davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Pilot Truinine Anomaly

In recent years the United States
armed forces have made great strides
toward improving their methods of
personnel selection. Because this trend
greatly affects our military efficiency,
it Is recognized as a good trend by
everyone concerned; whenever ineffi-
cient and illogical situations are found,
some effort is made to correct them.
have been waiting for someone to
correct the Pilot Training Program
anomaly for years. In short, the situ-
alton Is this:
Before the so-called "unification" Of
the services. Pilot Training fell under
jurisdiction Of the Army Air Forces,
and selection of candidates included
Army-wide tests which scanned the
largest manpower pool at our disposal
namely, Army enlisted men.
Since s'unification," the Air Force and
its Pilot Training program have been
separated from that large pool Of man
power. and furthermore. no provision
for testing Of Army enlisted candidates
has been made. Obviously, q large per
centage Of qualified men will thereupon
be lost forever to the Air Force Train
ing program. This situation becomes
extremely distasteful when it is under
stood that many of the men drafted
into the Army are under the age mini
mum for Pilot Training at the time of
their Induction, but shortly thereafter
reach the age at which they should be
qualified for such training.
. David r. Miller.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
This and Thot

on the snow. but they were interested
only In the holly.
I'm short order they finished OF that
tree and then gathered together and
fiew away. Spring must be just around
the corner.
Sincerely, K. W."
Spring always seems close at hand
when one sees that flrst robin.
Usually these birds ny into this area
In compact groups Of 50 or more speci-
mems.
BY keeping together In this way. they
manage to help each other ind food,
for what one discovers, the others may.
They usually fy. down together on
outlying large lawns, and then tend to,
break up and seek out territories Of
their own.
It Is only when the bands break up
that every yard. more or less, has its
own particular robin.
There can be no doubt that older
birds ny back to the precise spot they
used last summer, This is personally
attested by many persons. In our own
experience. we know positively that
Lilly Belle. our pet robin. came back
to our yard every spring for ct least
six years.
We recognized her BY the way she
had Of hopping along sideways on 3
Evening star., 1953-03-31
The Tender-Heorted

He Is silent, perseUerinO man.
Strong IN the iDGy that fGrmtn0 mon
are strong:
And conscientious IN the Cdv Of ons
Who loDes the earth and its fuH yearly
CroiUth.
He is tender-heGrte6. gentle nsaA,
He has not parted NTH d single o,ss
OF his old horses. When tltey CrotC too
old
To pun the pIoiC. hs pensions them.
They run
on the hin pasture during summer
months.
And In the winter they hGpe bedded
stalls.
strong IN his mind ana pill. and caring
less
For profit than for peace Of heart. hs
goes
His chosen nag. and does not care one
iDht
what he neiChOors scy Dr. think 81 iii
Billy B. Cooper
Evening star., 1953-03-31

your cheeks. # these mishaps, or
others, befall you tomorrow, blame it
on Charles TX Of France.
King Charles didn't actually start
the practice Of camouflaging a brick
with hat. nor did he initiate the
theory that most human beings are
mercenary enough to grab at chance
Cat least once) for sudden money. But
in 1864 he gave rise to many pranks
designed to befuddle and befool fellow
mortals by turning the calendar topsy-
turvy. That. according to some his
torians. is what started people going
slightly berserk on the first day Of April.
In France. in 1868. the observance Of
the amenities was relatively uncom-
plicated. Gifts were sent to friends
and neighbors. and social calls were
exchanged on April /, under the old
calendar, to celebrate the observance Of
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Restricted Communities

AS a prospective homeowner in the
Nations Capital, I have frequently
stumbled across vicious practice,
openly in violation Of all our funda-
mental tenets Of freedom and equality.
Here in the very seat of world de-
mocracy, restricted signs are blatantly
Haunted. Bold signs defame the high
ways and the real estate sections Of
many newspapers, yours included, are
replete with the shameful caption.
"visit these lovely homes In our most
exclusive, restricted community" The
shame and hypocrisy Of it-in the Ma
tior's Capital!
49, have long been Star reader and
admirer. but strongly resent your pas
sive submission to this foul practice
Of labelling areas restricted" Our
critics behind the Iron Curtain could
md cesspool Of propaganda in this
fiagrant violation of the very prin-
ciples we are fighting for today. The
Star can help erase the restricted sign
from the American scene by refusing
to print such advertisements. The
crusade against discrimination is every
ones crusade and the free press of
the land can help to shine the beacon
for truer democracy.
Sherry l.. ROdman.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
British Sales Technique

Some serious complaints against Britain's
overseas selling methods, and their relative
ineffectiveneSs, are raised by Canadian trade
executives in a recent survey by the Wall Street
Journal. The study, aimed primarily at the
results Of direct British-American competitive
selling in third market, has particular interest
at time when the trade, not aid" formula
and a reduction Of United States tariffs are
being pressed most earnestly.
In Canada United Kingdom products have
a marked tariff advantage in almost every line
yet the newspaper analysis shows they are
outsold by substantial margin through better
merchandising, more reliable delivery schedules,
and often better quality from this side Of the
border. No duty at all is imposed on so per
cent of the British goods entering Canada, as
compared to 43 per cent of duty-free goods from
the United States. Where competitive products
are each dutiable, the imperial preference"
given to those coming from the United Kingdom
ranges upward from 10 per cent advantage
Enjoying q tremendous. economic boom,
Canada has increased its import Of goods from
a value Of $677 million In 1898 to 81 billion In
1852. In this expanding market, American
exporters have increased their sales during that
period by about 600 per cent to 1852 value Of
$40 billion. In the same period, United King
dom sales In Canada have increased by only
400 per cent to value OF $500 million.
The critical opinion Of Britain's competitive
power vis-a-vis American goods and services
was reported from both Canadian consumers
and o6lcials of the Canadian government. Some
Of the latter, In addition to listing the faulty
selling points noted above, expressed the further
criticism that British export emphasis is di-
rected too much to the sterling area. In that
area, British exporters are dealing with Gus
toners short Of hard currency In
the virtual elimination of Canadian and Ameri-
can competition. Accordingly, U. K. sellers
can charge higher prices and worry less about
delivery schedules and quality Of products.
While this particular study dealt with
products ranging from chemicals to cotton
goods, and from can openers to heavy ma
chinery, there are certain high-quality or
luxury products in which British standards are
supreme and which have an assured market
There are partial explanations, too, for some
Of the other unfavorable comparisons British
industry. on the whole, has not developed the
ass-production techniques of our own, certain
raw materials are not as readily available,
production is farther away from the Canadian
market, etc. Still, there are lessons to be
learned from the reactions Of the Canadian
spokesmen and, in view OF the Importance OF
the export trade to the United Kingdom, these
lessons might profitably be studied IN Britain.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Segregation

Arguments Of the pros and the cons
concerning segregation. prohibition, re-
Mgion and politics continue to emulate
Emerson's brook and the two parallel
lines which never can merge, The
extremists on the race question win
also probably never come together and
the solution may come about when
more moderate people Of both races
compromise and agree on rules which
each should follow. There appears to
be no question that segregation has
begun to disappear In this country and
that In many localities people are rec
ognized for their character, rather
than by the degree Of skin pigmenta-
ton they possess.
The white race is far outnumbered
by the other races in the world. The
preservation Of the white race seems
to demand that the CauoasianS segre-
gate themselves, in so far as society
intermingiing with all other races Is
concerned. Intermarriage and circum-
stances which would make this possible
must be avoided. This attitude Is en-
tirely compatible with the recognition
Of the rights and the dignity Of the
Negro race and does not raise the
question Of race superiority.
Social eduality means merely equal
opportunity to make living. to obtain
an education, to advance in ones oc-
cupation, In accordance with ones tall
ents and preparation and to be adj
mitted to restaurants. theaters and
other public places. Social equality
prevails, to q limited extent. in WASH
ington now and It has not been fol-
lowed by disorder or other unpleasant
consequences. Witness the private and
parochial schools. some universities,
the Medical Society. Selective Service.
the Board Of Education, the Recreation
Department and the Government de-
partments. My relations with Negroes
who have worked with me on civic
projects for 80 years have been cordial
and friendly.
! have been accused Of straddling
the question Of race relations. This
Is my answer. favor social equality
and am against society intermingling
for the reason ! have stated.
James A. Cannon. MD.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
at Boy

The aght against poliomyelitis now ap-
pears to be entering the last round, with all
signs indicating that science Is going to knock
out the crippling scourge in the same way that
1t has knocked out smallpox and other once
dread diseases Just when the final blow will
be struck and the victory bell rung-whether
next year or the year after-is not yet certain,
but there seems little or no doubt that the day
is fast approaching when infantile paralysis
will be numbered among the evil forces Of
nature definitely conquered by man.
This bright and highly significant prospect
is the result Of long years Of research and
experimentation eliminating now in the de-
velopment Of vaccine that gives good promise
of a6ording ample protection against all three
types OF the polio viruS-Brunhilde, Lansing
and Leon. The vaccine, which is compounded
Of dead" viruSes and mineral oil whipped to-
gether In an emulsion, has been used success
fully in tests involving 80 children and adults.
It has been found to have built up in these
individuals effective immunizing antibodies
against the disease-so effective, in fact that
its brewers have been hard put to restrain
their optimism.
Based on work done through the years by
numerous research groups in many parts of
the country, this new advance has been
achieved by DR.. Jonas E. Salk and team of
scientists at the University Of Pittsburgh.
Developed with the help Of March-of- Dimes
funds from the National Foundation for In
fantile Paralysis. the vaccine is OF q type that
can be mass-produced at moderate cost If
further experimentation shows that 1t fully
qualihes-either as 1t stands now or In an
improved form-as a true polio preventive.
Assuming the best assuming that 1t passes all
the tests awaiting it., it should be available for
general use as an immunizer in the relatively
near future, for children and adults alike.
With proper scientific caution, DR.. Saik
and his associates have been at pains to en-
phasize that their achievement though "en-
couraging," ought not to be "interpreted TO
indicate that q practical vaccine Is now at
hand" Additional experiments are necessary.
New patches Of the substance must be pre-
pared. Test inoculations must be given to
many more individuals than the 80 who have
already received their "shots." Differing
reactions win have to be studied carefully ovel
Evening star., 1953-03-31
ALot Of BOBBY I rops Are Being Set

the New Year. When King Charles
finished with his little chore, however,
New Years Day was moved back from
April I to January I, and quite num-
ber Of people were disconnected.
Those who had opposed juggling the
calendar were sent mock gifts on
April ! by contemporary wits who had
favored the change. just to rub it In"
Then, again. some Of the people COM
pletely forgot the change In dates. To
these also went comic gifts, and social
calls Of satirical ceremony. In both
instances, however, the motivation Of
the donor was to irritate the bad
memoried citizen or get the last laugh.
on the bad loser.
There are other explanations for All
Fools Day. Some would have us be-
lieve 1t dates back to the Roman
Cerelia, which was held April 1. Ac-
cording to this story. after the beautiful
Prosperina had gathered her spring
daffodilS in the ElySian meadows, Pluto
took sudden fancy and hied away
with her to the lower world. Ceres
heard echoes Of her daughters screams
and went In search of the voice. But
who can md an echo? Ceres search,
naturally, was FOOLS errand - thus
Fools Day.
Still others say the observance has
something to do with the equinox Of
spring-which would account for the
strange things that people do when
stricken with the flrst numbing beauty
Of spring.
The Feast of Hull also has been mem
toned In, connection with the origin of
April Fools Day. This feast, celebrated
in India for centuries, has as one of
its characteristics the sending Of people
on foolish errandS. Some historians
maintain that this foolishness served
as the beginning Of the modern shenan-
igans.
While all Of these explanations are
given some credence, most authorities
Evening star., 1953-03-31

tend to point the finger of accusation
at King Charles. The practice Of April
fooling spread from France and became
universal among Europeans. It caught
on in England around the beginning
of the 18th century, and was brought
to America by the early settlers.
Less romantic observers pooh-pooh
the historical genesis Of April Fools
Day. They point to the prankish inner
nature of human beings. and insist
that mortals never had to find an ex-
cuSe to celebrate. The establishment
Of an April Fools day. they believe.
was just an artifice to make mans
Springtime lunacy little more legal.
In the United States the victim of
q practical joke on the first day Of April
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Required Reodinq at Gonzuqo

In view Of the fact that all students
at Gonzaga are required to study Latin
for their four years here, was particu-
larly interested in your very thoughtful
editorial "Why Study Latin" Of March
6, and I am grateful for it. For its
breyity, it is the most complete state
ment of the case that I have seen.
I have taken the liberty of repro
ducing this editorial for distribution to
all the boys here, with, of course, an
acknowledgment.
REV. William F. Troy, S. j.,
HeadmaSter.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
MuryIund Blue Lows

The State Of Maryland has had .
distinguished record thus far In the
matter of religious legislation. Dis
tinguished, that is, by . totally un-
American pattern Of discrimination on
religious grounds In her Blue Laws.
It began with "An Act to Punish
Blasphenders. Swearers, Drunkards, and
Sabbatln-breakers" In 1723 which pro-
vided shat for the third offense, the
offender being convicted as aforesaid.
shall suffer death without the benefit
Of the clergy" Thomas Bacon, Laws
Of Maryland CProvince). Laws Of 1723.
chapter i6.)
The current link in the chain Of
similar acts begun thus 50 ienobly,
according 10 your headline on March
-. = Sunday Closing Of Bars Studied
BY Delegates"
Now, this q not to protest against
the closing Of the bars or any other
place that sells beer or alcoholic bev-
erages Of any sort or content by what
ever name-perish the thought. I think
we Americans are all criminally negli-
gent to have any truck whatever with
Evening star., 1953-03-31

is. Of course, an april fool" In Scot
land he is a ''gowk," or, in more in
sulting language, cuckoo" In France
the duped one is poisson d'Avril''
(Aprl flsh). No one knows just how
fish got in the act. It could be because
fish are easier to catch in April; or
1t may have zodiacal significance, since
the sun leaves the sign of Pisces at
this time Of the year.
At any rate. don't say you weren't
warned.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Willing to Compromise?

En-lai-Red ChinaS Premier and second In
command to Mao se-tung-has given voice to
what sounds like compromise proposal capable
Of breaking the Korean truce deadlock. At any
rate, II his words really mean what they seem
to say, an early resumption Of the talks at Pam
munjom will be justified, and may in fact re-
sult-at long last-in putting an end to the
fighting and dying.
For Chou has gone considerably beyond the
Communists weekend announcement that
they fully" agree with the plan Of the United
Nations Command for an exchange Of sick and
wounded prisoners OF war during the course OF
hostilities He has proposed in addition, that
all PoWs who 'insist" on returning to their
homelarlds be returned Immediately after an
armistice Is agreed upon, and that the re-
mainder-those who do not "insist"-be handed
over to a neutral country so as to ensure just
solution to the question Of their repatriation" :"
This language is bit wanting in clarity
and forthrightness, but what it appears to
mean is this: That the North Korean and Chi
nese Reds (Chou has spoken in behalf Of both)
are now ready to retreat from their past un-
yielding position on prisoners Of war. Hereto
fore they have uncompron1isingly insisted that
the United Nations Command must return
every one of its captives without exceptional
bayonet point If need be. Our American and
allied negotiators, however, have just as ada
mainly refused to agree to such q brutal pro-
gram of forcible repatriation. They have refused
on legal, humanitarian and other grounds
because close to 10000 of the U. Ms POWs,
fearing the vengeance of their Communist rul-
ers, have vowed that they will violently resist
any effort to send them back
Ever since the suspension of the Panmun-
JON talks last fall, the United Nations Com
mand has emphasized and re-emphasized the
futility Of resuming negotiations in the absence
of Communist willingness to compromise on the
prisoner ISSUE Chou-doubtless with the Krem-
Inns blessing, If not on its orders-now seems to
have given some evidence Of such willingness.
In effect although he has done so with few
typical propaganda accusations, he has yielded
at least in part-to the U. MS insistence on
voluntary repatriation. His proposal, in fact, is
not unlike one that received favorable attention
December of the Indian plan, which the Soviet
bloc alone rejected. ~
a.. There is still need for great caution, of
course, still need for wariness and crossed
fingers attitude. But Chou's statement-eve
though closer inspection may uncover hidden
BOBBY traps in it-strongly suggests that the
Communists have finally come around. to .
more reasonable and compromising view Of the
prisoner question, which Is ostensibly the only
one blocking an armistice Accordingly, assum-
ing that the enemy honestly wants to work out
an honorable agreement, another round Of ne
gotiations at Panmunjom may well 8ucceed in
ending the hostilities and thus lessening, to
some extent, the danger Of much bigger war
that could engulf the whole world
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Letters to The Star +. !.

the liquor traffic. on any day Of the
week.
This is to raise the question, as I
have done before In this column, as to
what is wrong with liquor drinking or
peddling on Sunday that is all right
on Tuesday or Friday?
Donald r. Haynes.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
Atomic Report
Donald r. Haynes.

I think that The Sunday Stars RE
view Of the Week" in the March "a
issue did an excellent job Of describing
the nations progress in small atomic
weapons, the atomic bomb damage to
Flats. and the need for q much better
civil defense program.
hope that all those who get The
Star viii read this article thoughtfully
and then act on it by obtaining the
new civil defense pamphlet soon to be
put out. needing its advice in protecting
self, family. and property. and volun-
teering for civil defense job.
Phyllis v. Hards.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
''vIENNA, va.

dear Sir:
"As / enjoy your column 90 much I
feel must write to you about seeing
my first robin.
"It was after the snow.
II saw lone robin amidst flock Of
starlings.
'It was hopping along ii the drive,
not minding the snow and slush. On
such . dismal day was happy to see
him.
Il have noticed 50 often that robins
and starlings seem to mix Ia large
flocks IN early spring.
There seem to be hundreds Of each
In our meadow In early spring.
Is there any reason for their travel
ing together2
THANKING you for your interesting
discussions, and hoping you may con-
tinue for many years to come. am
''Very truly yours. I. e. E.
college PARK, Nd.
Dear Sir:
Today something happened that ]
thought you might be interested In.
Between 8 and o'clock so robins
landed In large English holly tree
still filled with berries, and after pick
ing every one, moved to the other holly
on the opposite side cf the yard.
Z took out wild bird seed. to throw
Evening star., 1953-03-31
irresponsible investigators

Congressional investigators who "re-
veal'' to us as pro- Communists such
persons as Mrs. Meyer, Bishop Oman
and Mr.. Bohlen show us only that they
do not know how to look for truly dan
gerous characters-or they do not
really want to find them and are simply
using their position and appropriations
to stifie independent thinking by intim-
idating all who might be inclined TO
differ from their particular line OF
thought. In either case. they have dis
credited themselves to such an extent
that we can have no confidence in any
further revelations they may make.
II these congressional Investigations
are not violation Of the constitutional
separation Of powers, and If they must
be carried on, the work should be
reorganized completely, placing 1t in
the hands of people Of unqueStioned
integrity, honesty and seldess devotion
to the Nations welfare. They must show
unmistakably that they are seeking
truly dangerous persons and that they
respect the fact that our country's
strength depends on an abundance Of
original, even adventurous, minds de-
voted to preserving liberty here and
everywhere, including the liberty to
disagree.s
Frances Baker Ross.
Two Of your columnists, Messrs. Mel
lett and Stokes. seem more interested
in diScrediting certain congressional
investigators than In solving the vexing
and complex problems Of how to deal
with Communist infiltration into United
States institutions and at the same
time retain our rights as individuals.
could be more sympathetic with
the attitude Of these gentlemen II In
their writings either Of them had ever
offered constructive idea toward the
solution Of this problem. or even recog-
nized that there Is q problem. Purely
destructive criticism by writer's In q
position to mold public opinion only
tends to destroy confidence In estab-
lished institutions and PRODUCES public
Illustration and apathy; whereas con-
structive idea can well result in such
q flood Of mail to Congress as to pre-
clude its being ignored.
Huth B. Freeman.
Evening star., 1953-03-31

Pen-n1r1es may be used If letters carry
aOrtters' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star., 1953-03-31
By e. Donold Ben

TT YOU vigorously kick an old hat
l out Of your path on the way to work
tomorrow. youll probably give the lini-
ment bottle q workout when you limp
home at nightfall. And II you leap
for q well-worn pocketbook, with
visions Of boarded riches. 1t win take
some time for the blush to fade from