davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1951-08-20

Of the African slave trade, to which it's
richest families owed their fortunes. It
was also the city from which came many
members of the American Legion.
Nantes had been in revolt and its con-
servatives needed punishment. What
more appropriate, therefore, than to
turn the execution of the slave traders
over to troops who had been slaves or
were descended from slaves?
The American Legion, as q reward for
its services and as a warning to the
enemies of freedom, was sent to Nantes
to furnish the firing squads for one of
the bloodiest centers of the Terror
These troops had the reputation of
handling enemies of France with con-
spicuous ferocity. But 1t is one thing
for troops to kill in the fury of battle
and quite another thing to shoot down
men and women in cold blood day after
day, regardless of what they or their
ancestors had done to relatives Of those
troops.
The American Legion had no stomach
for the new task. Word Of this quickly
got to Paris. This, in the least-expected
quarter, was the first sign of open re-
volt against the Terror. Robespierre
sent the murderouS j. B. Carrier to take
charge in Nantes. Unable to count on
the Legionnaires to do his dirty work,
Carrier resorted to the infamous whole
sale drownings Hundreds of men and
women were herded into barges. which
were toWed into the Loire and sunk.
AS an example for the rest of the troops,
Carrier drowned a few Legionnaires
along with the conservatives. Within
a year Carrier himself was guillotined
Evening star., 1951-08-20
This and That

"Thank heaven" he breathed, sincere
ly, IT am now emancipated."
Few would have guessed that he meant
simply from the "whodunits" or detec-
tive stories he had read necessarily for
eight years.
His return to better grade of read
ing was brought about by the paper
backed edition Of Joshua Leibman's
Peace Of Mind"
Those paper books get a hold on one!
Some of us have been reading such
books all our lives. We recall, and per-
haps few do. the old Seaside Library.
which sold at Is cents copy, and con-
tained such fine things as Rostand's
"Cyrano de Bergerac."
The temptation of some to look down
on paper novels" as they used to be
called, has never worried the honest
person.
The intellectually honest person will
take what he wants where he finds it.
Amazingly enough, he often discovers
that the paper bound book. "soft cover"
as some say, is grateful to both physical
and mental sides of the personality.
1t is real danger, however, to get in
the clutch of the detective story,
That many Of them is not good.
They are, very well done, splendid read
ing. But to get Immersed in them. as 1t
were, Is something different.
4 The honest reader viii admit th2t ne
Evening star., 1951-08-20
BY Charles E. TroceweN

and Chesterton, but also with books by
the newer masters.
One man even had a special pocket
fitted into his overcoats. just under the
left-hand pocket.
The opening was on slant, so that he
could slip his small paper volumes in and
out rapidly, and on public vehicles.
At times he wishes he could get release
from his chosen stories, though.
Like all things overdone, he comes in
time to wish he had not Succumbed.
But he does not know how to get
loose
God is good to readers, however, that
rapidly diminishing tribe.
In time he runs onto some other type
of work in paper. and reads it, probably
because none of the detective stories
looked good to him at the time.
He discovers, with thrill, that he
enjoys this book. too!
It is great day on his life.
He buys "Alice in Wonderland" in q
25-cent edition. lured by the most truth
full Of blurbs on the back, "The happiest
book in all literature"
He is ernancipated at last. From the
cheaper editions, he hurries on to ex-
pensive ones, not only of the reigning
best sellers, but also of the old classics.
How wonderful all this is! Every
reader will thrill to the news, that there
is still hope for the addict.
Quietly the best calls its readers home.
Evening star., 1951-08-20

liked them because they were easy read
ing.
There comes a time in the reading
life when philosophy, verse. and so on,
become hard going.
Sometimes the eyesight, and even the
famous change Of life. have something
to do with it.
One can give up reading altogether,
for a time, or do what so many do, go
in for the detective story, the suspense
story.
These and their associated forms are
all straight narrative, exciting enough to
spur the temporarily tagged reader to
keep on.
Sometimes he feels slightly ashamed
of himself, that he has given up the best
for this type Of thing.
X
The addict-and really he is that
feels it necessary at times to keep his
reading under cover.
He hides his books from the public
eye.
The more dynamic reader Of this type
glories in his reading.
He displays his detective stories to
every one who will look. and talks about
them to all who will listen.
He builds I'D library Of them. His
shelves are overnowing, not only with
the old masters, such as Conan Duyle
Evening star., 1951-08-20

THERE is talk in France Of a me-
L mortal to one of the most dramatic
and least publicized organizations Of the
French Revolution, namely. the original
American Legion. This organization be-
gan in 1892 and has many hookups
with modern history. 1t was an all
Negro fighting force created as a by
product of the quest of citizenship by
the mulattoes of the French colonies,
aided by few Americans.
The hard-pressed French government,
wearied by petitions for equality for
Negroes in the colonies, had just passed
a resolution against receiving any
further documents of that type when
on July Z, 1892, 1t was presented with
something entirely new. The mulattoes.
French and from the United States,
sought permission in France to raise
force of their own to fight for freedom.
In a sudden change of sentiment, the
presiding officer kissed the chief petit
toner on both cheeks, gave the new
outfit its name and his blessing and
forgot all about it for the time being.
Almost overnight volunteer force Of
considerable strength and made up en-
tirely of Negroes came into existence.
It was rushed of to the wavering front
and fought well enough to distinguish
itself even among the wild and high
spirited Revolutionary troops.
Then came the Reign of Terror and
one of those refinements Of cruelty Of
which Robespierre was past master.
Nantes had been one Of the chief ports
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Courtesy Library Of consress.

for these crimes and the Terror was at
an end.
The Legionnaires survived the Terror
and not only fought for France under
Napoleon but later took up peacetime
work for their members on scale never
before known to fighting units. Co
operating with it was La Societe des
Amis des Noirs, founded in 1888 and
encouraged by BENJAMIN Franklin. This
society, which attracted the support Of
some of the leading men Of France, in
cluding Condorcet, Mirabeau and La
Fayette. subsequently was aided by DR..
Benjamin Rush of Pennsylvania. It was
in many ways the forerunner Of the
National Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People.
The efforts Of the original American
Legion. small though it was and handi-
capped by the condition of France after
the fall of Napoleon, to care for its COM
bat members in peacetime make it a
pioneer among veterans organizations.
When our own American Legion was in
the embryo in the committee meetings
at Paris during February and March,
1919, Coils. Theodore Roosevelt, jr., and
Bennett Champ Clark were two of the
leading trainers of the now gigantic or
ganization. At that time a French
reporter took Roosevelt aside and told
him that there had already been an
organization by the same name in
French history and that under the cir
cumStances some other name might be
better. Teddy, jr., asked for details.
When he had heard some of them he
said: THAT is enough. I hope we do
as we'll"
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Vocation Trip

They trGveled Dest to see the rock filled
spaces,
The famous canyons and the battling
geySerS,
SGD also fields of grain that met
horizons,
SaD gorges wrought BIZ iuind and reck-
less tDGters.
Amazed. they searched for heauen above
the redtDoods:
Found silehces and shade there melan-
choIy.
Sought out eternal sand beside the
ocean;
Listened to oceans choir of mourning
DoiceS.
One day, oith joy unspeukable. they
thought of
A certain trout stream ,pinding through
UGlley
And tItrusles singing In a lush green
thicket
Where matted old GcQuaintanceship NTH
home.
Dorothy Horrimon 4
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Crucial Stage at Teheron

AS President Truman's special envoy to Te-
heran, w. Averen Harriman-ably assisted by
Walter J. Levy, his technical adviser-seems to
have headed off, for the time being at least, a
breakdown in the critical Anglo-Iranian oil ne
gotiations. The situation is still much too delicate
for anything but a prayerful, ssed-hngers at
titude. Yet the fact remains that the talks are
continuing and as long as they do continue, as
long as they do not collapse entirely, there will
be some reason to hope for sound settlement.
The big problem at the moment is to work
out an agreement that will overcome Trans
largely emotional objections to Britain's propo-
sal. The proposal would do the following among
other things: Cd Dissolve the BritiSh-owned
company and transfer all its assets to the Te-
heran governments nationalized company; (2)
organize new British company that would buy
oil from the Iranian company and market the
product on the basis Of an arrangement splitting
the profits $3.50 with the Iranians; and (3)
bring Britain and Iran together in third COM
pany that would be the top management organ
ization-subordinate to Teheran's authority but
manned principally by skilled Britons expert
enced in handling the far-iung and highly COM
plicated operations involved.
This plan, by and large, certainly seems
reasonable not least of all because it is designed
to carry out the Iranian naturalization law and
add markedly to the Teheran treasury'S revenues
while at the same time insuring against serious
loss in the efficiency Of producing and market
ing operations But Premier Mossadegh's govern
ment, having in mind the country's current An
glophobia and intensely nationalstic temper,
has objected on the ground that the set-up ad-
vocated by Britain would give the British too
much say in Trans oil industry. Indeed, DR.. Mos
sadegh is reported to have expressed the per-
sonal fear that such an arrangement would be
so politically unpopular that his acceptance Of it
might quickly incite the extremists to assassnate
him.
However in principle at least, the British
proposal has all the earmarks of common sense,
and its reconciliation with the Iranian counter
proposal ought not to be too difficult If Premier
MoSsadegh and his government, refusing to be
frightened by Communist promoted extremism,
are really seeking statesmanlike and realistic
agreement. We must hope that they are For If
timidity is to be their chief counsel if they in
tend to be governed by the threats of mobsters
and irrational zealots, then the current situ-
alton, instead of being settled amicably is bound
to go from bad to worse.
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Agnes SmedIey

Your editorial, August IL, entitled
General Willoughhy and Faux Pas"
is quite misleading. 1t infers that the
late Agnes Smedley dropped her threat
ened suit because the Secretary of the
Army authorized formal statement, in
effect, apologizing for and retracting
the spy story" It appears to me that
the faux pas" If any, was made by Sec
retary Royal because, about the time
Gen. Willoughby explained that his
report was not for public release, he
slso offered to enter appearance in any
suit Miss Smedley desired to file. She
had popped off" about being unable 70
get service on Gen. Willoughby It
was his offer to appear, in my opinion,
that shut her up.
Her subsequent actions speak even
louder than her words because shortly
thereafter she left this country and thus
put herself safely beyond the jlirisdic-
ton of American courts. Afterwards she
died in England. When her will was
probated, she had left her entire for
tune, and even her ashes. to Chinese
Communist general. So, leave it to
the public tc determine whether she
Evening star., 1951-08-20
The Mess in Prince Georues

There are two main concluSions-neither
Of them new-to be drawn from the Senate
Crime Investigating Committees expose of con-
+. dit1onS in Prince Georges County. One is that
professional gambling on an extensive scale
cannot flourish without connivance, or at least
the tacit consent, of law enforcement officers.
The other is that county (or city, can clean
up the conditions which make gambling pos
sible if it wants to do so.
It is no accident that over the years Prince
Georges has become almost synonymous with
blg-tlme gambling The gamblers have thrived
there because they have been able to corrupt
public officials, or enough of them, so that they
can carry on their operations without serious
interference. The professional gambler can op-
crate if he is tipped off in advance of raids or
II the authorities will concentrate on the small
fry and let the main establishments do business.
He cannot operate for long if there is a real
determination to put him out of business.
The new Republican regime that has taken
office in Prince Georges was elected on the
: basis of campaign promises to clean up crime
and corruption in the county. It now has an
opportunity to make good on those promises.
Through the Senate committee, it has been
revealed that Sheriff Carlton Beall claims he
was offered $4,000 month by Charles e.
Nelson, alleged numbers operator, for "protec-
tion." This clearly is case for the grand
jury
The recording of conversation held by
two brothers with Prince Georges detective
Ralph Bond-would also seem to offer prom
Using field for investigation. The County Commis-
sionerS do not seem to be especially interested,
and one of them has said that "the material
on this transcription has no more value than
piece OF waste paper"
That reasoning is hard to follow, for the
transcription reveals that Mr.. Bond said he un-
derstood there had been tip-of on raid on
one of the Nelson automobiles, and later he
explained that his information had come from
James Pumphrey an associate of Nelson. In
formation of this sort is hardly too be classed
with waste paper. One would think that a
great deal might be developed if the men in
volved were to be put before a grand jury to
testify under oath.
Prince Georges County does not stand alone
in this matter. The Nelson activities evidently
extended into Washington, and He appears to
have been able to operate with relative impunity
here for many years. The District grand jury
investigating the case should try to find out
why.
It is in the county, however, that the real
cleanup will have to be made If the gamblers
are to be jailed or driven out And the new
Republican regime may be sure that its per-
Torrance in this matter will be watched closely,
and that it will be judged by the results OBJ
tanned.
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Doctors Fail to Split
Mind by Surgery
Bruin Still Functions
About Same as Ever
By Thomos R. Henry

Mans mind cannot be split in halves.
Experiments demonstrating this have
just been reported to the American As
ISOLATION for the Advancement Of
Science here by DIR. Karl U. Smith Of
the University Of Wisconsin.
The cerebral cortex, the thick layer
of gray matter on top Of the brain which
is the organ of all mental activity" is
split in two equal halves. Each half
supposedly controls the activity Of one
half Of the body. Paralysis of the right
arm. for example, would be produced
by damaging the area Of the cortex
controlling its movements.
The two halves of the brain are 3oineu
by thick layer Of nerve fbers known
as the corpus callosum. This is supposed
to integrate the action Of the brain as
whole. What is learned by one hemis-
phere is Immediately communicated to
the other.
In the experiments reported by DR..
Smith this corpus callosum was COM
pletely severed in several patients as q
measure to control epilepsy. Supposedly
the two sides Of the brain were COM
pletely isolated from each other. This
provided an ideal situation for testing
the hypothesis Of exchange between
hemiSphereS.
Before the operation each patient was
blind-folded and taught to trace q rather
complicated geometrical pattern with the
ordinary writing hand, whether right
or left. The number of trials before this
could be done without error was re-
corded. Then the experiment was re-
peated. the other hand being used.
Under the old theory there should have
been some exchange of experience be-
tween the two sides Of the brain.
After the corpus callosum was severed,
the same experiment was repeated, US
ing somewhat different geometric
pattern for tracing. The differences
found between the performances and
the preferred hand and the other hand
were so slight they might easily have
been due to pure chance.
The conclusion was that there had
been no exchange Of learning In either
case transferred from one side of the
brain to the other through the corpus
calloSum. What exchange there had
been, if any, had been by some other
brain mechanism than that which is
constituted by nerve f1bers.
The brain, as whole, still functioned
about the same as ever.
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Handicapped Workers

President Truman was right when he said
that hiring the physically handicapped is more
than humanitarian obligation-that these
people generally make excellent workmen whose
services are needed by the country.
This has been demonstrated time and again.
1t is hard for person who is blind, or who has
lost an arm, or who suffers from some other dis
ability to qualify for job It takes courage,
patience and. determination to acquire the neces-
sary skills. Once they have been acquired, how
ever such a person has shown that he or she
has qualities which make good worker, and the
employment doors should not be closed simply
because of the handicap.
It is not the fact of the handicap as such,
however, that has been closing the door to some
Of them in the District. An Interpretation of the
District Workmens Compensation Act has been
the stumbling block. This is not to say that the
Interpretation under the law is an erroneous one.
But the fact remains that it operates as deter
rent to that full employment of the competent
physically handicapped which the President ad-
vocateS.
Under this Interpretation, new employer
of a physically handicapped worker is liable for
an aggravation of an old injury. Although not
in any way responsible Tor the original injury,
the new employer must assume the risks that
would arise from its aggravation once the indi-
vidual becomes member Of his organization.
In consequence, some employers have been un-
willing to hire physically handicapped persons
In few States such persons are permitted
to sign waivers relieving employers of liability.
There is a certain justification for this since
any one who employs handicapped person as
sumes what might be considered an abnormal
risk. And it probably is true that many handi-
capped individuals would rather sign such a
waiver than be turned down for a job. The pre-
vailing sentiment is against this, however, on the
theory that worker with handicap should be
placed in job in which his deficiency will not
prove unduly hazardous
II that can be done it is clearly desirable to
do it. But meanwhile some arrangement should
be worked out to relieve an employer of liability
for an injury which occurred before the .indi-
vidual became his employe.
Evening star., 1951-08-20

of 3,061 ,473, contributed Sta, ,046; Ten
neSsee. with population of 1921, ,718,
contributed $3.50, ,299. The District, with
a population Of about / million, contrib
uted almost 5000, 900.
Until the Federal and District govern
ments step in and lay down the law for
single fund campaign, much the same
as was done by business in Detroit, the
merry way.
The D. C. chapter is just completing
50 million building, which almost
amounts to two full campaigns. 1t is
interesting to speculate what would hap
pen If the Community Chest decided to
build a So million marble palace
with campaign contributions.
Lou BrOtt.
Evening star., 1951-08-20
Lend-Leose and the KremIin

At meeting scheduled to take place here
tomorrow, American and Russian representa-
tives will again get together in an effort to
agree upon an acceptable settlement of the
Kremlin'S lend-leaSe obligations to the United
States The obligations have been the subject
Of periodic negotiations ever since the end of
the Second World War, but the negotiations-up
to now-have invariably ended in futility be-
cause of adamant Soviet unreasonableness.
Since such unreasonableness is character
istic of the Communist bargaining technique, no
one should be surprised if the new talks follow
the pattern of the past and wind up in the
usual dreary deadlock At the same time how
ever, there is some reason to believe that the
Russians at tomorrow'S meeting may show
readiness to accept the substance OF our terms
for settlement. At any rate, the possibility
of change in their policy-a change that
would be in line with their so-called peace Of.
fensive-is suggested by the fact that they have
taken the initiative, through minor embassy
employe, in asking for resumption of negoti-
ationS.
They have done this moreover, with the
knowledge that when the last talks on the sub
ject were broken off in May, the United States
served notice that it would engage in new talks
only when and if the Soviet Union had some
thing substantial to offer" Accordingly, aSsum-
ing that the Russians have kept this condition
well in mind in requesting renewal OF pegoti-
ations, there seems at least fair chance that
tomorrow's meeting may pave the way for
settlement of the sort we have proposed
settlement that would require them to pay only
a very minor fraction, less than per cent, OF
the $11 billion we extended to them during the
war in the form of lend-lease military and non
military equipment.
AS made clear long ago, the United States
does not seek from the Russians any repayment
for munitions, food supplies and other mate
rial expended in the war What it insists upon,
however is that they should pay us relatively
minor amount of cash-in addition to returning
hundreds of small vessels-to cover the depre-
ciated value of our lend-lease trucks, machine
~eols and other equipment contributing to their
peacetime economy. We have scaled the sum
down from an original claim of $26 billion to a
mere $500 million but they have refused to offer
more than $24O million, and they have ignored
our formal note of last April proposing that the
disagreement be submitted to international arbi-
tration.
In everN essential respect the t&ms we
Evening star., 1951-08-20

have offered the Russians are like those marking
the settlements that have long since been worked
out with other recipient nations Under their
lend-lease agreement with us, the men OF the
Kremlin have an obligation here that they can
not talk away. Now that they have asked for
new negotiations, they ought to act accordingly
If they do not if they just hew to their old line
they will be merely offering further evidence of
the kind Of bad faith that has frustrated the
entire free world In trying to do honorable busi-
ness with them.