davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
Chance of Commend

Few, II any, military commanders in
modern times have possessed in as great
measure as does General Gruenther the
exact combination of talents needed for
their jobs. For the post of Supreme Com
mander of the NATO forces is one calling
not only for high order of tested skills
as soldier. 1t calls also for statesman
like appreciation of international affairs
and the role which military power plays
in conjunction with political and eco
nomic forces that are constantly shifting
within the larger framework of divided
world. It calls further for fine degree
of diplomacy in maintaining a grand
alliance of Is sovereign nations, among
some of whom exist not only certain his
toric rivalrieS but the inevitable changing
demands upon their resources. 1t is, in
Short job requiring vision, imagination
and flexibility that only gifted leaders
possess.
That General Gruenther has been
leader of this calibre has been clearly
demonstrated in the past three years.
And it is in keeping with his concept
of this assignment that, in discussing
his retirement now, he should be con-
corning himself with the danger of stag
nation of ideas and less vigor in the
organization" If the top command itself
does not have the benefit of periodic
refreshment.
But while General Gruenther's re-
tirement is loss to NATO the choice Of
his successor is a. worthy compensation.
General Lauris Norstad is an officer cut
in the mold of his predecessor. His
service in World War II was brilliant,
particularly in the same fields of plan
ming and policy-making in which General
Gruenther proved his own extraordinary
talents. Since 1850, the youthful Air
Force officer has been in the top circle Of
command of the Atlantic pact forces. He
will assume his new assignment of SUI
preme Commander with his qualifications
unquestioned. The alliance is still a
vitality important factor in maintaining
the peace Of the world. 1t remains in
good hands.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
View of High Bench

Since the Supreme Courts
unwarranted and unconstitu-
tional interference with the
social relations of the people
Of this country, much has been
said pro and con, and as a
champion of those who still
cherish their priceless hertz
age and their culture, and who
refuse to relinquish their right
guaranteed by the Constitution
to govern their local affairs as
they see fit, I wish to commend
David Lawrence. He is be-
yond doubt one of the most
able journalists of the twen-
tieth century, and if it were
not for him and the very few
in his select company, like
Constantine Brown, the con-
sentative element in this coun-
try would be without represent
tation in the press.
Ever since the Soviet regime
was recognized by the RooSe-
welt administration, the trend
has been toward International
ism; and although some able
Senators and Representatives
long ago saw the handwriting
on the wall and have been
doing their utmost to help
stem the tide lin cooperation
with the writer's I have men,
toned unbelievable inroads
have been made into the social
and economic structure of this
great Nation.
Although the Committee for
the Preservation of Constitu-
tional Government did a mag
nif1cant job in assisting Con-
gress in preventing Roosevelt
from packing" the Supreme
Court, as he was determined
to do, he craftily placed those
of his own political persuasion
in positions of responsibility as
vacancies occurred.
AS one Of our most brilliant
constitutional lawyers said to
me recently, 1--WE are living in
an age of mediocrity." BY one
stroke of the pen, the Ninth
and Tenth Amendments to
the Constitution have been
brushed aside as if they did
not exist, in one of the basest
political moves of the age.
When you destroy the pride
an individual has in his par
ents' and ancestors achieve
ments, in the institutions they
have established and main
tanned. in the ideals they have
upheld. then you destroy in
centive; and once you have
destroyed incentive, you have
sounded the death knell of
your civilization.
Southern Lady.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
Boys Clubs
Franklin Ford.

On April 3 you printed a let
ter by WAS" taking excep-
ton to the position of the
American Veterans Committee
on the boys clubs, and saying,
in effect, that we have no right
to interfere with a private or
ganization."
WAS" reveals a confusion
shared by many persons, which
should be publicly clarified.
There are two city-wide boys
clubs. The Boys Club of Wash
ington is a private organiza-
ton. 1t has about 1000 mem
bers and two clubhouses. 1t is
entirely white. Negroes are ex-
cluded from membership. The
Metropolitan Police Boys Club
is officially sponsored by the
District government, which
spends over $150,000 yearly in
tax money on activities direct
ly related to it. 1t has about
$4,000 colored boys and 5000
white boys in segregated units.
OF course, we believe that
racial discrimination should be
eliminated from all organiza-
lions, both public and private.
However. the attention, not
only Of ave. but of nearly
three dozen community groups,
is directed to the Police Boys
Club. Both the Interior De-
partment and the D. C. Board
of Education recognized that
this clubs practice is contrary
to public policy, and acted &C
cordingly. On June 7, 1855, the
d. c. Board of Commissioners
publicly acknowledged that the
Police Boys Club lies within
the jurisdiction of the official
non-discrimination policy of
the District of Columbia gov
eminent. Its continued spon-
sorship is a direct violation of
that policy. The focus of the
efforts of all of our groups is
to persuade the Commissioners
to honor their own official pol
icy, by requiring the club d.
rectorate to begin a concrete
indignation program.
Albert Midlin,
Chairman, Civil Rights
Committee. D. c. Chap
ter, American Veterans
Committee.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
PITCHING Too Hard?

Though over so, my I. @.
must be that of a 12-year-old,
for I am part of the general
public. the target of radio and
TV advertising. Plainly, the
brilliant Madison Avenue boys
in gray flannel suits and HON.
burgs who write the ad copy
are sure that we are all ment-
ally defective. Therefore, every
statement must be repeated at
least 10 times in each COM
mercial.
We're not bright enough to
get the message the first, or
the second, or the third time,
So the announcer tells us, in a
loud. excited voice, that his
beer, or cigarette, or deodorant
or whatever, is the most, the
greatest. the super duper
Superlative, and he tells us
about six times. But when he
finishes, that isn't all. A group
of vocalists next sings the same
message, over and over and
over.
But this is not all. No, in
deed! The excited announcer
comes back on. and, in pear
shaped, resonant tones, he
starts all over again. He says,
Eyes, folks! Y'see, Blanks
deodorant is the most the
greatest, the super-duper su-
perlative," ETC.. etc, etc.
I'm sure the writer of the
copy proudly shows the spon-
sor that the name Of his prod
uct was repeated % times In
this one commercial, and the
sponsor is very happy.
But in my dumb, l2-year-old
way, l wonder if the public
does not resent this blatant.
crude eardrum pounding. so
that ill-will, rather than good
will, is aroused. / wonder If
these hucksters. or their spon-
sors. are blind to the resent
ment they create. I believe
the public is reasonable and
knows there must be CONNER
cials. The entertainment, II
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
WSTAS IN SCIENCE
By THOMAS R. HENRY
"A Reptile More Vicious Dead Than Alive

BOGOTA (By MaiD There
is an animal that can bite-it
might slash of a mans arm
after 1t is dead.
Alive 1t is q relatively in
offensive reptile. Being killed
makes it mad.
It's uncanny ability to bite
o half hour or more after its
neck has been broken is one Of
the major dangers faced by
followers of one of the most
adventurous of professions
the jungle crocodile hunters.
Their story is a saga parallel
ing that Of the Antarctic
whalers of the days of Moby
Dick.
This story comes from DR..
Fred Modem. He is professor
Of zoology at the University of
Colombia. A graduate Of the
University Of Berlin, an asso-
ciate Of the Chicago Museum
of Natural History, he is one of
the two or three foremost au-
thorities in the world on the
crocodile-alligator family. He
is also one of the most expert
of the crocodile hunters, in the
interest of science rather than
for profit. DR.. Modem has a
right to talk. He himself has
twice been bitten painfully by
angry dead reptiles.
Related to Alligator
The animal is the caiman,
smaller than either alligator
or crocodile and probably more
closely related to the former.
Its hide, like that of its two
fellow crocodilians, is valuable
for leather and in the last few
years 1t has been pursued by
professional hunters close to
extinction in Colombian and
Brazilian jungles and lagoons.
Until now nobody has thought
it worth while to protect a
repulsive reptile.
DR.. Modem is an eminent
zoologist. He doesn't believe.
of course, that any animal
that Is absolutely and COM
pletely dead can bite off a
mans arm but he is hard put
to explain what he himself
has experienced. 1t seems, he
says, that the part of the cal
mans nervous system that
activates its snout and mouth
is somehow disconnected from
the rest of its nervous system
and doesn't die at the same
time. He doesn't believe that
the dead" reptile has any
consciousness when it bites.
It is a reflex action of the one
part Of the nervous system
that somehow isn't completely
dead.
Whatever the explanation,
he says, there is only one way
to be safe for an indefinite
period after the caiman is
killed. That is to chop a hole
in its neck and run a pointed
stick into the medulla OBJ
longata, the reflex action CEN
ter at the base of the brain.
When this is destroyed the
ability to bite is lost. One
can proceed to skin the cal
man without fear of losing an
arm or a finger.
Ordinarily this reptile will
not attack a human. 1t lives
on smaller animals-wild and
domestic pigs and the piglike
capybaras-that venture into
the jungle rivers and lagoons.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16

shall meet up with a gang Of
marauding yokers who will
bludgeon me, kick my ribs in,
slit my cheeks with razor
sharp instruments and rob me.
Now, I realize that could
carry a revolver for protec-
ton. I could take the law in
my own hands and shoot
these brigands; but it's against
the law to carry a revolver and
I'd feel pretty miserable TAX
ing the life of a human being.
The situation is getting
worse. Is Washington to be-
come an armed city, or can
something be done about this
condition?
WashingtOnian.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16

It's eyesight that does it.
when birds seem to Inform
each other of a food cache.
OF course, there is such a
thing as sonar, among birds.
the forerunner of our radar
and other super-duper electric
devices.
In the main. however, the
birds use their marvellous pow
ers of sight to find food.
especially to locate points
where other birds are finding
something to eat.
A buzzard is an ugly fellow.
but he can see a mouse-mov-
ing-at 2 miles, it is said.
X 4 4
This answers, we hope,
r. j. B. of Alexandria, Va,
who writes:
HAS anyone of authority
established how wild birds in
form each other as to the To-
cations of feed?
I'VE here in our woods
within the city limits have had
three turtle doves at our feed
ing stations for over three
years.
due to feed prices rising,
our wildbird feeding has been
limited.
"Since kaffir corn has come
down in cost. we have been
putting it out rather literally.
I'm the last week in Febru-
airy two more doves joined the
feeding. In leaving for the
night or otherwise the two re-
cent arrivals few in a different
direction from the original
three.
Last week the number Of
doves was ten.
To-day at noon there were
20 or IS present. and when
leaving they few in all direc-
tions: no common center.
How were they informed
among themselves Of the grain
to be had?"
1t must be remembered that
finding food is the first duty
Of all wild things.
Birds. in particular, need
constant refueling. because Of
their high normal tempera-
lures, ranging from 1903 to Ill
degrees, among various spe-
cies.
The mole, among the four
footed things, must have food
every 10 minutes, or it dies.
Birds need food not only for
energy, as all living things, but
also for Matchmaking purposes,
again as all do. but with this
difference:
A bird is tuned TO a higher
heat.
He is exposed to cold on all
sides, and his fur" is feathers.
While feathers are marvellous,
in their ability to keep out
water and cold. in the latter
category they naturally leave
something to be desired. The
feathered folk have to make UP
for II by eating more and more.
Many freeze to death in very
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16

Dr.. Modem has Just discov-
cred and described a curious
new subspecies of caimanS
confined, so far as known, to
the upper reaches of the Apa-
poris River. a tributary of the
Amazon. It is much more
crocodilelike In appearance
than the rest Of the family,
with a very long. narrow snout.
The others have broad, fiat
shouts. It is like the rest Of
the family, however. in having
prominent bony ridges over its
eyeS-one Of the character.
istics that distinguish the cal
mans from both crocodiles and
alligators.
A far more dangerous Gus
toner is the Orinoco croco-
ollie. DR.. Modem points out. It
is a large crocodile which lives
only in the Orinoco and its
tributaries and has a taste for
human flesh. 1t is extremely
dangerous for bathers or for
women doing their washing
in the rivers. 1t is one of the
two species Of these dreaded
reptiles known in South Amer
lea. The other is a smaller,
less aggressive creature, Of
seashore rivers and lagoons.
The inland species now Is very
close to determination. Until
recently 1t was pursued by
both German and French
companies of professional
crocodile hunters. Now they
have given up because the take
has become too small for the
risk.
Like Whale Hunting
The technique. as described
by DR.. Modem, is strikingly
like that of the whale hunters,
and just as dangerous. The
hunter goes out on the river
with a boat at night. The boat
carries searchlights which
move over the surface of the
water. Here and there appear
glittering red and yellow spots.
The red spots are the eyes of
crocodileS, the yellow spots
those of caimans. The boat is
propelled by jungle Indian
paddlers. who have developed
the ability to paddle noise
lessly. They row to within
about two yards of the glitter
ing eyes. Then the hunter
throws his harpoon, equipped
with a special aiming appara-
tus. He has developed skill in
nlttlng the right spot in the
water. judged by the position
of the eyes. For a crocodile he
aims at where the neck should
be. for a caiman at the flank.
The neck of the latter reptile
is protected by strong scales.
A gun never is used. The
wounded reptile simply would
dive into deep water where its
body could not be recovered.
After the harpoon, to which
is attached a rope, finds its
mark there is a terrific strug-
gle as the reptile tries to get
into deep water.
The caiman is finally
KILLED" by chopping through
its spinal chord with a ma
chete. That is. everything is
dead except the brain and
Snout. The spine of the croco-
ollie is broken by a blow with
large ak just behind the
shoulders. 1t stays dead.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
Racial History

I find fault, from an anthro-
biological point of view, with
the April 8 letter written by
Guy G. Moore. He states that
"the Chinese raised the racial
issue, as they should have, to
protect their great civilization,
about $4,000 years ago and
brought about the dispersal
which caused our ancestors to
enter Europe and the Ameri-
can Indian to come to Amer
ica." This dispersal actually
occurred some 10000 years
ago, at a time when there
weren't any Chinese Cor any
fully formed races, for that
NATTER. Instead, there were
great wandering, shifting
masses of unspecialized men,
bers of the species Homo
sapiens," travelling almost aim
lessly over the tundra areas Of
Ice Age Europe and Asia in the
wake of the animals that they
depended on for food. Portions
had already made Europe a
more or less permanent home.
The Cro-Magnons, a people
who resembled the modern
American Indians in several
ways. are the most famous of
these Upper Paleolithic Euro
peans.
On the plains of Central
Asia. the hunters that were to
become the ancestors of the
extremely specialized Mongo-
loid race, to which the Chi
nese belong, were wandering
away from each other. No
racial inhibitions governed
this gradual separation-only
the separation of the herds Of
reindeer and bison that the
hunters preyed upon. A branch
Of this primitive Mongoloid
stock passed over the Boring
Strait into the Americas where
it retained its primitive, I'M
specialized charact e ristics,
while the others, left behind
in Asia, adapted to purely ORR
entail conditions and became
the true Mongoloids.
All of this complicated racial
history proves something fairly
important. Races. those pecu-
liar adaptations to certain
kinds of environment, are ex-
tremely flexible and even a
bit transitory, as are cultures.
In a world in which distances
mean very little, one cannot
adopt a provincial thee are
queer" attitude. Human beings
in such a world have to learn
to live together, and it is best
If their experiences are pooled.
Oriental philosophy and art
have already been absorbed to
a considerable degree by West
ern civilization, and modern
music, painting, and sculpture
show inspirations from Africa.
Cosmopolitanism is to be well
coined, not deplored, and will
lay the seed of the next, prob
ably greater, civilization.
Also. it is well to remember
that, when this enlightened,
cosmopolitan man Of the flu
ture settles on Mars, he will
probably become adapted to
the Marian environment, and
on his return, earthlings may
screech, "Oh, no! Not char
treuse!"
Sondra Ford.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
Shut In by Thugs

I am IS years old. have
lived in Washington. D. c., all
of my life. I have never known
fear--until now.
Yes. I'm scared. I live in a
very peaceful locality, yet I'm
afraid to walk around my
block after dark to get the
little exercise I need. I am
afraid that on such a walk I
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
Old Trees

Old trees no longer seek the
sky.
That Is. old trees about to die.
They look upon the face OF
earth,
The loan that nurtured them
in birth.
They droop their arms and
plead to earth
Why cannot she again oive
birth
To energy that sDeeps the
sky?
IT'S hard to match an old tree
die.
Claire Puneky
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
Quotes Morse

In your further considera-
ton Of the Capital Transit
problem. you might note the
following quotation Of Senator
Morse Of Oregon in the Con-
gressional Record June 30,
1855:
Il am against Government
ownership of anything in this
country which can be operated
by private enterprise. ! am
for working out a program un-
der which the Government
will assist private enterprise
when assistance is needed"
II. 8. CARRIER.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-16
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names nl0v be used u
letters carry tDrtters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
Sdtion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-01
ST RGAZING
By FRANCIS P. DOUGLAS

bOOmlet anticipated steel plants get operation
again and users build depleted inventories This would
on top of the highevel activity already ruling.
Results New highs expected the fourth quarter with
the momentum carrying into next year.
Note: Inventories generally HIGH but and untitled
orders also high Against these conditions inventories are
not regarded out of line -.
Automobile inventories expected to be worked off
during the coedown for etooing for models They
should be well in hand by the time the models come out
Production of the expected provide large part
Of the fourth-quarter boom.
Shortage of engineers and other trained technical
workers will get tighter
Problem: Highway builders facing the biggest road
building program in history wondering where they
find engineers Prospects look good for mathe-
mates handle slide rule if they have no
engineering degree.
Providing the road construction materials will be huge
job Trained technical needed there The Public
Roads Bureau estimates that 3-year period IA billion
barrels of 40 million Steel 1913 million tons of
tar and asphalt will be used Pipe of various lumber
and explosives also will be needed in great quantities
Businesses that base plans increasing of
riageS and births should watch the trends and the figures
Marriages homes furniture. Children mean
larger homes But most of those getting and
the next few born in depression births
down. Marriages and children afterwards tended
postponed then In 1881 80 there 1929 million births
This million 1875 cent fewer than the preceding
eight years.
With fewer in the 1925 group appears marriage
must decline The number of births is another
of the tendency to larger families The number of births
last two has shown increase but decidedly under
of the immediate postwar Look for another big Jump
births, however in six or seven years from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-01
Ford Profits Cut
AS Sales Decline
From '55Peaks

Sales of Ford Motor Co
dropped 1872 per cent behind a
year ago in the first half of this
year. but volume remained the
second highest on record for the
period. it was announced today
Profits were reduced substan-
TALLY.
The six months sales totaled
$2,364,50O.OOO, compared with
$2.891.3oO. 900 a year ago and
were 6 per cent ahead of ST.
231, 100000 in the first half OF
1854.
Consolidated net earnings for
the six months were $131.7 mil
lion, or $244 share, compared
with $234.4 million, or $4.40 a
year earlier. and $137.6 million
or $3.50, in the same 1854 period
Net declined from $1.37 a
share in the first three months
of 1856 to SLOT in the second
quarter. The drop was due
mainly to a 3.5 per cent drop ir
sales and heavy costs associated
with new facilities and new prod.
uct programs. the company said
Directors declared dividend
of so cents a share. payable Sep.
TENDER 13. to holders of RECORD
August 10.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-08-01
Medical Director
OF C&P Honored
On 10th Year

DR.. r. Lomax Wells, medical
director for the Chesapeake and
Potomac Telephone Co.. has
been presented a four-Star en-
blem in honor of his 20 years
service in the telephone indus
try.
Medical director since 1947 for
the four C. 81 P. companies OPP
Grating in Washington, Mary
land, Virginia and West Vir-
ginia. DR.. Wells began his tele-
phone service in 1886 as ex-
aiming physician for C. & P.
of Washington. Before that he
was in private practice.
A graduate of the University
School of Medicine, Dr.. Wells
has been active in medical
circles. having served as a mem
Der of the executive board of the
District Medical Society, a spe-
cial lecturer in industrial
medicine at Georgetown Uni
versity Medical School an d
president of the District Tuber-
culosis Association.
In the District Medical So
ciety he is a member of the
board of censors. committee on
public health and public policy
and the committee on prepaid
medicine.