davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
A. A. Milne

A. A. Milne, who died in England last
week at the age of a. wrote his books
for one child and many children loved
them. Such is life that Mr. Milne did not
wish his fame to be held up with one hand
by six-year-old boy named Christopher
Robin and bear named Winnie the
Pooh In 1881 Mr.. Milne who was also a
playwright, announced that he was not
writing any more books for children, and
thereafter wrote plays, short stories and
an autobiography. But the little boy and
the bear are still his ushers to i'm
mortality.
The adjective whimsical" chung most
stubbornly to these poems and stories,
and Mr.. Milne deplored it as much as his
Mary Jane hated rice pudding CWhat is
the matter with Mary Jane?") The word
must stand, however, as long as it con-
notes gentle humor. Temper tantrums
rage in the pages of when We Were Very
Young" a king pouts for bit Of butter
for his bread, and Sir Brian Botany be-
labors the unwary. Everyone in the end,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
The Wind Is Good

Sometimes the mind is wrono
tor things.
For smoke TO drG,U from chim-
He0S tUeH,
For ledt-raking. for fragile
,OinqS
OF birds to follow course, a
bell
Whose peniS Of ,Gnrning should
be heard,
For sails. and eUen the Unite
Winged bird
A boy controls 1Otth a string,
or Mould.
But dl,DdyS. oh, the ,oind is
good
For such as these: a greeting
UaDed.
Some beauty found, some kind
ness done,
Some old fear confidently
braued-
Some chance for lore to cham
Elaine v. Emons
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
MoIIet in Handouts

The extent to which French govern
mentS so often become virtual prisoners
of their problems is illustrated dramat-
ically today by the Algerian situation
Premier Mollet, heading left-center
coalition cabinet that is Frances twenty
third since the end OF World War II,
already is deeply involved in North
African crisis. 1t Is one accompanied by
violence and bloodshed and for which
there seems no solution that will not in
volye further disorders of the same kind
Following in general way the pat
tern that had been set for limited home
rule In Morocco and TuniSia. Mr.. Mollet
had proposed general elections In Algeria
and negotiations leading to greater do
nestle autonomy for the territory. It is
a formula that met, In part, the demands
of an increasingly vigorous nationalist
movement which draws it's strength from
the 8 million Moslems of Algeria. But
in Algeria there are two conditions that
differ significantly from those in Morocco
and TuniSia. One Is that larger body
of French residents, more than a million,
have far greater economic and political
stake in Algeria than do their counter
part groups in the other two territories.
The other condition, closely related, Is
that Algeria has been administered not
as protectorate but as a department OF
Metropolitan France-a status that has
given it representation in the French
Assembly and greater influence, for the
French Algerian residents. in Paris poll
tics. To this group the proposed con-
cessions to Moslem nationalism appear to
threaten their political and economic SUI
premacy in the territory.
1t was the Algerian French who
greeted Mr.. Mollet with riots this week.
The violence of their reaction forced him
into immediate retreat on one step of his
plan, namely, the appointment of General
Catroux as Resident Minister for the
territory. Opposition to General Catroux
arose out of his part in compromising
with the nationalist movement in Mo-
rocco Where Mr.. Mollet will turn next
is uncertain. 1t is unlikely that the Al
gerian nationalist will accept peacefully
any modification of the Mollet program.
Any proposal of that kind Is almost sure
to touch off new riots--by the nationalist
faction. And in Paris, Mr.. Mollet's coali-
ton of minorities leaves him politically
weak at time when the strength to find
and enforce some solution In Algeria is
desperately needed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
By THOMAS R. HENRY
About a ChomeieonIike Grosshopper

ton takes place when the tenn
perature changes with dead
grasshoppers and even with
fragments Of their bodies. It
is possible, he said, to get a
grasshopper half black and
half blue by heating one end
and cooling the other.
II *&
A great horde Of the insects
Of 20 million years ago have
been found petrifled by United
States Geological Survey work.
ers in the Mohave Desert of
California.
Their bodies, the tissues
turned to stone but in many
cases preserving minute de-
tails of structure. occur in
nodules in rocks which once
were the bottom of a lake.
They include both insects
which normally live in water.
such as dragonflies, and in
sects of the air which fell into
the ancient lake and were
drowned.
They were described to Gov
eminent entomologists by DR..
A. r. Palmer of the Geological
Survey and are considered one
of the most important finds Of
ancient insects yet known.
They may represent time
sequence of as much as 10000
years during which the lake
dried up and reappeared sew.
eral times.
Similar to TOday's Bugs
These bugs of 20 million
years ago have many similari-
ties to families still alive, DR..
Palmer said. Some still are
found in California. Curl
ously. however. a few are far
remote from what appears to
have been their ancient home.
One. for example. is found to-
day only on Juan Fernandez
Island, the island Of Robin
son Crusoe, off the coast Of
Chile. Another is known only
in North Africa and Asia
Minor. Still another has been
described only from Australia.
The reasons and paths Of such
migrations are a complete
puzzle.
BY some unknown chemical
mechanism the bodies Of the
bugs in the lake bottom mud
were replaced by silica, be-
coming essentially glass. or by
a relatively rare mineral.
strontium sulfate. So far as
known this did not happen
anywhere else in the world.
Actually most of the speci-
mems found, DR.. Palmer said,
were insect larvae. There
were very few adults. In the
same rocks we're found many
fossilized copepods. the So
called sea lice, and parts Of
fairy shrimps which are fresh
water cruStaceans noted for
the delicacy Of their colors and
movements.
There is some indication
that the climate may have
been somewhat warmer than
in the same region today.
Enormous hordes of bugs must
have lowered around the
sedge-bordered shores Of the
old lake.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
No Doctor in the House

There is something about a
young child which touches the
heart as he first crawls, then
sits up and finally walks about.
each day making remarkable
discoveries in his little world.
InStinctively we want to pro-
tect him from harm. 1t was
shocking. therefore. to learn
from The Sunday Star OF jan
uary 90 that the District Di-
rector Of Health attributed
the increase of infant mortal
ity during the past year to the
failure to allot sufficient funds
to supply adequate personnel
for his department. II Just
one infant died as a result Of
this neglect in the capital Of
the richest country in the
world, public sentiment should
call for an immediate correc-
ton OF the situation.
Congress is made up Of ia
theirs who would not con-
sciously contribute to the pre-
mature deaths of potentially
useful citizens. and the Dis
trict Commissioners are kind.
considerable gentlemen who
would not willingly do so. But.
while advising Congress OF the
city'S needs the Commission
ers may not have realized that
preservation of health and Of
life is the most important
function Of government. and
may not have insisted enough
to convince Congress that ade-
quate funds be supplied for
that purpose. The District
needs a physician as a Com
missioner, who will convinc-
ingly fight before the board
and Congress for sufficient
money to serve the health
needs Of the city. The city
hospitals, the Public Welfare
Department and the penal in
stituions all need the knowl-
edge, experience and under
standing which a good doctor
could supply.
James A. Cannon, MD.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08

very much concerned with the
health and welfare Of our
children Of today. Our child
rem are not soft. Statistics
have proven over the years We
are much healthier today. live
longer than in the days of yore.
The schools with their wonder
ful physical programs have
helped our children grow and
develop tremendously. World
War II and the Korean situa-
ton proved that.
Why don't you go south my
good friend? But even down
there gentle winds blow up
hurricanes. Esther Speech
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Snow Fun

AS an oId-timer who grew
up with the public school sys-
TEN in Washington. I remem-
Der when we had many real
snow storms. AS schools were
far apart then. many times l
had to walk through deep
snow from Tenth and F
streets NE. TO the Gales
School at First street and
Massachusetts avenue NV.
and thought little of it. What's
the situation now? The few
times we have enough snow to
cover the sidewalks it is broad
cast that schools will be closed.
Then what? The pupils who
cannot walk or ride a few
blocks to school are out in the
snow. coasting or throwing
snowballs. 1t is to laugh!
J. d. Adams.
The writer OF your editorial,
Snow Emergency" doesn't
know what he is talking about.
I'm not the "panicky type"
have been driving a car over
20 years in all types of weather
and the morning of the last
light snow I had the scare OF
my life.
reside in Silver Spring and
drive my son to school in the
District. Along Eastern avenue,
one block from New Hamp-
shire, is very steep hill. 1t
was very icy. Halfway down /
skidded, turned complete cir
Gle and landed against the
curb facing in the opposite d.
rection. Seconds later another
driver had the same expert
ence, but he was able TO steer
into the curb just a few feet
ahead of me. About the time
he stopped. a third car also
skidded and landed at the curb.
Did you say driving was not
bad? 1t wasn't good. A few
minutes later a sand crew ar
rived. They may have been out
all night, but that Eastern
avenue was like glass.
I feel that our city officials
and Board Of Education are
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Courageous Words

The esent unSeemly
Juror over the course of hui
man events and the frailties
of human health, recalls to
me the courageous words of a
Vice President Of the United
States who died in the year
1914. suddenly. while on his
way to the Capitol to preside
over the Senate. His name
was Elbridge Gerry, and these
are his words:
1T is the duty of every
citizen. though he may have
but one day to live, to devote
that day to the good of his
country"
Sue Robertson Clegg.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Woman Pays
Richard Wathen.

Inc WRITER OF the letLeE
h e a d e d Retirement Fund
mentioned only one injustice
TO the unmarried woman.
She may have to maintain
a household. with a single in
come, costing as much as one
operated by a married couple
where there may be two pay
checks. There is no allowance,
in reporting income taxes for
her as head of a household"
She may be supporting others.
but seldom can she claim them
as dependents.
If elderly. the unmarried
woman may have accumulated,
by industry, thrift and sacri-
Gee. a small invested capital.
Is she appreciated for having
done this. thereby avoiding
becoming a ward of the COM
munity In her old age? Oh, no!
Instead she is penalized: II
she is a resident of Maryland,
she will pay 5 per cent on the
interest she receives from her
investments, rather than the
usual 2 per cent. When she
"shuffles off this mortal coil"
mind you, she has paid all
taxes demanded by Federal
and State laws. including an
enormous amount for schools
to which she can send no chill
dren over all the years both
the Federal and State govern
ment dip into her estate.
Maryland demanding 7l2 per
cent, since the poor thing has
no direct descendants. She
cannot help but feel that this
procedure savors of "robbing
the dead Certainly it stiles
all desire to accumulate for
emergencies and provide for
those she loves.
Penalized Spinster.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Propaganda Matter

Secretary of State Dulles has indi-
Gated that we intend to treat the second
letter from Soviet Premier Bulganin to
President Eisenhower as propaganda
maneuver.
The Secretary did not go all the way
on this point He spoke of the letter as
being designed very largely for domestic
consumption He said the exchange of
letters has gotten pretty much into a
propaganda channel, and he suggested
that the Russian handling of the second
letter indicates that it is largely treated
by them as propaganda matter.
These qualifying phrases leave the
door slightly ajar They do not exclude
the possibility of serious purpose on the
part of the Russians, and this view is
supported by Mr.. Dulles further comment
to the effect that the letter is still being
studied to see If there is anything in it
which might be useful
On balance, however, the Dulles re-
marks indicate that, when the study is
completed, propaganda label will be put
on the Bulganin letters. If that proves to
be the case, and If 1t Is the correct view,
there Is ample reason to hope that the
propaganda aspects Of the letters will be
taken seriously by US. One of MIR. Dulles
illusions suggests that he thinks the
Russians are aiming at propaganda
effect in their own country, and that may
be in the picture. But it seems much
more likely that they are striving pri-
marily for an impact on the neutral. or
uncommitted, countries, and in this they
are apt to have considerable success.
The nature of our response certainly
will have bearing on the extent Of this
success. We ought not to let ourselves
be put in the negative position of simply
rejecting the Russian offer out Of hand,
or of brushing it aside as mere propa-
ganda. If upon full reflection we do not
think the offer of treaty of friendship
is anything to be taken seriously, we
surely should try to come back with some
counterpropoSal Of our own. For other
wise, again assuming that this is merely
a propaganda maneuver, the Russians are
likely to get what they want out Of it..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Burning Question

With reporters logging the
shadow Of our great and
beloved President. hanging
breathlessly on the mans every
word. that there might be some
glimmer as to whether or not
the worlds salvation is pos
sible. why has not some one
of them ever thought TO ask
the simple question as to
whether or not he desires
simply as a matter of personal
inclination. as a matter Of
wish and like, all other con-
siderations apart - to run
again? What prevents this
simple Interrogation? Is it a
reflection of the psychic fear
which prevades this Nation?
Charles A. Carrico.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08

however, is chastened and resigned.
They either get their butter or they get
their due.
Inevitably, too, Christopher Robin
grew up and went to war, and spent
good deal of time trying to disengage
himself from such lines as
Hush. hush whisper who dares.
Christopher Robin is saying his prayers.
Nowadays children's books are more
about things, about the inner workings
of Diesel engines and persevering buses.
But to happy children who are still being
brought up on when We Were Very
Young" and Nov We Are Six" there is
still a mysterious universe where to walk
on lines on the pavement means to risk
encounters with bears, and where
brownies Turk behind the drawing-room
curtains.
For those children, Mr. Mines books
are passport to a safe nursery world OF
kind nannies and long walks on the
beach And for them, the introduction to
the magic of the rhythmic beat of words
will forever be found in such lines as
James James Morrison Morrison
Weatherbey George DuPree
Took great care of his mother
Though he was only three.
Mr.. Milne has been part of the child
hood of two generations, and as long as
children are fanciful he and his gentle
lines will be found among them.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08

There is a jet-black grass
hopper that turns sky-blue at
sunrise.
1t lives on the summit Of
Mount KoSciusco, highest
point in Australia, where snow
fingers into late summer and
the nights are bitter cold.
This curious creature was
described to Washington ento-
mologistS by DR.. Max Day, sci
entific liaison officer Of the
Australian Embassy and pro-
fessionally a well-known biol
ogist. The grasshopper, he ex-
planned, is of particular inter-
est because Of a temperature
control principle otherwise I'M
known in nature.
Several animals, notably
chameleons and some fishes.
can change color, usually to
match that Of their environ
ment. Their color changes are
brought about by certain hor-
mones released by stimulation
of the eyes. The hormones
bring into action color cells In
the skin!
Change With Temperature
But in this grasshopper, DR..
Day said, every one of the
outer layer of cells Of the body
Is a color cell. On top at night
are granules of black pigment,
underneath granules of blue.
Whenever the temperature
rises above Is C, the blue gran
ules rise to the top, displacing
the black ones. When 1t falls
to around Is c, the reverse
takes place.
The change. the Australian
entomologists have found, can
be brought about only by tenn
perature change. They have
tried every other kind of
stimulus, such as illumination
with light of different wave
lengths, irradiation, etc.
The phenomenon, DR.. Day
says. probably is protective. On
the high mountain top it gets
very cold at night. The black
pigment absorbs and retains
all the heat available. 1t is as
if the grasshopper carried a
wooden blanket around. With
sunrise the change is very
abrupt and days may become
intensely hot. If the black
coat were retained the grass
hopper would become over
heated - perhaps killed. The
blue coat reflects a good deal
of the heat.
The phenomenon had been
noted in the laboratory. DR..
Day said, before he and a
group of fellow entomologists
made the expedition to Mount
Kosciusco's top to observe
what actually happened in ma
ture. With the first streaks Of
sunrise, the grasshoppers, that
had slept all night at the foot
of grass stalks, began slowly
creeping upward. AS they
assembled, the color gradually
changed. as the entomologists
had predicted. ii
There apparently is no
nervous control Of the color
change. Each outer cell. DR..
Day said, seems to act in
dependently. The same reac-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES TRAcEWELL

basis of names of good writer's,
he is not likely to 60 far wrong,
at least not any farther than
he might go If the same book
was clothbound.
~
The next way to be sure Of
getting something worthwhile
is to stick to your own desires
in reading.
If one chooses. first, good
writer's, and second, books
along ones own inclinations,
there is no more chance of
going wrong with a paper back
book than with any other kind.
whether the cover be of cloth,
boards or even bark. We have
two with bark covers applied
over boards.
For instance, if ones taste
runs to philosophy. there have
been an amazing number Of
philosophical works put out in
these books, notably by Mentor.
Only personal investigation
will show one Just which lines
are good. 1t is here, as else
where. nothing can take the
place of personal taste and in
veStigation.
The latest paper back devel-
opment seems to be the issu-
ance of historical novels a few
months after they come out in
hard covers.
Since most historical paper
backs sell for IS or so cents,
they are really bargains, since
the cloth covers retail for
$3.50, 81, and higher.
One may have to wait only
a few months to get the same
thing. Most readers somehow
feel that paper back is good
enough for a historical novel,
also for a detective story, mys-
terry, or suspense novel (of
which latter we already are be-
coming tired).
Only the novels of Josephine
Tey have saved US from giving
UP the mystery stories COM
pletely. at least for the time
being.
Maybe we will put on our
snow shoes, and go out to the
Zoo some day, and watch the
animals. Their covers" at
least. are not garish, except
for one or two of the monkeys,
and they can't help it.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08

A surprisingly large number
Of people visit the Zoo. even
in snowy weather.
J.R.H. of New Hampshire
avenue was one of them and
was so enthusiastic about his
experience that he writes:
People do not think much
about the Zoo this time OF
year.
People with desk jobs
should get out and stretch
themselves briskly when they
can.
Il was at the Zoo last Sum-
day morning and the Sunday
before-about two hours each
time. The animals were all
glad to see me.
Maybe it was the bag of
peanuts I had. Snow won't
hurt one if he has overshoes
or galoshes on. If the visitor
goes early enough. he gets a
good parking place in winter.
The raccoons are back Of
the mountain lions. If one
goes to see them first, he
might have to go back and
bring another bag of peanuts.
they ask so entreatingly.
And about the paper-back
books" our correspondent
adds, as an afterthought.
Can you give us a list?
1T is so difficult to find
good ones among all the rub
Dish with suggestive covers.
I'm no sissy, but I don't
even like to be seen looking
through such trash"
The trouble with giving a
list of the better paper-back
books is the difficulty in find-
ing them when you want them.
Mostly vended like maya
zines. these books are gone of
the stands when you go to look
for one you think you want.
The best way to select is to
go by authors.
A good writer is a good
writer, no matter how he is
served up to the reading
public.
Famous names remain IA
nous names, and no silly cover
can do too much against them
except make their selection
difficult.
Fortunately. the tendency to
use garish covers on many
good books put out in paper
back form is going the way of
the dodo.
1t is a distinct disseryice to
a good work to play up on the
cover some nearly nude gal
who has little if anything to
do with the story.
Everyone who has bought
these books land many of
them are extremely attractive
and worthwhile has felt about
it just as our correspondent
does.
Such a reader gets to the
point where he purpoSely de-
clineS to look at the bright
books on the racks. We know
Of at least one vendor who re-
fused to carry them any
longer.
If one chooses solely on the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Light on Inteqrotion

The Star is to be congratu-
lated for printing David Law
rence's column dealing with
the startling results of inte-
grafton thus far. Such APP
pallinR facts are needed by the
befuddled sheep now found
ering in an emotional fog
while the white race struggles
for its very existence.
Ethel McElrOy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
Transit Mess

The transit union, having
successfully wrecked one tran
sit system and prevented Or
ganization of another CTyd-
ings proposals.. now wants to
get its foot in the door so that
it may be able to fix its own
wages with the knowledge
that the taxpayers must pay.
or else.
Let US hope that the District
Commissioners and members
of Congress have learned
something from past expert
ence talthough probably not
mucfl) and will collectively
put their feet down.
George ID. WatrOus. Jr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-02-08
BIost at Hackers

Traffic Director Keneipp
should be commended for his
campaign against automobile
horn blowing. Hack drivers
are among the worst offenders
on this score-usually the
younger drivers who have not
been at their trade long enough
TO learn patience and courtesy.
No hack driver should blow
a horn at any other car. I'M
less it be a matter of extreme
emergency. How many times
have the rest of US waited
while taxi stopped in front
OF US to pick up or discharge a
passenger? We don't object to
this-it is an important serv-
ice.
Richard Wathen,