davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-04-25

do not have the concentrated compe-
tition they suffer in small yards.
All one can do is place few houses,
not too many, and hope for the best.
and. like the old Western gambler, ex-
pect the worst.
It is not good to grow impatient. or to
try to trap the sparroWs and the like.
Put up the bluebird houses, and see
what happens.
DARK HARBOR, Me.
'Dear Sir:
In this vicinity-an Island in Penob-
scot Bay-the songbirds returned in
flocks suddenly March q. Many va
rieties, the robin the most noticeable.
There was one lone robin which was
here all winter, a severe one with heavy
shows I observed him many times.
Apparently he fed on the berries of a
number of hawthorn trees.
April was another interesting day,
when the ospreys returned. They have
a large nest on the top of tall dead
tree close to the shore. The nest sur
vived many gales and hard winter
and they are now busily remodeling it
for the summer. I have watched them
do this for several years.
"Very truly, M. s. c."
- An interesting fact about these large
fishhawks is that the purple grackles
frequently build their nests in the inter-
stices Of the osprey nest.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Dute of Crucifixion

j. B. Conyers' letter in The Star Of
April II indicates that the crucihxion
must have taken place on Wednesday.
because otherwise the Lord Jesus Christ
would not have been in the heart Of the
earth for three days and nights, in full
fllment of Matthew xii,40.
However. the explanation is that the
ancient Hebrews reckoned the day from
sunset to sunset, and it is well known
that they, as well as others, counted a
part of day as whole day GA hours).
Thus, a period consisting of part each
of Friday, Saturday and Sunday was
considered as three days and three
nights" though, of course, considerably
less than u hours long.
Further, the disciples on the Emmaus
road, in talking on the afternoon Of the
resurrection day (Sunday) concerning
the crucifixion, said. to-day is the third
day since these things were done" duke
xxiv,2D.
Tradition and church dogma are not
necessarily wrong, and in this instance
they can be perfectly reconciled with
the facts revealed in the inspired Word
of God.
Rernard r. DeRemeF.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
When do the iuncos leave?

When do the juncoS leave?
A correspondent wants to know this.
saying: For the past two weeks. the
juncos have been flying busily around
in groups of six to IL, but as of this
morning they are still very much in
evidence, and wonder if your readers
might not be interested in knowing when
they should normally plan to depart" !"
SnoWbirds usually are gone by April
80, but sometimes few remain until
about May II.
Few species are pleasanter to have
around.
That fat waistcoat, that sleek head,
those fine feathers
Here we have one of our best songsters.
His song, of course, is not much, though
low and sweet.
He leaves us to fly North for nesting
and comes back again in the fall.
The nest is placed on the ground or
among tree roots, and usually con-
sists of four or five white or green
white eggs, spotted with brown.
This is a sparrow, and good one.
Probably few songsters excite more in
terest among just plain folks.
They eat both inimical insects and
weed seeds. and so give human beings
much help.
SILVER HILL ROAD.
Dear Sir:
I'm writing for some help
Evening star., 1952-04-25
For the Record

I hear that IF you read it in The
Star. it's true" Well not always. The
other day in quoting George Healy,
managing editor of the Times -Picayune
Of New Orleans, on the presiden-
tial outlook, you credited him with say
ing: Eisenhower probably will carry
Louisiana like Hoover did in 1928"
Such is not the case. AL Smith carried
Louisiana. and Mr.. Healy and The Star
ought to know it. Smith did poorly
enough in the South in losing Texas,
Florida. North Carolina, Virginia and
Tennessee without giving him credit for
the loss Of Louisiana. Along with car
rying South Carolina. Georgia, Alabama,
Mississippi, and Arkansas, Smith also
carried Louisiana. So make the record
straight, as AL Smith was always a
stickler for ''the record"
Also. your very able columnist, Lowell
Mellett, in writing about the possibility
or non-possibility of another bachelor
President. Senator Russell, said that
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Woodland Confident

Ny tDoodland confddnt Is strong.
An oak Dith bou0hs that brush the sky
And hold Glott the captured song
OF birds a-tCing,
A fragile thing
That lifts my heart and holds it high
Commanding all OF me to sing.
MY Woodland confdGnt Is sure,
A mighty oak NTH roots oroDn deep
To bear the storm and yet endure.
Whatever gale
or force 1ssaI.
This simple trust is mine to keep:
My confdant tDiH neuer tail.
Florence Pedigo Jonssea.
Evening star., 1952-04-25

urday evening and Sunday from 10 am.
until pm, so I know what I am
talking about. We can take care of
about 200 men, then we recommend q
number of other places to the boys. But
after all of these places are filled there
are only 1000 boys taken care of and,
according to a count taken by the police.
there are approximately 10000 service
men that come into the city every week
end.
have an idea (whether it is practical
or not, am not sure) but am in hopes
you might help. Couldn't the city fill
up the National Guard Armory with cots
Friday and Saturday nights and rent
them to the boys at a nominal price?
And how about the churches, which all
seem to have large recreation rooms.
doing the same thing? Instead of giving
some sort Of free meals, place to sleep
would be great deal more help to the
boys.
Vara M. Gugert.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Engineers to Garry On

The decision of President Truman to aban-
don plans for transfer Of the flood control and
civil functions Of the Army Engineers to the
Interior Department is a sensible one.
The Army Corps of Engineers is a highly
important and technically skilled brahch of the
Nations military establishment. As such it
played decisive role in establishing, maintain
ing and operating facilities which were essential
to our victory in World War II, particularly in
the massive invasion of the European continent.
It's employment in civil functions contributes
greatly to its training and experience, factor
of considerable Importance at time when the
Nation is engaged in rehabilitation of its de-
fensive strength
Apart from this consideration, the corps
has been engaged in long-term program for
flood control in the Missouri River basin.- 1t
is a program that reflects an integration of
both the planning and the functioning of the
Army Engineers and the Reclamation Bureau OF
the Department of Interior Congress author
lied its beginning in 1914 and SIS billion already
has been spent on the project An area Of
nearly $4,000 square miles, one-sixth OF the
land mass of continental United States and
rich producer of grains and livestock stands to
benefit by completion Of the program.
Intended to supplement this plan is study
authorized by President Truman earlier this
year when he created Missouri Basin Survey
Commission, as suggested by Congress.
Continuity of direction and execution of
this overall plan for development of such
large and important area is essential The
present flood crisis in the Missouri territory,
resulting from unprecedented circumstances,
strengthens this view. Removal of the Corps OF
Engineers from the picture undoubtedly would
be followed by lengthy interim Of transition
to the civil agency and might seriously jeopardize
the entire project.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Let the Commissioners Fill II

The Senate District Committee, in effect
has administered q we'll Justified rebuke to
President Truman for his obdurate attitude to-
ward the Recorder of Deeds vacancy The
President asked for this rebuke when he made
1t plain that the Senate must accept his nomi-
nation Of Earl Wayne Beck for the recorder post
or else leave the vacancy untitled. The COM
mittees answer to this challenge was to recon-
mend legislation removing this local Job from
the field OF presidential patronage and trans
ferring it to the District Commissioners This
is sensible reform that should have been made
long ago.
The recorders job is a remnant of the
spoils system that has no proper place in the
government of the District of Columbia The
Office of the Recorder of Deeds performs a
municipal function and is maintained with
municipal funds. Yet the practice for many
years has been to regard the appointment as a
political plum to be awarded to party stalwart
without regard to his qualifications for the
job, If any. The Beck nomination is an example
of the tendency to disregard competency in
favor of politics in filling the Office. Mr. Beck's
only apparent qualification for the job was the
fact that he has been longtime political crony
of Mr.. Truman in Kansas City. The nominee
frankly admitted to the committee that he knew
nothing about the requirements of the job The
committee, after an investigation, agreed that
this was fact and gave the Senate an adverse
report on the nomination
But the President has made it plain that,
as far as he is concerned, it is Mr.. Beck or
nobody Under the circumstances, the only
logical course is to transfer the app61ntve power
to the Commissioners where it really belongs,
and to bring the appointment under civil serv-
ice, where it also belongs The change would
assure that merit, rather than political pull,
would be the dominant factor in picking the
head of the recorders Office.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
A Lot of Hooey

Alice with or without the Looking Glass
would have blushed with confusion had she
attended Mr.. Truman's press conference yes
terday.
The President, having rather bad day of
It, was talking about his troubles and his powers
He was annoyed by the criticism of his seizure
OF the steel industry and his implied claim of
power to seize the press This hurrah, said Mr.
Truman in his elegant fashion, was lot Of
hooey.
Furthermore, he would tell the reporters a
few things about his powers and how he had
used them
In 1945 or 1946-he didn't quite remember
which-he had sent an ultimatum to Premier
Stain, and thereby forced the withdrawal of
Russian troops from Iran. That, the President
conf1ded was a bit of hitherto undisclosed
history.
And that was not all. On another occasion
Marshal Tito had been warned against threat
ened march on Trieste. Mr. Truman said he
had stopped the Yugoslav dictator in his tracks
by ordering the Mediterranean fleet to the area.
Said the President There was no march,
Indeed, there was not. In fact, there had
been no threat of a march. The Presidents
remark, said belated and unhappy explana-
tion, related to demand from the United King
dom and the United States that the Yugoslavs
terminate their occupation of Trieste.
Neither had any ultimatum been sent to
Premier Stain. "The President was referring"
said the explanation, Ito United States leader
ship in the United Nations" and to State De-
partment note sent in March, 1946. Further
more, the note was published at the time. It
was not undisclosed history at all.
It is hard to guess what Alice would have
thought Of this topsy performance. Per-
haps she would have secretly envied it. But
she would hardly have indorsed Mr.. Truman's
use Of the word hooey in reference to his critics.
For the dictionary says that hooey means nom
sense. And the President picked mighty poor
day to accuse other people of talking nonsense.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Privote Schools
Bernard r. DeRemer.

One hears on all sides an intensified
discussion of our school situation. There
appear glaring statements to the effect
that private schools are menace to our
democratic way of life. And yet, in the
earlier days of our country our schools
were exclusively private. It.seems that
these critics of the so-called dual" sys-
TEN of education regard as private" all
schools other than those supported by
common tax funds.
AS taxpaying citizen wish to place
before you an example of private"
school. have chosen to pay extra to
have my children in school in which
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Wutchdoqs
ID. w. S.

This refers to the article in the Sum-
day Pictorial Magazine of April 20. en-
titled, Burglars, Beware: Dogs on
Guard"
The law permits only that force that
Is necessary to protect our homes from
invasion. I doubt if it permits more
force to be used in protecting a junk
yard. I have sent letter to the United
States Attorney calling his attention to
this matter.
Thieves should be punished. but the
thief who f1lches from junkyard at
night Is not the type Of criminal who
deserves to be torn to pieces by a pack
OF ferocious beasts. Indeed, our law i'm
poses no such fate on the worst of
criminals; and what about children who
might stick their fingers through the
fence. or the spirited boy who might
scale this fence on a dare?
william M. Burdette, t.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Supports Steel Seizure

have wondered why so few of your
readers rallied to the support of the
President in the steel case. So I make
bold to outline my own impressions. It
is, of course, impossible for q private
citizen to have first-hand knowledge of
the operations of the steel industry; we
must CLEAN the facts largely from the
news columns. This makes the respon-
sibility of the press so great in a de-
mocracy.
In the first place it must be perfectly
obvious that the steel industry has no
case at all. This is made clear by the
fact that the company mouthpiece in his
recent coast-to-coast broadcast spent the
great majority Of his valuable time in
personal villification Of the President. He
did not bother to explain the facts or
the need for steel profiteers to earn SO
much on their money at q time when
my war bonds are earning something
less than 8 per cent.
The choice for President Truman was
not choice between strike or no strike;
the choice was where to throw the
weight Of the Government to resolve the
fratricidal struggle between stubborn
antagonists. The question was whether
to compel the workers to continue to
work against their will, in contravention
of the 4th 5th. and 14th Amendments to
the Constitution. or to seize the plants
in possible violation Of the 5th Amend
ment. He chose to place liberty ahead
OF property. just as the founding fathers
did in the wording Of the 5th Amend
ment.
Mr.. Truman tried to make it clear
In his speech that invoking the Taft
Hartley law would not have restored the
plants to production. He estimated that
it would have required at least two
weeks for the union leadership to over
come wildcats and individual absentee
ism, which certainly would have followed
an attempt to make steel by injunction.
The greater issue is the rebellion
against duly constituted authority. It is
perfectly understandable that steel man
agement is unanimously opposed to the
whole New Deal; but the New Deal is
the duly established public policy Of the
country. It is the plain duty OF every
American to cooperate with such duly
constituted authority, particularly in the
face of the enemy. reserving the right
to secure redress in the courts, or in the
political arena.
Jack Larsen.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Drainage Pool Tragedy

I sympathize with Mr.. Maloney in the
loss of his daughter Linda. However,
do not feel blame for the accident should
be placed on the failure Of the rescue
companies to answer the call for help.
According to the American Red Cross
First Aid Textbook, artificial respiration
must >be given in the first few minutes
after breathing stops. Apparently this
was done as soon as the child was re-
moved from the pool.
The fault for the accident lies in the
failure of Chillum residents to eliminate
the hazardous drainage pool instead Of
bemoaning the dangers Of it for four
years.
I do not condone the rescue COM
panies. nor the law that forbade their
answering o call for help. but the blame
should be laid on our too-procrastinat-
ing citizenry (of which am one).
Sympathetic.
Evening star., 1952-04-25

president Cleveland remained a bache-
lor until away in his second term" It
has always been my impression that
Cleveland married early in his first term.
His wife, Frances Folsom. some "a
years younger, is given credit for dis
carding the hustle, prominent in those
days. When the Presidents wife saw fit
to throw out that article of raiment.
other women followed suit and it soon
went into disfavor, am informed by
my late parents. Well, so much "for
the record" No one is infallible, Of
course.
Tim F. Mccarthy.
Editors note: Reader Mccarthy is
right on both counts. The Star re-
gretS this slur on LouiSiana's long
Democratic voting record. To get the
record straight, Mr.. Healy was queried
and wired back: II told your inter-
viewer that sections Of Louisiana had
gone Republican since reconstruction
days, but that the State as q whole
has been Democratic for many years.
In 1928. Hoover, because of his flood
relief work, was given a chance to
carry the State, but did not. I said
that If Eisenhower ran with Repub-
lican backing against candidate
handicapped with the Truman label
he would carry Louisiana. but that I
felt Russell would carry the State
against any Republican nominee.
Having referred earlier to the Repub-
licans' failure when they had their
best chance in 1928. I said that Eisen-
hover running against Russell would
mean a repetition of 1928.D
Evening star., 1952-04-25
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

BY THE HASKIN SERVICE
Q. At what age is a race horse called
yearling?-B. F. o.
A. All thoroughbreds have o common
birth date, January /. No matter in
what month of the year the birth occurs.
the foal is considered to be one year old
on the following January l. After his
first birthday the foal is a yearling.
@. Do tornadoes occur in all parts Of
the United States?-E. r. F..
A. These severe storms are liable to
occur in practically all parts Of the
country east of the Rocky Mountains.
and generally speaking are most numer-
Gus in the eastern Great Plains and Mis-
sissippi Valley, although they are Of
comparatively frequent occurrence in
most of the Southern States from Texas
eastward Tornadoes rarely occur in the
regions west Of the Rocky Mountains.
@. How long does a thatched roof last
under normal conditions?-G. L.
A. Straw-reed thatch lasts from IS to
40 years, with the exception Of the ridge.
which needs renewing every 10 to IL
years. Thatched roofs on cottages are
still popular in England and other parts
Of Europe. Residents claim that these
houses are warmer in winter and cooler
in summer than those with other kinds
Of roofing.
Q. Who is the patron saint invoked
against cancer?-J. s. A.
A. st. Peregrine u260-1345). He was
a worldly Italian youth who subsequent
ly became religious and was cured OF a
cancer in his leg after a vision. 1t is
recorded that he never sat down for 80
years. Canonized in 1926, his feast day
is May !.
@. Who was elected first president
general Of the DAR?-L. E. Y.
A. Mrs. Benjamin Harrison. wife Of
the President Of the United States.
Evening star., 1952-04-25

looking for the winners band wagon, and If they
can help 1t they will not be caught looking in
the wrong direction So there need be no great
fear that the Pennsylvania bosses will go down
the line for Senator Taft merely because, on a
personal basis, they might prefer him. They
want winner, and they can count votes as
well as any one else.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Letters to The Star g :s :s ss :

they are taught daily about their duty
to God, to their country and to their
neighbor. This school is taught by
group Of nuns who have dedicated their
lives to God, and are serving Him and
their country by working for the better
ment Of youth. They have a definite
and loving interest in the children in
their clasSrooms. I know from the type
OF homework my children have to do
that they are being taught the finer
things Of life along with the other es-
sentials Of elementary education. Also,
I have attended programs put on by
the children in the school. All Of them
were good and uplifting, but the one put
on by the eighth grade was particularly
inspiring. In addition to evidence of
progress in the regular studies, the
whole program stressed the value of
fellowship with God. the citizens duty
to love and serve his country, and to
respect his neighbor's rights, emphasiz-
ing the value and honor of toll in the
humber tasks of life.
If any one imagines that such instruc-
ton is detrimental to our democratic
way Of life, he either does not know the
facts, or is being impelled to criticize
from a motive that certainly will not
serve the best interests Of our beloved
country.
John A. Iacv
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Weekend Beds for els

am much interested in the housing
facilities for the enlisted men of all our
armed services who come to Washing
ton for week ends. am at the Soldiers.
Sailors, Marines and Airmen's Club at
Eleventh and l. streets NV. every Sat-
Evening star., 1952-04-25
'Stoydown' Flyers

Much could be said about your re-
cent editorial, Stirring Up a Teapot
Tempest The point with which I
take exception. however. is your state
ment that they (fyers who refused
to fly) could have resigned before
Korea" They could have, but it
wouldn't have guaranteed their not
being recalled. My husbands reserve
status expired in October; he was re-
called month and a half later. He
had no more recourse then than these
poor guys have today iD the Air Force.
Our II months are almost up, but I
still feel something should be done
about the Army's method of recalling
inactive reservists.
Kay G. Katz.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Ike's Finances

lke's Finances
This letter is not motivated by any
animus toward Gen. Eisenhower. If he
is nominated as the Republican candi-
date for the presidency, shall vote for
him. as regard him as better qualified
than most of his rivals for that Office.
Nevertheless, I believe the record
should be clearly stated, and do not
believe you did so in your editorial April
IS, entitled. "Risky-but Necessary"
In that editorial you state: 81. If
Gen. Eisenhower should be nominated
but not elected, the financial loss would
be heavy one for man in his circum-
stances" The financial loss referred to
is. of course, the $18.761 per annum
which Gen. Eisenhower now draws and
would continue to draw as long as he
retains his commission in the Army.
It is my recollection that Gen. Eisen-
hover sold the serial rights to his mem
oirs, Crusade in Europe" to Life maga-
zine for sum reported at the time to be
in the neighborhood of 81 million. Also,
that his book was Book of the Month
Club selection and Nationwide best
seller. Further. that the income received
from his book was taxed as a capital
gain, at the maximum rate of Is per
cent.
If this recollection is correct, Gen.
Eisenhower is today a millionaire or a
near-millionaire. The impression created
by your editorial-the implication that
Gen. Eisenhower's circumstances are
those of most Army generals-would ac-
cordingly seem to be a highly erroneous
one. If Gen. Eisenhower assumes risk
by resigning his commission to accept
the candidacy, it would not appear to be
a grave financial risk.
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer 70
any question Of fact BY either yTltips The
NV, WASHINGTON. D. c.. and inclosing 8 cents
return postage or BY telephonng ST. 7363
Evening star., 1952-04-25
Year of the Crow Bunouet

read with interest the result Of The
Stars poll of newspaper editors on the
question: who in your Judgment will
be the next President of the United
States?"
suggest you take another poll Of
these same experts on the following:
who in your judgment was going to be
the next President of the United States
just before the election Of 1948?"
Samuel Shapiro.
Evening star., 1952-04-25

@. Who was elected first president
general Of the DAR?-L. e. Y.
A. Mrs. BENJAMIN Harrison, wife Of
the President Of the United States.
Evening star., 1952-04-25

..I'm writing for some help
Evening star., 1952-11-09
By Meredith 5. Busl

i've In emergencies, they must be
10 tell whether bombed areas are
% enter. The recruits, therefore,
the rate meter, which is designed
easure the amount or density of
activity in a given area. They
learn to use a Geiger counter to
/ atomic radiation on clothing.
pector Lorraine r. Johnson, civil
lSe liaiSon officer for the depart
, says scout cars will be equipped
the two instruments when addi-
! funds are appropriated.
the first time a course is being