davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-12-10
BETHESDA.

BETHESDA.
Dear Sir:
What shall I do about those pesky
rabbits?
They come into my place every day,
and evidently at night they eat my
plants.
Most of my plants are gone, now, of
course, but some of them may see dam
age. especially my Christmas roses.
Il am particularly proud of my
Christmas roses.
They bloom fairly in the cold, if
we ever have any cold. They furnish a
spot Of green when almost everything
else is bare and brown and serve, as they
once said.
Besides, don't think those pesky
rabbits should eat my Christmas roses,
because I believe the roses are poison
Gus and might harm them.
"You see, actually I like rabbits. /
agree with you that they are interest,"
ing animals, and add note of grace
and beauty to the average small subur-
ban garden.
"At times I grow much displeased
with my small suburban garden.
Il have such visions of how beautiful
1t could be, If knew as much as the
editors of the garden magazines.
mo matter how hard try, however.
my place never looks in the least like
these color photos the magazines show.
Help me. II you please. about my
Evening star., 1952-12-10
This and That
BY Charles E. Trocewen

rabbits, and will try to keep both
them and my Christmas roses.
'At this time of year, when the grass
is yellow and the trees are bare. with
the big squirrel nests showing above the
housetops. would like to keep a few
things growing green and blooming.
DO you know any way can make
my rabbits realize that / would like
to keep my Christmas roses for myself?
Sincerely yours, H. G."
The Christmas roses belong to the
hellibore family.
We do not believe. however, that the
part the rabbits eat would harm them.
The root. undoubtedly, would do them
no good. (The part under the ground,
that isl
Probably the best thing to do would
be to cover the roses ESQ called with
wire basket.
This would keep the rabbits of, and
give the plants the light and air they
need. These plants do not need much
sunshine; sellers say to put them in a
shady spot
They also say not to transplant them
after they are put in the ground. Prob
ably this is good advice. These are
touchy plants, at best They do we'll
for some persons. poorly for others. It
may be that it is not the person, but
the soil. after ALL Most soil in the shade
will help them grow. Probably any soil
where acid-loving plants thrive will suit
the Christmas rose.
Evening star., 1952-12-10
To Complete Reorganization

Hopes for completing the governmental re-
organization job begun under impetus of the
Hoover Commission are reviving, that Pres-
dent-elect Eisenhower has appointed special
committee to study the project The reorgani-
zaton program started off with a rush when
the lengthy recommendations in the Hoover
report were made public. President Truman
proposed and Congress adopted a number of
worthwhile reforms based on the Hoover report.
But interest in the task had been waning during
the past session of Congress, which left many
departments and agencies untouched or only
partly reorganized
The change in the political complexion of
Congress, coupled with an indicated determina-
ton by the Republican President to carry
on the reorganization work already started, has
stimulated reorganization advocates to renewed
efforts. One of General EiSenhower's early moves
was to name Nelson A. Rockefeller as head of a
special committee to study reorganization of the
Government and report on what still needs to
be done to promote efficiency and economy. Mr..
Rockefeller, former co-ordinator of Inter- -Ameri-
can Affairs, will have the valuable assistance
of DR.. Arthur S. Flemming, president of Ohio
Wesleyan University, and of Milton Eisenhower,
brother of the President-eect, who, through
long experience, is thoroughly familiar with the
Federal establishment and its shortcomings DR..
Flen1mng a member of the Hoover Com
mission and he is former member of the Civil
Service Commission.
One of the first steps of this committee will
be to review the progress already made in car
rying out recommendations of the Hoover Com
mission. More than half of the reforms were
enacted during 1949 and 1850, but progress since
then has been rather slow. Much remains to
be done, especially in such fields as the Post
Office Department, where patronage still pre-
walls; the Department of Justice, the State De-
partment, the Veterans Administration, the
Federal Security Agency and the Reconstruction.
Finance Corporation. Federal personnel policies
and procedures also need some overhauling.
The Rockefeller committee is expected to pre-
pare for presentation to Congress a fresh pro-
gram of proposed changes in these and other
fields, designed to eliminate overlapping, waste
and inefhciency generally and to put the whole
Government operation businesslike basis.
The chances thus are growing bright for
comprehensive Tightening up and reshuff1ing of
Federal activities that should save the tax
payers millions of dollars This will be one
phase of the new administrations attempt to
clean up "the mess in Washington"
Evening star., 1952-12-10
By {. Donald Bell

Alfred Bernhard Nobel, Swedish
scientist, inventor of dynamite, and
founder Of the Nobel prizes awarded
this time each year was perhaps the
paradox of the 18th Century. He
amassed one of the largest fortunes in
Europe through the manufacture of
ammunition for war and destruction,
yet he hated war with all the vitality
Of his being.
Nobel contended that wars would
cease only when they became so
frightening that mankind would not
dare fight them. He retained this
philosophy until few years before his
death on December 10, 1896. His last
will and testament bequeathed his for
tune to the world for the improvement
OF mankind and the furtherance of
peace.
Nobel's life was far from glamorous.
He was born in Stockholm on October
81. 1888, the son of a bankrupt archi-
tect and inventor. At birth he was
sickly and frail, and illness plagued
him almost constantly the rest of his
days. Though he attained great fame
and riches, he was friendless and alone
because of his distrust of people. Nobel
was selfeffacing to the extreme that
he firmly believed no one could like
him for himself.
Todays psychiatrists probably would
have called Nobel psycho-neurotic.
perhaps even a manic Oppressive. He
was small in stature and considered him
self unattractive. His pallid personality
was complex with incompatible quirks-
cynicism and idealism, timidity and con-
versational brilliance He was full of
inhibitions as a man. and strong and
ruthless as scientist He thought
almost constantly of death.
Grief was with him almost from the
start of his career. Nobels intense in
terest in explosives was the cause of
the death in 1864 of his 21-year- -old
brother. Emil Nobel had returned to
Stockholm on q vacation from college,
to assist his brother in experiments with
nitroglycerine. An explosion which at
tested the partial success of the proc
ess was also fatal to Emil and four
others. Old Immanual Nobel, the father,
was grief-stricken and died about q
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Bill Albaugh.
"GROVETON, Va.

"GROVETON, Va.
Dear Sir:
For several months now we have been
bothered by a very beautiful male
cardinal which we think lives in our
neighbor's mimosa tree.
"Our basement window is very bright
and shiny and he can see his reflection
IN it. Day after day for hours at time
he will continually fly angrily at the
window. bump into 1t, and, of course.
stun himself
IF we cover our window he will 90
over next door and do the same thing.
We are getting worried about him really
hurting himself. as he does not seem to
realize that it Is not q real bird in the
window
Gould you tell me what to do about
this situation?
Sincerely. j. u"
The best thing to do-and we hope
our young correspondent will not think
this heartless-is to forget it.
Such bird is mildly crazy and prob
ably will come to bad end, anyhow.
Most birds. when they indulge in win
dow fighting, are glad to give it up after
few days. Usually soaping of the
window viii throw them of stride. You
might try putting out sunflower seed
close by. so that this favorite food will
attract him. If his sense Of survival is
superior to his belligerency, he may be
won over shortly.
Evening star., 1952-12-10

month later Alfred Nobels inner emo
tionS were not revealed; outwardly there
was only the determination to finish
what he had started.
OF course. Nobel did finish the prof.
ect. and many others, despite setbacks
and tribulations He invented dyna-
mite and lesser explosives, had factories
all over Europe, and was a millionaire
by 1875. He had luxurious residences
and everything that money could buy.
but. alone and unhappy, he felt that
he had nothing.
Nobel was literary-minded During
his childhood, and later whenever con-
valescing from his many illnesses, he
wrote verse. In one of his earlier efforts,
written when he was l8. he indicated
that he had fallen in love. The girl
was mystery and no one ever knew
If she really existed at all. Real or
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Letters to The Star
Pen-non1es may be used it letters carry
WriterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

express mention of what to do with
POWs who desired not to return to
their homeland, because such a situa-
ton never existed before. Today, for
the first time in the history of the
world, large group of men seek to
abandon their homes, family and
friends rather than return to an in
tolerable prison. We advocate freedom;
freedom founded this Nation. We have
moral force on our side, and to deviate
from our position would be fatal to the
desire for freedom among the untold
millions of the world who would rather
be our allies than automatons in the
despotic, inhuman regime of the Red
Utopia.
On the other hand, if the Soviet
Union were law abiding, moral men,
ber OF the society of nations, Mr.. Law
rences suggestion would have some
merit. But then, if the Soviet Union
were those things, there would be no
POW issue, there would be no Red
China, no one from the Soviet sphere
would seek to escape. and, what is
more important to us, there would be
no Korean War.
Michael Gavrisheff,
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Dangerous Drivers

When Traffic Director George E. Keneipp
referred recently to the alarming" increase in
serious driving offenses. he was not lacking in
Justification
The licenses of 10 drunken drivers were
revoked last week, while there were only 10
revocations during the preceding week. And in
the same periods there were % and Is license
suspensions for speeding. When Mr.. Kenepp
says this Is alarming he means that this upward
trend of dangerous driving, especially at this
Evening star., 1952-12-10

Congress can impose measures evoking
social conflict and long endure.
In the presidential election a vast
majority of the people spoke in no un-
certain terms-not only in the South
but in northern areas as well-that such
matters better be left to the States.
Governor Battle has said the end of
segregation will mean the end of the
public school system in Virginia. 1t will
mean lot more than that, too. 1t will
mean injustices to the colored people
themselves. In the end they'll suffer
most.
McGranery also knows this. He
should know also that he will be held
strictly accountable for his defiant act
in the face Of the American electorate.
Robert Bruce.
Evening star., 1952-12-10
McGrunery on Inteeroted Schools

would like to answer Attorney Cen
eral McGranery's assertions in The Star
December In connection with his re-
quest to the Supreme Court to abolish
segregation in the public schools.
Apparently, McGranery thinks he has
good ruse when he says racial dis
elimination furnishes grist for the Com
munistS' propaganda mills" Does he
think the American people are so simple
as to believe they can appease the Com
munlsts by ending segregation?
If he is sincere, he is trying despic-
able sort of appeasement of the Commu-
nists at the hazard of social upheavals
and aggravation of the racial situation
here which, if left alone, will resolve it
self amicably. But Judge McGranery
cannot believe we can so appease the
Communists.
It seems that the attorney general is
determined to take a slap at the Amer
lean people, particularly those in the
South before the so-called Fair Deal dies
and he departs official Washington.
Communists say our labor unions are
tyrannical and Wall Street dominated
Is McGranery trying to abolish the
unions and Wall Street to appease Com
munist agitators?
Communists are enemies of religion.
Is McGranery trying to abolish the
churches to appease them?
Communists are against family ties;
is he going to abolish the family to ap-
pease them?
Even if we did all these things, in
cluding amalgamating the white and
colored races, we couldn't possibly ap-
pease the Reds. McGranery knows this.
The Supreme Court knows it, too.
No court can rule against the mores,
the very social instincts of the people,
and expect its edicts to be observed. No
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Foq-Mon's Ancient Enemy

Fogs in nearby Maryland and Virginia as
we'll as in New York and London have raised
once more the question of what If anything,
can be done to control them. The Weather
Bureau answers that experiments thus far con-
Quoted have shown that fogS may be dispersed
in given neighborhood by heat, as in the case
of FIDO in England during World War II, and
by Sailing" with dry ice; but these processes
are too costly to be practical. Study of the whole
subject of "manmade weather" however, is 60
ing forward Systematically, and there is reason to
hope that someday some feasible procedure may
be discovered.
Meanwhile, the psychological aspect of reac-
ton to fog is worth considering All its historians
have remarked upon the mystery of it, the fear
SoneneSS of it. Shakespeare called fog "aS black
as Acheron another name for Pluto the King
of He'll Many other writer's have stressed it's
terrifying Implications John Evelyn, for eX-
ample wrote in 1870 about "the thickest and
darkest fog on the Thames that ever was known"
The British fog of the past few days has been
discussed in similar terms as "the meaneSt ia
the memory of living men," Possibly part of the
explanation of the resentment of all observers
arises from the fact that fog chokes as well as
blinds people. John Gasworthy realized the
tragic implications of it in "The Man of Prop
erty"-one of the most important portions of the
Forsyte Saga. THE fog of late November he
says wrapped London "as in some monstrous
blanket" through which Soames heard the
sound of snothered sobbing." Young Bosinney,
the heartbroken architect, is run down by cab
and killed in "a vast muffled backness where
man could not see six PAGES before him.
The perils of motor traffic on foggy nights in
our own Washington area are sufficiently obvious
to require no emphasis. Anybody who can stay
at home when city and country alike are wrapped
in heavy mist certainly should do SO. That is
the plea of the automobile associations, the in
surance companies and the police.
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Old Magazine

While cleaning house found this mag
dzine
That came tt0o years ago. the day
you came
Home from the clinic. knowing you'd
tDGlE lame
AltDdyS. A p1ler face I'Ue neDer seen,
But your eyes frightened ,Uhen you
SG1D the pure
JOY in this picture OF sprinotime
noon;
You chuckled once or t,Dice at this
cartoon,
And read this poem dozen times, I'm
sure.
read this story to you; then you tell
Asleep, and ,uoke, and read the poem
once more,
And then began to be yourself; before
You hadn't seemed concerned with get
ting nell.
/ couldn't put this on the discard
heap.
Some things you oiue away. and some
you keep.
yans Mssehont
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Nobel Munitions King and War Halter

fancied, she died, and nothing indi-
Gates that he ever fell in love again.
He never married.
In 1861 Nobel started two novels, but
he was not a writer in that sense, and
nothing ever came of them. Since he
was not writing for readers, however,
it did not matter to him: he wrote out
OF loneliness, simply to create characters
OF his own intellect who could discuss
his own ideas.
Nobels closest friend and kindred
spirit probably was Baroness Bertha
Won Suttner, who answered an adver-
tisement for secretary and supervisor
of his Paris household. She was such
brilliant converSationalist and so in
teresting and entertaining. that he re-
furnished for her a spacious wing in
his mansion-but the Baroness never
occupied the quarters. Before they were
completed, she returned to Vienna and
an old love. It is merely speculation
as to whether Nobers heart had plans
for her other than as secretary-house-
keeper.
The Baroness remained one of Nobel's
true friends, however, and she was later
to become famous for her cruSades for
peace congresses. Ironically, she won
Nobels peace prize for her workout
not until 1905. nine years after his
death.
Nobel and the Baroness differed
greatly in their ideas for the securing
of peace:, she thought wars should be
prevented by peace movements, and
Nobel believed wars could be stopped
only by arms and strength. Her inf1u-
ence on him was evident in Nobel's will.
dated November q, 1895.
According to his will, fund was to
be established and five awards were to
be given each year for the most impor-
tant improvement or discovery in
physics, chemistry, medicine, the liter
ary work of "the most idealistic tend
ency" and the best endeavors toward
the brotherhood of nations.
Although the Baroness and Nobel ap-
pear to have achieved harmonious think
ing on the manner in which to end
wars, peace seemed to die with the
Baroness on June 20, 1914. Eight days
later the assassination of the heir to
the Austrian throne served as the pre-
lude to World War I.
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Prisoner Issue
Subscriber.

With all due respect to John Marshall
Lawrence, writing in these columns on
the POW issue and suggesting that the
matter be turned over to the Inter-
national Tribunal at The Hague, I have
the following observations to make.
In the first place, real international
law existed long before our forefathers
set up the Court Of International JUS
tice. It ceased to exist, however. about
the time Of the advent Of the so-called
modern naCion-sta During the Mid
die Ages international law existed by
virtue of the moral, and sometimes
physical, force of the Church. I am
not arguing whether it was good or bad.
I am stating fact. With the appear
ance of the nation-state the moral
force of the Church for all practical
purposes ceased to exist as a force
regulating the coiduct of nation-states,
but there were number Of legal and
moral philosophers who felt the need
Of some international standard Of con-
duct. Modern international public law,
of which Mr.. Lawrence speaks, actually
began with the writing of Hugo Grotius
in the early 18th century. Not
withstanding the long history of modern
international public law, nothing per-
manent as yet has been achieved be-
cause of the simple fact that any law
requires some force to make it effective
Our laws would be meaningless if there
were no policemen, SheriffS OF United
States marshals.
Furthermore. there is another good
reason why we cannot submit the POW
dispute for arbitration to the Court of
international Justice. Only states can
appear as disputants before the Court.
This was one of the points of contention
between Iran and Great Britain in the
recent Iranian oil case heard before
the Court. Therefore, If we submit the
POW question to the Court, we would
be indirectly recognizing the govern
ment OF Red China-which hitherto we
have been loath to do.
Our acceptance Of the India proposal
has been unfortunate, for by voting for
the proposal we went on record as
willing to compromise. The Soviet
Union, on the other hand, seeing our
readiness to come to terms, denounced
the proposal and castigated India for
allegedly siding with the West. The
UNs appeal to Red China to accept
the plan over the heads of their Soviet
masters was indeed pathetic attempt
to split Red China away from the Soviet
Union. AS though Communist China
had will and personality of her own!
The Geneva Convention made no
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Potomac Tunnel?
Francis C. O'Brien.

May cast one vote against the pro-
posed bridge crossing the Potomac at
Hunting Creek? Such bridge will give
discontinuous service to cars using it
and cause unnecessary delay to ocean
going vessels using the river. 1t will
narass loW-fiying aircraft approaching
and leaving National Airport. 1t will be
a good place not to be during any kind
OF emergency. To insure a freer, safer
flow OF traffic on all levels, why don't
they copy the Lincoln Tunnel in New
York with similar Byrd Tunnel" in
Alexandria?
Bill Albaugh.
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Shades of WPA

One hears again the doleful chant
in New-Fair Deal quarters that soon
lot of people in search of subsistence
will be selling apples on the street.
They overlook the better expedient:
Raking leaves. which means nine men
leaning on rakes watching one man
rake leaves
SuhScriher
Evening star., 1952-12-10
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

return postage by telephonins Sterling S363.
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. Where is Jonathan Swift buriedf
SIR.
A. In the nave of st. Patrick's. the
Anglican cathedral in Dublin, Ireland.
Dean Swift wrote his own epitaph in
Latin, the translation of which is as
follows:. Here lies the body of Jonathan
Swift. S. T. D.. Dean of this Cathedral,
Where fierce indignation cannot any
longer tear his heart" He died on
October 10, 1745, at the age of 78.
@. Can you give the correct wording
OF the quotation about two eyes and one
tongue?-BWF
A. The reference is probably to a say
ing by c. c. Cotton: Men are born
with two eyes. but with one tongue, in
order that they should see twice as
much as they say: but, from their con-
duct, one would suppose that they were
born with two tongues and one eye; for
those talk the most who have observed
the least"
@. Who was the first Negro to cast a
vote after the passage Of the 18th
amendment?-N. F.
A. Thomas Peterson Mundy of Perth
Amboy, N. j.. who voted on March 81,
1870, one day after the amendment be-
came effective, in a special election on
the Perth Amboy city charter. The
charter was adopted, and he was ap-
pointed on the committee to revise the
charter.
Evening star., 1952-12-10
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer IN
sny question OF fact by either writing The
evening star Information Bureau, 1900 street
NV. washington 3, D. c., and inclosinR 8 cents
return postage or by telephoning Sterling fa6a.
The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-05-16
War
Roundup
By SAM SUMMERLIN

MUNSAN, Korea Up -- For the
ninth straight day Red truce ne
gotiators blasted the Allies and
again virtually dared them to for
mally break off the armistice talks.
Vice Adm. c. Turner Joy, senior
Allied delegate, spoke for only two
minutes Of the Commute session.
He used his time to reject final
" and formally" the Red prisoner
exchange proposal and suggest a
recess until the Reds have some
thing new to offer.
North Korean Gen. Nam II re-
piled:
UNLESS you formally declare
the termination of these armistice
negotiations, you have no reason
to object to the normal holding
of conferences.
Another session was scheduled
at Panmunjom Saturday.
Joy told the Reds I'VE again
reject finally and formally" the
Red proposal calling for exchange
of $4,000 captured Reds for the
10000 Allied captives in Commu-
mist hands.
Nam II was equally firm in re-
jecting the Allied voluntarily re-
patriation plan. 1t would return
only 10000 prisoners to the Reds.
The rest of the Red prisoners
questioned refuse to return to Com
munist territory, the U. N. Com
mand said.
The prisoner issue. is blocking
an armistice.
Nam II said a letter written by
Brig. Gen. Charles F. Colson, for
mer commander of the Allies
Koje Island Prison, "has disclosed