davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-05-13
BY Charles E. TroceweN

This. however. would be most unusual.
since flying into screen Stuns but sell
dom kills bird.
lone bird might occasionally die this
way, but hardly Z in one day.
MY first thought was that they had
eaten insects that had been poisoned but
so far as know. no poisoned spray has
been used in the neighborhood. More
over. if they were poisoned, they would
not be likely to all go to the same spot
to die.
six of the birds were purple finches;
males and 2 females. and the seventh
was a white -throated sparrow.
This is surprising. too, for we have
had very few finches at our feeding sta
ton this spring.
Have any Of your readers possible
explanation?
''Yours truly,
Y. E. B."
The mystery deepens. These must be
added to the dozen or so robins found
dead under similar circumstances in
Hagerstown, and six more in Rock
Greek Park. as reported here, all without
outer signs.
Three birds dissected revealed tape
and round worms, but probably all birds
have these, at least to some extent.
The fact that the various groups are
found close together would seem to point
to a human agency of some sort.
One may wonderland let us insist it
is only that-if biological warfare ex-
periments may be responsible. The hui
man pattern seems present, and possibly
this might be an explanation, and pos
sibly again it might not.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
CounseIs Locul G. 0. P.

None of us wants the Republican pri-
mary in the District to be "eyewash."
I would respectfully suggest the fol-
lowing parliamentary procedure at the
district meetings of our election pre-
cinctS:
/. Allow no one but bona flde regis
trants of the precinct to participate in
the deliberations. Observers from head
quarters may be assigned but they can
only participate in their own precincts
grass roots referendum.
q. Let the first order of business be a
majority decision whether the delegate
selected is to be instructed or unin-
structed. ,ess@ 50 -.v
3. If the delegate is to be instructed,
then proceed with nominations of can
didates openly pledged to either Taft or
Eisenhower.
4. The majority decision of the pre-
cinct voters shall be binding upon the
delegates elected. They will be pledged
to vote in the interests of the preSiden-
tial candidate for whom they were in
structed in all subsequent nomination
and election procedures.
Uninstructed delegates make any pri-
mary "eyewash." Let US insist upon the
delegate being the servant of majority
preference. Don't dissipate voting
strength by too many nominations. It
will be the strategy of the opposition to
dilute your strength by encouraging di-
vision. If we go into our precinct meet
ings with a fair, businesslike plan, the
people rather than political bosses will
win the verdict. Irrespective of which
candidate wins, let him win by honest
means that leave no wounds to hurt or
harm.
Tho,nos r Mattinslv M D.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
This and That

These include the mockingbird, cat
bird and the brown thrasher.
The thrasher has many different
names. In some parts of the country
It is called the brown thrush; in others.
the sandy mocker, in still other places
the ground thrush. Some know it as
the mavis. others simply as the song
thrush.
The name thrasher comes from the
way the bird thrashes around with its
long tail.
There are other thrashers, but this is
the one we have around here. and a
real beauty he is and good to have, be-
cause he eats many insects. .
Actually, these birds are not thrushes.
though they have the same sort of brown
in their feathers. and have speckled
breasts It is a free singer, and this is
why it is confused with thrushes in the
popular mind.
It's song is more like that Of the cat
bird, and this latter is often confused
with that of the mocker. Many persons
who hear catbirds never know it. but
think they are listening to the always
popular mockingbird.
HAWTHORNE STREET.
Dear Sir:
Yesterday morning our next-door
neighbor found dead birds on the
ground by her back fence.
There were no marks on the birds
and all were in the same place, an area
not more than feet square.
THE porch Is screened and the only
explanation I can find is that the birds
few against the screen and were killed.
Evening star., 1952-05-13

ized disqualification for the community's
tuberculars. They began a three-year
campaign urging the District Commis-
sioners ito secure the erection of suit
able hospital for sufferers of tubercu-
losis." Meanwhile, as temporary ex-
pediency, four tents donated by private
contributions were set up on the grounds
of the Washington Asylum Hospital
(now Gallinger) for only 40
patients. Finally. in 1906, Congress ap-
propriated 100000 for building which
was opened a year later at Fourteenth
and Upshur streets NV. This hospital
served as the only one Of its kind in the
District for 20 years, until the 1900, 900
tuberculosis sanatorium was opened at
Glenn Dale, Md.
From the very beginning of the local
tb. movement. efforts have been made
to demonstrate the need for program
of control and prevention of the disease.
An example of such a demonstration
was the opening in 1904 of the first
dispensary for the diagnosis and treat
ment of tuberculosis. The association
operated the dispensary for IA years
until it was replaced in 1918 by the
Municipal Health Clinic.
Working with city authorities to for
ward their campaign by legislation went
hand -in-hand with their demonstration
of needs for the community.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
ARLINGTON.

Dear Sir:
I'VE are so interested in your column
since we have house and yard. The
builder tore down most of the trees,
but left one beautiful young oak in
our back yard and we eat most Of our
meals just staring out at the different
birds.
I'VE had nest of robins last year,
but she suddenly left and we discovered
all her eggs were crushed. We were
crushed, too, and didn't know if it was
the blue Jay that did it.
MY husband said he thought nice
birdhouse would help protect her eggs
and he spent three weeks making the
very last word in fancy birdhouses. So
far, nobody has even looked it over ex-
cept some sparrows.
I'VE are not sure they are common
sparrows. They are smaller. have dark
wings, rusty brown topknot and the
most beautiful soft gray breast. They
seem to whistle and twitter unlike any
sparrows ever saw.
II never get tired of seeing them
swinging in the wind on the most fragile
branches of the tree.
Yesterday we had a beautiful pair
of brown thrasflers and just couldn't
get over how much they sounded like
mockingbird.
Sincerely, M. P. E.
It is no wonder the thrasher sounds
q great deal like mocker-
It belongs to the same group Of mimic
thrushes, as they are sometimes called.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
One Whiz Among Quizzed Kids

Some time ago visited number Of
schools in Prince Georges County. I
was surprised and delighted to find so
much attention devoted to the funda-
mentals. But recently have begun
to question the results being obtained.
Within the last few weeks I have
been picking up many hitchhikers.
mostly high school children. I have
questioned some 40 or so Of them, and
of the number only one knew what is
meant by latitude or longitude. Two
soldiers from Ohio. graduates Of high
school, were just as ignorant. My last
hitchhiker was college senior. He
said I had asked good question, but
was unable to throw any light on the
subject.
am flabbergasted. But I may be
wrong; don't know. Perhaps it is not
important to know the things once
taught so assiduously. It may be just
as we'll not to know that the Fourth of
July is Washington's birthday; that Ma
poleon crossed the Rubicon; that Jesse
James assassinated President Lincoln;
that Shakespeare wrote the Rubaiyat; or
that Pennsylvania lies north of the
Smith and Wesson line.
Several years ago I read novel writ
ten by prominent American. He had
his hero and heroine climbing steppes
in Russia; and his hero standing on
'''' '~ ~ Elmer C. Helm.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Bird Problem

The string is easy. With a fit and dart
He s,Doops on it and tugs it free. Then
hies --
Back to the birdhouse, teuerishlyAto start
Building his nest. All morning long he
flies
With straw and feathers. But this one
long tUig
ThDdrts hint-because it Is so big.
Square in the center he holds 1t with
his bill 81.
And. broadside. striues to push in
through the door
And is brought up short: but. being Of
stout DiH,
Does not giue up. but tries one sage trick
PokeS one end in, edges the other after.
Then stops to triI his brief triumphant
laughter!
Helen HoHinetoa
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Britoin's Political Temper

Two important election tests in Britain since
the Conservative Party returned to national
power last October have reflected significant
popular gains for the LaboriteS.
The first of these tests was the County
Council vote on April 4. The second was the
Borough Council vote of last week. Each of these
competitions for political favor is localized
affair in which community considerations often
have great bearing upon the results. 1t is per-
haps proper, therefore, that neither of the major
parties considers such results true barometer
of nationwide political sentiment and no parlia-
mentary crisis is engendered.
It would be naive, however, particularly in
view of the concluSveness of last weeks returns,
to feel that the Borough Council vote does not
indicate a certain public temper toward the
national administration British observers
point .out that most of the Conservative losses
could be interpreted as protests against housing
and employment conditions on the local level.
They concede further however, that continuance
and intensifcation c. he austerity program for
Britain as a whole meeting with public
resentment, or at l. st question, which has
played part in the political reaction.
It was known. of<course, when the Conserva-
tives took over the government last fall that
they were facing a tough situation. Brltaln's
postwar economy was just approaching the point
where it could stand on its own feet when the
cold war requirements for rehabilitation became
fixed upon it. The leaders of both parties were
fully aware that the austere way of life could
not be lightened substantially To the credit OF
the Conservatives, they faced up to the problem
and their budgetary policies of the past six
months have forced an even tighter belt for the
civilian population. To the credit of the Labor
ties, too they have refrained from any full-Scale
party effort to embarrass the Churchill govern
ment on the matter on the parliamentary level
Evening star., 1952-05-13
|Friendly Visitors. and q Common Foe
By Fronces Skippen

THE boys name was Chris Lewis. He
L was one of three children of a
Negro widow living in an alley glorified
with a street name. Though barely 18
and frail, he had worked hard as a
huckster to help his mother and younger
brothers obtain life's meager necessities.
Finally he was too ill to work. His
mothers worries grew as his cough got
worse and his bones became more prom
inent. There was little enough money
for food; none for medical treatment.
And at that time-in 19O1-there was
no place in Washington where Chris or
any other "consumptive" could be treat
ed properly.
The plight of the INDECENT widow and
her sons was reported to the Associated
Charities of the District of Columbia.
Thereafter, during the tuberculous boys
illness, friendly visitor" one Edward
Hunter, Government worker who gave
of his spare time to the COlored Con-
ference of the Charities, aided the i'm
poverished family. .e
Desperately he tried to save the dying
boy. His fight was in vain. Chris death
in 1902 so impressed Mr.. Hunter with
the need of doing something to help
others that he could talk of little else.
AS a result, the Colored Conference
named him and two others-the Rev.
Daniel WiSeman, Lutheran minister.
and w. S. Duffield, recreation worker,
to do what they could to arouse public
interest in the control and spread OF
consumption" as the disease was then
called. : @-
The organization of that committee so
years ago represented the first public
effort in the fight against tuberculosis
in the District. From the modest efforts
of those three has grown the District
of Columbia tuberculosis Association
with a membership of, $4,000 in 1852.
Celebrating it's half-century existence
at the annual meeting, the association
last night paid tribute to those pioneers
who started the anti-tuberculosis move
ment in Washington two years before
the National tuberculosis Association
was organized in 1904.
In 1902, the fervor Of the committee
of three Negroes aroused so much public
interest that the Associated Charities
decided to establish O. permanent Com
mittee on the Prevention Of Consump-
ton in the District of Columbia. The Is
public-spirited citizens who made up the
committee were we'll aware that tuber-
culosis was rampant in the Nations
Capital taking lives at the rate Of two
or three persons day. Only two other
cities in the country-San Francisco and
Denver-had higher t.b. death rates in
1893 Not only was the disease un-
checked. but there were no facilities for
special care of those stricken with the
white plague" The first main objective
of the committee was to secure special
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Truffic Suggestion

Stop signs. and even lights. are not
always effective. Many motorists when
on through-street proceed blithely on
their way confidently expecting all driv-
ers approaching stop signs unfailingly to
stop. Human nature being what it is,
occasionally one does not stop. either
not seeing the sign or callously ignoring
1t. with resultant crash. property dam
age and sometimes loss of life, or per.
rpanent injury to persons.
Why should not all motorists be ready
to stop at any and all intersections?
Just the other day averted an accident
of this kind by being thusly on guard
when motorist swept through a stop
sign, a high concrete wall obscuring his
approach. stopped instantly, else
would have struck his car broadside. On
many other occasions during the past
Evening star., 1952-05-13
EIephont Forgets?

If Eisenhower is nominated by the
COP, the party emblem should be
changed from the elephant to the
chicken, for the ELEPHANTS noted for its
prodigious memory.
In 1928. the Republicans nominated
Hoover who. like Ike. had never before
run for public Office. not even for dog
catcher. After his four years were up,
he never ran again.
In 1910. the Republicans nominated
Willkie, an ex-Democrat like Eisen-
hover. Ike voted for Roosevelt in 1914
and was considered for the Democratic
nomination in 1948.
In 1914 and 1948, the COP. nomi-
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Cost Of Livino

About two weeks ago we sold some
very choice hogs to packing company.
The price we received was 171a cents
per pound.
A few days later was in one of the
Washington chain stores, and saw sliced
ham on the counter. The price was $129
per pound.
thought it might be possible for you
to tell me the function of the Office Of
Price. Sterilization. The way it looks to
me they are trying to kick the bejabbers
off the farmers and let the public spend
it's entire income to keep the middle
men in the high-income brackets.
r. X. Myers.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Wants Facts on China

AS one deeply interested in getting the
facts about the Nationalist China gov
ernment, would like to suggest to Mr..
Ku and the Chinese Embassy that in
their public communicate denouncing
the Reporter articles on the China Lobby
they themselves avoid the protested
smear" and document with fact their
broad statement.
Let us have the evidence Of obvious
Misrepresentation and unwarranted de-
duction." Let us have the evidence that
the Nationalist government has strug-
gled against communism for Is years."
Tell us why unsavory characters have
worked so hard for funds for China. Tell
us how the American millions in goods
and dollars were used.
Does the Chinese Embassy think that
all Americans are lulled to gullibility by
the cry of We're against communism?
Some of us want documented evidence.
Rose C. Kramer.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Letters to The Star .

mated Dewey, "me-too" Republican like
Eisenhower Both Willkie and Dewey
were advanced as "sure winners" by the
same crowd and by the same tactics now
being used to promote Ike.
So if the Republicans will profit from
their defeats in the past 20 years. they
will nominate Taft, a regular Repub-
lican who has been elected to public Of
flee many times. and thus give the peo-
pie an opportunity in November to vote
for or against war and imitation.
On the Record.
Evening star., 1952-05-13

although capitalizng on it in the local elections
The British political system, with no fixed
terms of office for government is extremely
sensitive to public reaction. It may be that the
Laborites will continue their tolerant conduct
in Parliament but the fact that there is politi-
cal tide running in their favor at the lower
levels is tempting circumstance.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
World Production Record

In world that has become increasingly
preoccupied in the past two years with produc-
ton of the instruments for destruction 1t is not
surprising that the output OF all manufactured
goods in 1851 reached record volume.
The more interesting and heartening aspect,
according to a United Nations study, is that the
rate of increase for consumer and capital
production was greater than that shown for
military goods. While it is true that the high
levels of employment that can be attributed in
part to the rearmament efforts were, in turn
responsible for much of the consumer and
capital goods demands, the absorption and utili-
zation of this record productivity in civilian
manufactures prove again the great need and
opportunity which exist for the making and the
trading of articles of peace.
One sidelight of the U. N. report is that
shortages of raw materials have not developed
to the extent predicted. A partial explanation
for this lies in the tagging or stretching out Of
defense production programs. A further expla-
nation, however, lies in the discovery and
development of new sources of critical materials,
and in the ingenuity applied in devising Substi-
tutes. Compulsion, of course, played its part in
stimulating these discoveries but the fact
remains that the world storehouse of raw
materials has hardly been tapped and the broad
horizons for synthetics hardly approached.
It is unfortunate indeed that the political
forces of sinister intent which exist in the world
today are unwilling to turn their energies with
equal determination to the production and the
use of the instruments of peace. Were this to be
50. the U. N. study remarks with the greatest
conservatism that opportunities for raising
living standards in both developed and under
developed countries would correspondingly
improve"
Dried out American cigarettes, taken from
snlugglers, found no takers at Mexican govern
ment auction, although smoking carton or so,
they say, is as effective as tonsillectomy.
A columnist who combed Texas couldn't find
a pauper. In fact, we suppose the only Texan
to whom "poor" was ever applied was the lone
cowboy in the song.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.
@. How long does it take to produce
a modern war plane, from plans to fin
ished product?-H. B. H.
A. The time for high speed jet
fighter has been calculated as years.
from first drawing board sketches to
conclusive test flights of a few hand
built prototypes. Two years more are
needed to attain volume production. A
heavy bomber requires at least eight
years initially, with additional time for
production in sufficiently large quanti-
ties.
@. Please define the term visibility"
in connection with weather reports
D. K
A. Visibility is defined as the mean
greatest distance towards the horizon
at which one may see by the normal
unaided eye large objects such as hills,
buildings, smokestacks, etc, and which
distance must prevail over the range Of
more than half the horizon.
Evening star., 1952-05-13

Throughout the years the association
has worked hard for legislation to stamp
out tuberculosis. and its efforts have
been rewarded with such important re-
suits as the pasteurization of milk and
increased hospital facilities. The first
legislation passed in Washington as
result Of the associations backing was in
1903 when city ordinance was put into
effect forbidding splitting on the side
walks.
The work started by the pioneers Of
the local t.b. movement formed the
basis for the associations program to-
day. It resulted in such projects
throughout the years as the modern
Health Crusade, in 1918, in which thou
sands of school children participated;
the annual Early Diagnosis Campaigns.
which brought to the city'S attention
need for t.b. prevention--andf finally, in
1948, the Washington Chest X-ray Sur
vey, during which more than 100000
persons Is years of age and over were
X-rayed.
Working with District health officials,
communities, social, fraternal and busi-
ness groups, the association today car
ries on its programswi as much of a
challenge as was faced by the pioneers.
For in 1852 Washington's t.b. NOR
tality rate is second only to Baltimore
among the larger cities in the country.
Evening star., 1952-05-13

IS years or more I have averted many
such crashes.
Why not a campaign. with posters. or
what not, emphasizing this very simple
and effective formula for the prevention
of accidents? Why not, indeed?
A. b. Little, M. ID.
Evening star., 1952-05-13
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer to
any question of fact by either writing The
NV, Washington 5, D. c.. and nclosing cents
return postage or by telephoning ST. 1858.
Evening star., 1952-05-13

Pen-n1n1es may be used if letters carry
Writers' correct names and addresses.
AL letters are subject to condensation.
The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1952-07-10

and Mr.. and Mrs. J. MunSch
and children and Mrs. Robert
Ennis and sons of Seattle,
Wash.
o. J. Landon, in company
with Stark Bair of Hardin, is
enjoying a fishing trip in
northern Montana and Canada.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bob Nees and
Larry and MIR. and Mrs. Dale
Nees of Billings spent the