davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Learning About Pollution

If Senator Morse can induce the Federal
Government to take greater interest in the
Potomac River pollution problem he will have
made majo contribution to a SloW-moving
cleanup undertaking. The Oregon Independent,
after a tour of inspection of the contaminated
river, said: Its clear obligation of Congress
to set an example for the Nation. This is a
great river. 1t ought to be cleaned up" He is
right in each statement. But it has been diff
cult to arouse congressional interest in the
plight of the Potomac in past years. That is
why Senator MorSe'S show of concern over the
shameful conditions along the Washington water
front is exceedingly neWsWorthy.
Senator Morse suggested an interstate COM
pact to create a regional authority to control
and reduce pollution in this Metropolitan Area
with the Federal Government making a sub
Stantial contribution to the cost of such an
enterprise. However, if the Federal interest in
similar compact is any criterion of what
might be expected in the larger undertaking,
very little financial help from Congress can be
banked on. There is an interstate compact
now among four States the District of Columbia
and the Federal Government, to promote
co-ordnated abatement of city and industrial
pollution in the river. This pact led to the
formation in 1899 of the Interstate Commission
on the Potomac River Basin, composed of rep
IeSeHGdIlVeS OF virginia., west virginia., Mary
land, Pennsylvania, the District and the United
States Government. The commission has done
splendid job of arouSng public interest in
the crusade to clean up the Potomac and it's
tributaries. But it has encountered a singular
lack of enthusiasm in Congress over its efforts,
an apathy best indicated by recurrent difficult
ties in obtaining an annual $4,000 appropriation
for the Governments share of the commissions
administrative expenses.
If every member of Congress would follow
Senator MorseS good example and make
personal inspection of the foul condition of the
Potomac after a dry season like that of this
summer, the demands for corrective action
would be loud and prolonged. 1t would be
discovered in such tour that local authorities
on both sides of the river are making de-
termined efforts to reduce the amount of raw
sewage dumped into the river, that joint
planning and operation of sewage treatment
plants is in the course of becoming a reality
on the Virginia side, that the District is build
ing new treatment facilities and expanding
old ones and that State anti-pollution authori-
ties are pressing local communities for further
action. Only the Federal Government has
Jagged in this vital joint movement to make the
Potomac cleaner and more healthful. Yet, as
Senator Morse has pointed out, the Federal
Government has a definite obligation to protect
the welfare of those who work and live at the
Seat of Government. The near-Septic state of
the river under present conditions is poten-
tial health hazard for all who serve the
Government.
Evening star., 1953-10-04

Of those exports would pinch them economically
in a way that could hurt us as we'll as them
In such circumstances, the administra-
tons policy-as expressed in the FOA report
is sound Actually, if the world is to progress
toward a stable peace, there must be
certain measure of non-strategic East-WeSt
trade even in these times of tension. AS mat
ter of fact unless tariffs are lowered sufficiently
to permit much freer flow of commerce
among the United States and the free nations
as a whole Britain and some of our other
friends abroad-countrieS whose existence is
uniquely dependent on exports and imports
eventually will be driven by'necessity to seek
such trade in ever-increasing volume. 1t would
be unrealstic to think otherwise.
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Nothing to Show for Tax

Among the very burdensome but
otherwise acceptable taxes we pay today
there is a really outrageous one, re-
quiring the payment of a substantial
annual sum for no services rendered
whatsoever. This is the Washington
Suburban Sanitary District Tax, COL
lected by Montgomery County from
property owners unfortunate enough to
be in the expanding boundaries of the
Sanitary District, but who receive no
service at all, and are not likely to for
long time to come. If they ever do
become available in the dim future,
apparently they have to be paid for
whether wanted and used or not.
The theory behind this tax, this pay
ment of something for nothing, is that
it makes possible the erection of bigger
and better sewer lines than would be
possible if only actual users paid for
them. On this theory the telephone
company, for example, could assess all
potential users of it's services, and have
the county collect under pain of tax
sale OF the property. CThe county bill
must be paid in its entirety. With
enough political pressure, a chain
grocery system might even get the
county to forcibly collect an assessment
on sall possible future customers to
finance the bonds to pay for new stores.
In this case the bankers have success
fully applied the pressure on the cynical
theory that few people might grumble,
but that the majority are too apathetic
and lethargic to do anything about it,
Let me remind them that long Suf-
fering taxpayers. in a clear case of
injustice, finally blow up.
Herbert ]. Holland.
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Highway Hypnosis

Traffic experts are blaming themselves for
a new disease" that is causing accidents on
SuperhighWayS designed to be virtually accident
proof. Speakers at the annual meeting of the
Institute of Traffic Engineers declared that
some of the countrys dream highways" are
exactly that to some motorists. The very per-
fection of such an expreSsway as the New Jersey
Turnpike-its SmoothneSS its gentle grades, its
lack of curves and its freedom from cross
traff1c-makes for daydreaming and daydream-
ing can be dangerous when one is at the
wheel of an automobile travelling go miles an
hour through uninterestmg countryside.
This tendency of superhighways to induce
what might be called highway hypnosis" is
believed by safety authorities to have been re-
SponSible for number of unexplained crashes
on some of the new turnpikes. Robert j. Allen,
chief traffic engineer of the Association of
Casualty and Surety Companies, told the in
stitute that as normal road hazards are
eliminated by engineering, a false sense of
security seems to overcome some drivers He
said the new peril deserving attention of the
engineers is deadly monotony"
Any one who has driven considerable dis
tanceS on the New Jersey or Pennsylvania
Turnpikes can understand what Mr.. Allen was
talking about. There is so little to worry about
that one is apt to find himself thinking about
everything except the important business of
keeping his car under control. Absorbed with
distractions, the daydreamer is slow to react
if a sudden emergency requiring instant action
pops up Or his preoccupation with other things
may cause him to permit his car to veer from its
proper lane, imperiling himself and others
"Jiggle buttons to mark the lanes and jiggle
the steering wheel when lane is crossed have
been tried out in some places. But what to do
about the dreamer who keeps in his lane but
fails to observe pile-up of cars just ahead of
him is still puzzer.
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Fifty Years Ago in T he Star .

proved by the District Commissioners,
Col. T. w. Symons, officer in charge of
public buildings and grounds. and
Theodore w. Noyes, president of the
library Board of Trustees, Mr.. Car
negie furnished the money required to
meet the expenses involved. "All paint
ing" it was stipulated, will be in oil
color thoroughly and carefully done, on
both walls and ceilings" The colors
mentioned in the contract include.
Ivory, gray, Caen stone. buff, old red,
gray olive, light tan, green and-espe-
cially on the capitals of pilaSters, lions
heads and garlands in the frieze-gold
X
On September 18, 1903, The Star
quoted the Brooklyn Eagle as follows:
I'VE are long way
AUTOMOBILES behind Europe in the
For the Army equipment of our
Army, which accounts
for the fact that not until now have
we employed the automobile for mill
tary purposes. We have built a very
large and a very ugly but no doubt
very useful wagon, which contains a
great assortment of repairing tools for
oCANACC OI1 6IlC 1lclu VI DdILl6 VI upon
the march. Broken guns can be coop
cred into shape, horses can be shod,
harness mended and electric light gen.
Grated by the various appliances car
ried in this miniature depot. On the
motive power supplied by one tank of
gasoline the automobile can travel 800
miles at an average speed of 10 miles
an hour which makes it far more
valuable to a moving column than any
similar vehicle drawn by horses. The
automobile is now an important fac
tor in the equipment of most of the
armies of continental Europe, and it is
even being used extensively by Great
Britain, whose military system is far
behind that Of her neighbors. High
powered cars are employed by general
and staff officers in the conduct of
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Christian Education Urqed

LaurelS for Pastor Eberhardt! His
letter on delinquency, published Sep
tember 81, is the first real basic reading
have done on the subject from your
pages. I sincerely hope that many of
our So-called educated" parents read
it and that they had the intelligence
to humble themselves and begin to
believe it.
There has been entirely too much
emphasis put on secular education and
not enough on the sacred; and until
we, as Christian parents. put on the
robe of submission to Christ and begin
to teach our children as He instructs
us to from His word, we will always
have this present situation with our
youth.
Legislation is only going to help cure
the diseased minds of the delinQuentS.
We give them booster shots against
physical disease and we point out the
poison ivy and insects and tell them
to beware. We do not allow them to
touch the hot stove because it burns,
but do we sit down with an open Bible
and try to teach them how to avoid
SPIRITUAL disease? Too many do not,
and it is high time we begin avoiding
the malady instead of frantically
searching for a cure after the infection
has set in.
might say for the educated skeptics
who will read this that I am parent.
My child attends Christian day school
and Sunday school and church. We
have family devotions in our home
daily and feel that our lives would be
void without them. 1 can only feel a
deep pity for the parents who do not
see the living value of Christian home
life, and I am truly sorry that they
will not reap the rich benefits a
Christian child will bring to them.
Mrs. Vincent L. Gingerich.
On recent afternoon while riding
an Ivy City bus, the bus picked about
35 or 40 students from the large, new
high school on Hardwood road. Two
of them sat in front of me amusing
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Trading With the Communists

In it's latest report to Congress, the Foreign
Operations Administration formerly the Mu-
tual Security Agency has set forth reason
able policy statement regarding non strategic
trade with Red China and the Soviet empire
in Europe. Although it may irk a number of
Senators and Representatives who want to cut
off all American aid to any country engaging in
such business, the statement makes sense in
terms of the economic and political realities
of the present world situation.
Noting that East-West trade has increased
substantially in the first half of this year, the
FOA report emphasizes that only non-strategic
goodS-Wth a few minor and rare exceptions
have been involved AS for strategic goods,
goods contributing to the war potential of the
Communists they have not been flowing out.
On the contrary, according to the FOA the
embargo against them has been made tighter
than ever, with Britain and our other allies CO.
operating fully with the United States in the
Tightening process. Moreover, despite the
Korean truce, the ban still is in effect, and
presumably there will be no inter-allied move
to relax it within the near future.
However, regardless of all this, some men,
berS of Congress insist that every country
receiving American aid should be denied such
aid if they refuse to adopt total embargo
of the type that we are employing against
strategic goods but against on-strategic goods
as we'll. But the FOA report makes clear that
the Eisenhower administration is thoroughly
opposed to exercising that kind of pressure
against sovereign nations that are our friends
and allies. 1t makes clear that our Government
while adhering to its own total-embargo policy
and while urging other Western powers to do
as little business as possible with the Com
munistS, does not intend to follow the advice
of the congressional advocates of complete
stoppage of trade.
The administration has good reason to take
this position. For nothing could be poten-
tally more dangerous than to try bludg
coming the free world into a total embargo
AGAINST the Communists. If we were engaged
in an all-out shooting war with these people
such a policy would be defensible. But it is not
6efensible now, and none of our self-respecting
allies would tolerate it for a moment. They
would not tolerate it because it would be politi-
cally suicidal for them to do so. Further than
that, even though their present exports to the
Rtds are relatively small, complete stoppage
Evening star., 1953-10-04

for "a first-class trunk maker and
leather goods worker" Of course. a
dollar in those days was a real dol
lar. There was no imitation abroad in
the land.
President Theodore Roosevelt, on his
way back to washington at the close
of his summer vacation,
President told reporters in Phila-
Returning delphia on September %,
1908: It never felt bet
ter in my life. I am now ready for 13
months more of hard work" The Star
of the same date explained: "The Presi-
dent will resume business at the old
stand early tomorrow morning. There
is every indication he will have busy
time from the outset" Mr.. Roosevelt
had been absent from the Nations
Capital for 13 weeks and two days. He
was accompanied from Sycamore Hill,
oyster Bay, Long Island, by Mrs. RooSe-
velt and their children, Ethel. Archie
and Quentin. Alice, the future Mrs.
Nicholas Longworth, Joined the party
at Jersey City.
PlanS Tor "emDelllSnlng Cne interior
of the magnificent new building of the
Washington Public
Decorating the Library, which
Public Librory stands at Mount
Vernon Square and
is one of the notable benefactions of
Andrew Carnegie" were discussed in
story published by The Star on Sep
tember Is, 1903. Albert R. Ross, archi-
tect of the edif1ce, had submitted IAN
elaborate scheme" of decoration for the
inner walls. But Elmer E. Garnsey,
''one of the most skillful and highly
regarded decorative painters in New
York. and "the leader in the main in
terror color decorations of the Library
of Congress" was to be in charge of the
work. His engagement having been ap-
Evening star., 1953-10-04

In the New Testament Amen is the
crystal vial in which is distilled the
aroma of the Divine grace "The grace
of the Lord Jesus be with you all,
Amen" That apostolic Amen is
breathed meekly in tens of thousands
of churches as the benediction is pro-
nounced.
In his Shadow of the Sword" Rob-
ert Buchanan describes chapel in
which no Amen was ever heard. He
calls it the Chapel of Hate. 1t stood
in Brittany a century ago, on bleak
and barren moor 1t was in ruins and
the walls stained with the slime of
centuries. NettleS and rank weeds grew
hreast-high around the gloomy scene.
"Hither," says Buchanan, "in hours of
passion and pain came men and women
to cry curses on their enemies, all eX-
pressing the malicious wish that the
hated one might die within the year"
There came these victims of their own
ire, burning with hatred, pouring out
their malignity in that dismal shrine
in which an Amen never assembled as
the incense of love.
But in one of Mrs. Barclays novels
fishing village on the cliffs of the east
coast of England. It stood among the
cornfields, flecked with their crimson
poppies. Rodney Steele, the hero of
the story, his heart Soured with disil-
lusionment and disappointment, his
very soul writhing with bitterness,
hatred and unforgiveneSs, one day
stepped into this little chapel as it
stood jagged and roodess against the
purple sky. Inside, he read a framed
inscription: "The ruins of my soul re-
pair, and make my heart a house of
prayer"
Some one had deeply and unjustly
Wronged him. In that chapel he
grappled with a ranking passion he
had cherished through the years. Then
and there he put an Amen to that
prayer that he found framed in the
Evening star., 1953-10-04

maneuvers and would be used to ad-
vantage in times of war. . Our own
first experiment is a modest one. but
it has the same suggestion of Yankee
originality that characterized the equip
ment of a floating repair shop to follow
the blockading fleets in the Spanish
war. In the course of time the War De-
partment will doubtless see the wisdom
of experimenting with the motor car in
other directions.
The society page of The Star for Oc-
tober 3, 1908. gave space for an account
of the celebration of
Suter Golden the 50th anniversary
Wedding of the marriage of Mr..
and Mrs. John T. Suter,
42O H street NV Among the guests
attending were: Mrs. M. A. Walllng,
John Chancey and w. H. Frazier, all
of whom had been present at the we'd
ding; j. w. Thompson, Mrs. M. B. La
pouraille and DR.. and Mrs. Alfred La
pouraille of Baltimore, Mr.. and Mrs. j.
/. Burns, Mrs. August Menge, Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Caywood and Chester
Caywood, Mrs. l.. D. Walter and Mr..
and Mrs. E. L. Walter, Mr.. and Mrs.
George Suter, Mr.. and Mrs. Jesse Suter.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Suter, Mrs. James
Hughes, Mr.. and Mrs. H. S. Flynn, Mr..
and Mrs. j. F. Haner, A. w. Graham.
Mr.. and Mrs. j. T. Suter, jr.; DR.. and
Mrs. w. Given Suter. y
Evening star., 1953-10-04
By Frederick Brown Harris
Minister, Foundry Methodist Church;
Chaplain, United States Senate.


vestibule. After torturing, It forgive" :"
he cried aloud my God, forgive as
hope to be forgiven. Amen" With
hate vanquished, the ruins of his soul
were indeed repaired.
In book entitled, "a Peep Behind
the Scenes little gypsy girl, Rosalie,
whose religious training had been
sadly neglected, had slipped all alone
into church and heard the minister
talk about the Good Shepherd Often
had she seen the picture of the Good
Shepherd in the grimy caravan in
which she travelled around, but she had
never known its meaning. That Serv-
ice lighted it with new glory. Breath
leSsly, she told her sick mother: 1.-The
good shepherd in the picture is real
The good shepherd was alive! The good
shepherd was the son of God!" Excit-
edly, the little girl said: 1.-THE man in
church talked about the good shepherd,
Mommy. And twice he said the words
under the picture: The Son of Man is
come to seek and to save that which
was lost"
From childish lips came a simple
prayer to the Good Shepherd. that He
might find her and her sick mother and
carry them safe like the lamb in the
picture. Then, having offered her
prayer, she exclaimed with sudden
anxiety: "Mommy, ought to have said
Amen" why, Rosalie?" "The people
at Church said it. Will it do any good
without Amen?" II don't know, Ros-
alie,' whispered the mother; 'but you
can say it now" amen, Amen" said
the little lassie fervently.
And man who has written many
helpful volumes, read in all parts of
the world, quoting that little maiden's
prayer, Find us soon and carry us
safe" adds: IF all of us who desire
to make it our own join her in her
emphatic repeated Amen, who can
doubt that there will be joy in the
presence of the angels when Heaven
hears the sound of that Amen"
Gazing at the Good Shepherd, we
think of generations who have put
an Amen to a line in a great hymn:
Like lambs they shall still in my
bosom be borne" They have found
the experience of the Shepherd King
repeated in their own lives, an expert
ence that is mirrored in words that
have come across the years like bells
at evening pealing: "The Lord is my
shepherd . He restoreth my soul"
For, as st. Paul assures U.S." "all the
promises of God are Amen"
Il heard it all, I heard the aUhole
Harmonious hymn of being roll
Up through the chapel of my soul
And at the altar die,
And IN the GWfM quiet, then,
Myself, heard, Amen, Amen,
Amen, heard me cry"
Evening star., 1953-10-04
All Kinds of Women

One day traveller came to the gate
of beautiful country where lived some
60 900 900 women. This traveller was a
scientist, a man who specialized in
the investigation of certain forms OF
human behavior. What kind of
women live in this country?" the sci
enlist asked the wise man who sat
at the gate. What kind of women
are you looking for?" the wise man
answered. II am looking for unfaithful
wives and promiScuous SWeethearts,"
said the scientist. Il am looking for
the immoral and the immodeSt, the
frustrated and the neurotic, women who
are willing to tell me of their sins, past
and present" Enter" said the wise
man, you will find these women here"
A little later there came to the gate
another traveller who asked the wise
man the same question:: What kind
of women live in this country?" What
kind of women are you looking for?"
the wise man answered. II am look
ing for the Christian mothers, the
faithful wives, the true sWeethearts,"
the traveller said. II am looking for
the godly women. the pure in heart
the kind of women who have made
this country good and great and beau
tiful" Enter" said the wise man,
you will find these women here"
And so both travellers found the
kind of women they were looking for.
The scientist found 5,940 women who
Evening star., 1953-10-04
Letters to The Star. .

themselves by splitting on automobiles
that stopped abreast the bus at signal
lights.
wondered where these young men,
Is or II years of age, learned such
habit They certainly did not pick it
up at their school. nor did they acquire
it at their homes or from their parents.
for it could be presumed that they have
neither homes nor parents. Perhaps
they live in a cage at the Zoo with
splitting hyena or some place in a jun
gle unknown to civilization.
John MacCall.
Evening star., 1953-10-04

were willing to give him the informa-
ton he was seeking. The second trav-
eler asked no questions of the women
he met. He did not need to. He was
a very wise man-as wise as he who
sat at the gate-and he knew that
not only is virtue its own reward, but
virtue is its own publicity.
Elsie King MOreIand.
Evening star., 1953-10-04

Pen-nan1eS may be used If letters carry
1OriterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star., 1953-08-28
Why Grow Old?
Play Is Fun if 1t Comes
As Respite From Work

There is a great excitement and
exhileration in accomplishment.
And don't be one-Sided Jane.
Participate in some of your col
lege activities outside the regu-
lar clasSroomS. School organiza-
tionS and sports and clubs will
give you many new interests
and friends and enrich your life.
Do not let shyness keep you
from trying out for some of
these. There is place of some
sort in which every college girl
can feel that she is doing a good
job and discovering new inter-
eStS and SkillS.
Few young pepole find out how
to concentrate when studying
while they are in high school.
This knowledge usually comes
in college. Once you learn this
you will find that you can keep
your grades at fine level and
still have time left for other COL
lege activities. How much hap
pier it is to settle down and con-
centrate for q few hours and
then feel free the rest of the
time!