davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
In Right Direction

The Washington Metropolitan Re-
gional Conference made a move In the
right direction when 1t called on taxi
cab companies in the Washington area
to agree on uniform rates for trips from
: the District to Virginia and Maryland.
This would have to be a voluntary
arrangement, of course, as there is no
regulatory agency to control fares
charged for such interstate operations.
Nevertheless, the taxicab industry
ought to set up some sort of reasonable
schedule in the interest of protecting
the public from profiteering fees by
some INSCRIPTIONS drivers. The industry
gets black eye when visitors to WASH
ington complain that they have been
taken for ride" financially as well as
literally. There may be abuses even
under a voluntary system of standard
lied rates, Of course, but the public
would have some idea of what 1t should
pay for services across the District line
and could apportion its patronage &C
cordingly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
Woman Driver

II we had any reason for going to
Mississippi later this year, we would try
to "hitch" ride with Mrs Clarissa Lud-
lum. At rs, Mrs. Ludlum has proved
convincingly enough that she is a first
class automobile driver and has been for
the past 81 years. The record, or rather
the lack Of record, speaks for itself.
In 1908, Mrs. Ludlum learned to drive a
one-cylinder Cadillac right here in the
District of Columbia. She has been
driving ever since, and not until last
summer was she charged with any traffic
violation. She was ticketed then for
failing to yield the right of way at an
intersection, but she did not have much
trouble convincing the Municipal Court
that 81 years of giving full time and
attention" to rules of the road cast more
than a reasonable doubt on the alleged
violation.
There have been all kinds OF
statistics land snide remarks) about the
female driver. The prevailing land gen.
orally male view is that women behind
the wheel are menace to life and limb
Mrs. Ludlum and her record provide
persuasive rebuttal. She is planning to
drive to Mississippi soon to visit some
relatives. We think she will make 1t all
right.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18

AS considerable confusion
has been created by the some
what indifferent summary Of
Prime Minister gNehru's reply
to a question at q Tokyo press
conference regarding the
presence of foreign troops in
Hungary and Japan. I quote
below a statement Mr.. Nehru
has given in Qualification.
In an interview given TO the
Japanese news agency Kyodo,
the Prime Minister said:
THE other day / asked at q
press conference about Amer
lean forces In Japan and my
answer has. to my surprise.
been greatly misrepresented
and misunderstood. Indeed.
something has been reported
which I expressly denied. that
is. a comparison of American
forces in Japan with Russian
forces in Hungary. When !
was asked If ] thought II the
two were on the same level,
I expressly replied that I
thought the reverse Of this.
The conditions are totally
different. / added that ! could
not make a comparison. This
is for the Japanese people to
consider. ! added. however.
that no country to my knowl-
edge likes the presence OF
foreign troops on its soil
though this may happen for
a limited period or because Of
special circumstances"
M. ID. Shahane.
Public Relations Attache
Embassy Of India.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
Halloween Twist

In many towns through
out the Nation tiny ghosts
and Raggedy Andys have
been ringing doorbells on
Halloween with a new pur-
pose. They carry empty milk
cartons to be filled with
coins for the United Nations
Children's Emergency Fund.
Any group here in the WASH
ington community might join
In this project; Cub Scouts,
Brownies. Sunday school
classes and school groups.
Is not this q Halloween ira
dition which we all could be
proud TO share?
Anna schmits
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
In Perspective

In recent days we have heard lot
Of distinguished Americans declare. and
rightly so. that nothing could be more
foolish or perilous than to underesti-
mate the high quality Of Soviet science
and technology. The launching Of
Sputnik, the earth satellite. is proof
enough Of that, and anybody who thinks
otherwise Is living In a wishful dream
world far removed from the hard
realities of our time.
Yet, with that said, there is some
reason to add that 1t would be equally
absurd for any Of us to 60 to the other
extreme Of regarding Sputnik as con-
elusive evidence that the United States
has suddenly become scientifically and
technologically inferior to the USSR.
In certain American circles there has
been arather panicky and almost hys-
terical tendency to fear that Russia's
artificial moon means that the inter-
national balance Of military power has
turned decisively against. our country.
However, although that could be its
potential meaning II we did nothing
about 1t but sit on our hands. the truth
is-judging from the comments Of our
highest authoritieS-that no such turn
ing has taken place. that we still have
the advantage in aerial striking power.
and that we are not going to lose the
missile race as long as we do whatever
may be necessary to hold our own in 1t.
Indeed, as indicated by Nikita Khru-
shchev in his recent interview with
James Reston of the New York Times,
the Russians themselves, even though
they have been first In putting up an
earth satellite, do not believe that they
can count on permanently outShining
or understanding US in the scientific and
chronological fields. On the contrary,
they apparently feel that we are still
ahead of them in many significant
ways, and that the competition between
them and us Is likely to be a neck-and-
neck affair, with first one side ahead
and then the other, for long time to
come. Listen, for example, to A. I. Berg,
one Of their leading savants. Speaking
at a special Moscow meeting in honor
of Sputnik, he has warned his country
men not to harbor "a misplaced delu-
sion" about the United States. As he
has put it, Soviet scientists were always
distinguished for their modesty and lack
Of boastfulneSS. That Is why hardly
any of us think that American scien-
lists and engineers are tagging behind
US"
Although this sounds remarkably
like an American statement admonish-
ing us not to underrate the Russians, 1t
comes from a Russian telling other
Russians not to pooh-pooh us. In its
own way, 1t serves as timely reminder
that we ought not to belittle ourselves
too much. We have no reason to feel
complacent, but we could do worse than
keep the present situation in perspective
by remembering that we are still very
powerful Nation-and we will continue
to be second to none in that sense If We
remain alert and do all that the age
requires of us.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18

Just why one does or
doesn't read on q bus has
never been explained.
Pseudo explanations there
are in plenty. such as that
the vehicles jog too much.
and that the reader is inter-
fered with by people who
insist on looking over the
shoulder.
These and other arguments
have a bit of truth in them.
Of course, but the real rea-
son is that people are too in
teresting.
The person who never
reads in a public vehicle be-
longs to this class. whether
he knows it or not.
He may soothe his con-
science, as 1t were. by saying
something else: he may even
believe that he hates people.
Actually. he loves human
beings, mainly because they
interest him.
Often he is q reader, and
has been exposed to that best
Of limitations. novels, which
are about people.
He may not agree with the
dictum that reading stories is
a sort of vicarious living.
All he knows is that the
long story, no matter what 1t
is called. interests him be-
cause it is about life and the
way it is lived.
If you go back to the
ancient Greeks and Romans,
and even before them, you
GOMEZ as a reader. squareIy
up against the eternal human
being.
The eternal feminine;
this old phrase lacks some
thing. because it takes in just
one sex, and there are two.
~
The beauty of the story,
since Homer's time, is that 1t
understands this very well.
The real interest OF a bus
trip is that both sexes pre-
represented.
The bus passenger gets a
full share of life every time
he drops his token into the
box.
Most passengers know this.
Despite their frozen faces.
they do not miss a thing.
When a loud voice comes
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18

Weirdfigote Birds on Canton Island
Dy THOMAS R. HENRY

boob-yictims overlap at the
edges.
The frigate birds, the re-
port quotes a CAA publica-
ton, escort the stupid,
spoon-billed gannets out TO
feed on schools of squid and
small fish. When the gam
nets get craws full and set
sail for home to feed their
young, the .cruel. curve
billed twas dive screaming
after them. seize them by the
tails. and sling the food out
Of the mouths of the smaller
birds. This the twas scoop
up on the wing. This goes
on from dawn to dusk. The
war cries Of the frigates and
plaintive screams Of the fee
ing gannets culver down the
trade winds like the wailings
Of lost souls"
1t Is commonly reported
that frigate birds, lacking
webbed feet, never land on
the surface of the water,
because they cannot take OF
again. This, says the report,
is not true, because frequently
small fiocks are seen to land
playfully on the Canton Is
land lagoon, float and rise
again apparently without
effort.
Tame or stupid
THE birds nesting In the
scaevola," says the report,
ARE tame or, depending on
the point Of view, too inno-
cent or stupid to fly from
their nests when approached.
The explanation for this
habit is their nesting from
time immemorial in areas
where no predatory animals,
two or four legged, ever have
existed. (This, by the way,
is q notable characteristic Of
bird life in the Antarctic. The
notorious skuas, with whom
even the frigates hardly could
compare for blood-thirsti-
ness, win not even bother
to move when man passes
through a flock Of them on
the ice.) Tame birds were not
killed of but lived to repro
duce their kind. Now, unfor.
'tunately, Pacific islanders EN-.
ployed as laborers. OCCASION
ally club the nesting birds at
night preparatory to a feast.
Such vandalism and resulting
pandemonium in the rock
cries should be stopped by
legislation.
The ancestors of these and
other kinds Of sea birds have
inhabited Canton Island dur
ing the nesting seasons ever
since its existence, catching
fish and other sea life as
food for themselves and their
nestlings. They are primarily
responsible for the guano.
great supplies Of which gave
the island its only economic
importance in the past. Some
is still left. 1t is rich in
phosphates, ammonium, oxa-
late and urate. all essential
in fertilizers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
Our QueenIy Guest

Washington, accustomed as 1t Is to
entertaining distinguished visitors, in
cluding royalty, has taken Britain's
young and gracious Queen to its heart
with a warmth rarely matched and
certainly never exceeded.
There was nothing blase about the
reaction Of the crowds which waved and
cheered Elizabeth and her popular con-
sort, Prince Philip, as they rode to the
White House yesterday. Nor were the
interest and the enthusiasm inspired
merely by the fact that she was the first
feigning British Queen to come to our
city. There was spontaneity to the
demonstration, a depth of feeling, that
grew out of something more than the
knowledge that a historical incident
was in the making. The emotional re-
spouse was a natural human expression
Of admiration for Queen who combines
dignity with charm, authority with
compassion, regal bearing with womanly
and altogether human qualities in every
word and gesture.
Furthermore, we were welcoming
back friend who had done us the
honor Of previous visit-an erstwhile
Princess who has become ruling head
Of huge empire. Perhaps some of our
emotions were tinged with sympathy for
q young woman who must live in a
showcase and who, despite her smiles
and outward calm, carries burdens that
ought not be imposed on anESne so
youthful.
SO 1t was really not surprising that
Elizabeth and Philip were accorded y
rousing, democratic reception on their
arrival in our town. Nor did 1t require
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
On Greeting VIPs

Denying Montgomery
County students the privi-
lege of representing the Ma
tons youth in greeting visit
ing dignitaries is an old. ar
chaic. standing policy Of the
Montgomery school system
which should be seriously re-
examined. AS an integral
part Of the Greater Washing
ton area, Montgomery Coun-
ty should. instead, urge its
school children. employees.
and residents TO participate,
as representatives Of the Ma
ton as a whole, in welcom-
ing heads Of foreign powers
to our Capital. With the
modern SHOW and tell" field
trip and excursion methods
of education. it would seem
more sensible to offer bus
transportation to all school
children and to encourage
group attendance. rather
than Internationally deny
the children the thrilling and
exciting experience Of seeing
a queen, king or president
from another country.
When our Federal Govern
ment obviously desires to
arouse a warm and hearty
welcome for visiting digni-
taries, indifference on the
part Of local governments is
in very poor taste and oppo-
sition is a betrayal of their
innate responsibility to the
rest Of the American people.
1t should be a recognizable
fact that the tenor Of the
greeting afforded royal Wis
itors BY our area peoples
will influence the success Of
the visit and can have an
effect. good or bad. on for
eign policy. as well. Thus.
residents of Montgomery
County and other suburban
areas should examine the
attitudes and policies of
their school officials in CO.
operating with the Federal
Government in these good
will gestures, and urge
greater support and particle
patton where found lacking.
Jean r. Moore
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
Neglected Study?

The article by Dorothy
Thompson on october Is.
although written with regard
to q particular incident. de-
serves serious consideration
by all thinking persons rela-
tive to our present-day edu-
cational theories In the pub
lie schools. Not only did the
reading and discussion Of the
men and their writings she
mentions give the student
a decent perspective. but they
lent q tone TO his thinking
which seems TO be sadly lack
ing today.
In addition to the studies
Miss Thompson mentions. In
the eighth grade Of the
Washington schools. when !
attended back in the middle
nineties. we had q book en-
titled ''Fiske's Civil Govern
ment" which gave the stu
dent an insight into our
form Of government and the
division Of authority be-
tween State and Nation.
From reading the various
letters written to editors.
articles by columpists. not TO
mention some editorials, it
would appear that many Of
the writers have no concep-
ton whatever Of the systems
Of government under which
we are supposed to live. I
suppose instruction by the
schools today in this field
would be considered alto
gether outmoded by our
superior" educational au-
thorities. but it might be a
good time for I'VE, the Peo-
pie" to begin thinking about
again Incorporating such q
study in our schools.
w. r. Graham
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
Gracious Queen

Queen Elizabeth's heavy
schedule, we note, includes a
visit to Children's Hospital.
What q gracious thing for
her to do. Just think what
it will mean to the morale
of these youngsters to have
a real. live fairy queen in
their midst.
A verse from the Bible is
SO appropriate: IF We fulfill
the Royal law-Thou shalt
love thy neighbor as thy self
-ye do we'll"
Esther McCrossan.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18

II 1t had not been for ma
jority rule. Ike would not
have been elected to the
position he holds today. Ma
jority rule Is the backbone
Of this country. So why
should nine men have their
way forced upon thousandse
And since when should a
court order be enforced to
such extremes? I always
thought Congress passed the
laws. This is the first time
in my memory that the court
could make a law and the
President enforce 1t with
bayonets.
This is the last Of the Re-
publican Party. 1t will take
20 years or more to overcome
this f1aSco.
Ex-Republican.
-
In the light Of Little Rock.
the Asian flu. imitation and
tight money. what we. need
more than anything else is
a good-old-fashioned sense Of
humor a-la-Will Rogers. II
the tension gets any tighter,
we'll all be in the nut house.
! realize that all Of our prob
lens are serious and each
situation calls for serious at
tention by calm. clear think
ing individuals but we all
need a good laugh in spite of
everything. What may look
like our darkest hour in 1857
can yet be turned into some
thing wonderful II we'll keep
our sense Of humor. I still
believe in the good" in
America. I still believe that
there is more love and under
standing in our country than
all the hate and misunder-
standing put together. This
misunderstanding in Little
Rock seems to once again pit
us against one another.
There are many wrong things
being done in the legislative.
judicial and executive
branches Of our Government
today, just as there we're
many years ago. but the
average American of all races
and creeds Is much better of
than he was 100 years ago
and there is more love and
more understanding In our
country. May we all retain
a sense of humor in spite Of
all outward appearances.
Philip G. Warner.
The Republican Party
which. in alleged contrast
with the Democratic Party.
prides itself upon keeping
America out of war. has
now for the second time
In our history initiated a civil
war by launching upon the
filimsiest Of pretexts a Hit
ler-like invasion Of Arkansas.
It is stated that the Re-
sistance Of the white citizenry
OF Arkansas, referred TO in
variably as a mob. constitutes
defiance Of law and order.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
THIS AND THAT
By CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

from the rear Of q packed
vehicle. stop and open the
door. a girl has tainted here!"
every person in the bus comes
to attention.
The driver. intent on traf-
fic, requires a second or two
for the thing to register.
Then he swerves over to the
curb and brings the bus to q
stop.
A large man. who looks
something like q doctor, has
the case in hand.
He takes the young woman
by the shoulders, and another
passenger seizes her legs, and
they carry her down the back
steps and place her on the
sidewalk.
As all passengers crane
their necks. the big man
takes of his large felt hat
and fans the girl vigorously.
She succumbs slowly and
gracefully, dropping on the
sidewalk.
Here comes a druggist"
says someone.
why don't they send for
an ambulance?" asks another.
The astute passenger. he
who has read many books,
and taken many bus trips.
gets more out of the situation
than most.
He had noticed the young
lady as she entered, blocks
back. He would.
A pretty girl. he thought.
as he noted her blond hair.
Real blends are hard to
come by. nowadays.
And so this was she. out
there on the hard pavement.
waiting for the ambulance.
while one stranger famed her
with his hat. and another
took her pulse.
It was a story no one
aboard the bus was fated to
know the end of. because
everybody finally got of and
took another bus. where they
jostled on downtown IS min
utes late for work. But it
was worth it. for this was life,
in little, with sickness and
maybe disaster played UP big
for q few minutes and then
forgotten, in the modern
manner.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18
Syrian Crisis

One Of the stranger aspects of the
so-called crisis In Syria is the difference
between the Syrian and Russian notes
calling for an on-the-scene United
Nations investigation.
The Syrian note is relatively re-
strained. II says there is an unprece-
dented and unwarranted concentration
of Turkish troops near the Syrian border
and that they are disposed in manner
which "presages imminent attack" It
also speaks Of anti-Syrian groups which
have fed into Turkey. and which have
been active, with foreign" help, in
attempts to overthrow the pro- Commu-
mist Syrian government. However, the
note does not specifically accuse the
Turks Of planning to attack Syria, nor
does 1t charge the United States with
melting the Turks to such action.
Foreign Minister Gromyko, speak
Ing. he said. for the Soviet government,
went all the way out. He said there Is
reliable information that the Turkish
General Staff. together with American
advisers, has elaborated detailed plans
for an attack by Turkey on Syria after
the elections in Turkey on October ~
OF this year." He said the United States
already sis openly declaring its inten-
ton directly to intervene with armed
forces on the side Of Turkey to commit
aggression against Syria" (What the
United States actually has said is that
1t win come to Turkeys aid II Turkey
is attacked by RuSsia.) Finally, accord
ing to Mr.. Gromyko. "the United States,
while prodding Turkey to commit ag-
erosion against Syria, is urging that
this operation should be carried out with
lightning speed and that the United
Nations should be confronted with a
fait accompl in order that 1t may have
no time to take steps to prevent
aggression"
This is truly remarkable series of
accusations for anyone, even Mr.. Gro
myko, to make In a formal statement
to the U. N. They not only 60 far beyond
anything that Syria has said. They also
strongly suggest, when Mr.. Gromyko
speaks Of reliable information" that
he Is prepared to offer proof of his
charges.
We do not believe that the charges
are true, or that he has any such proof.
However, one never knows. Therefore,
the Syrian demand for appointment Of
a U. N. commission to make an on-the-
scene Investigations demand that Is
strongly and specifically Endorsed by
Mr.. Gromyko-ought to be welcomed
and promptly acted upon. The U. N.
commission should go to the scene to
investigate, and 1t also should call upon
Syria and Mr.. Gromyko, especially the
latter. to produce every scrap of EVIL
dence they may have in support Of their
charges. II there Is no evidence, or II
something Is produced which is shown
to be phony, the commission should not
hesitate to call lie a lie.
For our part, we are unable to
fathom the Russian motive In making
these charges. and demanding an in
vestigation, II the investigation will
show that they are not telling the truth.
We do not see how this could serve any
Russian purpose-whether 1t be a prop
uganda objective or something else. It
will be best, however, to await the
results Of the investigation-and then
to form ones judgment accordingly.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-10-18

My 3-year-old grandson.
Just back from Germany. has
a new name for the Washing
ton Monument. Upon seeing
1t for the first time since a
baby. he exclaimed: "Oh. look
at the big rocket" Now, when
riding downtown. he keeps
saying: Show me the rocket"
Mary E. Yates.