davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Never-Endinq Argument

Your readers bring up the old ques-
tion of who wrote the Shakesperean
plays. 1t is not a choice between Shakes
peare and some other one man. Plays
were written then as movie plays are
written now, without pride of author
ship or hope of literary fame.
London in the time of Shakespeare
was full Of impecunious university
graduates, and it was customary for
producer to hire several of them to re-
write an old play, to convert story or
some history into play, and sometimes
think up new one
Some of Shakespeare's best lines were
in use before his time. Multiple author
ship is suggested by several facts. Diff
ferent plays show familiarity with sew
eral lines of professional life. The vo-
cabulary. $4,000 words, is too much for
one man. Milton, a learned man, who
wrote on many subjects, had less than
1000.
Shakespeare's recorded signatures are
not those of practiced writer. Some
body must have held his hand. Shakes
peare was businessman who probably
had as poor an opinion of literature as
Mr.. Weeks has of science. No money
in it. A. Craig.
oxford, Pa.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Fuvors Tax Reform
ReveilIe.

The administration is said to be
looking for more revenue to balance
the budget and also a way to reduce
taxes on producers and consumers.
It seems to be more a problem OF
shifting than reducing the revenue.
In that case why not turn to the social
value of land that is now going as
unearned increment to private pockets?
It could take the place of income and
other predatory taxes that are now
so great a setback and annoyance to
industry. Such a shift would be, in
short, an unalloyed blessing to all of
us save such as Lincoln called land
sharks" who are assuredly not desirable
adjuncts to society and would give a
much-needed lift to our moral stand
ing before the world.
Most landholderS, urban and rural,
using their land, now pay far more
in taxes on improvements and other
property, their income and multiple
hidden taxes than would be taken from
the value of their land if land values
were made the basic source of revenue
national, State and municipal. AS to
the latter, Pennsylvania the keystone
State of protectioniSm, which should
also be abolished, has made some ad-
vance by giving most of her towns
option to shift taxes from improve
ments to land values. Perhaps it is
up to the States to show the Federal
Government the way to a thorough
going tax reform.
Walter N. Campbell.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
This and That

1--WE never get tired Of this game of
bird watching. It's one of those things
that fascinates you all the more, the
more time you spend on it,
respondent will have no difficulty get
ting into the true bird watching mood,
providing she makes q slight mental
correction.
1t simply is that one doesn't have to
have much time or patience. for watch
ing the birds, only very little.
Just little time, now and then, just
q bit of patience and not even this, un-
less one cares to, for it is the glory of
real watching that it Is at any time,
any place or affair.
Glory to the hardy souls who pillow
through rain and cold to see some rare
bird. Often one sees photos Of them
in the newspapers. They are "birderS"
as they sometimes like to call them
selves.
Real bird watching can be done just
as easily and much more comfortably
from ones window, usually at home,
but sometimes from an Office window.
Just q look at the glory Of cardi-
nal
Just a laugh at the scream Of the
blue jay
Just an amazement at the fragile
porcelain quality Of the ruby crowned
or golden-crowned kinglet-
This is bird watching and IT doesn't
take any time.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
KNOX TERRACE, Sc.

ANO\A 4GfLfLANEI, DE.
Dear Sir:
II thought I would send you this
excerpt from letter got from my
mother today from Lynchburg, Va.
''She is q bird enthusiast of heNfirSt
water
II often send her clippings from your
column. as she really enjoys reading
about them from other bird lovers.
Il fear don't have the time or pa
tience for much bird watching, but my
interest certainly has increased from
reading your column and being around
her.
Sincerely. A. H."
*
The excerpt:
Il had thrill yesterday when I saw
my first golden-crowned kinglet-the
most exquisite mite of bird you ever
saw in your life-abSolutely exquisite
There is quite kick for seeing for
the first time in actuality, right out of
the blue, these comparatively rare birds
that you've admired in the colored
plates for so long.
This time of year one may be for
tunate enough to catch some traveller.
Just passing through, SO one has to
keep a sharp eye. OF course, the same
is true in the fall-but fall plumage is
dull and it's very hard to identify pos
itively a bird that is unmiStakable in
its spring plumage.
"We thought we spotted o purple
finch. too, but we did not get close
enough to be able to identity positively,
Evening star., 1953-05-13
By Charles E. TroceweN

AS for patience. that is really the
wrong word. To think of patience, in
this connection, is to put something in
to 1t that isn't there, exactly.
1t Is not patience. but interest and
this interest literally grows from what
it feeds on.
There is a high powered newspaper
man in this town who never thought
he had any time. either, for the birds.
Probably he secretly regarded bird
watching, as sport, as fit only for
women.
The other morning, at about o'clock.
while he was in bed, he got interested
in a woodpecker that sat on his tele-
vision antenna and raped out love
song to it's mate.
When woodpeckers rap on wood, it
means nesting; when they rap on metal,
is love song.
This lesson was impressed upon our
good friends ears and mind, but that
wasn't all.
The neighbors became interested in
bird watching, too.
The ringing sound on the glossy
chromium caused several to come out
of doors. despite the hour. to see who it
was ringing the front door bell
Several more went down stairs to see
who was ringing the phone.
They all had both time and patience
to do little bird watching and when
they discovered the culprit, they were
just as pleased as most persons are with
4 FIRST
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Library in an Old House

This room W1s made for dreams. OF
1Oord or thought -.
What fabulous adventures tDdit bettDeen
The copers OF its cherished books: or
seen
IN these dark panels. lovingly hand
1DrouOht
By some ,oise artisan WIo kNew that
words
Were mystical and loUely. Set into
Its iDalls are deep and tride -silled sot't-
do,ps, through
Whose diamond panes the soaring
flight of birds
Above the river is thing OF bright
And sudden beauty. There's look
that fHs,
With dreamers and their books. the
deep old SillS ..
Though noD there's cobtOeb mist to
dim the light.
Around each written phrase. the heart
can hear
The riuer singing. deep and true and
clear.
Bonnie Elizabeth Pohss
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Instruments for Students

On behalf of the Citizens Committee
for Music in the D. c. Public Schools,
want to thank The Star for its excellent
coverage of our musical instrument
drive for children in District schools.
Your understanding of the need for
a good music program in our elemen-
tary schools, and your sympathy to the
lack of funds with which to provide the
District children with this necessary
part of their education has helped stir
up lot of interest and some instru-
mentS.
We should like this opportunity to
acknowledge publicly our appreciation
to Congressman Earl Wilson of Indiana,
Chairman of the House Appropriations
subcommittee, and to his committee
for their attentive interest in the hear
ings they have sat through these past
few evenings. It was good to be heard,
and I am confident that every resident
present couldn't help but feel the un-
derStanding and conscientious attention
given by the committee members in
their consideration of the urgent needs
of the District.
Mrs. Edith Blau,
Chairman, Citizens Committee for
Music in the D. c. Public Schools.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
A Moral Obligation

President EiSenhoWer'S strong comment on
the moral obligation" of Americans to provide
decent housing for those now compelled to live
in slums" is of timely local significance For
Washington, at long last, is taking steps to
abolish some of its worst slums and replace
them with heathful homes, apartments and
Fairgrounds. 1t is a cooperative enterprise
undertaken jointly by private industry and
Government
The local undertaking is, of course, the
congressionally authorized Southwest redevel-
opment program. That is, the plans have been
drawn under statutory authority and some
funds tentatively have been made available by
the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency.
A hitch has developed however. The House
in the pending fund bill has recommended
changes in slum- m-clearance policy which might
seriously hamper the carrying out of the broad
Improvement program drawn up by the District
Redevelopment Land Agency and the National
Capital Planning Commission.
Fulfilling the moral obligation" to eradi-
cate blighted residential areas and building
decent houses and other facilities for low
income citizens would be difficult under the
House proposal for effecting housing economies.
The present policy of the HHFA permits cities
to be credited for streets, schools, Fairgrounds
and other public works required by redevelop-
menC TnuS, the DlSCrlcCS One-tnlrd snare
of the cost of the Southwest Area project
Is wholly covered by the $3.6 million worth
of public construction to be done there. But
the House measure has proposed that no credit
be given for such public works and that addi-
tional contributions must make up the one
third share. This would be serious setback
here, for the District has no cash available for
such purposes.
Moreover, the House wants the HHFA
TO refuse grants for redevelopment if studies
indicate "the feasibility of achieving slum-clear-
ance objectives through rehabilitation of exist
ing dwellings and areas" While this restriction
would not affect Area B, for which funds al
ready have been allotted, it could interfere with
plans for upgrading the remainder of the run
down Southwest section. third proposal by
the lower chamber that public housing be killed
would wreck plans for rehousng some displaced
slum residents in public housing. The Redev
opment Land Agency is required by law to see
that all evacuees from Slum community have
adequate shelter elsewhere before reconstruct
ton can start.
Private industry is prepared to do its part
by buying cleared land and investing in low
rental homes and higher-priced apartments,
under supervision and control of the District
agency. The District is prepared to invest mil
lions in public improvements. If Congress with
draws it's cooperation and interposes unforeseen
handicapS, however, the fulfllment of the COM
dwellers will be more difficult than ever.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Monteomery's Spartan BUDGET

note with interest The Stars report
OF the May meeting of the Bethesda
Chamber of Commerce. The news story
reports on the speech made by Morris
Allen, professional conSultant" to
the Montgomery County Taxpayers
Association. Mr.. Allen claims, on be-
half OF his employers, credit for what is
called the Spartan budget" recon-
mended by the former county manager
for the next fiscal year.
Mr.. Allen probably is footing his own
horn a bit in claiming that his organi-
zation is such an effective pressure
group. However, think Mr.. Allen and
his employers will find many thoughtful
citizens of Montgomery County who
have a somewhat different set of
values. The prospect of going back
ward to something like the 5th CEN
tury B. c. in dealing with county prob
lens may elicit enthusiasm from a few
antiquarians. But cannot believe that
it will hold much appeal to Montgomery
citizens who are rightfully proud of the
20th-century standards which have
been typical of the county in recent
years.
If Mr.. Allen is anxious to foiSt off q
So-called Spartan budget" on Mont
gomery County for 1854, he should at
least get his facts straight. note that
some one at the Bethesda meeting in
quired of Mr.. Allen as to how the tax
payers association would meet the cost
of providing schools for the increasing
school population. Mr.. Allen had three
recommendations:
Cd Cut "the present 50.per cent nom
classroom space" in schools:
90 Increase "the present student
load per teacher" which he states is
Is pupils to one teacher in elementary
schools: and
CD Standardized plans for school
buildings to eliminate architect fees.
Where MIR. Allen will find his so per
cent non-classroom space in any of the
Montgomery County elementary schools
is quite a mystery. Perhaps he has in
mind doing away with corridors, rest
rooms, boiler rooms, etc. He certainly
cannot have in mind using such mon
classroom space" as stages, auditoriums.
Evening star., 1953-05-13

indoctrinated with the false New Deal
philosophy Of deficit financing can
hardly be expected to subscribe to the
fundamentally sound proposal OF Pres
ident Eisenhower, when, in his message
to Congress on reorganization of the
Defense Department he said:
I'm providing the kind of military Sc
curity that our country needs, we must
keep our people free and our economy
solvent We must not endanger the very
things we seek to defend. We must not
create a Nation mighty in arms that is
lacking in liberty and bankrupt in re-
sources. Our armed strength must con-
tinue to rise from the vigor of a free
people and a prosperous economy"
Let us hope that the day never comes
when Senator Symington learns the
hard way that insecurity is the inevi-
table aftermath of insolvency.
M. G. Lyddane.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Our New Joint Chiefs

The most interesting and presumably the
most significant aspect of the change Of COM
mand in the Joint Chiefs of Staff is the choice
of Admiral Radford to succeed General Bradley
as chairman.
This is q replacement which implies
greater faith in American capabilities and
greater willingness to accept the risks that go
with fighting to win. General Bradley has
opposed any action in the Korean war which
might lead us into war with Red China. That
he has said, would be fighting the wrong war
in the wrong place. There is reason to believe
that Admiral Radford's point of view is differ
ent, that he believes our national security
depends in the long run on the defeat Of Com
munist military forces in the Far East. Pre-
sumaby, he would welcome a genuine and
dependable peaceful settlement. But he can be
expected to oppose vigorously any settlement
Of the immediate fighting which merely serves
as a mask for expanding and Tightening OF the
Communist military grip on Asia.
In this respect his selection to headup the
jos should be welcomed. There will be mis-
givings, however, especially in the Air Force
An outspoken champion of naval air, Admiral
Radford in 1949 led the So-called "admirals
revolt"-a strong attack on, the Air Forces
premier long-range weapon, the B-36, and,
inferentially, on the concentration of the stra
tegic bombing function In land-baSed air. So
the Radford appointment, coming on top of
Defense Secretary Wilson's deep slash in the
Air Force budget, will give rise to deep and
understandable concern among the officers of
the air arm.
The other new members of the jos will be
General Ridgway for the Army and Admiral
Carney for the Navy. General Twining was
named last week to succeed General Vanden-
berg as Air Force chief. Thus the new jos
team is heavily weighted with officers whose
main experience has been in the Pacific
theater. Hasty conclusions on this score would
hardly be warranted, however, for General
Ridgways experience as NATO commander and
Admiral Carney's fine service in the Mediter-
ranean as chief of the Southern European
NATO forces suggest that the problems Of
Europe certainly will not be neglected.
In brief, If this shake-up implies policy
changes, the change should be in the direction
of a more vigorous military attitude. Against
this assumption are the budgetary trimming
of our military strength and Secretary Wilson's
description of his proposals as defensive"
budget. On the face of the matter, to say the
least, it would be inconsistent to name new
and more aggressive jos to plan and advise
on the conduct of a more defensive minded
military program.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Penny Pinchinq'

Your May editorial Penny Pinch
ing" is very interesting but it did not
carry this matter far enough to get at
the root of the evil of economy in
government by honest sincere men -
heads of agencies or departments.
President Eisenhower could save the
taxpayers about z or 8 billion in one
month by saying on June no govern
ment agency can spend another dollar
before the end of the fiscal year. Do
you know that in this one month all
Government agencies frantically spend
every dollar they have left of the past
appropriation in order that Congress
will not cut their next appropriation
request?
Ben WithOrn.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Premature Alarm

The proposal by 20 congressional Democrats
that the Federal Reserve Board should resume
its support of the Government bond market
reflects the insidious appeal of the infiationary
easy-money policies of the recent Democratic
administration. Through its Open Market
Committee, the Federal Reserve stood ready to
buy at par all Government bond issues, thus
providing a guaranteed market regardless OF
the low interest rates being offered.
Since Government interest rates automat-
ically set base for all other interest rates. the
effect of this practice was to make cheap money
available not only to the Government but to all
other borrowers. Cheapening of money, how
ever results in higher prices and there Is valid
reason to believe the costs of infiation-to the
Government and to the taxpayerS-exceeded
the savings recorded in the price of borrowing.
Abandonment of the board policy came ap
proximately two years ago after protracted
dispute with the Treasury Department, and
resulted in many Government issues dropping
below par-meaning the purchasers were get
ting a greater interest return than that Speci-
fed at issuance. There were some indications
as a result, even before the change in admin
iStrations, that money rates were hardening. In
January, the Federal Reserve System raised its
rediscount rate from 134 per cent to per cent,
and last month the Treasury took the major
cent
AS expected, this action was followed by
increases in the rates on many other types OF
borrowing and by cries of alarm at the dangers
of deflation. There Is, of course, danger In
deflation just as there is in imitation. It is
highly questionable, however, to conclude that
what has happened thus far in hardening money
rates is automatically setting the stage for
depression and all the other awesome poten-
tialities foreseen by the critics.
Despite the administrations intent to apply
greater economy to Federal spending, it is obvi-
Gus that the demands of the national security
and of other Government needs will force con-
tinuance of high and stimulating rate of dis
bursements. Employment is at record peak,
costs of living have dropped only slightly and
there are no substantial signs of business
recession. The administration is seeking to re-
establish the soundness of the dollar treat
ment that requires an end to the whiting away
of values through imitation. 1t is early yet
to feel gravely alarmed about the testing un-
dertaken through a higher interest rate on
Government borrowing.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Mr.. AttIee's Poor Show

Just as some Of their American brethren
like to twist the Lions tail, certain British
politicians like to take pot shots at Uncle Sam.
Since turnAbout Is fair play, we ought not to
get apoplectic over that. However, considering
the eminence of his station as leader of the
opposition Labor Party and former Prime
Minister Clement Attlee has made very poor
show of himself, and rendered marked dis
service to relations between his country and
ours, in his latest appearance before the House
of Commons.
For not in q long time has any Briton
spoken as recklessly and irresponsibly as has
Mr.. Attlee about the United States and its
policies. Besides deploring the "isolationist"
character of our Constitution, he has had the
extremely bad grace to declare that as far as
American leadership is concerned, Zone often
wonders who is more powerful, President Eisen-
hover or Senator Mccarthy Worse still, he
has had the temerity to charge that certain
elements in our country-a country whose
people are burningly eager to achieve decent
and enduring world peace-do not want
Korean settlement but want instead, IAN all
out war with China and against communism in
general"
Who are the men and women who make up
these elements? How many OF them are there?
What are their names? Where do they live?
10 WndC extent 90 LQey 1ulueLlCe AHlSIlCdA
thought and action? Who among them hold
positions of trust and deciSion-making in our
Government? When have they placed them
selves on record in favor of IAN all-out war with
China and against communism In general?
Who are these fellow citizens of ours who want
the fighting and dying to continue in Korea?
How important are they in relation to the
affairs and public opinion Of our Nation? Does
Mr.. Attlee have the answers? Can he document
his charge? And If not, by what right IN
keeping with what standards of fairness or
responsible minded leadership, has man of
his high position spoken out as he has?
The great mischief of Mr.. Attlee'S accusation
Is that it helps, because of its important source,
to support the lie of the Communist propa-
gandists that powerful groups in the United
States ("the ruling circles'D are against peace
everywhere. Mr.. Attlee-who also has gone
off the deep end in declaring that Red China
should be admitted to the United Nations "soon''
after a Korean armiStice-ought to be ashamed
of himself. He has displayed degree of reck-
lessness and demagoguery shockingly out OF
key with the kind Of leadership that these
Evening star., 1953-05-13

'taken in" by all this? We who do the
buying find that in nearly every cate
CORY of food, except beef, continuous
record of higher prices has been regis
tered since removal of controls. Have
you checked such items as bread, pea
nut butter, coffee, spices, cooking and
vegetable oils. cigarets, ETC., recently?
Even in the field of meats, gains in such
items as bacon, bologna and Clipped
beef are considerable.
What action, if any, are we to expect
from the present administration when
the price of beef, low now only because
the farmer can't afford feed, takes the
BIS index to new heights this summer
and fall?
RES.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Solvency and Security

Senator Symington, Democrat, of
Missouri. in an address to an audience
Of intelligent Virginians at Charlottes-
vile on April 80, decried the proposed
cut in the defense budget and said mo
one at any level has the right to place
solvency above security" It is safe to
say that few. if any, of the Senator's
auditors having the I. Q. of a fifth
grader agreed, as they knew that SOL
vency is the first requisite of security
for the Nation as well as the individual.
OF course, one who, for 20 years, was
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Subotooinq President?

am probably Joined by several mil
lion other television viewers in wonder
ing about the identity Of the man Gun
doubtedly q stooge planted by the
Democrats) who was obviously SO pain
fully bored by the Presidents speech
May 7. We who watched his agony on
our TV screen feared at times for the
Presidents welfare as this stooge's
wide-open yawns on several occasions
seemed about to enguf the left ear of
the Chief Executive. He should not
have been seated at the dignitaries
table behind the speaker-he should
have stood in bed"
E, r, Williamson.
Evening star., 1953-05-13
Letters to The Star .

multi-purpose rooms and libraries. He
must know that such space is already
being used for classroom purposes and,
in one case. children are housed in
rented church facility.
II Mr.. Aliens ideas on meeting Mont
gomery County school needs prevail, we
will indeed go back to the days Of
Sparta. Meanwhile, let us at least, in
public discussion about schools. have an
accurate statement Of the facts.
Athenian.