davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Expanding Universe Subject Of Study
By THOMAS r. HENRI

panding. Thus the farthest
reaches Of space win look
more clumpy with groups Of
nebulae than the sky closer to
the Milky Way.
The synthetic picture Of the
sky Is It would appear In .
static universe already has
been made and compared with
photographs taken ct the
tniversity's Lick Observatory.
This synthetic picture appears
far less Aclumpy" with distant
star systems than the actual
photographs. This partially
supports the theory OF the
expanding universe.
It still remains necessary.
however, to make the picture
Of a synthetic expanding uni
verse and compare 1t with
actual photographs. It Is
estimated that this win require
about two years.
Complicated Project Started
This complicated project has
been undertaken because other
evidence for the expansion Of
the universe is not conclusive.
The first evidence for 1t came
from light of stars outside
the Milky Way. According to
q well-established astronomical
theory the lines In the spec
trum Of q hght-emitting body
win shift toward the blue II
the object is approaching the
observer and toward the red
II it Is receding.
There is no question that
light in the spectra Of distant
stars does shift toward the
red. making them redder than
actually is the case. This In
dicates that these stars are
moving away from the OBJ
server.
Astronomers, however, are
still not in unanimous agree
ment. Some believe that the
effect may be due to some
phenomenon as yet unknown.
Maybe light gets tired as IL
gets old and moves more slow
". According to the theory Of
relatively the speed Of light
is the one fundamental, un-
aIterable constant in creation,
upon which everything else
depends.
The University Of California
project involves one Of the
biggest jobs in pure Ynathe-
mates ever undertaken. "A con-
siderable number Of special
lists, both mathematicians and
astronomers. must cooperate
to obtain results which will be
widely accepted as valid.
Any overthrow Of the ex-
banding universe theory-fan-
tastic as 1t may appear to
nonastronomers--would throw
out much Of current astro-
nomical theory and force an
almost complete revision Of
present ideas Of creation. But
all the evidence to date seems
to support the astronomers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
Is creation expanding9

- - Ss-NA>AA - A~t-~@~AAe~G
This moot question for the
past Is years Is being subject
ed to critical tests by Univer-
sity OF California astronomers.
Their answer to date 10 that
the postuiated expansion Is
actual.
The theory first was adj
vanced by the Belgian astron-
orner. Father Lemaitre Of the
University Of Louvain. It postu-
lated that between four and
I'VE billion years ago all the
matter In the universe was
contained In q single rnass--a
superatom. This exploded. The
instant Of its explosion was the
instant Of creation. This ex-
plosion still Is In progress. The
stars, the planets. the stellar
systems are flying fragments
Of the original mass.
Admittedly the concept was
fantastic. Now It Is very wide
" accepted by astronomers. II
seems to be the only logical
way to explain the present dis
tribution Of galaxies and the
strange fact that the farther
a celestial object, outside the
Milky Way galaxy. Is from the
earth the faster 1t is moving
away from the earth. The
same presumably would be
true for any other point in the
universe selected for observa-
ton.
Still the Lemaitre theory
cannot absolutely be proved.
The effort now is being made
by DR.. jerry Neyman. director
of the University Of Califor-
MAS mathematics statistical
laboratory. and his assistant,
DR.. Elizabeth L. Scott. They
are making synthetic pictures
Of the sky as 1t would appear
II the universe were expand
ing and II It were static. They
then compare these pictures
with actual photographs of the
sky as IL exists.
Billion-Star Systems
A picture Of the sky In o
static universe, for example,
would show an equal distribu-
ton Of galaxies billion-star
systems like the Milky Way
galaxy Of which the solar sys-
tenn Is an infinitesimal part
throughout observable space.
On the other hand a picture Of
the sky In an expanding uni
verse ought to show q greater
concentration of faint nebulae
far outside the Milky Way.
This is so because the nebulae
would get farther and farther
apart If the universe is ex-
panding. Distant nebulae are
seen as they existed hundreds
Of millions Of years ago, be-
cause 1t takes . long time for
their light to reach the earth.
Millions Of years ago they were
closer together than now, If
the universe actually is ex-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
Vote on Travel Mode?
There have been numerous

There have been numerous
articles and letters In the
papers discussing the pros and
cons OF streetcars versus buses.
I personally am in favor OF
streetcars and believe the
proponents Of buses feel that
streetcars are a little out OF
date in this modern era. How
ever, this ID not my reason for
writing this letter.
We profess to be a demo-
cratic country governed by the
wishes OF the majority Of the
people. Why not take a vote
Of the riding public on the is
sue? This is the only way the
city fathers could really find
out the kind Of transportation
that the people want.
A certain weekday could be
set for voting. AS each transit
patron boarded q streetcar or
bus, he or she could be handed
a ballot by the operator with
one or two simple questions
printed thereon, such as:
Do you prefer streetcars?
Do you prefer buses?
These ballots could be left
with the operator upon leav-
ing or while riding on the
vehicle. At the end Of the
voting day these ballots could
be counted by q volunteer COM
mittee composed equally Of
streetcar and bus advocates
and the results Of this vote be
made public to the local news
papers for publication.
This would give q true pic
ture to the stockholders Of the
transit company. the Public
Utilities Commission and last,
but not least, the District Com
missioners OF what the riding
public wanted.
G. Raymond Pruett.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
Save the Whoopers
The Air Fore,

The Air Force says 1t has taken under
advisement the protests Of wildlife con-
seryationists and others against night
bombing tests near the Texas sanctuary
Of the nearly extinct whooping cranes.
These protests certainly should receive
more than routine attention at the PEN
tagon. 1t is hard to believe that national
defense would be impaired by shift OF
the bombing range from the one spot
in this country where the big whoopers
congregate after their annual migration
from Canada.
The Pentagon is awaiting the record
Of o public hearing held last month by
the Air Force at Port Lavaca, Texas. At
that hearing residents Of the area
charged that photo-fiash bombing ex-
periments had been conducted within
half mile of the National Wildlife
Refuge on the Gulf Coast, where the
whoopers rest between migrations Last
year there were only 81 of the birds
remaining from the huge fiocks which
once enlivened the Gulf Canada fyway.
Canadian conservation authorities have
reported that half dozen young birds
were added during the past Matching
season In the northern wilderness.
Canada takes very seriously its EFFORTS
to save the whooping crane from extinc-
ton. so seriously that it has filed formal
protest with the State Department over
the Air Force bombing threat to- the
birds. Our Government should be no
less concerned about this problem. The
Army and the Navy already have changed
certain gunnery and bombing plans to
avoid conflict with the conservation pro-
grams. And the Air Force ought not to
be permitted to ruin the so-far-encourag-
ing campaign to save the whoopiug crane
from joining the passenger pigeon and
heath hen in oblivion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
THIS AND THAT

Dear Sir: ~
Should I give mp feeding
the birds In my garden. now
that fall Is here?
Some friends tell me one
thing, some another. ] have
wondered II birds, which have
had their meals handed to
them day after day. are
spoiled for finding natural
foods.
us there enough natural
food, to 60 around, and how
can the birds find It?
IF you can set my mind at
rest. about these matters. ]
will appreciate it very much.
I find that the great problems
Of. mankind and the world do
not In the least take my mind
Of the little problems!
every truly yours. N. b. D."
Songbirds are never
spoiled" by feeding them.
They are very sensible, prac-
tical creatures.
They take what they md.
and we hope bless the Lord Tor
II We are sure thew do. in
their way.
Nobody, by being kind 10
them, can influence them In
any way. at least not in any
inimical way.
They are living units OF al
most unimaginable age. They
come down to us still fresh
from the hand Of their creator.
Any one who watches o robins
nest knows this.
4 \ + 4
As for the food put out for
them, It is received with graft
tude, we are sure.
But when 1t fails to appear,
the birds lose no time, because
they are heat machines. and
must have food to make the
heat. Their feathers help a
bit, but food is the prime
essential. In this. they re-
mind US very much Of. guess
who?
Everybody likes something
to eat.
It Is the great single bond
that binds all life together. In
placing food for the birds. the
human involved does more
than just feed them. He feeds
his own mind and soul ct the
same time. It was Elbert
Hubbard. we believe. who said
that If he had 10 cents, he
would give half Of II away and
use the other half to buy white
hyacinths. At modern prices,
he would get few flowers for
half a dime, but he wrote In
Q past age. when money was
money.
Our kind correspondent
should not worry about the
natural supply.
In all but a very few sea-
sons. there are plenty of ber-
ries. and plenty Of insect eggs,
and plenty of grain, and plenty
of weed seeds to go around.
According to its type. each
bird finds what 1t needs, and
leaves the rest for birds Of
other food habits.
In this way, each species
helps all the other species. and
each individual bird all other
individuals. Bold blue Jays
cram seeds into crevices Of
bark. where they are found by
smaller birds.
Busy little brown creepers
guide their friends. the pretty
A
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26

small woodpeckers, to tree
trunks. where together, In the
most beautiful friendly FASH
ion. they find something to eat
In the bark.
In doing this for themselves,
they also help mankind by
eating the eggs and other
forms Of small insects which
might in time harm us. At
least, they keep the numbers
down.
The chain of nature is q
perplexing thing, until we
stop to think that 1t was Gre
ated millions of years ago, and
has been going on so long that
We cannot understand 1t, try
as hard as we might.
Let US be thankful we do not
have to study it. or worry in
the least about 1t. Sometimes
we tend to think that ell Is
inimical. but at the same time
we should keep In mind that
many processes are beneficial
and part Of US. and that II we
let them operate, we do the
best we can both for ourselves
and all life. It is only when the
mind Of man gets to interfer-
ing too much that disaster
comes. For instance, when an
insect Il transplanted by one
Of mans machines. the air.
plane, to q section Of the world
where there are no natural
enemies. then the creature
tf1rives out Of all reason.
Whereas II It has been left at
home. 1t would be all right.
In answering our CORE
spondent. we viii say that one
gives up feeding birds in the
fall. II he wishes to, or keeps
on, II so he wishes. It does
not make too much difference
to the birds.
There Is enough natural
food. except In the very worst
Of winters. as when q great
sleet storm coats all bushes
with ice.
The birds are led to their
natural food by instinct. It
is not q good explanation, per-
haps. but it is all we have.
They ind it because they were
made to find 1t.
All this Is q little problem,
true. as our letter writer says,
but 1t is important. II ones
mind runs that way; and ones
mind does run that way. truly,
II he 10 interested In bird life.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
l!nstoNment Buying

The members of the Fairfax
County Board of Public We'll
fare were glad to see the arti-
Gle by Don Whitehead on EN-
stallment Credit" in The Star
Of September 10. He illustra-
ted the dangers Of the current
theme song, Buy Now and
Pay Later" with the story of
q family OF four. income S72.25
q week. heavily In debt but still
able to meet all payments. The
wage Garner ''knows he is skat-
ing on thin Ice and that a Sc
rious illness or run of bad luck
would be a catastrophe"
We see many such families
after the "ice breaks" The
families suffer and the public
pays an increasingly large bill
Tor their medical care and
maintenance. These young
couples were indiscreet. But.
they were inexperienced and
had been allowed, often en-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26

that with overtime their work
ers. as Q whole. had averaged
more than 500 per week In
take-home pay.
Mr.. Carrera could have
added that the barber puts in
so hours a week to accommo-
date those who wait until Sat-
friday for o haircut. Living
near . barber, ] am aware Of
how the children Of the bar
Der have to stay home on Sat-
urday, while the Government.
building trades and even the
white-collar workers take their
families 70 the beach.
Frankly. 1t seems as though
the barber has been too slow
in gauging the trend toward
President Eisenhower's new
level Of standards Of living.
Frank B. Powers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26

I suggest that before your
MANA correspondent Richie
McEwen writes further on
Czechoslovakia and the SUI
detenland he would do wei to
read q little history Of the
last two decades.
He writes feelinsiy Of the
wilderness Of decaying VII
lagos, crumbling farmhouses.
untitled fields and empty
barns" today in the Sudeten-
land. and says that the Czechs
especially the Czech Com
munists-are responsible for
having driven out" the "hard-
working and Industrious Volk-
deutsche" who formerly in
habited the region. This is a
complete misstatement Of the
facts.
The volkdeutsche, though
their forebears had lived in
the area for centuries, refused
completely to be assimilated as
C2echoslovak citizens and coli
laborated with Hitler in the
destruction Of the Czecho-
slovak Republic which began
in 1898.
At the end Of the war, the
United States. Great Britain
and the Soviet Union agreed
that since these people had
shown themselves wholly
treacherous and unassimilable
they should be expelled to the
Germany to which they adj
hered. The expulsion was
conducted gradually, In an
orderly way, and was very far
advanced before the Czech
Communists overthrow the
government the Sudetenese
hated. Had the Sudetenese
been better citizens they might
have helped to save Czecho-
slovakia from communism.
C. A. X.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
@. How many syndicates sell
material to the l1eWspApers2-

@. How many syndicates sell
material to the newspapers?--
G.. J. o.
A. The current Editor and
Publisher syndicate directory
lists 159 syndicates. which
offer newspapers more than
1900 features on q regularly
scheduled basis.
@. In the printing business.
what is meant by "imposi-
tions?--H. N.
A. Imposition is the way a
printer lays out any printing
Job to make the best possible
use Of his particular press and
hindery facilities. Different
printers may impose the same
Job In different ways.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
Not Clip Joints

AS O patron. not q barber,
I heartily Join with Frank Car
rera's letter in regard to the
recent controversial increase
Of % cents In the cost Of Q
haircut. Correspondent ''Dis-
gusted" makes a comparison
with 1905. but he aeglects to
recall that wages Of skilled
workers ct that time were 80
cents to 50 cents an hour,
skilled workers now receive
from $2.50 to $3.25 an hour.
General Motors recently stated
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26

] submit there 10 o difference
between q columnist. even o
partisan. biased. prejudiced
columnist. and o press agent.
The former must report facts
even u. to suit his purpose, he
emphasizes those which sup
port his prejudices and ignores
others. (This In itself Is un.
fortunate since part Of the
truth may be misleading and
o false representation Of the
whole.)
The publicity agent. on the
other hand. selects, exagger.
ates and distorts. He may
properly ply his trade only az
long Is he makes It known
that he Is q partisan sponsor.
Consider Thomas L. Stokes
statement Of September 20
that Mr.. Truman. to the Re
publican Party managers, 'shas
become again q thorn In the
side with his early opening Of
the 1856 campaign" Allowing
for partisan exaggeration on
both hides. there has been
nothing to suggest any thorn
in-the-side reaction.
We need not accept Re-
publican leaders characterize
ton Of Mr.. Humans remarks
- bcmbast and whatever else
they called them. But there is
no evidence that those re-
marks caused them concern,
much less that 1t was . thorn
In the side. In fact, there has
been indication Of concern
among the Democratic Party
leaders: Mr.. Humans sched-
uled speeches In California
were promptly Cancelled, and
debate ensued whether that
move was prompted by thorn
in-the-side reaction by Demo-
cratic Party leaders or by con-
sideratioi1 Of Mr.. Humans
health and age neither Of
which had suddenly changed.
AS Q columnist. Mr.. Stokes
should adhere to the facts,
however they may interfere
with his personal crusade or
vendetta.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
Inpostor

The East German Communists have
made much Of the contention that their
new Sovereignty" treaty with Russia win
henceforth oblige West Germany to me-
gotiate directly with them. But Cham
cellor Adenauer has been quick to re-
affirm, with admirable forthrightness,
mat he and his government intend to do
no such thing. On the contrary, as he
has Just told the Bundestag, Bonn con-
fnues to regard the Red regime in the
soviet zone as an impostor-a mere pup
pet Of the Kremlin hence an illegit-
innate creation that Is without standing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26
Questions and Answers
By THE HAsKTN SERVICE

A reader can ses the answer 70 any
1900 eys, 81 wv Washineton s.
D.. o Please inoloes cents for
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-09-26

Pen names mag be used "
letters carry iDriters correct
names and Addresses. An
letters are subject to conden.
sGtion.
Evening star., 1955-10-23

restored Duke Of Gloucester
street.
In her thorough research to
ascertain that flowers, both
fresh and dried, are the same
varieties as those used by the
18th century residents Of VIII
liamsburg. she also has studied
vases Of the period. Antique
vases are used in the palace
and authentic reproductions
In other buildings.
Asked what she considers
the main points for success
in drying flowers, Mrs. Fisher
replies:
Those are things you al
most have to learn by expert
ence, but I would say they
are gathering the plants at
the right time and keeping
then in a place where no
dampness whatsoever can get
in during the drying process.
Usually, the right time is at
the height of their color or
blossom, but care should be
taken, as in the case of leaves.
that the plants have not re-
manned too long in their ma
tive habitat. Otherwise, the
leaves may dry beautifully but
not remain on the branches
during the process"
Evening star., 1955-10-23

rnt wAsaoros srAs r,erosn, MAGAZINE ocros.s a. ,ss,
Evening star., 1955-10-23

WTHEN Mrs. Louise Bang
w Fisher moved to Will
liamsburg Is years ago. her
neighbors were astonished
when one truckload Of furni.
ture was followed by two
trucks crammed with flowers.
Since that time. the towns
folk Of Williamsburg have
seen Mrs. Fishers enthusiasm
for flowers devoted to q
channel that makes the re-
stored buildings OF the his
toric Colonial capital even
more like the 18th century
originals.
This slight, energetic woman
with white hair and soft,
husky voice has delved avidly
into sources related TO the
period so that her floral
arrangements in buildings
throughout the tourist mecca
are just like those Of early
Williamsburg. when 1t was q
thriving social center as well
as the place where this coun-
try's founding fathers took
steps toward winning Amer
ica's freedom.
Mrs. Fisher. widow Of a
faculty member Of William
and Mary College, Is known
particularly in garden clubs
and other women's groups
throughout the country for
her dried flower arrange
ments. She has spoken to
many organizations. and a
motion picture has been made
describing how she transforms
ferns, grasses, leaves and COM
mon weeds into brilliant bou-
quets that last through the
winter.
Ten years ago. when Mrs.
Fisher started drying flowers
with m ethods that she
discovered In early Virginia
correspondence of plantation
owners and In books Of the
period, tourists admired the
beauty OF her arrangements
and went home TO try out
their own bouquets. From
June until November. the in
defatigable gardener gathers
everything that promises in
teresting texture Of color and
boards 1t In q dark, dry attic
room above the Governors
palace kitchen.
In the drying room, wires
are strung from wall to wall.
and each bunch OF flowers is
tied and hung separately.
Leaves are placed fiat on the
Evening star., 1955-10-23
Forte IN Flowers
williamsburg Bouquets Are Made
BY Widow Of College Professor
BY EMILY TOWE
Photos BY Larry Stevens

floor between papers. with no
two leaves overlapping. A fiat
frame Of heavy wood is placed
on top Of the many layers and
additional weights are added.
The windows are blacked out
with cloth and paper.
Early In November every
year, Mrs. Fisher climbs the
ladder-like steps to the drying
room to look over the seasons
collection. She says:
Il always look forward to
this moment when ! pull open
the door and look about, much
as a farmer surveys his stored
grain. / unpack the leaves to
see If they have been pressed
properly. I take down the
punches Of dried materials to
discover If they were gathered
at just the right time. Then
We start making flower
arrangements that will last
three months instead of three
days"
While she dries a variety of
garden flowers. Mrs. Fisher Is
particularly interested in the
wild plants that she collects.
There Is real adventure In
going out along streams, hik-
ing on roadsides and in the
fields to find material for dry
ing" she says. Ferns and
! grasses. ears of wheat and
corn taSsels, and all kinds of
autumn leaves are just a few
Of the plants that make lovely
winter bouquets
Queen Anne,s lace Is one OF
the choice stand -bys In the
annual harvest Of wild fiow-
ers. Goldenrod, pearly ever
lastings, pale oats, bearded
barley, plume and spike are
among the picturesque filters
dried for the winter bouquets.
BitterSweet. blazing star, scar
let sage, dyed strawflowers
and purple Yorktown onions
add their color TO the bouquets
ali with strong 18th century
precedent. Wild ferns gathered
from the woods in June also
are pressed In the drying room
for winter bouquets.
During the summer, when
the tourist season is heaviest,
Mrs. Fisher is up at 5 am. and
at work by 8, so that she Is
through cutting flowers in the
palace garden by the time the
first visitors arrive at Q. She
lives alone in a trim little
frame house rebuilt according
to 18th century plans on