davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1953-10-31
"TAKOMA PARK" {"

"TAKOMA PARK"
Dear Sir:
II read the letter in your column
recently from the man who said open
bonfires should be abolished. am glad
agree with him, since I am intensely
allergic, in medical way, to leaf smoke
"He would be interested in reading
an article in a woman'S magazine,
Woman's Home Companion. I think.
which shows the smoke pollution of
various cities.
This article would be an eye opener
to all those unthinking persons who
befoul their home communities with
bonfireS While around Washington
there seems to be little garbage burn
ing, as in my home State, there is too
much leaf burning for the comfort and
health of thousands of persons.
II believe the trouble is that in a
day of widespread and general distress,
many persons do not stop to consider
something that goes on around them,
then disappears for time.
I'm my community we have a man
who gets the same trash and garbage
collection as any one else. for which
he pays handsomely in taxes. yet he
insists on building a big blazing bon
fire every evening.
"All during the summer, just as we
sat down to eat the evening meal, this
cloud of smoke would come in the
windows. 1t always set me to shifting
and Sneezing. and the only relief we
could get was to close all doors and
windows and eat our supper all cooped
up like that in the heat. It was terrible.
IT hope that every one, this fall, will
think about this problem. Even II there
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Attorney Toft's Client

My attention was just called on
October 81 to feature article in The
Sunday Star. october IL, stating that
represented the Venezuelan govern
ment in connection with the proposed
quota on residual fuel oil in the Simpson
bill. This is incorrect. I was employed
by Cleary. Gottlieb. Friendly and Ball,
who represented the Venezuelan Cham
bers of Commerce, which is made up
of many Americans as well as
Venezuelan businessmen.
My job involved enlisting the support
of the many Cincinnati businesses,
ranging from small producers of cotton
clothing and toys, all the way up to
Proctor & Gamble and the Cincinnati
Milling Machine Co. The passage of
the Simpson bill would have cut the
Evening star., 1953-10-31

that is centuries old. During the Middle
Ages bands of singers aroused house.
holders with a demand for "Soul
cakes" and money and promised in re-
turn to pray for the dead. Today it's
just a knock at the door, an out
stretched hand and feeble pledge not
to mark up your windows with soap.
Halloween itself is even older than
"trick or treat" and began with pagan
religious rites.
The Druids, a religious sect in
France, England and Ireland, each year
lamented the death of the sun at the
hands of winter cold and darkness, and
burned human sacrifices in great bon
fires to ward off evil spirits. The COM
ing of Christianity outlawed SUN
worship but the day was kept for pious
observances honoring the dead. In 834,
Pope Gregory w set November l as All
Saints Day, or Allhallows. Later, No
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Preparing for Drouqhts

It has been said that everybody talks
about the weather but nobody does
anything. Many people hereaboutS will
have to agree that I, for one, tried to
do something about this years and fu-
ture droughtS. All last summer and up
to the November election advertised to
the people of the 10th Virginia con-
gressional district that droughts occur
here periodically and that, with rate
of population growth comparable to
that of Los Angeles, it behooveS us to
get busy and insure ourselves an un-
failing supply of water. I advocated
direct tap on the Potomac River to
supply the whole region.
My earliest memory Of our Virginia
residence is of drought. I bought
house on the edge of Falls Church in
September, 1881. I congratulated my
self that we would be free of water rent
because there was a we'll at the back
door. Before could obtain possession
a month later, had phone call one
night, asking me to join a group of my
new neighborS in running a pipe line
out from Falls Church, inasmuch as
all the wells. including mine, had gone
dry. The new line had not been COM
pleted by the time we moved in, and
for couple of weeks we hauled water
from Benjamin Elliot's coal yard in
steel drum. No wonder am drought
sensitive"
1t was possible to foretell this years
drought. The weather people have
found that droughts in the United
States have the same periodicity as the
sunspot cycles. All monkey business
aside, there are sunspot cycles. with
maxima every II years or so, and these
maxima are enhanced every % years,
and again even more definitely enhanced
every 33 and fraction years.
1t is a heartening sign when Super
visor Anne Wilkins moves the Fairfax
County Board to investigate an inte-
grated county water system, followed
by statements from Engineer Massey
and Health Officer Kennedy indicating
county officialdom realizes that some
thing must be done. News accounts
relate that conditions in the whole
10th district are bad.
If scientific study is worth anything,
this present drought is not over; fur
thermore, in about IL more years, or
about 1964-65, we should really have
a humdinger If people can muster as
much foresight as the squirrels, they
will get ready for eventualities.
Richard L. Feldman.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
"A Colossal Flop

They say that figures do not lie. If that
were so, the news that only 10 Federal gambling
stamps were sold in the Maryland Washington
internal revenue collection district during the
first quarter of this fiscal year would rate 'front.'
page prominence. Considering this official
statistic, it would be logical to assume that there
are only 10 professional gamblers still in opera
tion in all of Maryland and the District of
Columbia. That would be news of the highest
Importance to the police and the public at large.
But the Internal Revenue Bureau frankly
admits that its gambling-stam sales do not
reflect the extent of gambling activities in this
or any other area. Of course, it would be fine
If all persons and SyndicateS engaged in the
wagering racketS came forward voluntarily and
registered under the 1851 Federal gambling
tax law Sponsors of the legislation felt sure
that the law could be enforced at least we'll
enough to garner some $400 million in stamp
revenues and excise taxes. However, Congress
neglected to provide the revenue people with
the extra help needed for any reasonably ade-
quate enforcement of the law And the gamblers
themselves have been discouragingly unco-
operative
Nobody was greatly surprised that the
racketeerS did not rush to register their names,
their places of business and the names of all
their employees, or to shell out $50 for stamp
which the Government warned was not Fed
eral license to do an illicit business. The really
surprising development was that even 10 have
registered in this area and more than 5000 in
the country at large. For every stamp pur-
chased is a potential tip to police as to the
identity and place of business of violator of
local gambling statutes. A revenue spokesman
in commenting on the low registration and
collection totals called the law "a colossal flop"
1t will continue to be flop unless Congress
provides means for its adequate enforcement
If Congress does not want the law enforced, it
should repeal the legislation-n fairness to the
already burdened Internal Revenue Bureau.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Mark Lonsburqh

With the death of Mark Lansburgh, Wash
ington has lost an outstanding citizen whose
selfess efforts to improve both the city and
the lot of its residents have left lasting impress
on the Capital. The changes being wrought
today and planned for the future in the slum-
ridden section of Southwest Washington and
other blighted parts of the city he loved con-
sttute a monument to his far-Seeing vision,
intelligent leadership and tireless energy.
Mr.. Lansburgh even while carrying heavy
responsibilities as a business executive, found
time to study the slum problem here and to
discuss with other interested persons and organ
izations ways and means of dealing with it.
He was a natural selection to head the District
Redevelopment Land Agency, created by Con-
gress to eradicate the shameful alley shacks
and other subStandard housing at the seat OF
Government. The agency found itself faced
with difficulties that would have discouraged
a less determined chairman There was oppo-
sition from those whose properties were chosen
for redevelopment, largely because of miSunder-
standings, and there was criticism in Congress
of the initial plans. Congress finally blocked
any redeveopment of Marshall Heights and
denied funds even for further planning or for
Office expenses. In this frustrating period
Mr.. LanSburgh carried on as well as he could,
providing Office space for his "Staff" which
consisted then only of his own private secre-
tary He continued, meanwhile, to promote
the cause of slum clearance through talks to
public and private groups and in conversations
with members of Congress who had been
critical of the program. In the end, Congress
approved in principle plans for the Southwest
redevelopment program and authorized the
use of Federal housing funds for the project.
Retiring from active participation in the
merchandise business in 1851 Mr.. Lansburgh
devoted more time than ever to slum clearance
and to civic and cultural advancement of the
community as a whole. He never spared
himself when his interest was aroused in any
undertaking which he felt contributed to the
betterment Of Washington. His labors to that
end will be long remembered here.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Fotitch's Views on Trieste

The Star of October Is printed an
Associated Press dispatch reporting a
statement I gave in Venice about the
Trieste problem. According to this dis
patch, expressed the opinion that a
plebiscite throughout the Trieste Free
Territory. as proposed by italian Pre-
mler Signor Pella, twas the best way to
resolve the problem"
My statement, which gave in writ
ing to the representative of the Italian
press agency, was on this point incor-
rectly reported. Speaking of the So
luton of the Trieste problem. have
said: This problem could not be re-
solved by Titos brutal methods and
threats, but by democratic means which
only could safeguard the interests both
of YugoSlavia and Italy. The people of
Yugoslavia wish to establish friendly
relations and collaboration with Italy
so that lasting peace in that part Of
Europe could be secured"
Constance FOtitch,
Former Ambassador of Yugoslavia.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Surface Vessels and the Atom

It is good to know that private company,
with the approval of the Atomic Energy Com
mission, has undertaken a special study to
promote the development of nuclear reactor
designed specifically for the propulsion of sur
face vessels Apart from limited amount OF
research, no work has been going on in this
field since last spring, when the AEC-in keep
ing with an economy decision made with con-
siderable reluctance-put an end to its project
to build such reactor for aircraft carriers.
This deficiency will now be offset to
degree by the Newport News Shipbuilding and
Dry Dock Company, which took the initiative in
proposing the new study Operating under
contract with the Acc, and bearing all the
costs involved, the company is assigning some
of its best brains to the task. Several OF its
engineers have been specially trained at the
Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology, and
it has had prior experience in the field as a
subcontractor associated with Aces now-sus-
pended work on an atomic engine for aircraft
neutrality-suspicious. productive enough to make
it anxious to continue with at least part of that
work.
At the end of year, when the present
contract expires, the company will submit to the
Acc complete report on findings and recon-
mendations. OF course, there Is no way OF
knowing in advance what those findings and
recommendations are likely to be, but it seems
probable-judging from the great success
achieved in harnesSing the atom for sub
marines-that the basic result of the study will
be further confirmation of the feasibility of de-
veloping nuclear reactors for large surface
vessels. The study may serve, too, to help the
Government determine whether the present
economy restrictions against such development
should be continued or abandoned.
AS he has just indicated, Admiral Carney,
Chief of Naval Operations, is strongly in favor
of proceeding with the construction OF atomic
powered aircraft carriers as soon as possible.
There are others who feel the same way, not
merely as regards fighting ships but ocean
going commercial liners as we'll. Temporary
economy measures to one side, there is virtually
no doubt among the experts that big surface
VeSSelS-miltary and military alike
eventually will be driven by nuclear energy. The
project now being undertaken by the Newport
News company can help to speed the coming of
that day.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Applause for Dr.. WRIGHT

suppose it's our own fault. A good
many of us. I'm sure, will applaud a
speech like the one Dr. Louis Wright of
the Folger Shakespeare Library gave in
speaking out against the demagogues
and ignorant people who want to de-
stroy the books they disagree with But
we don't bother to write and say so in
The Star and elsewhere. fanatic few,
however, don't miss bet; and so The
Star receives their letters of protest and
naturally prints them-thereby mad
vertently giving the impression that
they represent balanced public opinion.
So here, in spite of the fact that it's
late, is vote of approval for what DR..
Wright said. Veteran.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Modernizinq the Mall

Since modern architectural design
has all the character of a bunch Of
cracker boxes stuck together, its addi-
tion to the Mall cannot do other than
produce an offensive contrast with the
buildings of traditional design, what
ever their defects, already there. 1t is
hardly feasible to raze the old buildings
and replace them with designs in keep
ing with the proposed new addition to
the Smithsonian.
Originality is not in itself virtue.
There can be no progress without
change, but all change is not progress.
If we can produce something original
that is beautiful and fine, well and good.
Otherwise we might better initiate the
best the past has produced and thereby
learn something worthwhile. Our debt
to the past is too great to be f1outed.
We need works of art to inspire us, not
to reflect our Stupidities and inanitieS.
In twenty or thirty years the vogue OF
modernism will have passed. The
paintings can be tossed into the ash
can; it will not be so easy to dispose of
the architecture.
Many young artists, lacking OBJ
JeCIlVlLy, SEIZE upOn GIlS IcW IIlcOIlGS
and harbor them with all the intense
passion of religious fanatics. They thus
become fertile ground for Communist
inf1ltration, if not directly influenced
in that direction; because, to make
headway, communism must bring about
a complete break with tradition, on
the cultural plane as we'll as on the
economic and political levels.
1t would seem that there is alto
gether too much emphasis on "func-
tionalism" in architectural design, to
the point where the word is being
worked to death. A satisfactory solu-
tion must be a compromise between
beauty and utility. Let us not forget
Thomas A. Edison's warning few
years before his death, when he said, in
effect, that chronological advancement.
without corresponding cultural prog
ress. spells the end of our civilization.
If moderniStic art, architecture and
music express the American spirit. then
God help America. 1t is not possible to
elevate people by going down to their
level. More and more the schools are
trying to do this. Cultural ideals must
be kept high, and the public encouraged
to cultivate an appreciation for them.
Observer.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
This and That

is only less burning, 1t will help all
those sensitive persons who cannot
stand the acrid smoke of burning
leaves and paper.
Very truly, A. D. M"
-the-minute communities are
installing leaf collectors, machines with
big wide hose arrangement that snuffs
up leaves and grinds them into fertil-
izer. This is modification of the more
powerful machine which takes whole
limbs of chopped-down trees and re-
duces them to fine powder.
This is common sense as well as
good sanitation in action.
Such material is too precious to
waste, as in the annual scourge of leaf
raking and burning. Not only are the
borders of streets destroyed, in this
SenSeless practice, but the fine air of
suburban communities is ruined for
hours and even days at time.
The subject of allergy has come into
its own in recent years, yet you might
think the leaf burners had never heard
of it.
They wholly forget that the oil of
poison ivy leaves, for instance, may be
transported in this manner for miles.
causing outbreaks of skin eruptions in
what seems very mysterious manner.
There is more to allergy than poison
ivy, as unsightly as it is. Far worse
are the invisible particles that cause
sneezing, stopped-up noses and sore
eyes. These cause a true allergy in
susceptible persons, one which need not
prevail at all. since open air pollution
Of city air might be stopped at the
source.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Brace Yourself, Neighbor-This Is 1t!

vember became All Souls Day in the
church calendar, dedicated to the souls
of all the dead.
Primitive rites changed through the
centuries, but ghosts, goblinS and
witches persist to this day, colorful
reminders of superstitions once real and
terrifying.
When Martin Luther nailed his 95
religious arguments to a church door
in 1877, he set off the Reformation
with bang. The StrictneSS of the reli-
gious reforms which followed drove
many pagan" rites underground, where
they flourished with new malevolence.
Unoffending ghosts turned into evil
spirits again, bonfireS became hellf1res
and obscene black masses were prac-
ticed on Halloween to invoke the aid
of the devil. Human sacrifices came
back into vogue. but now the victims
were called witches. Curiously, the day
Luther hammered home his arguments
was October 81 The church was named
All Saints.
BY the 18th century the witch fever
was over, and the evil monsters that
had threatened the church shriveled
into harmless gnomeS, leprechaunS ana
the "little folk" of Ireland and Scot
land. Most of our own Halloween GUS
toms are Irish and Scotch in origin,
and celebration of the day became
general in the United States only after
the terrible potato famine of 1840 drove
thousands of Irish immigrants to this
country.
Fortune telling has always figured
prominently among Halloween's strange
rites. Girls have looked for the identity
of their future husbands in mirrors.
burnt threads, apple peels, molten lead
and uprooted cabbages Boys have pre-
ferred to play pranks and to frighten
themselves and others with broom
sticks, skeletons and ghosts.
Another symbol of Halloween is cats.
The Irish thought the bones of black
Evening star., 1953-10-31

cat boiled alive could make one in
visible. The stories are legion, none of
them likely to please cat fanciers.
Like cats. jack-o'-lanterns are also
standard fixtures of Halloween, but
the pumpkin itself is strictly American.
Carved with broken grin and set in
the dark to glow eerily, it is thesAmeri-
can form of an old Irish joke. Irish
children hollow out rutabagas. potatoes
or giant turnips for their jack-o'-
lanterns and their elders tell an old
story of how it began.
Old Jack was an IriShman so mean
that when he died he couldn't get into
heaven and the devil wouldn't have
him. Jack chewed hungrily on the
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Increase for Nurses

Increase for Nurses
The letters which have been printed
in The Star from registered nurses in
the District would be alarming to the
rest of us R. Ms. if it were not for the
knowledge that we who strive for
decent salaries and standards of living
for nurses have had to deal with this
sort of behavior in our own ranks since
the days of Florence Nightingale.
The public may not be aware of it,
but there is an alarming shortage OF
active registered nurses throughout the
Nation today. In Washington, the de-
mand exceeds the supply by more than
SO per cent. The private duty nurses
section of the Graduate Nurses AsSo-
citation of the District at two meetings
this month voted for an increase to
$18 a day, or 500 for 40-hour week.
The only other action necessary is the
approval of the resolution by the board
of directors of the G.. N. A. for the
District, which is itself composed of
registered nurses.
The registered nurses who staff our
hospitals have no means of bargaining
for raise. They have to accept what
ever the hospitals are paying at the
time. Of course. the hospitals have
always found it necessary to raise the
salary of staff nurses following hike
in private-duty fees. And there are
no easy cases today. Special private
duty nurses are for those people who
require nursing care above that which
the hospital staff nurses can provide.
After we get the raise, as we most
surely will, suggest that those nurses
who are fighting it. give some of their
time to the various charitable organ
izations-thereby proving that they are
sincere in their desire to serve humanity
at their own expense.
Bessie p. Dublin, r. N.
Evening star., 1953-10-31

potato he was carrying and asked the
devil Where shall go?"
the devil.
But how am going to find my way
on this black, windy night?" Jack
complained.
Here" said the devil, and threw
him a flaming coal from the fires of
hell. Jack caught the fire in his potato
and to this day carries his lantern be-
fore him on dark nights as he wanders
the four corners of the earth.
Evening star., 1953-10-31
A Foiry's Child

Evenino is a tdiry's child
DrGped in blue chiffon
Sprinkled lUith star SequinS
That sparkle until damn.
She dances on the Milky Way
With crystal slippers on!
II I Uere a tdry'S child
Who liued up in the sky
/ tUouId drop small golden stars
To children passing By.
Edna Homilton
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Letters to The Star. .
Pe71-11an1eS may be used If letters carry
1DriterS' correct names and addresses.
All letters are subject to condensation.

dollars available to Venezuela by 40 per
cent, and would have reduced by 40 per
cent the very satisfactory business
which these companies were doing in
Venezuela. I think I can say they
were grateful to me for the information.
Charles p. Taft.
Cincinnati Ohio
Evening star., 1953-10-31
BY HurrY Bocos

Soul! Soul! for soul cGkel
/ pray, good mistress, for soul cGkel
An apple or pear, or plum or
cherry
Any good thing to make US merry.
ANONYMOUS street Crier
Evening star., 1953-10-31
Questions and Answers

The stars reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by writing The EVENING, star
Information Bureau. 1900 street NV, Wash
ington s. D. C. Tease inclose three t3l cents
for return hostage
Evening star., 1953-10-31
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. Which are the tallest people Of
Europe?-H. z.
A. The Norwegians, Swedes and Mon
tenegrins are the tallest Europeans.
with an average height for males Of
5 feet 8 inches.
Evening star., 1953-10-31

Q. Is flying over the ocean smoother
than flying over land?-E. T. S.
A. Over-water flying is the smooth
est flying of all, at any time Of the
year.
Evening star., 1953-10-31

Children playing "trick or treat" on
Halloween are following q tradition
Evening star., 1953-05-24
Miss Winter
To Be Bride

Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph j. Winter
of Silver Spring announce the
engagement of their daughter.
Jean Elizabeth. to Mr.. Lawrence
F. Regan, son of the late Mr.
and Mrs. Patrick F. Regan of
Boston. The wedding is planned
for August % in st. Michael's
Church, Silver Spring.
Miss Winter is a graduate of
Immaculate Conception Acad-
emy and immaculate Junior
College.
Mr.. Regan was graduated
from Boston University and
served as a Marine reserve Of
f1cer in the Pacific prior to at
tending Boston University Law
School. He now is an attorney
In the Criminal Division of the
Department of Justice.
Evening star., 1953-05-24

Mr.. and Mrs. David S. Evans
of Washington announce the en-
gagement of their daughter, Joan
Elaine to Mr.. John Joseph Igle-
hart. He is the son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Donald H. Iglehart of Cabin
John. Md. and is attending
George Washington University
School of Pharmacy.
The wedding will take place
next spring.