davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-04-09
This and That

A recent Associated Press dispatch
from Huntington, w. Va. has been the
subject of much discussion. It read:
"Ten bluejays. pair. of robins, three
cardinals and miscellaneous assortment
of starlings and sparrows attacked and
killed Cooper's hawk yesterday.
The article went on to say that the
man who reported the incident said he
witnessed it from his front porch.
He said the hawk was perched in pine
tree when the smaller birds moved in.
He said they peeled off like bomb
divers. one at time. pecking at the hawk
until it dropped dead"
fhe hawk was either dying from nat
ural causes, such as old age. or i'll to the
point of death.
Only in such cases will such song
birds attack large one, such as the
Cooper'S.
There was one chance in thousand
that an extremely belligerent jay might
have bomb-dived the hawk and landed
death blow by striking through the eye
into the brain.
If any bird would do it, a blue jay
would. but these big fellows seldom at
tack in that manner.
We have watched them strike, both
animals and humans and invariably it
is the back of animals and the back of
the head of humans.
knowing the 1.-the quality OF the
Guscles Of cats. the jays always pick at
Evening star., 1951-04-09
BY Charles E. Trocewen

the middle of the back. well away from
the turning jaws.
This attack leaves the cat almost help
less. We have seen these attacks in trees
and the four-legged animal stood ground
without moving.
In driving humans away from nests
the jays strike for the hat, or back of
the head, often landing hard blows, but
nothing serious
Jays often lead the attacks on hawks
and owls.
They love to poster owls, but seldom
If ever harm the big-eyed ones.
Jays love to fly at owls incautiously
out in the day time, as If telling them
that they had no business in the light
with other birds.
Sometimes one of the smaller owls will
take up perch in large evergreen
and be discovered there by jay.
The latter Immediately begins to yell
Thief Thief! Thief"
Other birds respond to the call and
then all begin to swoop around, uttering
strident alarm notes, mostly to warn
their fiedglings to stay close to the nest.
One of the few birds which will nat
urally attack hawks is the king bird, or
bee martin, as it is sometimes called.
Observers say it often makes q fight
directly at hawk
Nothing is ever said by such observers
as to whether the smaller bird hits his
mark or not.
Mostly these attacks are made In
fight.
Deliberately attacking a'psrching bird
Evening star., 1951-04-09
This Is the Seat of Government

The House Appropriations Committees SEN
sible disapprova of $40 million decentralization
request is in sharp contrast to the strange atti-
tude OF House Armed Services subcommittee
on this proposal The subcommittee enunciated
novel principle to guide Federal officials in
determining where new agencies should be
placed. The subcommittee expressed its strong
opposition Ito new organization units being
located in the District of Columbia until it has
been established to the complete satisfaction of
the Secretary (of Defense) that such new units
cannot adequately perform their functions out
side OF Washington. This must be the measur-
ing stick"
That measuring stick overlooks the fact that
washington was created as the Seat of Govern
ment and that no authority as yet exists for
scattering 1t all over the map. The principle
that should guide Government officials charged
with finding space for new Federal activities is
the reverse OF that recommended by the sub
committee. To paraphrase the subcommittee
language, no Federal units should be located out
side the District of Columbia until it has been
established that such units cannot adequately
perform their functions inside Washington.
There is still a lot of space inside the District
where new Federal offices could be placed-the
Soldiers Home grounds and the National Train
ing School for Boys on Bladensburg road being
prime examples OF Federally y-owned sites not being
properly utilized. Additional sites probably could
be found If diligent search were made And
plenty of other space is available in the Wash
ington Metropolitan Area without starting hunt
for sites in faraway cities
It is true that Federal officials face the di-
lemma of finding immediate office space for
some 10000 new employees of the Defense De-
partment and other agencies which are ex-
panding during the emergency. The subcom-
mittee was not convinced, however that more
space could not be provided for these employees
in present buildings, If agencies now occupying
those buildings made an earnest effort to con-
serve space as a contribution to the defense pro-
gram. The subcommittee wisely opposed the
taking over of apartment houses as Office build
tngs. Surely it is just as important to provide
living quarters for the newcomers to Washington
as to find Office space for them.
It may be that some decentralization of a
few agencies is inevitable, in order to make room
for new defense workers. But decentralization
should be regarded not as primary objective,
but as last resort-and then only temporary
expedient. The Seat of Government should be
kept right here on the Potomac River.
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Are They ExpendobIe?

Senator Kerr's proposal for the abolition of
the cocktail party as a Capital institution is q
noteworthy one especially as it comes from
man who represents the dry State of Oklahoma
Still, II the great sun-down oases were to dry
up, 1t might cause the disappearance from the
local scene OF several types who are as interest
Ing in their way as the winged creatures who
pass overhead on their way to and from Florida.
Cocktail party bird watchers are always on
the alert for the Screaming Meeme," furred
and feathered species whose call is "DarlingI
I'm so glad to see you" It Shrieks and swoopS-
always on people it has seen yesterday It's mate
has protective mouse -coloring. It has no cry.
1t doesn't even whimper
Another local species of particular interest
is the Acknowledged Foodpecker" It's habitat
is the buffet and it can be recognized by it's heap
ing plate, many times refilled. Sympathetic orni-
biologists from other regions regard him as
victim of environment. Deprived of holding
Office in voteless District, the cocktail-party
feeding station is the nearest it ever comes to
the public trough.
"The Rowing Eyed Handshaker" is perhaps
too common to be priced, although necessary for
complete understanding of the local picture
This one can be spotted only in close contact,
and can be detected by its habit of looking
desperately over the shoulder of whomever it
greets plainly perturbed that it might be missing
Somebody Really Important while talking to
you. It's call is jerky.
The choicest catch, however, is the 'Plush-
throated Lawmaker" always found in the COM
pany of ladies from his home State. He seizes
their hands and chirps I'm mighty proud to
meet you, little lady, mighty proud You gotta
promise me you'll come by the Office so we can
have nice talk" Translated this MEANS please
don't be bother. have only 10 minutes and
60 away"
Evening star., 1951-04-09
also covered" the Chicago MET" Laboratory
and researches in Canada.

also covered" the Chicago "Met" Laboratory
and researches in Canada
Why was the task of the Soviet spies so easy?
The Joint Committee attributes the security
breakdown mainly to two factors: "a The haste
of the urgent wartime project and ca our
policy of accepting at face value the clearance"
given foreign scientists by the British, who were
our partners in the Manhattan Engineering
Project The report points out that the FBI
was not permitted to question such clearances
Reassuringly, the report brings out that the
stable door now has been locked. The FBI has
reported no successful act of atomic espionage
against this country since passage of the Nc
Mahon Act in the middle of 1946 But that
assurance tends to lose its significance after
reading of the startling details of the espionage
which took place prior to that Apparently the
most vital of our secrets already have been de-
livered to the Russians
Evening star., 1951-04-09
locking the Door Too Late

It is difficult to read the espionage report
of the Joint Atomic Energy Committee without
experiencing a series of shudderS. The shock
ingly successful nature of Russian spy opera
stions in our most secret atomic laboratories
and installations is laid bare in this detailed
case history. The story has beenst told in piece
meal form before. The committee, however,
has fitted the pieces together in their proper
relation to one another. The total effect is
truly frightening in the overall implications.
The Soviet penetration of our innermost
nuclear secrets during and since World War II
undoubtedly tops all espionage conspiracies in
history, when measured by the Importance of
the information obtained. The committee
gravely points out that it was not necessary
for the Kremlin'S spies to force their way into
guarded laboratories or slip into plants by SUBJ
terfuge. They did not carry tear gas pencils
or wear false mustaches. They were welcomed
into the sanctum sanctorum as partners in the
atomic bomb enterprise They even contrib
suted valuable knowledge to the partnership.
When the time was ripe they betrayed the
trust placed in them and gave to their Rus
sian masters all they had learned of the
A-bomb and the H-bomb, which was just about
everything there was to know up to then about
both weapons.
ACCUIQlIlS tU JOlIlG OOuluIlUGCc, 1OuT ulGu
stand out above all others the chief contribu-
tors to Russia's knowledge of atomic weapons
The report lists them in this order: a. DR.. Klaus
Fuchs, the German-born British physicist now
serving IA years for his traitorouS crime (2) Dr.
Bruno Pontecorvo, Italian-born Britisher who
disappeared behind the Iron Curtain last year.
(3) Dr. Alan Num- May, British scientist who
was convicted as result of the Canadian spy
expose of 1916. And "a David Greenglass, for
mer Army sergeant, recently convicted in New
York as member of the Fuchs Gold Rosenberg
spy ring. The report credits these four with
advancing Russias atomic energy program at
least 18 months. "In other words" says the
report, 'if war should come Russia's ability to
mount an atomic offensive against the West will
be greatly increased by reason of these four
men. 1t is hardly an exaggeration to say that
Fuchs alone has Influenced the safety of more
people and accomplished greater damage than
any other spy not only in the history of the
United States but in the history of nations"
Russia did not waste time with second
raters Her spies included top-ranking scientists
and technical men. What one spy was unable
to STEAL others in the inner ring were able to
supply. Fuchs and Greenglass, between them,
knew all the major secrets of Los Alamos Fuchs
also was fully informed on the developments at
Oak Ridge and at Columbia University May
and Pontecorvo took care of the work at Han
ford, Wash, center Of plutonium productien and
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Class PIoy

The seats are quickly filled as do,Dn the
oisleS
Strean. relatives and friends; the
senior class
is putting on play. All tDreathed in
smiles
The audience gets settled. Minutes
With sueet expectancy; the music starts.
Behind the, onyr curtain now. they
Wait eager faces. palpitating hearts,
The breathlessness, the thrill before
the sho1u.
And then the play. What ii they miss
cue, 4
or phispers from, the pinos dcend
the. air;
If scenery totters. or II q line or ttDo
Should be forgotten? No one seems
to care.
1t cannot fail; the plays success Is GER
tain
AS soon as youth appears before the
curtain.
r Mae WinkIer Goodman.
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Out-of- District Cob Rates

On March 81, I arrived at the National
Airport at about 10 pm, returning from
q trip on Government business. ] used
the limousine service to the Mayf1ower
Hotel. There I took cab to go to
my home of Old Bladensburg road, Sill
yer Spring.
Upon arrival, the driver charged me
81. The District fare. he said, was
80 cents, but there was no regulation
applicable to District cabs crossing into
Maryland. should have taken up the
matter of the fare before going. the
driver said. This morning called the
cab company. A gentleman to whom I
talked had nothing to say except that
the driver was within his rights
BY comparison, had gone to the
District line and there changed to a
Maryland cab, the trip would have cost
me so cents in Maryland-either from
Georgia and Alaska avenues or from
Takoma Park-thus total of $1.50.
Assuming the driver and the cab COM
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Purt-Time Work

The letter from S. j. B. on March %,
urging the employment of married
women on a part-time basis, makes me
wonder just what kind of a part-time
job she is looking for. In that same issue
Of The Star counted 10 different ads
for part-time workers. The Star itself
has run an ad for some time for part
time clerk-typist, and in recent article
concerning Government Jobs, it was
stated that the National Production Au-
thority was hiring part-time typists and
stenOgraphers for minimum of hours
a day.
For the past three years have worked
at three different part-time jobs, each
time arranging the hours to suit my con-
venience. I must admit that most of
these part-time jobs are more or less of
q routine nature, but do not believe
that you can expect to find the most
responsible and challenging jobs avail
able on part-time basis Employers are
loath to delegate the more responsible
positions to part-time workers, whose
home responsibilities may at times neces-
state absence from work when they are
most needed. It Is not only that it is
more convenient for the employer to deal
with full-time employees, but in many in
stances 1t Is absolutely necessary in the
conduct of his business. Can't we part
time workers feel some sense Of doing
our part" by filling the more routine
jobs that can be done on a part-time
basis, thus freeing others able to work
full time for the more responsible jobso
It seems to me there are part-time
jobs available for those who look hard
enough and are willing to consider the
convenience Of the hours as small part
Of the compensation.
Part Time Worker.
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Raw Materials -Preporedness Headache

molybdenum, manganese, nickel and
cobalt. wool and pulp and paper. Rub
Der is being handled in separate con-
ference, while some producers have
raised obstacles to the creation of a
committee for tin. Other commodity
committees are contemplated.
Each Of these committees has mem
bers representing between 80 and 80 per
cent Of producing and consuming in
terests throughout the free world. The
United States, Britain and France are
represented on all committees.
The committees will make recon-
mendations to the individual govern
ments. They have no enforcement
powers. Their task is ito review the
supply position for essential materials
which are In short supply or In danger
Of becoming 80 and to recommend
measures for increasing the production
and ir1suring the effective distribution
and use Of such materials"
It will be left to the individual gov
ernmentS to carry out the committee
recommendations. And while a unani-
NOUS or nearly unanimous decision by q
commodity committee may be readily
enforced, because Of the general dis
position OF the participating countries
to do so, decisions which are made by
narrow majorities-representing splits
between producing and consuming coun-
tries-may be difficult of enforcement.
Once real war starts, of course, if it
does. the whole problem of raw materials
distribution will be removed from the
present twilight zone and will come un-
der the compulsion Of wartime needs.
But as long as formal peace is preserved,
there will be problem. growing in in
tensity, of how to allocate the free
worlds raw materials and to make them
available at reasonable prices.
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Diplomatic Accidents

There are exceptions to all rules, but
1t seems very unfair that those people
with diplomatic license tags on their
cars should be allowed so-called "im-
munity" when traffic accidents occur be-
tween their cars and others (non-diplo-
matic). The accidents may be entirely
their fault. yet they are not charged
because of diplomatic immunity"
I have noticed lately numerous acci-
dents listed in the paper involving diplo-
mats cars, in which they apparently
were to blame, yet no charges were made
because Of the privileged tags. If these
visiting diplomats did not possess this
so-called immunity, perhaps they would
drive more carefully.
Mrs. Frank Viera, Jr.
Evening star., 1951-04-09

pany to have correctly stated the ap-
plicable law, this state of affairs in
which persons using cabs within the
Metropolitan Area are left at the mercy
of the drivers if they cross into Maryland
unless they enter into contract before
hand is obviously against the public in
terest all the more so since the fact
that this is so is not brought to the at
tention of the passenger until arrival at
the destination.
Since use taxis very rarely, can
not say how widespread the abuse is
which was practiced on me this time.
In justice to the many decent Washing
ton cab drivers, will state that this
was the first time was victimized this
way. On the other hand. the abuse OBJ
viously had the sanction of the cab
company.
Evening star., 1951-04-09
1t Looks Like a Wheel


In The Star Pictorial Magazine of
April /. in the article Polly the Pa
triot' Aids Defense" William j. Meyer
writes: ut was a powerful lathe and
its big wheel quickly accelerated to q
terrific speed"
He should learn that lathes do not
have wheels. They have circular parts
-chucks, cones pulleys-but no wheels.
Furthermore. lathe does not run at
terrific speed. especially metal lathe.
the kind in his article. None of the
dozens of kinds of metal lathes has
wheels or runs at even high speed. cer-
tainly not at terrific speed.
George Frederick Miller.
Editors Note: Webster's Diction-
ary says wheel is disk or circular
frame or body, whether solid or built
up, capable of turning on central
axis. The thing at the right of the
photograph below looked like a wheel
Evening star., 1951-04-09

administrator. is American representa-
tive on the central group and chairman
of that body.
The central group maintains secre-
tariat for seven commodity committees,
which are studying the market situation
in various commodities. These commod-
tiles are copper. zinc and lead, sulphur.
cotton and cotton linters, tungsten and
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Letters to The Star

Penanes may be used letters carry rers correct
and addresses All letters subject to condensation
Evening star., 1951-04-09
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

any question Of fact by either writing The
return postage or by telephoning ST. 1868.
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. Please explain the use Of the
phrase lowe allegiance to the United
States" in the requirement that an in
dividual must be "a citizen or owe alle-
glance to the United States. S."-M. F. O.
A. The phrase lowe allegiance to the
United States" is a common one in Fed
eral Government employment in con-
nection with persons living in certain
United States territories who are not
citizens. In order to secure Government
work under civil service such person
must affirm his allegiance to the United
States.
@. How is peat related to coal?-
P. E. H.
A. Peat is the first step in the chang
ing of vegetable matter into coal. 1t
would have become coal if there had
been enough heat and pressure. Ex-
tensive deposits of peat are being
formed today in marshes and bogs in
Ireland and in swamps like the Dismal
Swamp in Virginia and North Carolina.
@. What city in the United States is
the largest one not situated on navlgable
Water?-L. O..
A. Records of the 1850 census show
that Dallas has supplanted Indianapolis
as the largest American city not on
navigable water. The Texas city has
a population of 432,197.
Evening star., 1951-04-09
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer to
any question Of fact by either writing The
Evening Star Information 5ureau. 1900 street
return postage or By telephoning ST. 1858.
Evening star., 1951-02-27

ing to put up with inconveniences
and adapt themselves to travel
conditions. They know that when
they enter into partnership they
will have to adjust themselves to
the peculiarities and prejudices Of
the party Of the other part. They
know that there are losses and
worries and disappolntments in
every undertaking. They know
that you have to take people "as
is" and make the best of them.
But they expect to make the
matrimonial voyage under sunny
skies and with favoring winds and
with never a cloud to mar 1t. They
expect their domestic partners to
always yes-yes them and never
consider that they have a right
to any say-so In the irm, or to
any share in the profits except
what they choose to give And
they expect those they marry to
change into Just the kind Of peo-
|ple they wish them to be instead
Of what they are.
So 1t is no wonder that so many
people are disappointed In mar
riage. They are looking for mira
cles and miracles never happen.
Evening star., 1951-02-27
Columbia Hospital Board Elects

Mrs. Donald McKnew has been
elected president Of the Women's
Board of Columbia Hospital.
Other new officers are Mrs.
James Patten. first vice president;
Mrs. Clarence Dodge, second vice
president; Mrs. Robert Blackstone.
third vice president: Mrs. G.. Brown
Miller. fourth vice president; Mrs.
John Shugrue, recording secre-
tary: Mrs. Robert Moran, assist
ant recording secretary: Mrs. John
Lewis Smith. jr.. corresponding
secretary; Mrs. j. Marvin Haynes,
assistant corresponding secretary;
Mrs. Robert v. Fleming, treas
Evening star., 1951-02-27
Dorothy Dix
Trouble With Marriage IS Thot
Couples Expect Too Much From It

DEAR MISS DIX: The great
trouble with marriage is that men
and women expect too much Of
1t. saw that clearly 20 years
ago when I was young man. and
I said to myself: IF one is. in
general, a little better of all along
the line when married than when
single, then marriage is o success.
7 will expect no more OF 1t than
that" Result: Never the slightest
disappointment or letdoWn. Ex-
pecting too much Of marriage is
comparable to having a play, a
book, or person overpraised be-
forehand. Disappointment is a
mathematical certainty.
w. r. I.
Answer: Right you are, Mr.. w.
T. I. The main trouble with mar
riage is that both men and women
expect the impossible Of it, and
when their expectations are not
realized. and their venture does
not pay 100 per cent in happiness
they consider it a failure and re-
fuse to recognize that after all
they are getting a faic dividend
In comfort and ease and helpful
ness on their investment.
It is strange thing that mar
riage is the only tning in the
world in which people expect to
get absolute perfection. In every
thing else they are prepared to
find defects and to accept them
philosophically. They know they
can take no journey without hav-
Evening star., 1951-02-27
White Rose Formal
Set SATURDAY.

A White Rose Formal will be
sponsored by the local alumnae
groups Of Kappa Delta Sorority
on Saturday night from 9 to II
at the Wardman Park Hotel.
The active chapters of Kappa
Delta at Maryland. American and
George Washington Universities
also are participating in the dance.
Mrs. j. Allen Frear, jr., wife
of the Senator from Delaware.
is serving as general chairman.
while the co-chairmen are Miss
Kay Biggs. Mrs. H. E. Holland
and Miss Barbara Kephart.
Chairmen of the various COM
mittees are: Mrs. Ray Palmer.
finance and invitations; Miss
Elaine Clark, hospitality. refresh
ments and decorations; Miss Anne
Hayden. orchestra. program and
entertainment. and Miss Maryada
Frank, publicity and chaperons.
Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Ward. Mr..
and Mrs. John Lang. and Mr.. and
Mrs. Frank Spilman will be chap
erons for the dance. Mrs. Holland
is in charge Of reservations.