davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-08-25

To get the proper sequence for the
sides, the manual operator had to jump
from one side of 10-inch disc to a
12-inch disc, and then back to the
other side Clip side, now of the 10-inch
1t was all very confusing and required
card catalog mind rather than a
musical one. But to the real record
enthusiast, who had been brought up
as a child on "Mary's Little Lamb" as
recited in a strange voice on a tinfoil
disc, all things came to those who
waited.
He was to see the hand ground-pl
record first turned into the wax tube.
on which the old "Ed-i-son record"
was engraved. then turned into Ber-
liners disc. You took the old wax
records out of round box by carefully
inserting the index and second finger
spread far enough apart to hold.
The fiat discs came as heavens re-
ward for the faithful, thanks to the
genius of Emile Berliner of this city.
There were quantities of "recita-
tions," of which probably the most
popular was Cohen at the Telephone. ;"
Ballet music from William Tell
We'd with a bass voice singing one OF
Victor Herberts popular numbers, i
Want What I Want When Want 1t. ="
always the battle cry of the impatient.
At the peak Of the old acoustical rec
ord sales, many red seal discs sold for
Evening star., 1953-08-25
By Charles E. TroceweN

as high as $3.50 to ST apiece, depend
ing upon the famous names" included
in one opera number.
Acoustical recording, though it made
a mess of the orchestration, achieved a
smoothness in voice and violin record
ing that has never been reached since,
many old-timerS believe.
Today the accent is on orchestration.
Modern high fidelity reproduction is
supposed to give the hearer much of
the realism of the real orchestra in the
concert hall.
The field of popular music is now
divided among what may be called
straight popular tunes, hillbilly or coun-
try music, and various cults of straight
jazz. with a backward glance toward
ragtime. Latin American music is
department all to itself, and various
schools of exotic music prevail to suit
varying tastes.
The enthusiast can now get whole
operas for his living room that are not
even given by the Metropolitan. There
are children's records, including our
favorite, Woody Woodpecker'S Picnic,
and many novelty records.
Whether Hi Fi' or what else, the
disc collector never had it so easy or
so complete, in fact. he is about
swamped, but he bears up manfully.
even using flip side" to show he is
in the know.A
Evening star., 1953-08-25
What Is. Man.?

Last nights full moon in sky given over
to stars and moon and an occasional airplane,
was the crowning achievement of beautiful
August in Washington. 1t was the sort of
moon that has inspired the poets since the
earliest times. One of these was the author of
the 9Th Psalm, and his lines must have come
to mind last night to more than one befudded
man here below:
"When look at Thy heaUens. the ,oork OF Thy
fingers,
The moon and the stars tUhich Thou has
established.
What is man that Thou are mindful OF him,
And the son of man that Thou dost care for
him?
Yet Thou hast made him little less than God,
And dost cro'0n him fotth glory and honor"
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Mail Chutes for Motorists

Again congratulations and city-wide
thanks are due Postmaster General
Summerf1eld and the Washington Post
Office.
1t has not been long since we had
occasion to warmly thank the Post
master General for extending the hours
of night collections, permitting un-
counted more letters to be included in
the following mornings delivery, thus
eXpediting their transmission by at
least twelve hours.
Now the Illustrations which have long
harasSed the residents of the District
of Columbia intent on depositing their
mail at the centrally located Benjamin
Franklin Station, have come to an end.
No longer do we, on finding no parking
spaces available, have the narrowing
temptation of double parking or the
weary alternative of driving to right
and left in search of cars length of
unoccupied curb, which involved trip
back on foot.
The recently installed mailbox with
its two-foot chute offers an easily
reached receptacle, down which the
mail slides, while the cars speed is
almost imperceptibly slackened. The
eleven similar boxes now distributed
across the city reflect carefully CO.
ordinated planning by police, traffic
and postal authorities. All bottlenecks
are avoided. Broad streets are pre-
ferred The dazzling aluminium paint
attracts the public eye, and is easily
diScernible.
We are grateful that in few days
three or four more chute mailboXes
will carry this convenience to other
parts of the city. The present some
what improvised appearance of these
home emade" products. We are in
formed, will soon yield to the precision
of machine manufactured articles.
Chute mailboxes will be carried on
the equipment list as standard issue.
Lastly, let us by no means overlook
the thanks due for the elimination of
all day parking by the installation of
Commute parking meters about our
branch oflces-long enough for any
average postal transaction.
Mrs. George c Thorpe,
Chairman, AAA Women's Safety
Committee.
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Railroads Are Running Out Of Steam
By jack Jonas

THE WALL of steam locomotive
whistle in the night-a call to
adventure since the Best Friend of
Charleston chugged its first run 123
years ago-is becoming little more than
faint echo as the railroads speed their
transfer to more economical and eff
cient diesel-electrics.
The strident blast of the diesels
horn is note which tends to Startle
rather than lure. And driving a diesel
is simple operation compared with
steam.
Roscoe Turner's alarm that today's,
airplane, flying far above and beyond
the crowds, is losing its attraction for
the Nations youth. might now apply
to the youngster who in days past
wanted to sit at the throttle of
locomotive and tune the gadgets that
make it run.
Just a little more than a month ago,
Southern Railway hcsed down the ash
pan on No. $3.50, marking the end of
that roads use of steam. This was sig
nificant because it was the South Car
olina Railroad, forerunner to South
ern, on which the Best Friend of
Charleston pulled the first steam drawn
train on regularly scheduled service be-
ginning Christmas Day, 1880.
1t was only six-mile run, but it
marked the beginning of a 65-year
monopoly for steam on the Nations
railroads.
There had been earlier demonstra-
tions. On August 8. 1929. Horatio Allen,
a young civil engineer of the Delaware
& Hudson Canal Co., piloted the Stour-
bridge Lion, an English-built steam
locomotive, on a trial run at Homes
dale, Pa.
The first American-built steam loco
motive, the Tom Thumb, raced horse
drawn car at Baltimore on August 25
1880. The locomotive lost.
Four years earlier, Col. John Stevens,
a Hoboken, N. j. inventor, put the first
steam engine on rails in America. 1t
was operated on a circular track on
Col. Stevens estate, but was never put
to practical use.
Today, steam is fast disappearing.
The country has lot Glass I railroads
those making 81 million or more
year-and 81 of. them have switched
completely to diesel operations. Diesel
locomotives handle more than 70 per
cent of all passenger service and IS per
cent of all freight.
Perhaps even more telling are these
Evening star., 1953-08-25
General Grants Papers

Acting Librarian Werner w. Clapp last week
announced that the Library of Congress has
received another important gift from Major
General U. S. Grant III-namely, a series of
81 volumes of manuscript records tracing the
career of his famous grandfather from the
time when he assumed command of the Federal
forces at Ironton, Missouri on August 5, 1861
until he was inaugurated President on March f.
1869. The donated material supplements docu-
ments contributed in 1922 and further papers
offered since then. 1t is believed to anticipate
still other gifts from the grandson.
Thus, as Mr.. Clapp has told the Star
an imperative need is being met-the lack
stipulated as late as 1881 by the Dictionary of
American Biography in the words: There is
no considerable collection of his (Grants)
manuscripts, and the printed salvage from his
letters is fragmentary" What the third U. S.
Grant has been doing is philanthropy Of the
highest value. In brief, he is providing the data
for which, the acting librarian explains, "fu-
ture biographers will be grateful"
The 81 journal volumes of 1861-1869, of
course, are unique. They were compiled from
day to day by members of the Union COM
mander's headquarters staff and they carry his
signature in witness of their accuracy. Further,
it is almost certain that the books were used
by the general in his production of his MEM
ors" the last proofs of which were brought to
him as he was dying at Mount McGregor, New
York, in July, 1885. The Star reported few
hours before the end, During the evening
Colonel (Frederick Dent) Grant gave orders
that all manuscripts and literary effects at the
cottage office should be at once packed up and
made safe"
Interest in such material is growing. Books
on Grant by Lloyd Lewis, Kenneth P. Williams,
T. Harry Williams Clarence Edward Mccartney
and other writer's have found many readers.
Mr.. Clapp declares that The Star was justified
when in it's obituary editorial on the celebrated
soldier it affirmed: Lincoln and Grant will be
the two great names in our epoch of American
history" He adds: Not scholars only, but the
public at large also has reason to appreciate
the Grant familys generosity"
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Keeping the Jail Filled

The record-breaking increase in the Dis
tr1ct jail population may be attributed not
only to an increase in crime during the past
fiscal year but to better law enforcement all
along the line. The jail report indicates that
as lawlesSneSs was on the increase here, more
criminals were being caught and sent to jail
than ever before. Although handicapped by
manpower shortage, the Police Department
gave a good account of itself-and prosecutors
and judges have been tightening up in their
departments, too. The net effect should be to
cause subsiding of the crime wave that had
brought. Washington into disrepute.
Thanks to Congress, Police Chief Murray
hopes before long to lick the manpower short
age that has bothered him ever since he took
Office. Within the past few days he has insti-
tuted Six-day week for volunteer officers,
using funds provided for recruitment of new
personnel. Through this expedient he has been
able to bring his force almost to the strength
which Congress provided for in the new budget,
namely 227O men. Actually, the authorized
strength, as set by previous Congress, is 1920
men. As recruits come in, of course, the over
time, work will be curtailed proportionately
The recruiting situation has improved, as a
result of the pay raise granted by Congress.
Several former policemen who had resigned
last year when prospects of advancement
seemed poor have applied for reappointment
since passage of the pay bill. These expert
enced officers will be welcomed back in most
cases.
Meanwhile, the department is awaiting
results of an examination last month. A num-
ber of good men are expected to be taken on
when the list of eligibleS is certified. There are
about 100 vacancies at present so some more
intensive recruiting will be necessary to fill the
ranks. The six-day-week plan will assure the
city of a force adequate to patrol the more
important BEATS even at night Studies have
shown that crime increases as the number of
patrolmen decreases, and vice versa. Chief
Murray is justified in his efforts "a keep as
Evening star., 1953-08-25

figures: In 1851, the railroads put 3,462
locomotive units in service, and all but
"a of them were diesel-electrics. That
was the biggest year since 1923. Last
year, of 3.065 units, all but % were
diesel. The railroads now have 21,687
diesel units in operation, compared with
$4,000 steam. Diesels first outnumbered
steam two years ago.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
has just announced it will buy five more
self-propelled diesel rail cars to take
passengers back and forth between
Washington and Baltimore. They will
take the place of steam-powered locals
Diesels have been working for the
railroads since they first went into Serv-
ice as yard switcher for the Central
Railroad of New Jersey in 1925. But
they didn't get full public attention un-
til more than nine years later, when
the Burlington's sleek Zephyr" made
its appearance.
Electric locomotives tried to vie with
steam, beginning in 1895, when the
Baltimore & Ohio substituted electric
current through its 7,30O-foot tunnel at
Baltimore. The New York, New Haven
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Almost Beyond Belief

AS a faithful reader of The Star, I
was gratif1ed to read your editorial on
August 20 entitled, Almost Beyond
Belief"
Your comments were what consider
to be a long overdue editorial of COM
mendation and fair appraisal of the
service being rendered by the Mccarthy
subcommittee in its constant effort to
expose Communists in our Government,
particularly now the shocking expos
ure of Edward Rothschild.
In the face of the growing threat of
Communism throughout the world, it
seems to me the most vital service
newspaper could render the American
people would be to lend its support to
those who are engaged in an honest
effort to protect and save our country.
Let us see more of the facts that Nc
Carthy has uncovered, and less of the
fallacies that come from prejudiced
reporting. Kay Jensen.
Thank you very much for printing
the editorial almost Beyond Belief"
concerning the poor security at the
Government Printing Office. I sub
scribe to The Star and am very pleased
to see that you are doing your part to
rid the Government service of spine
less, careless, incompetent and ques-
tionable officials.
For many years have beerf loyal
employe at the Government Printing
Office and I never dreamed there was
so much corruption and poor manage
ment there. Where national security
is concerned, there is no room for
friendship or hesitancy to become in
volved in unpleasant proceedings to
carry out ones duty to our Govern
ment.
Your policy of giving plenty of pub
licity to this type of thing is a very
good policy. Disguised Printer.
Just few words to tell you how
pleased-and relieved-I was on read
ing your editorial, Almost Beyond Be
lief and your article on Harold Glas-
ser, Il Refuse to Answer on the
Ground :"
For good while now have been
fearful that our old family Star was
going to turn pink"
Lawrence G. Walter.
X
Il Refuse to Answer on the
Ground . :" ought to be printed in
every paper in the United States.
Great, wonderful Keep up the good
work. B. NJ. Gallagher
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Taxing the Military

am heartily in favor of Representa-
tive Broyhills proposal that service
personnel be subjected to the personal
property tax in the area in which they
are residing.
realize that service people do not
choose the area to which they are
assigned and where they must reside
The regular service people however
chose their profession, and being as
signed to a new area every two years
or so is merely part of their Job. There
are many other occupations which en-
tail families moving from place to place
as their company or business demands.
Statesmen, investigators, engineers, Gov
ernment agents and many others have
the same problem, and they are ex-
pected to pay their fair share for public
services in the area in which they are
residing.
Service people seem to expect all the
advantages of civilian living and none
of the disadvantages. Those living in
Arlington and the other suburban areas
surrounding Washington expect the
permanent residents to provide schools
roads, fire and police protection. water,
ices. Yet large proportion of those
permanent residents are Government
employees living on modest salaries,
with none of the advantages that serv-
ice people have such as free retirement
benefits, free disqualification for the
service member and usually for his
family. taX-free rental and subsistence
allowances, tax-free clothing allow
anceS. and retirement at an age when
they are young enough to find other
employment and perhaps qualify for
civilian retirement benefits as well. The
recruiting publicity in recent weeks has
stressed retirement after 20 years Serv-
ice, often at the comparatively young
age of 38. when man still has many
years of active life ahead of him.
Perhaps the solution is the abolition
of the personal property tax and the
adoption of sales tax, which would
be applicable not only to service per-
sonnel but to the many temporary Gov
ernment employees who reside in the
area and very frequently escape the
local taxes for one or two years after
becoming a resident.
Government EmplOye.
Evening star., 1953-08-25

and Hartford Railroad also put electric
locomotives in service that year in New
England.
But electrics didn't take hold for long
operations because of the tremendous
expense for substations, transmission
lines and overhead wires. BY 1921, the
railioa had $1,000 locomotives, and
all but 364 were steam.
Most of today's steam locomotives are
used in freight service, although diesels
are rapidly taking over there, too. The
greatest number of dieSels are used in
yard switching.
With all of the diesel progress, the
steam locomotive still, can toot its horn
derisively on one score: Diesels, which
start faster but don't run at as high
speeds as steam locomotives, will prob
ably never equal the standing speed
record for trains.
The Pennsylvania Special, now the
Broadway Limited made the fastest
train run ever recorded, and it was
done back in 1905 On June IL of that
year. the Pennsylvania Special ran
three miles near Ada, Ohio, in IS Sec
onos-a rate of 127.06 miles an hour.
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Wife Upon q Hill

Think you wife upon hill
Can pluck string OF stars at tOtU.
Is better able to fulfH
The hungers Slaked, that hunger still?
Then see her Strdining as she tries
With one brotUn hand to shade her eyes
To see, and achingly to knotD
What sort of folk lire do,On beloW.
Ethel Bornett de VitO
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Awards for Police and Firemen

Instead of giving policemen and fire.
men honorary awards for especially
good work, one of the best incentives
to efficient and conscientious work
would be to give them money awards.
This would help augment their small
salaries and reduce temptation to take
bribes from people violating the law.
Anyone who has ordinary intelligence
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Letters to The Star !.

knows there is nothing so expensive as
something you get for nothing-you
usually end by losing all you got and
much more. especially when you got
it dishonesty.
Money awards are given Office work.
ers in the Government, and they are
much more warranted for police and
firemen who risk their lives daily to
protect ours. and our property 1t
should also be done in the military
services.
This is a project that legislators
and civic workers should get into oper-
alton without delay!
]. c. Moore.
Evening star., 1953-08-25

many policemen on the streets as possible.
Nothing is so discouraging to criminals as
well-patrolled streets, especially in the dark
hours.
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Tribute to Maud Dale

May I offer The Star my thanks
and also the writer of the editorial
tribute to Mrs. Maud Dale. The edi-
torial was written so we'll and with
much authority. 1t is touching ap-
probation of one who will continue
to enrich and inspire the lives of all
Americans who visit our National Gal
lery and see the great Chester Dale
Collection.
Violet X. Roberts.
Evening star., 1953-08-25
Questions and Answers

The Stars readers can get the answer to any
question Of fact by either writing The Evening
Star Information Bureau 1900 ] street NV,
Washington D c.. and inclosine cents re-
turn postage or by telephoninR ST 3-7363
Evening star., 1953-08-25
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

@. Was the purchase price of Alaska
more or less per acre than that of the
Louisiana Territory?-E. j. T.
A. The Louisiana Territory cost the
United States little less than cents
an acre; Alaska under 2 cents an acre.
@. Should a light for reading pur-
poses always fall over the left shoulder?
M. R.
A. Experimentation has shown that
the direction from which the light
comes does not matter, provided no
shadows are cast on the page. and that
the rays of light do not enter the eye.
Evening star., 1953-08-25

Pen-n1n1es may be used if letters carry
Dr1terS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.
Evening star., 1953-09-23
Indian War Hero's S Widow
Loses Cemetery Suit Plea
BY the Associated Press

DES MONIES, Sept. 23.-The
Iowa Supreme Court yesterday
ruled against the efforts of a
widow to collect $4,000 from
a cemetery which halted the
burial of her Indian war hero
husband.
The court held that the Sioux
City Memorial Cemetery AS
sociation did not violate public
policy in declining burial to
Sergt. John Rice, a Winnebago
Indian.
The cemetery said it acted be-
cause the burial contract con-
tained a clause restricting the
cemetery to members of the
Caucasian race.
Sergt. Rice was killed in the
war in Korea in 1851. After
burial at the Sioux City ceme-
terry was held up, former Presi-
dent Truman interceded. At the
Presidents order, Sergt. Rice was
buried in Arlington National
Cemetery with full military
honorS.
Mrs. Evelyn Rice, the widow,
Evening star., 1953-09-23
Church-to-Church
Journey Lightens
Missing Wallet

The case of the wallet that
disappeared in one Episcopal
church and turned up in another
is mytsifying police.
The Rev. Robert L. Lewis, a
retired clergyman, is time
assistant to the rector of st.
Thomas Church, Eighteenth and
Church streets NV, where Pres
ident Franklin D. Roosevelt Wor-
shipped.
His wife returned to he pew
from taking Holy Communion
two Sundays ago to find that her
purse had been opened and the
wallet removed. The wallet held
about $40 in cash, including the
money she intended to contri-
butte to the collection.
Yesterday the wallet turned up
again-in st. Johns Church, La
fayette Square, known as the
Church of the Presidents. Turned
in be the sexton, the wallet held
no money but was identified by
a charge plate, good in several
Washington stores.
Evening star., 1953-09-23
Life in the U. S.
Hobby Wears
Out Raiser

BY the Associoted Press

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 23.-
Seymour N. Seltman was shop
ping around for a hobby last
January and finally decided he
would like to raise hamsters,
small ratlike animals.
Yesterday he called the AMI
NAL Rescue League and asked
for help. He explained:
''It was a nice hobby while it
lasted. I built some pens in the
cellar and enjoyed watching the
little animals. Pretty soon there
were 16 baby hamsters. Then
they grew up and-oh, it's a long
story"
Mr.. Seltman said he has given
away or sold at least 1000 ham
sters since January and he
wanted the Animal League to
pick up 300 still at home be-
cause-"this could go on for
ever"
Evening star., 1953-09-23
80 Doukhobors Convicted
Of Parading in Nude
BY the Associated Press

VANCOUVER, British Colum-
bia, Sept. 22.-Thirty more Douk-
hobors were convicted of nude
parading yesterday in trials that
lasted three minutes each.
This brought to 70 men and
women the number convicted
under a Canadian law aimed
specifically at the religious sect
whose members parade unclad
as a protest against government
authority. There are So, all
women. still to be tried.
The Doukhobors paraded si-
lently through court. They re-
fuse to enter pleas, since they
do not recognize the govern
ment's right to try them.
Magistrate Graham Ladner
has not announced any SEN
tenceS on the parading charges.
The maximum under the law is
three years in the penitentiary.
Evening star., 1953-09-23
Parrot Hailed us Hero

REDWOOD CITY, Calf. (H1.
Waldo. a green and red par
rot, is something more than
just a pet to Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Zurita today-he's q
hero.
The frantic screeches of the
3-year-old talkative bird
reused the sleeping zuritas at
2:30 am. yesterday as smoke
and flames shot through the
floor of their upstairs apart
ment from the garage below.
Help, help, help!" Waldo
screamed, What's going on
what's going on?"
The couple grabbed Waldo
and a few possessions and
CROPPED their way to safety. A
neighbor also heard the par
rot's screams and called the
fire department.
Fire Marshal Richard Drivon
said Mr.. and Mrs. Zurita would
have been overcome within a
short time,