davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

The feel of those hundred
tiny feet is unique.
1t is like nothing else in
the world, and Jones didn't
enjoy it.
He remembers he screamed
aloud, and grandmother
thought he had been killed.
The night Uncle Henry and
Aunt Milly came, the book
case was closed. as usual,
and the cover of the organ
down.
1t had been a long time
since any one had played
the organ.
Nine o'clock came, and
young Temp began to yawn.
He did not move from his
high backed chair, though.
Life was real, and life was
earnest, in those days-and
so much the better for it.
The hour Of 10 struck dis
mally from the big grand
fathers clock in the hall.
Nobody moved.
Jones was almost asleep
in his chair. when bedtime
came at last for the group.
1t was many years later,
on the sad occasion Of his
grandmother's death. that
Templeton Jones found him.
self back in that old parlor.
Everything was the same.
even to the little organ in
the corner.
AT the sight OF it, despite
the solemn occasion, Temple
ton Jones felt a CLINT in his
eye.
He wondered if it would
still play.
A few days later. when no.
body was around the house.
he found out.
The pumping was trouble
some. at first, but soon he
got the hang Of 1t. and IL
would play. all right. a great
tribute to the craftsmanship
Of yesteryear.
The strains Of Jones' one
tune. "Barcarolle," from the
Tales Of Hoffman, sound
ed on the village air.
The wonderful melody,
which alone would make Of
fenbach's name known for
ever. scared. and swelled, and
then died away.
Templeton Jones was happy
at last. Yes, the old organ
worked, Just the way he
knew 1t would. They made
things right in those days.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
Counter Service, Please

We trust that the Post once De-
partment is intently studying the mat
ter Of restoring counter service between
the hours Of and $3.50 in the morning.
This is one of the services which went
by the board on April 49, the day that
the mail did not go through as result
of congressional budget cuts. Early
morning counter service was of particu-
lar convenience to working people, who
could stop in at their local post Offices
on the way downtown.
Postmaster General Summarized
has given us the talking stamp-machine
and piped-in music in some post offices.
He also sponsored an attention-getting
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

conference on the eternal problem Of
g-bites-mailman that produced moth
ing much more than a spate of whim-
steal stories about what can be done
when the alien PHILOSOPHERS of They
shall-not-pasS" and THE mail-must-go-
through" clash. These irrelevancies did
no particular harm, but we hope that
instead Of thinking up any more, Mr..
Summerfield will turn his earnest at
tention to restoring such essentials as
all-day counter service.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
Droughts, Then and Now

The drought we are experiencing
this summer revives memories of Wash
ington's record dry spell in 1880. But
the rainfall shortage will have to con-
tinue lot longer this year to justify
comparison with the arid conditions
which prevailed here 81 years ago.
Neither the water table underground
nor the level of water in the Potomac
River as yet has been seriously affected
by the scarcity of rainfall during the
past several weeks.
Whereas in 1880 wells in nearby
Maryland and Virginia went dry with
few exceptions and the flow of water in
the Potomac River dwindled to an all
time low mark, Federal officials have
found little change in the level of under
ground water or of the river flow thus
far. Extraordinary consumption of wa
ter in nearby areas, rather than low
water supply, is responsible for water
shortages. OF course, the situation could
deteriorate If the drought goes on for
another month or two. And the long
range weather outlook the experts say,
is not too promising, as far as precipita-
ton goes.
Maryland and Virginia suburbs are
better able to withstand drought today
than they were more than a quarter of
century ago. Arlington and other areas
across the river depended on wells for
drinking water then. Now these COM
munities have their own water supplies,
either through connections with the
District system or through other sources
of supply. And Maryland. too. is well
supplied with water. AS for Washing
tons supply, there was no scarcity of
water even during the height of the
1880 drought and none is foreSeeable
today. The chief sufferers of the present
rain shortage, therefore, are the farms
and fields and forests and lawns. Grass
cutting chores have been reduced to a
minimum-the only bright ray in dark
picture.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

Eump-prlmlng, or uenclL
spending, is the basic eco
nomic policy Of the Eisen-
hover administration to pre-
vent a depression.
Advocates of the pump
printing theory claim that
heavy government borrowing
and spending will prime our
economic pump to a point
where automatic prosperity
will return a Federal tax in
come large enough to pay the
national debt. But this idea
is wrong in both theory and
practice. No nation has yet
improved its economic sys-
tenn SO that it operated at
automatic high level pros
perity. Pump-primed pros
perity never reaches the auto
matte prosperity stage. The
truth is that deficit spending
must continue until we i'm
prove our economic system
SO that it will not cause de-
pressions, or until Federal
credit runs out.
The claim that President
E lis e n h over balanced the
budget is false. The budget
was balanced by a heavy in
crease in private credit buy
ing which increased trade
and Federal tax income. The
credit for balancing Eisen-
hower'S budget goes to those
who went more heavily into
debt; the President can claim
credit only for loose credit
policies.
Congress is made up pri-
marily of pork barrel poll
ticians who are not interested
in improving our economic
system. That is why it is
absolutely necessary for the
voters to instruct and au-
thorize Congress to improve
our economic system.
Deficit spending has failed.
Hugh Wilson,
Port Arthur, Texas.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
Clear the Air Promptly

The Commissioners have shown
good Judgment in acceding to Police
Chief Murrays urgent request for De-
partment of Justice investigation of the
serious charges made against the police
by the local branch of the National AS
ISOLATION for the Advancement of Col
ored People, The Commissioners are
right in submitting formal request for
Federal action. We hope the department
will order the Federal Bureau of Investi-
cation to undertake such an inquiry
and promptly. For as long as the charges
Of brutality and racial discrimination
remain hanging in midair, law enforce
ment in Washington is bound to be
adversely affected.
The Department of Justice has a
logical interest in this matter because
the allegations of Eugene Davidson,
president of the local NAACP, involve
civil rights. At least several of the cases
cited in support of the claim that Chief
Murray has condoned brutality previ-
ously have been brought to the attention
Of the civil rights section of the depart
ment's Criminal Division. To that ex-
tent the task of the department has
been simplified.
Chief Murray's record of investi-
eating thoroughly all complaints made
against his men and his attitude since
the publication of the NAACP charges
make it clear that he will not toll
crate brutal or other illegal tactics
by any member of his force. He is
correct in holding that an FBI inveSti-
cation is needed to clear the air of
the grave accusations brought against
him and his men. This should be
an investigation not of the Police
Department in general but of specific
charges. And the truth or falsity of the
charges ought to be established quickly
i'm fairness to the Police Department
and to the public which relies on the
police for orderly enforcement of the
law.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
The Hucksters

Television presents the
temptation to exaggerate and
to mislead the public, If not
by absolute untruth, by infer
ence. This may boomerang.
Products of alleged thera-
, peutic value are presented by
actors CARRIED to resemble
physicians or dentists. They
are totally ignorant of medi-
cal causes and effects. The
national organizations of the
physicians and of the den
lists should protest against
this practice.
Advertisers Of tooth paste
could improve their scripts.
Tooth pastes contain soap, an
abrasive substance. and some
fiavoring material. They re-
main in the mouth for very
brief time. The fancy-named,
unheard-of chemical added to
some brands is not present in
the mouth long enough to af-
feet germs which may be in
the mouth assuming that
it has any antibacterial power
at ALL.
Vitamins are still adver-
tised with gusto and bought
by gullible people who obtain
psychologist satisfaction from
their use in many cases. The
hysteria Of yitamin consump-
ton parallels that for the
"antihistamines" Of a few
years ago. The antihista-
mines have now assumed their
rightful place in therapeutics
and are found to be useful
in selected cases only. Vita
Minis eventually will follow
suit, and the public which is
urged to treat itself will again
seek competent medical ad-
vice.
The American public spends
an enormous amount OF mon
ey each year for cosmetics,
including fancy soaps, creams
and hair tonics. To be well
groomed is a praiseworthy at
tainment. When claims are
made, however. that local
applications can prevent or
cure badness. that certain
creams are skin foods. or that
a highly scented or medi-
Gated soap will do more than
any other good soap. the
credulity Of informed persons
is strained.
The National Association Of
Television Broadcasters land
their code Of good practiceJ
and the Federal communica-
tons Commission apparently
are blind to this pernicious
advertising.
1t would be to the advan-
tage Of the television industry
to submit scripts which have
to do with medical affairs to
a board Of physicians for the
sake Of truth and accuracy.
James A. Cannon, MD.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
Speed Is a Killer

SUGGU - u NWGT
CD. Els letter Gliding the
National Safety Council
July ID is full Of absurdi-
ties. He uses statistics high
handedly. He proposes that
the NSC emphasize only the
expected holiday deaths in
excess Of the average" for
a holiday week end.
His average of ITO deaths
per day apparently derived
by dividing approximately
10000 deaths per year by
1865 days. is a statistical abb
surdity in several ways.
Mainly it is meaningless, be-
cause on each holiday diff
ferent traffic conditions pre-
vail. and these conditions
vary for the same holiday
from year to year. The NSC
could not predict deaths in
excess of an average" be-
cause no valid average exists.
CD. E. says that the NSC
predictions of holiday deaths
spoil his week end. because
they slow down traffic and. I
presume. make him a little
more cautious. What better
result could the predictions
have? Does CD. E. want to
barrel down the highways
oblivious of possible hazards?
And, as for his statement
that slow traffic causes &C
cidents. it is we'll known that
speed causes the great ma
jority of fatalities. The
NSC cannot warn the Ameri-
can motorist enough on the
consequences Of reckless and
inconsiderate driving.
Harry r. Wallace.
AS one who drives a lot
and sees a lot. 1t is my
opinion that the accidents
could be cut down by legis-
lation prohibiting any car
having any speed in excess
Of 20 miles per hour.
Also. drivers should be
tested yearly for vision. Some
Of them must be crazy or
nearly blind.
Rod Road.
Apparently a large major
ity Of highway fatalities are
usually caused by excessive
speeding. therefore it may
become necessary that Fed
eral laws be enacted limiting
all private cars from exceed
inc so miles per hour. thus
saving thousands Of lives an
nually and keeping the coun-
try from fast-becoming a
nation Of cripples.
A. Stephens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

Fear not the heat Of the
sun"
So Shakespeare said three
hundred years ago, but that
was before the era of suntan.
Today. nobody, especially
America. is afraid of being in
the sunshine, sometimes not
enough.
Proper cautions, including
the use of a good suntan To-
ton or oil or cream, will help
all except 100 per cent males
who foolishly scorn such
things. thinking them femi-
nine.
Common sense has no sex.
In the old days. maybe in
Shakespeare's day. too, people
feared the sun.
Children were warned to
stay in the shade.
The blinds were pulled
down in the parlor, that room
kept in old fashioned houses
for state occasions.
One of these was the visit
of Uncle Henry and Aunt
Milly.
Temp Jones remembers.
still with disquiet, after all
these years. the last visit this
redoubtable pair made to his
old home town.
They came in a buggy
driven at the astounding rate
OF 10 miles an hour!
They arrived late, after
supper. which was always at
6 O'Clock sharp.
The festivities kept the
supper table going until al
most 8, when the family ad-
journed to the parlor.
Jones can still see it.
There were four chairs
with black bottoms. a sofa Of
some black material. and
an organ.
There was a bookcase in
one corner, with three rows
OF solemn looking books, and
they were even more solemn
than they looked.
Sermons, for one thing.
and very dull sermons, at
that.
Temp Jones tried reading
them. once. but somehow
sermons make little appeal to
one at the age Of 10.
The last time he opened
one Of the books. a big CEN
tipede ran out. and down his
arm.
Have you ever had a cent?
pede run over you?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
Air Force Shifts

/ have read about a pro-
posed move Of MATS Head
quarters from Andrews ALB.
Md. to Scott ALB. Ill. On the
surface. this would not seem
too unusual: but when this
move involves the shifting Of
three other installations -
with the cost probably run
ming into millions of dollars
Of our tax money-then it is
time for the taxpayers to
protest.
The moves are outlined in
Aviation Daily OF June S.
1857. Air Research & Devel-
opment Command TO come
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

from Baltimore to Andrews;
MATS to go to Scott ALB;
Air Training Command, now
at Scott to go to Randolph
ALB, Tex; Aviation Medical
School, now at Randolph, to
move to Brooks ALB, Tex.
The Air Force is playing
chess with our tax dollars.
To me. this looks like a
political move to benefit the
Midwest-at taxpayers ex-
pense; no doubt supported by
influential Senators and
lesser luminaries from that
general area.
Louise X. Morris.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Nature Takes Over Canton Island
By THOMAS R. HENRY

The native insects are few,
as would be expected consid-
ering the difficulty for these
small creatures in crossing
the great wastes of ocean
and. once there, finding a
suitable fare with such q lin
tied plant life. The few that
have survived cause little
difficulty to native plants and
thus offer no problem to the
reStorers. Plants and bugs
have learned to live together
through generations. A quite
serious worry, however, is a
habit of amateur plant low
ers introducing plants by
boat or plane from Hawaii,
Fiji and even the United
States. These plants are
bound to cause trouble for
the new vegetation which
is being planted.
Canton Island" says the
report. lis a free paradise for
insects such as the mealy
bugs that harass native and
introduced grasses and scale
insects that weaken coconut
palms near the hotel. This
likewise makes Canton q
very dangerous stepping
stone for the passage of In
furious pests"
The fishes are plentiful
and colorful. A high proper
ton Of the species appear to
be common to Hawaii, but
careful observation usually
shows minute differences
which would be lost sight Of
when they are studied in q
museum after death. Food
fishes that are wholesome In
Hawaiian waters may be very
poisonous here, especially If
caught IN the lagoon. Such,
for example, are savory
looking red snapper and rock
cod. When eaten they may
cause paralysis severe enough
to end in death.
Bathing Dangerous
Sharks. sting rays and mo-
ray eelS are common in the
lagoon, making bathing both
exciting and dangerous.
There are abundant species
OF nonmicroscopic cruSta-
ceanS on the shores and
rocky marine shelves. The
unusually salty lagoon with
its barren sand and choking
mud is like a desert on
land" able to support but
little life. But it will prob
ably. DR.. Degener says, re-
ward a collector with many
species never before recorded.
Under oceanside rocks. he
says, are extremely colorful
species of those most prim-
tive of worms. the plana-
rianS that when frightened
can split into hundreds of
pieces each of which becomes
a new worm. There are
many ocean reef worms
armed with singing bristles.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

A land OF wolf spiders, OF
cats gone wild. of fishing
dogs, of deadly poisonous
fishes whose colors rival rain
bows
Such is the picture of DESC
late Canton Island in the
South Pacific reported to the
Pacific Science Board of the
National Research Council
here.
1t is an isle of staggering
rats, the only native man.
NAL. The abandoned felines.
before present operations
started. howled among the
war wreckage through the
moonlit nights. They have
nearly annihilated the rats,
a serious problem on most
Pacific islands.
The islands fauna is de-
scribed in a report to the Sci
ence Board which, working
with the ONCE Of Naval Re-
search. is gathering as much
data as possible on the war
enShrined atolls.
At best the land fauna on
Canton Island is meagre, says
the report by DR.. Otto Deg
ener Of the New York Be-
tanical Gardens and Edwin
Gillaspy of the Civil Aero
nautics Authority. Now the
rat is an elusive creature,
hiding in frigate rookeries far
from human habitations. Its
ancestors probably reached
the atoll in the double canoe
Of some adventurous Poly
neSian centuries ago.
Dogs Fish for Sport
Dogs and cats are the only
other mammals. The dogs, Of
many breeds, mostly have
been adopted and domesti-
Gated by the restoration
workers. They have adopted
the curious sport of wading
in shallow water to pounce
on fish which they never eat.
None of the cats, descend
ants Of pets of former in
habitants. have been adopt
ed. They take a heavy toll
of nesting sea birds.
The big wolf spider, which
weaves no web. is everywhere,
running about in the open
seeking for insects. 1t is con-
sidered the islands most eff
Gent insect killer. This spider
not only sucks the juices of
its victims but grinds their
bodies into dustlike particles
which add to the slender sup
ply Of fertile soil. A spider
found often in abandoned
Shacks and bushes is the
geometricus. a very close
relative of the dreaded black
widow and probably equally
poisonous. 1t is mostly immo-
bile in its sprawling web, and
places its spherical egg cases
in a corner of it. No bites
have been reported on
Canton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

@. Where is the Doab?-
z. S.
A. In Hindustani this word
means between two rivers,
and is applied to any tract Of
land so situated. When used
without any place name and
simply called the Doab. it re-
fers to the country between
the Ganges and the Jumna
Rivers. This is an exceed
ingly fertile tract Of land.
500 miles long and SIS miles
broad.
@. How much electricity
does the average home use?
e. V.
A. The Federal Power Com
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17

mission says that average
residential use, on a national
basis. Is 247 kilowatt-h hours
a month. This costs Sill
a month, on a national
average.
@. Do any railroads permit
cats TO ride with their owners
in coaches?-W. +.
A. SO far as we know. the
Baltimore 81 Ohio Railroad
is the only line which permits
pets to travel in day coaches
or Pullmans with their own
ers. This road permits pas
sengers TO take along a we'll
behaved dog or, cat" at no
extra cost.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
NAACP vs.. Murroy

ism exhibited in the COM
plants made by Eugene Da-
wilson against Police Chief
Murray make suspect either
the accuser's sincerity or in
telligence.
For a supposedly respon-
sible man, president of the
D. c. branch of NAACP, to
charge harassment in the
case of a woman whose rec
ord shows more than 100 ar
rests leads only to the con-
cluSion that his is g program
merely of heckling and snip
ing at men doing a good job
in D. c. in the face of ad-
verse conditions.
1t is inconceivable that any
honest person believes that
policemen can remain phys
ically whole by attempting to
handle drug addicts, DRINKS,
and chronic offenders with
kid gloves.
1t is to be hoped that Off
Gals of NAACP will spend
several hours some night soon
on a few streets of Washing
ton appraising the conditions
with which police must cope,
and then, with some honest
remorse in their hearts for
their irresponsible accusa-
tons, direct their consider
able energies toward assist
ing in the improvement of
these conditions.
H. L. Thompson.
Even though greatly UNI
derstaffed, under Maj. Muir
ray. the Metropolitan Police
Department has performed
outstandingly. The drop in
rate of major crimes in the
District and the high morale
of the police officers alone
make his an enviable rec
, ord in this position.
The Southwest Business
Mems Association, therefore,
takes this opportunity to in
dorse and express it's complete
confidence in Mai. Robert v.
Murray, Chief of Police of
the District OF Columbia.
Albert Ginsberg.
President. Southwest Bush
ness Mems Association.
The situation wherein the
NAACP is now undermining
our police department, hav-
ing already undermined our
schools, is shocking. AS I see
it, the charges now publicized
must eventually reeIlt in dis
ruption of our good Police
Department and resignation
of Murray, or. in the alterna-
tive. loss of face to the
NAACP - so good-by MIR.
Murray - you are not the
first. nor will you be the last
to be sacrificed for the cause.
I wonder, though. Just what
is this cause?
J. Jackson.
Recent news stories lead to
the conclusion that when a
white suspect is subdued by
police, that is law and order:
when a Negro suspect is sub
dued. that is brutality: when
a white policeman fails to
attain promotion. that's just
the way the ball bounces,
but when a colored police
man fails that is discrimina-
ton. When an all-colored
group meets, that is exercis-
ing the right of free assem-
bly,: when an all-white group
meets. that is segregation.
That some injustices to
Negroes have occurred cannot
be denied. But like the case
Of the shepherd boy who
cried Wolff" too often, the
NAACP's charges of race
prejudice are losing effect
through the monotony Of rep
etition.
Surely this great Nation of
ours should be able to find
some area Of sanity between
the extremes of the xxx
and the NAACP.
Harry r
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
Imposter!
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used u
letters carry iDTtters' correct
names and addresses. An
letters are subject to conden-
sdtion.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-07-17
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

bI HAShIN
3
Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1957-02-16
Marian Anderson
Award Winner On
Met. Addition
Of The Air

Bloomington, III. Feb. II (Spec-
iaD-Betty June Hodges, Marion
Anderson Scholarship Winner ap-
peared as a contestant on the Met
ropolitan Oprea Addition of the
Air, over ABC network, last Mon
day Morning with Kurt Adler Con-
Quoting the ABC Concert Orch
estra.
Miss Hodges a coloratura sop
rano has studied voice for 9 years
and has attended Illionois Wesleyan
and Boston Universities. She has
performed with the Boston New
Oprea and New England Opera
companies, and is the winner of a
Boston Music Festival Contest,
besides the Marion Anderson Scho-
larship. She sang "Regnava Mel
Silenzio", from Donizetti's Lucia Di
Lammermoor, and "Caro Nome"
from Verdi's Rigoletto".
At the end of the season two
winners are selected to receive
cash awards to further thier voice
studies, and two scholarship
awards.