Of the sanctuary. What
is more fascinating than the vast reaches
and ranges Of some cathedral church
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Korean Combat Pay
Disguised Doctor.

After reading that proposal to give
extra pay to our troops in Korea had
been approved by the Army General
Staff, but pigeonholed somewhere at As
sistant Secretarial level, I feel impelled
to express my Indignation and disgust
Our system Of Government can afford to
pay thousands of Civil Service employees
IN all salary brackets for spending hours
every day in gossiping. reading the news
papers. taking care of football pools, and
IN various things other than work. Yet
Evening star., 1950-12-03

startling. The only way to ease this impact Is
by reducing tax rates. For 1t Is doubtful If the
citizens of nearby Virginia will approve spend
ing splurge, with It's local price tag, at a time
when Federal taxes and the cost of food and
other necessities are going up alarmingly.
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Steel for Red Chino

1t is almost unbelievable to read of
the practice Of some American" Arms
in trans-shipping steel and strategic ma
terials to Communist China This steel,
bought in Europe and elsewhere by
greedy and criminal American groups,
Is the same which will be fashioned into
tanks and weapons to be used against
Americas fighting forces
The United States Commerce Depart
ment is to be cited for its negligence in
not closing the loophole which permitted
such transactions
Finally, the disparity between the hue
and cry raised over the loan to Spain
and the absence of protest at the loans
to Communist Yugoslavia and these
shipments to the Communists in China,
should be noted. We have had nothing
to fear from governments opposed to
communism; we know what we have to
fear from the Communists.
Michael Thomas.
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Booking DR.. Huqer

Some time ago DR.. Walter c. Hager,
president of Wilson Teachers College,
made the suggestion that his college and
Miner Teachers College be merged in
the interests of economy and efficiency.
We regard this as a valuable and
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Foirfox Campaign

In behalf of the Committee for Good
Government wish to express deep ap-
probation to The Star for the news
coverage given the recent campaign for
the reform Of the government of Fairfax
County. The Star was extremely gener-
Gus In the amount Of space it devoted to
this question. The assigning of James
Birchf1eld as a special reporter to cover
the campaign was mark of interest on
the part of The Star that has the appre-
citation of ali who participated.
The responsibility of the press when
an issue such as local governmental
reform is before the people is great. The
Star recognized this responsibility and
made strenuous effort to discharge 1t.
wish to thank you for your contribution
to the cause of good government.
Omer L. Hirst,
Chairman,
The Committee for Good Government.
Over Jordan =.
The colored people have the most
consoling thing of all to look forward to.
In heaven there won't be any segrega-
tion-through the grace OF God, not the
Communists, and that's all that really
matters! /. M.
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Letters to The Star :.
Pen-nanaes may be used If letters carry
.Oriters' correct names and addresses.
All letters subject to condensation.

prudent suggestion, fully in keeping with
the basic tenets Of democracy. Of mutual
advantage to both institutions. and as a
forward step in keeping with the ideals
and practices Of intercultural education.
We believe the Board of Education
should give serious and early considera-
ton to DR.. Hager's report.
John J. O'Connor,
President Catholic Interracial Council.
Evening star., 1950-12-03
Chapiain. Unifed atates aenate

Light Of the World, hallowed tradition
will set myriads Of candles blazing in
the Cathedral Of Christmas In spite of
the world that neth in darkness, more
candles will be aglow as the first half
OF the goth century comes to its closing
month than ever before since in Bethle-
hens dark streets there famed the
everlasting light, when blazed the star
which shone when hope was born.
There are prophets of doom now
warning that another Dark Age is clos
ing about the Goth century, as crude
and cruel barbarians mount to thrones
OF power and defy the conscience and
threaten the culture of the world. But
the candles of the Lord have survived
many a dark day when the sun has
been turned into blood. Such a day is
no time for panic and despair. 1t is a
day to go on confidently with the tasks
OF the kingdom that has no frontiers.
1t is day to light the candles which
shed their saving beams in the catacombs
and in the Middle Ages, when the lamps
OF reason seemed to have gone out It
Is day not to curse the darkness, but
to bring in the candles and, above all,
to make our own hearts as the candles
Of the Lord.
Phillips Brooks. that glorious preacher
Of the Word made flesh, who wrote the
loved Christmas hymn, 20 Little Town
Of Bethlehem" while his pulpit throne
was In Philadelphia, has given the
secret Of that Candle and its Flame in
scintillating sentences as he says: 1.-THE
candle Is glorified by the fire. And the
fire is manifested by the candle. The
candle obeys the fire. The docile wax
acknowledges that the subtle flame is
its master, and it yields to its power. In
the utter obedience and self surrender
Of . great hour the unlighted nature
has been lifted up and lighted at the
Light Of God. and now burns with Him"
And 20, this is the wonder to us
mortals given. that the Divine Fire glori-
fles the Candle. and that the humblest
candle makes manifest the Flame.
Together let US offer the Advent
prayer, simple and sublime: Light Thou
my candle, Lord!