davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1955-07-22

During World War lin the
field, at the American army's
titanic Grosyenor House mess
in London-and even at some
Of the swankiest English hotels
was served tasteless con-
coction-dehydrated mashed
potatoes.
Soldiers reviled them. They
generally were blamed, as was
everything else that went
wrong, on the ''blawsted Linz
les" Perhaps, everything con-
sidered, there was some ex-
cuse for them. Otherwise there
might have been no potatoes
at all. A great deal Of the bulk
and mass of a potato is water.
Shipping space. was at q pre-
MUM. They saved sending
overseas, taking up space more
profitably filled with muni-
tions, many tons of plain wa
ter which was obtainable. ]
understand on fairly reliable
authority, in both England and
Normandy. Any mess SER
geant could get some if he knew
the right people. In theory
American water was taken out
Of the potatoes in the United
States and local water put
back again in Europe.
Origin Of Those Spuds
These dehydrated potatoes
were a production of U. S. De-
partment of Agriculture chem
lists. I naively wrote a nice
piece for the paper about them
when they first were an
nounced. Some years later I
happened to meet in London
the. Agriculture Department
chemist credited with orig
mating them. He now protests
his relative innocence. Then
he was a quartermaster cap
tam. He said he had just
come from the front in Italy
where he had conducted a poll
Of sorts among soldiers as to
how they liked his potatoes.
Presumably he didn't reveal
his identity to the men in the
Appenine foxholes. If he did
he was certainly the bravest
soldier of the war and his
name should be proposed for
the Congressional Medal.
But in the next great war,
due to this same Bureau of
Chemistry, dehydrated pota-
toes will be something quite
different. There also will be
dehydrated beets, parsnips.
carrots. lima beans and peas,
prepared by novel processes
for both military and civilian
consumption.
The problem has been to
get the water out without
destroying by heat the subtle
Evening star., 1955-07-22
Work Quietly for Peace

OF the many groups sincere
1y seeking ways to peace, the
meeting in Oslo sponsored by
the Nobel Institute merits more
attention than it has received.
At the invitation of the
Nobel Institute, unofficial dele
cations from IA non-C -Commu-
mist nations met in Oslo on
June 16, without fanfare, press,
or protocol, to have a realistic
look at the chances for lasting
world security. The United
States delegation was COM
posed of Arthur Dean, chief
negotiator of the Korean peace
settlement: Paul Mite, former
State Department official;
Prof. William LANCER, foreign
policy expert: Frank Altschul.
investment banker, and Pres
ident Grayson Kirk of Colum-
bia University. 1t was the hope
of the conference that by elm
mating press and propagan-
da and official protocol, the
delegates could get down to
brass tacks in a manner impos-
sible at more formalized gath
erings. Representatives of the
Communist powers were not
invited since the directors of
the institute felt that their
presence would only serve to
harden viewpoints that have
been repeatedly opposed in
public and private meetings
between East and West in the
past.
It is to be hoped that this
group will be able to provide a
guide for those in power to
find an enlightened and work.
able plan leading toward q
world disarmed.
Janet N. Neuman,
Member. Committee for World
Development and World Dis
armament.
Evening star., 1955-07-22
Roise for Annuitonts

1kG ID puoiiiil6 1oL hA~
creased salaries for his cabi-
net. Congress pushed for
nearly double what they were
receiving and got it. Justices
of the Supreme Court and
others of the legislative branch
got sizahle increases. without
much pushing" Not a great
while ago the President re-
ceived a handsome increase,
and now an ex-President will
receive a handsome pension.
It took months of pushing"
by Federal employe unions and
some well-disposed Congress-
men before Government en-
ployes received an increase in
their salaries.
After considerable pushing
from all retired employees. a
couple of recommendations
from q few Congressman.
chiefly Senator Johnston and
Representative Broyhill, re-
tired employees, it appears, now
have the chance" Of getting
an increase In their annuities
by rs per cent or 8 per cent.
What a comedy!
Government retirees. ac-
cording to statistics, have an
average annuity of $1,000.
Considering that 8 per cent of
$1,000 is only $104 increase in
annuity, can you imagine what
little help that would give?
e. S.
Il Il X
Every day Congress delays
action on proposed Federal
annuity increases death comes
to % former Government en-
ployes! Present annuitants
contributed good 100-cent dol
lars to their now mammoth
retirement fund, which lacks
only congressional authorize
tion-without cost to the tax
payers-to ease the burdens
of the declining years of for
mer workers, before they, too,
are numbered among the 90!
Any fear for the safety of
the retirement fund, because
of the dim likelihood a sud-
den demand on it by every an
nuitant might wipe it out, is
as groundless as in the case
of an ordinary run on the bank
or a sudden demand for CASH
ing Government bonds. Nei-
ther national banks nor the
Treasury Department carries
sufficient reserves to meet sud-
den concerted demands-nor
should such meticulous care
be necessary for the safety of
a retirement fund now amount
ing to several billions of dol
lars. The Government is
amply able to safeguard all
three funds.
incidentally, an 8 per cent
increase in annuities would
only be comparable to a high
rate of interest on q prin-
cipal that should itself be
materially increased.
Stationary Annuitant i'm
7th Year.
Evening star., 1955-07-22

sociation or the Clothing and
Helmet Fund. These can be
mailed to the Chief of the D.
C. Police Department. 800 In
diana avenue NV. Washing
ton, D. c.
Irwin Fass.
Evening star., 1955-07-22
Matter Before the Bar

O1 august Z, the baT ASSO-
citation of the District of
Columbia will complete its bal
loting on a referendum pro-
posal to delete from the bylaws
of the association the present
limitation of membership to
the white race. Twice in the
past this proposal has been
defeated, though six months
ago only by a 17-vote margin
short of the necessary two
thirds Of votes cast. 1t is i'm
portant that on this occasion
the measure pass.
1t has always been recog-
nized as the duty Of the bar
to lead. Lawyers have tradi-
tionally provided leadership in
the systemization of a commu-
nity's attitudes and aspirations,
finding this responsibility in
their training, in their close
relation to the courts. in their
constant preoccupation with
complex and changing rights
and obligations. At its best. a
bar association provides the
mechanism that gives purpose
and specific content to this
leadership of the bar, and,
through its care and hard
work, inarticulate groupings Of
people toward new values are
fashioned into a part Of the
legal system. It follows from
this that a bar association Is
not to be viewed as a private
club existing for the pleasure
of its members, but as a pro-
fessional body acting to dis
charge a public responsibility.
In the exercise of this pub
lie responsibility. Negroes
have a joint role with other
members Of the bar, and as
exacting a role. The Bar As
sociation cannot make a
claim to act on behalf of the
community, If participation Of
Negro lawyers is forbidden by
its rules. From the commu-
nifty point of view, it is i'm
portant that the difficult prob
lens of orderly mutual &C
commodation between the
races draw the cooperative
efforts of both Negro and
white members Of the bar.
Difficult problems in this ac-
commodation beset Washing
ton--in education and hous-
ing, to name but two-and
they require the guidance of
a bar association representing
the entire community, for both
white and colored have
brought about the problems,
and it is in their joint efforts
that the solution must lie.
In it's resistance to this par
ticipation by the Negro, the
Bar Association has not dem
onstrated regard for the SYM
pathies of the community. In
the last 10 years the Metro
politan Area of Washington
has gained both the size and
outlook of a major city. Its
population is drawn from all
sections Of the United States,
In its composite, it has a
confident view toward CO.
existence of the races, not one
that Is apprehension-ridden
and prejudice-bound. That
the bar should fearfully drag
its feet behind the commu.
nifty at large reflects ridicule
upon the professions ancient
traditions of leadership.
For these reasons, 1t !.
much to be hoped that when
the Bar Associations voting
closes on August 4 the resolu-
tion will have passed by q
wide margin. Passage will re.
fleet credit upon the bar, ant
will equip it effectively to con-
Germ itself with matters af-
fecting the entire commu'
nifty. Also it will remove az
ugly discrimination for which
the community has become in
creasingly apologize.
| David Aches0n.
Evening star., 1955-07-22
Questions and Answers
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

A reader can get an answer by mail
Evening Star Information Bureau,
1900 Eye St. NV. Washington +.
d. c. Please inclose 3 cents for
return postage
Evening star., 1955-07-22

Pen names may be used "
letters carry ioriters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
SGtion.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Streetcar Line
To Potomac Was
Suburban Lure

About 40 years ago, a streetcar
line ran from Bethesda to Poto-
mac. The line was built by the
Bradley Hill syndicate, a group
that bought up great deal Of
farmland in the Potomac area in
hopes of developing a suburban
community there.
The area just didn't catch on
as commuters community,
however, and the carline was
abandoned shortly after World
War 1. The tracks are buried
under the front lawns of many
Bradley Blvd. residents.
In recent years the Potomac
locale has gone back to farming
as wealthy Washingtonians have
bought large tracts of land and
established country estates.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Culture Could
Be Had at Lou
Rates in 1906

Patrons of the Washington
Grove Chautauqua assemblies,
held in the early part of this
century, would be Mortified at
the prices paid by resort-going
countians of today.
The program for the 1906
Chautauqua session says, "The
hotel is managed by Mrs. M. L.
Thompson, who caters to please.
This hotel is conveniently
located, with well furnished, cool
rooms, bath rooms, and other
conveniences.
"The boarding rates are: For
breakfast, IS cents; lunch. 25
cents; dinner, SO cents; rooms
and meals, one week, Sc to ST;
one month. $25 to $50"
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Sentinel Called for Local History
As Far Back as 1902 Period

of 1912, and the Civil War in
which Marylanders "won the adj
miration of their contemporaries
by their courage and DASH" The
article admonished, Bunker
Hill-a British victory, by the
Way-is better known even to
Maryland children that the fam
Gus charge of the Marylanders
on Long Island, and the stealthy
looting of teaship in Boston har-
Dor is set forth in school books
at fulsome length while the open
burning at Annapolis of the
Peggy Stewart" tea and all, is
scarcely mentioned"
Other states are charged with
maintaining IAN active literary
bureau and publishers to manu-
facture the patriotic legends in
which their local history was de-
| ficient." While other states have
gathered together official papers,
records, and reports for preserva-
ton, Maryland, the editorial in
sists, has made no attempt to
frame a state history. In fact
mot few of the states own pap
ers have been purloined and are
now found in private collections"
The SUN and the SENTINEL
concluded, eff the right book is
in existence, its use in our schools
should be made compulsory; if
it is unwritten, inducements
should be offered to competent
writers to write it."
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Big JOhnstOwn
Flood Was Felt
In County, Too

The famous JohnstownN flood
OF May 81, 1889 had its roper
cussions in Montgomery County.
The same torrential downpour
that broke a dam above the Penn
sylvania town and sent 2,2OO peo-
pie to their deaths beat down on
this area for "a hours, blowing
down trees, undermining roads,
and sweeping away bridges.
John Coffin, a nephew of Mary
c. Brooke of Sandy Spring, "res-
cued numbers of drowning per-
sons by his presence of mind and
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

almost superhuman efforts" A
few weeks after the flood he
died of typhoid fever contracted
from the polluted waters.
Countian Richard Lansdale was
only a baby when his JohnstoWn
home was inundated. He can still
display pieces of slime-covered
furniture rescued after the flood.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
No Liquor Insurance!

Today it's difficult for teen-age
drivers and short-winded business
executives to buy Insurance. But
in March of 1884 the Annals of
Sandy Spring report "the Mutual
Fire Insurance Company has re.
fused to insure any building
where liquors are sold" Never
reluctant TO moralize, the histor.
ian concludes, Thus Sandy
Spring presses forward in con.
domination Of the great evil Of the
day"
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Pdrty-Line Listening Was Popular
County Indoor Sport in Old Days

Nowadays many Westinghouse said to talk
ousy the telephone fearing that the wires be tapped
But in 10Th century Montgomery County of the avore
indoor sports apparently listening in on the party lines
When the ringup' system being replaced by "Cen.
tra operators writer complained he directors of the
company have done their spoil the unique social
features of system What could be coy than the
old arrangement by which called up a whole with
signal and had all the family connection chipping in during
ones the dsuse of place in calling
to have destroyed the personal element in the mat
ter effecuay neuaze the hardship of being for
hidden listen other people talk To be the change
may make things easier for Central but it is US
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

reporting the event the SEN.
TINEL of Nov. 10 proclaimed,
''The fact has never before been
accomplished by man, nor even
undertaken, for it is something
that two average men could not
master"
The corn had been Shucked and
sorted in a field about a quarter
of a mile from the crib when
Brown started his job. Using a
bushel basket and his hands to
load the barrels, he'd carried 48
barrels to the crib by noon. AT
ter unlocking and watering his
team, the workman, reported the
SENTINEL, consumed seven
minutes of time in eating his din
ner and straightaway returned to
the wagon and began unloading
with an extra large shovel"
Shortly before five he lofted
the last barrel, completing the
task successfully.
A SENTINEL reporter inter
viewed the Negro after the feat
"He stated that he felt a little
tired in the shoulders but he
seemed to experience no incon.
venience in reaching out his arm
for Mayor Offutt's $40, a pay
ment required to be made upon
the fulfillment of the undertak.
ing"
Mayor Offutt complimented his
workman on the good job" and
noted that Brown. worked with
consistency but not reckless
haste"
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

for the new high school were held
in 1913 and the building, was
dedicated on March IS, 1850.
One of the hanpiest individuals
to see the groundbreaking was
DR.. George M. Boyer, a school
trustee for four decades, who
had worked hard to secure the
new building for Damascus.
A few other landmarks should
be mentioned in any history of
Damascus, the town with the
highest elevation in the county.
The Bank of Damascus, organic
ed in 1920 was opened in 1921.
The Baker Council of the Daugh-
tiers of America has been most
active and has its own hall. The
Damascus Homemakers, with
Mrs. Bradley Woodfield, as it's
first president, was organized in
1925.
T h e Damascus American
Legion Post was organized in
1944-45 with Carroll Fetzer as its
first commander. The Volunteer
Fire Department, now one of the
finest in the county, was or
gained in 1914 with Roscoe
Purdum as its first chief. The
Ladies Auxiliary to the depart
ment was organized two years
later in '46 with Mrs. o. E. Viii.
laimS as its first president.
The Damascus Lions, a really
interested and civic-minded
group, were started in 1915 with
Herbert S. Hyatt as first presi-
dent.
This is certainly change
from - let us say - 1910 when
only three houses existed in
Damascus and the first school
house with Evan Thomas as
teacher stood at the rear of the
present fire department. The
only doctor was DR.. B. F. Lans-
dale; the merchants were J. H.
Clagett, Marcellus Etchison,
Luther King and P. M. Smith
who was also postmaster, the
latter not very difficult job
since mail was delivered only
\once a week.
These were the days of dirt
roads, muddy in spring, dusty
in summer, frozen in hard ruts
in winter; of board sidewalks
where there were any sidewalks
at all, and of the time when this
present day conservative, civic
minded town was known as the
toughest town around and popu-
lar forms of entertainment were
rooster fights and horse racing.
These of course were in the old
BLACK Ankle" days of Damascus.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

On Feb. IA, 1902, the SEN
TINEL reprinted an editorial
from the BALTIMORE SUN de-
handing that more state history
be taught in Maryland schools,
children should first learn the
great deeds of their own progeni-
tors before going abroad for
heroes" exclaimed the piece.
The editorial pointed out Incl
dents during the colonial wars,
the Revolutionary War, the War
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Mud on Ladies' Limbs Led
To Black Ankle as First
Name of Home Community
BY Mrs. Ulysses Griffith w

The early history of Damascus is shrouded by lack
of or newspapers According to the tales handed
down from father to and still told by many old timers
in the Damascus area the first settlers not what might
be called permanent residents.
Many of them, at least indentured servants who
working the plantations which had been established
in the county along the more favorable land sites in the
Sandy Spring and Laytonsvile Some of them dis
satisfied with their lots fled to what then billy will
denes and Damascus Most of these folks remained
only short time and with changed went further
west as the opportunity allowed.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Chaste Medicine
Show Also Gave
Free Eye Tests

The Bennett Medicine Co. APP
parently wanted to be sure Rock
vile residents could see the COM
pany's show.
The SENTINEL of August 8,
1902, carried this notice: "The
Bennett Medicine Co. of Norfolk
(sic), Va. are in town giving
nightly free performances on the
vacant lot next to the Town Hall.
The show is chaste, refined, and
up-to-date. All are invited to at
tend. Eyes tested during the day
free"
Now there's an idea for the
television networks!
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Rockville and Frederick passed
through the community.

Rockville and Frederick passed
through the community.
To get an idea of the growth
of Damascus, let us consider
what was true of the community
in 1900. At that time there was
a two room schoolhouse, two
general merchandise stores, one
doctor and a population in town
of approximately 100 with the
population of the surrounding
area estimated at 1900. Even
this was growth, for one old
timer told us of coming to
Damascus in 1893 and finding
only six homes in the town
limits.
Today there are $50 homes in
Damascus, an estimated popula-
ton of 1900, and the surround
ing area population is figured to
be upwards of 1000.
Land values have shot sky
ward with the growth of the
area. Shortly after World War
l, the late Lesley Woodfield
bought a lot on Main Street to
build a store for his Damascus
Electric Company.
He paid $1,000 for it and at
the time everyone thought he
had gone completely crazy.
When the large lot on which the
Druid Theater has been built
was bought shortly after World
War II everyone thought the
sale price of $500 was ire
mendous.
Yet in the SOS the large lot
next to the theater was sold for
$4,000. And even more amaZ-
ing, this year 1859 three-quar-
tiers of an acre was sold in town
for a filling station and the price
was $4,000.
The average price for a half
acre house lot in town is now
$1,000. Farm land in the area is
difficult to assess because its sale
price often depends on how much
the buyer wants it, but the aver
age price is $500 to $500 an acre.
That price would have gone a
long way toward buying a farm
in the mid-nineteenth century.
The real boom in the growth
of Damascus came after World
War III. We might mention
among the landmarks in the
growth of the new town the
Druid Theater built by Druid
ClOdfelter i'm 1917.
This has been followed within
less than a decade by the new
business building which houses
the drug store and the Damascus
Food Store; the new Acme store:
the Gladhill building which
houses several Establishments in.
Guiding a dress shop and a five
and ten, Counts store and res
taurant, a new Damascus Elec-
trio Company, an addition to
the combined Bank of Damascus
and Post Office, the Cook-Wat-
kins building which houses a
jeWelry store and real estate
agency, the Warfield Auto Stores
and garage, the recreation center
now an appliance store and the
Professional Building among
others.
In addition, there has been the
constant growth and develop
ment of such old timers as the
Woodfield Ford Agency, the
Gladhill Bros. Farm Machinery
and the E. M. and M. L. Burdette
Co. for both feed and farm ma
chinery.
One other story must be told
in the story of Damascus. That
is the schools. In 1900 there was
a two room schoolhouse. Today
we find a splendid new elemen-
tary and high school building
complete with shop, agriculture,
commercial and home arts de-
partments in addition to the
regular academic work.
Ground breaking ceremonies
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Old Germantown Band Really Hit
Blue Note in Snappy Uniforms

Church picnics, family gather
ings, and other social to-dos in
Germantown around the turn of
the century were given added lus-
ter by the presence of the Ger
mantown band, a musical organi-
cation composed of most of the
towns young men.
Resplendent in its winter uni
forms of blue trousers and match
ing cutaway coats with epaulets,
the band played at all local func-
lions of any note.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

In the summer, the 81 or so
band members changed into white
duck trousers and simple blue
coats. Big event of the summer
season was the bands appearance
at the Rockville Fair.
The band, directed by Henry
Lenhart, met every week in an
assembly hall to practice. The
neighbors never complained, says
William C. Marth, who played
alto horn, because there weren't
any neighbors.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29
Corn Harvest
Record Set by
Farm Worker

In the Fall of 1911 Robert
Brown, a 35 year old muscular
Negro, lifted y barrels of corn,
10 bushel to the barrel, between
sunup and sunset on the farm of
Rockville Mayor Lee Offutt. In
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

MONTGOMERY COUNTY SENTINEL
1855 - CENTURY EDITION - 1855
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

d.
Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

INUW IIItTG an IUtd lot u
teleViSion networks!