davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
What Now, Little Mechanical Man?
BY THOMAS r. HENRY

plete manual dexterity for a
given series of operations. 1t
serves. in fact, in the capacity
of a full-time private tutor.
"Cleverly and patiently, the
machine educates by progress
sive stages. At first it asks
easy questions which the stud
ent answers by pressing certain
switches. At the beginning he
is given very full clues as to
the correct procedure. Gradu-
ally the clues become slighter
and the questions more diff
cult as the operator gains in
proficiency-until at the end
he has gained complete mas
terry of his subject.
Throughout the whole
training period the pupil has
the undivided attention Of the
machine instructor. Since the
trainer is able to maintain a
knowledge of the pupils abil-
tiles at every step, he Is able
to save considerable time by
eliminating stages he already
knows and concentrating on
those of which his knowledge
is weak"
At present the instruction is
limited to manual SkillS. 1t is
not predicted, although SEEM
ingly far from unimaginable,
that eventually there might be
a machine school marm-a
combination of Eucrates and
the instructor with the added
ability, built in somehow, Of
administering a sound spank
ing to a refractory pupil. After
that. of course, it would be
necessary to build in the abil-
ity to argue with irate parents.
Can't Be Original
Most electronic robots are
constructed to perform a single
task, the procedure of which
is well known to the makers,
and the comforting assurance
is held out that one of them
never can do anything origi-
nal, which has not already been
thought out by some human
brain. The manufacturer of
Eucrates and the school
teacher has devised mechani-
cal brains for a variety of talks,
ranging from control of guided
missiles to measuring the pro-
tein content of an egg. 1t is
getting so that there is hardly
any imaginable human task
that does not require imagina-
ton for which a tireless. in
tallible machine cannot be
constructed. But a robot that
can make mistakes is some
thing different. for probably
the most important element in
all human progress is the mis-
take. Thus, it may be, Eucrates
is a terrible threat to mans
future.
The next step, 1t may be,
will be to build a robot which
can get mad. even fall in love.
devise all of its own new kinds
of nuclear weapons to destroy
the world. Far from comfort
ing is the news the British In
formation Service brings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14

NoW-the neurotic robot.
It might even become psy-
chotic and need the services of
a pSychiatrist.
This is comforting assurance
to those who look forward
fearfully to a coming age of
mechanical men with mechan-
ical brains and hands who
will never make mistakes, who
might some day reach the
state of perfection where they
could create themselves and
take over the world. The as
surance comes from the official
British Information Service.
The robot which can forget,
go into panics, sulk and go
haywire, and learn from ex-
perience was an exhibit at a
recent meeting of the British
Physical Society and is con-
Sidered a great advance over
the mere infallible electronic
brain.
The neurotic robot has been
named Eucrates One, devel-
opeo purely for research pur-
poses.
Can Make Decisions
ut knows nothing to begin
with" says the report, but
is capable of learning. In the
teaching process it exhibits all
the usual symptoms familiar
to instructors of nervous pupils.
In a demonstration at the
exhibition EucrateS played
a game with his teacher, who
knew all the answers while
Eucrates knew none. Once he
had learned a move, however.
he was able to memorize it for
future reference.
"EucrateS has the power Of
making decisions, although not
necessarily the right ones. Sue
cess is likely to initiate his ego
to the point where he becomes
cocksure and careless, so that
his proficiency disappears and
he panics. At this point his in
Structor can soothe him gently
by slowing down until Eucrates
has recovered his aplomb and
is ready to pick up again
where he left of.
spectators can read Eu-
crates by means of meters set
into him. BY watching two of
these simultaneously they can
observe him getting f1ustered.
suffering from examination
nerves or exhibiting other neu-
rotic symptoms common to
humans subjected to similar
SLralnS.
EucrateS should be of con-
siderable comfort to those
psychologists who still follow
strictly the philosophy of the
behaviorist school. Changes in
his behavior follow quite closely
the conditioned reflex phe-
nomena which can be demon
strated in dogs and probably
in men,
A second robot is the "elec-
tronic school teacher" 1t has
none of Eucrates' human weak
nesses and "is capable Of train
ing a human to achieve COM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14

@. Is everybody free to use
q patent which has expired, or
are there restrictions?-s. L.
A. Expired patents may be
used by anyone without pay
ment for license or royalty.
and without dealing with the
inventor. provided there are
no unexpired patents covering
improvements applicable 70
the original invention. Pat
ents expire IL years after the
date Of issuance. unless ex-
tended by . special act Of
Congress. The serial numbeTA
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
FreehoIders Bill

The citizens Of Arlington
County should familiarize
themselves with the free
holders" bill upon which they
will be called to vote in Novem-
Der. Briefly. it provides that
only those whose homes are to
be mortgaged as security for
bonds issued by Arlington
County shall be permitted to
vote for the issuance of such
bonds.
Bonds issued by the county
constitute a first mortgage on
every house in Arlington
County. Such bonds contain a
clause to the effect that if exist
ing taxes prove to be INSULT
cient to carry and pay off the
bonds (interest and principaD
additional taxes shall be i'm
posed to whatever extent may
be necessary to do so. A lady
writing in your columns ex-
pressed the belief that since
she had school-age children
she should be permitted to vote
for school bonds, whether she
owned real estate or not.
/ know of nothing which can
more effectively insure waste
full expenditures in school af-
fairs than for one group to be
able to vote for taxes which an
other group will have to pay.
The following story, so old
that it may be new to the
younger generation, is in point.
Mike" said Pat, what is
this socialism I hear you talk
ing about so much? You say
you are a socialist, now what
is it?"
oh" said Mike, tits a foine
thing. If wan man has a mil
lion dollars, he gives the other
fellow half; and if he has two
houses, he gives the other
fellow one"
Nov that is a foine thing"
said Pat, II think I'll be one,
too. Now Mike, if you had a
million dollars would you give
me half?"
Sure I would" said Mike
with emphasis.
And Mike. if you had two
houses, would you give me
one?"
Il would indeed" said Mike.
mike" said Pat, "if you
had two pigs would you give
me one?"
Nov blast you Pat" shouted
Mike. you know I've got two
pigsl"
There is no indoor sport so
fascinating as being generous
with other peoples money.
When people who do not
have to pay the resultant taxes
can vote to issue bonds and
school architects are paid on
a percentage of the cost basis,
it is small wonder that school
costs constantly skyrocket.
Frank G. Campbell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
Casts Trumdn AdrHt

Truman says he is raring TO
60 for the Democrat Party
and hopes the party will send
him to the right places and
will not send him where he
will do any harm" The only
solution for that would be to
hand Truman a one-way
ticket, and place him on a
slow boat TO China.
Nish Showers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14

Of expiring patents are regu-
larry published in the weekly
Official Gazette Of the United
States Patent once.
@. Is there an accepted def
milton OF the term air-condi-
tioning?-E. Z. K.
A. Within the industry. air
conditioning Is defined as the
process Of treating air 80 a.
10 control It's temperature. hui
mildly, cleanliness and distri-
button 70 meet the require
ments Of the conditioned
space.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
CATHEDRAL AVE.

Dear Sir:
ST live in a large apartment
house very close to a wooded
area.
For the last few nights !
have been intrigued (and kept
awake) by some kind Of crea-
ture in a tall tree rather close
to my bedroom window.
IT think it is a bird of some
kind, or it would not be nesting
so high, and it keeps up a
throaty chirp literally all night
long, from about 9 pm. to 5
am. the next day.
There is not the slightest
interruption so far, just a
constant and sustained 'chirp'
which can be heard for half a
block.
"It sounds something like
cha cha cha cha, very fast
and brief, but repeated imme-
diately over and over.
"Can you tell me what kind
of bird can take up its nest at
this season Of the year and
keep up such an endurance test
all night?
"I have thrown rocks at the
tree, but it is too high to reach
the bird.
st lose two or three hours
sleep each night, but / am even
more troubled by my curiosity
in wanting to know what kind
Of bird makes this noise and
why.
Sincerely yours, w. E. D."
~ +
"Silver Spring, Md.
Dear Sir:
I'VE have lived here for
shortly over a year but / have
never in my life heard such a
sound as that which woke me
last night at 2:45 am.
1.-THE thing sounded some
thing like a duck with a slit
throat.
ut made a loud hollow noise
like 'ooo-ork, ooo-ork.'
1T seemed to be on the
ground and travelled fairly fast
between our house and our
neighbours, which is about Is
feet away.
Our houses here back UP
TO miles Of woods, and when
the neighbors turned on their
spotlight the thing was fright
ened away, and they. too. said
they have never heard it be-
fore although they have been
here for close to five years.
II got up and looked out
OF all the windows, but it was
a drizzly night and ! couldn't
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14

Law Enforcement cited this case as an
of emulation. The legal profession has
lost a distinguished practitioner and
Washington has lost kindly friend and
neighbor with the passing of Homer
Cummings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14

Memory Is the Ddrp OF dreams.
The woofs Of ttrtsted strands,
IL seems.
Sleep plys the shuttle to and
fro
With a crazy care for the udv
It should 90.
Elizabeth Porter Kessler
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
View of Hiqh Bench

In the Senate, the States
have equal representation; in
the House, the congressional
districts have equal repre-
sentation. But in the Supreme
Court, sometimes more than
one member can be from a
single State. This is entirely
unfair to those States having
no representation in our high
est court whose decisions be-
come the supreme law of all
the United States.
Karl Xass.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used u
letters carry tDriterS' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
SGtton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
As Maine Goes .

The Maine electorate re-
turned a good Governor to
Office.
Why shouldn't the national
electorate do the same with
Ike, a good President?
If reelection of the able and
the honorable, the completely
worthy American, is the real
way Maine goes" should the
Nation do less?
Earl SCOOP Shutz.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

BY THE HASKIN SERVICE
set o
lnelose ioI geLuTr DosLaae
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-09-14

behind the Ku Klux mask of
anonymity.
Harrison Mann,
Member, Virginia House of
Delegates.
Charles r. Fenwick.
Senator.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28
Continental Has
800 Units Planned
In Three Areas

More than 600 houses are to
be built in three developments
the Continental Construction
Co. currently has under con-
struction in Montgomery Coun-
ty. a spokesman for the builder
said today.
Some 100 of these will be in
the firms new 40-acre Cape Hills
subdivision near Turkey Branch
parkway and Grenoble drive.
The Brook Hills development.
near Federal and Van Dalia
drive, will have about $50 houses
of which some 1870 already have
been sold. The 70-acre Rolling
Hills development, at Falkland
and Grenoble drives. will have
about 260 houses.
The Continental firm, which
has been in business here since
1854, has put up some $50 houses
in that time.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28
The Associated Builders Of Kenwood Park
Invite You to Inspect Group Of Fine Homes

A number Of Woshineton's Leading
custom builders present for your
approval these superIotive homes
in one Of Woshineton's most de-
sroble suburban communities. The
KENWOOD PARK homes nov open
for inspection, embrace q full range
Of interiors adaptable to the needs
Of every family. Social and living
needs have been carefully con-
sdered and floor plan variations
ore many -. ranging from three
to six bedroom designs. Exteriors
Of contemporary and traditional
architecture feature interesting
focodes Of brick, redwood and
stone. Homes ore priced from
S34,5OO.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28
176 Planned
ByNewcostIe

Some It's homes are to occupy
the Newport Hills development.
at Lund place and Newport Mill
road near Kensington. when it
is completed. a spokesman for
the builder said today.
Already about 20 houses have
been sold in the 40-acre de-
yelopment which was begun this
year.
The builder, Newcastle Con-
struction Corp. Of Silver Spring,
has been in the residential con-
struction field here about 20
years. In that time it has built
some 100 houses and ITO apart
ment units.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28

half million dollar health budget
was devoted to nursing services.
The staff made almost $4,000
visits to homes and schools.
About one fifth of the budget
went for clinical services which
gave treatment to 5000 county
residents. OF these. almost half
were school dental inspections.
The remainder of the budget
was devoted to laboratory work,
sanitation. tuberculosis control,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28

to 81. Tests of established pools
are made once a week.
According to DR.. Peoples, coun-
ty residents can expect an in
tensified program for chronic
disease control. After this is
mastered, he sees the following
as the county's greatest health
needs:
/. Establishment Of a large
hospital with improved outpa-
tient and medical care facilities.
2. Establishment of new and
enlarged health centers in Be-
thesda, Silver Spring. and other
areas experiencing heavy popu-
lation growth.
3. An overall master water and
sewerage plan for the entire
county.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28
Staff Of 80 Helps Guard
Public Health in COUNTY,

Montgomery County's first
health officer was appointed in
1893. He worked on a part-time
basis.
Today. under the leadership
OF DR.. William j. Peoples. the
county boasts SO full-time Health
Department employees including
So nurses.
The Health Department is To-
Gated in the County once Build
ing in Rockville.
Forty per cent Of last years
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28

medical and hospital care, and
administrative costs.
Measles Top List
The five most prevalent COM
municable diseases in the county
last year. in order of cases re-
ported, were measles, 500; scar
let fever. 1856; tuberculosis, SO;
poliomyelitis, SO, and syphilis.
46. Not more than four cases of
any other disease were reported.
Special efforts were directed
last year in programs designed
to wipe out polio, t.b., venereal
disease, influenza and rabies in
dogs.
about $4,000 first and second
graders received Salk polio vac
cine two-shot series in the
spring and fall. Recently, how
ever. DR.. Peoples announced
There was not enough vaccine
available to conduct any sort
of mass innoculation program
this summer.
The tuberculosis death rate
has gone way down to a ratio
of less than one death to every
100000 population, but active
cases are still found among
older people. The health de-
partment, which lacks, and is
seeking a tuberculosis program
director, is studying the pos
sibility of running mass tests
in an effort to determine more
accurately the sources of infec-
|tion.
Special venereal disease clinics,
which were in operation for
most of last year. were discon-
Itinued in November but regular
treatment is still available.
A good number of parents and
children from six Bethesda
schools were given influenza vac
cinations last year. The vaccine
was developed by the National
Institutes of Health. NH doc
tors will trace case histories in
future years to determine the
vaccine'S effectiveness.
10000 Dogs Immunized
The health department last
year immunized 10000 dogs,
ESTIMATED to be about half the
canine population of the county,
and was rewarded by statistics
which show that only one case
of rabies. contracted outside the
county, was reported.
Problems the health depart
ment faces include the lack OF
adequate sewerage on the fringe
of the suburban area. enforcing
Safeguards on dairy water sup
plies, and testing of sanitary
facilities at a recent suburban
phenomena community SWIM
ming pools.
The sewerage problem got q
boost last year when, after years
Iof negotiations, the county gov
ernment and the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission
finally reached an agreement for
improving the situation in Lay
louisville. The county will grade
the roads and the sanitary COM
mission will install sewers.
100 Diaries Checked
For the first time last year
the health department checked
all the countys 100 diaries and
found that. water supplies at
about half of them were unsatis-
factory. Corrective measures
have been taken and the situa-
ton is greatly improved, health
department spokesman said.
The health department also
tested water supplies and ap-
proved plans for seven new pub
lie swimming pools in the coun-
ty, bringing Montgomery's total
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-28
100 Are Planned
In Rock Creek
Hills Development

The Rock Greek Hills develop
ment. on Old Spring road. Ken
sington. will have 100 homes
when completed, a spokesman
for the builder said today.
Builder of the 40-acre develop
ment, where eight homes have
already been sold, is Hyman &
Quinby, Inc, of 1905 Old Spring
road.
The building firm, with more
than 20 years BODYBUILDING ex-
iperience in this area, has built
some 800 houses and about ESQ
apartment units here.
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-25

President Eisenhower nominated two TO
court Of appeals One
Burger St Paul The other Solicitor General Simon
Baltimore The Burger nomination finally approved
delay Southern opposition
Sobeloff In the judiciary committee
and supposedly
practically taken the position that
United states should appoint federal judge
uphds the courts decision against racial segregation
the American Constitution
the white advocate from Mss
sfppi, chairman of the judiciary committee
to which objections carried
Sobeloffs confirmation presented
editorial the Memphis Commercial Appeal Mr. Sobeon
Jewish and consistent
supporter Of civil nights legislation He the
spokesman the school
with
that high judicial positions must be held only by
devoid Of prejudice"
Judging from this prosegregaon southerners unpudce
civil rights and the Constitution
preced Surely
Itself to become sbservient
distorted hnkingst Paul PIONEER PRESS
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-25
Racists Attack Urban League

The Urban League movement which has admittedly been ~ great
southern
Negroes agricultural
factory and city workers and dwslsfs under attack in the south
by the White Citizens Councils
years the u supreme Court
pubic schools 81 Dayton
and New oean" have attempted I" show that the Urban
League really the NAAcp Sleeps clothing These
have attempted to have the Urban League thrown out Of tbs Com
munity Chests 81 each of these cities
The anti Urban League attempt. FAR
"s--'" In having IN" community chests end hna" support
. danger
s""~ Of tn" southern" communities. this campaign
successful
nigh, listeners. a White
Cisna Council speaker said that Urban
maiden of the Communicate MACE" this type OF propaganda
designed poison against
saved the 81 elite" in which operates millions OF dollars in human
resources and served "a an agency which has done much To keep
racial tensions
league
the local level the who Urban
boards active and the boards Of thu local NAAcp
The the situation Among
especially community there paueity Of
who afford leadership tasks which
expensive In time and money Thus good number Of person" are
tive in both the MACE and thu Urban League whites
who belong to tho Rotary club active In tho local Chamber
Of Commerce,
Tho o NAAcr Urban League admit
teddy similar different The Urban
the community social service concerned with
nsghborhood problems eounaeing opportunities
housing community public industry
cd labor and with individuals within the community with problems
who need be guided to the proper community
The NAAcr program essentially organized
combat
south prevalent
they minute degree MACE like
the Urban having
by whites and Negroes ~
Unlike the Urban League which social technique.
poyed by trained sar tho NAACr largely
who budgets Ia fight all attempts deny
gha Tho NAAcr frequently to court to protect and obtain
rcafrmaon of the rights u citizens Constitution
on The either hand the Urban League doe.
Organization with cl't rights. II engage
action ha chief conferences. constellation
persuasion and pubic relations
II could be said that the tho
hut they achieved different roads equality
and the opportunity every Negro liberty
suit ~ tho interest the
The attack the League effort 10 Identity N.
NAACr operation because Negroes whites supporters
Of both organizations typical
against democratic In which tn" bgotS
gagged
Urban Leagues needed
they the Community
cities don't realize how u
the Urban League period transition
segregation drssgegaton help community
allow the acaSs brighten them league support
Will be making mistake that viii plague them later
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-25

University Manchester College 81
Of
the
responsibilities Of these
colleges.
Increased opportunity Negroes with training to utilize their
a educational institutions
private college actually Negro
school will have TO- for long time help provide the need
In Minnesota the minds the
question need colleges The
founded
closing
plenty supported colleges Minnesota
These United Negro College Fund institutions have bern the chief
outstanding Negro leadership
social
skilled technicans They will continue TO turn
youths people others help
College Fund drive
When soicited please what
hundred dollars
"a. 49, 10 l. The United Negro
contributions matter
Amri
cane nc
Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1956-05-25
No Short Cuts To Real Prestige

There community
carry
among fellows
Prestige the individual "a
themselves useful To their fellows usually
duty Some individuals think that pulling
o
nsng conspicuous loud open
community acceptance and standing
Tho truth matter
persistence, stability. training integrity
hard toy
paper
single person institution prominence
acknowledged either
tearing reputation accomplishments
works u another individual q institution
Those who such methods attempt attention,
postuns nfcrory ridden power
hunting purposes
leadership springs IL any ncld al cndc