davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Let the Taxpayers Decide

The Fairfax delegation to the General
Assembly has Joined with most of the Arlington
delegation in introducing sales tax bills for the
two counties. In sponsoring this legislation,
albeit reluctantly, these groups have evidenced
better understanding of their responsibilities
as representatives of the people than has one
Arlington delegate, Harrison Mann.
Delegate Mann has refused to be associated
with the Arlington bill in any way because he
is opposed to a sales tax for Arlington County
But Mr.. Mann has overlooked or ignored the
fact that the bill he and his legislative col
leagues were asked to introduce would not, If
passed, impose a sales tax on Arlington. It
would merely authorize referendum to enable
the people of Arlington to decide for themselves
whether or not they want to pay a sales tax, in
addition to or as a substitute for other taxes
The referendum plan is favored by the Airing
ton County Board and the Fairfax Board Of
Supervisors.
Certainly the taxpayers of Arlington and of
Fairfax Counties are competent to decide the
sales tax issue in special elections of the sort
proposed in the legislation. They ought to be
given the right to do so.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
This and That . =.
By Charles E. TroceweN

may be brought back and performed at
a Gilbert anniversary in his native
country.
with regards, sincerely, "A. 81.
h
The year 1871 was big one for Will
liam Schwenk Gilbert, later to become
Sir William.
Not only was his play, "Pygmalion
and Galatea,' produced that year, but
in~the fall thereof he began his famous
collaboration with Arthur Sullivan.
It was this collaboration that carried
the names of both Of them around the
world. But before this. the man had a
distinct career as a playwright, as our
correspondent reminds us.
Gilbert and Sullivan finally parted
all over mixed-up sort of quarrel over
red carpet!
Even the excellent article on Gilbert
in the Encyclopaedia Britannica makes
no mention Of this quarrel.
The article ends with the melancholy
sentence:
Gilbert was drowned at Marrow
Weald, Middlesex. on May 20. 1911"
So ended the life of one whose quips
and jestS are as widely known, perhaps,
as those of any other human being.
The article says:
LAS a master of metre, Gilbert had
shown himself consummate; as dealer
in quips and paradoxes and ludicrous
dilemmaS, unrivaled.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Pretty Far AfieId

This being free country the American
Medical Association, if it feels so disposed, has
right to propaganda for or against the
Bricker amendment It may be said, however,
that the ANA would do better to devote its
energies to matters Of more immediate concern
to the physicians it Is supposed to represent
DR.. Charles w. Mayo, of Rochester, Mimi,
protesting the action of the ANA House of
Delegates, has said that cit has the effect of
abrogating the right Of individuals to make up
their own minds"
Perhaps this is bit overdrawn, for the doc
tors, it seems, would have to abrogate their
own right to make up their minds. 1t is regret
table. however, that the ANA, through it's State
units, should be trying to induce doctors to
write or wire their Senators in behalf of Mr.
Brickers proposal. For it is proposal which
involves highly technical legal question. And
any one who has not studied the question for
himself should not write or wire his Senator
either for or against the proposal-simply
because some one else asks him to do so. 4
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Records From q Booster

Although a constant subscriber to
The Star since 1920, and even a car
rier many years ago. the writer has
never before written regarding his re-
actions to many interesting and en-
tightening articles printed in your
paper.
Perhaps it is because my youngest
son is about to follow in the footsteps
Of his older brothers and enter the
military service Of our country. that
have become more interested in world
affairs.
In my opinion. the January 80
column by Constantine Brown THE
Folly of Recognizing Reds" is about
as clear and concise as it is possible
to state the exact situation facing US.
He should be commended most highly
for his logic and ability to bring it
to the reading public so convincingly
would be derelict in my obligation
as a supporter of your fair editorial
policy if I failed to mention other
feature writer's of your paper, but
since there are SO many I shall not
take space to extol the merits of them
all
With kindest regards as booster of
your paper. I am.
william A. Rain.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
RHODE ISLAND AVENUE

Rf1OOE ISLAND AVENUE.
Dear Sir:
I'VE old timers who read our Star
carefully every evening have a~special
liking for what you have to say.
Your versatility is astounding and
you have the gift of making any subject
you choose to write about interesting.
MY interest in music and the theater
prompts me to say few words, not
about Gilbert and Sullivan, known to
everybody, but about Playwright w. S.
Gilbert, the man who wrote the now
forgotten NEUROLOGICAL comedy, Pyg-
malion and Galatea.'
1.-THE stately Mary Anderson is said
to have been the first noted actress to
act the statue come to life, but treas
ure the memory of seeing Julia Marlowe
as Galatea.
This. of course, was long ago. when
the lovely actress was playing her first
season and, therefore, still very young.
II saw her again and again through
the years but never could forget her
beautiful acting of the Greek statue.
wv. S. Gilbert wrote other plays, in
Guiding Comedy and Tragedy which
made hit in its time, but was per-
formed in the United States only once.
Pygmalion and Galatea.' however,
was Gilbert's most popular play, and it
is not impossible that this excellent
comedy. would prefer to call it play.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06

with his head down in deep thought as
he broke up the bread and ate it and
then ordered retreat UP Page Valley.
There still were no orders from Early
odd Jubilee" as he was often called.
AS I recall. it was at New Market
that Imboden came out from Page
Valley and connected with Early's dis
organized and struggling troops. It was
then, father said. that EarlyS men told
him the whole truth of what happened
at Cedar Creek.
Among the loot and spoils that Early
had taken from Sheridan were num-
Der Of barrels Of whisky. Early stopped
right on the field with his men, instead
OF following up his victory. He told his
men: Roll out the whisky, we'll cele-
brate!" About the time he had hun
dreds, probably thousands, of his men
drunk and probably himself too, Sheri-
dan was back. We all know the result.
Father often said Early was not rated
as an efficient general and I find his
tory rates him likewise.
1 can give my fathers memories all
through the war just as he gave them
to me from the time l was a child on
up to his death in 1921 when he was
past 80. He had wonderful expert
ence-the battles Of Gettysburg, New
Market. Port Republic. Salem, Va, the
trip to Weston. w. Va, and the capture
Of 35 Yankees in the old courthouse
at st. George, w. Va.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Army Stores

Congress has promised to review its
'hasty action taken last year to curb the
activities of Army commiSsaries and
post exchanges. These stores during
recent years have been more of a con-
venience than dollar-saverS. Where no
commisSaries are provided. enlisted per-
sonnet messing separately are paid a
higher rate of communication of rations.
The post exchanges, in peacetime,
normally are operated. controlled and
owned by enlisted personnel. No Gov
eminent funds are furnished to support
post exchanges. All civilian clerks are
paid out of dividends. Vehicles used to
haul merchandise and for other pur-
poses have been paid for from post
exchange funds. This includes upkeep.
Utilities, also. are paid for out of
receipts. 1t is not understood where
Congress gets authority to interfere
with the efficient operation of post
exchanges. Post commanders have, in
the old Army, regulated these eX-
changes so as to meet the enlisted
mems requirements at various places.
Army stores are badly needed to
protect the poorly paid military people
from being swindled by f1y-by-night
operators around Army posts.
Dana Wier,
Aberdeen Md
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Resents SIur on Photographers

The Star has revived a stimulating
journalistic feature-the paragraph
and the work of Fletcher Knebel is a
definitely valuable contribution to your
pages.
l must protest. however. the grave
injustice done to news photographers by
this able newspaperman and pungent
paragraphist, when he quipped that the
subject of cameras covered the con-
versational limits of photographers
from A to g."
The news photographers of my &C
quaintance. and / know several hun
dred of them personally, are in the
main as well-informed as their writ
ing colleagues.
A professional news photographer
need have no feeling of intellectual in
feriority alongside the reporter who
works with a typewriter. know many
news photogs who have far better
news sense than lot of reporters.
And as for the other qualities that
make for a good citizen and good
friend, the news picture man doesn't
have to concede anything to the writ
ing fraternity. Reporter.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06

Even for the music Of the operas he
deserves some credit, for the rhythms
were frequently his own. and the metres
were in many cases invented by him
SELF"
So, you see, no matter how much one
tries to talk about Gilbert. the play
wright, one gets around inevitably to
Gilbert, the musical comedy writer.
In the Britannica article. the follow
ing operas are given the nod:
Patience" Princess Ida" THE
Yeoman of the Guard" "Pinafore,"
The Gondoliers" and THE Mikado."
Sullivan's own favorite was "Rud-
digore."
It is we believe, our own.
The overture to "Ruddigore" is utterly
unlike anything else Sir Arthur Sulli-
van wrote, with Russian touch unique
The old days and ways pass away
and only person now and then recalls
them. 1t is interesting for those of us
who were not there to hear about them.
Few of us realize the Juror that Julia
Marlowe made, or how she held the
hearts and minds of those who went to
see her in many plays.
There were thousands of persons in
old Washington who would no more
have missed breathing than seeing
Julia Marlowe every time she came to
the city.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Sweet Tooth

There is a big hole in the dentists recon-
mendation that parents give their children
minimum of sweets to protect the youngsters
teeth from decay. We do not argue with the
theory behind the recommendation, but there
Is a recollection that grandmother makes
most tasty fudge. There are aunts and uncles
too in preponderant numbers, who delight in
bestowing candy, cakes and cookies on nieces
and nephews.
Across the street is a widow who occasionally
has errandS to be run, and her pies are known
throughout the neighborhood as tempting deli
cacies. The barber keeps a jar filled with
lollipops. The grocer is in high spirits when
the weekly bill is paid, and celebrates by hand
ing small sack of sugar creams to the one
who accompanies the bill payer
There is the matter of the small allowance,
and how it is budgeted among the comic book
rack, the neighborhood theater and the candy
counter. The parent who does not appear with
quart of ice cream at least once week Is
A.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Tax on Pensions

At time when income taxes for
most people are being reduced, many
annuitants, Federal and otherwise, are
facing the unhappy prospect of a tax
increase.
At present, in the early years of an
annuity. only 3 per cent is taxed as in
come. Take single person, age 60, for
example, having an annuity of $1,000.
Only S45 of this is taxed as income.
With an exemption of $500 such a
person pays no tax now.
But under the plan now being pro-
posed such person would pay a tax
Up to. or over. 500 year. The amount
Of the tax is not related to the per cent
income. 1t is related to the number of
years the person is expected to live and
the amount paid in for the annuity
If this person. under the life expect
ancy tables. were expected to live Is
years and had paid in $4,000 for the
annuity, all but S400 of the $500 an
nuity would be taxable The tax on
sl.100. with a $500 exemption. would
approximate $50 dollars If $4,000 had
been paid in for the annuity. the tax
would approximate $500. Against no
tax now.
For married person. with an an
nuity of $4,000, the tax at present is on
$72. or 3 per cent of the income. With
$1,000 exemption. for man and wife, OBJ
viously there is no tax. But under the
new plan such person. age so. would
pay taxes on about $1,750 of the income;
or with $1,000 in exemptions, about
$ll0. This is on the assumption that the
person had paid in $4,000 for his an
nuity. If he had paid in only $4,000,
say, his tax would be around SITS.
The justification for changing the
tax basis on annuitieS is said to be
to avoid taxing on the full amount
of the annuity if one lives to receive
all his payments back. This is laud-
able purpose. But as matter of fact
on most small annuitieS no taxes would
be paid anyway, under the present
basis, in later years. There are dual
exemptions after IS, 1900 for a single
person. S2,400 for married couple.
Of course no Federal annuitant or
other White-collar limited incomer
would expect to receive the preferen-
tial treatment accorded to monopoly
labor groups in this regard. In many
industries pensions are classified as
wages. and thus free from taxation as
annuities. Railroad workers have tax
free status for their annuities It would
be absurd to look for this favored clas-
sification for any white-collar groups.
But at least protest should be
raised at the effort to boost taxes on
people of the type least able to bear
increases. as now being talked of in
Congress. If it is not. lots of people
are going to wake up next January
and find that their small annuity in
comes, barely enough now to keep the
wolf from the door, will be even small
er due to this tax bite.
VeritaS Primo.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Red Chino's Wild Beasts

A strange and chilling story has come from
Hong Kong Red China, according to reports
broadcast by its own radio stations, has organ
lied groups of it's militiamen into hunting
parties whose responsibility is to protect the
governments granaries and rice depots from
wild beasts" The wild beasts" seem to be
particularly numerous in Kwantung Province
where many hundreds of them have already
been shot and killed while in the act of devour-
ing crops and raiding food-storage places.
The curious and grim thing about the Com
munist broadcasts is that they do not offer the
slightest description of the wild beasts in
volved. Nor has there been any explanation of
how it has happened that such fierce animals
tigers? lions? wolves? what?-have suddenly
appeared in great numbers in areas not previ-
ously troubled by them. The Red radio stations
have also failed to make enlightening remarks
on the apparent ability of these non-human
creatures to figure out how to break into
granarieS
declined to explain such matters, Hong Kong
has heard through underground channels and
from people fleeing the Chinese mainland that
the hunting parties" have been organized not
to destroy ferocious four footed animals but to
shoot and kill half-starving human beings so
desperate for something to eat that they have
been raiding the granaries en- masse. These are
the wild beasts" that the militiamen have been
instructed to wipe out. The story speaks for
itself, damningly, as commentary on the ma
ture of the men who rule in Peiping.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Getting Statistics in Perspective

It is not pleasant to read that unemploy-
ment increased between December and January
by $4,000 and that the official total of 1850 900
jobless is the highest in three years. There is
disturbing implication, too, in the Census Bureau
estimate of total civilian employment at $780,
600, as compared with 60,764,0O0 last December
and nearly $4,000 900 in December, 1852. Todays
ratio of unemployed to employed is 39 per cent.
There are however, some factors in the
employment picture which give less depressing
significance to these cold statistics In his Eco
nomic Report to the Congress, President Eisen-
hover referred to the drop in employment this
month as against a year ago but he added
There seems to be connection between this
fact and the fact that in January 1858, we were
still fighting in Korea and are not doing so
today" There is of course, connection and it
has been the case invariably in time of war that
employment and the labor force expand at an
abnormal rate. For example, women who ordi-
narily would not seek or accept employment
do so in wartime; retired persons often come
back to work and others defer retirement The
end of the fighting in Korea was almost certain
to result in reduction in employment.
More valid, perhaps, than comparing todays
unemployment situation with that of year ago
would be comparison with pre-Korea period.
In the spring of 1885, unemployment had been
running LOT several mOnCnS at more IMAM
100000. While concern was being expressed
about this in Government and Government
quarters the point most often mentioned as a
danger line" of jobless in the national economy
was 100000. The top unemployment figure of
that period-4, TOO, 000-came in February when
employment totaled 57,000O00 The ratio of
unemployed to employed for that month was
80, as compared with the 3.9 ratio of today.
Some other percentage ratios at high and
low points in the national economy offer inter-
esting comparisons. In 1921, at the depth of
the poSt-World War depression, the ratio was
Ill per cent. In the boom year of 1929 it was
still 80 per cent. BY 1880, it had risen to 95
per cent. Even in the recovery year of 1885,
there were more than 100000 jobless and the
ratio of unemployed to employed was 203 per
cent. And in 1910, despite war orders from
Europe, there were 100000 out of jobs and
the ratio to total employment was 178 per cent
The modern unemployment low came in 1914
with only $4,000 listed as joblesS and the ratio
to the employed being 1.8 per cent.
Statistics bring little comfort to the jobless
but they do have meaning and an Importance
to those bearing the responsibility for deter
mining national economic policies. While the
current trend is in disturbing direction it is
clear from the figures for other years that
unemployment is not yet near what has gener-
ally been considered danger line" 1t would
be we'll, however, for the Government to exer-
else the constant vigilance" mentioned by
President Eisenhower and be prepared to draw
upon its arsenal of economic weapons.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06

looked upon as one who Is not fulfilling his
parental duties-in marked contrast to the
parent next door.
As much as one may agree with the theory,
there are some questions which must be an
swered. How can the barber obtain full CO.
operation when the reward is to be carrot?
How can grandmothers be controlled, when
their favorite reply to modern child-rearing
methods is: "Nonsense!" What will the grocer
do without his prime lobbyist at bill-paying
time? How will the errands be run? The place
of intake for sweets is the hardest cavity to fill.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Forever Green

The pictures stored 1Uit1lin her mind
haze dimmed-
Not clearly 1loiU, the land Where she
1DdS born
Comes back to her; the t0inoing gears
haze trimmed
(As locustS trim the green from early
corn
The blades of memory. The hills. the
fields.
The old dirt road that ,Uandered~Np
and doDn.
Are lost in Time, as yello,Ued age con-
cedlS .
The snoW-,Dlite freshness of bridal
go,Un.
Yet, ,Uhen she hears at night a U,id
goose crying,
or ROSTERS luSty crO,Ding in the
dG1Un,
or coiUbelrS tinkle, memories come
flying
Like fockS of spurious to ,Uinter
ldUn:
Her fathers fields, the hills, the road,
are plain
As ro1US OF green corn seedlings. after
rain.
Lois Smith HERS
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
What Really Happened at Cedar Creek
To the Editor Of The Star::

~ tUS 6VttVt VI ] Ue StOts
T READ with great interest George
Il Kennedy's account January II of the
battle of Cedar Creek, Va, eliminating
in the disastrous defeat of Gen. Jubal
Early by Gen. Philip Sheridan. Mr.
Kennedy gave vivid picture but he did
not go far enough.
My father, Allmon Sager. Company
"I''. 18th Virginia Cavalry. was. in
way, connected with that encounter
Father was in Gen. Imboden's command
and drove Gen. Imboden's team carry
ing the generals tent, desk and all his
personal effects.
Early sent Imboden down Page Valley
to guard the gap at the northern en-
trance and thus prevent Sheridan from
sending troops up the valley to get in
above Early while he. Early, made
surprise attack on Sheridan.
Imboden took up his stand the eve
ming before the attack. A detachment,
including signal men, was sent to the
top of the mountain, the exact point
that was shown in the picture in The
Star. Those men were to clear an area
Of about an acre, leaving one tree
standing as a vantage point In the
clearing. All outer limbs were cut from
the tree, leaving only stubs for foot
holds. It was from this tree that signals
were to be given.
AS soon as it was light enough next
morning, Imboden was scanning the
mountain-top with field glasses. The
message came: Early defeated Sheri-
dan and Sheridan'S army Is in retreat
down the valley" Very good so far.
Imboden watched for more 'informa-
ton. None came. Impatiently he waited
and waited. The entire fore part of the
day passed: it was noon and no orders
from Early. Some time after noon the
message came: Sheridan returned,
defeated Early and Early is in retreat
up the valley"
Father said he never saw Imboden so
mad during the war as he was then.
He dashed about camp on his horse as
though insane. He asked the cook If
ne had anything to eat: the cook said
he had nothing. Father during the
morning had baked a cake of heavy
bread in a Dutch oven. Father said.
General, I have a cake Of bread; if
you will accept it you are welcome to
it," The general said, Anything at all
will do" Father gave him the cake of
bread. He sat on his horse sidewise
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-06
Letters to- The Star. .

pass such enabling legislation. 1t still
might be desirable to have the levy
of additional taxes submitted to the
voters of a county
An additional half of per cent on in
come tax schedules would raise an es-
timated 81 900, 900; an additional 1-cent
school tax on retail sales. roughly ST.
900 900. Clarke T. Fauver
Chairman. Education Committee of
the Allied Civic Group, Inc.