davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1952-12-26
By Charles E. TroceweN

In this way, the animal can run from
one house to another, eluding his COM
panions.
Large doors must be cut at each end
Of the village"
These may be two sides, split in the
middle, regular swinging doors, or a
single door can be hung from the top.
The different ways Of approach of the
feline mind are always interesting to the
cat friend and observer.
One will dash straight through,
another will stick nose in. to investi-
gate. One will dash in and turn around
at once. the next will leap right straight
ahead.
Here we see, in little, the varying
dispositions. not only of cats but Of
human beings. Some observers will be
reminded of scene in war, where in
vaders are cautiously taking village.
The cat, even indoors, is alert.
Man today, even despite two wars,
cannot understand the constant alert
in which the birds and animals live.
Lacking true languages, and not pos
sessing the written word, their lives are
mostly action and reaction.
Watching bird feeding station at
close hand, the observer notes how the
creatures are constantly in motion.
The bill twitches. the feet hop, and
the head jerks around all the time.
This motion never ceases except when
the bird II asleep.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
This and That ).

Boxes and cartons that held Christmas
presents can be made into excellent cat
toys.
The modern cat, mature at one year
of age, is still great deal Of a playboy
at heart.
He likes to kitten around, and finds
paper and cardboard much to his liking.
Old boxes can be left as they are. The
household pet will delight in jumping
in and out of them.
The human element in the scene,
however. will want something different.
This may be achieved by using The
boxes in series, to represent row Of
small houses.
It is amazing what may be done with
such material.
The artistic person can create minia-
ture village.
Cold water paints may be used for
variety of effects.
If the village" as constituted, appeals
to the children in the family, so much
the better.
Boxes make fine doll houses; some
of them are SO large that children may
play in them.
We are talking, however, of play toys
for the feline population.
If the cats are to be pleased, the vary
ing boxes must be Joined together. This
will mean that one side is taken out. and
fitted to the next box.
Evening star., 1952-12-26

AS -throated sparrow perches
on the feeding station, eating seed, he
keeps an open eye for invaders.
Invasion is every day, every hour,
every minute in birdland.
It is not an invasion, except at the
bill of hawk, that results in death, but
simply one that means the bird must
keep a constant lookout.
Much of this vigilance amounts to
nothing more than sudden fight into
the air, but it has its place in the animal
economy. No living creature in the wild
ever knows what may happen. In this
the human watcher may realize that
war, against which he often inveighs.
is a part of life. He must be prepared.
himself. for whatever may happen. The
peace for which he longs is simply the
interval between wars, whether he likes
to admit it or not.
The household cat, as a pet, is saved
from many small wars by being kept in
the house. He lives an approximation of
a zoo-like life, and benefits in some ways,
loses in others.
His curiosity. one of his best features.
may be kept at the alert by building him
carton house, now and then.
Large paper bags, Of course, are not
to be sneezed at. These please him partly
because Of the rustic. The noiseleSs
moving creature likes plenty Of noise
in his toys. We are sure he would prefer
fife and drum, II he knew how to
use them.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
AIexondrio's S Forward Step

Alexandria, long under criticism for its
failure to adopt poution-control measures,
now has stepped forward as an enthusiastic
participant in the movement to clean up the
Potomac River. Indeed, Alexandria has taken
Its place in the forefront of Virginia cities con-
sdering establishment of municipal sanitation
authority-a new system for building and oper-
ating sewage disposal facilities under a 1850
State law. The city's determination to proceed
with modern sanitation program should help
to spur action by Fairfax County on proposals
for joint disposal of sewage
Only the approval of the State Corporation
Commission is needed to bring into being the
Alexandria Sanitation Authority, a significant
step toward abandonment of the citys ancient
but shameful practice of dumping huge quanti-
ties of raw sewage into the river and its con-
venient tributaries. Alexandria never has had
a Sewage-treatment plant of any kind a situa-
ton which has brought down upon it the ire
Of the State Water Control Board. The board
has ordered the city to take definite action to
remedy present conditions. Alexandria has
complied in two ways. 1t has joined with Arling-
ton Fairfax and Falls Church in an inter-
JuriSdictional engineering survey to determine
the feasibility and deSrability of joint disposal
facilities, with encouraging results And it has
been the first city in Virginia to adopt the
sanitation authority plan for administering
SeWage-control systems.
In an ordinance setting forth the city's
decision to create the new agency, Alexandria
agreed to consider three possible sewage
disposal plans, as suggested by the engineering
survey. One, to cost about 81 million, would
commit the city to go-it-alone program, COM
pletely independent of disposal plans of neigh
boring counties. Another proposal, involving
cost of SO million, would require limited team
work with Fairfax County, so as to take care
of part of the Fairfax sewage. third plan,
costing at the outset $92 million, of which the
city would pay $6 million, would provide for
more extensive joint disposal of Alexandria and
Fairfax sewage. The joint plans would save
both Jurisdictions substantial sums in main
tenance and operation costs over the years.
BY setting up an authority to consider these
various proposals and act on them Alexandria
has paved the way for prompt decision on the
big question Of independent or joint sewage
disposal. Since the decision inevitably will
hinge in large measure on what Fairfax County
may decide to do, equally prompt decisions by
Fairfax are necessary if the States mandate
for immediate action on pollution control is to
be met Since Fairfax County stands to gain
by joint sewage treatment, the county can i'll
afford to delay in acting on AleXandria's implied
invitation to join with it in sanitation reforms.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
StoIin's Christmas MESSAGE

There is a natural and not unreasonable
inclination to brush aside Premier Stalin's latest
peace overture as just another propaganda
maneuver.
The familiar arguments can be invoked
Earlier top-level meetings with the Russian chief
of state have been unrewarding sometimes
worse than unrewarding. The Soviet attitude
toward the recent United Nations peace proposal
discourages any belief that Russia really wants
to settle the Korean war. If the Russian leaders
do want peace, the proper place to demonstrate
that desire is at the scene of the so-called truce
negotiations which have been dragging on
interminably in Korea.
There are other aspects of this development
however, which should not be ignored.
The most fundamental consideration is that
the probable alternative to a settlement with
Russia is war with Russia And the prospective
consequences of such war must be as dismaying
to Stain as to us. If this is the case, we can
never afford to ignore the possibility that the
Russians sooner or later, will come to the deci-
sion that reasonable settlement with the West
will serve not only our interests but their interests
as we'll.
Another factor which has to be kept in mind
is the growing military strength of the United
States Our real trouble with the Russians, or
at least that phase of our trouble which concerns
the possibility of recourse to war, assumed
uAcdGcll1IiS plOpOfGlOIS only WIlen, IN Cne name
of economy, we dismantled and almost wrecked
our military establishment after World War H.
That error at considerable cost, is being cor
rected And there is at least substantial basis
for the belief that, as we regain relatively
favorable military position, the Russians will
discover greater incentive to seek an adjust
ment of outstanding disagreements across the
conference table.
There is nothing in this latest bid from
Premier Staln put forward in response to
inquiries from James Reston of the New York
Times, which warrants the slightest relaxation of
our effort to rearm ourselves and to build and
strengthen the Western alliance There is
enough in it, however, to call for serious con-
sideration by the incoming administration
Such consideration need not encompass any
indifference to the possible presence of BOBBY
traps, and General Eisenhower, an experienced
hand at that sort of thing, can be relied upon to
take suitable precautions The fact remains,
however, that the means of settling our diff
ferences with Russia are limited. One possibility
and the most undesirable, is war The only other
alternative lies in the realm of negotiation. The
prospects in this direction are not bright But
as long as there remains possibility that the
Russians may prefer rational rather than an
1nsanely irrational settlement, we should not
close the door to feelers such as that which
emanated from Moscow on Christmas eve.
Evening star., 1952-12-26

Christ-child that were placed upon
them by the Virgin Mother. Originally
the flowers were supposed to have been
white, but the plant changed the color
of its blossoms to lavender so that they
might bear the hue of the cloak Mary
was wearing at the time.
Another famous Christmas decoration
is called Rose of Jericho. The legend is
that this little flower sprang up in the
desert during the flight into Egypt
wherever the feet of the Virgin Mary
stepped. It is also called the resurrec-
tion plant because after closing on the
first Good Friday it opens again on the
first Easter Sunday.
So it is fitting that we should adorn
our homes and schools and churches
at Christmas time with these finest
plants the season can afford.
NJ. A.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Met the Muyor
Amaranth.

Please be advised of erroneous state
ments in your story Meet the Mayors"
on December 10. The Mayor we are re-
ferring to is William Spahr of Morning
side, Md.
1t was stated that Mayor Spahr had
weathered the dog crisis. Allow us to ex-
plain how the Mayor weathered this
crisis of dogs running loose at Morning.
side.
The question of dog ordinance was
raised many times, but each time the
Mayor would turn hands down and say
that he wanted nothing to do with it.
AS a result nothing was done. On July
II. 1852. Ohe councils regular meeting
night. the Mayor walked out. On Aug
ust 1, 1852 (the councils regular meeting
night. the Mayor again walked out, and
hasn't appeared at any of the meetings
since.
On September S, 1852 (the councils
regular meeting night, Councilman H.
w. Shugarts again brought up the So
called mutt question. At that time the
council agreed that something should be
done, and Mr.. Shugarts was instructed
to amend existing ordinance to cover the
situation, which he did. And on October
3, 1852 (the councils regular meeting
night, the proposed amendment was
read for the first time On November
z, 1852 (the councils regular meeting),
the proposed amendment was read for
the second time and voted into the
standing ordinances of the town of
Morningside.
Now we ask you: Did the Mayor. who
Evening star., 1952-12-26

flower of the holy night. Long ago a
little girl was on her way to church and
had no gift for the Holy Child She
knelt on the ground and offered prayer
and as she rose from her knees plant
with most gorgeous crimson blossom
had sprung up at her feet. She laid it
on the altar as gift to the Christ
child.
According to tradition the bay tree.
with its lancelike leaves and purple
berries, sheltered the holy family dur
ing thunderstorm. It is believed that
lightning will never strike a bay tree,
and many people take its branches and
leaves into their homes at Christmas
as a protection against misfortune.
The rosemary plant goes back to the
flight into Egypt to escape the wrath
of King Herod. It's branches are said to
have held the little garments of the
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Each Christmas Decoration Has q Storv
To the Editor of The Stor:

NHRISTMAS would not be the same
Owithout the plants and flowers with
which we adorn our churches, schools,
communities and homes. This custom
of Frightening the season with products
of forest and garden comes to us from
various lands.
Martin Luther is credited with intro
ducing the Christmas tree into the home
during the first half of the 10th century.
An earlier version goes back to st.
Winfred of Britain who went into Ger
many as missionary in the 9th century.
AS the story goes, Winfred rescued a
young boy doomed to die as a sacrifice
to Thor. The saint told how Jesus asks
for sacrifice of service and not human
life. Spotting a young fir amidst the
ruins of fallen oak, with no stain of
blood on it, Winfred said, "Let us call
it the tree of the Christ-child." He
told the people that they should go no
more into the shadows to keep the feasts
with secret rites of shame, but should
keep them at home with laughter and
fun and rites of love-
Ancient Romans used holly in honor
ing Saturn, god of agriculture, about
the same time as our Christmas. They
believed Saturn caused holly to grow
when most other trees were bare of
foliage. In Christian tradition, the use
of holly adds significant meaning to the
Nativity. 1t is referred to as Christ
thorn, its prickly points and berries
resembling drops of blood, reminders
that Mary's child was born to wear a
crown of thornS.
Another thorn" bush or small tree
that plays its part in the Christmas
decoration is the hawthorne. Joseph
of Arimathea brought the Gospel to
Britain in 70 AID, where he built the
first church out of twigS. 1t is said that
he stuck his staff into the ground on top
of hill and that it grew into beautiful
tree which blossomed at Christmas and
was called the Hawthorne"
Among ancientS the mistletoe was
greatly venerated Druids believed the
plant possessed healing power. It was
taken into the Christian tradition in
due course and dedicated to the Christ
child. 1t was adopted as healing power
of our Lord. Beneath the mistletoe
Christians of long ago gave each other
the sacred kiss of peace and good
will. as a token Of reconciliation, before
receiving the holy sacrament.
The poinSettia is named for DR.. Joel
Roberts Poinsettia who in 1929 brought
this plant with him to his South Caro-
lima home from Mexico. 1t is called the
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Litony After Christmas

For the inefable joy OF reunion: for the
courage
To palk alone In the Christmas season.
We thank Thee. o Child of Mary.
For the enriched hours of forgotten
penuTy;;
For the prodiodl, seasonal outpouring
OF needed blessings;
For the compassionate sharing OF self.
hoiDerer limited.
We thank Thee. Diuine Little One.
For the simple hymns and the majestic
heights of music:
For ihite affairs 0lotDing In the Christ
mas dGtDn;:
For reneped atDareness that Christmas
can be
Todoy and tomorrow, as ,DeH as yester-
day.
We offer the thanks OF grateful hearts.
Holy Infant. Son OF God.
Alies Hwtehins Drake
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Illustration in u. N.

It is an unfortunate but not surprising fact
that the United Nations succeeded only in arous-
ing violent emotions in its frustrated consideration
OF the French Moroccan -TuniSian controversy
The resolutions finally approved by the
Political and Security Committee were merely
pious expressions of hope that France would
carry out "its proclaimed policies" of furtherng
the fundamental liberties of the peoples involved
that violence would be restrained and that
further negotiations might be helpful They
were satisfying to nobody. France which boy
cotted the debate and the voting is still indignant
at what it considers an effort without legal
validity to intervene in its domestic affairs The
AsianArab bloc leaders of the Intervention effort
is convinced anew that the U. ~ is controlled
by big power interests that have little regard for
the aspirations of people seeking genuine self
determination. Meanwhile disorders and high
death toll have been the price paid in North
Africa, and the end is not in sight.
The French have strong case for their view
that the U. N lacks authority to intervene in the
North African trouble. Their position in Tunis
and Morocco is established by treaty. They con-
slider their relationships in the area within the
domestic jurisdiction in which the u N, by its
own charter, is forbidden to intervene The
exception, which requires threat to the peace
or an act of aggression, obviously has not been
proved to the U. N majority.
Recriminations serve no purpose at this
point. There are better courses to follow. France
must recognize that the tides of nationalism
today are strong and that independence is a
legitimate aspiration. But on the other side
there must be parallel awareness of mutual rights
and recognition of the benefits to be gained
through orderly development rather than through
anarchical violence.
Evening star., 1952-12-26

apparently have been violated A Federal grand
jury already has indicted four dock organizers
on various charges, including perjury and income
tax evasion. But there have been indications
that other Federal statutes have been violated.
There was testimony before the crime commits
sion, for example of large payments by shipping
firms to union officials "to avoid trouble" The
Taft-Hartley Act specifically outlaws such pay
ments. There has been evidence of wide-ranging
thefts on the docks, probably violating the Fed
eral laws against thefts from goods being shipped
in interstate commerce.
The FBI has broad investigation authority
under numerous Federal laws which may be ap-
plicable to the waterfront criminality. The
bureau may be relied upon to do thorough
job, and a thorough cleanup of the New York.
New Jersey water front has long been overdue
Evening star., 1952-12-26
7 Tomorrow's Scientists

omorroWS ScIentlStS
The National Science Teachers Asso-
citation has developed flve-pronged ac-
tion program operating as the Future
Scientists of America Foundation. The
purposes of the program are to assist in
the general improvement of instruction
in science for all junior and senior
high school students, to work toward
? strengthening the position of science in
the curriculum at all precollege levels,
to bring increased attention to the i'm
portance of experimental work by stu
dents, and to encourage increased num-
bers of able students to consider careers
in fields of science, engineering. tech
nology and teaching.
The Future Scientists of America
Foundation program has been developed
in consultation with educational, scien-
tjfic. engineering and other groups
working along similar lines. Financial
support for the program is being pro-
vided by business, industry and educa-
tional organizations. The fields of ac-
ton have been designed to cope with the
urgent problems of science teaching and.
at the same time, to strengthen and
complement related efforts now going on
in some of the States or on a regional
or national basis. The Future Scien-
fists of America Foundation at pre-
college levels will exert efforts compa-
rable to those now being conducted at
college levels by the Engineering Man
power Commission.
Science achievement awards are one
OF the five fields of action of the Future
Scientists nf America F0lIndofinn This
awards program is sponsored and sup
ported financially by the American So
clety for Metals. In the 1852. program,
81 students in grades 7 through IL
were honored with cash awards or
United States bonds. More than 100
additional students were granted certifi-
catea of meritoriouS achievement for
their work in science. The science de-
partments of 80 schools received cash
awards like that granted to Northwest
ern High School, and reported in The
Star December 20. Also II science
teachers were granted cash awards for
their reports of unusually good practices
in the teaching of science.
The 1853 program of science achieve
n1ent awards is now under way. 1t will
provide 104 awards for students in
grades through IL. 104 school awards,
and 20 cash awards for science teachers.
should like to take this opportunity to
extend special invitation to science
teachers in Washington and nearby
cities and counties to support this pro-
gram and to encourage their students to
seek recognition through the Future
Scientists of American Foundation.
Robert H. Carleton.
Executive Secretary, National Science
Teachers Association.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. How many generals have been
President of the United States?-T. I.
A. Dwight D. Eisenhower will be the
18th. Washington, Jackson, William
Henry Harrison, Taylor, Pierce. john
son, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur and
Benjamin Harrison all held the rank
of general. Nine other Presidents have
had military experience, although some
saw little or no active service.
@. What is "the dead mans hand"
in poker?-O. B. L.
A. A pair of aces and pair of eights.
This was the hand held by Wild Bill
Hickok when he was murdered by Jack
Mccall in a saloon at Deadwood, Dakota
Territory, on August 2. 1876.
Q. Which was the first nation in the
Western Hemisphere to declare war
against Japan In World War II?-
p. E. M.
A. Costa Rica.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
'Outmoded Lee Hiqhwuy'

In your December 10 editorial, "Out-
moded Lee Highway" you have brought
out arguments that have been in ex-
istence for many years past. The people
OF Cherrydale, Arlington County, have
lived on promises only. The State High
way Commission has surveyed these
dangerous places many times, yet they
are still here. There was no reason
whatsoever to split the Lee highway at
North Monroe street, hazardous to
Cherrydale school children. Negotia-
tions have been held, and none, as yet,
has solved this dangerous traffic problem.
Numerous surveys were made of the
Old Dominion right-of-way, still the
danger is here. This danger involves
school children who attend the Stratford
Junior High School. Is not one life
worth saving! Could this be another
Benjamin Franklin, Edison or Einstein?
Mussolini said when his chauffeur ran
over and killed child, What is one
life to tremble over in Italy?" Mussolini
was hung by his feet when his days
were counted.
It has been said that dual highway
from Rosslyn to Falls Church will solve
the safety Of all. If this is the answer,
why wait?
John Humphreys.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Policy on Struy Cots

Recently we moved to q new home
and lost our cat because he was I'M
familiar with the neighborhood. Since
the cat was at the age at which lady
cats first become interesting, we did
not worry about him for day or two.
When we did call the Animal Rescue
League we found that they had rescued
our little friend by killing him on the
day he was turned in by some neighbor
as stray cat.
The excuse given for this hurried as
sasSination was that it is policy of
the Animal Rescue League to destroy
any cat which does not appear to belong
to the upper caste in feline society or
impress his captors with his physical
beauty If he Is of the Topsy variety.
When we asked why stray cats are not
kept for 80 days before being disposed
of. as they are in any other city the size
Of Washington, we were told that cats
are not taxable and therefore cannot be
fed for any length of time.
E. A. b..
Editors note: The Animal Rescue
League reports that some months it
must cope with as many as 1000 stray
cats. Many are diseased and must be
done away with quickly. Obvious pets
are isolated, but the league admits the
sorting is most difficulty.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer 70
any question Of fact BY either writing The
NV, Washington 8. D. c.. and inclosing cents
return postage or By telephoning ST 1868.
Evening star., 1952-12-26
Letters to The Star

hasn't been attending the council meet
ings take care of the mutt situation?
L. E. Deans.
Evening star., 1952-12-26

Pen-7a0n1es may be used If letters carry
t0riterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.