davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-01-05

som money was paid because Of any
sympathy for the enSlaved seamen.
Sailors in those days enjoyed less rights
and protection from the law than dog
does today in the average American
community. but sailors were necessary
to sail ships, and there never were
enough able Seamen to meet the de-
mand, hence the pressure on Congress
by the shipping interests to ransom
them.
Submission to extortion always brings
increased demands from the extortioner.
In 1898 Algiers was demanding the
presentation Of frigate and 100000 as
the price of good will; and just to
show that he meant business, the Ba-
shaw chopped down the f1agpole in the
grounds of the American consulate. The
Bey Of Tunis, not to be outdone by his
neighbor, demanded 40 cannon and
10000 small arms sent without delay as
the price of peace with him.
But more and worse insults were to
come. In May 1900, the corvette George
washington, under the command of
William cambridge, arrived at Algiers
carrying the annual tribute There he
was told that the Bashaw wished him to
carry an ambassador and his suite to
Constantinople. Bainbridge protested
and was told that, "You pay me tribute
by which you become my slaves. I have
a right to order my slaves as please"
AS the American captain was anchored
under the guns of the Algerian fortress,
he was in no position to object Further
more, as the Bashaw pointed out to
Bainbridge. if the American refused to
carry out the mission. he would loose
Evening star., 1952-01-05
John r. Riggles.

Moles also eat earth worms, which is
not SO good, but at the same time they
do what earth worms are praised for,
break up the soil.
The fur Of moleS grows straight UP,
and because of that the animal can go
backward or forward with equal ease,
without rumpling his hair in the least.
It is said that the tail of the creature
acts as sort of underground antenna
Perhaps it is not generally realized
that mole can travel backward almost
as swiftly as it does forward.
Moles must eat every hour or they
die.
It is claimed that mole can raise
$50 pound man by tunneling under
his feet, but, can be crushed by the
fingers of "a small child.
It is thus realized why cat kills them
so easily.
The best way to keep cat from kill
ing them is to keep the cat indoors as
much as possible. Most cats soon get
used to confinement and do not seem to
mind it. so long as they get plenty Of
attention indoors.
Texas jays must indeed, be busters
Surely no one can blame cat for get
ting q complex when bird tries to fly
away with its tan!
Jays hereabout probably don't need
anything but strong voice. You can
go Q long way IN Washington, D. C. with
loud mouth.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
FALLS CHURCH, VA

Ueaf Sir.
This is note of appreciation.
II let G. B. Shaw die without ever
telling him how much his prologues had
meant to me for 80 years. and resolved
never to repeat this same sin Of omis-
sion.
Your column is a delight, a ray of
sunshine in naughty world It is the
first thing read in The Star every
night. and I find myself remembering
what you have written long after ! have
forgotten what the captains and the
kings said and did.
"The column of this evening amused
me and rather restored my faith in the
courage Of birds. I am glad to know
that at least one jay has the nerve to
peck at cats.
''The jays In our neighborhood only
scream at our cat and ridicule her for
wearing bell, but they never attack
her.
Back in Texas where we came from,
where men are reputed to be tough and
birds really are. we had cat who de-
veloped serious inferiority complex as
q result Of being prosecuted by jays and
mockingbirds, and he refused to venture
out doors for year unless accompanied
by one Of the dogs or one Of us.
The Knockers dive bombed and strafed
him every time he ventured out alone.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Guurdsmun Fires Back

I have Just been released from active
duty after service in Korea with unit
of the District of Columbia National
Guard deeply resent the recent let
: ter in The Star by Col Charles M. Myers
concerning the District Guard.
joined unit of District Guard soon
after its activation over four years ago.
Its history is well known to me as are
the men of that unit-men who devoted
much of their own time for the success
of that unit.
This unit received soon after it activa-
ton 100 per cent of all its authorized
equipment except transportation and
rifles. Only a small part of transporta-
ton was authorized while this unit was
in a National Guard status. Also, as the
unit was not allowed more than go per
cent of it's strength, only enough weap-
ons to equip these men were received
Shortly after the outbreak of the Ko-
rean war this unit was ordered into
active Federal service at Fort Eustis, Va.
Within three months, this unit was on
it's way to Korea while similar regular
Army units remained at Fort Eustis This
unit will have been in Korea one year
, in early January. During its tour of
Nduty there, this unit has supported the
I'd, Sd and oath Army Divisions and the
1st Marine Division. For its devo-
ton to duty during the Chinese spring
offensive. this unit has letters of COM
mendation.
This, Col. Myers, is brief history of
one of the units of the District Guard.
It is history the men Of that unit are
proud of. I think that you, as their for
mer senior instructor, should also have
some pride about this unit. Your let
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Hungary Isn't the First to Get Ransom
TO the Editor Of The Star:

10 IHe E0tl0f OF ne St0T.
THE PRESENT unhappy predicament
= Of the United States forced to pay
ransom to obtain release of its citizens
from jails of Iron Curtain countries, has
been compared to our troubles with the
Barbary pirates in the early days of the
Republic. 1t is the commonly held be-
lief, encouraged by the average school
history, that our Governments dealings
with the Barbary corsairS was marked
by firmness and decision. Unfortunately
that is not true.
The Barbary searaiders were not
pirates of English fiction; the Black
boards. or the Treasure Island, Jolly
Roger, type. They were remnants of
the once great Mohammedan sea power
that terrorized the Mediterranean until
their power broke at Iepanto in 1871.
Near the close of the 18th century they
had become the modern equivalent of
the racketeer. extorting tribute from the
various European countries. England,
greatest sea power in the world, could
have broken them like matchstick If
she chose. but England paid, because
she could very easily, and her small
rivals for trade could not. The Amer
ican Colonies naturally fell in with this
some time for the United States to ad-
just itself to thinking as an independent
country.
At the close Of the Revolution. the
United States was going through the
most critical period in it's history and
was practically bankrupt. It had neither
an army nor navy. What ships had
been left from the Revolutionary Navy
had been sold to meet the pressing need
for money and the army had been dis
banded. The weak Confederation Gov
ernment had neither men nor money to
oppose even the comparatively weak op-
pressor, the Barbary states. Americans,
being no longer under protection of the
English flag, were, promptly attacked
by the sea raiders.
In 1898 an Algerian raiding feet cap
tured ten American ships and sold los
American seamen into slavery. This
outrage brought on one of those we'll
known "blow-hot" periods in Congress.
Six frigates were ordered constructed.
The fine ships. stoutly built, and SUI
perior to any European ship of their
class. played such an important role in
Our early history that it might be well to
record their names: Constitution, Presi-
dent, United States, Chesapeake, Con-
gress and Constellation.
It might be supposed that the first
duty imposed upon the infant navy was
the punishment of the Barbary pirates
but by the time the ships were built the
Government was blowing cold" again.
Instead. degrading treaty was made
with Algiers. in which the United States
agreed to pay an annual tribute of
$22, 900, and in addition to pay some
100000 more for the ransom of the
captured seamen held in slavery.
1t must not be supposed that the ran
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Todoy's choIIenee

For each man life presents f,eD frontier
Fro7a Which to caTue his fortunes as he
n1Gy
stu there are forests mating he must
clear
Before he grotps that mitch he tDould
today.
Ground must be broken and made ready
to
Produce that which he sees mankind
requires,
And euery hour Is one tn which to hem
Straight totDdrd the goal to Dlttch his
dream Gspires.
When on his tpay there may be dust
storms still,
To take the ,DlteGt his thought had
ripened long, sf -
Some arrou may fy feldsDGrd that will
drill
It's Dny through much OF oladness and
OF song,
But years Uiu pass. and struggle at
length bless 4~.s,
The homestead trested from lies
iOildeTness. -.
Edword D. Corner
Evening star., 1952-01-05
DoIi's New Style


A recent Star editorial extolled the
good fortune that awaits mankind now
that Salvatore Dali has vowed to turn
his artistic brush toward religion.
May I voice the suspicion that the
jester, turned artist, made his vow
tongue in cheek, seeking in religion We
-hicle fexpedient for the weaving of his
Sdrrealistic fantasies? Change the ider-
tity Of the figures. add a halo here and
there, and presto change, you have re-
ligious art, with thousands of new adj
herents. Dali is shrewd enough to recog-
nize good thing when he sees it.
The beguiled editorialist speaks, too,
of Dalis great craftsmanship. Would
this writer consider a house built of
papier-mache an example of fine con-
struction? Isn't Dali's transparent sugar
candy style, his absence of feeling for
Elasticity evident enough? Can his highly
prettif1ed, rose colored hues qualify for
comparison with Raphael, simply by
change of subject matter? No art
lover whose PERCEPTION has graduated
beyond the appreciation Of calendar
art" (glorif1ed though it be) will be taken
in by the master presdigitator, even
when his quackery is adorned by spiritual
iaiihen'' Mark Gladstone.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
WishfuI Thinking in Maryland

The Maryland State Roads Commission is
not likely to get very far with its suggestion
that the Federal Government take over most
OF the job of building roads in Maryland coun-
ties near Washington. It would be nice, from
Maryland's standpoint, If the State no longer
had to worry about the network of highways
constituting the northern and eastern ap-
proacheS to the National Capital. Carrying the
idea further, it would be nice if the Federal
Government agreed to build and maintain the
Districts highway system and that of nearby
Virgnia-nice, that is, for the District and Vir-
ginia taxpayers. But it is doubtful that tax
payers generally would approve of the plan.
In short, the suggestion is just bit of wishful
thinking by officials UNDERSTANDABLE worried by
the growing need for better roads in the Wash
ington Metropolitan Area.
Members of the State Roads Commission
proposed that the Federal Government put up
at least $50 million in the next 10 years for
highway improvements in nearby Maryland,
chiefly Montgomery and Prince Georges Coun-
ties In justification for this outlay commission
members pointed to the vast increase in traffic
caused by expansion of the Government into
Maryland. But they overlooked the fact that
this expansion has brought economic benefits to
Maryland, as well as traffic troubles As a
matter of fact the United States now is helping
Maryland in its road program through Federal
aid and through such a special project as the
Baltimore Washington Parkway, now under con-
struction. The major part of this important
highway is being built by the Federal Govern
ment at no cost to Maryland, yet the State viii
derive major benefits from It, The road win
tie Washington more closely to the Friendship
international Airport and win relieve congestion
Evening star., 1952-01-05
A Good Man Is Lost

The newspapers, one day after the President
confirmed reports that w. Stuart Symington is
leaving the Government service, carried an in
teresting repoft from Korea. 1t quoted the COM
mander of a Sabre Jet fighter squadron as
saying that the Reds have better and many more
planes than we have, and as warning that I'VE
need more planes and better planes if we are
going to keep on fighting the MICS"
This timing, of course, was a coincidence
But the Korean dispatch came as a peculiarly
appropriate epitaph for the Government career
of man who was not afraid to fight and fight
hard for things he believed to be vital to the
security of this country
Back in 1948 and 1949 Mr.. Symington led
the fight for 70-group modern Air Force. He
warned that it was vital necessity to the
security of the United States. That fight was
lost. Economy-false economy-was the watch
word, and the President Joined with those who
held that AZ groups was all the Nation could
afford. The bitter disillusionment did not come
until the true extent of our military weakness
was revealed in Korea, and today we are trying
franticaly to catch up We are striving to build
an Air Force far larger than anything that Mr.
Symington ever dared advocate, and, incidentally,
at much greater cost per plane than if we had
started sooner. II our enemies give us time we
will have the planes necessary for air security,
but meanwhile, and for months to come, our
pilots in Korea must fight, not only against
better planes, but against numerical odds which
recently have been as high as six or seven to one
This reflects an episode in the Symington
career, and is not q summary of 1t. But it is an
episode which sheds revealing light on the
whole nature of his service. His performance in
all of his assignments including his last job
Of cleaning up the mess in the RFC, has been
marked by high degree of ability. courage and
integrity. The one accusation Of bad faith that
was brought against him-a suggestion by a
Congressman that he planned to resign as Secre-
tary of the Air Force to take plush job In the
aviation industry-was promptly branded as
lie, and to this day it has not been shown to
have been anything but lie
II MIR. Symington has erred the error has
been on the side of wanting, in the light of
circumstances as they prevailed at any given
time, to do too much rather than too little In
bolstering our national security. AS things have
turned out however it would be hard to support
any such charge Of error On the contrary, and
in retrospect it is safe to say that the country
would be much better of today If there had
been more Symingtons and fewer we-can't-
afford-it men in the administration three and
four years ago.
That, however, is water over the dam. The
fight, in the sense of arousing the country to
its danger, has been won. Nevertheless, the de-
parture from public life of man of Mr.. Syming-
tons qualities is definitely losSy and The Star,
for one, is sorry to see him 60.
Korean truce talks run on as long as the
spellbinder who remarks. from time to time,
"-and now. in closing"
Evening star., 1952-01-05

his seq raiders on the American ships.
The unhappy Bainbridge was COM
PEELED to load aboard the George WASH
ington the ambassador and his funkies,
100 Negro women and an assortment of
lions, antelopes. ostriches and parrots.
Where he slowed them all is q mystery.
The only pleasure the Americans had on
the trip to Turkey was in tacking their
ship rapidly and enjoying the sight Of
the seasick Mussulmen trying to keep
their faces toward Mecca while at
prayer. At the Golden Horn, the Turk
ish official who came aboard had never
heard of the United States, but he was
favorably impressed by the stars in the
American flag, which to him seemed to
have some affinity to the Star and the
Crescent so familiar to Mohammedans
Bainbridge's unwilling journey was not
total loss to the United States, because
he was able to lay the groundwork for
trade treaty later negotiated With
understandable vehemance. Bainbridge
wrote in his report:
II hope may never again be sent to
Algiers with tribute except it be from
the mouth of cannon"
Bainbridge's hope came to pass.
Tribute paying had come to its end. The
arrogance and avarice of the Barbary
pirates had grown with each new effort
to appease them, until even the pacifistic
Jefferson could endure no more. When
Bainbridge returned to Barbary waters
again, the United States and Algiers
were in state. of undeclared war and
the captain was in command of the 81
gun frigate Essex.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Fair Deal Password

am not one to share the common
belief that our Government has been
operating without moral code, how
ever contrary the evidence seems.
AS a matter Of fact believe I have
located this code, phrased by Thorstein
Veblen some quarter century ago, and
undoubtedly today the password in the
inner sanctums Of the Fair Deal.
quote the code: S
"The nation, being in effect licensed
predatory concern, is not bound by the
decencies of that code Of law and morals
that governs private conduct"
See? ..-.
f Pluribus Unum.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
ID, - & z.
Meet the Mink

That sly fellow. the mink, has assumed
monstrous stature and promises to play a
stirring role in the political imbroglio
scheduled for November. With this in
mind-plus the theory that men thrown
IN close contact with animals assume
some Of their characteristics - con-
suited biographical bible on the mink.
Those Of your readers who have not
yet found time to do their own research
ing may be interested in some excerpts
about this member of the weasel family:
Few species are more perfectly
adapted to a double mode of life than the
mink. {. It is equally at home slyly
searching thickets and bottomland for
eSts for prey Or seeking it with otterlike
prowess beneath the water. It is q rest
less animal, active both by day and
night, although mainly nocturnal. E.
When caught in a trap they become
f1ercely aggressive. often uttering squall-
ing shrieks, barring their teeth and 'front.'
ing their captor with truculent air of
savage rage. e. Adults have scent sacs
like those Of the skunk and when angry
or excited can emit from these an ex-
ceedingly acrid and offensive odor. 4. =.
The value of the mink's furry coat has
led to its steady pursuit by trappers.
The increasing demand for furs, how
ever, seems sure to thin them out -
Nature Lover.
Evening star., 1952-01-05

on the dangerous Baltimore pike. II niel1t ba
that the Federal Government could Be persuaded
also to help in the completion OF the Annapolis
Washington expressway and the new Frederick
Washington freeway.
But Maryland would be wasting its breath
if it seriously asked Congress to appropriate a
big lump sum for Maryland's road-building pro-
gram across the District line The State Roads
Commission will never solve its problems in
this area by resorting to daydreaming.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Ridiculous Snow Law

Aren't the Commissioners a bit
bothered by the mumblings of dissatis-
fed people at allowing such ridiculous
snow law to be read into the books? BY
concurring in such law, the Commits
sioners are admitting their inability to
cope with the situation. They are merely
diverting the responsibility to the
motorists.
It's Rube Goldberg snow law and
whoever conceived it probably thinks
it is masterpiece
Justitia Omnibus.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
K Crime Programs

With our jails and institutions already
overcrowded, is it not time to stop some
OF the television murder shows which
encourage crime? The story of the 16-
year-old baby sitter who strangled a g.
year-old girl after watching such a
program should make mothers more
cautious about crime fiction being spread
around SO indiscriminately.
John II. Riggles.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Sinews of War

We are assured that in the name Of
the national war emergency the
threatened strike Of the steel workers
is to be prohibited, by drastic measure
If necessary. The workers are appealing
for few cents an hour wage increase
to help them meet to some extent the
steadily mounting cost of living.
But is anything going to be done,
wonder, about the 240% increase in
profits made by the major steel COM
panies during the recent war years as a
result of the war and its lush Govern
ment contracts?
Mrs. Charles E. Russell.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Letters to The Star

ter to The Star in which you find the
District Guard not prepared has been
sent to the members of this unit still in
Korea. However. feel they will place
more value upon the concentrations
from various commanders in Korea than
in your writings.
--.. ..,s Joseph B. Hall.
Formerly with the 115th r. Trk Co, in
Korea. t7s
Evening star., 1952-01-05
Questions and Answers

The STAYS readers can get the answer 20
any question of fact By either writing The
Evening Star Information Bureau. 1900 street
return postaRe or By telephoninR ST. 1883.
Evening star., 1952-01-05
= By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. How many people were present at
the execution Of Mary. Queen Of Scots?
B. P. d. :
A. Present at the execution Of Mary.
Queen of Scots, were: Richard Fletcher,
dean of Peterborough; the Earls Of
Shrewsbury and Kent, Bull. the execu-
toner, and his assistant: Jane Kennedy
and Elizabeth Curle. The Queens dog.
a Skye terrier, had crept under her
petticoat. It sprang out after the execu-
ton land would not depart from the
dead corpse" -..-.. ..,..
Evening star., 1952-01-05
J.. J.. C..

Pen-nanaeS may be used if letters carry
a0r1terS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star., 1952-01-05

@. Was the Sorbonne named after
some one with that name?-R. Y. 80
A. This celebrated college of the Uni
versity of Paris was founded In the 18th
century at the instigation of Robert de
Sorbon, French theologian. and named
for him. He was born at Sorbon, Octo-
ber 8, 1901, and died at Paris in 1874.
Evening star., 1952-01-05

@. Which Of the two great domes Of
the Renaissance, one for the Duomo in
Florence, the other for st. Peters in
Rome, is the smaller?-X. I. l.
A. The dome of st. Peters is one foot
smaller in diameter than that Of the
Dilnr1nn In E1nrence ---. !.
Evening star., 1952-01-05

@. Where is the easternmost point in
United States territory?-D. N. L.
A. On st. Croix, one of the Virgin
Islands in the Caribbean. Mount Wash
ington overlooks the most easterly point
of land owned by the United States. ,-s-
The globe-independent. (Hagerstown, Md.) 1943-19??, 1952-01-03
Horse and Buggy Days
By Ida 10 Martin

things. One lady, now living in
Maugansville, tells how one Christ
mas the gifts for the girls consisted
of pockets added to the dresses they
already had. Indeed, in those days
gifts were almost always made, and
not bought, for several reasons.
There was not the great selection
now available; the rural folk did not
have cash to buy even necessaries,
and so were accustomed to making
much of their clothes and other
household articles.
The same lady tells about other
Christmasses when they received
popcorn balls and oranges, and, to
use her words, they were "tickled to
death" And that reminds me of
other uses made of popcorn in those
days. recall seeing a string of pop
corn, strung up on a long string,
used to decorate the Christmas tree.
There were also homemade strings
of tinsel, made by untWisting a
string and inserting short pieces of
tinfoil and other bright bits of ma
terial through the string and retwist-
ing it.
Still another type of decoration
was the paper ring string. Narrow
bands of paper were carefully color
ed in all bright colors, pasted into
rings, put together to form chain,
and they were sometimes the bright
est thing on the whole tree. Of
course the time came when candles
were popular on the tree, but they
were the source of so many disas-
ters that the electric light is indeed
happy improvement While here,
it is worth noting, too, that Manager
scenes received more attention than
did Santa, and stars more than rein
deer.
The tree itself, in those days, was
sort of family affair. Back in the
previous summer the tree would be
located and carefully protected, and
even hid if necessary, till the Yule
season would arrive. Then the
whole family attended its bringing
in" and helped with setting it up
and decorating it.
Christmas to the oldtimers was
also time for making candy, cakes,
etc. Imagine a scene, with the whole
family gathered in the old kitchen
around the flat-top wood-burning
combination cook stove and heating
unit for that part of the house.
The stove is heated till part of the