davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Serious About Comics
Melvin L. Frame.

DR.. Adrian Scolten's blanket condem-
nation of comic books left me aghast.
That professional! man should indulge
in such sweeping generalizationS, in
this day of callous indifference to in
tellectual honest, is not surprising.
But when a doctor, who apparently
has made only superficial study of
the field, categorically condemns all
comic books as menace, one wonders
how far afield we are getting.
Man and boy, have read comic
strips and comic books right along with
Plato'S Dialogues, Aristotle's Ethics,
Kant's Petaphysics of Morals, and the
Bible, and have found that each sup
plementS the other most effectively in
clarifying and driving home the need
for high ideals and service to mankind.
True, some comic books, and even comic
strips, are trashy" have noticed in
the past few months that most of the
Objectionable ones are no longer dis
played on newsstands. But what type
of literature published today exalts the
ideals of Christianity and Americanism
as do the comic books "Blackhawk" or
wonder Woman" to cite two regulars
in my household?
Will DR.. Scolten cite any book pub
liShed in the last ten years that
breathes the altruism and idealism of
these two comics and does it in way
that keeps the teen-agers, even at the
high school level, Spellbound? Most
of our best sellers today are stencil
in the noStrils of God-purveyors of
frIIstro ti0Yo nurioiSn1 and class hatred
What ideals does Hemingway, the
Grand Poobah of American literature,
preach? Or Faulkner? Or take our
playwrights; what tripe of despair and
hopelessness were Death of a Sales
man" and "a Street Car Named Desire"
And our movies. Can anything be
less inspiring or more destructive Of
character than movies with over-em-
phasis on human bestiality and I'M
faithfulness and treachery?
AS father, thank my stars for the
comic books and the comic Strips-Dis-
ney. Dick Tracy, Buz Sawyer, Johnny
Hazard, Space Cadet, Kerry Drake,
yes Oaky Doaks, the Berrys, etc. They
Nave taught my kids more ideals and
more humanity than all the teachers
and all the religious sermons and ac-
tivities they have listened to. Without
the comic strips and the comic books,
most of our children would be lost souls
without ideals or feeling for duty to
their fellow men.
Walt Kelly's Pogo and Jack Kent's
Aroo are the most significant cultural
inspirations in our times. Better than
Evening star., 1953-10-17
'McCorthyism Climate
Mother.

tremendously appreciated Constan-
tine Browns columns of October 8
and 10, regarding the "McCarthyism
climate" in Berne, Switzerland. Several
other travellers have returned from
European tours to tell of the prevalence
of the "McCarthyism climate" wherever
they went, and to voice forebodings
concerning the adverse effects of this
climate upon American prestige"
abroad. None, however, until Mr..
Brown came along, have even intimated
that possibly certain groups and persons
in Europe were using "McCarthyiSm"
to injure American prestige, because
they wanted to injure American
prestige and "McCarthyism"-a made
in America concoction-appeared to be
the handiest poison available.
I am convinced that Mr.. Brown has
correctly assessed the manner in which
the "McCarthyism climate" is being
used to undermine American prestige"
in Europe, and has correctly identified
the users. But, what of the American
concoctorS of the "McCarthyism
climate?" Who are they, and what are
their motives? Is the "McCarthyism
climate" of today the latest creation of
those master climate distillers who gave
us that celebrated political climate" Of
the 193Os and 1940s? I think it is.
Frederick L. Freeman.
Evening star., 1953-10-17

the cold is the perfect excuse. Not only does
the victim desire not to develop anything worse,
but also he has the humane attitude that he
should not infect others.
Since wives and sons and daughters are
suspicious lot, it is well not to extend the bene
fits of cold over too long period, lest one be
accused of malingering. But the first day back
at the office also has its rewards. Here are new
expressions of interest in the well-being. Ex-
periences can be compared with others in SIM
liar state. There is feeling of lenience from
the boss because you have let him know that,
after all, you dragged yourself from bed
against your better judgment, and are still
feeling little weak BY the second day back
at work, all of these things have been forgotten,
and the daily scramble is on again. but 1t was
fairly pleasant while it lasted.
Evening star., 1953-10-17
This and That
By Charles E. TroceWeH

The feel of the fur under the hand
is pleasant both to human and cat.
The turned-up head, the bright eyes,
the eXpectant ears
These have waited for centuries close
to the ground for the approval of the
tall people of earth, known scienti-
f1cally as Homo Sapiens-wise man,
indeed, with just little wisdom. and
much cruelty.
Perhaps it was the cat, and dog,
that helped mankind to as much of
decency as he sometimes shows. With
out their intervention man might have
remained the brute he evidently first
was, and which he sometimes reverts
to. so easily.
1t was the cat that came forward to
greet man. one may feel sure.
Man, left to himself, merely killed.
But canny old cat, smelling food
around the fire. came up and meowed.
That meow did it.
Few voices in this world are prettier
a clear soprano. that at times can be
twisted to odd ends.
The cat came forward, and has re-
manned at mans side ever since.
The cream colored cat lolled around
the neighborhood, first sampling the
mat on one doorstep and then another.
The moment door opened, however,
be was OF.
Evening star., 1953-10-17

Such skulking made Templeton
Jones vince. 1t did not befit cat, he
thought.
Hence, Jones tried to lure the fellow
to better ways of feline acting.
At first, he could not get within a
hundred feet of the cat.
Standard "kitty- -kitty-kitty" stuff
had no appeal: the cat ran away, leav-
ing a somewhat amazed cat lover.
A platter of food, in this case the
best round steak. finally did it.
X
The cream-colored cat (pale green
eyes, finally came up after all humans
had disappeared, and all doors had
been closed.
At the slightest sound, he was away.
leaving dinner and all.
Then the miracle happened. One
night Che came just at dusk the cat
came right up and ate, with our friend
Jones just few feet away
One evening, after a full meal. the
cat turned from his saucer. and leaped
onto Jones' lap, as he sat on the lower
step.
The glorious chain of kindness had
operated once again in a world Of
cruelty and tears. 1t is the golden
chain, which some day may bind the
world Of living things close together
against the non-loving forces Of elec-
tricity we call matter.
Evening star., 1953-10-17

The all-white cats always are pic
turesque.
Often they have red eyes, sometimes
pale yellow ones.
The specimen that recently appeared
in Templeton Jones neighborhood in
clines to be creamy instead of pure
white.
Evidently there was a yellow cat
somewhere in his family tree, for there
is a trace of buff at the rims Of his
ears.
He seemed to be the original "fraidy
cat" when he first showed up
The moment he heard a human
voice, he ran.
His actions were no compliment
to the human male, or female, either.
His past life must have been an un-
happy one, judging from the way he
drew back. crouched, and then ran.
He was at ease except where human
beings were concerned.
Few cats. even those in down.
trodden areas, ever show such fear.
Friends of these curious and in
teresting animals will always feel sorry
for such a cat because the feline dis
position has been teamed up with
humanity for centuries.
The pat on the head is as acceptable
to the cat as 1t is to the human.
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Really Disguised.
Mothers Place?

All this chatter about who is respon-
sible for juvenile delinquency is stupid.
The average Government clerks SAL
ary, after deducting income taxes, plus
per cent of his gross pay for retire
ment, is just little over 5000 per
month.
Therefore the wife must work be-
cause the rent is $125 month plus
heat and utilities, and the kids must
entertain themselves on the street or
elsewhere without supervision.
Is any intelligent person silly enough
to ask who is responsible for juvenile
delinquency?
GOOSetOwn GrOwIer.
AS the mother of four children and
the wife of man with an average in
come, we find it very difficult to main
tain our "medium-class standard of liv-
ing" The situation (flnanciaD would
be greatly relieved if I went to work,
but four more children would be left
to the care of imperSonal help.
The entire economy of the Nation
could be considerably improved if the
Government would consider making it
easier for mothers to stay home. In
stead of giving them an exemption for
baby sitters, give them an exemption
for being their own "baby SitterS." In
crease the exemption for home-making
mothers. Allow the baby sitter eXemp-
ton for widows and do mean widows.
If there were more dependent mothers
there would be many less broken homes.
More families would be driving '39
automobiles Gas we do), more families
would be able to eat steak and chops
because there wouldn't be supplemental
incomes to pay the high prices and
they would come down. Let the 65-
year-oldS that are praying for work
handle the little part-time jobs that
some mothers are taking. Let the men
Of the Nation have a more competitive
field in which to test their talents. Let
the children of the Nation have their
mothers to come home to every day
after school and then go to their re-
spective activities. What deterrent
to juvenile delinquency Give back the
respect and honor to mothers that do
stay home, they deserve it. The con-
sensus is growing that mother is a
Stacker if she doesn't contribute to the
family income.
The mothers that stay home now
bear the brunt of the ones who are
working in more ways than one. We
are the ones that see the influence
their unsupervised children have on
ours. We are the ones that stand at
the meat counter and figure out way
to make palatable meals out of in
ferior cuts of meat and see the working
mothers rush in and buy steaks and
chops, knowing that they're keeping
the prices where they are. We're the
ones that do the PTA, Scouting and
other civic activities for their children.
We're the ones that see the poor re-
tired men that are wasting away for
want Of employment that could be given
them if mothers would stay home where
they belong.
Mother
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Morylonds Safety Lapse

Montgomery County traffic authorities will
have the sympathetic support of District and
Virginia motorists in the movement to have
the State of Maryland resume inspection of
automobiles, after a lapse of several years.
Maryland cars are the only ones in this entire
area not subject to State inspection at regular
intervals. In fact, Maryland is one of the few
States in the Union which shows no interest in
the mechanical condition of motor vehicles
licensed to operate on the public highways.
1t would not be so bad if uninSpected Mary
land cars stayed within Maryland's boundaries.
But it seems grossly unfair to bar unsafe Dis
trict and Virginia automobiles from District
and Virginia roads, while thousands of unin-
spected Maryland automobiles are permitted to
roam at large in those Jurisdictions MARYLAND
can correct this situation either by reSurrecting
a dormant inspection law still on the books or
by enacting new law along the lines of that
in the District. The unenforced Maryland
statute authorizes inspections by private garages
under State supervision. This is similar to the
system now operating in Virginia.
Recent sessions of the General Assembly
have failed to act on recommendations of State
and county safety authorities for resumption
of car inspections. There were objections by
some legislators to the cost of setting up a
State operated system And no funds for re-
VlVlng the inactive garage-inSpection program
were provided. Some of the aSSemblymen were
not convinced that inspection of automobiles
would contribute to highway safety. But the
National Safety Council and other authoritative
organizations doing research on traffic accidents
have found that many serious crashes result
from mechanical defects which should have
been caught by inSpectorS-and they infer that
many other accidents are prevented by careful
inspection and correction of defective equip
ment. Maryland should not stay out of this
important accident-prevention field
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Good Idea, but

The Federation of American Scientists has
urged the Eisenhower administration to give
the American people more facts relative to the
terrible threat posed by atomic and H-bon1bs.
And the reaction of most people will be to
1ndorse this appeal
There are several considerations, however,
which would seem to bear directly on the
matter.
One of them is that very little real infor-
nation has been made available to the public.
The President made cautious statement at
his latest press conference; other officials and
former officials have commented with varying
degrees of frankness. 1t is safe to assume
however, that more could be told than has been
told without breaking down security barriers
second consideration comes down to this:
More is at stake here than a matter reserved
for decision at the highest level. For the pros
pect that the Russians have, or relatively soon
will have, the capacity to attack us with atomic
and hydrogen weapons is not something which
exclusively concerns the President and his i'm
mediate advisers. It also concerns the millions
OF Americans who will die II and when that
Soviet attack materializes.
These lead to third consideration. The
federation says that "the policy decisions in
volved will so profoundly affect our lives that
they must be made by the people as whole and
not by Government officers in an authoritarian
way" 1t is at this point that the "but' intrudes
itself. At the risk of seeming Skeptical of the
wisdom of the people, it may be asked how the
people as a whole" would go about max
ing these vital policy decisions? And if some
kind of mass decision could be made, how would
it be recorded?
To ask the questions is to illustrate the
difficulties which inhere in leaving such deci
sions as these to the people as whole" The
best purpose that could be served by the release
of more information of the type urged by the
scientists would be to line up public support for
some officially planned defense program which
could not succeed without such support AS
yet, however there has been no indication that
this administration proposes to offer anything
that is significantly new or different in the way
of national defense planning
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Euyors Free Trude

do not wish to pose as an accepted
economist or a star gazer, but do
believe that the answer or the major
answer to world peace lies strictly
within the field of economics.
We have in this world, too many
people who are not properly sheltered;
not properly fed; who do not have
adequate homes; who have improper
sanitation: and who have inadequate
medical attention as well as very little
opportunity to educate themselves
If we can give work to these people
at proper wages. their desires can grad
,ually be fulfilled; the area can prosper
and the wants and desires of these
people will become accentuated, and
with increased buying power, new mar
ketS will open.
am for free trade among nations
of the world. However, in order not
to break down the existing living
standards in countries such as our own,
I would establish world base prices on
merchandise from which no lower price
could be quoted in world trade Prices
could be higher if quality or ingenuity
of producers would warrant, but the
base prices would be established among
nations.
OF course some countries would con-
slider these base prices too high. They
would have to increase the wages of
the people, within three or six month
period on the basis of this selling price
This would enhance the living standard
of many peoples. Quality and ingenu-
ity would then determine who would
be able to sell in foreign markets.
With an increased standard of living
in the world, the wants and desires of
peoples would enhance and items we
could produce better than other coun-
tries would be readily sold.
For world peace, let us give work to
peoples of the world. Let us raise their
living standards. Then the markets
will widen and new scientific advance
ments will always keep us on our
mettle. The world will benefit; the
world will continually advance.
Chester M. Way.
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Two Difficult Missions

Inc administrator picked pair OF QltIlculC
assignments for two recently recruited trouble
shooters when it dispatched Eric Johnston and
Herbert Hoover, jr., to the Middle East.
Mr. Johnston, who undertook similar special
missions for former Presidents Roosevelt and
Truman is travelling in this case as personal
representative of President Eisenhower and
apparently with rather broad and flexible
authority to interest himself in the Arab-Israeli
situation in general and the Arab refugee prob
lem in particular The latter has proved to be
a virtually insoluble by product of the Arab
Israeli war, for which no permanent peace has
yet been written. Approximately 100000
Arabs, most of them displaced from their
Palestine homes during the fighting in 1948,
have been living in the years since in refugee
camps in nearby Arab countries.
The United Nations, with substantial con-
tributions from the United States, has been
providing emergency relief while also seeking
to set up long-term, Self-Supporting projects.
This attack on the problem, however, has ac-
complished little more than to keep the total
number of refugees approximately constant.
U. N. agencies have reported despairingly of
the waste OF manpOWer and of economic
potential represented by this refugee popula-
tion and the potential danger to the safety
and security of the Near East" inherent in con-
tinuance of such situation. Several major
obstacles stand in the way of solution. One
is that many refugees want to return to their
previous lands and they point to the U. N.
repatriation resolution of December, 1948, in
support of this preference Another is that
the Arab host countries have population prob
lens of their own and no readily available
economic opportunities for large added blocs
of people. Even the fact that there are no
normal intergovernmental relations between
Israel and the Arab states complicateS the
problem and may in turn, become the number
one barrier to efforts by Mr.. Johnston to en-
courage cooperative action.
Mr.. Hoover, experienced in the petroleum
industry and serving as special adviser on oil
problems to Secretary of State Dulles, is con-
centrating his current Middle East study on
the British -Iranian dispute which has kept the
1ranian oil industry out of production for more
than two years. Prime Minister Zahedi, sue
cessor to the bitterly anti-British DR.. Mossa-
degh, has indicated that his government would
be willing to reopen negotiations with London
on both the oil dispute and the matter of
reSuming formal diplomatic relations
While the State Department emphasized
that Mr.. Hoover is not taking with him any new
formula for settlement of the dispute he will
make an on-the-Spot study of the Iranian case
and the problems involved in reconciling the
two parties. 1t was announced that he will stop
in London on his way home, for the purpose of
talking to officials of the British government
and the Anglo-1ranian Oil Company. There is
reason to believe that all parties to this con-
troverSy really would like to see it resolved If
so, Mr.. Hoover may be in position to render a
major service on this initial assignment.
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Bird Sanctuary

The birds long since accepted me as
Just
Another creature, lying stretched at
ease
In my long chdir-to share with them
the cool,
Green sanctuary of the friendly trees.
Saint Francis from his shrine looks
doiDn at US,
Blessing his feathered brothers as
they sing
Prithee, good Saint. bless me, bless even
me,
Who lie here like bird NTH broken
Uing
Make Y. coruthen
Evening star., 1953-10-17

"Appraising Ike's First Nine Months"
considered calmly, it is indeed miracu-
louS that so many billions of dollars
were handled by the Democrats with
so little malfeasance.
For one thing am wondering Just
how much these G.. o. P. world tours
have cost the taxpayer; certainly it
must be a not inconsiderable sum. It
would seem that every one of any con-
sequence in the cabinet must have been
around the world several times It
would be bad enough if they went
alone, but the retinueS they carry are
an unnecessary burden on the public
purse. Aunt Tillie and Cousin Egbert
should pay their own way if they want
to see the world. I realize that the
pickings were lean for 20 years and
that Republican in Europe and Asia
was rarity, but they are OVERRIDING
the sudden and voluminouS outward
rush.
Personally. I haven't been to TAM
ganyika, Cairo or the Far East, and I
have as much a right to go to those
places as our goodwill boys have. I
would like to take some relatives and
AAASA4NAos \ WOA4AO1 IL UAAV NJ VI NOulu
arrange it, at public expense, of course?
1t would come easy to me to promise
more money and economic help. I get
great deal of satisfaction from giving
away other peoples money.
William D. Garvey.
All this recent sniping, whether
openly or indirectly, at the present ad-
mipistration by those now enviously on
the, outside looking in Cor supporters of
previous regimes) would be extremely
amusing were it not for the utter
cynicism disclosed. They remind us
of the old adage, ut is not for the pot
to, call the kettle black"
Their greatest concern seems to be
the fear that special advantages might
be given to "big business" In their
pretentiousness, do they actually SO
underrate the mentality of honest
citizenry as to expect us to believe that
anything could be worse for us or our
country than the corruption, graft and
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Civilian Disarmament

The "disarm every one" shouters
seize upon any tragedy to push their
point. H. A. Sheehan, in The Star of
october IL, states that if no gun had
been handy the death of Bobby Green
lease would not have occurred Every
family feels the horror and sorrow of
this tragedy. However, the demented
criminal mind would not cease to be
if guns were forbidden citizens through
law any more than a speed limit by
law will prevent automobile accidents.
Let all citizens take care to prevent
misbegotten erroneous laws being passed
which prevent the citizen the fright to
bear arms"
Melvin L. Frame.
Evening star., 1953-10-17
Case of Restored License

Now we have the Commissioners in
tervening in the case of motorist
whose own permit was revoked because
he had taken drivers test for room
mate "who was too nervous" Over
ruling the Board of Revelations and the
Traffic Director. the Commissioners
ordered the permit restored to the mo-
torist who perpetrated this fraud upon
law-abiding citizens.
And this comes at time when the
Commissioners are urging honest per-
sons to pledge themselves to drive
safely.
Really Disguised.
Editors note: The motorist in ques-
.,---. was fined $25 in court for taking
the test for his roommate. The Com
missioners restored his permit after the
corporation counsel advised that taking
the test for another did not disqualify
the appellant as competent driver)
Evening star., 1953-10-17
G. O. P. Makes Mess, Too

After nine months in Office, the
G. o. p. has been responsible for at
least minor messes: The chairman of
the party has been thrown out for tax
ing proceeds from the sale of building
to which he was not entitled; a 4 per
center has been unearthed, and now
Senator has been caught with his law
practice down. Two of these gentle
men were chock-full of self-righteous-
ness. How could any one doubt the
purity of their purposes, is their COM
plaint. It seems to make great deal
of difference to these men whether til
proceeds fall into Republican or Demo-
cratic pockets.
Any one of long experience could
have told those misguided souls who
voted the present administration in be-
cause of the Democratic "messes," that
human nature doesn't change with the
change of parties. When the matter is