davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-12-10

are of almost daily incidence. Each tremor is,
in effect, readjustment of weights A burning
mountain is a natural outlet for material driven
to escape by colossal energy within the earth.
Gravity is part of that dynamic power.
Horrible as such phenomena may be, they are
an imperative factor in the survival of our little
fragment of the cosmos If Hibok Hibok did not
afford vent for the fires and shifting weights
deep within Camigun, the island itself would
be apt to disntegrate in absolutely definitive
blast as Krakatoa did in 1883.
Logical explanations of course, do not make
the loss of life from volcanic eruptions less
deplorable But our earth is so crowded today
that even very uncongenial sectors of it are
inhabited. 1t is legend in Italy that every
time Vesuvius overflows the peasants who dwell
upon its sides hurry back before the lava is cod
The people of Hibok Hbok will not desert their
homes simply because their dwellings are in
constant danger of being overwhelmed by clouds
of hot cinders
Evening star., 1951-12-10
By Charles E. TroceweN

that the readers interests are paramount.
He must, of necessity select and choose
from the 1000 new books published
each year, and then he has every past
years I'll thousand" and many Of
the books of 100. 200, 800 or more years
ago.
Some of our finest books come down
to us from one thousand and two
thousand years ago!
Most of the music we have conditioned
ourselves to listen to and enjoy does not
have any such age upon it.
1t goes back no farther. in the main,
than Bachs day, but still it presents
wealth of melody and inspiration which
no reasonable. ear can ever exhaust.
One of the finest things about music
is that it is as wide, in its beauty and
inspiration, as good books are. There is
no lack of material. Music might we'll
say of itself, as Walt Whitman said of
himself. II am wide, contain multi
tudeS"
The news of books and music is happy
news, it helps make up the brighter
side. News, too, is wide, and contains
multitudes.
At Christmastime, particularly, the
good news of books and music appeals to
all, without regard to age.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Philippine Volcano

When Mount Mageik in the Alaskan Penn-
sula blew up last summer, seismoiogists said:
'That means that the entire Pacific area is active
in seismic sense" No eruption ever occurs in
South Alaska independently. The craters of that
portion of the globe are related directly to those
of Hawaii, Japan the Dutch East Indies, New
Zealand and-most particularly-the Philippines
Current disturbances on Camiguin are being
caused by the same terrific forces responsible for
those at Mount Mageik four or five months ago.
The entire Philippine archipelago is COM
posed of hills gradually being raised by the
weight of the surrounding ocean. United States
biologists have reported that the Alaskan coast
was lifted At feet during an earthquake in 1899.
Similar elevations are occurring throughout the
Pacific half of the globe. Hibok Hibok in Caml-
guin is young and vigorous volcano. 1t has
erupted repeatedly since 1945. In nearby terri
tories-in Southern Luzon, Camarines Norte,
Negrosa and Mindanao especially earthquakes
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Beyond the Line of Duty

Returning from the tUars, he hurried
home:
Receiued the Welcome OF his country
tOtgn
And laid aside his ribboned uniform
And got his denim clothes and jumper
do10n
From pIere they hung upon hook. The
farm
Spread out before him, peaceful in the
sun,
But in his heart he kne,G that there tUas
still
Another bitter battle to be Don:
The ,Dar of famine. He remembered tUeu
The sad-eyed urcTins begging for their
bread:
And so he turned at once to planting
1Dheat,
In order that the sick ,Dorld might be
fed.
Time and to spare for glories By and By:
Time to display his battle stars. but
nOtU
There's Work to do. The turrop length
ems black
Ahd deep and straight behind the
heavy plop.
Billy B. Cooper.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
MethodicoI Preparedness

AS matter of defense preparedness,
what delay would be required by our
military establishments in aScertalning
the present whereabouts. capabilities
and availability of the millions of highly
trained officers and enlisted men re-
leased after World War II?
AS an example, the writer was given
lengthy combat training, both as an en-
listed man and as an officer. Further.
by reason of civilian vocation, aug
mented by lengthy training at special
military schools. and military experience,
the writer became an outstanding spe-
cialist in four major fields of practical
and necessary military operations. Al
though not member of either an &C
tive or inactive reserve he, like many
others, is subject to involuntary recall
to service at this time.
The last record his branch Of the
service has at this time is perhaps his
address at the time of release from ac-
tive duty and his physical condition at
that time Should the emergency arise,
and we are told such an emergency may
arise at any hour, it is presumed the
old personnel files will be searched for.
and located, the current addresses OF
the veterans will somehow be deter
mined. and the veterans. when found,
will be surveyed to establish whether or
not they are available and capable for
duty
The following procedures should be
taken Immediately:
Make available to veterans at post
offices and other appropriate sources a
simply QUESTIONABLE form. which. when
completed, would furnish basic informa-
ton such as name, age, service serial
number, present occupation, status OF
dependents and personal opinion OF
present physical condition.
To please the paciflsts, politicians,
communistic- inclined, and sundry ilk.
make the returning of such form vol
untary. The volume of the response
received might. we'll be gratifying and
also indicate that in national emer-
gency people perhaps are interested IN
the welfare and defense of their country,
rather than in accommodating war profits,
overtime, black market profits and other
personal benefits.
Check the QueStionnaireS against Serv-
ice records. From the questionnaires, set
up classified manpoWer inventories from
which trained and experienced men may
Immediately be called for service If the
need arises. Keep the inventories cur
rent by recording changes of addresses,
status of dependents, deaths, etc.
In an emergency. time is OF the es-
sence Major wars are generally won
with the remnants of armies and history
Evening star., 1951-12-10
By Edword Boykin

MO MATTER how good his intentions,
~ man who calls at the White
House in our time bearing big cheese
stands fair chance of getting his feel
ings hurt However, there's a cheese
story of this sort that improves with
age concerning Thomas Jefferson and
the farmers from the Berkshire foothill
town of Cheshire, Mass.
Though leery of those who came with
gifts, President Jefferson was cordial as
always and profuse in his thanks when
a sleigh pulled by six horses hauled
1886 pound cheese from the BerkShires
to the Executive Mansion $50 years ago.
"peppercorn of esteeni,' the cheese
looked more like a good-sized milestone
A feet z inches in diameter. 1t was
Cheshne'S way of showing how elated
it's citizen-farmers were over Jefferson'S
election. And it was the idea of Parson
John Leland, an ardent Jeffersonian
Democrat, but then known as a Repub-
lican.
Cheshire excelled In dairy products
and Jefferson appreciated tasty morsels.
So CheShires obvious gift for the
Peoples Friend" was the biggest and
best cheese that could be made. Every
Cheshire man and woman who owned
a cow-a Republican COW that is-gave
a days milking. Federalist curds were
rejected even though none was offered.
In fact. the Federalists hooted, just as
Republicans today might hoot such a
gesture. if merely for the exercise. The
Federalist press ridiculed the Cheshire
simpletons" and implied it amounted to
carrying Goals to Newcastle.
Elder Darius Brown offered his cider
press to make the cheese and amid
prayers and hymn-singing the cheese
was put to press. Snow flew in the
Berkshires in late November, 1901, when
Parson Leland and Elder Brown set out
for Washington. Their sleigh crunched
along for a month. cheered and jeered
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Fencing With the Low

Being one of the 1000 Washingtonians
In the tolls of the law for not having
parking access to my back yard, was
appreciative of your recent coverage
afforded this horrible situation
I suspect my own case is typical and
might be of interest (perhaps as warn
ing to some incipient Blandings yet
unborn. In October. 1850. I had my
rear yard inclosed in wire fencing and
rather liked the whole job for its safety
and appearance as well. In July. 1851,
was visited by building inspector who
asked for the permit. didn't have such,
so l got in touch with my fence con-
tractor at once, who promptly secured
it. At least, we think he did have an
official looking pink paper stating that
this permit is issued with the under
standing that all coming regulations Will
be adhered to. Il claim this was bad
faith: while was ignorant of the fence
permit requirement I'll have to plead
guilty to the charge of having it up with
out one. I don't see any justification.
though. for issuing one nine months
after the fact, knowing that the JOB
did not conform to building codes
Anyhow, we were none the wiser Tor
several weeks more when we were told
that we'd have to rip out eight feet or
more of good tight fence wire amounted
on seven-foot spansp and either put IN
an eight-foot gate or leave the wire
loose so it could be rolled back to per-
NIT driving in.
Well, it so happens that care more
for my garden than I do for parking
space. and what with $50 fairly expen-
sive bulbs some bushes and some trees
plus ton or more of topsoil, wouldn't
care to drive across my flower beds, any
how. That's personal, though. II you
don't own car. that makes no differ
ence: nor does it matter if you have a
terrace just inside your fence that you
couldn't drive up if you wanted to. Just
put that eight-foot gate in, anyhow.
have an appeal up before the coming
board on grounds of the ordinance be-
ing discriminatory, capricious and unen-
forceable. When ! advised an official
of Municipal Court Criminal DIVISION
I got a rather amused reception. His
approximate words were, You don
think YOU as an individual citizen can
do anything about changing it, do you?'
I like to think I'm law-abiding citizen.
but I happen to also like my back fence
the way it's been for some IA months
now. I also feel it's a sad commentary
on our governmental structure that
almost everv one in authority I've talked
with says it's too bad, but it's the law
and nothing can be done about 1t. May
be the press can. I'd sure love TO see
1t try. - W.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Pen-nan1es may be used If letters carry
writerS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation
Letters to The Star :.

bers of the State Assembly and a county
Republican politician-Without obtaining
bids. There is also mention of sizeable
highway contract without bids. To top
it all off, the commissioners have been
telling the public about a county deficit
as an excuse for failing to take action
to increase teachers, police and other
inadequate salaries paid to county en-
ployes. Upon analysis this deficit turned
out to be very considerable surplus.
Many of us who voted Republican last
year were under the impression that
change would be for the better. 1t is
becoming increasingly clear that the
theme of the present administration is
politics as usual and that the county
actually needs an independent nom
partisan government
Independent Voter.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Substitute Teachers

Being the parent of child who at
tends school where substitute teachers
are occasionally employed to sit in for
the regular teachers in their absence, I
believe that more harm than good is
done if incompetent substitutes are en-
ployed.
Some substitutes have not been in a
school room for years. They, of course,
feel out of place. The children are aware
of this, through comparison with the
regular teachers procedure and probably
become listless or noisy. AS result they
become known as crowd of roughnecks
The reputation of our school is being
ruined by substitute teachers who came
in for a day or two. hope more care
will be given their selection.
Interested Parent.
Bladensburg, Md.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Mr.. Truman Comes Home

The President says his decision to cut short
his Key West vacation and return home does
not signify that the world is coming to an end.
This means, presumably, that there is no inter
national crisis in the making.
From Mr. TrumanS point of view, however,
there is a serious domestic crisis to be dealt
with. Since he left Washington some very ugly
skeletons have been hauled out of the closet in
his administration, and those of his aides who
remained in the Capital have given little ev-
dence of knowing what to do about these
disclosures.
Only last week Attorney General McGrath
made speech to the Federal Bar Association
in which he said that when all the storms
and the winds have passed, not one lawyer
working for the United States will be found to
be derelict in his duty or to his oath of office"
Only Mr.. McGrath knows precisely what he
meant by that statement. 1t sounds, however,
like the statement of a man who is unwilling
to face facts, and, in the light of some of the
derelictions which have already been exposed it
comes with poor grace from the Nations chief
law enforcement officer.
1t has been reported that Mr.. Truman con-
templates drastic action-poSSibly something
comparable to the measures taken by President
Coolidge after the Teapot Dome scandal. Mr..
Coolidge turned that house-cleaning job over
to Democrat and Republican both highly
respected and Mr. Truman should do something
of the same sort 1t is too late in the day to
hope to recapture public confidence by having
the Truman administration investigate itself.
If the job is to be done, it should be done by
someone outside the administration circle in
whose findings the public would have some
confidence.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Debosement of College Sports

New York Judge Streit has done good Job
Of exposing the type Of moral debasement' in
collegiate sports that, although confined to
few colleges, has had the unfortunate effect of
reflecting unfairly on campus athletics gen.
orally. Judge Streit does not quarrel with a
college sports system which gives proper en-
phasis to academic standing. What he is justi-
fiably indignant about is the sort of over
emphasis sports which condones illegal"
recruiting of players, evasion of scholastic stand
ards and other practices impairing "the integ
xity Of the college"
In suspending bribery sentences against
three former Bradley University basketball stars
Judge Streit blamed the university itself for
undermining the morals of the trio. He pointed
to some of the ridiculous courses which these
players were permitted to take in order to main
tain high enough scholastic standing to con-
tinue to play basketball. One of the boys, for
example was given credit toward graduation
for attending coed dancing class two hours
q week for 18 weeks. Another received credits
for touch football and individual gymnastics
although he was majoring in business admins
tration. The third player received credits for
Elementary badminton' in addition to other
games.
Furthermore, the Bradley players received
no ordinary subsidies. In addition to the tuition
and subsistence ala customary IN many colleges,
the Bradley basketball team received frequent
cash payments from a so-called Boosters Club,
composed of alumni and citizens of Peoria. OF
$4,000 raised by the club for support of the
team, $4,000 was contributed to the university
to pay room and board of athletes. But the
club went further in its aid than that Judge
STREET said. Members of the team testified that
they could get substantial sums from the club
any time they needed money. Regular monthly
payments were made to certain stars as 'ex-
pense money" The judge commented appro-
priately: "a Boosters Club which is determined
that the local college should have the best bas-
ketball or football team that money can buy is
not rendering a service to the community"
The Bradley system undoubtedly is an ex-
treme example of what the court aptly calls the
sconnmercialization" of college sports. Such a
system is likely to develop whenever college
makes the mistake of overemphaSizing ath-
letics. 1.-The defendants were corrupted and
demoralized," Judge Streit declared, "by sys-
tenn which set athletic success above education
Athletic scholarships are not necessarily an evil
But evil does emerge when the demand fol
winning teams leads to such abuses as have
been revealed at Bradley and several other col
leges.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Iran and the World Bank

The present muddle and tension in Iran
where terrorism, confusion and blind emotion
aliSm seem to have put common sense states
manShip to rout--do not augur well for what the
International Bank for Reconstruction and De-
veopment is doing in an effort to find formula
for settling the dangerous Oil controversy between
Britain and Premier Mossadegh's government.
Nevertheless since both sides are said to be In
sympathy with the banks explorations" to that
end, there is at least possibility that the effort
will lead to encouraging results and 1t ought
therefore to be carried forward earnestly and in
a spirit of good will by all parties concerned.
According to its own brief and cautious state
ment the 50-nation World Bank is trying to dis
cover some common ground for working out "a
practical proposal that would be mutually salts
factory to Iran and Britain. Although the whole
matter is still very much in the exploratory
stage with nothing specific accomplished to date,
the envisioned proposal-flrst suggested here by
PakiStanS baSSador-apparently would place
the nationalized properties of the Anglo-Iranian
Oil Company under trusteeship that would be
run by the bank. The bank, in that capacity,
presumably would then operate the enterprise
financing the production and refining, and
arranging for marketing agreements-untn the
two parties to the dispute reached final settle
ment
Considering the failure of all past efforts to
bring about an Anglo -Iranian agreement, pru-
dence suggests that optimism be held in allegiance
as regards what the World Bank is trying to do.
Yet wholly apart from Britain-which along
with the West in general has vital interest in
any move designed to promote a sound settle
ment-the MoSSadegh government certainly
should feel impelled to cooperate in the banks
effort to find a way out of the present critical
impasse After all, Iran today, with oil opera
tions at a virtual standstill, is getting nothing
out of what used to furnish almost half of its
total national revenue. The result is that it is
heading toward bankruptcy-a prospective eco
nomic collapse that could readily lead to Com
munist coup in Teheran.
In the teeth of this situation. both Britain
and Iran owe it not only to themselves, but to
the free Western world as whole, to make
supreme and urgent effort to agree II the World
Bank succeeds in formulating workable interim
plan then the London and Teheran governments
should be quick to adopt that plan and proceed
from there, step by step, toward permanent
settlement. At any rate. the bank itself, as long
as it sees any possibility of bringing the two sides
together should do whatever it can to abate the
crisis Sooner or later along with the British,
the Iranians must assent to just and reasonable
terms Otherwise madness will have triumphed
over craftsmanship, and there will be chaos in
their land. The Kremln is watching and waiting.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Prince Georges Politics

According to the newspapers, the
Prince Georges County Commissioners
refused to accept a gift of two United
Nations flags offered to the county by
an organization of professional and
business women. AS reason for TINS
extraordinary action and insult to the
free nations of the world. the commits
sioners virtuously proclaimed that the
United Nations is a haven for pinks
and other nefarious characters. Shades
of Senator Mccarthy, with little Taft
isolationism thrown in for good measure!
At the same time the papers have been
reporting that the Prince Georges County
Commissioners placed the countys IN
surance business with Republican mem
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Cont Hear Lawrence

Whenever David Lawrence discusses
loyalty in Government. he never fails to
make his favorite allegation-the Tyd-
ings 'whitewash" or superficial inves-
tigation." Since. apparently. the only
Democrat Mr.. Lawrence believes in is
Senator McCarran. shall quote from a
Republican, Senator Henry c. Lodge, a
minority member Of the TydingS probe:
The subcommittee was directed by Sem
ate Resolution 231 to investigate the
question: Whether persons who are dis
loyal to the United States are or ever
have been employed by the State De-
partment' There are 10000 Americans
and 5000 aliens employed by the State
Department. The determination of
whether there are disloyal persons now
employed by the department is, there
fore, in itself a gigantic undertaking.
the achievement of which would take
great time and effort. To require the
subcommittee to go back through the
entire past is task which has turned
out to be clearly beyond the capabilities
of any congressional committee.
This is not to say that the subcommittee
did not do much work; it simply means
that neither the administration loyalty
board nor the congressional committee
are adequate responses to the very legit-
innate popular concern and that. there
fore, this investigation must be set down
as superficial and inconclusive."
The word superficial. as used by Mr..
Lodge, has an entirely different meaning
from the sense used by Mr.. Lawrence,
who makes it synonym for whitewash
or cover-up. Although there are ad-
verse comments in Senator Lodges
minority report nowhere is the idea of
a whitewash conveyed-as any honest
person who can read will admit.
The committee centered its investiga-
ton on McCarthy's charges-the same
charges which had already been probed
by four Republican committees and
thrown out for lack Of substantiation.
When rejecting upon Mr.. Lawrence
as he reveals himself in his kind of
journalism, the words of the great
Emerson are recalled: What you are
speaks so loudly. I cannot hear what
you say" Kathryn O'Neill.
Evening star., 1951-12-10
Cheese Story That Improves With Age

great words but in mighty deeds. With
this address we send you great cheese,
by the hands of the greatest men
amongst us, as a peppercorn OF the
great esteem we bear our Chief Mag
istrate. This great cheese, sir, was not
made by a great lord for his majesty,
nor with view to gain great Offices or
titles, but by the great personal labor
of the greatest farmers of our great
State, without the assistance of a single
slave, for an elective President of
great people, with the only view of
casting huge mite into the great scale
of democracy. May God long pre-
serve your life and health for blessing
to the United States and the world at
large"
jefferson had the cheese placed in the
East Room, which he forthwith chris
tened the Mammoth Room. He invited
the two gentlemen from Massachusetts,
to his New Years reception that after
noon. The President himself intro
duced them to cabinet officials, mem
bers of Congress, diplomats in gold
braid, great ladies, blanketed Indians.
To each of his guests the President, in
his hoSpitable way, said. go into the
Mammoth Room and sample the man.
moth cheese But, first, he carved out
a huge slice to be sent back to Cheshire
to those who had given it.
Republicans said it was the best
cheese they had ever tasted; even few
Federalists grudgingly admitted it
wasn't bad.
Just before Leland and Brown drove
off, the President brought up a delicate
matter 1t was his rule, he said, never
to accept presents while in Office. He
could make no exception. He must
pay for the cheese. An entry in JEFF
ferson's diary records: Gave Revd. Mr..
Leland, bearer of the cheese of 1885 lbs
weight, 2O0D" The parson was to spend
the 5000 in Cheshire for whatever he
felt best.
Right now they are celebrating the
sesquicentennial of the mammoth
cheese in Cheshire.