davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1954-05-08

The all-white cat (not an albino) has
come to the fore in Washington and
environs during the past few years.
Whereas this cat was rarity, except
among the Persians. it has now become
common, and therefore standard, in the
short hairs.
Usually it has a somewhat grim face.
not at all along the best pretty boy"
lines Of the regular common cats.
AS strange as it may sound, however,
this lack of animal prettiness is not
against it at all.
The fact is that the white cat shows
the real feline face.
Tigers and others tend to hide it
with variety Of stripes. blptches and
colorings, but the white one is just
what he is. all cat. and showing it.
The person who likes cats will like
the white ones, but the dog man or
woman may not, because the stripes of
the tigercats throw them off the scent.
There will be many cat fanciers to say
that no breed or kind can compare with
the tiger, and in sense this is true,
for here we find the true cat spunk
and intelligence.
The white cat. often called Whitley by
his friends, is slightly dumb.
That is. he fails to show the thinking
powers Of the others, especially the
PerSians.
Or is he just stubborn?
Among the animals, Q streak Of stub
Evening star., 1954-05-08
This and That
By Charles E. 7roceweN

bornness often passes as lack of intelli-
creatures can think as well as any, but
do not want to at the time.
Just how much animals think is
question. Since they lack words, in
the usual sense. they certainly do not
think along usual lines. at least accord
ing to any human way of evaluating
them.
Cats probably have greater "vocab-
ulary" than dogs. whose utterances
are confined to sharp staccato sounds
commonly called barks. Growls are
deeper and slower utterances. some
what corresponding to the hiss Of the
house cat, but not exactly like it.
The talk" among the animals de-
pends more on immediate situations,
actions and reactions. than human con-
versation does, though the latter at
times seems nothing more than Kisses
and growls.
Cats and dogs, the animals the closest
to us. learn to connect certain actions
with things they like. such as food and
going out. Many faithful dog learns
quickly enough to associate the sight
of the harness and leash with an out
door ramble.
But is this language. or even intelli-
gence, in our usual sense?
It probably is impossible to think
without words and the same meanings
for the same words. That is why chang
ing meanings, as certain ideologies do
and as young people. especially bop"
fanciers, attempt to do. Is bad.
Evening star., 1954-05-08

few persons. getting together, may
change the meanings of words, and
keep the new meanings as a sort of
secret between them. but in so doing
they approach communistim tenets,
and to that extent prepare the way for
the iron curtain to be extended This
unconscious preparation is one of the
real dangers we face.
X
Happily. the dogs and cats know
nothing of ideologies more recent than
100000 B. C..
They function along old lines laid
down in the beginning. as we say; the
cats and dogs know what they want and
go very directly toward it.
Cats are popularly regarded as self
ish, lacking affection, and without
much intelligence, but a careful study
shows that these animals, regardless of
color, are no more selfish than other
living forms, and have their own ways
OF displaying affection toward their
friends. and possess enough intelligence
for their needs.
The white cat usually has pale green
eyes. which puts him outside of the
albino class. where pink eyes are the
rule. Often there is trace of buff in
some part Of the fur, showing a yellow
cat at some point in the ancestral line.
We believe that the popularity Of black
and white cats around Washington in
recent years has led to the development
of all-white cats. All that was required
by nature was dropping out the black
haire
Evening star., 1954-05-08

buxom local yokel to represent Queen
Elizabeth I, who once visited there.
Mr.. Champion must remember that
America is a very young country and
has not had the benefit of having cas-
ties and cathedrals as Britain has. But
just wait 800 years and then look at
our Empire State Building!
Jeanne Dessez.
I notice in your paper of May 3,
that twice in Letters to The Star" the
British paper, Daily Mirror. is quoted.
I am British and a much-impreSSed
visitor to your country, and as such
I am perturbed at the number of times
that British sensation and picture pa
pers, such as the Daily Mirror, are
quoted in the leading American news
papers. The type of British paper to
which refer has large sale, but the
public reads them to see what other
people are saying. The views put for
ward in these papers are not those
OF the man in the street.
The British public does not like to
receive your dollar handouts" as one
letter suggested in your paper. We
tuduh you 4Or Cucu, II nOC III dS many
words. We do not like to hear Ameri-
cans talk of being fed up with sup
porting" us. If this were really the
case. we would not like it either.
AS for ferreting out Red spies in our
own house, I would remind the letter
writer's that it is the man who is silent
who is to be feared, not the man that
says what he thinks Within the last
10 years we have had one member of
the Communist Party in Parliament.
Some time ago. we, the people, voted
him out Overwhelmingly. Since then
the number of Communists in our
country has been sharply on the decline.
Shane ONeill.
Evening star., 1954-05-08
Better Than Bad News

After allowing for several qualifying fac
tors, it is still good news that unemployment
dropped by 100000 and employment increased
by 100000 in April.
Among the qualifying factors are these:
Manufacturing employment was down about
25O,000 with the 16-million level being 13 mill
lion below April, 1858. The total of jobless-
465,OO0-was nearly million higher than for
April, 1858, and was higher than for any April
since 1850. And in any caSe there is tradition
ally seasonal turnup in the spring
Still, April was the first month since last
fall that unemployment has dropped and there
seems ground for encouragement in the fact
that new claims for unemployment compensa-
tion in IL key States declined steadily through
the last three weeks prior to May l. Construc-
tion continued to be just about the healthiest
component in the economic picture as 25 mil
lion workers on contractors payrolls equalled
the April record, made in 1883
The fact remains that the most responsible
economic predictions for 1854 were that it would
fall short by a modest margin of the record
breaking levels of 1858. The trend thus far
has borne out these predictions in general
way, just as it has tended to support belief
that an arresting or levelling off of the busi-
ness showdown has been in evidence for the past
several weeks. In this picture today there may
be little to warrant unrestrained optimism
there are soft spots in some of the major indus
trial categorieS, particularly in the manufacture
OF durable goods. On the other hand, there
seems even less to justify extremes of pessimism
or such current predictions as that of CIO Pres
ident Walter Reuther that the Nations economy
will "fall on its face later in the summer or
early in the fall"
Evening star., 1954-05-08
First Impression

These are moving days, and reminder is
needed for one transferring his chattels to a
new neighborhood. For the rush of preparation
and anticipation often makes one so preoccu-
pied that he fails to consider the Importance of
dealing properly with the first contact in his
new neighborhood.
The antique secretary, of course, is to be
watched as carefully on its journey from truck
to house as it was watched on its trip from house
to truck. Directions must be given for the plac-
ing of furniture and boxes in the proper rooms,
to minimize later shifting. The hot-water
heater must be turned on, and items of mme-
diate need searched for in unmarked boxes
In all this activity, however, one should
take pains not to overlook the small boy who
stands near the truck, or near the door, watch
ing each chair and each box as it is carried into
the new home. He has come from somewhere
in the neighborhood and he intends to learn
what sort Of folks are moving in. If he is over
looked, or told brusquely to stand aside, the
new tenant is in for trouble
The small boy as one should know well,
carries weight in his own household. He will
make his report to others in the neighborhood
also, that this new fellow is either a regular guy
who might be approached to fix wagon wheel,
or stuffed shirt to be summed The woman
peering from behind curtain across the street
can be ignored. But it is important to allow
this young ones curiosity full rein, and to treat
him on an equal level. From him, the neigh
borhood will gain it's first impression and he
can be trusted to exaggerate his views for or
against It Is best to give him full consideration.
Evening star., 1954-05-08
Their NIGHT to Howl

When Democrats get together for Jeffer-
son-Jackson dinner it Is traditionally partisan
affair. And the latest of these $100-a-plate
rallies was no exception to the rule.
Mr.. Truman, just turning 10, was there.
He was, one is glad to note, in good health and
excellent spirits. The former President took
few swipes at the Republicans, but they were
good-natured and more or less in the vein of
elder statesman. He may have strayed bit
across the line when he cautioned that we must
not Insult" our allies, but, on the whole, his
impromptu remarks were far cry from the
Mr.. Truman of whistle-stop memory.
The kind of partisanship that might hurt
us was left to the Democratic senatorial con-
tingent.
That phase of the program brought talk
from Senator Gillette of diplomatic disaster"
at Geneva leading to the collapse of American
leadership among the free nations" Minority
Leader Lyndon johnson added his bit He said,
presumably with reference to Geneva and Indo-
China, that American foreign policy has never
in all its history suffered such stunning re-
versal." He expressed the belief that 1--WE stand
in clear danger of being left naked and alone
in hostile world" And he concluded on the
note that we have just observed our final
humiliation in the spectacle of an American
Secretary of State backtracking the Atlantic
from the conference at Geneva"
For the greater part of 20 years the Demo-
Gratis were on the receiving end of this kind
of chatter. So it is not surprising that now
they should feel the urge to dish it out Our
own people understand that this sort of thing
does not beSpeak any real diSunity on the basic
points of our foreign policy. It is to be hoped
that our friends abroad as well as those who
are not our friends understand 1t, too.
Evening star., 1954-05-08
France at Geneva

Although 1t is gratifying that the Laniel
government has won a vote of confidence from
the French National Assembly, the vote ITSELF
311 to 262-can hardly be described as over
whelmingly favorable. True enough, it has
averted a crisis that would have required a
search for new Premier and cabinet, and to
that extent it is certainly encouraging its chief
virtue being that it has prevented a situa-
tion in which Foreign Minister Bidault would
have found himself left high and dry at Geneva
without authority to take the Western lead in
negotiating with the Communists for truce in
Indo- China
With that said, however, the fact remains
that 262 members of the Assembly have voted
against Premier Laniel and that not many more
mays" would have been needed for the downfall
OF his cabinet. Considering the gravity of the
Geneva talks-a gravity intensified by the loss
OF Diem Bien Phu-one might have expected the
French Parliament, apart from the Communist
deputies, to back the government with virtually
unanimous support. But such support has not
been forthcoming, and its absence is reflection
OF the divided and uncertain mood of the peo-
pie OF France. Among large segments of the
population, 1t is a mood compounded of uncer-
tainty, confusion, distrust, war WEAKNESS and
an emotional brand of ''neutralism" that in
dorses the idea of peace at almost any price.
This mood, of course is not necessarily the
mood OF the French majority, and the psyche
logical impact of the fall of Dien Bien Phu may
tend to lessen it, Yet it exists and is widespread,
and that is why Mr.. Laniel I'm Paris and Mr..
B1dault in Geneva-even though they have the
Assembly'Svote of confidence behind them-are
handicapped as they strive to work out an ac-
ceptable understanding on the issue of Indo-
China. What they seek, apparently, is an ar
nistice-as a prelude to negotiations for a
de1nitive settlement-under which the Com
munists would retain temporary control of part
of Wet Nam while withdrawing from Laos and
Cambodia. However, although Britain and the
United States seem ready to support such an
arrangement, the RedS-because of the political
division in France and the National ASsembly's
failure to give genuinely powerful backing to
the Laniel government-may well feel the kind
of cocksureness that would lead them to insist
upon impossible conditions and thus wreck
whatever chance there may be for an honorable
agreement.
Given these circumstances, it must be hoped
that the French people will somehow manage to
display new degree of unity-greater than
that shown in the Assembly's vote of confidence
as Mr.. Bidault proceeds to play his vital role
as leading spokesman for the West in the Indo-
China talks. He will be able to count on
Britain and America to support any sound truce
proposal and if only his own countrymen will
stand behind him-frmy, in keeping with the
greatness of their history as a nation rich in
political and military glory-the Geneva Con-
ference will not end as the pessinists predict,
in a Communist victory
Evening star., 1954-05-08
Dedication

Now I must dedicate this Mothers Doy
To memory - because she LETT too
soon.
! shall not Dedr the tell-tale spicy !,
bloom
OF tOlaite cdrndtion. 1t Wns not her tpoy !.
To fdunt he1rtdche for the Dorld to
see.
She set out red gerdniuns when her
Were teGr-flled. Wood paths, bird a.,
songs and sunrise
Were once her refuge may they
eUer be.
At dapn the brown thrasher and J.
Will knoa0 her garden. We shall meet
her there.
And I shall hare blue uiolets In my =,
hair o.,
And in my arms pear blossoms tully
bloDn.
And tOhiie he sings his love song In her
trees
tOiu pldnt oeraniums-on my kneesi =
Helen Boxer. Adams
Evening star., 1954-05-08
A Neglected Natural Asset

Health hazards inherent in contaminated
river are given special emphasis by those who
are working diligently to clean up the Potomac
River. There are other persuasive reasons for
pressing the anti-pollution efforts however, and
Board of Trade committee recently discussed
one of the more important of these-the deter
rent effect of pollution on plans for developing
great water-SportS program here
Promoters of the Potomac as a center for
big national regattas and races are handi-
capped by the rivers bad reputation, resulting
from tagging decentralization measures on both
shores. John A. Renon, head of the Presidents
Cup Regatta Association, told the trade group
that this regatta has helped to focus public
attention on the urgent need for stepping up
pollution abatement. Mr.. Remon is right in
holding that the full potentiaities of the river
as sports and recreation center have not been
realized. 1t is remarkable that, despite the poor
condition of the river so many powerboat, sail
Ing and rowing enthusiasts have continued to
gather here each year for national events.
cleaner river undoubtedly would attract
more events and more participants, locally and
nationally
Fortunately the fight to reduce sewage and
industrial-waste pollution of the river is max
ing definite if slow, progress. State, county
and city authorities along the Potomac are
building or planning improved sewage-treat-
ment systems in the Washington area, under
pressure of pubic opinion. And much of the
credit for the public determination to get action
must go to the Interstate Commission on the
Potomac River Basin.
This commission recently proposed a 500
million anti-pollution program for the stretch
of river in the vicinity of Washington. Now it
has proposed a similar program for the rivers
second moSt-polluted area between Cumber-
land and Luke, Maryland. All of Cumberland's
sewage is dumped into the Potomac untreated,
and huge quantities of mine acids and factory
wastes add to the poisonous condition of the
upper river. 1t is shameful that communities
and industries along the river have neglected
this natural resource for 30 long, permitting 1t
Evening star., 1954-05-08
Our Foreign Policy

-
The United States is rapidly succeed
ing in its apparent policy Of alternating
the whole world.
We have frightened the Japanese
government with the dangerous H
bomb tests.
We have antagonized India by grant,
ing arms aid to Pakistan.
We have earned the disgust of many
scattered smaller countries by giving
them food and materials.
We have made ourselves unwelcome
in Europe through the obnoxious con-
duct of troops and tourists.
We have haStened the development
OF Latin American resentment by re-
fusing to cooperate on anti-colonial
proposals in Caracas.
And now we have caused distrust
and diplomatic opposition in Britain
and even France by our bullylike
threats of intervention in Indo- China.
Americans must soon realize that
instead of being loved by the world
we are resented. Instead Of being
looked to for help and guidance we
are resisted.
The attitude comes as the conse-
quence of our country's assumption
of the role Of the worlds caretaker
and policeman. And even though made
in the best interests of other countries
as well as our own, such moves are
not the best psychological solutions to
the problems of the world community.
Marlene Cocker.
Without intending to minimize
either the capacities or accomplish
ments of Secretary Dulles, I want to
point to the peculiar situation that
prevails regarding the personal quail
flcationS Of our foreign officers. On
the one hand our f1edgling diplomats
must be veritable gods, possessed of
tact. grace, and culture. At the other
end OF foreign service hierarchy is our
Secretary, who, If his statement before
the newsreel cameras at Geneva is any
indication, could not extemporize three
convincing and appealing sentences on
his purpose at the conference.
Americans are exceedingly particular
about packaging their products and
beautifying the everyday things of liv-
ing. But in their ideas for export they
are color blind and tone deaf Neither
Hollywood nor the State Department
seems willing or capable of showing
to the world our kindly intentions and
homely virtues. When the history of
this Nation is finally assessed, it will
be said that we created markets out
OF the barren ground of poverty itself;
that We charmed the lazy into vigor
in the quest of something new and that
our army of experts carried our ideas
and hope into many foreign lands.
Indeed these days would have been
bright and the cause of right assured
but for the collective dissonance and
official confusion and laundering.
FuSSy.
Evening star., 1954-05-08
Arlington School Budget

AT the hearing on the Arlington
County school burget for the coming
school year, held April 26, was much
distressed by the implication made by a
number of speakers that Arlington
County must choose between increased
teachers salaries and kindergartens.
From all reports on Arlington's wealth,
1t seems that both needs can be met and
adequately. In fact, kindergartens would
IN time pay for themselves.
This statement appears in an in
formation sheet given out to PTA
groups interested in studying the school
budget: Research indicates that chill
dren who have attended kindergarten
show greater success in elementary
school. To quote j. Cayce Morrison:
The figures indicate that in the ele-
mentary schools of New York State.
the provision of kindergarten instruc-
tion reduced the percentage of failure
or non-promotion in grade / from 20 to
6, or by IA per cent"
That would mean that of the 1000
expected kindergarten children in
Arlington County. $50 of them would
not be held back in the first grade, and
would not spend 13 years in the school
system instead of the IL now given. The
saving in teachers would be that of 8
teachers at 80 students per class, at a
median salary of $4,000, or $29, 700. But
that does not represent the picture. for
few classes at the 12th-year level have
as many as 80 students, and teachers
at that level frequently receive higher
salaries Nor does that account for ma
terials, extra teaching rooms, supervis-
ors. and, most of all, guidance and re-
medal reading teachers, since most
children failing at the f1rst-grade level
fail because of inability to read I dare
say, If all these items were figured in
dollars and cents, it would be found
that the 1000 children of kindergarten
age in Arlington County could be given
a vastly profitable 18th year in school,
in kindergarten. for the same price that
1t is now costing our schools to retain
children who repeat first grade. Nor
does this include the cost which might
be spent on delinquents, since the basis
OF much delinquency lies in a sense of
failure. stemming from many sources,
including failure in school.
OF course the cost of kindergartens
must be borne in the year 1854, and
figures indicate that it can be borne
adequately with present county funds.
/. Friis.
Evening star., 1954-05-08

fore the day was over they would have
known what to expect from each other
and all their differences would have
been ironed out. AS this big argu-
ment. or whatever you want to call it.
is now going, it doesn't look as if any
thing is being accomplished except
Mr.. and Mrs. John @. Public and their
children.
President Eisenhower's indifference
and fence, straddling has made this
possible.
TV Spectator.
For the sake of decency, as we'll as
economy. it is suggested that all Of
the principals in the current Mccarthy.
Cohn, Carr VS.. Stevens, Adams, Hensel
embodiment be suspended without pay
until their circus is over. It is ridicu-
lous for the American taxpayers to
pay for the petty childishness of i'm
mature politicians.
Economat.
Muke-BeIieve at williamsburg
This is in answer to British Journal
ist Ralph Champions criticism of Will
liamsburg. I would like first to quote
him. He stated that williamsburg is
fake city built in envy of Britain's his
torical glories." May I say that VIII
liamsburg has been restored, not built?
May also state that restored antique
is worth far more than modern copy?
Such is the case with the greater part of
illiamsburg. Some of the period pieces
have been borrowed. partly because we
had none and partly because some of
the families we could have obtained
them from did not wish to part with
them, for sentimental reasons.
AS for his quotation, "And the peo-
pie of this fake city spend their days
in uncomfortable period costumes act
ing the lives Of their forebears "
Haven't you ever sacrificed something
for the benefit Of another? If you
haven't you have missed out on one
of the greatest pleasures in life. Even
the British like to dress up and re-
enact past glories. In small town
in Britain each year they select some
Evening star., 1954-05-08

to become . menace to health and welfare In
stead of the picturesque and valuable asset that
1t ought to be.
Evening star., 1954-05-08
Questions and Answers
BY Gould Lincoln

A reader can get the answer 70 any question
OF TACT BY writing The Evening Star Infor-
nation Bureau, 1900 Eye st. NV, Washing.
ton 5 D. C. Please incIose three iS) cents for
return postage "
Evening star., 1954-05-08
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE.

7 @. What protection will the new sub.
marine Nautilus have against a pos
sible breakdown of its atomic power
plant?-W. K.
A. If the reactor should break down
mechanically. the Nautilus will be able
to carry on. powered by energy stored
in her electric batteries. or by her
small emergency diesel engine.