davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
Show Window Abroad

For the past two years, Congress has
made available SIS million annually to
finance United States participation in
international trade fairs. The Depart
ment of Commerce and private industry
have elaborated to provide American
representation in 33 such exhibitions
scattered over most of the globe. An
estimated Is million people have visited
the American displays and more than
$4,000 inquiries on actual commercial
dealings have been recorded by the trade
fair missions. 1t is medium that has
been exploited intensively by the Soviet
Union and more recently by Communist
China, in terms both of trade and
propaganda.
The administration is asking this
year that the program be put on perma-
nent basis. Harrison r. MacCIung, APP
pointed director earlier this month, has
announced that $3.5 million will be asked
this year to finance representation in Is
fairs. At least two are in Iron Curtain
countrieS-Poland and East Germany.
The results of the initial two years repre-
sent good return on the investment.
Congress should look Sympathetically on
our continued participation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
Deserved Commentator

The Commissioners formal recogni-
ton of the high order of voluntary public
service performed by the Board of Elec
tions in planning and conducting the
District primary earlier this month is
fully deserved. Chairman Newell w.
Ellison, Arnold Levy and West A. Hamil-
ton, working with limited funds and no
experience, brought to their task an
earnestness and dignity befltting the
occasion, and which set q fine example.
1t was also most appropriate that SturgiS
Warner, adviser to the board, be singled
out for individual mention, for his many
helpful contributions.
We hope the board will present
report TO the Commissioners, suggesting
procedures to be followed in the next
election to overcome some of their own
original difficulties. We are sure that
they must feel the need for more funds,
for one thing. Any proposals from the
board for possible amendment Of the
primary law itself would be welcome.
They will be received by the community
with respect, coming as they do from
men who so clearly have won 1t.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
A Tired Debate

According to the advance billing, one
might have been tempted to expect sort
of Lincoln-Douglas debate. But it didn't
turn out that way when Senator Kefauver
and former Governor Stevenson staged
their coaSt-to-coaSt televiSion meeting in
Miami the other night. There they were
in our living room for full hour, but no
sparks flew, no memorable phrase was
uttered, and not a single electrifying
point was made. Instead, the whole show
seemed much too prim and pedestrian to
win the rapt attention of anybody but
the most devoted partisan.
To say this is not really to belittle
either of these earnest and able con-
tenders for the Democratic presidential
nomination. Nor is it to suggest that the
TV industry ought not to keep on trying
as valuable public service-to arrange
for lively discussion programs starring
the leading figures of our major political
parties. But let's face it. In this par
ticular instance, even their most ardent
admirers have got to admit that the
Tennessee Senator and the Ex-Governor
of Illinois, Like actors burdened with a
script full of hackneyed lines, fell con-
siderably short of a Scintillating or
stimulating performance.
As for the debate" the closest they
came to gnawing bone of contention
was when Mr. Kefauver, speaking in
politely panied tones, declared himself
shocked" that Mr.. Stevenson chided him
some time ago for "abSenteeiSm" from
the Senate. But Mr.. Stevenson, more or
less in the manner of AlphonSe deferring
to CASTOR declined to argue the point,
choosing instead to brush it aside with
retort courteous and apologize. Other
wise, on virtually all issues, they spoke
pretty much as with one voice, and nat
urally they were wholly agreed in turning
thumbs down on the Eisenhower admin
iStration.
In fairness, however, it should be
added that the TV cameras suggested
that both men were just a little bit
weary, and they may well feel that way.
After all. they have been campaigning
in the primarieS-and talking and talking
for the past five months. The process
is a firing one that initiates against a
mans ability to say something new or
fresh or exciting. AS a matter of fact,
Mr.. Stevenson himself apparently suS-
poets that he and Mr. Kefauver-as a
result of their repetitious exertions-may
succeed only in knocking each other out
in this mad endurance contest" That
remains to be seen, of course, but the
State primary system-whose value is
pooh-poohed by more than few political
experts-undoubtedl can become like the
cruel grind of squirrel cage for those
who run in it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23

with the French, and they have re-
affirmed that they wish to be cooperative
in international efforts to establish
effective arms control, to harness the
atom for beneficent uses, and to bring
about such things as sound Arab-ISraeli
settlement.
None of this may actually amount to
much, but it is certainly better than
nothing at all. At any rate, MeSSrs.
Mollet and Bulganin have jointly de-
clared themselves convinced" that
through continuing East-WeSt negotia-
ton of this kind, patiently carried out,
international trust will be established,
the cold war will be finally liquidated,
the ornaments race Stopped-and thus
peoples will be freed of the threat of
new war;" Perhaps these are only words
of empty diplomatic politenesS, but the
world in the atomic age must neverthe-
less keep on striving for their fulflllment
with just such talks as those now ended
in Moscow.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
'Drugged' Chickens

Since our protective" Gov
eminent has approved the use
of the dangerous drug, aureo-
mycin, as a preservative for
poultry, why doesn't the Food
and Drug Administration in
sist that all chickens subjected
to such treatment be clearly
labeled with the trade name
for the process, involving the
soaking of chickens in a solu-
ton containing bright yellow
aureomycin powder.
Also, if fish and any parts
of beef, as tongue and liver.
are being subjected to the
same treatment, why are they
not labeled?
People have been wondering
about the unnatural yellow
ness and tasteleSsness of many
meat products. Perhaps this
drug process is one of the ex-
plantations; perhaps not.
In any event, the public
should be informed; then if
we do not like what we are
getting. we should make our
complaints known - not to
each other, nor to clerks. but
to the owners of the meat
markets themselves-by letter!
If enough dissension is heard.
we might be successful in
stemming the tide toward the
Standardization Of everything
We eat. and in getting what
most of us want, namely,
truly fresh food.
Allergio to Chemicals.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
Dream Horses

There tUds NikeruS whose name
lpdS the night
Tangled NTH stars.
There tDdS Belddr
Whose hooUes touched the edge
OF morning,
And Eta whose cues
Explored the cnUernS OF the
skies =.
These three IChO came TO drink
OF the same icaters under the
same tree.
The grass bent lou NTH their
passing,
Bent ioiU, and neUcrmore wiil
qroiC.
The matters iudit for their return.
QUIET Under the bird-crieS,
Waiting for the stars OF morn
ing
TO make the cdrernS OF the skies.
The tree. beautiful IN silence.
ApaitS the coming OF the three.
Soro Van Alsbne Allen
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
Battle of the Pentoqon

Defense Secretary Wilson may be
Justified In trying to minimize the Sc
robustness of the interservice conflicts
which popped into the open last week.
His position, broadly stated, is that there
have always been differences of opinion
within the armed services, that they exist
now, and that new ones will arise in the
future. He insists, however, that these
problems are being and will be worked
out on reasonably satisfactory basis.
The difficulty with this is that the
public has no way of knowing whether
Mr.. Wilson'S optimism is justified by the
facts. These most recent controversies
came to public attention when Army and
Air Force officers gave copies of service
studies to the press. They were not
authorized to do so, and this business of
secretly slipping classified documents to
neWSmen is hardly the ideal way to venti-
late controversy of this sort. At the
same time. it must be remembered that
the officers in question presumably
thought this was the only way in which
they could get their complaints before
the public, and that they knew they were
riSking their official careers in taking
matters into their own hands. In these
circumstances, one heSitateS to brush
aside an Army study which says: "UnleSs
there is an immediate revision of our
military structure, it is probable that the
military position of the United States
will disintegrate to point where we shall
be forced into either total war or subju-
cation"
Questions and answers at the extraor-
binary press conference called Monday
by Mr. Wilson indicate that this imme-
date row centers around. the respective
roles and missions of the Army and the
Air Force. The Navy is having its
troubles with the Air Force in the matter
Of strategic bombing, but for the moment
at least this seems to be in the back
ground.
The Army, Judging from what has
been made public, feels that too much
money is being devoted to air power at
the expense of ground forces and that
the Army is going to be squeezed out of
Its proper role in the guided-miSsile field.
General Taylor, Army Chief of Staff, de-
MED that there is any mutiny or revolt
In his service. But he did not disavow
all OF the complaints aired in the study
papers. In fact, he said this: Let me
make it clear that I don't fatty disavow
everything that has been published"
This was not spelled out. General Taylor
never said what he disavowed and what
he did not disavow.
So it might be useful, assuming that
he COncurS in some of tho cononloiYotc IN
the Army studies, to explore this aspect
OF the matter. 1t is hardly necessary to
add, however, that nothing constructive
will be accomplished if any inquiry is
going to take the form of political ex-
ploitation of what Senator Chavez is
pleased to call the "high brass"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
The Bortered Bride

MY deep appreciation Of
"The Battered Bride comic
opera by Smetana, performed
only twice at the Roosevelt
High School recently, prompts
me to give it a little much
deserved-but-lacking publicity.
Everything about it was
wonderful--the scenery, cos
tunes. music. dancing. All par
Elephants we're talented, and
Martha Benson deserves special
praise for her fine singing and
cute acting.
For the benefit Of those who
were unfortunate enough to
miss seeing this fine produce
ton, IL is hoped the District
Recreation Department will
make further presentations Of
this opera. They are doing a
fine work and should be given
more recognition, publicity and
worthy praise.
Helen FleischhanS.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
Better Than Nothinu

The French-Soviet talks in Moscow
have come to an end without achieving
anything of any perceptible Importance.
But at least they have had the virtue
OF keeping doors open and maintaining
an atmosphere conducive to further
negotiation between East and West. And
to that extent--aS Prime Minister Eden
has said of his recent meetings with
MeSsrS. Bulganin and Khrushchev in
London-the results may add up to "the
beginning of a beginning" of gradual but
real progress toward a trustworthy peace.
On the negative side, the talks have
Tailed, as expected, to promote any
meeting of minds on ways and means to
settle outstanding European problems,
particularly the vital issue of Germanys
reunification. They have failed, too, to
lessen the disarmament deadlock, and
French Premier Mollet and Foreign Min
lister Pineau must have found them es-
pecially disappointing as regards Algeria.
For the Russians, in the official COM
munique summarizing the discussions,
have offered only chilling expression
Of hope" that France will be able to
find a solution to It's North African
troubles-an expression made cooler still
by Mr.. Khrushchev'S ostentatious week
end toast ito the Arabs and all others
who are struggling for national indie
pendence"
But some scraps of encouragement
can be found. The Mollet-Pineau mission.
while emphasizing Frances resolve TO
remain faithful to the Atlantic alliance,
has won promise from the Kremlin---
as the British have also--to undertake
specific measures whose effectuation
would make the fear-hreeding Iron
Curtain appreciably Jess simpenetrabe
Similarly, again as with the British, the
Russians have indicated that they are
ready to increase peace promoting trade
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
About Gold Frogs and Square Trees
BY THOMAS R. HENRY

and who proved himself as q
jungle survival expert by COM
ing all the way from Florida
to the Canal Zone by motor
cycle, came upon the breeding
place while locating a cave
in which. he had heard, were
some ancient Indian remains.
He had to make his way on
foot up the course of a torren-
tial jungle river full of ire
mendous boulders and great
waterfalls-a river to which
various superstitions are at
tached by Panama Indians.
He reached the cave and col
lected some valuable archaeo-
logical material, but the frog
valley was by far the most ex-
citing discovery.
Apparently all the frogs
come here to breed and Law
their eggs. From thence they
migrate by a circuitouS route
to the FL Vale neighborhood.
Very little is known about
the animals way of life. It's
biology now is being studied
by Air Force medical officers
especially the nature of its
curious pigments.
Recently there has been
found in the FL Vale neighbor-
mood a hlue-violet frog which
sings like bird. 1t is about
the size of the golden frog and
may be either color variation
or a quite different species. 1t is
being collected in the high
mesa which overlooks the
secluded valley.
Mystery of Square Trees
Meanwhile Mr.. Smith is in
veStigating the outstanding
mystery of the place, the
square trees. They are well
known to tourists. Their trunks
might be said, without much
exaggeration, to be at least
rectangular, if not perfectly
square. The tree is a member
of the cottonwood family.
Mr.. Smith has sent 30
saplings of the square trees to
Florida State University where.
from the latest reports he has
received, they are growing
well. He wants to find if they
retain their squareness in a
quite different environment
His own theory, he SAYS. is
that the shape taken by the
trees is due to some unknown
but purely local condition.
That it is deep-seated, how
ever, is shown by the fact that
the tree rings, each represent
ing a years growth, also are
square. The question of great
est interest is whether the
squareneSS will be retained by
the saplings in Florida as they
approach maturity,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23

BALBOA, Panama Canal
Zone (By MaiD High in the
Panama mountains, in a deep
and secret chaSm, an Amer
lean Air Force biologist has
found the breeding place of
the golden frog.
There the rocks most of the
year are covered so thickly
with one of the worlds rarest
animals that they sometimes
look like rocks of solid gold.
This frog is extremely re-
stricted in its habitat. 1t has
been collected in the past only
in the neighborhood of the
charming little Panamanian
village of FL Vale, otherwise
noted for being the only place
in the world where trees grow
square instead of round. The
larger animals, probably fe-
males. are pure gold in color.
Somewhat smaller ones, prob
ably males. have occasional
fiecks of black. But, says DR..
H. Morgan Smith, formerly of
the Florida State University,
an expert on jungle survival
who discovered the breeding
place, nobody yet ever has
determined with certainty
which is a male and which a
female golden frog.
Valley a Weird Place
Mr.. Smith naturally wants
to keep the locality secret. At
one time there was a brisk
trade in the animals with
tourists. AS a result they have
become somewhat rare around
Ell Vale and would soon be
in danger of extinction. Few
of the animals lived long in
captivity. He described it.
however, in the interest of
getting a collection of the
creatures for DR.. William M.
Mann of the National Zoo
logical Park in Washington.
Arrangements are under way
to ship some with the CO.
operation of the Pan Amer
lean Always which will try to
provide the proper facilities
for keeping the creatures
alive.
The valley itself, from Mr..
Smiths description, is one Of
earth's weirdest spots. 1t is a
canyon about 100 feet deep
with precipitous, jungle COW
cred slopes. In these slopes. as
IN the Antarctic ice shelf, are
crevasses as much as 10 feet
deep concealed by a rather
t1imsy covering of roots. Any
body who fell into one would
have a very difficult time get
ting out alive, unless he was
accompanied by somebody.
Mr.. Smith. who is an archae-
ologist as well as q biologist
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23

and then the mans own way
OF using words to set forth
these ideas. He has his
favorite words, too.
When Shakespeare wanted
to show how ridiculous some
action was, he thought of all
the silly things one might do:
Gid refined gold.
Paint the lily.
Perfume the violet only he
said throw a perfume on"
shakespeare would.)
Garnish the eye Of heaven.
lie. the sun.
And the latter, not with a
taper, but with a taper light.
He wanted to picture the
most extravagant thing he
could, and to him this was the
picture of man approaching
the sun with so puny a light
as a taper. but he above all
wanted the puny light to be
distinct from the great light.
and so called it "taper-light."
This was the sort of thing
that made him great-and
quotable.
Writers who are not quotable
are somehow afraid of being
themselves. that is, afraid of
being censored by some self
appointed censor who sits at
a desk and asks. why did YOU
write it that way?"
Shakespeare, whoever he
was. had no such inhibitions.
His only gallery was seated
in front Of him, and the critics
there loved the double mega
tive, because they used them
themselves, for emphasis.
When the actor stamped his
foot and roared, This England
never did nor never shall lie
at the proud foot of a con-
queror," every last man in the
audience knew what he meant.
Let us misquote. for once:
This Shakespeare never did
nor never shall
Lie at the proud foot OF a
conqueror.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

ITO paint the lily" one of
the lords said to King John.
Not gid, as most people say.)
The reason they say "gild"
is because the lines GO:
ITO gid refined gold, to paint
the lily,
To throU a perfume on the
Uiolet,
To smooth the ice. or add an
other hue
Unto the rainbotO. or With
taper light
To seek the beduteous eye OF
heGuen to garniSh
Is tCGStetul and ridiculous
excess"
The courtier was telling off
the King for daring to want
to be crowned a second time.
Once is enough, the man
said.
So it's ito paint the lily"
This is just one of the COM
mon mistakes made in quota
ton.
Another is to call Gibbons
famous work The Rise and
Fall of the Roman Empire.
The correct title is, of
course, THE Decline and Fall
of the Roman Empire"
The mistake comes because
most of us, when we think of
fall" Immediately think of
"rise" as the proper proceeding
action.
Usually it is. especially when
thinking of machines and
dynamics in general.
But Shakespeare, or "the
man who wrote Shakespeare"
as some prefer. had his very
own way of putting things.
We have often thought that
the best way to settle the
Shakespeare dispute would be
to put a group of scholars, as
was done with the King James
translation of the Bible, TO
work on comparisons.
That is, select all the un-
usual ways of saying things, in
the plays, and compare them
with the ways other writer's
have of saying the same
things, or the same sort Of
things.
In this way it might be pos
sible, after many years of
work. to pin the great writer
down, either for or against the
indubitable man Shakespeare.
and to say either that he was
or wasn't the writer Shake
speare.
"ThiS England nerer did nor
neDer shall
Lie at the proud foot OF a
conq1eror.
Magnificent boast! That
double negative, nor never"
would never - we'll. hardly
ever - get by any modern
copy desk.
The bard had his own way
Of saying things.
Every consistent writer,
good or bad, great or mediocre,
has his own tricks Of writing.
You find them time and
time again, because ideas be-
long to one. such as they are,
and always occur in the same
form.
Ideas are pieces in the game,
and crop up as the same idea,
with variations.
The careful reader knows
this with the great ard the
near great, and the Just aver
age.
He comes to recognize his
favorite writer's but often he
does not stop TO realize what
1t is he recognizes.
Il Is the idea. before AL.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23

the structure of the governing
body. Growth must start
somewhere. and 25 citizens of
our community had the cour-
age and foresight to start the
United Givers Fund on its way.
Businessmen are interested in
: the philanthropic enterprises
of the community. Look at the
number of them who are pres
idents Of social agencies in this
ethyl The board of directors
Of the United Givers Fund will
consist of $50 representative
citizens.
Women have not been over
looked; there are two serving
now on the Admissions and Al
locations Committee. Women
will continue to be the heart
of the fund drive" only they
will not have to ring doorbellS
more than once.
Mr.. Mcclure says that "it is
wise to make haste slowly to-
ward greater federation in
Embarrassing" This organiza-
ton has been at least five
years aborning, if we look only
at the record of known, at
tempts to consolidate the null
tiplicity of drives in this area.
The manpower and woman
power needed for many cam
paignS will be conserved in a
united effort. More money will
result to the agencies who will
be its beneficiaries. Those in
need will be better served. and
more time will be left for en-
larged programs, greater edu-
cation, and extended planning.
Isabelle S. Gichner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
Thanks

We want to thank The
Star for the excellent publicity
given to the Washington Hear
ing Society for National Hear
ing Week. Your cooperation
did a great deal to make the
week a success.
Ruth A. Hudnut.
Executive Director. Wash
ington Hearing Society.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-23
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names mag be used II
letters carry aUriters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
Sation.