davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-10-14

instructed arrange transportation of
elephant from Pnom PENN to Manila
where it would be embarked on Steel
Worker for United States. AS ele-
phant should be in Manila by June
80 only possibility get it thee lA
time is to embark elephant on Felix
Roussel leaving Saigon June II.
Letter from Charge d'Afdires at
Prom Penh to Legation at Prom
PENN. June Is:
1t is impossible to send the ele-
phant to Saigon by river boat In time
to embark on the Felix Roussel.
Truck seems the only. answer.
The elephant is Z years old, about
6 feet high at the shoulders and
weighs. would guess. 1900 pounds.
He is a male but is supposed to be
pretty well behaved. AS for food. he
eats sugar cane Impractical for a
long voyage, corn talthough he
should not be fed that as q sole item
Of diet). rice shoots and paddy.
The Cambodians can't seem to say
how much he eats per day, but per-
haps the zoo people in Saigon will
know from his age and size.
Radiogram from Legation at
Saigon to Charge d'Afatres at
Prom PENN, June IL:
Captain OF Felix Roussel refuses to
take elephant. Investigating pos
sibility of air transport from Pnom
PENN to Manila.
Editors Note: The plan to ship
the elephant by air was abandoned
after the Cambodians warned that
the elephant would get air sickD
Letter from Indo-C Chinese Trans
port Co. to Charge d'Afaires at
Prom PENN. July 2.
Relative to our talk Saturday con-
corning the hiring of one of our
trucks to transport a young elephant
from Pnom PENN to Saigon. The
undersigned is informed by a person
who has worked several years with
elephants that these animals are very
insane and their mahoutS (care-
takers> are not always their masters.
Considering the risks of damage to
our truck without counting any
other consequences, regret that l
must withdraw my promise of pro-
Evening star., 1951-10-14

ment is naturally embarrassed by
the story. The government is also
somewhat irritated by q. the jocular
tone repeatedly used in the Saigon
press.
I, too. am embarrassed by this
story. as the natural reaction of q
Cambodian is to suppose that the
so-cafled release from the White
House. was based on information
from the Legation, which is not the
case. Would you please inform
Washington that: % His Majesty
has never promised a white elephant;
(2) His Majesty has no intention Of
sending an elephant at the time
Nong Kimny arrives; 90 Both the
Cambodian government and myself
would like information as to the
source Of the story.
Rddiogram from State Depart
ment to Saigon Legation, March is:
Elephant story probably evolved
from item in Washington newspa-
pers apparently based on conver-
sation between State Department
officers and Washington Zoo after
receipt Of Navy dispatch. Charge
d'Affaires at Pnom PENN should in
form Cambodia O No offer from
Cambodian government of elephant,
white or otherwise, transmitted by
Charge d'Affaires or any authority
to President. (2) No White House
release was issued and no comment
made by President. For your infor-
nation Isthmian Lines offers free
transportation Saigon to New York
of elephant.
Letter from Charge d'Afaires at
Pnom PENN to the Cambodidn
Minister of Foreign Affairs, June II:
have the honor to inclose a letter
from Minister Donald Heath ad-
dressed to His Majesty Norodom
Sihanouk Varman accepting on be-
half of President Truman the gift
of an elephant which His Majesty
has graciously made. I am now at
tempting to make arrangements for
transporting the elephant to the
United States
Rddioerdm from Charge d'At-
tdireS at Prom PENN to Legation
at Saigon, June ~:
Isthmian Lines agent here been
Evening star., 1951-10-14

RddiogrGm from Charge d'At-
taires at Prom Per,h to Legation
at Sigon. July 21:
Elephant leaving Pnom PENN Sum
day morning by truck. Mahout ac-
companying elephant speaks only
Cambodian and is to be taken to
Cambodian Office in Saigon which will
take charge of him and send him
back to Pnom PENN.
Rddiogr1m from Legation at
Saigon to Charge d'Afdires at
Prom PENN, July "a:
According all opinions mahout
must accompany elephant to States.
Present mahout has sick mother and
refuses stay Saigon beyond tomorrow
morning. Need mahout with pass
port latest early Friday.
Rddiogrdm from Charge d'Af-
fares at Prom PENN to Legation
at Saigon, July 26:
Cambodian government has found
mahout but question arises of Incl
dental expenses on trip in addition
food and lodging on ship. For ex-
ample he will need warm clothing in
New York while awaiting return
vessel. If Isthmian Line or legation
can take care such expenses mahout
willing to go. Cambodian govern
ment taking care his family during
his absence. Advise urgently whether
he should proceed.
Radiogram from Legation at
Saigon to Charge d'Afatres at
Prom PENN. July 26::
Send mahout with passport fastest
means. Cost transportation clothing
available here. Cambodian Embassy
will assume responsibility New York.
Letter from Charge d'A6aires at
Prom PENN to Legation at Saigon.
July a.:
am sorry that we were not able to
send the mahout down by this morn
ing's plane but we had passport
trouble. I'm also sorry about the
original delay in finding a mahout.
but the Cambodians simply didn't
find one until Thursday morning
who was willing to go to the United
States.
With best regards and hoping that
you and have heard the last of u
affaire du elephant.
Rddiooram from Legation at
Evening star., 1951-10-14
By John CIoeett Proctor

H. L. Dawson. John P Boss, Charles
w. Schell. Charles II. Lewis and
James King.
It is always fascinating to delve
into the past and read over the
names Of some of the city's pioneer
citizens and connect them with the
families of the present day. many of
whom. no doubt. are descendants of
Washington's first residents as we'll
as the founders of the Columbia
Typographical Society. AS might
naturally be supposed. there were
not many printers in the District in
1915. but it is quite likely that nearly
all are included in the following list
of local union printers as handed
down to us: Alexander Graham,
Andrew Tate. Francis Burke, Jacob
Gideon. jr,: F. Coyle, Peter c. Konkle,
H. c. Lewis. Henry Martin. John H.
Wade, David McKenna, Christopher
Byrne. William RICHTER, John Allen,
Robert Allen. w. T. Nowlands. John
Hines, James Pettigrew. John
Erskine. John Morrison. Alexander
I. Lawrence, William Doughterty,
H G. Foster. James B. Carter, Robert
Dodson, Augustin P. Soaring. D.
Tuttle. D. Force. T. Byrne, John
Suter and w. S. D. Grusko.
Jacob Gideon, jr.. whose name ap-
pears here. served as the societys
secretary in 1916, and as its presi-
dent in 1917. He was the son of
Jacob Gideon. Revolutionary SOL
dier. who is buried in Congressional
Cemetery, and the father of George
S. Gideon. first president of the
Washington & Georgetown Rail-
road Co.
John B. Larner, a former presi-
dent of the Washington Loan &
Trust Co., is a descendant of the
family. as we'll as of James Larner,
whose two sons, Thomas and Michael,
and grandson. Noble D., were hon.
ored members Of this old society.
Indeed, the old society had on Its
roll many we'll known printers, quite
number of whom left the case for
other fields of activity Some of
those whose names particularly at
Evening star., 1951-10-14
Mass Emigration Plan for Britain
By J. HoIero Ferguson

from this situation. the report says.
is as grave as the danger in war;
time. The trading and industrial
conditions which favored Britain in
the last century have changed to
her disadvantage In this.
1t goes on to cite "the struggle by
the people Of Britain to export the
things they need for themselves, in
order to pay for enough to eat and
enough raw material to keep their
factories turning; the austerity they
have had to impose upon themselves:
the dependence. for time. upon
American loans and gifts: the eco
nomic crises which have followed
every trade recession in dollar
countries"
Benefits to Dominions
On the other hand the Council
points out the benefits a big inflow
Of people would bring to under
populated areas such as Australia
and Canada. In support of this thesis
the report quotes the parallel of the
United States. "At Lincoln's death
in 1866" 1t states, "the population
Of the United States, whites and
Negroes combined, numbered little
more than 80 millions. They in
habited a country devastated by a
murderous war in which formidable
casualties had drained away much
Of the best blood. They faced a
bitter racial conflict still unresolved,
and they possessed badly depre-
ciated paper currency.
"Yet thousands born into that sit
uation lived to see the Nation num-
ber nearly $50 million, enjoying the
highest standards of life which an
entire people has ever known. able
to furnish half the world in its
need. and with so remarkable an in
dustrial machine that, at crisis. it
could produce the strongest military
might on earth.'
All this. the Council points out,
was made possible by mass immigra-
ton. The Commonwealth, they feel,
could benefit in the same way. and
blossom within a lifetime into "the
mightiest and most prosperous power
on earth" It's natural resources are
greater than those of the United
States, its food resources are un-
paralleled, and it is better situated
strategically and industrially than
any other power or group of powers.
The pamphlet tends to simplify
the picture. In the first place. in its
belief that it would be possible vol
unfairly to transfer entire popula-
tions or industries en- bloc, 1t prob
ably over-estimates the eagerness Of
Britons to 60 overseas. It also tends
to skate lightly over the serious fric-
tions which might be set up in the
recipient countries by such large
scale invasion. It makes no mention
Of the deliberate disbursement Of
such immigration by the present Ma
tionalist government of the Union OF
South Africa. and it begs a very
large question, indeed, in implicitly
regarding South Africa and the Rho
desiaS as white countries" Large
scale European immigration to those
territories could cause dangerous To-
cal repercuSSlonS.
Nevertheless, in general terms the
thesis is one which deserves very
careful study. and the case for re-
dressing the balance between the
over-populated and under-populated
parts Of the world is unanswerable.
The serious problem is the human
factor and the council will need all
its energy. enthusiasm and patience
10 overcome that.
Evening star., 1951-10-14
The Romantic Hearth
Fireplace Is FunctionoIIy Obsolete, but Most Folk
Wouldn't Build Dreom House Without One
BY Fred Theroux

The flreplace-probabl primitive
mans first step away from savagery
refuses to become victim of ad-
vancing technology.
When the earliest forerunner of
modern man learned he could confine
a fire within small space and make
1t work for him, the fireplace was
born. 1t became the true center of
the household both physically and
spiritually. 1t served to heat the man
and his family in the cold of winter:
it cooked his food; it gave him light
1t became the family forum, the
gathering place.
Here the master of the family unit
made his dispenSations: here the as
signments were made for the next
days duties; here the family held
council on matters of great and small
moment.
Heort of Life
The hearthside was the heart of
life, the symbol of mans triumph
over the forces of nature, the one sig
nificant thing that set him apart
from the beasts of the forest. It was
the beginning of all tradition, and
through all the ages of mans exist
ence it has remained itself. the one
basic and immutable tradition Of
man as social being. That the fire.
side has great staying power is indi-
Gated by the fact that the nearest
equivalent to our word home" in the
French language means hearth.
Civilization and the advancements
Of the mechanical arts improved on
the rough circle of stones that were
the first fireplaces. Ornate mantels
and curiously wrought metal work
adorned the hearth. Chimneys car
ried off the smoke and fumes Of the
burning fuel. Draught dampers gave
the householder some control of the
intensity of his fire. But the fire re-
mained the soul of the matter.
Enter the Stove
Still more advances came. and the
fire was more tightly confined; it was
imprisoned in patented stoves of iron
efficient devices that gave much
more heat than the open fireplace
and used far less fuel. But the stove,
still the gathering place of the fami-
ly on cold winter night, lacked
something important. 1t might be
said that the stove gave more heat
but less warmth. And the open fire.
place persisted in the homes of men
no longer as necessity for heat
and cooking, but still there to pro-
vide that warmth and furnish man
with the reinsurance of his we'll
being.
Then man learned that he could
heat his dwelling place more eff
GENTLY with ponderous devices hid
den in Easements and separate rooms
furnaces. This development spelled
the beginning of the end for the open
fireplace as a utilitarian part of the
home. Then came central heating's
many new refinements-steam heat,
radiant heat, radiant-panel heating,
and so forth.
Today in urban America the fire.
place is about as necessary as the
saucy little bird on Nellie's hat. But
old race-memories don't die easily,
and even the most sophisticated Of
us will agree that there's something
comfortable" about an open fire,
even when the whole house is heated
Evening star., 1951-10-14

to. a healthful. air-conditioned II
degrees.
In a thorough survey made for
very practical purposes in l947. the
Homebuilders' Research Institute Of
fefed a book, Small Homes Guide"
to every prospective homebuilder who
would answer a detailed question
naire on what features were most
desired in new postwar homes. Four
teen thousand answered the ques-
tions. and of that number 85.4 per
cent decidedly wanted an open flre-
place as an essential feature of their
new homes Only about 6 per cent
said they didn't care.
1t would be pleasant to report that
85 per cent of the new homes being
built today include flreplaces. But
wanting and having are as far apart
here as in any aspect of living. The
survey showed simply how many
homeowners would like flreplaces-
not how many could afford them.
Construction specialists estimate
that, at today's prices. a fireplace
can add from $700 to $1,000 to the
cost of building a small house. AL
most no new homes selling for
$4,000 or less include fireplaces.
Generally speaking, of course. low
cost housing almost never includes
a fireplace in the building plans.
Among apartment houses. only few
of the most elaborate establishments
have flreplaces.
Three or Four FirepIoees
With respect to more expensive
private homes. those in the $4,000
class are likely to have as many as
three or four fireplaces in the living
room or library. the basement game
room, the master bedroom. or the
dining room.
The latest gimmick in f1replaces-
the free standing variety-is a
complete reversion to first principles.
Fancied up in the latest modern
style. it is basically the old cave
dWeller's fire, located in the middle
of the room and open on all sides
The artificial fireplace-a mantel
placed against the wall in a likely
location and sometimes equipped
with a gas-log an artificial fire"
consisting of an electric bulb under
some realistically -charred birch logs.
or Just brass cover plate where the
crate should be, seems to have lost in
popularity since the early 1920s. To-
days homeowner wants the real
thing. 1t may smoke and smell be-
cause of a poor draft: his wife may
bewail the dust and extra housework:
he may find that the cost Of cord
wood in suburban areas is not trifle.
But he still likes his fireplace. and
when he can afford 1t, he will have 1t.
And when the wind walls. and the
snow crunches underfoot he will
light the fire and settle back to
watch it. He may have to use the
vacuum cleaner as an electronic- age
bellows TO blow up good blaze, but
he'll struggle till the wood catches
with a bright, clean flame and the
red Goals begin to drop to the hearth.
Then he'll sit in silence, If he's a
real fireplace man. and watch the
history of mankind in flickering
chapters Of flame. He won't know
that's what he's doing but he'll love
doing it.
Evening star., 1951-10-14

Saigon 10 American Consul Gen.
eral at Singapore. July 70:
Cambodian elephant arriving Sing
apore 30 July for transshipment.
Mahout who speaks only Cambodian
arriving Singapore via Malayan air
ways today.
Letter from Charge dA6Gires at
Prom PENN to CGnrbodtGn Minister
OF Foreign Affairs. August II:
I have the honor to refer to our
telephone conversation Of today and
to give as follows the information re-
garding the transportation Of the
elephant which was sent as q gift to
President Truman by His Majesty
Norodom Sihanouk.
The elephant was embarked on the
steel Surveyor" at Singapore on
August to proceed to the United
States via the Panama Canal. AL
arrangements have been made to re-
ceiye the elephant and to transport
it from New York to Washington.
There is accordingly no necessity for
representative Of the Cambodian
legation to be present, but there will
undoubtedly be some publicity given
the arrival Of the elephant and .
Cambodian representative might DO
useful in that connection.
Radiogram from Legation at
Saigon to Charge d'Afcires at
Prom PENN, September &:
State Department informed Cam
bodian elephant died aboard ship
of Capetown, South Africa, Septem-
tember 6. Burial at sea. Mahout
will be returned Indo-China from
United States. Please inform Cam
bodian government. Formal regrets
will be pouched.
Rndiogram from Charge d'At-
taires at Prom PENN to State De-
pGrtment. September 8:
Norodom sihanouk Varman, King
OF Cambodia, expressed regrets today
when he heard Of the death Of the
elephant he was sending to Presi-
dent Truman. The young elephant
died on board q ship on the way to
New York.
Il regret very much that the gift
did not reach President Truman"
the King said, "and I shall have to
offer another gift Of value to the
President, but one which is more
transportable. I am thinking of of.
fering him q statue from Angkor."
Evening star., 1951-10-14
Woshington's First Newspaper

Washington has been a good print
er's city from its very beginning. In
1895. five years before the Govern
ment moved here from Philadelphia.
an enterprising citizen of Norfolk,
Va, named T. Wilson started print
ing the Impartial Observer and
Washington Advertiser on May %
from an Office at Four-and-a-half
and streets S.W.
OF course, Georgetown had its
newspapers before this date. and
consequently employed printers at
an earlier time than did Washing
ton, but the Impartial Observer takes
credit for being the first newspaper
published in this city. Just how long
this paper was printed is not known,
except that its life was brief one,
and that at first it was weekly and
later a semi-weekly. All told. only
IL copies of the paper are known to
exist, of which the Library of Con-
gresS has one original and several
photoStatic copies. But. nevertheless,
this marks the beginning of print
ing in Washington, which since then
has grown into very large industry.
Columbia Typographical Society
Following the publishing of this
paper, other newspapers and print
ing Offices came into existence and
in January. 1915. the printers of this
city deemed it advisable to form the
Columbia Typographical Society. 1t
continued in operation until it was
merged into the Columbia Typo
graphical Union, No. l01, in 1867,
though the affairs of the Typograph-
ical Society were not actually closed
out until November II. 1881, when
the secretary, Michael Cation, gave
$31.50 to each of the following mem
bers of the society lin full settlement
OF all demands: Charles I. Garfield.
William E. Moore. A. T. Cavis. Will
liam Fleming, M. Cation, William l..
Jones, William M. Belt, J. w. Law.
w. w. Mahoney. Joseph Hammacher.
F. NJ. Detweiler. John G. Judd.
Maurice Joyce. Edward T. Fletcher,
D. p. Hickling. William Elelen,
Thomas Harper. J. c. Franzoni. Ed
ward M. Spedden. J. D. Chedal Rich
ard w. Claxton, Thomas F. Maher.
Evening star., 1951-10-14
Now it can be told.

Now it can be told.
Remember the affair of the Cam
hodian elephant? How the King of
Cambodia sent an elephant to Presi-
dent Truman? And how, after
trials and tribulations, the elephant
died aboard ship en- route to the
United States?
Now comes Associated Press For
eign Correspondent Seymour Topping
with the whole hilarious tale of
reluctant giver, reluctant receiver,
an even more reluctant gift-and
passel Of harassed diplomats trying
to unscrew the inscrutable East.
Mr.. Topping. rusticating in the
remote Southeast Asian kingdom of
Cambodia, got interested in the ele-
phant when the story first broke.
The world press kept the public in
formed about the ribbing Mr. Tru-
man took over letting G. o. P.-type
animal into the White House. But
in Cambodia. things were taken
more seriously-and censorship was
clamped down on the Cambodian
press.
The A. P. correspondent finally got
hold of the files. Here. for the first
time. are excerpts that tell the whole
story by themselves.
Radiogram from American Le-
cation at Saigon to American
Charge d'AfaireS at Pnom PENN,
CQmbodid. March &. 1851:
All Saigon newspapers carry White
House announcement that King of
Cambodia will send white elephant
to President Truman on occasion of
Cambodian Minister Nong Kimnys
arrival in Washington. President
quoted as being appreciative and in
tending give elephant to Washington
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1951-12-14

| sition. Originally no Rabbi was
necessary at wedding ceremony
as such. The matter was duly ex-
executed by the families involved.
Even today, the Rabbi does not
execute the marriage. He merely
supervises it and inSureS the
proper procedure. Furthermore,
the synagogue came to be the So
cial and cultural center of Jewish
life and thus set the scene for
marriages. Yet, marriages were
performed in the courtyardS of
the synagogues and in the syna-
gogue proper until later on. Even
today there are Jewish sects who
absolutely prob bit marriages
from taking place in the syna-
gogue proper. Some writers
claim that the custom of having
marriages in synagogueS may
have stemmed from the Christian
practice of performing marriages
in the church. One must also
realize that our mode of living
has changed and the home space
has become smaller from that
which it used to be at the same
time that the attendance at we'd
dings mushroomed into large af-
fairs. Be it as it may, one could
technically have a choice of place
as lar as the location of the mar
riage ceremony is concerned.
Yet, for those who seek a spirit
ual background and religious
tone there seems to be no place
like the synagogue.
-
QUESTION: What is done to
the broken pieces of glass which
the groom breaks under the can
opY? "a. r. Fort Lauderdale.
Fla.)
ANSWER: In Palestine it used
to be a custom to bury these
pieces. Some sources claim this
was done because of ancient
witches or magicians that would
try to weave a spell over the
pieces and thus harm the couple.
Naturally, it is practical to dis
pose of these pieces carefully,
lest they cause injury to anyone.
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1951-12-14
oldest City in the U. S.
Variation on a
Benediction Theme

One of the finest illustrations
of Israel laughing at itself is the
following anecdote. A recent ar
rival of deep religious persuasion
just wouldn't believe that Israel's
Premier breaks bread without
pronouncing the traditional bene-
diction over that product. After
many efforts the curious man fl
nally managed to get Ben-Gurion
on the phone. He assured the
Premier he wouldn't tax his pa
thence nor consume too much of
his time. All he wanted to know
was whether the Premier pro-
nounced the blessing over bread
at his meal. Surely" replied the
Premier, land if you doubt that
I can recite the benediction from
memory will prove it to you
right now" The caller beamed at
the thought of being the lone au-
dience to a Ben urion recitation
but there is no record of what he
thought or said when he heard
the Premier boom over the phone
BLESSED art thou. King of the
Universe who bringeth forth
bread from outside Israel"