davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Indian Visitor Speaks

AS one Of the grantees. had the
pleasure Of attending on the evening Of
December a tea party given in honor
of the United States Government
grantees in the Washington area by the
Division of Exchange of Persons of the
Department of State. I would like to
express through your esteemed columns
our deep sense of gratitude to the De-
partment Of State.
In that cozy private house had gathered
students young and old. from far and
near, East and West, without distinction
whatsoever What impressed me most
was the unity In diversity. richness in
variety that was so characteristic of the
group that had met there. We were
from Austria, Burma. France. Germany.
India and twelve other countries. But
all felt as though we were members Of
the same family.
German student said to me. IT love
this country. its people and their way Of
Evening star., 1951-12-18

perhaps more important to note now, in
view Of the current Federal tax scandals,
that most of his IL years previously in
private practice dealt with tax law.
His work in the Hiss case overcame
unusual obstacles. but for time threat
ened to end only in praise instead of
promotion. Yet. as he was about to
resign and return to private practice.
he suddenly began to receive official
invitations and political mention" de-
spite GOODNESS of Democratic leaders who
complained he had never been "one of
the boys in the political organization.
He repeatedly was asked to be chief
counsel for the Kefauver crime inveSti-
eating committee. He was urged to
run as a coalition candidate for Con-
gress against former Representative
Marcantonio. He was spoken of as a
possible appointee to head the criminal
division of the Justice Department.
When he became police commissioner in
September, 1850. in the midst of a graft
investigation, he was one of the few
Evening star., 1951-12-18

please excuse pencil" writes a cor
respondent. "At 70 I find pen and INK
increasingly irksome in lengths"
Many persons not yet that age have
found out much the same thing.
The Universally OF the pencil is one
Of the interesting things in this our lie.
Lead pencils, as they used to be called.
range from the fine sort liked by artists
to the big clumsy blunderbusses pre-
ferred by newspapermen.
In between there are thick leads. f1ne
leads, leads that are hard, those that
are soft, those that furnish different
colors, and so on.
Mechanical pencils came to perplex
those of us who are older, because the
grip never seems exactly right, and the
mechanism sometimes jams at precisely
the, wrong time.
Old-fashioned wooden covered pencils
have their drawbacks, too For one
thing, the point is broken at just the
wrong moment, sometimes. Or 1t is too
blunt, or something. It Is just another
proof that it takes some doing" to keep
anything right in this world.
Many WTlCerS leel CIldt uo Juliet VIII
ing instrument gets them as close to
their mind, as it were.
The soft pencil, in particular, seems to
draw forth the best writing that Is in
one.
The marvellous typewriter, Americas
pride. has accelerated writing, but it is
question in some minds whether 1t has
Improved it. IT.
THE free flow Of words. the singing
Evening star., 1951-12-18
This and That

tone Of composition, ought to come best
with dictation, but there one must have
two minds and hearts in perfect unison
for the best work.
Many modern writer, whether great
or small, still envies Herman Melville.
author of "Moby Dick" and the other
elder authors for their use of the COM
mon ordinary lead pencil.
They used them, along with some pen
and ink, because they had nothing else
to use. The typewriter was just dream,
to the average person then.
Writers managed to get themselves
a bale Of paper and some good pencils.
If they used pen and ink, they sometimes
used quills, and cut their own.
Somehow the typewriter manuscript,
no matter how neat. and how much cas-
Ter to set, will never quite look as "au-
thorish" as the handwritten ones.
Why? Because there is actually more
OF the author in them. The interlinings,
the corrections, the very stroke of pen
or pencil. point to the amazing relation
ship between man and spirit, hand and
soul.
There exists school Of thought which
says that character can be read from
handwriting.
What could any one read from
typewriter manuscript?
1t is an amazing testimonial to the
typesetters of the old days that they
struggled-and uccesSfully-with the
written manuscripts of the authors of
the old school. including Rme Of the
famous elder newspaper edikcrs. b
Evening star., 1951-12-18
By Charles E. TroceweN

If one looks at some of those old
scrawls. one must admit great deal Of
character there-but very little legibility.
1t must have taken more perseverance
to have completed such work as "Moby
Dick" than it would today, what with
typewriters and dictation; in the old
days, there was nothing to do but set one
word down after another, letter by letter.
To the uninitiated this might seem to
be irksome, to stand in the way Of
thought. but actually. as any one can
find out, it rather helps than hinders,
after one gets used to the slower pace.
What happens, of course, is that one
actually has more time to think as he
goes along. Yet If this is handicap,
1t seems to have been overcome by prac-
tically all writers, of whatever degree;
they manage to get their thoughts down
as well with the typewriter as they ever
could do with pencil, and sometimes
better. If their pace is naturally faster,
and here again the free flow, the SNOW
balling" is accelerated. especially in tell
ing story.
One thing the pencil user ought to do,
is to think of the reader, and be sure
that letters are formed more perfectly.
Sometimes it is possible to go back over
letter and put in connecting lines,
such as differentiating between an "a"
and an "o." Such lines in manuscript
often make the difference to the reader
OF reading or trying to translate.
So even the wonderful old pencil, so
interviewer with Americas life and
thought. may not be enough, unless 1t is
used with discfation and some finesse.
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Echoes Of Friduy's Storm

If every car driver carried bag Of
sand in the rear compartment OF his
car, he would be in a position to help
to solve traffic Snarls such as We had
Friday. Collectively we would have streets
sanded at times when the District
sanders are tied up in trafflc. The sand
would be cheaper than chains. 1t adds
more weight on rear wheels and improves
traction. think it would pay the Dis
trict to provide bags Of sand free to
those who would carry them.
Washington Driver.
There is one obvious cause for the
traffic tie-ups on snowy streets: Namely.
cars getting stuck on hills. The remedy
is to put sand or calcium chloride on the
hills. The most strategic hills should be
treated first: e.g. those at the ends OF
the major bridges.
On Slippery Friday. December IA, not
one road truck did see in the District
or Arlington. In Fairfax County. grad
ers did snowplow duty on the level
stretches-the least necessary work.
can find nothing to excuse this type
of inefficiency, either in common sense
or in the usual laws of physics. Lack OF
road funds can be no excuse; the jam
at Chain Bridge could have been elimi-
mated by treating half mile of road,
no more. I suggest that the answer is
incompetence, and that individuals and
citizens associations should start
putting pressure on their local govern
ments, so that this stupid and inexcus-
able failure will not be repeated.
Lawrence Fleming.
Evening star., 1951-12-18

Gilmer was first-rate newspaperwoman. For
II years she covered murder trials in Metropol-
itan New York. The experience she accumulated
as reporter undoubtedly helped her immensely
in her syndicate work. She never forgot that
she was journalist. SO her answers to appeals
for guidance were worthy of the attention of
the whole public. She did not write for any
single group. Her family" included men as
well as women the old as well as the young,
all classes and conditions of people The Star,
as one of the 215 publications which she served,
counted her valuable contributor
Mrs Gilmer deserved her success. There
was much sorrow in her own career, but she
never surrendered to it. Rather, she made the
pseudonym Dorothy Dix symbol of courage,
the sign of a valiant heart and a clear, un-
pretending mind. She will be remembered as
counselor who merited the confidence of millions
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Christmas Message of Foith

AS we think back over the year that
has all but vanished. our minds are so
filled with the atrocities of war, the
criminal destruction of human life on
the highways, the sordid sale of honor
in high places, and the pickering
between religious denominations, that
am wondering If we will get them
cleared of the debris in time to listen
with the ear of faith for the angels
song Of peace, good will to men.
We watch with concern a mount
ing national debt that threatens
bankruptcy. race between our country
and Russia for atomic supremacy; and
we know full well that wars are not
going to bring peace, that they ac-
complish none of the fine things that
have been claimed for them, such as
making the world safe for democracy
Are men afraid to try the only way
that will ever bring peace, or is it so
simple that it is below their dignity to
try the Golden Rule? "All things what
soever We would that men should do to
you. do we even so to them" 1t is as
simple as that.
Well, among all these disturbing
elements, let us remember that:
Again it's Christmas, and again
The holy iDreath is hung.
The fire is kindled on the hearth,
The Christmas carols sung.
We think OF that first Christmas
Day
Back many years and long,
And cup the ear OF faith to hear
Again the angels song.
oh, Holy Child this Christmas Day
Our hopes are all in Thee,
Light in our hearts faiths candle
bright
That all mankind may see.
Wayne Graham.
Evening star., 1951-12-18
By Robert K. Welsh

FEDERAL Judge Thomas F. Murphy,
l. least paradoXical of persons, appears
before the public in variety of de-
scriptions aside from that of huge new
broom to sweep the Government clean.
To his wife. this towering man "is full
of tender feelings and wouldn't hurt a
bird" President Truman once likened
him to Grover Cleveland in facial aspect
and fighting quality. Lloyd Paul Stryker.
who defended Alger Hiss at the first
trial, paid tribute to Tom Murphy's s
brilliance" backed by painstaking de-
votion to detail as well as duty
Others who watched this colossus be-
striding the narrow confines of court
room or laying down the law-statutory
as wen as moral-as New York City
Police Commissioner envisioned the old
time helmeted cop, the generously mus
tached bartender, the bulky. bowler
wearing Scotland Yard inspector or a
fugitive from barbershop quartet.
Still others, who remember the-even
then-6-foot 4-inch bachelor of arts
student at Georgetown University in
1927 and the Fordham University Law
School graduate of 1890, talk OF his
SHynSSS WHICH never Qulleu d BcIlidl
nature, and hard work (which never
kept him aloof or academic.
Born 46 years ago this month in Gen.
trail Manhattan, he was one Of four
children of Thomas Murphy, for years
the chief clerk of the municipal depart
ment of water supply. gas and electri-
city. His grandfather was policeman
and one of his brothers was, in manner
of speaking, fireman. That's what the
sports writer's called Fireman Johnny
Murphy" when famous relief pitcher
for the New York Yankees.
Judge Murphy, who now weighs 225
pounds, might have made athletic his
tory had he not injured knee while
playing freshman football at George
town Thereafter he sought exercise
mainly in handball and swimming, pur-
suits he still follows with zest and vigor.
In later life. too, he continued his fond
ness for study in many different fields
and as an "avid reader" of books Of all
kinds. f+S
The two trials Of Alger Hiss in Federal
Court in New York City in 1949 and
1850 climaxed his eight years as an
assistant United States attorney. 1t is
Evening star., 1951-12-18
A Good Big Man Against Bad Little Men

n-department men ever to hold that
position. Theodore Roosevelt was an
other.
Mr.. Murphy could have come here
last February as Federal price control
enforcement chief. He finally got the
job he wanted-Federal judge for the
Southern District of New York-and
succeeded Judge Harold R. Medina, who
moved up to the Court OF Appeals. Yet,
25 years previously he hadn't made up
his mind what profession to enter. At
that time he admitted that the law held
no overwhelming attraction" to him.
When the first trial of Alger Hiss
started, the Federal prosecutor was so
little known that some observers got the
mistaken first impression that he was
merely stodgy, plodding lawyer. Not
withstanding his deep voice and impress
sive size. he seemed almost colorless
beside the dynamic Mr.. Stryker. But
in his final argument to the jury. he
turned on devastating heat. And he
showed adroitness instead Of awe in
cross examining Supreme Court Justice
Frankfurter.
During the trials he took constant
nOCeS ana burned LQc mlQnlgnL OIL ana
coffee poring over them and the testi-
mony transcripts. In the courtroom he
seldom moved from a spot in front of
the witness chair. He seldom gestured
and infrequently spoke above normal
pitch.
His powerful voice uttered dulcet, al
most soothing tones. In challenging
psychiatric testimony against Whitaker
Chambers, his voice dripped with ridi-
cule. Only when he summed up the
Governments case did he thunder in
denunciation of Hiss or dramatically
point to the silent witnesses" in the
form of typewriter copies Of secret
Government information.
Judge Murphy-who is called "Murph"
by his tall. attractive wife. Anne.
former newspaper writer he married in
1939-dislikes crowds but likes people.
He stands out in any crowd if only be-
cause of his massive size. People who
see him frequently commend him for
his straight-in-th -the-eye look and his
straight-from the shoulder talk. And
when there's work to be done-in court
or in the Government or anywhere else
the people who know him best de-
clare he is mot a man to trif1e with"
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Letters to The Star
Pen-nan1es may be used if letters carry
Uriters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

and fluffy, yellow chicks were Matched
But alas, their idyllic bliss was doomed
to interruption. The rooster king of the
flock had grown old and irritable the
happiness of his subjects. who carried
on even right before his face. annoyed
him. He became so pessimistic that he
saw only danger and destruction ahead.
Whenever the shadow of white cloud
drifted momentarily over the ground, he
would Shrek, "A chicken hawk is COM
ing! To the shelters, everybody"
Thereupon, they all would run into
the weeds and bushes that grew along
the fences or take refuge under the
corncrib. The hens would spread their
wings over the chicks. Other old roost-
ers. not to be outdone by the king in
display of loyalty and vigilance.
sounded the alarm at times when the
king nodded for moment. Even leaf
fiuttering from a tree or bit of paper
drifting overhead would start one or
more Of the old pessimists to screaming.
The enemy is attacking with awful
weapons Run and hide or perish!"
The old king ROSTERS eyes had grown
so dim with age that even the fight of
an innocent sparrow was seen as the
swooping down of giant eagle ready
to carry of chicken in each claw and
one in his beak. Mere habit and imagi-
nation finally were enough of an excuse
for any Of the old roosters to broadcast
the alarm.
Chronic hysteria and filters afflicted
the flock like plague. Wings drooped.
feathers fell out, egg production nearly
stopped. and what eggs were laid would
not hatch.
Old Macdonald. aroused by the loss
Of egg money. soon discovered the source
of the trouble. After he had butchered
the nervous old roosters and sold them
to city folks for spring fryers, his barn
yard flock soon became fat and profit
able again.
Moral: Let's not be like chickens.
George Frederick Miller.
Evening star., 1951-12-18
An Important Gift

Barney Balabans gift Of the original of the
flrst draft OF the Emancipation Proclamation
to the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church is
not the first of his benefactions. He gave the
Library of Congress its copy of the Bill of Rights
now displayed in association with the Declaration
of Independence and the Constitution of the
United States. A man of wealth who also is a
man of distinctive patriotism and generosity, he
seems to be making it vocation to enrich the
Nations Capital.
The document to be presented following the
dedication of the new church building Thursday
evening was exhibited in the Freedom Train as
one of the most important papers of it's kind in
existence. It is in Abraham Lincolns hand and
represents the struggle over slavery which went
on in his mind and heart for many years, not
merely during the War Between the States Like
many Of his contemporaries, he was obliged to
realize that human chattels were form of
property which could not be confiscated by ex-
ecutive order under normal circumstances Many
residents Of the loyal border States owned slaves
and could not be deprived of them without risk
of serious, perhaps fatal consequences. For that
reason especially, despite the persistent urging
of Horace Greeley and other radicals" Lincoln
moved slowly. All during the early summer of
1862 he was wrestling with the problem. At last,
on July %, he called the members of his Cabinet
proposed proclamation, declaring his intention
to free the slaves under his powers as Commander
in Chief of the Army and Navy. The Emancipa-
ton, then frankly was a war measure. It's
motivation was expedient, largely political. The
text was printed in The Star on September %
and was the subject of editorial comment the
following day.
Naturally there was certain to be debate
concerning the Presidents procedure. The
radicals" welcomed it with enthusiasm, the
conservatives" were less happy, The Star con-
tended that argument Cannot be advantageous
to the national cause" and insisted: "Our great
impending danger at this juncture is from
divided counsel" The latter, self-evidently, was
Lincoln's view. Eventually, the discussion was
terminated by the Fourteenth Amendment to
the Constitution, approved July %, 1868.
What Mr.. Balabans gift accomplishes in
1851 is to emphasize the Presidents personal
part in the abolition of bondage In our country
1t reminds the world, too, that the New York
Avenue Presbyterian Church was Lincoln's place
OF worship. There he sought-and found
spiritual sustenance for his life and his work.
1t is well for us all to remember that religion is
an imperative factor in the still unfinished en-
OF It's blessing.
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Snowflake on My Sleeve

mark the snowflake on my sleeve,
Ethereal against the iDeaue
OF earthly homeSpun Who could
see.
Unmoued this je,1el finely nlilled.
This rarity?
What craftsman OF a heauenly guild
Out OF the tennous stuff OF Sno,D
Conceiued the fair, heTdoonal setting
And lace-like tretting
In his superndl studio?
One must conclude whose eyes haze
scanned it
That angels planned it,
That fingers fragile and adept
AchieUed the tiny mGrUel thus,
Till in our bnSer atmosphere
Each melting fake becomes a tear
And angels tDeep as long They're wept
4 Amondo Benlomin Hul I
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Dorothy Dix

Mrs. Elizabeth Meriwether Gilmer, writing
under the pen name Dorothy Dix, certainly was
one of the most influential persons of her time.
The column of advice which she wrote for more
than half a ascentury was not limited to the
"lovelorn." She did not claim to be psychol-
ogist nor did she attempt to "analyze" anybody.
What she wrote was common sense-without
frills. She had no patience with the modern
targons of "mind reading" and mental healing"
Instead, she specialized in English that anybody
could understand. Her attitude toward life and
its problems was realistic, and her style was a
copyreaders. Joy and delight. A
That IL another way OF saying TIT Mrs.
Evening star., 1951-12-18
Temptation Responsible

In the midst of our present-day
troubles. as we stand aghast at the cor
ruption of our Government-its general
venality, It's cowardice, the mink coats.
the tax-collection frauds. the disloyalty,
the selfish strikes, the attempts to buy
votes and to cover up the treachery, we
should learn our lesson from the Lords
Prayer: Lead us not into temptation" +"
A great deal of all this mess has
resulted from the superabundant Gov
ernment income caused by unnecessary.
unfair and foolishly high taxation. THE
love of money is the root Of all evil"
Let us adopt policy. both domestic
and foreign, that will not call for this
unwise expenditure: let us drastically
reduce taxes, and let us not lead weak
and sinful men into temptation.
Alfred Lee Jones.
Evening star., 1951-12-18

life so much that I would like to stay a
little longer than what I have been
allowed to-"
Yes. it is not only the professional
skill that we take back as we leave the
shores of this country but also. perhaps
more important, the good will of its peo-
pie. If we. students Of today who might
be statesmen of tomorrow in our own
countries, can understand and appreci-
ate one another so well. can we not ap-
ply the same to the human family at
large?
If coming things cast their shadows
before. is 1t not bright hope for the
future?
M. A. Koneri Qndia).
Editors note: Mr. Koneri Is one
of a considerable number of young
scholars from abroad who are in the
United States. studying under the
provisions of the Fulbright law for
cultural interchange. Funds are de-
rived from the disposition OF surplus
property in foreign countries and no
dollars are involved)
Evening star., 1951-12-18
AImost-But Not Quite

In summing up report given to group of
his campaign leaders yesterday, Community
Chest Campaign Chairman Thornton w. Owen
took an understandable pride in pointing out
that the results of this past effort are better in
so-far as percentage of goal is concerned than
in any year since 1945. In that year the drive
went over the top. This past campaign will
reach about IS per cent of the goal by the end of
the year.
The Star extends its congratulations to the
voluntary, hard-working campaign workers and
to the more than 375,oO0 men. women and chill
dren whose contributions account for the good
results achieved But we must acknowledge
despite these results, that the campaign has
failed again to reach goal In money that was
reduced this year below an amount that all of
the statistics indicate should be produced by
Washington and the adjacent counties of Mary
land and Virginia.
Some of the industrial centers around the
country have gone over the top this year In
single campaign Here in Washington we con-
tinue to conduct great number of campaigns.
1t may be that the number and diversity of
appeals to the public account for repeated failure
to reach the goals set for the campaign of the
Community Chest Federation.
But that is not the whole answer single
campaign in Washington might also fail, unless
it is possible here to inaugurate a system of
payroll deductions, with all the major employers
including the Government-making available
to their employees the privilege of authorizing
weekly or monthly deductions in pay envelopes
throughout the year. The smallest of these
deductions, as shown elsewhere, are far above
the average of contributions now being made in
cash or pledges.
Perhaps the next great step to be taken in
the organization of community support for Chest
agencies in the area is some universal payroll
deduction plan. 1t has brought fine results
elsewhere which could be duplicated here.