davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
Jail for Reckless Drivers

Municipal Court Judge George D. Nelson has
proposed good slogan for traffic court judges
throughout the country. Writing in Traffic
Quarterly, published by the Emo Foundation
for Highway Traffic Control, Judge Nelson sug-
geSts this motto for the courts I'm traffic safety
there is no favorite-drunken, reckless, hit and
run drivers 60 to jail" Judge Nelson has
adopted the credo for his own court.
The article states: "If there is to be stop
to this senseless highway slaughter, nothing less
than firm policy must be adopted and this
means failing the drunken reckless and hit and
run drivers. 1t is fairly easy for almost every
traffic offender to pay money fine, and thus
there is no real deterrent. However, every one
abhors the thought of going to jail, and if a
person knows he will go to jail if he jeopardizes
the lives of his fellow men through his own
carelessness or irresponsibility in driving then
you have the real deterrent 1t is high time to
take off the kid glove in dealing with this
problem"
Detroit's judges got together on this problem
several years ago and agreed on hard-and- fast,
no-favorites policy of sending drunken and other
dangerous drivers to jail. Accidents caused by
drunken driving have become a rarity in the
Michigan city. If Washingtons traffic judges
would follow the lead set by Judge Nelson and
the example set by Detroit's judges, reduction
In accidents due to irresponsible driving might
reasonably be expected here.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
Too Many Too Lute

What has happened to our good man
ners and courteousness at concerts in
Washington?
Why are late-comerS permitted to
be seated before the completion of the
first number or first group of numbers
at Constitution Hall? This practice is
certainly rude and annoying to the
performers and the conductor, and is
most aggravating to patrons who are
already in their seats and ready to
enjoy the concert.
If the management of Constitution
Hall cannot control this situation, why
doesn't Howard Mitchell ask that such
a rule be put in effect-a rule requesting
the late-comers wait in the lobby
until he indicates time for seating
them?
Another complaint is that some Of
the audience are so anxious to leave
when the last number is played and
cause so much disturbance in doing
so, that encores are interrupted for
those who remain seated and whose
next engagement is not so urgent.
Sometimes these quick getaway" in
dividuals actually stand in the aisles
and block the view of those still seated.
(Surely this is violation of fire regu-
lationS, as Well.)
have been a resident of Washing
ton for the last eight years and have
been a patron of the National SYM
phony, the Philadelphia Symphony, var
ious Patrick Hayes series and others,
and have found that audiences have
become less considerate each year.
III. M. C.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
Easter Seals Campaign

Each year at this time the District of Column
bia Society for Crippled Children appeals to the
local community for money to carry on its share
of the national endeavor to help children handi-
capped by cerebral palsy. The campaign is
based on the distribution of Easter Seals to
individuals and groups at dollar per sheet of
100. So far, the 1852 drive has realized $71 900.
Roughly $4,000 remains to be raised. If each
of the persons to whom the seals have been
sent would remit, the present deficit would be
met and the goal perhaps exceeded
But not everybody understands the need.
1t happens that the D. c. society is the only free
facility in Washington to prepare cerebral
palsied children to enter the elementary schools
and to give them an early start in treatment and
training toward making the most of their lives.
During 1851 total of 374 children were aided in
terms of physical, occupational and speech
therapy and psychological service. Many of
these youngsters attended nursery and kinder
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08

garten at the soeiety's headquarters, 1857
Massachusetts, avenue Northwest. Some of them
went to a special summer camp for crippled
children Others were helped to obtain braces
or exercise cycles Each child was a particular
problem, and the society tried to solve the
problem in the best way indicated. DR.. Win
throp M Phelps and other specialists assisted.
Much more, however, is demanded by the
constantly increasing number of children afflicted
at birth with the strange malady which causes
disabling damage to those centers of the brain
that govern muscular control. While boys and
girls thus hurt are being rehablitated, the quest
for the origins of cerebral palsy must be carried
forward No other activity of its kind has greater
poignancy or is more richly gratifying in con-
structive results
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
Woqe StubiIizution Boord

A majority of the members of the ad-
illustrations Wage Sterilization Board,
in making recommendations for wage
and other benefits in excess even of the
unions original demands, has wrecked
the sterilization program and threat
ened the economy of the country.
This majority is composed of union
representatives and certain persons sup
posed to represent the public. It would
be of interest to the general public to
know who their so-called representatives
are; what is their background, their
ideologies, and what are their Qualifica-
tons for really representing the public.
Are they men and women honestly
interested in protecting the country from
imitation: or do they pay lip service only
to that cause while in reality favoring
imitation as a means Of promoting q
socialistic society? Do they belong to
the school of economists that advocate
spending the country into prosperity?
Are they artfully working for redis-
tribution of property? The liquidation
of the middle classes? The dictatorship
of the proletafiat?
It is gratifying that Congress. which
in spite of its shortcomings really does
represent the people, Is asking for an
examination Of the Wage Sterilization
Board. Such an examination is long
overdue. 1t is to be hoped If new
board is established that the members
named to represent the public will not
be crackpot biologists, camoudaged
Communists, or New Deal-Fair Deal
economists. Let US rather hope that
they will be honest, intelligent, impartial
Americans: and that they will have the
courage to oppose the demands of pres
sure groups if they believe that the
demands are contrary to the interests
of the general public and to the welfare
Of the country.
f. Mclean Johnson.
Gorham, Me.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
This and That

Henry James, the great novelist, was
fond OF Washington in the springtime.
and especially of Mount Vernon.
In one of his earlier short stories,
Pandora" he told of fictional visit to
the latter place. And it was in his "The
American Scene" written after he
visited his native America for the last
time, that he speaks of the universal
greenness Of our city. That was shortly
after the turn of the century.
James was seer, a sort of prophet as
well as a narrative artist. He somehow
saw things as they would be. as well as
they were at the time Of writing. This
is what helps make him great.
His intricate latter style repels some,
so that he has come to be regarded as
novelist's novelist, but that is to do him
Scant justice. He has something for all
readers. with a little perseverance.
Consider that famous discussion of
country clubs. in his chapter on Balti-
more, in "The American Scene" Per-
maps no writer ever took so many words
to say what he wanted to say, as James
did in his latter days, but there was
more than just description there.
Somehow. with his intricate, high
powered brain. he looked ahead. and
saw things only now coming into frui-
ton.
He speaks of the country club as
very basis of American life. taking in the
whole family.
Then he goes on to say that while he
may seem TO- consider the clubs more
than he should, he is glad for anything
that seems to throw light on American
ways, all so strange and new to him,
after his long residence abroad.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
WunderIust

When tOGs lad wandered free
And far as my luck Mould carry,
The World around 1DGs home to me
Wherever / chose to tarry.
oh, the morning sun tDas glad as I
When ne turned tDith eager faces,
From grounded streets to the open sky.
And the lure OF distant places.
Then life aDas riuer ,pide and switt,
And a treigEter locked for coaling:
or busy road and friendly lift.
Or line OF bor-cars rolling.
Now am settled and rooted deep.
And strong are the ties that bind me.
Yet out of the past that kno1Ds no sleep.
The years reach back and find me
And a yearning catches In my throat.
And a dream bIotps cold about me,
When hear the 1DGA OF riuer-boat,
Or train roars past without me.
Mouriee J. Ronoyne
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
He Jo|ted Harder Than Our PHYSICISTS

THE fact that todays men of science
Il have been able to coax electricity
from nuclear energy, another stride
toward Harvesting the atom. has been
received at large with remarkable re-
straint-certainly with far less of q stir
than Benjamin Franklin created 200
years ago when he toyed with q kite
during a storm and somehow missed
being blown right out of the history
books.
The net result of Franklin's expert
ment was, of course, the lightning rod.
For some time he had believed it pos
sible to employ metal bars to draw
electric charges from the atmosphere.
thus reducing the danger of these
charges piling up and being released as
destructive bolts. So after his experience
with the kite and key in 1852. he put
rod on his own roof. rigging q bell
to the rod so it would give q telling
ring when lightning struck.
Soon enough rods were poking heav-
onward from Massachusetts, to South
Carolina. but the first reaction to
Franklin's discovery was not one Of
appreciation. Many persons. including
at least one of his biographerS. con-
sidered Franklin a radical, If not worse,
and New England clergymen who had
been preaching that lightning was q
manifestation of the wrath of God
turned their attention to the Phila-
delphia upStart.
This attempt by man to stay the hand
of God was said to be sacrilegiouS. One
minister wrote that the use of lightning
rods would increase the probability of
earthquakes by filling the earth with
electricity. saying: There is no getting
out Of the hand of God. If we think to
avoid it in the air, we cannot in the
earth; yea. it may grow more fatal. :"
The debate f1ared in Europe, too,
where scientists, wrapped inextricably
in their webs of theory, could not bring
themselves to admit the practical SIM
plicity of Franklins device. Franklin
had his friends however, one of them
M. De Lor of the Royal Academy Of
Sciences. In the presence Of King Louis
XIV of France he successfully per-
formed the experiment of charging
tall pole with electricity from a storm
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
Croome Settlement School

The public should know the truth
concerning the closing of Croome Settle
ment School, "the private country home"
in which District Child Welfare author
tiles have placed the majority of Negro
girl cases for nearly ~ years. Evening
Star articles Of March 20 and 80 have
given the impression that the school is
closing voluntarily, consequently Great
ing an additional problem for the Board
of Public Welfare. On the contrary, the
board made plans over a year ago to
house these girls at the National Train
ing School for Girls on Loughborough
road. Hence, Croome School is being
closed by the board.
The Croome School has operated as a
D. c. Child Welfare unit since 1925, and
despite inadequacies in the physical
plant, is acknowledged as one of the
most wholesome and normal setups in
the Welfare Department. The school
was superintended by Mrs. r. Henry
Galloway from 1925 until her death in
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08

filled sky. The King complimented
Franklin by mail and there followed
recognition by the Royal Society of
Scientists in London, accompanied by
q free membership in the organization.
A gold medal, the Godfrey Copley
medal, then the highest scientific award
in existence, was awarded Franklin in
1883.
After the usefulness of lightning rods
was accepted, discussion turned to the
comparative merits of the pointed and
the rounded type. Franklin had shown,
even before the efficacy of protecting
property became apparent. that
pointed piece of metal would attract or
repel quicker than a rod with a fiat
end or a round one. His earliest expert
ments were with static electricity and
he concluded that. 1.-THE less sharp the
point. the nearer you must bring it to
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
By Charles E. TroceweN

sentences would have Fog Index. say.
around IS. or even IS, in the case of
such writer as Milton, whereas an
easily read article might have one of 8.
Henry James, by this method. would
have g. tremendous Fog Index, according
to the Cunning system.
But there is an honest chance that
such q method of assessing writing may
be in error, at times, and certainly the
novels and stories and articles of Henry
James would tend to show it up as hav-
ing it's faults. It will all depend, of
course on whether or not the reader
evaluates writing for writing, as well as
for telling him something, either giving
him information, telling him story, or
helping him to orient his own beliefs.
These are essentials, and it is often pos
siblc to give them in very simple terms,
and surely in a newspaper this is best;
but in book the reader has more time,
can afford to take his time. as we say, in
reading, and so he may and should be
made TO work little harder to get"
the meaning of the writer. One does,
indeed, have to read more slowly. in
reading Henry James, many of whose
novels are in circulation again, after
being buried in the out-of print lists
for half a century or more. We would
advise no reader to start with 1.-THE
American Scene" however but to try
1.-THE Spells Of Poynton," for instance
Graham Greene regards it as James
masterpiece. It is interesting to note
that this English writer devotes the first
i've essays of his new book. 1.-THE Lost
Childhood" to Henry James. There Is.
surely. 4 reason.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08

It is at this point that he pictures our
great American experiment as being q
sort of laboratory, with red glow COM
ing from the windows-and foreign ma
tons standing crowding each other and
looking in over each others shoulder to
watch the work, with envy in their eyes
and hearts.
Today we see the full picture, with
many lands watching us, some with
spleen, some with murder in their hearts.
We have to know our friends from our
foes, and to make efforts to cement the
affections Of the former, and to make
new friends, If possible.
It is a large order, but in some strange
alchemy Of the mind Henry James saw
it all, SO long ago.
Perhaps this is as good place as any
to instruct new readers into the world
Of Henry James.
It is world Of his own. made out Of
one part originality. one part style. and
one part fineneSs of feeling.
One who has not read much James
must keep In mind that he had several
styles.
He had an informal, easy style, when
he wrote washington Square" and
"The Bostonians."
As he grew older. he worked up a
more complicated way of writing. DR..
Cunning, who instructs modern news
papers how to write so that all readers
can understand, would have given Henry
James very high Fog Index. as he calls
1T. This is worked out by number Of
words in sentence, number Of three
syllable words, and so on.
The person who uses long. involved
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
Britoin's Tory Setback

The Conservatives have suffered a big set
back in the elections for the London County
Council which governs the great British capital
The setback, of course, does not affect the fairly
safe majority that Prime Minister Churchill and
his Tory party still hold in Parliament but they
must nevertheless be sobered by what has hap
pened. This is so because the results plainly
indicate, on the local level that the Laborites
have regained good deal of popular support
since being voted out of national power last
October
Thus, in this first test of its kind since their
October defeat, the Laborites have won total
of 90 seats or q more than before the elections
The heavy losers have been the Conservatives
whose membership in the Council has been cut
down from 81 to 81. The voting returns from
other counties in the United Kingdom show
similar but less severe, decline in the Churchill
party's popularity. The decine--at least as far
as London is concerned-is sharper than the
one that Mr.. Attlee and his Labor followers
experienced when the British electorate displayed
q rightward swing in sentiment in the local
balloting three years ago.
Now that the swing has gone leftward again,
1t Is safe to assume that large numbers of British
voters have begun to sour on the Conservatives
tor the same reason that they began to sour
on the Laborites in 1949. Mr. Churchill and his
party were finally voted back into office last
fall because of a feeling that they might cut
down on the austerity program put into effect
by the Attlee Labor government. But since their
return to power that program has continued.
Accordingly, particularly because of their pre-
October campaign promises suggesting that they
would bring about less austere way Of life, it
is not surprising that they have received kind
Of rebuff from the county electorate.
This rebuff differs in no essential respect
from the one suffered by the Laborites when
they were the "inS' in 1949 At that time the
Conservatives, as the "outs," made political CAPT.
tai of the event. Now the shoe is on the other
foot. The Labor Party-the "out" party-is bene-
fitting from widespread discomfort with continu-
ing austerity. True enough. owing to the world
situation and BritainS pressing economic prob
lens, that austerity would be practically the
same as it is today even If the Attlee government
were still in power. But Mr.. Churchill and his
followers, being 'in," must bear the onus for it.
Actually, regardless of the government in
Conservative or Laborite-the British
must keep their belts frightened until they are
over the rearmament hump. Neither of their two
great parties can safely advocate an easier
course. Politics being what they are. however,
the "outS" can be expected to do their best to
make the voting public chastise the fins" for
this basically unacceptable state of affairs. Britain
Is much the same as our own country in that
respect. The men in Office, who bear the response
bility, need to be philosophical about being
blamed for things that are often as unavoidable
as they are unpopular.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08

Inc stars readers can get the answer 60
any question Of fact by either writing The
NV. Washington. d. c., and inclosing 3 cents
return postage or BY telephoning ST. 1868.
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE
@. What is considered the finest por-
trait of Abraham Lincoln?-C. r. T.
A. The portrait by G.. P. A. Healy was
said by Robert Todd Lincoln to be the
best likeness of his father in existence.
1t was left to the United States by the
late Mrs. Robert Todd Lincoln and
placed in the White House.
@. Why is Chinese written up and
down and read from right to left?-
N. I. B.
A. Originally the Chinese wrote on
narrow strips Of wood five-eights of an
inch wide and inches long, so it was
necessary for them to write vertically.
The strips were then tied together by
strings at the top and bottom like a
picket fence. Since the writer would
naturally place the strip he had written
at his right, the first piece would be
the one farthest from him. Joined in
this way, they were read vertically and
from right to left.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08

observe the effect" But this reasoning
was ignored by those who opposed
Franklin.
The battle between the sharps and
the flats" continued long after Franklin
quit scientific research to give his time
to affairs of state. He was in no posi-
ton to argue the matter with the
British, anyhow. King George III,
angry at the unrest in America and
miffed at Franklin in particular, tossed
aside all scientific findings and decided
the round-type rod was good enough
for the empire.
Franklin concluded to "let my papers
shift for themselves" and didn't try to
push his luck, as did the Swedish sci
enlist who tried to duplicate the
Philadelphian's experiment and ended
up by losing decision to the first bolt
that investigated his kite.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-04-08
If a Steel Strike Comes

A choice among four alternatives will have
to be made by the President if a steel strike
begins tonight. And there is not good choice
in the lot.
Cd Mr.. Truman could adopt hands off
attitude and do nothing. 1t is hardly conceivable
that he would do this, however, since protracted
shutdown of the steel industry would wreck the
economy and the defense program
2) He could invoke the emergency provisions
Of the Taft-Hartley Act. But the guess is that
Mr.. Truman is not likely to do this It would
offend his staunchest political ally in the union
ranks and it would bring only temporary relief
At the request of the President the union has
been holding off a strike for more than three
months. Under the Taft-Hartley Act the Gov
eminent could obtain an Injunction forbidding
strike for an additional 80 days. But that is
ALL After 80 days the injunction would lapse
and nothing could be done under the law to
prevent strike.
90 Mr. Truman might seize the industry and
put into effect the recommendations of the Wage
Sterilization Board. OF all the alternatives, this
is the most offensive 1t would be an act of
very dubious legality. And it would threaten
the whole structure of our free society. For it
would establish this pattern: A Government
board recommends settlement, including the
union shop, which the industry cannot or will
posed to be binding on any one But the
Government, faced with a strike in support of
the recommendations, moves in without authority
OF law seizes the industry and puts the recon-
mendations into effect.
If that can happen in the steel industry, it
can happen in any industry And when it does
happen we might as well stop talking about a
free society," or government of laws and not of
men.
~ The remaining alternative would be for
the Government to agree to price increase that
would induce the industry to grant the recon-
mended wage increase. This seems to be the
easiest way out and it may be adopted as the
hnal solution. But it would not be cheap
solution, for it would set in motion another
round OF wage and price increases and throw
fresh fuel on the inflationary fire that is con-
suming the value of the American dollar
All of this adds up to another demonstration
or the fact that there Is nothing to protect the
public interest when a dispute of this kind
arises. 1t can be said that the Government has
mlshandled the steel case for by any accepted
test, the WSB recommendations breach its own
wage formula But the recommendations have
been made, and the President has publicly
Endorsed them. This being the case, it is idle
to expect Philip Murray and the steel workers to
settle willingly for less. They enjoy legal
monopoly OF labor in the vital steel industry,
and they have the power to enforce their
demands furthermore. they can enforce demands
that are unreasonable, as well as those that are
reasonable, and long as this situation prevails
the public will continue to get it in the neck.