davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05

in an operation which long will stand out
as one of the most dif1cult achievements
of the Army Engineer Corps Ironically,
its Importance diminished rapidly as it
neared completion, for the defeat Of
Japan by then was near at hand. On
returning to the United States after the
war, General Pick resumed his work as
Army engineer in charge of the Missouri
Division, in which post he had helped to
prepare the ''Pick-Sloan Plan" for devel-
oping the Missouri Valley. Later he was
appointed Chief of Army Engineers, re-
firing in March, 1858. His death at Sc
closes one of the more colorful chapters
in the history Of the Army Engineer
Corps.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
FoncifuI Crisis?

It now appears that there has been
lot Of akebelieve or exaggeration in
recent reports about the danger of an i'm
minent blowup involving Syria, Israel,
Iraq and Turkey. The Syrians have been
receiving some sort of arms shipments
from the Russians, but the shipments
themselves seem to have been consider
ably smaller and less significant than the
ones described in the rumors. Moreover,
despite certain Moscow broadcastS to the
contrary, the Damascus government has
just indicated that it finds the general
situation reasonably satisfactory and
does not expect to be attacked by the
1Sraelis, the IraqiS or the Turks.
BY the same token, although the Is
raeliS have spoken in alarmist terms
about the threatening" situation in
Syria, the IraqiS and Turks-both Of
whom are said to have been warned by
our Government against doing anything
rash militarily- apparently are satisfied
that the outlook is not particularly men
acing at the moment. After ALL leaving
aside the possibility of Soviet interview
ton, 1t is difficult to believe that the
oAloh 0JAAdl udIlOH WOulu lake the FISK
OF attacking its much bigger neighbors.
AS for those neighborS, they have cate
gorically denied Moscow'S propaganda
accusing them of plotting to commit
aggression against Syria or anybody else.
All things considered, therefore, 1t
would seem that the so-called mounting
crisis" in this area of the Middle East
has been largely fanciful True, there
have been numerous signs Of internal
governing difficulties in both Syria and
Iraq, but those NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. as
they may be-evidently fall far short of
warranting scare talk about the Syrians
being on the verge of attacking or suffer-
ing attack. At any rate, 1t is reassuring
to know that the parties principally con-
cerned feel that the situation is sub
stantially less dangerous than has been
suggested by some Of the alarms.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
The Best Lesson

In at least one respect, the men Of
the Kremlin must sometimes wish they
had never decided to do what they have
been doing in Hungary. For the decision,
besides sowing new seeds of anti-Soviet
fear and hate throughout their satellite
empire, unqueStionably has played havoc
with their standing and influence in
"neutralist" Asia, the Middle East and
other parts of the world.
Only few months ago, with all their
peace" talk and their attacks on West
ern imperialism" the Soviet leaders
seemed to be riding high ip those areas,
politically, economically and otherwise.
But the situation is quite different today:
they have very definitely lost good deal
OF ground in terms of winning friends
and influencing people. And 1t is ground
that they probably will be hard put to
recover in view Of the general reac-
ton to the brutality of their Hungarian
repression.
The latest evidence Of this can be
found in the statement just made by
Sheik Mohamed Alireza, Saudi Arabia's
Minister Of Commerce. Speaking to
reporters in Switzerland, he has fatty
declared that his own country and the
neighboring Arab states are decidedly
opposed to the idea of having the Rus
slams move into or intervene in the Middle
East And why? Well, as he has put it,
he has seen "the plight of the Hungarian
refugees and that is the best lesson any,
one could want Of what Soviet interven-
ton means"
Sheik Alireza also has made a point
OF declaring that Saudi Arabia will be
glad to resume shipping oil to Britain
and France as soon as they complete
their withdrawal from Egypt. Coupled
with his other remarks, this suggests
that the Arab countries in general want
no part of the Soviet effort to keep the
pot boiling over there. If this is the
case, events in Hungary may have the
long-range effect of SCATTERING the Krem-
Inns drive to penetrate and eventually
dominate the Middle East.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
Pleads for Pound

nave heard more than once
a rumor that the press is main
tanning a conspiracy of silence
on the subject Of Ezra Pound
and his detention at st. Eliza
beths; If there is no such con-
spiracy, then there must be in
many quarters a shameful in
difference to the fate of one
of our most distinguished men
of letters. I have been graft
fed, therefore, to see my old
friend, The Evening Star, by
opening its columns to this
vexed subject, is neither a con-
spirator nor one Of the in
different.
The story Of Ezra Pound, his
work, his influence and his
fate, will be told over and over
again in future histories Of
Anglo American literature;
the story of young American
who went to London nearly so
years ago and brought a new
life into the decadent verse Of
the early 1905, both by the
vital rhythms and Arm texture
Of his own poetry. and by his
creative influence on others,
calling Yeats from his Celtic
twilight to the crystal daylight
Of his later poems; revising,
cutting and giving shape to
Eliot's first version Of The
Waste Land" stimulating the
young Hemingway and many
others. and still continuing the
now Of his own genius in origi-
nal poems and translations.
This is a story that we must
not allow to end in the sordid
tragedy Of his years at st.
Elizabeths. / am sure there are
in Washington influential
groups Of those interested in
the arts who can and will take
concerted action TO bring about
his liberation.
william Force Stead.
Baltimore, Md.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
No Faith in u. N.

One of the most sickening
sights these days is an inter-
national debating society called
the United Nations.
The only thing the United
Nations has accomplished re-
Gently has been the sending of
some of its Boy Scout units
for a camping trip in the
Middle East. And the ques-
ton Of Hungary, which should
claim the attention of the
civilized world, has been
pushed aside with well-worn,
ineffective words like moral
condemnation" ''hope," and
pray These platitudes are
sickening to people who truly
understand the suffering Of
the Hungarian people.
At first I thought that many
things could be remedied if
the Soviet bloc was expelled
from the U. NJ, but now / see
many other complications. For
example, during the voting on
resolutions dealing with Hun
gary, too many so-called SOW
ereign, independent nations
are scared to vote at all and
call their delegations absent"
or "abstaining." These types
Of votes are manifestations of
fright. To be specific, they
are frightened Of history's
worst aggressor nation, Soviet
Russia.
The only way to reassure
those nations is to get the
United States out of hiding.
The United States must forget
about the United Nations and
take a firm, independent stand
backed up with direct action
for the sake of preservation of
democracy. If we do not take
a firm stand. we may soon be
buried under a general on
slaught Of communism.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05

Inc nrSL european CITY In
South America, and one of the
first in the New World, which
has been buried and forgotten
nearly four centuries, now is
being excavated.
This city was Neuva Cadiz,
on a 6-mile-square island of
the Venezuelan coast. Span
iards found it inhabited by
Carib Indian pearl divers. The
history of Venezuela began
there when Alfonso de Ojeda
established q small pearl fish,
ing settlement in 1899.
At first there were only a
few huts and sheds rooted with
branches and straw. These
gave way to more substantial
stone and adobe houses after
Spaniards started coming in
considerable numbers very
early in the 10th century,
lured by the potential wealth
in pearls.
In 1920 Indians from neigh
boring islands, resenting the
Spanish intrusion, raided the
settlement and destroyed all
the buildings. There then was
a Spanish population Of about
: 300. They fed to the main
land but returned in a few
months to start over again.
PrOspered Amid Calamities
A fort was built at the mouth
Of the Manzanares River on
the mainland to protect the
settlement against future In
dian raids. The new city, now
named Nueva Cadiz, grew
prosperous and rich. Imposing
stone buildings were erected
for 'governme emit Offices,
churches and private resi-
dences. Enormous numbers of
pearls were obtained.
The era of prosperity lasted
until 1910. despite many ca
lamities. The church burned
down in 1923. The same year
French buccaneers sacked the
city. The real downfall, how
ever. came with the exhaustion
Of the oyster beds and the APP
pearance of man-eating
sharks in the nearby waters.
Twelve pearl divers were killed.
Then a hurricane devastated
the city. There was a third
raid by French pirates.
The survivors fled to the
mainland. Nueva Cadiz was
left deserted after having
been. for three decades, the
commercial center of Venezu-
ella and the scene of a pearl
rush" only exceeded by the
California gold rush 800 years
later. 1t had been, at best, a
tough place to live. Nothing
but cacti grew in the rocky
soil. Through the year the tenn
perature averaged above 100
F. The only land animals
were rabbits. All food, fuel
and water had to be brought
from the mainland. Still the
population exceeded 1000 in
the days of greatest prosperity.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
Spectator Conduct

= On November 81, q grave in
justice was perpetrated against
the many fine athletes, past
and present, Of District public
schools who have contributed
toward making athletics
strong factor in developing
fine healthy citizens. The con-
duct Of spectators, both stu
dent and adult. at the inter-
high championship football
game left much to be desired
If athletics in school programs
Of the District are to be the
kind Of activities that are bene-
ficial and desirable as a nee
eSsary adjunct Of physical
education and educational
programs. This problem must
be faced squarely by all mem
bers Of the community. includ-
ing students, parents. edu-
Gators. community groups,
church leaders and all per-
sons interested In q city TO
be proud Of.
This means there must be
less talking about the problem
and more doing something
about it. It means that PTA
groups. civic associations and
church communities need to
look at their own area Of the
city and see If there is any
thing that can be done in that
area to improve spectator con-
duct at public gatherings and
q greater awareness Of civic
responsibility. All Of us need
to recognize that along with
the privileges Of citizenship go
responsibilities. hand in hand.
The schools must help meet
this challenge by insisting
that every child be taught de-
sirable spectator habits. II Is
no longer q problem to be left
to chance. or be taught in the
home. It now becomes neces-
sary for the schools TO teach
proper spectator conduct and
sportsmanship. Civic leaders
must see that this is a num-
Der one topic Of conversation
at meetings until the problem
Is resolved.
Wendall A. Paris.
President. D. c. Sportsmans
Guild.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Probing Ruins Of centuries-OId City
By THOMAS R. HENRY

Curiously, petroleum was
found on the islam d and
shipped to Spain ''for medici-
nal purposes. This was the
first oil expectation from
America to Europe.
For a long time 1t was
thought that what was left Of
Nueva Cadiz had been SUBJ
merged by the sea. First in
dications that the city was
buried in dry land were de-
tected In 1850 by DR.. Pablo
Villa of the University OF
Caracas.
Now the foundations of
about 20 structures have been
unearthed. Some are in fairly
good state of preservation.
They include the government
house. a market place. a
church, a franciscan monas-
terry. q foundry, and several
private homes. There are
two large gargoyles. = coat OF
arms, and a jug full Of pearls.
Also q full suit Of armor has
been found, probably owned
by q Spanish army ofiicer.
OF even greater significance
are stone objects and arrow
points made Of flsh bones
from an ancient Indian cul-
ture.
Man has one or two fewer
chromosomes than has been
reported in the past.
Chromosomes are the bead
strings" of genes. basic units
Of heredity, which occur in
pairs in the nuclei Of every
body cell.
Important in Heredity
They are extremely impor-
tant in heredity. The genes
of each chromosome are hand
ed over in a bundle to off,
spring. Hereditary abnormali-
ties are due largely to the
breaking of chromosome
strings by radiation. cosmic
rays and other factors.
The number Of chromosomes
differs for different animal
species. Man has been cred
tied with 48, arranged in pairs
in three groups.
They have. however, been
extremely difficult to count.
The strings are microscopic
and overlie each other. Lately
a Chinese biologist has dis
covered a spreading TECH
nique" by which a quite accu-
rate count is possible. This
has been reported by two
Danish scientists, Drs. j. H.
THO and A. Levan, to the
International Human Genetics
Congress.
They have counted the
chromosomes by the new tech
nique in 265 human cells. In
261 Of these the count is only
as. In four there were AZ or
48. but the extra ones may
have been misplaced from ad.
jacent cells.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
THIS AND THAT
By CHARTS E. TRAcEWELL


Those whose natural motions
are quick and decisive ought to
have an advantage over slower
mortals.
The squirrel is almost as
rapid in its movements as a
bird. Perhaps this is not
strange, since the squirrel lives
so much in trees.
Gray squirrels do not hide
food in caches. as the red ones
do, but bury nuts and the like
here and there. One may won
der If the squirrel which burieS
a nut ever finds it again. Per-
haps all Of them recognize the
signs of disturbance, and can
find what others have hidden.
In the fall. squirrels build
winter shelters in the trees,
looking for all the world like
very large bird nests. The
female does all the work.
The same nests are used to
shelter the young in the spring.
The mother squirrel builds
the nest by herself. nippipg of
sections Of branch and leaves.
preferably from the locust.
These she winds into a ball
and carries to another tree.
The nest is never made IN the
same tree. Probably this is one
of the creature cautions all
living things learn as the re-
suit Of racial experience.
Usually there are from three
TO six young in a litter. The
young remain in the tree until
they are about 8 weeks old.
Sometimes, II the parents are
killed, the young seek shelter
with human beings and make
nice pets, If one is cautious
not to make too sudden move
ments in handling them.
Finally. however, they need
to be returned to nature. For
a few weeks such squirrels will
come back TO the house, but
after that the call Of the wild
takes them away.
1t is probable that the squir-
rels in q given neighborhood
perpetually are moving around
their terrain. and new ones
altering In all the time.
There Is not much 70 fear
from them, II one respects
their rights as living creatures
with Gods mark on their FORE
heads.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
Our Foreign Relations

British CORE spon dents,
please note! AS an American
who remembers the unfinished
job we did in Korea because
of pressure from England not
to push the Reds too far, and
our desire not to act on a
unilateral basis, / very much
resent the cartoons and crit
icisms the British are now
leveling at the United States.
I don't recall any such CAM
paign against Britain by
Americans during the Korean
war, even though we were well
aware of the fact that England
was playing a large part in
keeping us from going on to
a real victory over the Com
munists and uniting Korea,
which it was our moral duty
to do.
1t is about time the British
apd French realized that our
foreign policy is no longer
based on expediency but on
principle and justice. How
could it be otherwise under
President Eisenhower!
Fairminded American.
m \ n
With each day, the rift be-
tween France and England
and the United States becomes
wider, and no serious effort
has been made by the Eisen-
hover administration to close
1t.
To the contrary, q piqued
pettifogger in our State
Department has taken it up
on himself to punish the
governments Of France and
England for daring to take
unilateral action in Egypt
after suffering countless hui
mutations at the hands Of the
dictator, Nasser, and finding
no relief either from the
United States or the United.
Nations.
1t must be plain to every
responsible American in Gov
eminent circles that so long
as this wilful man is able to
dictate the course Of our
foreign policy, there can be
no friendly cooperation on
the part of England and
France in future negotiations.
And this is the man who
talked so glibly about massive
retaliation. At last it becomes
clear what he meant was
massive retaliation against our
traditional allies. France and
England. It's long past time
for a change. =
Harry r. Lee.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05


Washington'S squirrels have
thousands Of human friends.
that is why they fare so well
and look so fat and saucy.
Every day workers from the
various Government depart
ments feed them in various
small parks, and at home in
the suburbs see to it that they
have something to eat in the
cold.
Peoples interest in these
small merry creatures never
lags. This column probably
gets more letters about SPUR
rels than about any other
animal.
1t seems that the various
colorations puzzle many.
Basically the gray squirrel
is gray. and Is larger and Of
a different temperament from
the red squirrel of the Middle
and Far West.
\
Our gray squirrel has three
color phases.
Most of them are gray, but
there are many black ones,
and occasionally white one,
here and there.
These variations are merely
color phases.
The black, or melanistic
specimens, are just exactly
like the grays, but often lead
more secluded lives. owing to
their color difference.
1t seems that most. not all.
Of the typical gray ones resent
the color difference, and tend
to drive them away from feed
ing places.
In our own yard, we have
had but one black squirrel in
more than a quarter Of a
century.
He came in one morning.
stayed around the yard for
three days. then disappeared.
There seem to be centers Of
these beautiful black ones. At
one time. scores OF them might
be seen at Connecticut ave
nue., Just south Of the circle.
There also were colonies Of
them In Takoma Park, and q
few in the old Mall.
49,
The white phase. not neces-
sarily albino. Is less often seen,
except in a town in Illinois.
where there are hundreds Of
white squirrels. The town is
Olney. III.
White ones are not often
seen hereabout. though for
years there was one in George
town.
Besides these variations,
there are degrees Of grsyness.
For many years there was a
perfect pearl gray specimen in
the little park at Fifteenth
and I streets.
We have often wondered why
there should be two Fifteenth
streets. as well as two Seven
tenth streets.
One side Of the block "a
really Vermont avenue. and
one Of the Seventeenth street.
blocks is really Connecticut
avenue.
Street designations. however
confusing. make no difference
70 the squirrels. Of course.
They sesmper around re-
gsrdless. and seem 70 enjoy
life wherever they are.
Part OF this seeming" lies
IN their quick motion.
People are the same way.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
Fireside Hour

This Is the hour when words
Whisper from pleated drdp-
cries
OF patterned ziHnids:
The hour tpheH petals cared
Upon q rose-bdck chair
Fragrant the air.
IT'S no1C the little brass
Lantern upon the mdntel
shines
BRIGHT as a tcedding fame
Across the snoir TO path
The wap from the carriage floor
To the wee kirk door.
Rose Myra Philips
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
Donkey Still KICKING

DAVID LaWrence'S rumil1a-
tons November 26) into the
possible demise of the Demo-
cratic Party can best be an
swered by Mark Twain's ia
nous retort when he was in
formed of his rumored death
that the account was slightly
exaggerated.
ColumniSt Lawrence bases
his demonstrations Of the
Democratic Party'S mortality
upon the detection of the solid
South from its historic state
of Democratic Saturation. To
Mr.. Lawrence, a chink is a can
yon and a trend is proof posi-
tive. His reasoning, not pre-
else or cohesive, is as follows:
There were more votes in the
South for Eisenhower this time
than last, and each vote for
Eisenhower must be inter-
preted as q rejection Of the
Democratic Party. Therefore,
the trend in the South is to-
ward Republicanism. Thus it
is likely that the South will
desert the Democratic Party,
and when that happens the
party will disintegrate.
Clear thinking would pre-
clude any wholesale evaluation
that q vote for Eisenhower was
either acceptance Of Repub-
licanism or rejection of the
Democratic Party. More COM
petent observers would be in
clined to agree that President
Eisenhower would have been
elected regardless Of party
afflliation. Or. If there is q
great upsurge Of Republicanism
in the South, how many Re-
publicans did they elect?
Mr.. Lawrence, however, her.
aids the solid South to the
brink Of political Importance
when its solidity or detection
neither elected Eisenhower in
1852 or 1856 nor defeated
Truman in 194S.
Profoundly, Mr.. Lawrence
writes, without the South the
Democrats could not control
the committees Of Congress
=. \" In the same article, he
observes that without the
Democratic Party. Southern
congressional leaders could not
control committees in Con-
gress. Is this the reason the
South will secede from the
Democratic Party?
In similar non sequitur, and
funeral dirge, Mr.. Lawrence
comments that the weakness Of
the Republican Party in the
South has been due to the
party's traditional stand on
civil rights. May we interpret
the recent upsurge Of the
South's Republication. then,
as a reversal Of this weak
ness? Paralleling this trend.
the writer reveals the shift Of
the Northern Negro vote to
Republicanism ascribed by him
to the civil rights issue. Mr..
Lawrence's logic makes for
strange bedfellows.
Anyone with Mr.. Lawrence's
faculty for arguing against his
own conclusions might have
given some cognizance to Presi-
dent Eisenhower's popularity,
in interpreting the election re-
suits, or at least mentioned the
detection Of Maine and Penn
sylvania in electing Democrats.
or possibly have noted that the
erstwhile Republican, Senator
Morse. was reelected on the
Democratic ticket.
To Mr.. Lawrence. who is en-
chanted with the idea Of being
a political pallbearer. this ques-
ton may occur: After Eisen-
hover. whittier the Republican
Party? The solution may re-
quire more than wishful think
ing that the Democratic Party
will. in some fanciful manner.
fade away.
Milton A. Mandel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05

The Board Of Managers Of
the Baptist Home for Children
wishes to commend DR.. Cloyd
Heck Marvin for maintaining
a God-loving faculty at George
Washington University.
We feel very deeply that
CIV students can have no
greater heritage than the
Faith Of our Fathers" who.
with Gods help. founded and
guided our country. which has
become the greatest nation IN
the world today.
Inspired teachers are In
valuable in molding the lives
OF the young people who will
soon accept the responsibility
Of senior citizenship.
Mrs. VI. L. Kuder,
Assistant Corresponding Sec
Rotary. Baptist Home for
Children.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-05
LETTERS TO TIE STAR

Pen names may be used u
letters carry tOriters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
sGtion.