davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-08-23
By jock Jonas

BY Jock Jonas
John William Wenzel, superin-
tendent of the Districts Southeast
|incinerator at First and o streets
Sc. doesn't have a budget fol-
Office supplies.
He doesn't need one.
When the envelopes or the paper
or the pencils and pens run a
little low, Mr.. Wenzel just keeps
an eye on the collection trucks
coming into the incinerator. He
finds plenty there to supply his
needs. -
Until recently, the same was true
of Office furniture-deskS, chairs
and even typewriterS.
But now we have desks ano
other furniture furnished by the
District" Mr.. Wenzel said. 81
guess they felt a little sorry fol-
U.S."
The ash trays, some of the
chairs, and all of the picture
frames around the walls-all are
fugitives from the trash barrel
"We get some pretty good stock
Evening star., 1951-08-23
Berwyn Boy Honored

John Diman, 16, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Lewis Ditman Of 4809 In
dian Lane, Berwyn, Md, has been
awarded a scholarship to a spe-
|cial school for younger students
at the University Of Chicago. John
completed his sophomore year at
lGrsenbelt High School lsSt June
Evening star., 1951-08-23
Taft to TuIk on Law

BELGRADE LAKES, Me-, Aug.
% R.-"Mr. Republican" turned
from political pulse-taking today
to talk to the Maine Bar AsSocia-
tion. Senator. Taft Of Ohio. who
is a lawyer, said he would discuss
legal spects Of foreign policy with
mis- Maine colleagues.
Evening star., 1951-08-23
Fuirfox High Registration

Students who win enter grades
9-12 at Fairfax High School this
fall and who have not previously
Registered have been asked to re-
port to the school for registration
from 3 am. to $3.50 pm. next
Monday and Tuesday.
Evening star., 1951-08-23
Girl Wins I'd Scholarship

Washington area alumnae Of
Virginia Intermont College. Bris-
tol, Va, have awarded a scholar
ship for the second year to Miss
Jacqueline Wills ofxWeStminster,
] Md.
Evening star., 1951-01-03
By Charles E. TroceweIl

better than young persons who have
the whole world before them, as it were,
that so much they read with great pleas
ure, in their younger days, sounds rather
hollow now.
It is much the same with music. The
great music sounds a little pale, now,
and whose fault is it?
Life tears us apart, day by day, and
only the very determined person is able
to stand up against the tearing.
This age of ours, with it's specializa-
tion, its departmentalization. tends to
take away from the individual the de-
termination he ought to have.
He knows there are hremen, and he
thinks they should save his house for
him. as no doubt they should.
He knows there are police, and he
believes they should be called when he
Is In danger.
A thousand and one specialists tend
to blunt his desire to act: The specialists
awe him. They make him timid, which
Is too bad, because literally. there is
more need for honest determination and
action today than ever before.
The too muchness Of the age makes
US all suffer. We are surfeited, over
whelmed by too, too much. It is an
American fault. The few who stand
against 1t deserve our congratulation
and our thanks.
Evening star., 1951-01-03
This and That

Our President is q determined man,
and stubborn man. and both qualities
have potentialities for good in such a
time as this.
The individual human often suffers
from plain lack of determination in the
everyday life. It Is too much trouble,
he is tired, he sees obstacles In his way.
etc.
The famous Cline of least resistance"
exerts its lure.
There is one matter that plays part.
although it is seldom spoken about.
A famous Greek cynic put his finger
on it centuries ago.
when I look into the shops Of
Athens" he said, "how many things I
see there 7 do not want!"
This is lack of determination, Of a
sort, certainly.
But more it is lack of desire.
This plain not wanting is something
in itself, completely misunderstood by
persons who have a great fund Of de-
string.
AS people grow older they find q lack
of desire on their part growing, too.
It is not only because they have ex-
perienced much. They have read many
books, and perhaps have grown little
tired OF reading, let US say. They realize
Evening star., 1951-01-03

his cards on the table at q meeting Of
landowners in Suffers Tavern. The next
day, most of the proprietors came to
terms. Writing to Thomas Jefferson,
Washington predicted that 'even the
obstinate Mr.. Burns would assent. He
misspelled the name, too.
Mr.. Burnes' name, spelled right, was
the second one signed to the agreement
of the proprietors, and he Is said to
have been the first to execute the deed
Under this arrangement, the owners
were to give the Government land needed
for streets, park and other public res
ervations. Such land as was needed for
public buildings and improvements was
to be sold to the Government at $125
an acre. The rest was to be laid out In
building lots and divided equally be-
tween the original owners and the Gov
ernment.
Legend has it that Mr.. Burnes re-
peatedly faced up to Washington. On
one occasion, it is said, he told the
President that he (Washington) owed his
eminence to his marriage with the
wealthy widow Custis.
Nor did Mr.. Burnes bow out Of the
picture when he signed the agreement.
The sale of the public lands was so slow
that the Commissioners could not settle
at once with the proprietors for the land
taken for Federal reservations. AS q
result, Mr.. Burnes wrote the Commis-
sioners in November, 1892: II am so un-
fortunately circumstanced as to have
my house half full Of creditors" He
Evening star., 1951-01-03

asked for settlement of at least part
OF the money owing him.
Mr.. Burnes was a farmer first, busi-
nessman second. The Commissioners,
not wanting to tangle with the Scots
man more than necessary, told MIR.
Burnes they had refused to open Penn
sylvania avenue from the Presidents
House to the Capitol while your crops
were on the ground"
They also honored his stipuation that
when they laid off the streets Of the
city, his home was not to be disturbed.
David Burnes did not live to see the
Federal City rise on the banks of the
Potomac. He died on May 7, 1899, in
by nearly a century When workmep
started clearing what was then called
Van Ness Park for sports field for the
Columbia Athletic Club, the little house
stood squarely in the way. There were
proposals to move it but the experts
feared it would not survive the journey.
Then a violent thunderstorm settled the
matter by racking the cottage to such
an extent it became danger to work.
men. In spite of its apparently dilapi-
dated condition, the structure in the
end took the united efforts Of num-
ber of workmen to demoliSh.
The Star regretfully noted the passing
Of this landmark in May. 1894. and add
ed this eulogy to David Burnes:
His Scotch nature bowed to none.
He lived a car on his great tract, allow
ing not even the foremost man in the
country to oppose him."
Evening star., 1951-01-03
Smooth Operation

David Lawrence, in recent column,
characteristically praises the Navy for
its part in the Hungnam evacuation.
From all reports, such praise is fully
justified. Apparently it was an extremely
smooth operation. I wish to emphasize
the word smooth" because from Navy
point of view the evacuation was con-
Quoted under maneuver conditions to
wit, there was no air or naval opposition.
Mr. Lawrence points out that the
Navy was ready for such opposition.
think it should be pointed out to Mr..
Lawrence that no naval task force in
World War II was ever able to remain In
one area for any appreciable time when
the enemy could bring to bear upon
that area concentration of land-based
aircraft and naval opposition. For ex-
ample, the Mediterranean was an ex-
tremely unpopular body of water to our
naval task force commanders, until the
Evening star., 1951-01-03
ALEXANDRIA, Va.

ALEAANDfG4A, va.
Dear Sir:
IT enjoyed your article on perpetual
music It is hell on earth, but do not
agree with you that we are doomed to
live with music in our ears all the time.
Something is being done and will
succeed.
Every one can do something about it.
"For instance, have stopped radio
store across the street from me from
playing the loud-speaker all day even
though they went to the city manager
and got permit.
IT went to the city manager, and said
could not do my work.
"I went to the captain of police, and
individual policemen and councilmen,
and had 1t stopped.
"It takes doing, but it can be done.
Perpetual music does blunt the love
of music.
Sincerely, G. w."
X
Determination does it!
Less determined people WILL no doubt,
have to suffer.
1t is so today, and always has been SO.
If one is determined enough, great
deal can be done in almost any line, but
the curious fact is that determination,
as quality, is often lacking, though it
Is one Of the most necessary human
ones. q
Evening star., 1951-01-03
OFF to q Good Start

The christening of the newly remodeled
House chamber by the expiring 81st Congress
went off in an atmosphere of exemplary
sobriety and industry in a New Years Day
session unprecedented in memory of Capitol
observers AS if to make up for their yuletide
detection, three hundred and thirty members
including splendid delegation from the lame
duck faction-answered the roll call. And de-
spite the verbal shot and shell that has re-
sounded these past weeks about the lavish
redecorations, nobody made any cracks, and
Speaker Rayburn restrainedly allowed that he
liked "the bottom part" Some local wags had
dubbed the meeting on the morning after what
is usually the most festive evening of the year
"the hangover session." but the members looked
bright-eyed and well-brushed and applied
themselves commercially to their countrys
business.
The fine attendance on the floor was
matched in the gallery. Except in the section
reserved for diplomatic guests almost every
seat was taken. It was not the usual "easy
come-easy go" audience that characterizes the
tourists. In fact many of the spectators turned
out to be Government workers, who were using
their holiday to avail themselves of an un-
usual opportunity to watch Congress in action.
Their remarks about the interior decorating
were on the tolerant side too, the harshest
overheard being that Gin 20 years it will look
seasoned" Their presence in the galleries on
the day when all the world is said to be
cutching its head or huddled around radio to
hear the football games bespeaks an interest
in the workings of democracy that is all to the
good.
So the new chamber had an admirable in
auguration. Let us hope that it will continue
to be the scene of such application and in
terest In its last hours, the 81st Congress set
q worthy example TO the incoming brethren.
Evening star., 1951-01-03
The Obstinate Mr.. Burnes' Biq Deal
By Miriam Gutenberg

MOST of downtown Washington, as
AVA we know 1t today. once was owned
by a crusty, illiterate Scotchman who
gave George Washington plenty of head
aches before this Federal City became a
reality in 1900
David Burnes owned the land in the
heart of the proposed Capital. He was
a good businessman.
Either as pleasantly or through
Observation-Disclosures disagree Wash
ington called him "the obstinate Mr..
Burnes." And that appelation has stuck.
Mr.. Burnes' other principal claim to
fame was as father to the beautiful
Marcia Van Ness, the Districts first
heiress. She was the wife Of one Of its
most prominent early citizens, and she
served as directress of the city's first
orphanage.
Older Washingtonians remember David
Burnes for the ramshackle cottage that
stood for $50 years on the site Of what
is now the Pan-American Union.
Back in February. 1871, competition
between the landowners for the location
of the Federal City was keen. The ones
with holdings near the mouth OF the
Eastern Branch urged locating the city
there, while those who owned the lands
on the river below and adjacent to
Georgetown were equally aggressive.
An obstacle to the latter location was
Mr.. Burnes, who showed no disposition
to deed his holdings. He said he didn't
want "a capital at his front door,"
Roughly, his farm ran from the Potomac
northeasterly on line through the White
House to a point near Ninth and K
streets, then down Sixth street nearly
to Pennsylvania avenue, through the
middle of the Botanical Gardens and
along irregular lines back to the river.
OF course, none of those streets was
marked out then.
Washington instructed two Of his
agents to negotiate for Mr.. Burnes' land
but ito so conduct themselves as to
excite no suspicion that they are on
behalf of the public" A week later,
the agents told Washington they would
offer as much as $32 to $48 an acre for
the land but, if Mr.. Burnes asked $67
an acre they would await further in
structions Washington told them to
go ahead even at the higher price, but
Mr.. Burnes didn't bite.
Then the President tried another ruse.
He told LEnfant to conf1ne his work
exclusively to the Eastern Branch area
in surveying for the city. The idea, OF
course, was to give Mr.. Burnes the i'm
preston the city was going to be To-
Gated at the Eastern Branch site, and
that therefore his property would not
be so valuable. This subterfuge also
failed.
On March 20. 1891. Washington laid
Evening star., 1951-01-03
Prince Georges Schools

Ffince georges SCnoolS
The points Of the Ex-Prince Georges
Teacher in her recent letter to The
Star, were well taken. I wish to bring
out q few things in the same line from
the parents side of the picture. Ex-
PCT. hopes for improvement by the
new administration and brings to light
the difficulties under which the Prince
Georges County teachers are struggling.
Do we have to wait at all for changes
to be made? While the troubles are be-
fore the public eye, this is the time to
do something about them. or to suggest
measures that may be taken. Poor school
habits and attitudes are growing rapidly
in the overcrowded conditions which
exist, and harried teachers with too
much outside clerical work cannot be
the best teachers.
It is true that more schools are being
built or will be built, but new housing
Is far ahead of new schools and classes
will continue to have As instead of Is
for long time to come. Ability differ
ences among the children will not lessen.
The larger the class, the less attention
for your child and the less your child
can learn. Even If we do have enough
schools, If teachers cannot be found,
where do we gain? Teachers, according
to EXP. G. T., may continue to be hard
to find until better teaching conditions
exist.
Can we, as parents make ourselves
heard when we ask for halliday sched-
ules for the lower grades, at least, in
overcrowded classes? Twenty-Five in
class will learn more, have more indi-
vidual attention, waste less time, and
develop better skills in a half day than
a class of As can accomplish in full
day. I have talked to teachers who
would rather teach two smaller groups
a day than continue under the present
system, and who feel that much good
will come to both the pupil and the
teacher.
The parents Of afternoon shift chill
dren, or the parents who work, may
object. But since so many people object
to the present system and double
shift would benefit many, perhaps a
plan could be worked out.
Can the clerical work which now takes
up so much time be cut down by calling
for more help from the parents? If such
a plan cannot be worked out, can
full-time clerk be obtained for each
school?
Last, but not least, as new teachers
cannot be found, why not use the money
which would go into salaries for extra
teachers to hire Office clerks and to raise
the salaries Of those teachers who are
doing their best, and against odds. to
teach our children?
Prince Georges Parent.
Evening star., 1951-01-03
The New Congress

Seldom has q new Congress assembled in
Washington under conditions which lay upon it
such a solemn responsibility to forswear parti-
sanship and strive with singeness of purpose
to serve the national interests.
In Korea, another massive Communist often
Sive is under way. Once again an American
Army and it's Allies are falling back under the
pounding of a relentless and numerically superior
enemy. And in the months ahead there is every
prospect that this assault on civilization will
break out with even greater fury on other fronts
This, If ever, is time when the smaller things
must be put aside, when men and women in
all walks of life must stand and work together
in the face of the common danger.
The people of the country will be watching
the performance of this 82d Congress, and in
particular the performance of it's Republican
minority The last election brought significant
Republican gains some of which were made by
reSorting to tactics which, If continued, are
capable of destroying this country from within.
The temptation to continue them will be strong,
for political victory is sweet and the Republican
leaders are no more than human. But partisan
political victory come at too high a price
No one, the Republicans included, could really
gain from partisan success achieved by methods
which could bring nothing but dissension and
disunity to this Nation in its hour of enormous
danger.
Governor Thomas E. Dewey is not the true
leader of the Republican Party in the sense that
all Republicans, or even most of them, acknowl-
edge his leadership. But he is emerging in this
crisis as real leader of the elements in this
country which must prevail if we are to survive
as free Nation. In his inaugural address on
Monday Governor Dewey declared "Never in
recorded history was the whole concept of
decency and human freedom under such total
challenge. Never was any people presented with
a call to duty so clear or with great challenge
to live nobly."
That challenge is to all of us, of whatever
political faith And the Republicans in the 82d
Congress will be judged by the manner in which
they respond to it.
Evening star., 1951-01-03
Anti-Crime Teamwork Needed

The House subcommittee on crime in WASH
ington has done good job of diagnosing the
troubles affecting law enforcement in the Ma
tion's Capital. In its constructively critical re-
port it has put its finger on a number of sore
spots that need attention But the ills of the
individual arms of enforcement are far less
serious than the weak condition of the system
as a whole The Davis subcommittee is right in
reporting that this weakness, this failure to
function at maximum efficiency, is the result
not so much of inadequacies of laws or personnel
or funds as of a lack of proper teamwork.
The subcommittee found an amazingly
minor degree of teamwork existing among the
agencies responsible for preventing crime in the
District of Columbia. They found relations
among the agencies friendly enough, but they
could find no evidence of an effective CO.
ordination of police, prosecutive judicial, penal
and parole activities. They sought in vain for
a central record system that would show at a
glance the progress of case from the moment
of arrest to final disposition. Such a system,
of course, would require cooperative action
by all the agencies, and the necessary co-opera-
ton was lacking The exhaustive hearings gave
little evidence of any real efforts by one arm
to understand the problems of the others.
The subcommittee proposes to accomplish
this coordination by creating, by law, District
Council on Law Enforcement. The council idea
is not new. It has been advocated by the
Criminal Justice Association and other groups
and officials concerned with better law enforce
ment. The council would provide round
table for regular conferences among repre-
sentatives of the Police Department, District
Attorneys Office, the courts and probation and
parole Offices. It would operate much like the
Judicial Conference, which has done so much
to improve the administration of justice. The
council would be able to establish the liaison
necessary for maintenance of central crime
records bureau.
That more than just a coordination Of
effort is necessary to combat crime here Is
recognized by the committee. 1t has enumer
ated ways of strengthening some of the laws,
especially those dealing with armed assaults,
minor sex offenses and attacks policemen.
1t has hit at the apparent complacency in the
precincts over gambling and over the presence
of big-time gamblers. 1t has moved to clean up
the bonding business 1t has condemned AFTER
hours" clubs as breeders of lawlessness. It has
called for more personnel in most of the
agencies, especially in the District Attorneys
office. 1t is important to increase the efficiency
of each service. More important than all of
these things however, is the creation of better
working relationships among the various
branches of law enforcement. If the Davis group
can tie together these several branches into
more vigorous anti-crime organization, 1t will
have rendered the people of washington an
outstanding public service. ....a+
Evening star., 1951-01-03
Lines for q Grandmother

Being content Dith her December, she
Seems loDeliest of all Gods lovely things.
Her beauty. still enconpassing past
springs,
NoaD softened, ntuted most erquisitely
With oDertones of calm, maturity,
Yet glotoirg styly at the clamorinos
OF grandchildren for storytime that
brings
Their childhood and her age In harmony.
So noD she sits beside the fire and rocks.
A grandchtld's head upon her resttul
breast,
And ON her lips ballad to be sung.
Measure your time by calendars and
clocks;
But ,Dto can say which OF our years are
best,
Or ,Dllat are youth and age and who 10
young?
Mary Margaret Milbroth
Evening star., 1951-01-03
The KremIin's S Reply

Although our State Department apparently
has taken dim view of it, some diplomatic
authorities in France and Britain are said to
be more or less encouraged by the Kremlin's
reply to the recent Anglo-French-A American
suggestion for four-power conference on all
major points of tension throughout the world.
That suggestion on December %
was in answer to November note in which
the Soviet Union, voicing concern over decisions
to rearm West Germany, called for special
high-level Russian French British American
meeting to discuss the whole German problem
on the basis of the so-called Prague proposals.
In effect in identical replies, the three Western
powers rejected that request. But they made
clear at the same time that they would well
come such a conference If its agenda were
broadened "to include equally the principal
problems whose solution would permit real
and lasting improvement in the relations be-
tween the Soviet Union and the United States,
Great Britain and France"
In now replying to this suggestion, the men
of the Kremlin have resorted to a kind of
double talking language whose real meaning is
somewhat obscure, to put it mildly. Thus, al
though they seem to have expressed Willingness
to agree to broadened agenda, they seem also
to have insisted that that agenda must result
principally in what France, Britain and the
devoted almost exclusively to trying to solve the
German problem in line with the Prague pro-
posals, which would demilitarize and unity Ger
many in a way calculated to bring it under the
eventual control of Moscow.
What France, Britain and the United States
want is Big Four Foreign Ministers confer
ence that will deal with all the key problems
Including Asias-now threatening to explode
into global war. The German situation,
though of great Importance, is only a part of
the whole picture. If there is to be any "real
and lasting improvement" in relations with the
Kremlin, then the Kremlin must be willing to
address itself to the whole picture at meeting
in which it will participate with good faith and
a sincere desire to become party to peaceful
and honorable understanding. Unfortunately,
its record to date, together with its latest propa-
ganda-filled note, is anything but encouraging
on that score.
Nevertheless since the note suggests the
possibility that preliminary talks may succeed
IN finding an acceptable basis for Big Four
conference, that possibility ought to be explored