davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-09-12
FIogging for HoodIums

! heartily agree with the
writer Of the letter headed
use the Whip" and signed
"Old Fashioned" I have about
the same ideas. II these young
juveniles that roam the streets
at all hours Of the night, COM
mitting about every crime in
the book. having no respect
for the rights Of people or
their property, when caught,
were logged with q good cow
hide whip, they would think
twice before their next offense.
This punishment should also
be applied to adults Of both
sexes engaged in crime where
their victim has been man
handled. There are many
characters who do not mind
serving q short sentence at the
taxpayers expense. Many Of
these individuals live better in
penal institutions, receiving
free shelter. good food and
clothes. than they do at home.
II, instead Of free board and
lodging, the whipping post and
cowhide were substituted, this
might change their minds.
Eye for an Eye.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Turmoil Over Lee Stamp

I note in The Star OF Sep
tember 8, a statement by As
sistant Postmaster General
Albert j. Robertson concern
ing a criticism received by
him on the issuance Of the
Robert E. Lee stamp at Nor
folk, Va, September II. To
the everlasting credit of Mr..
Robertson, he stated. "Lee is
regarded as a great Ameri-
can"
would like to point out to
Mr.. Robertson that not only
is Robert E. Lee regarded as
a great American but that he.
Robert E. Lee, was q great
American, ranking with Wash
ington, Jefferson, Monroe and
the rest.
However, I am not surprised
at q former district Judge Of
Lawrence, Kans.. calling Gen.
Lee a rebel, a turncoat. a
perjurer and a traitor. Per-
haps it would be more to the
judges liking to hear Of one
Of his own compatriots being
singled out for the honor. Say
John Brown, for instance. Of
the Harpers Ferry infamy.
John Brown was born in Kan
sas and melted people to in
surrection, placing in their
hands about 800 spikes he had
made for them in Connecti-
cut with which to kill their
masters.
Could 1t be that there might
be some resentment against
Robert e. Lee, then q colonel
In the United States Army.
who was ordered by his COM
mander III chief to capture
John Brown?
Suffice it to say that Gen.
Lee had the courage OF his
convictions. which is q great
deal more than many people
in high places have today.
John A. Creel.
\ + + \
I can forgive Robert E. Lee
for attempting to destroy my
country's Government or for
trying to keep my grandpar-
ents in slavery. Nevertheless.
I Join former Judge Hugh
Means In asking why Gen. Lee
should be memorialised on the
face Of a national stamp.
The general, conceivably a
fine character by nature, de-
serves everlasting pity as one
Of history's most mistaken,
most misguided personages.
The choice that he made for
Evening star., 1955-09-12
WSTAS IN SCIENCE
Man Probes White Darkness
BY THOMAS R. HENRY

the amount of this rare gas,
which is q major element in
photosynthesis upon which all
life on earth depends, is in
creasing in much of the rest
of the world, due largely to
the amounts of industrial
waste poured into the atmos-
phere. If the percentage Is
lower in the Antarctic. where
the atmosphere is almost COM
pletely uncontaminated, this
thesis might be sustained.
Extremely sensitive instru-
ments are being developed at
the Weather Bureau, DR.. Dyer
announced, for measuring the
height and thickness Of the
ozone layer of the atmosphere
by It's effects on incoming
moonlight during the long
night Of the Antarctic winter.
Shield for Earth
This ozone layer Is q very
thin layer Of triple-molecule
oxygen about so miles high
which is created out Of double
molecule atmospheric oxygen
by the ultraviolet radiation Of
the sun. 1t serves as a shield
for the earth against this ra-
diation which otherwise would
make life, as it now exists, i'm
possible.
Even in the winter night
when no sun is visible some
ozone is being created in the
high atmosphere over the Ant
arctic, Weather Bureau observ-
ers say.
The special Antarctic OBJ
serving program during the
international year win be ac-
companied by continued OBJ
servations Of all sorts Of
weather phenomena at the
joint American Canadian sta
tions in the Arctic, one Of
which, on the tip of Ellesmere
Island. is probably the far
thest north land point in the
world. It Is within seven de-
grees Of the North Pole.
Other stations, manned the
year around, are scattered
through the Canadian Antarc-
tic Islands. recently renamed
the Elizabeth the Second ar
chipelago in honor of the pres
ent Queen.
One of these, on desolate
CORVALLIS Island. DR.. Dyer
told the Arctic Institute meet
ing. will be used also as a re-
fueling station for the first
scheduled intercontinental
passenger flights across the
North Pole. These will be con-
Quoted by Scandinavian Air.
lines, which already has made
several experimental flights
over the top Of the world. It
was first planned to use the
American airbase at Thule in
Greenland as the major refuel-
ing and emergency station.
CORVALLIS Island Is in essen
tally the same latitude.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
II. [. Mencken at IS

Henry Louis Mencken Is rs today.
Having reached this stage, he probably
has thrown his final haymaker at the
things which annoyed him most-tradi-
tion, religion, celebrities, politics, the
South-among many others. But the
sting from the many punches In the
twenties and thirties by the Baltimore
iconoclast Is still fresh.
The man is perhaps best known now
for his trenchant criticism of the Amer
ican scene - criticism that always was
sarcastic, often unfair and intolerant. He
dubbed the South ''the Bible Belt" and
New York City that third-rate Babylon"
"A liberal" he once said, 'is man who
Is willing to believe anything twice"
But 1t will not be this barbed pungency,
this almost fractions attitude toward
everything from God to the New Deal
that will be his most enduring contribu-
tion to America. For he never reformed
any politicians, disbanded any churches
or uprooted any traditions. He did, how
ever, have powerful impact on the Eng
1ish language-"American," as he called
1t. Mr.. Mencken, dedicated enemy of
cant and generalizations in language, had
healthy respect for words as a means
Of communication. He chided the school,
marms for their refusal to let language
speak for itself, for erecting little walls
Of rules that restrict, conf1ne and becloud
language.
His monumental "The American Lam
guage," published In 1919 and followed
by three revisions and two supplements,
is perfect example of a man practicing
what he would preach. Although work
of great scholarship, it is written in q
sprightly, entertaining and almost hu-
rnorously impudent style. In 1t, he de-
molishes multitude of pathological
phonies, yet also rescues the verities Of
language worth the effort.
His mischief f-making over, it will be
Mencken the photographer, not Mencken
the American voltaire, who will be
remembered.
Evening star., 1955-09-12

@. To what extent can the
color of an object affect its
apparent size?-F. L.
A. In q recent series Of con-
trolled color comparison tests
it was shown that color can
cause up to 1876 per cent in
crease or decrease In apparent
size Of surfaces. However, it
is not possible to name one
specific hue (color) which
makes things look larger by q
certain per cent and another
which makes them look small
er, for too many factors and
relationships are involved. The
lightness or darkness Of the
door used, and the intensity
of the color, affect the result
but these factors alone do not
produce the illusion. Of greater
or smaller size. Designers and
decorators commonly refer to
yellow as the largest" color,
followed by red. green, blue.
and black as the smallest"
and point out that the lighter
and brighter It's color. the
larger q surface appears.
@. Does the United States
import beer from other coun-
tries?-G. G. S.
A. Yes, from at least IA
countries, though beer inn
ports represent only q very
small percentage Of domestic
beer consumption. Foreign
beers come from a number Of
European countries. also Ja-
pan and Mexico.
Evening star., 1955-09-12

pile up bigger surpluSes to depress
the prices OF future crops and to bedevil
the Government which must store the
surpluses.
The practical difaculty, of course, is
that farm income continues to decline.
And as long as this remains true, Demo-
cratic orators, politically speaking, will
have an effective talking point when they
denounce the lower price supports which
became effective this year. But it is also
well to remember that return to the
80 per cent supports in all probability
would mean an ever bigger bill-for city
dweller and rural dweller alike.
Evening star., 1955-09-12

After reading the September
Z article by Dorothy Thomp-
son. on Israel, one would be
amazed at the thinking behind
the assertion she made con-
cerning the terrorist bands.
Miss Thompson says. Organ
lied armies are controlled by
their governments, who must
assume full responsibility for
their acts. Terrorist bands
operate on their own, outside
any law except as they can be
apprehended and tried as In
dividuals."
She certainly knows better
than to expect the Israeli gov
ernment TO first determine
whether the marauders are
members Of the military forces
or terrorists. This is similar
to the situation in 1851 during
the Korean war when the Chi
nese Reds sent over thousands
Of their soldiers and desig-
mated them as volunteers" It
Is hard to believe that Miss
Thompson is so naive about
this matter. Or is she naive?
In view Of her well-known
stand, which at times is be-
yond understanding, and her
activities on behalf Of the
American Friends Of the Mid
die East, I am inclined to be-
lieve that what Miss Thomp-
son Is doing is some "wishful
thinking out loud"
Israel is not leading from
arms superiority. as she claims,
but is leading from spiritual
superiority and unity, which is
something Miss Thompson's
friends. the Arab League, has
never been able to accomplish.
Abe She6erman.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Undoing a Red Evil

1t is good news that Red China, after
weeks Of haggling at the Geneva ambaS-
sadorial talks, has at last agreed to re-
lease all United States civilians still
detained over there. In doing this, OF
course, 1t has not performed an act of
magnanimity; it has merely undertaken,
belatedly, to right great wrong which
1t should never have committed. And 1t
has done so not because 1t has a big
heart, but simply because 1t hopes that
the move will be helpful to its efforts
Nevertheless, although the Chinese Com
munists thus are entitled to neither praise
nor thanks, the move itself Is happy
event for the Americans directly involved.
and 1t is encouraging to the extent that
it may reflect genuine desire on the
part of Peiping to pull in its horns and
work for real easing Of Far Eastern
tensions.
As the State Department has empha-
sized, our Government has not committed
itself to any secret "side understandings"
In exchange for this action. But the
Geneva talks presumably will continue
for some time, and Red China-which
may still be holding number Of Amer
ican military prisoners listed as missing
In the Korean war-will be able now to
discuss "other practical matters at issue"
between 1t and the United States. These
practical matters" are far-ranging and
highly significant. They include Peiping's
drive for admission into the United Ma
tions, its efforts to end the Western trade
embargo, its attitude toward continuing
cease-fire in the explosive Formosa area.
and It's willingness or lack Of willingness
to pledge itself unequivocally-as Secre-
tary Of State Dulles has urged-against
the use of armed force to attain its OBJ
jectives in Asia.
Assuming that Red China's represen-
tative at Geneva speaks afflrmatively or
reasonably on these issues, higher-level
talks-as advocated by Chairman George
Of the Senate Foreign Relations Commit
tee-might be productive Of good results.
At any rate, although he has reserved
judgment on the matter, Mr.. Dulles has
intimated that he would be willing to
meet in due course with Premier and
Foreign Minister Chou En-lai II Peiping
offered solid ground for the feeling that
such get-together would help to pro-
mote decent peace in Asia. Certainly,
If it would do that, the get-together
should be held, And the sooner the better.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Salute By Arm of Law

On behalf Of members Of
the Policemen's Association Of
the District of Columbia.
which Is composed Of mem
bers of the White House
Police, the United States Park
Police, and the Metropolitan
Police Department. / wish to
express our sincere apprecia-
ton to The Star for the many
complimentary editorials and
articles through which the
public has been informed of
our efforts in their best inter-
ests. We also appreciate the
support Of recent legislation
which we are convinced was
necessary to keep our depart
ments manned with qualified
men capable Of serving the
public intelligently and EN-
ciently.
It Is a most difficult task for
policemen to gain the univer-
sal praise and support Of the
public. In normal times the
majority Of citizens come only
in personal contact with OH
GERS who are regulating. con-
trolling and apparently re-
stricting tto them unnecessar-
ily) the movement Of their
cars. Many apparently did
not realize that such regula-
ton and enforcement make
the difference between order
and chaos and are for the
benefit of the greatest number
Of persons and vehicles.
We wish to thank the public
for their patience, cooperation,
and support. without which we
would not have been able to
handle the traffic during the
recent transit strike.
The members Of our Asso-
citation fully realize their per-
sonal responsibility in making
this q safer and better city in
which to live and are con-
stantly alert at all times to
ascertain that end.
Again. we thank you and
our many friends and we hope
to merit the continued support
of the citizens Of the District
Of Columbia, by rendering the
best possible police service.
Royce L. Givens.
President,
d. c. Policemen's
Association.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Derides City Heods
am astoundeti

! am astounded that the
District Commissioners should
even consider further polluting
the already bad Washington
air by scrapping the street.
cars and adding more fume-
belching buses to the city's
transit system.
II Public Utilities Commits
sion members and the District
Commissioners would get out
OF their fine automobiles and
chauffeur-driven limousines
and ride these jerky, hot,
stuffy, undependable and un-
comfortable buses, they would
be much less enthusiastic
about doing away with the
smooth. roomy, quiet, airy,
quick and pleasant streetcars.
My trip to work each morn
ing must be taken halfway on
a streetcar and halfway on q
bus. The first half is q real
pleasure; the second half a
nightmare Of asphyxiation and
mashed toes. not to mention
rumpled clothes and Jared
insides.
When I occasionally drive q
car. I would rather be behind
q streetcar than a bus swerv-
ing all over the road. At least
you know where the trolley is
heading.
Surely the District Govern
ment will not be 80 arrogant
as to take this major step
without first getting the opin-
ion of those most affected
viz. the streetcar riders. The
Commissioners do a lot Of
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Republican Problem

The political problem-but not the
solution-wh confronts the Republican
Party. was stated clearly and in a few
words when the President spoke to the
g. o. p. State chairmen last week.
Mr.. Eisenhower told these party
workers that each one of them should
ask himself: How can get to the last
man living in my block, my apartment
house? How can get to him?"
The President was talking primarily
about the large body Of Americans
nearly SO per cent--who seldom If ever
take the trouble to vote. How can these
people be reached and fred with enough
enthusiasm to go to the polls and vote
the Republican ticket?
Mr.. Eisenhower talked in terms OF
the principles which make for good gov
ernment and good society. He mem
toned Cromwell's hymn singing Round
heads who marched fervently on to war
because they believed in something"
The trouble with this Is that our politi-
cal roundheads, Of both parties, are
already In the field. It is not necessary
to exhort them to get out and vote.
They want something, they know what
they want, and they are prepared to do
political battle to get 1t.
The Republican problem lies not with
these, but with that army Of stay-at-
homes who are satisfied with what they
are getting, or, at least, who are not
sufficiently dissatisfied to do something
about it. The President may really be-
lieve that enthusiastic G. o. P. workers
can successfully storm this citadel Of
indifference with almost any leader. He
may be sincere. speaking for himself,
when he says that he doesn't believe for
minute that the Republican Party is
dependent on one man. But the prac-
tical politicians are not going to share
this belief. Furthermore, the high prob
ability is that they are right, and that
the President is wrong.
The Republican Party was returned
to power In 1852 after 20 years In the
outer darkness. It was minority party
three years ago, and there is no reason
to doubt that it is minority party now.
If one assumes that 1t can again become
the majority party, 1t has not yet had
time to work this change. In 1856, as in
1852, it win have to rely on the PERSONAL
ity-the personal popularity-of its can
didate. II winning majority Of voters
is to be lured to the polls next year, it
will be done by the power Of personal
appeal, not by the elucidation Of prin-
ciples. For the G. o. p, at this juncture,
there is such a thing as the indispensable
man. And this~is situation which is
not going to be altered by brave assertions
to the contrary.
Evening star., 1955-09-12

ever disqualifies him for the
Nations honorS.
J. w. Haywood, il.
Let us face it-even though
rs q Eoutherner It is hard for
me TO do so--Robert e. Lee
renounced his citizenship.
Clifford Dowdry writes In ''The
Land They Fought For" that
Gen. Lee ''the generic aristo-
cratic patriarch--by nature
and by training felt . respon-
sibility deeper than his per-
sonal preference" Subse-
quently Gen. Lee publicly
asked Andrew johnson for a
pardon under which he could
take the oath Of allegiance.
but 1t was not granted. Rob-
ert E. Lee never became a citi-
zen Of the United States again.
Though many years have
passed, perhaps some act by
Congress can straighten this
out,
Let US not hegrudge the
great Gen. Lee a mere stamp.
NJ. ID. w.
=
! have been much interested
in the criticism Of the postage
stamp honoring Gen. Robert
E. Lee. My father. a Vermont
farmboy. enlisted In the Sd
Vermont Volunteers in 1861,
when he was only II. but 8
feet tall. After the war he took
UP his homestead in Iowa.
AS a boy, In the '70s, ! heard
him discuss the men and ac-
tions Of the Civil War many
times. His regiment was as
signed to the Army Of the
Potomac. under Gen. Nc
Clellan, and he fought against
the army Of Gen. Lee.
Over and over I have heard
him declare that Gen. Lee,
his enemy" was both q good
soldier and a gentleman, while
Gen. Mcclellan. his COM
mander, was neither. As an
adult, / have found that his
torians, in general. agree with
him. Both were Americans, but
with different viewpoints.
Carleton r. Ball.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Your news STORY Sentl

Your news story September 3
that Mrs. Luce, Ambassador
to Italy. had refused to take
part In q program at Venice
which included the movie ''The
Blackboard Jungle" was re-
freshing. Mrs. Luce's action
was nothing less than beauti-
ful: she merits the plaudits Of
all America.
The marvel is that such a
movie could pass the censors,
at any governmental level -
Federal. State. or interna-
tional. The Christian Science
Monitor calls it 'sensationally
exaggerated melodfama y
The book by the same name.
on which the movie undoubt-
edly Is based, is unauthentic,
false and vulgar. The book
contains such obscenities and
filth that your paper couldn't
and wouldn't publish them.
Chester e. Rightor.
Evening star., 1955-09-12
Chimney Swifts

There's a Hutter In our
chimney,
The Dhtr of unseen tDings;
Our eyes orotD tpide, SDe listen;
We think OF magic things.
We take the stoUe pipes dopa
And thrust In eager hands;
A sottness brushes By
Like running, rain -todshed
sands.
When eDentng nioUes In
SHADOWS
Across our lGtDn, tUe see
Birds stream up from the
chimney
Witch caused the mystery.
Ruby Zosoren
Evening star., 1955-09-12
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES {. TRACEWELL

Even the calmest home
neighhorhood has some 20 to
35 noises that may be heard
by a careful listener on the
most silent afternoon.
1t is always interesting for a
person who has a real investi-
gative turn of mind to seat
himself in the garden, and
then listen carefully.
He will be surprised at the
many different sounds he
hears.
These may range from the
sounds Of children at play to
the whirr Of an old-faShioned
mower.
Many Of these noises, per-
hapS most. viii be by living
things, such as birds and
dogs.
For sound making goes with
life. But inanimate objects
and machines can make
mighty noises. which offend
the taste Of many listeners
more than all the others put
together.
After all. dogs and birds are
natural. A motorized mower
Is something else again.
Some day the authorities
are going to consider noise In
all its aspects. but what they
can do about it will be an
other matter.
They will probably find out,
that unless they assume die
tatorial powers they will not
achieve peace and calm then
any more than they can now,
because, as Templeton Jones
said, people like to make noise.
They even Snore In their
sleep, he says.
Evening star., 1955-09-12

"White darkness" the South
Poles weirdest phenomenon,
will be investigated by Weather
Bureau meteorologists at
American stations in the Ant
arctic during the forthcom-
ing International Geophysical
Year.
Day after day the landscape
may be yelled in a thick. downy
whiteness in which visibility is
at times nonexistent. Strange
things happen, such as the
sudden disappearance Of NOV
ing objects before the eyes.
Companions disappear as
though suddenly dissolved in
the white air.
The phenomenon has been
called ''the antithesis of dark
ness" Actual vision in white
darkness may be more difficult
than in black darkness, to
which the eyes may become ac-
customed. In white darkness
there are no shadows and Ant
arctica much of the time is a
shadowlesS land. On a cloudy
day the illumination. Of the
landscape is so diffuse that
there Is no perspective by
which one can estimate the
contours, size or distance Of
white objects. The feet can
not find the snow underfoot.
Walking becomes extremely
difficult and tiresome. Sledge
and tractor drivers may not be
able to move for days at a
time until shadows reappear
by which they can detect the
parallel ridges which indicate
the presence Of crevasses.
Otherwise they might well
stumble blindfolded into an
area crisscrossed with the
1000-foot- deep riffs in the ice
which are death traps for polar
explorers.
'White- Outs" Bafiiing
Nobody ever has been able
to present an entirely accept
able physical explanation for
the Antarctic white outs"
They will be a special object
of study for the Weather Bu-
reau meteorologists during the
year they will spend at the
three American camps on top
Of the South Pole. This was
announced by Or. Glenn Dyer
Of the Weather Bureau staff at
q symposium on international
year plans held here under
auspices Of the Arctic Institute
Of North America.
The coming Of white dark
ness, meteorologists believe. Is
quite precisely associated with
special conditions Of sky
brightness. Measurements will
be taken day after day to find
out what these conditions are.
The meteorologists will also
make daily measurements Of
the amounts Of carbon dioxide
in the Antarctic atmosphere.
There is some possibility that