davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19

civil defense: One from the CD Ad-
visory Council, one from the Fedora
ton of Citizens Associations, and one
as housewife and mother. The article
quoted Representative Wilson as say
ing further: "OrSon Wells could do
more to create interest in a 15-minute
radio program through fear psychology
than this thing could do in 10 years"
It seems to me extremely unfortu-
nate, particularly at this time, that
Mr.. Wilson'S remarks in this regard
should have been emphasized. He Is
a man in a position of great response
bility, a man who obviously has the
interests of the District of Columbia
at heart in other respects. Yet APP
pearances are allowed to indicate that
he is permitting personal lack OF con-
fidence in the efficacy of civil defense
in general to color his response to re-
quests for help from citizens who feel
that effective civil defense is necessary
and vital to the security of the Nations
Capital.
For, as Representative Wilson has
said himself: 81 believe in the people
of the District of Columbia. as believe
in those of my own district, that after
all the people are generally right"
Housewife and Mother.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
This and That

music can be very nutty, so that when
one stops to think Of all the radio and
picture waves dashing through the air
and all obstacles, including us. it is not
a very refreshing picture.
Undoubtedly the writers OF short
stories, either short short" stories, or
long ones. sometimes called nouvellaS.
are victims of the age.
They have waves dashing and cours-
ing through them at all times OF The
day and night.
Moreover, they are sensitive souls, to
begin with. Executives and other solid
men will never understand them.
Fortune magazine recently had an
article about why businessmen do not
read more books. Books. stories, articles
all are written by sensitive men. and
executives and the like cannot be Sensi-
tive men, at least not in the same way
The true sensitive. as ne might be
called, has two ears and two eyes open
all the time. To businessman he may
not seem to be working, as he pokes
around, but those ears and eyes are as
busy as he is. maybe more so.
Nothing that happens escapes him,
although he may not write it. He puts
it away. He puts great store by inn
pressions. Impressions are what he
lives for, though he may long ago have
passed through and out Of the "im-
pressioniStic school," A better school
is that of honest telling what one sees
and hears.
Fortunately, there is no dearth OF
material. The human world. all by
itself. is an ever-movihg. ever-changing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
The Lost Tribes

All of us, at one time or another, have
dreamed of escaping the world, of finding
garden spot where pressures would be few, OF
getting away from it all. There is news now
from New Guinea of hundred thousand peo-
pie who have been away from it all perhaps
for centuries. noSy airplane, looking over
hitherto UNEMPLOYED territory for the Australian
government, discovered these "lost tribes" a
pastoral people living in lush valleys rivaling
James Hiltons "Shangri-La" and cut on from
civilization by towering mountains
The most heartening note in the dispatch
from New Guinea is that these people showed
no fear of the airplane flying above their neat
villages The principal expression seemed one
of curiosity as they watched what must have
been to them a strange sight indeed. Even the
cautious scientists say speculatively that these
tribeSmen have had little or no contact with
the outside world. Yet their agriculture seems
ND to date. Their planting is in rectangular
plots and in neat rows Evidence Of irrigation
was seen.
Not much will be known Of the lost tribes
until foot parties, sent by Australia to extend
Its control over former uncontrolled areas,
reach the area sometime next yer. But it is
kaIe to theorize that these people Know nothing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19

Of such nuisances Of civilization as the atom
bomb, income taxes and ash trays It Is equally
safe to predict that knowledge Of such things
will not long be withheld once the foot parties
cross the mountains.
The tribesmen will learn that to be gov
erned costs money, that there must be meas
ure Of fear when a strange airplane flies above
their villages and that falling to put ashes in
the ash trays can lead To domestic tits. But
perhaps the philosophers among them have
prepared them for such an eventuality as the
advent of civilization by warning them that
the life they now have is, after all, too good
to last
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
"13th STREET.

Dear Sir:
ST have been reading in recent
months what is called modern short
stories, and I do not like them st all.
They seem to me to be unnecessarily
morbid, with people acting the way
they would not act in real life.
st prefer the old stories that have
come down through the years. the, ia
nous ones we were told to read in
school. Often I resented the teachers
suggestions. but now see that she was
right.
ST think some of these new writers
could take a lesson or two from the
old boys, even if they did wear long
white boards and fairly telegraph their
stories end at the start.
yours sincerely, ]. T. S."
The old stories. told by oId-fashioned
story tellers, hold up very well.
Today's crop of writer's look with
scorn on the o. Henry tradition.
They are, just as he was, product
of their age.
It is a restless unhappy age, judged
by any standards.
The sheer amount of invention. in
itself, is enough to make any one
nervous.
NO sooner had we got used to radio.
than we had television!
The very air is filled with waves of all
sorts of sounds. ranging from the
human voice at its angriest to music
at its craziest.
Now, the human voice can. alpon de-
u1and. be very angry. and sol Of our
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
BY Charles E. Troeewen

affair. All the writer can do is watch
it, and put down what he sees and hears
to the best Of his ability.
When a story teller does that, no
matter what sort of story he tells. some
reality is bound to hang onto 1t, and
this is what the reader wants.
He gets the real thing. then. whether
it was written by a man with .ong
beard. or by todays latest youngster
with stars in his eyes and dandrun IN
his hair.
We beg our correspondent to be more
lenient.
Read the new tellers of tales with the
same honesty of reading purpose you
put on and in the best of the old stories
read in school, and you will see that
today's writer's are not particularly Diff
ferent from the writer's Of old. II the
newcomers seem morbid. it is because
they reflect, to the best of their ability.
a sick society. AS for characters not
acting as real people would, 1t is an OLD
fault in fiction Each reader sets him
self I'D as judge, when he reads. and
tends to regard a character who would
not act as he would a phony. Today's
writer's have had, and have lived
through. different experiences. The
reader must accept them at face value,
and try to understand the people they
write about. If they are not modest
sensitive characters. he must under
stand that this is a braSh, rude. un-
mannerly day and age, and what Is to
be done about it, heaven only knows.
The writAr doesn't. he just gives it
to you.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
Both Are Important

It would be unfortunate If an apparent
congressional misunderstanding as to the re-
spective duties of the District Homemaker Serv-
ice and of the Visiting Nurse Association should
lead to permanent abandonment OF the home
maker program. That there has been some
misunderstanding is indicated by the explara-
ton given by the House Appropriations Com
mittee for the elimination of budget item for
the service and the approval, instead, OF
$4,000 increase in the VIVA budget. The COM
mittee said these actions were taken because 1t
was felt that many of the same detectives"
sought by the homemaking agency were
achieved through the nursing group
Actually, however, the two organizations,
while cooperating closely, have entirely dif-
ferent functions and responsibilities. There is
no duplication of activities when both VIVA
nurse and a Health Department housekeeping
aide respond to an emergency call. The nurse
attends to the health needs of the family espe-
cially endeavoring to supply nurse care in the
home which otherwise would have to be rem
dered in a hospital. The housekeeper, on the
other hand renders invaluable assistance In
keeping families together after the housewife
has been hospitalized by sickness or accident.
The homemaker strives to tend to the children
and keep the household going until the house
wife is able to resume her normal routine. This
humanitarian service is offered only to INDECENT
families after careful investigation OF the need
in each case.
In thus averting the breaking up OF homes
in health crises, the Homemaker Service is not
only contributing to the general welfare OF the
community but is combating one OF the causes
of Juvenile delinquency. The $54,46 asked Tor
continuance Of this commendable work is small
indeed, considering the benefits resulting from
the investment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
Professional Rescuers

The Star published a letter June Is
wherein the volunteer outfit that serves
the Bethesda district as rescue squad
is appropriately commended for sterling
service. The undersigned certainly has
no quarrel with tribute to an organ
ization that is charged with public
service in an area where no profession
ally trained men are available on a
full-time basis. The implication which
is introduced into the commendatory
miSsive, whereby distinct slap is TAX
en- at paid, professional personnel, must
be the result of a hySterical desire to
further publicize an outfit that has
never lacked for press-agentry.
The Bethesda Rescue Squad has done
very well in carrying out its assign
ments in it's own domain, yet there
have been numerous instances recorded
that might provide an adequate basis
for a sustained charge of limelight seek
ing. Any one suffering mishap within
the confines of the District of Colum-
bia who has not sufficient intelligence
to summon the trained units available.
whether they be minions Of the law
or fire department, is a fit candidate
for treatment at local mental clinic.
The routine jobs accomplished every
day by the men who are sworn to pro-
tect the lives and property of the cit
liens of the Nations Capital would
make startling entries in the archives
of any volunteer unit. The mere fact
that such accomplishments are within
the scope of duties assigned might
tend to cloud the reasoning of an un-
initiated soul who sees an occasional
emergency through widened eyes.
Mark Rorick may feel free to COM
mend any organization that happens
to catch his fancy, but he should re-
strain his rampant pen when he feels
constrained to render disparaging
comment with reference to the men
who are sworn to protect him in the
event of an emergency situation. The
rescue squads of the District Of Co
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
Politics in Wet Nam

The shake-up announced in the Wet Nam
government appears to represent very belated
effort to arouse public support on behalf OF the
anti-CommuniSt cause Premier Prince Buu
Loc cousin of Chief of State Bao Dali, has
submitted his resignation as head OF the cabi-
net To replace him, the absentee ex-emperor
has selected Ngo Dinh Diem, described as an
ardent Catholic Nationalist and longtime foe
of communism.
Many explanations may be advanced for
the disastrous course Of events in 1ndo-Ch1na.
Certainly one of them-and France must accept
the greatest blame for this tragic error-has
been the lack of popular native government,
one that could not be accused of SubServience
to the Colonial" dictation of the French For
eign Office. Bao Dali, once the youthful emperor
of AMMAN, is himself product Of this colonial
ism-French educated, socially accomplished,
deliberately trained by his political masters to
excel in sports and in pleasure. While emperor
under the French before World War II he
reigned but did not rule. It was the same when
he was puppet emperor under Japanese aus
pices. Since his designation by the French
again as Chief of State, in 1949, it has been little
different-except that while some OF his people
have been fighting for their freedom from
Communist control he has been living luxuri-
ously on the French Riviera.
It is late now to hope for constructive
political reformation-at least under the Spon-
sorship of Bao Dali. Mr.. Diem has. however,
been an outSpoken critic Of Bao Dali and OF
French reluctance or inability to recognize the
true temper of the Vietnamese people, If given
sufficient freedom of action, there is an outside
chance he may be able to establish govern
ment that can stand successfully against the
growing strength of Ho Chi Mimi and his Com
muniSt movement.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
funds for Civil Defense

I would like to call attention to an
article appearing in The Star, May 28,
entitled Row on Civil Defense EruptS
at Windup of D. C. Budget Sessions"
In response to an expression OF opinion
that the D. C. Office of Civil Defense
did not have enough money to employ
a person to recruit and train volunteers,
or to conduct public education cam
paign to teach the individual resident
what to do in event Of atomic attack,
Representative Wilson, chairman OF the
Appropriations Committee, was quoted
as saying:
"Then that is misapplication of funds
for neglecting to provide for one OF the
most important phases Of defense
preparation"
should Chairman Wilson have made
such a fiat statement in such harsh
manner (Which he did not in this IN
stance, it would have been extremely
strange, since he must surely know tnat
last years funds cut made it Impossible
for the local civil defense Office to en-
gage such volunteer dlrector' OF Gull
duct such program. .,
On May 10, 1858, Representative VII.
son appeared on the District Rouno
Table Program over Station WWDC,
speaking on the issue of civil defense
and congressional appropriations for
it. He said on this occasion: I'VE on
the Appropriations Committee have to
sit down and decide more or less as
jurors as to where what money we have
may be spent. There is an old saying
The wheel that Squeaks the loudeSt
generally gets the grease I've heard no
soueaks whatsoever on civil defense. l
have had no civilian contact me at any
time or in any way for funds for civil
defense. I've been sitting over in the
old House Office Building caucus room
evenings, listening to hundreds OF
people, citizens, good citizens, coming
in and requesting funds for schools, for
music instruments, for hospitals. for
patrolmen, and for various other items,
but I have had not one yet make any
request for funds for civil defense"
On May %, 1854. three witnesses
appeared at the hearings on behalf OF
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
An Experiment Worth Trying

Since there are indications that House
elimination from the District budget of any
funds for fringe parking was the result Of
misunderstanding of local plans, the Commits
sioners are justified in seeking restoration OF
the item by the Senate. The House killed
$3.50, 800 request after its Appropriations Com
mittee had disapproved such Large invest
ment" for an experiment" The committee
recommended study of fringe-parking tests in
other cities before the local program is tried.
Actually, however, the District did not
intend to use any substantial part OF the
money on its initial experiment, planned for
$4,000 was to be spent on paving a parking
lot near the south end of the bridge If that
test proved successful, other lots would be
opened later in outlying District sections. The
South Capitol lot it was hoped, would relieve
traffic congestion of the already overloaded
South Capitol street bridge during morning and
afternoon rush hours. Engineer Commissioner
PrentiSS told the committee that If a thousand
or more cars were parked on the lot, the relief
of congestion would be the same as If two lanes
had been added to the bridge. Rapid, express
bus service to and from the fringe lot would be
provided by the Capital Transit Company. The
tentative plan is to offer free parking, or very
cheap parking, as an inducement to motorists
to use the lot.
AS for the committees suggestion that a
study be made of fringe parking in other cities,
this already has been done. District officials
made a survey of IS cities and found the
response to inquiries generally favorable. It
was as result of this survey that the District
decided to give the plan test at the South
Capitol street bridge, as a starter. Congress-
properly concerned as it has right to be over
traffic congestion in Washington, ought to put
no obstacle in the way of parking experiment,
suitably limited in scope, that offers good
promise of reducing the number of automobiles
which daily come into the downtown area.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
By Bates IA. StovoII

TT BECOMES front-page news these
i days when Supreme Court justice
takes walk in the woods. But un-
doubtedly the most famous walker ever
produced by official Washington was
that outdoorsman. Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt loved the outdoors. and
walking was q form Of recreation he
could indulge in more freely than any
other. Washington. where he spent
so many years in positions running
from Civil Service Commissioner up
to President was ideally situated for
the walker. Beautiful Rock Creek Park
was close at hand with its trails and
woods, and rapids and rocky heights.
And at the city's door flowed the ma
jestic Potomac, its shores above Wash
ington lined with cliffs and forests,
little changed from the primeval.
T. r. delighted to hike through these
wild regions, for he scorned the smooth
paths and open ways Of settled country.
The tougher the going, the more he
liked it. This was true whether he was
leading q group Of children. party
of Army officers or even members OF
his cabinet. Sometimes he went on a
scramble, sort Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
affair, where he went out Of his way
to lead over all sorts of obstacles. and
everybody along was supposed to follow.
At other times, he might take his group
for a point-to-point walk. In such cases.
a distant goal was agreed upon, and
then Roosevelt led straight toward 1t
despite cliffs. streams, fences or other
barriers.
Roosevelt's outdoor walks got under
full steam when, as boy, he started
an uphill fight to conquer the asthma
which made breathing difficult. In the
fall and winter, he used to go to the
Maine woods, where he tramped
through the forests, visited logging
camps, and wore snowshoes when
needed.
After Teddy's marriage to Alice Lee,
his first wife, they visited Switzerland.
Here he hired a guide, and, leaving
Alice for a time, took to mountain
climbing. But when the guide couldn't
keep up, the young American dropped
him and became pals with two German
students. With them. he assembled the
Matterhorn.
When President Of the Board Of
Police Commissioners of New York
City, Roosevelt walked the streets for
many hours late at night, checking on
derelict cops. On one occasion he
spotted a policeman furtively drinking
a glass of beer given him through the
: side door of saloon. Seeing the COM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
A Walk With T. R. Was an Experience

scaled q 6O-foot cliff and followed this
by jumping off the creek bank into
5 feet Of ice-cold water. A Col Sturgis,
!. dressed in cutaway coat which he had
been warned not to wear. eyed the
Presidents plunge with dismay and
was heard to mutter: 81 wonder what
so he jumped in. cutaway and all.
Learning from younger officers in
the armed services. and from his own
observations. that the physical condi-
ton Of some of the older ones was not
what it should be. Roosevelt ordered
that all officers should prove their
ability to walk so miles, or ride 100,
in three days.
The order met with a mixed recep-
ton. Three Marine officers laughed at
the requirement, and despite the fact
that one of them was handicapped by
a wound. they all walked the so miles
in one day. The Navy Department
chiefs had the last laugh, however.
They made the Marines do the walk
over again. "Take three days." the OH
GERS were told. zone day doesn't comply
with regulations"
On a visit to Yellowstone National
Park, the President located a band of
several hundred elk, and wanted to
get close to them. Refusing to allow
anybody to go with him, he carried
his lunch and walked OF alone. II
will surely come back" he told the
worried guide who had him in charge.
The President eventually got to
within so yards of the elk. Then he
spent around an hour watching them
and eating his lunch. Late that after
noon, he showed up in camp. having
walked Is miles that day. A few days
later, ne practically diteoed this feat
when stalking mountain sheep.
On his way home from hunting in
Africa, Roosevelt stopped OF in Eng
land, and took a walking trip through
the Valley of the Itchen and through
the New Forest. Sir Edward Grey acted
as guide. At one spot in the Valley OF
the Itchen, they came to lowland
flooded with water, but Teddy forged
ahead and though the flood was breast
high, the mixers kept going and even
tually reached dry land.
Through precept and example, and
because Of his position in our national
life, Roosevelt did much to popularize
walking as beneficial recreation. Be-
cause of this, many persons enjoyed
better health, were lifted out OF their
everyday shell, and were brought
closer to God and to nature. If there's
a walkers hall of fame. Theodore
RooSevelt's name should be found there,
emblazoned in letters of gold.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
The Posing

All night to the seas itcessGnt fret
/ counted lights at the fGrtJtest line.
Out tUtere the sky and ocean met, %
People and laughter, song and tDtTIe.
All the night in my safe shore bed :.
matched them passing. and tOis1ed
to be.
ilonC Nth the fun moon overhead. =
Part of their drifting gGyety.
Morning came and the lights tOere gone,
Ships gone. too. and the loUely night.
I thought hon quickly l0Ue Is done, :"
HoU move the dearly IoUed from
SightI
VoIerie R. LehmeA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
| letters to The Star.

lumbia Fire Department have never
utilized the services of a press agent,
and are content to stand on their
record of missions accomplished. BY
the same token, their record OF service
must not be vulnerable to the facetious
remarks of people who are by no means
qualified to set up a comparison.
William G. Moore.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
ASSIGNMENT for Senator

What a wonderful idea Of Senator
Styles Bridges to drop an atom bomb
on Moscow at once, with no declaration
of war or other preliminaries.
May I offer an added good sugges-
ton? Let the Senator himself be depu-
tized to personally man the plane
carrying out this mission, just to be
assured of accuracy of marksman-
ship. And see how far he gets on his
return trip. Theresa HI. Russell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
By THE HASKIN SERVICE.

@. Where can one find in detail the
Government rules for selling placer
gold?-T. H. M. -
A. Regulations concerning the sale.
of placer gold are under the jurisdic-:
ton of the Department Of the TreaS-
ury. They are set forth in pamphlet
entitled, Gold Regulations" issued by
that agency.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19
Questions and Answers

reader can get the answer to any question
Of fact By writing The Evening Star Intor-
nation Bureau. 1900 Eye q. NV Wasnins,r
ton B, d. G. Please incloSe three d3) cents toL
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-06-19

@. Who was the first ruler to have
his portrait on a coin?-E. s. G.
A. Ptolemy of Egypt. 323-285 B. c..
began this practice, which has since
been followed by the worlds rulers Of
nations. :