davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
Wrapped for M1iIino

These are days of decision. as every
Christmas shopper knows. 1t is not
enough to have made the agonizing
choice between the trivet and the pot
holder, between the musical powder box
and the personalized toothpicks. These
objects must be wrapped for mailing,
thereby posing one of the shoppers most
narrowing dilemmas.
The gift-wrapping department,
bright with promise. is generally floors
away. In 1t stand hordeS of people. all
carrying rocking horses, fire shovels and
outdoor barbecue pits. The unwary one
invariably forgetS to take check which
inSures his position in the line. But
let him achieve the counter and his
troubles begin. For the gift-wrapper,
time stands still. She is the mosaic
worker Of our century. Let the shopper
indicate he is on his lunch hour and
would settle for just paper and ribbon
and he will meet the cold eye the artist
has ever directed on the Philistine. Let
him, however. plunge and order the Is
cent job, and he will stand pinned TO
the counter for time out OF mind while
the high prieSteSs of the silver paper
and roSette cult performs her mysterious
rites. Shields and guards of cardboard
rise like medieval Notifications over
these creations, and then the whole,
wrapped in plain brown paper, is handed
over to the shattered shopper who
totters off to the post office.
But is do-it-yourself the answer Say
the shopper takes home his parcel and
acquits himself OF creditable straight
forward jingle bells-paper -with-red-
bow effect. Let him try to armor 1t in
corrugated paper. Amateur wrappers are
always seduced by old boxes which they
Care sure can be beaten into Christmas
present holders. Actually, cardboard
is one OF the most intractable substances
In existence. 1t resists the scissors, and
the peaceful uses of the carving knife.
Try to tear 1t, and the top layer comes
of iaggedly Hack 1t into submission.
and then try to enfold 1t In wrapping
paper. For people with three knees,
the thing is no problem; for others 1t is
an awkward ballet of Illustration as the
corrugated paper viciously, leisurely I'M
curls. Due to the petty insiStence of the
postmaster that every package must be
opened by him (hasn't he anything else
to do?) II the within should strike him,
no sealing is allowed. Thus the chin or
elbow are called into play while the
wrapper tries to encircle 1t with string,
an exercise comparable to lassoing run
ming water.
1t is In moments like these that the
Christmas shopper wishes he could mail
himself to some point that would not
send him back until the day after New
Years.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13

erous Americans. to feed about II mil
lion persons daily during the next year.
The program calls for the distribution
OF 3 million packages Of surplus food to
IL countries in Europe, Asia and Latin
America. In addition. there will be mass
deliveries OF surplus foods to IA nations.
for which no private donations are
necessary. The nations concerned will
pay for the distribution costs OF the
food, contributed by the United States
Government A gift Of one dollar will
cover the packing and distribution costs
for an individual package, containing
% pounds OF vital supplies. A 500 con-
tribution will send a ton Of food. Gifts
should be sent to the Washington office
of CARE, at 1923 Connecticut avenue
NV.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
NJ. Meony's Record

When George Meany gaveled the
second biennial convention Of the ALL
CLIO to adjournment, at least two things
had been proved. One was that he Is
the boss in fact, as well as president by
title, Of the big labor organization. The
other was that his declaration of war
against corruption in member unions.
large or small, was not an empty threat
and that he has the support to win the
battle.
To describe Mr.. Meany as the boss
is not to imply that he is an all-powerful
and arbitrary dictator, The labor fed
Grafton has too many other strong
minded and influential leaders-among
them Walter Reuther of the auto
workers, Dave Mcdonald of the steel
workers and George Harrison of the
railway clerks. for example-to be
steam-rollered by one-man rule Mr..
Meany's reelection as president would
not have been unopposed had he relied
only on heavy-hapded exercise of
power. From the time he succeeded the
late William Green as president of the
AFL in 1852, Mr.. Meany has been DEM
onStrating his skill in labor politics and
his ability to weld together an effective
core OF labor leadership. 1t was largely
by his initiative that the ALL and CLIO
merged in 1855, when Mr. Meany became
the first chief Of the new organization.
Significantly, it has been In the
matter OF union ethics and uncompro-
missing opposition to corruption that Mr..
Meanv has played his strongest role. In
the AL. he had initiated procedures for
expelling the racket-ridden Interna-
tional Longshoremen's Association and
he has blocked their efforts since to join
the AFL-CIO. He was primarily re-
sponSible for creation of the Ethical
Practices Committee and, when the
Senate inquiry uncovered the mess IN
the Transfers Brotherhood. he turned
the federation fire on that union. On a
platform Of mo deals" with corrupt
union leadership. he won the Atlantic
City convention votes expelling the
Tesmsters. the Bakery Workers and the
Laundry Workers. The Textile Workers
and the Distillery Workers have been
placed on probation.
Mr. Neany has plenty of hard work
ahead of him, both within labor and as
one of itS'principal spokesman, His po-
sition has been greatly strengthened,
however, by his most recent perform
ance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Burke. 1t will be someplace
else. II 1t is someplace else.
such as Chantilly. other prop
critics will be threatened as
mine is at Burke. But ! do
feel that the airport should
be so located. and runways
so situated. that the smallest
number Of people viii suffer.
and that these people should
be reimbursed for their suf-
fering. An airport at Chan
tilly would provide conven-'
lent service for Washington
at the lowest social cost. and
provision for the purchase of
easements would transfer the
costs from a group OF prop
erty owners selected by
chance TO the persons bene-
fitting from air transportation.
John r. P0welsOn.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
Holiday Hunger

1t Is hard for the average American
10 realize that the approaching holiday
season will bring only hunger and misery
10 millions Of men, women and children
h faraway places. II is against this
Grab picture OF sordid life that CARE,
ehe American relief agency, is launching
ts 1857 Holiday Food Crusade" in
washington. This is an opportunity for
tnose OF us surrounded by prosperity and
plenty TO take a personal hand in send
ng oody-nourishing gifts Of good will
fnd good cheer to hungry children,
homeless refugees, the aged and ailinp
and other unfortunates this Yuletide.
CARE plans, with the help Of gen.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
Inroods on Nature

II is sad and tragic for
men TO grow to adulthood
without having any respect
for forests or trees. Our
Nations Capital has been
blessed by having beautiful
natural streamsides where
even city young people could
study the development Of soil
and OF forest communities
OF plants and animals. We
can all be thankful for the
patriots who saved for us
Glover-Archbold Park. Rock
Greek Park. and the beautiful
fioodplain forest along the
historic Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal. A bulldozer could de-
stroy these in a few hours.
but no mere man could re-
place what God working
through ages OF time has de-
veloped. Already there are
virtually no wild natural
forested streamsides In the
suburbs.
When Congress accepted
the generous gifts Of Charles
c Glover and Mrs. Anne
Archbold. II was agreed to
keep these beautiful woods
natural. only adding play
ground equipment. How can
we even consider breaking
that promise?
The quiet beauty Of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Canal.
the towpath and the fern
clad bluffs would be COM
pletely destroyed by placing
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13

a highway close to the canal.
No longer could thousands Of
people find Joy there walk
ing. watching birds. fishing.
photographing. bicycling.
studying the plants. canoe
ing or picnicking. The canal
was added 10 the National
Park system and the inten-
ton announced to keep it as
the only sample of our 18TH
century canals. Hundreds
used 10 enjoy Park Service
trips on the canal each sea-
son. Why can't these be con-
tinued. the canal and towpath
be restored where necessary.
wells be provided. and even
hostel service be offered?
Our expanding population is
going TO need recreatlonal
areas fully as much as they
do roads
The aqueduct under part Of
Macarthur boulevard can be
reinforced where needed and
that highway widened. No
road can be put any closer
than Macarthur boulevard
without destroying the charm
Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
Canal and towpath. or course.
between Cabin John and
Whitewater It is utterly IN
excusable to put q highway
beside the beautiful old canal
and towpath that Is so much
used by mixers and natural
lists. There Is a much better
roadbed at q distance from
the canal.
M. A. Graham,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13

A story in The Star of
November e. commenting
upon the diSbarment Of a
member of the bar Of the
Montgomery Bar Association.
namely James H. Bowen,
concluded: "All debts owed
by the corporation we're later
paid by Mr.. Bowen. who sold
his home and borrowed from
his family to do So" The
corporation involved was the
Security Title and Invest
ment Corp.
The above quoted state
ment Is inaccurate. as will
appear from examination Of
the records OF the u. S.
District Court for the Dis
trict Of Columbia in Civil
Action No. l503-52 entitled
VIII P. Mitchell, ct al. v.
Security Title and Investment
Corp. Inc, a body corporate.
On May Is. 1854. a judy
ment in the amount OF $1,000
was awarded against this
corporation. plus court costs
In the amount of $l48.26.
arising out of facts which
occurred in September. 1851.
when this corporation was
still IN business. and when
Mr.. Bowen was the acting
president Of the said corpora
ton.
This Judgment has never
been paid or otherwise salts
ned. and since 1t was unap-
pealed from. is q ANAL and
subsisting Judgment.
Earl II. Davis.
Editors Note: The last
paragraph OF the story re-
ferred to was based on q por-
ton Of the seven-page opin-
ion filed on November IS,
1857, in Montgomery County
Circuit Court. This opinion
accompanied the court order.
signed by two judges, which
diSbarred Mr.. Bowen. The
debts" paragraph was based
on the following excerpt from
the judges opinion: g. by
selling his home. and by bor-
rowing from his family, Mr.,
Bowen was able 10 satisfy all
OF the obligations mentioned
except the FIRE Insurance.
premiums" This vas aven-
tually paiG)
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13

and whites. an endearing
small one with the big head
and bill.
What's that big bill for.
fellows?"
To hold more fish, Of
course
For November. We have the
Javan heart-spotted wood
pecker. the male brown. with
a flaming outstanding crest
and wild look in his eager
little eye.
And last but not least. for
December. the black-crested
Psrus Of the Himalayas. the
male with a neat black
crest, white under the throat.
and vermillion along the
sides.
One of the best uses of this
calendar. next TO its day-by-
day utility. something in
which all calendars do their
best work, is the chance Of
comparing these exotic num-
bers with our everyday birds.
Then We see that our own
natural birds are best, after
all.
Is this because a human
being naturally fayprs his
own?
Or is it because our own.
really. are best?
They are best. We believe,
because they represent our
own land, our own people.
our own ways and our own
resources.
The Lord long ago placed
the birds Of the world in their
proper habitat.
Efforts to transplant them
have. in the main. failed.
Some simply do not pros
per in new homes, others
change from good birds TO
bad" birds in the new locale.
Thus We see again that
birds. as well as animals and
people. probably do best
where nature first planted
them. This is not to overlook
the many and important mi
grations in history.
We still insist that people.
as well as birds, should be
left alone. to work out their
own destinies.
In this way they become
more themselves. through the
centuries. and less the peo-
pie they conquer.
You don't see the Riggs
Banks IA exotic birds mi
grating to America.
No. they like 1t best in
Australia, etc, from which
they send us Christmas greet
ings.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
Impressive Scene

! was on my way back to
the ONCE from attending a
funeral service for an Army
colleague in Arlington Ma
tional Cemetery. The car
followed the winding roads
that lace this hallowed place.
The beautiful foliage that is
Arlington in summertime had
turned to the cold gray Of
winter.
The car suddenly turned
past q part of the cemetery
where white markers crowded
against one another. line
upon line Of them. from top
to bottom of the whole Sec
ton To our casual glance,
no one marker seemed differ
ent from the others. To three
people there. however. in the
midst OF the section, one
marker and one grave seemed
supremely important. A
woman and two little girls
were kneeling on the cold
ground there. Their hands
were poised in the beautiful
supplication of prayer. Their
heads were bowed.
1t was a scene to stay for
ever in ones memory. II
spoke OF the basic beliefs Of
loyalty and faith that have
been characteristics Of ad-
vancing American life from
the beginning. Previous ma
tional testings revealed the
presence Of these and other
American virtues and their
uncomfortable strength. In
the present national emer-
gency. they will lead us for
ward.
Star RAadar
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
Public Transit

Two recent Star editorials
are more related TO each
other than their titles. Fate
OF Streetcars" December -
and Too Many Automo-
biles" December s.. may
imply. The former refers TO
efforts by the Save the
Streetcars Emergency Com
mittee" 10 have the d. c.
Transit Systems franchise
revised 10 permit retention
Of streetcars. The latter sug-
gestS that the only solution
to the impact Of inclement
weather upon traffic is for
everyone 10 stav AZ home.
Certainly the Russian gov
eminent functions normally
when il SHOWS in Moscow,
which has an average an
nual temperature Of only
80 degrees)
The principal reason that
mild snow storm can Grip
pie the functions OF our Fed
eral Government Through
late arrivals, early dismissals.
and absenteeism) Is the fail
ure Of the city and transit
company to have corpora
lively developed a modern
RAN transport system. Only.
rail transportation is de-
pendable in al weather.
THE streetcars proved their
worth in the recent storm.
They were delayed only by
automobiles stalled on the
tracks, The existing street
railway system forms a nu-
cleus for q potential rapid
transit network. Retention
Of this system would be a
major step toward develop
ing a swift. dependable mod
ern urban passenger railway
system.
A recent survey conducted
by Fortune magazine deter
mined that 81 per cent Of
motorists entering downtown
Washington would prefer to
travel by rapid transit If such
facilities were available TO
them. Thirty-hve per cent
Of all people entering down
town already use public
trensit. the survey found. So.
II Washington had a fast rail
transport system. SO per cent
Of the commuters would
utilize II. If SO per cent OF
the commuters had been
travelling by rapid transit
during the recent storm. GER
tainly there would not have
been so many lost man-hours.
In addition. shopping and
recreation travel could have
continued at a normal pace.
The Save the Streetcars
Emergency Com mite e"
should be encouraged in its
task. because the other al
ternate-all automobile and
bus transport - would GER
tainly lead to chaos in severe
inclement weather. Except
for Detroit which. inciden-
tally, is clamorinR for an ex-
tensive rapid transit system.
Washington would become
the largest city in the world
without electric rail trans
portationD
Gordon J. Thompson,
Secretary. Metropolitan
Planning Associates.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
Qualification

In your December 5 article
on the Burke airport hear
ings. you quoted me as pro-
posing that the airlines or
the Government be required
to purchase easements which
would help cushion aircraft
noises in the approach zone. +"
/ am somewhat overwhelmed
by the miraculous character
iStics which you attribute to
an easement. II an easement
can cushion noise. ! am pre-
pared TO attach one to my
! ll-month-old baby's bed
room!
Your reporter apparently
does not realize that an ease
ment is not a mechanical de-
vice. but a legal technique.
1t is a grant of privileges
exercisabie by one person on
the property of another. Air
lines are accustomed, under
certain circumstances, to buy
air easements over land sur
rounding an airport, accord
ing to the terms Of which
the owners agree not TO con-
stiuct buildings above a GER
tain height. so as not to in
terfere with ow-fiying planes.
At the Burke airport hear
ing, I pointed out that the
value OF residences already
constructed in the APP
proaches-that is, right of
the ends Of runways-will
surely decline owing to the
noise and risk OF accident. I
suggested that the airlines or
Government should be re-
quired to purchase air ease
ments over a V-shaped area
starting at the end Of the
runways and continuing for
a distance Of. say. five miles.
Not only would this protect
the companies from the cree
ton Of distractions. but II
would also reimburse prop
erty owners for their losses.
This suggestion would apply
whether the airport is To-
Gated at Burke, Chantilly. or
any other site.
] went on to point out that
there are far more residents
living In the approaches to
Burke than at any other site.
In Its calculations for Burke,
the Civil Aeronautics Author
ity has not considered the
social cost" to residents liv-
ing off the ends Of runways.
II this social cost were trans
formed into a monetary out
lay by the airlines-throueh
the requirement to purchase
easements--they might not
feel so inclined to insist upon
Burke with utter disregard
for the feeling of the resi-
dents In the vicinity.
! am fighting the Burke
airport because Of the dam
age II does TO so many people.
II is not without a twinge Of
conscience that ! fight II.
however. because l realizs
that there must he an air.
portland II 1t is not IT
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
YlSTAS IN SCIENCE
BY THOMAS r. HENRY
Can Man Delay or Divert Hurricanes?

structure. But all three Of
these elements tend to 30
concentrated along spiral
bands.
3. Hurricanes frequently
move along an irregular path
which oscillates back and
forth across the relatively
straight path the storms arn
believed to have followed in
the past. Some of these oscil-
lations have q relatively short
period Of three to six hours,
and some a period Of IL to 80
hours.
1t now has been well estab-
lished. the report says, that
the primary energy source for
hurricanes is the warm,
moist. tropical air in the
areas where the great storms
form. AS this warm, moist air
converges In towards the
storm center 1t accumulates
additional latent and sensible
heat from the warm ocean
surface. Near the center the
air rises rapidly and most Of
its water vapor is condensed
TO liquid water, thus releas-
ing great quantities of latent
heat. In some way a small
quantity Of this heat is con-
verted into energy for driving
the hurricane winds, but the
mechanism for transforming
the energy remains pretty
much Of a mystery"
Old Theory Discarded
In the past it generally
was believed that the great
storms developed only when
there was excessive heating
at some place in the tropics.
The heated air, it was held,
would rise and cause clouds
which would develop into
showers. The more intense
the heating the heavier the
showers. until finally a storm
was formed covering q wide
area.
Close examinations have
shown, however, that hurri.
canes form in areas where
there is very little change in
sea surface temperatures over
great distances. Showers
form over tropical oceans
during much Of the year and
very few Of them ever de-
velop into such violent
storms.
Thus the real genesis Of
the hurricane remains es-
sentially unknown. although
various theories have been
developed. There must be
other forces than those pos
tulated.
1t Is now known. however,
that hurricanes form only
over the tropical oceans
where the water tempera-
ture is at least 30 F. and
where showers are occur
ring. The higher ocean tenn
peratureS are essential for
heating the air until it is
buoyant and able to hold a
sufficient amount Of water
yapor.
But also. the report
stresses. it is necessary to
have some pre-existing dis
turbance in the normally
steady trade-wind circula-
ton Of the tropics. An OBJ
ject Of the present studies is
to determine the causes and
nature of such q disturbance.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-12-13
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL

Sometimes the local bird
watcher concentrates too
closely on the species at
hand.
The world is full Of birds.
some Of them marvellous 70
behold. and Riggs National
Bank has remembered this
fact this season.
In its annual Christmas
greetings calendar the local
institution shows II colored
pictures of foreign birds,
some Of them literally "out
Of this world"
Here We have the Paradise
f1ycatcher Of India with i'm
menSely long tail. and the
white-breasted swallow of
Australia as Introductory:
then one for each month Of
1858.
These pictures of tropical
birds. colorful cousins of IA
miliar birds. were drawn from
nature by John Gould. who
lived between 1904 and 1881.
The illustrations are small
but nicely done.
For January, we have the
Bevans bullfinch of India.
with rufous breast, something
like that of our robins.
For February. the emerald
cuckoo Of India. Burma,
Siam and Ceylon. This is a
green beauty with barred
breast.
In March. Guerin's he'll
met crested hummingbird.
whose feature is the odd
crest.
This species is native to
the Colombian Andes.
Viewers will contrast 1t
with our own small hummer,
and find ii a true cousin.
For April. a charming IN
dian kingfiSher of Eastern
Asia is presented. This one
is a dream bird. with the
chubby look Of all kingfish-
ers. all head and bill.
Mays calendar shows the
beautiful grass finch Of
Australia. q flying Easter
egg in red. green. yellow and
blue. perched on what APP
pears to be star grass.
In June. we have the
white-tailed swallow Of In
dia. with red on its head,
its wings brilliant blue.
In July. the graceful wren
OF Australia. land Of mar
velous animals and birds.
the male in red. white. blue
and brown.
The August page shows
the Solomon Island fruit
pigeon Of the Southwest
Pacific, notably green, cerise
and yellow. with a blue tail.
a real eyecatcher.
September's bird is the tur-
quoisine superb warbler Of
Australia. a natty fellow in
blues and browns.
.
Gor October. q tiny one
called the little king1Sher OF
australia. 4 picture in blues