davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Against the Infinite

"A Moscow magazine has lust an
nounced with great pride that the Soviet
Union "is now land Of mass atheism"
But II has declared at the same time
that immense numbers of the country's
polyglot people still believe In super
natural order and must therefore be
subjected to an unremitting "educa-
tional" campaign designed to make
them goddess in keeping with the gospel
according to Marx and Lenin.
Thus. while boasting that more
than so million Soviet citizens are con-
firmed atheists. the magazine has adj
mitted indirectly that this total is
dwarfed by the remainder Of the popu-
lation-some $50 million men, women
and children who continue to cling to
faith in God Hence. both for their own
good and the good Of the glorious Marx
ist-Leninist state. these people must be
taught that there is no power greater
or higher or more supernatural than
the power Of the Kremlin. Hence, too,
the Communist Party of the USSR
must go forward with a ceaseless, all
out brainwashing drive to fully uproot
the remnants Of religious beliefs and
superstitions" that still affect the think
ing OF all such misguided creatures.
Nikita Khrushchev undoubtedly
agrees with this view Like Lenin and
Stain before him, like all the men Of
the Kremlin, past and present, he can
hardly tolerate the idea Of having the
Soviet people cast their thoughts up
ward to an infinitely better and higher
order-a spiritual community In which
they live as children Of God-than the
clay-footed, Supermaterialistic tyranny
that grinds them down. For despotism
can never feel sure Of itself when the
masses beneath 1t refuse to accept the
idea that 1t Is infallible. all-wise. ALL
knowing, adjust, and far too formidable
to be challenged by mere human beings,
mere bits Of dust, mere fiesh-and blood
accidents that have no function other
than to obey the master with whip in
hand-to live as slaves for while and
then die and become utter nothingness.
When people refuse to accept such
an idea, when they insist instead upon
believing in their own eternal signifi-
canoe and nobility as children Of God,
ldesuots-with their human fallibility
and destructible fiesh-must always
feel uncertain about the ground they
walk upon, Small wonder. then. that
the Soviet tyranny, as II acutely fearful
OF havingits mean and shabby finiteness
upended by the Infinite. blasphemously
engages IN a perpetual effort to make
atheists Of all its subjects. The effort.
one may confidently predict. will never
succeed.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Clear Vision in Lebanon

I Foreign Minister Charles Malik of
Lebanon has made an address to his
Parliament that places in boldly accu-
rate perspective some Of the most dis
puted aspects Of the East-West cold war
maneuvering in the Middle East. In
substance. DR.. Malik was defending the
pro-Western position of his government
before the Beirut assembly.
1t was in obvious reference to the
Eisenhower doctrine, which his govern
ment has formally approved. that DR..
Malik spoke his initial strong words.
whoever thinks" he said. that the
West is going to withdraw into itself
or accept defeat in this cold war is
committing very great error. The de-
termination Of the West to prevent any
domination Of the Middle East has never
been stronger or more subtle than
today"
; But the Foreign Minister did not
stop there. His further remarks should
be read thoughtfully in Cairo and
Damascus. where laid" from Communist
Russia has been welcomed without
apparent apprehension. Il can prove"
Dr. Malik continued, that with respect
to relative magnitude, with respect to
the spirit of cooperation, with respect
to short-range political consequences
and to long-range implications, the
diverse forms of aid we are receiving are
more beneficial for the present and
tncompdrably safer in the long run"
DR.. Malik served for many years as
Lebanese Ambassador in Washington.
He was sometimes a critic of American
policy in the Middle East But undoubt-
eddy it was largely on DR.. Malik's evalu-
alton of American VS.. Russian motives
that the Lebanese government OF
Premier Sami es-Solh favored the Eisen-
hover doctrine and American aid
initially. Only recently, the Foreign
Minister was in Washington where. he
told his Parliament, he had received
convincing assurances that American
assistance to his country was "in prin-
ciple unlimited" He has done service,
perhaps even to some of Lebanon's Arab
neighbors, in expressing his judgment
forthrightly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Science bv Degrees

One looks desperately about
in search of what is to blame
for the fact that Russian
science and technology seem
TO be leaving ours behind.
May ] suggest a culprit?
The practice of classifying
scientific information by vari-
Gus degrees Of secrecy and
scientific personnel by vari-
Gus degrees Of loyalty has
without doubt greatly him
dered scientific and technical
progress in this country. both
by limiting the flow Of infor-
nation between researchers
and by limiting the flow OF
researchers to Jobs. The effect
Of this practice by the United
States upon the development
of science and technology In
the USSR is becoming more
and more readily identifiable
as nil.
Does a solution not readily
present itself?
Simple Simon. /.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
THE GAME or POLITICS
Hoover Spots Flaw in u. S. Education
By FRANK R. KENT

When former President
Herbert /. Hoover talks he
never wastes words. Always,
he goes TO the heart Of
things. Always he knows
what he is talking about. II
his advice had been more
often taken, this would be q
far better nation and we
would have avoided many Of
the basic mistakes we have
made
A few days ago he made a
speech before the American
Society of Engineers. Of
which he has been the presi-
dent, in New York City. His
subject was the superiority
in numbers OF engineers,
technicians and scientists Of
Russia over us. In the first
place. he said. 1t just was not
so. as he had long ago
learned not to believe in Rus
sia's claims. In the second
place. even II 1t were so it
would be very little trouble
for us to catch up and pass
them at no real cost IL we
would make one change In
our school system. The point
Mr.. Hoover then made was
one which seemed to be edi-
torially ignored generally in
the discussion about the pub
lie high school which has
been going on in the country
for years.
Makes Simple Point
The point is a simple one
What he did suggest was that
there would have been a good
many more scientists. chem
lists. physicists, engineers. etc.
In this Nation now had not
the choice of what studies
he or she would pursue be
left to the child-even TO a
child Of IA.
For all of them. under the
new level Of higher educa-
tional freedom, the children
Of high schools in general
choose for themselves what
studies they like best and
want most TO pursue. The new
doctrine is to leave every
thing to the child: to give the
child perfect freedom to map
out his own course without
any guidance from parent or
teacher. That was the idea
perfect freedom for the
child to follow the line which
most attracted him with no
pressure from any source;
simply 10 express himself. TO
do what was most attractive
to him or her. what is natural
for him to do, and nothing
whatever that he is forced
against his will to do, on the
theory that that is good for
him physically. mentally or
morally. That is the new
doctrine of the higher edu-
cation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

clothes, eat the same food.
read the same kind Of books.
see the same type of movies.
listen to the same kind Of
radio and television pro-
grams, and. alas. the peas
in-a-pod design extends also
70 what We say and what We
think.
A keen observer of our
national habits and Gus
toms recently remarked. In
America speech and thought
are so conditioned as to be
for millions practically auto
matte. Individuality Of ex-
preston and independence Of
judgment are in danger Of
becoming lost arts. We have
to reckon with the mass mind
whose opinions are nodded
by the press. the Aims. the
radio. the book clubs. and
whose tastes, standards. am
billions and responses tend
TO be stereotyped." Wemight
add that even such occa-
sions so widely different as
cocktail parties and church
attendance in these days
when there is an increase
both in drinking and in
churchgoing are doubtless
augmented by the fact that
"everybody's doing it." Rob-
ert Louis Stevenson once
made a remark which sug-
gestS what he would think Of
this pea pod day. ITO do
anything because others do
it and not because the thing
is good or kind or honest in
its own right is to resign all
moral control and the de-
termination to be captain Of
yourself and go post haste to
the devil with the greatest
number" Multitudes have
gone to the devil and with
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Communism Course9

I am writing TO you about
the article printed on No
vember 20. Fairfax Schools
Map Course on Communism"
I am in the 9th grade at
Browne Junior High School.
Next year l will be in high
school. AS this article raised
my interest in the subject,
l am faced with the fact that
we ourselves do not know
enough about communism
and we can't compare its
ideals with that Of capital
ism. We really grow up get
ting a one-sided look at II.
/ wonder why the United
States has failed to teach
the future Americans the
pros and cons Of each. Is II
fear OF what? Although !
don't know much about
either. ! am sure that most
teen-agers would like TO
know and study about them.
AS Mr. Gleason said, they
would be better prepared TO
face the world as II is now"
Taunya Lowell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

BY some process unexplained in
news reports, Kalamazoo. Michigan, has
been selected as the most typically
American small city. There is no dis
position here to quarrel with the choice,
particularly since whatever ground
rules" were employed in making the
determination have not been publ
cized. But, like the spreading ripples
in a pond, this sort Of thing can lead
to wider consequences.
What purports to be life in Kala-
mazoo has been introduced to Manches-
ter, England-by serving to the city
fathers Of that English Midlands COM
munity an "all-American" breakfast.
The menu included apple juice, sausage,
eggs, buckwheat Cakes, maple syrup,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
New Hospital Center

The dedication today of the splen-
did new Washington Hospital Center
Is proud elimination of years Of hoping,
planning and working Thanks to team
work by hospital authorities. citizens,
District officials and Congress, Washing
ton now has one of the country'S out
standing hospital plants, replacing three
of its prominent but outmoded institu-
tions-Emergency, GARFIELD and Episco-
pal Hospitals.
a. With Federal and District aid, the
trio of hospitals combined their re-
sources and their efforts to provide the
Capital with $24-million health asset.
/. including not only the most modern
hospital facilities but fine nurses
school and home In contrast to the
old-faShioned and dreary rooms, wards
and corridors of the sponsoring institu-
tons, the 800-bed center in the Soldiers
Home grounds has every device and
convenience needed by doctors. nurses
and patients. There are is operating
rooms and an out-patient clinic capable
Of handling 400 patients a day.
. The fight to establish such a center
here was a long and hard one. Much
of the credit for the achievement should
go to the officials and friends Of the
three hospitals concerned. with special
reference to former Senator Tydings Of
Maryland-who sponsored the substan-
tive legislation and helped to obtain its
passage-and to the women's Commit
tee for Hospital Center, members Of
which worked tirelessly to promote the
project. The whole community has
benefited from the vision and energy
Of these supporters Of the center.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

They are alike as peas in
q pod" is a vivid illustration
often used to denote con-
formity. Nature displays a
wide variety OF sizes and
shapes in most things that
are nourished in the soil. and
in the products Of that which
spring from the good earth.
Conformity is not the law Of
nature. We are often re-
minded that there is no star
or stone or leaf or person
which FITS into any common
mold. So far as individuals
are concerned. the millions
Of fingerprints on file with
the FBI testifies TO that.
Mother Nature does not run
q production line. Her rule
has to do not with masses.
but with cases. But, Of course.
as with all rules. there are
exceptions. Pearls differ In
glory and size. but there are
no surprises in Smelling peas.
In any one pod there Is usu-
ally q string OF duplicates.
Hence the expression when
measuring the characteristics
Of separate entities. II they
are strikingly similar. often
is. They are as alike as two
peas in a pod"
Now a pod Of identical peas
might well be included In any
appropriate coat Of arms for
this second half OF the goth
century. There can be no
question that the great bene-
factors Of the race have been
Observation-Disclosures who
refused to be peas in a pod.
They were men who stood
alone while the men they
agonized for threw the con-
tumelious stone" The men
upon whose brow a nation
now puts the crown Of grati-
tude as the republics found
ing fathers were first rebels.
A rebel is one who steps out
of a regimented line. He re-
fuses to conform. Pasteur.
whose very name safeguards
the daily bottles Of milk at
our doors. was pilloried be-
cause he would not At into
the medical pea pod Of his
day. That has been true. Of
course. Of intrepid pioneers in
every realm who stood on
their own feet like Calico.
insisting 1.-THE earth do move"
when all the ofhcial peas in
the pod declared that to say
so was the mark Of a hereto.
But II individualism was
the prevailing feature of
American life in the days
gone by. Standardization is
certainly a prevailing vogue
now. Somebody thinks of
setting an ad to lively tune
and immediately commercial
houses selling anything from
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

coffee and-believe II or not-vitafnin
pills. Now there is no doubt that all Of
these things sound like good American
fare. A Manchester alderman, well fed.
called 1t all delicious, but he was not
exaggerating when he added that It
seemed "a bit much In our opinion.
II the citizens Of Kalamazoo work their
way through that much breakfast every
morning they are eating themselves out
Of the category Of being "typically
American" Manchester papers please
copy.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
'EIderN Experts

Your November rs editorial.
Elderly Experts" referred TO
a survey 10 be made by the
Department Of Health. Educa-
ton and Welfare. on the
problems Of retired people.
The data TO be secured does
not Dode any good for retired
persons.
Sooner or later social Sc
curity payments are going TO
be based on how much the
individual needs and not on
how much or how long he
has paid into the social secu-
rity fund. That. OF course.
will penalize persons who
have laid something aside
for their old age and favor
spendthrifts.
II the Government is really
interested In doing something
for elderly retired persons. II
should sanction passage OF
II. r. 7l4l. This bill was in
troduced by Representative
Katherine st. George Of New
York. to remove the limita-
tons upon the amount Of
outside income which an In
dividual may earn while re-
ceiving BENEFITS hereunder"
It is. OF course. ridiculous
TO lower the retirement age
II retired persons are limited
TO $1,000 outside earnings.
The Government opposes
passage Of H. r. tai under
the cloak OF cost" when one
billion OF United States re-
ceipts taken from less i'm
pOrtant expenditures would
pay for 1t.
II the $1,000 limitation Is
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

The result is that the nor
NAL child. up to IA years.
chooses to study the courses
that involve the least work
and give opportunity for the
most play. This, Of course, is
the natural way for the I'M
disciplined child-even up to
IA years-to feel. More than
80 per cent Of the male and
female students. left TO their
own selections. do not choose
algebra, or geometery, or
higher mathematics, chem
istry or physics. or philos-
ophy. or even arithmetic or
any other subject upon which
it is necessary to concentrate
and really work. Rather they
pick English literature. or
history or poetry or some
soft subject" which requires
less effort to master and less
time for worry. The result,
Mr.. Hoover thought. ac-
counted for the vacant seats
in the classrooms Of those
hieh-school teachers who
teach any or all branches of
science.
Fault Of System
Now a great deal has been
written and talked about the
necessity for complete free
dom Of choice" for the stu
dent as to what he shall
study in the high schools be-
fore and since the Arkansas
affair. But no one has put
the reason so clearly why
there are so many undiSci-
plined students who are
called upon to make their
own decisions without guild
ance or pressure Of any sort
from those competent and
experienced to advise or d.
rect them. In brief. Mr..
Hoover advises q study Of why
our science classes in all our
high schools are so poorly
populated and so thinly at
tended. It Is not the fault Of
the teachers; it is not the
fault Of the schools. 1t is the
fault. Mr.. Hoover thinks, Of
the system which allows those
too young and too poorly
trained to know the best road
TO take in their own interest.
and in the absence Of COM
petent guidance either at
home or at school. naturally
and humanity select the cas-
lest way. This is a sound
Suggestion-but like all sug-
gestions for improving the
state Of our Nation by men
like Mr.. Hoover. Mr.. Baruch
and others. it will probably be
left on the shelf, though it
could be achieved at very
little cost in dollars and the
use Of only moderate intelli-
gence.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
Peas in a Pod

food or filters to flights by
plane tune up TO do the same
thing. until from the radio
comes each day a long sue
cession Of jiggly melodies
with a question mark after
that last word. We are ex-
horted in ducet tones to
wear the same kind Of
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

the devil by just taking the
line Of least resistance.
No one can ever reach the
heights Of character and
moral achievement unless he
is willing when necessary TO
say no" The worlds chosen
heroes have been willing to
pay the price Of noncon-
formity by accepting criti-
cism. ridicule, oStracism and
poverty rather than to utter
a spineless yes" What dis
cipline OF the will was sug-
gested by the old hymn which
was tonic TO youth in days
gone past: Have Courage My
Boy to Say No" II was back
there before "everybody's do
ing 1t" covered such a multi
tude Of sins that. as young
sters, some Of US were taught
those spiritual vitamin-laden
lines
Dare to be a Daniel.
Dare to stand alone.
Dare to hare a purpose true
And dare 10 make II kHoUn.
That was a summons which
echoes over the years to get
out Of some protecting pod of
tradition and dare to make
your purpose known regard
less of consequences. Ia
Americas history there have
been men in the field of pub
lie Office whose courageous
vote in legislative halls as
they defied the majority sent
them to political oblivion but
with their integrity unsullied.
Why have the names of
Shadrach. Meshach and
Abednego lived in shining
honor across so many CEN
turtles? II is because in spite
of the decree of a dictator.
when everybody else was
bowling down to the golden
image set up in the plain.
the three immortal Hebrews
stood up and refusing to bow
or bend, defled the tryant
by declaring I'VE will not
bow down" The Methodists
and the Quakers and other
sects were first named in de-
rision because they refused to
melt into their surroundings.
One to whom his religion is
real cannot hunt with the
pack. think with the herd.
run along with life. acquieSce
in taking a place in the pod
of conformity-all in obedi-
ence to contemporary fash
ion-if he has any standards
or character which can be
called Christian by the yard
stick Of the New Testament
or Of the Old for that mat
ter. Paul put it once for all
when he wrote. BE not con-
formed to this world. but be
We transformed by the renew
ing of your mind"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Disaster

Word began to come to
the outside world from re-
mote Karatagh, Russia, in
connection with q disastrous
earthquake there a half a
century ago In a story from
London on December /, 1907.
The Star reported: Now
that the first full account.
coming from Tashkent, via
ST. Petersburg. has arrived,
there can be no doubt that
the Karatagh earthquake
was one Of the most appall-
ing natural catastrophes on
record. 1t is dificult, writes
a correspondent, to describe
the scene which meets the
eye at Karatagh today. What
was a short while ago q -four
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

There were no bowl games
a half century ago, and when
the final regular football
games were over. the season
ended. On December 2. 1907,
The Star reported: 1T is all
over. The football campaign
Of 1907 is now history. The
ANAL acts in the gridiron
drama were played in Phila-
delphia - Pennsylvania Cor
nell Thanksgiving Day and
the Navy-Army game Satur-
day. Until September. 1908.
football will be a subject Of
discussion only. That 1t was
one Of the most interesting
seasons in the history Of the
great college sport every
critic and student Of the
game will admit. There were
less fatal accidents. the
sport had been purged Of Its
monotonouS and brutal fea-
lures, open play predominated
as never before
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Commentator

l don't have anything to
grippe about; don't want to
criticize anything or any,
body. I just want to say
how much enjoyed Fred
Theroux's article on WASH
ington In Lincoln's day. in
your Editorial Section on
Sunday. November Al. Let us
have some more OF same and
of the Civil War.
Mary 4. Anderson.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Visit

An amicable Russian
United States meeting was
held a half a century ago. In
a dispatch from st. Peters
burg on December 4. 1907.
The Star reported: "Secre-
tary of War Taft was re-
ceived in audience today by
Emperor Nicholas at Tar
skoe-Selo and received from
his majesty the frankest
expression Of RusSia's sympa-
thy and regard for the United
States"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01

removed. most old folks will
be able to take care Of them
selves.
No. I am not retired but !
may be someday.
EVELYN y Eurman
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used ~
letters carry writers' correct
names aud addresses Al
letters are subject to cond.n
sdtion
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-01
Wedding

A wedding which stirred
interest in society circles took
place a half a century ago.
Reporting the event on No.
vember 81. 1907. The Star
said. Miss Edith Root.
daughter OF the Secretary of
State and Mrs. Root. will be
married to 1t. Ulysses S.
Grant Ill. son of Gen. Fred
erick d. Grant. and grand
son of Gen. U. S. Grant. Presi-
dent Of the United States,
today at 4 o'clock by Rev.
Herbert Shipman of New
York. formerly chaplain at
West Point, and in the bridal
party will be the brides
cousin. Miss Ruth Wales. and
the bridegroom's cousin, Mr..
Potter Palmer of Chicago.
as maid of honor and best
man. and the following
groomSmen: MeSsrs. Elihu.
jr.. and Edward Wales Root.
brothers Of the bride; 1t.
Robert Watson and 1t. NJ.
w. Howse. both brother OF
flcers of the bridegroom; Mr..
Gustav Schwab of New York
and Mr.. Edward B. Mclean
Of this city. :"