davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
IN SCIENCE
Strange Growths in Jopon's Forests
By THOMAS R. HENRY

Following q trail above this
waterfall DIR. Creech pene-
trated into an uncut jungle
Of vines and dense shrubs.
One Of the most common
varieties was an almost ex-
tinct evergreen plant Of the
general pea and bean family
which was distinguished BY
dark, purple fruits. Hitherto
he had searched widely for
this plant which is reputed
to have some medicinal value.
Descending out Of the for
est" the collector relates.
I'VE plunged into q dark,
gloomy woods along the
stream and came upon q
second. but smaller. water
fall. Here filmy ferns grew
in the stream-eroded. drip
ping walls. We observed
azaleas with leaves less than
a fourth inch long and an
ericad u plant of the heath
family which resembled an
epyphite (orchid) more than
q terrestrial plant. There
were unusual orchids but 1t
was impossible to reach them
as the trees grew of at an
angle from the edge Of the
cliff. Even the local forester.
who normally would climb
any tree. refused to make the
collection.
Temples Of Cypress
Our final stop on Xii PEN
insula was at the Grand
Shrine Of Ise. The temples are
constructed entirely Of Hinoki
cypress polished to a brilliant
orange. To provide for new
structures, a large forest OF
this cypress Is maintained. A
part of the forest is permit
ted to develop naturally and
collecting seldom is permitted.
1t is said to contain trees
more than 1000 years old"
In this forest were found
evergreen oaks with leaves
almost identical with holly
leaves. Several seedlings were
shown DR.. Creech as new spe-
cies of holly. There also was
a rare evergreen cherry
which. he believes. may be q
valuable addition to Southern
gardens.
In another collecting area
he came upon trees so feet
high with polished orange
trunks which were especially
abundant in the mountains.
He also reports a species OF
rhododendron which blooms
on tree branches like an
orchid.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
BoIsterinq Police

The District has a very
good police force and 1t is
doing everything possible TO
combat crime with the num-
Der Of men available. Under
the circumstances. II seems
TO me the Commissioners
could work out a plan TO have
the United States armed
forces detail men to the po-
lice department. These men
should be permitted to vol
unteer for this assignment.
A scout car and a patrol
wagon have two police ON
GERS each. Substitute one po-
liceman with a soldier in each
vehicle. Where policemen
work double on a beat, sub
stitute one policeman with a
soldier. With the number OF
policemen replaced by SOL
diers. they could be used to
good advantage and would
temporarily bring the force
close to the number OF men
that Congress appropriated
salaries for.
AS q number Of policemen
have served In the armed
forces. 1t would be good ex-
perience and an asset for a
man who has received an
honorable discharge from
the service II he elected to
try for the police force or
any other law enforcement
agency. BY all means make
the policeman's salary IT.
tractive. Joseph w. lfelN Lie
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
Free Market Place
The so-called fair trs

The So-called fair trade movement,
under steadily heavier attack in recent
years, has suffered a major setback in
the decision by General Electric to
abandon efforts to Ak minimum retail
prices for its small home appliances.
Within hours, Sunbeam Corporation, a
principal competitor of G-E, followed
suit and price cutting by as much as
so per cent has been reported in many
cities. Although Westinghouse aban-
doned price-flxing efforts more than two
years ago, the fact that G-E is dominant
in its industry and has fought a long
and costly battle to maintain its price
controls makes its surrender a more
important breach in the fair trade front.
The fair trade movement reached
It's high point about 1910 when As States
were giving manufacturers of branded
goods the legal privilege of setting retail
price floors Only Missouri, Texas and
Vermont-and the District of Columbia
remained free price Jurisdictions.
Within a decade, however, the front
began to crumble under adverse deci-
sions from State and Federal courts and
only 80 States now give legal sanction
to the practice. Since about 1850, the
rise of the discount house-invariably
operating with minimum of overhead
and selling at specific percentages below
established prices-has made 1t increas-
ingly diflcult for manufacturers to hold
the price lines. Conventional merchan-
dising establishments were left at a
competitive disadvantage. For their part,
manufacturers we're reluctant to cut of
supplies to discount houses that provided
q large wholesale market
Some persuasive arguments have
been made by the fair traders, but OH
the whole the concept appears to be
collapsing under the preSsures OF COM
petition in private enterprise economy.
1t has been demonstrated that retailers
can make profits at lower markups than
the manufacturers have specified ana
that customers are determined to shop
for che better prices. II fair trade is
difAcult to enforce in the courts, 1t is
even more digflcult to enforce In che
market place. In The long run, the
retail industry undoubtedly will adjust
fully 20 these economic facts Of he.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
THIS AND THAT
Bv CHARIES s TPATEWEII

est branches Of the oak tree,
guarding their claim.
Il shall never forget that
afternoon.
Sincerely. DOROTHY j."
FALLS CHURCH, Va.
Dear Sir:
Il wonder II you are get
ting many reports OF robins?
There seem to be quite a
few of them around. and 1t is
somewhat Of a problem what
and how to feed them.
Apparently they are not
grain-eating birds. and
have never seen them at the
suet stations around our
house.
Just at present, ten or
twelve robins and even a few
cedar waxwings are feasting
on holly berries near our din
ing room window. but at the
present rate OF consumption.
this food won't last much
longer.
AT least they have az
forded me the opportunity TO
make some color slides OF
robins against a back
ground Of holly leaves, ber-
ries and snow still clinging TO
the branches.
IF you can suggest any
food they will eat. and ways
Of placing it where they will
come to 1t, I shall be much
obliged.
Very truly yours. c. e. G."
The plight OF the robin In
the cold is one that stirs the
heart strings.
They are. however. very
hardy birds. and somehow
manage to get by. They seek
shelter in evergreens at night.
and, II they can f1nd food.
do very we'll for themselves,
even If they have come north
a bit too early.
Seedless raisins are the
best food for them. The sugar
content Of these CONNECTIONS.
loved by many Of the soft
billed birds. is very high. and
this carbohydrate Is Just
what they need for energy
and warmth.
A bird needs very little Of
this rich food. Our pet mock
ingbird. old Tommy. eats but
three at a time. leaving the
rest TO the starting boys.
Moistened bread il good
for robins. Also cocoanut
cakel
In the snow, a circle OF at
least s feet in diameter must
be dug. as these canny birds
win not come down into a
narrow place. II seems too
much like a trap for them
An apple cut in half may
be appreciated. although this
rapidly freezes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
Blow to BIIboords

The overwhelming approval by the
Maryland House of Delegates of an
effective billboard control bill places the
question of roadside protection Squarely
In the lap of reluctant Senate. The
108-to-8 vote by the Delegates reflects
the sentiment of the general public as
voiced by spokesman for many organi-
zationS-except, of course, those repre-
senting the outdoor advertising industry.
The Maryland Senate ought to be favor
ably impressed by the fortnight action
of the House in the face of strong pres
sure from the billboard lobby. If the
Senators decide this issue on the basis
of what best serves the public interest
as they should-they will follow the
Houses lead in voting for reasonable
controls over signboards along the
States principal expressways.
The Maryland Houses action was in
sharp contrast TO that of the Virginia
House of Delegates in tentatively water
ing down a control measure to a point
regarded by its original sponsors as dis
astrouS. The bill introduced by Airing
ton Delegate Mann and Louisa Delegate
Purcell would have banned billboardS
within 500 feet of the new interstate
highways, with certain exceptions But
amendments were added which would
open the door to signs along Is per cent
OF the new expressways between inter-
changes, except in areas of unusual
natural scenic" attractions. Delegate
Mann pointed out that under such legis-
lation signs could be stretched from one
end OF highway to the other, defacing
the landscape almost as badly as U. S.
and other highways have been defaced.
1t is doubtful that law no more effec-
tive than that could qualify Virginia for
the proposed Federal-aid bonus to
States taking adequate action to safe
guard interstate highways from COM
mercial dissertation.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
Poy Raise in Peril

The House Civil Service Committee
has added TO the perils facing pay-raise
legislation for Federal employees by re-
porting 4 bill even less palatable TO the
administration than the Senate commit
tees version. Since the possibility of a
presidential veto has been discussed in
connection with the Senate bill, the
chances of veto would be materially
increased II Congress were to pass the
House measure.
The bill favored by the House group
not only would be far more costly than
the Senate bill but would be just as dis
criminatory as between postal and CLASH
fed workers. President Eisenhower had
proposed "a per cert raise FOR all EN-.
ployes, but The Senate Ciy., Service COM
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
Mr.. Nixon's Defense

The Vice President has given as good
an answer as we have seen to those who
want to know how this country can
defend spending money on foreign aid
when there are not enough funds for
needed projects at home.
This matter came up during queS-
tion-and-answer period in this weeks
bipartisan session in behalf of the for
etgn aid program. Mr.. Nixon was pre-
siding, and someone asked: Isn't this
program a tough one, politically, for
congressman to vote for?
The Vice President met the question
head-on. OF course it is, he replied in
SubStance-about the toughest. Funds
can't be found to start new and needed
reclamation projects at home, but Amer
lean dollars are sent abroad to help
other countries start such projects. How
can this be defended? This was the
defense he offered:
During World War II no new starts
were made on reclamation projects. No
one complained because we were fighting
war for survival. We are again fight
ing a war for survival. 1t can destroy
as surely as the hot war. So we must
make sacrifices and win the war We can
have the finest reclamation project in the
world and it isn't going to make any
difference if we are not around to enjoy
it.
We do not suppose that Mr. Nixon
was addressing this observation prima-
rily to Congress. For there are very few,
If any, congressman who will vote for
the foreign aid program if they think
the voters are going to take it out Of
their hides. The hope is that at least
some voters can be induced to listen to
the Nixon argument. And it is the voter
who counts. If enough of them can be
persuaded to subordinate local interests
to the overriding Importance of preserv-
Ing our position in the world there will
be no difficulty with the Congressman
They will go along, for most of them, we
believe, know in their hearts that Mr..
Nixon is right.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
STRANGE Craftsmanship

Perhaps one should take charita-
BILE view Of French Foreign Minister
PineauS assertion that American policy
in the Middle East has been long sue
cesSion of false moves and failures. He
may be diStraught.. The troubles beSet-
ting him may have distorted his sense
of perspective. After ALL he and his
colleagues in Premier Gaillard's govern
ment find themselves in a mess that
has placed them on the defensive before
the whole world. Their conduct of the
wasting war against the Algerian rebels
seems merely to be making a very bad
situation much worse, and they are
caught up now in crisis with Tunisia
This crisis stems from the recent
shocking French air attack on the Tu-
nissan village of Sakiet-Sidi- Youssef. An
act of incredible folly. involving callous
disregard for the lives of innocent
men, women and children, the attack
has had the effect of sending Frances
once-glorious reputation to new low
throughout North Africa. More than
that, it has seriously hurt the cause Of
the Atlantic alliance in that vital region
the cause of freedom-by playing d.
rectly into the hands of the Kremlin
and its agents. In short, the situation
has been tailor-made for Communist
propagandiStS intent upon turning the
Arab world against the West.
AS one result, very disquieting re-
suit, pro-Western Premier Bourguiba of
TuniSia has begun to feel mounting
pressure from his countrymen to shift
to "neutralist" policy-a policy that
could involve complete break with
France and be of great help to the
Soviet drive of penetration in North
Africa. Yet, despite all this, and at a
moment when Anglo American good Of
fees are being employed in an effort
to abate the French TuniSian crisis,
Foreign Minister Pineau has found it
fitting to speak out in an utterly shall
low and nongermane way about the
alleged shortcomings Of United States
policy in the Middle East, including the
error" Of opposing the military attack
on Egypt
This is surely a strange sort Of
craftsmanship. If one were not char
liable, if one did not suspect that harsh
events have upset him and his judy
ment, one could reply to Mr. Pineau
with great mass of evidence showing
that it is not American policy, but
French policy that has been a long sue
session of false moves and failures
especially in North Africa, not to men
ton places like Indo-China. Indeed,
that has been the tragedy of France,
at home and abroad, ever since the end
Of the Second World War, and unless
men like Mr.. Pineau wake up to it,
and take adequate corrective measures
against it, it may yet be the undoing
of their country-a disaster whose shock
would be sorely felt wherever men are
free.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
ARLINGTON, VA

EASA@44N NSANS v n
Dear Sir:
Being an interested reader
OF your column, l know that
songbirds stake out property
claims, but / was not pre-
pared for the successful
battle two mockingbirdS
waged against a large flock
of robins the afternoon of the
Big Snow Of So in defense
Of a holly tree in our yard.
You know how hard and
long it showed
Il was dividing my time
between household chores and
looking out the window when
to my aTnazement the yard
trees were full of birds where
none had been 10 minutes
before.
In our youth and enthusi-
asm, we had planted lots OF
yard trees which, in these
middle years, give the ap-
pearance of a thicket.
All of these trees looked
like Christmas trees. for the
birds were red-breasted rob-
ms. and there must have
been nearly 200 Of them!
$50
1T was spectacular.
"One robin in late winter
is always a momentous thing
to me. but a couple of hun
dred in my yard in a raging
blizzard was an unbelievable
thing. and quickly donned
boots and waded out TO get a
closer look.
They were after holly ber-
ries on one Of the trees.
Heading them of were
two mockingbirds. which had
been perched on the highest
branches, taking of like q Jet
In hot pursuit of any bird
daring TO move toward the
holly tree.
When more than one
robin moved. the Knockers
circled the tree wildly. taking
vicious pecks at any bird
crossing their paths.
There was one furious
burst Of energy. when about
80 of the invaders succeeded
in landing on the tree.
The mockingbirds few
into them. hit them. knocked
them. failed them with
wings. and the robins re-
treated.
This went on for hours.
Only that one time did the
robins ever make a landing
in force and Lhe Knockers
never once relaxed their
vigilance.
Finally. at dusk. the
robins disappeared as they
had come. and / went back
to my tasks.
But the mockingbirds
were still there. in the high
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28

Yellow and orange rhodo-
dendrons, creeping hollies.
camellias that are trees IS
feet high, azaleas that grow
is feet tall and have trunks
four inches across are among
the plant curiosities collected
in some Of Japan's sacred
forests" by an Agriculture
Department plant explorer.
These forests surround
Shinto shrines. For centuries
they have been protected rig
orously and have been most
~ closed to plant collectors.
OF late there has been some
relaxation Of restrictions and
DR.. John L. Creech Of the
U. S. Plant Introduction Gar
dens was allowed to do some
collecting. Resulting from the
protection afforded by the
Shinto monks, species still
flourish in the sacred forests
which have largely disap-
peared elsewhere. DR.. Creech
also collected in Japanese
mountains and in national
forests. 1t is not yet known
whether the rarer types can
be acclimated in the United
States.
Creeping Holly Found
The yellow and orange rho
dodendrons were found in the
high Yatsugatake Mountains
south of Yokohama. Root
suckers and seed capsules
were collected for trials in
this country. A dominant
plant Of mountain forest
floors was the creeping holly
which covered several acres,
scrambling over decayed logs.
In southern Japan DR.. Creech
saw the extraordinary camel
liza on a heavily forested cape.
The trees were l8 to IS feet
tall. In this country the ca
mellia. long cultivated in the
South, seldom becomes more
than a fair-sized bush.
Part of the cape is a Shinto
shrine area. Here the tree
camelliaS had been cultivated
for centuries. They bear
large. white flowers. In the
shrine forest also we're found
the tree azaleas.
Probably the weirdeSt. and
from the collectors view
point most rewarding, of
the sacred forests was that
of the Humane Gongen
shrine on the Xii Peninsula.
There several small streams
merge into a sacred water
fall about 400 feet high.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28

Mrs. K athryn stone,
elected delegate from Airing
ton County, Va, was re-
Gently subjected to q shock
ing display Of bad manners,
as well as to q smear attack
which has been made popu-
lar in recent years by politi-
cal demagogues. For daring
to suggest that people testi-
flying before a legislative
committee might be entitled
to public hearings, she was
branded by Delegate Mon
cure with the epithet which
apparently has become the
ultimate in opprobrium in
Virginia. "integrationist."
1t is Q sad commentary on
the present conception of
good manners that none OF
the legislators present at the
time Of the ungallant and
unchivalrouS attack upon
Mrs. Stone saw At to inter-
vene on her behalf. Such con-
duct is hardly in keeping
with the profile of Southern
gentlemen. for through the
South the custom still COM
mands the gentleman to kiss
the lady's hand" Appropri-
ately enough. Mark Twain
said of such conduct: 1T
Is q mistake that there is
no bath that will cure peo-
pies manners, but drowning
would help"
A greater calamity. how
ever exists in light of this at
tack which must not 60 I'M
needed, for as long as irres-
ponsible people. be they legis-
lators or private citizens, are
at liberty to flout the COM
mon decencies. which to q
great extent are our own
American heritage, we are in
constant danger of losing
both our freedom and our
dignity.
Mrs. Stone may we'll take
solace in this latest attack
upon her. This conscientious
legislator. like so many Of
her able predecessors, has
been, and undoubtedly will
be subjected to the sneers
and sarcasm Of ignorance
and malice. Hers. however.
is the voice in the wilder
ness, faint but alive. and we
hope and believe that 1t will
grow stronger as the folly
of her detractors is recog-
nized. 1t so often happens
in public ONCE that one tries
TO do something and fails
for the moment. and it is
quite natural that in such
times one can't help but feel
discouraged. However. the
effort made at that time may
well be the foundation for
later success at a time when
emotion and demagoguery
will be replaced by reason.
AS one OF Mrs. Stones con-
stituents. ! hail and respect
her stand and am proud to
have her as my representa-
tive in what were once hal
lowed halls.
Max L. Kane.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28

About two weeks ago, we
read that Mr.. Truman plans
to make q goodwill tour of
Europe very soon.
Last Saturday night. some
Of us listened to Mr.. Tru-
mans speech oficially OPEN
ing the Democratic 1858 po-
litical campaign.
Mr.. Truman was quite
pleased with himself; he was
the center Of attraction; he
was in the limelight. And
what does he like better! He
laid down five principles
which he exhorted the Demo-
Gratis to follow. since they will
surely lead to the White
House.
Some of us are willing to
make due allowance for Mr..
Humans chameleonic tend
encies. but even after that,
1t Is dificult to understand
just what he proposes to Of
fer as q goodwill builder. He
will have to do some fast
talking to succeed in selling
this country and its program
to people who. a few weeks
earlier, heard him tell the
world that the President of
the country whose good will
he Is offering them is Of the
soap and toothpaSte" cali
Der. and that they cannot
expect the situation to i'm
prove until the latter part
of 1858 or in 1860, when the
Democrats again take over.
Not very good sales talk.
surely. They may be inter-
ested in something more
immediate.
How does Mr.. Truman pro-
pose to answer inquiries
about the unemployment sit
uation in this country, when
he tried to make it very plain
that this administration
cares not one whit about
these five million people? Mr..
Truman knows that this ad-
miniStration does care about
the unemployed and is work.
ing hard to do something
about it. However, he con-
veniently neglected to tell us
that, during the 1930s, the
number Of unemployed peo-
pie was several times as great
as at present. Why couldn't
he be honest about this?
Also. how does Mr.. Truman
propose to answer questions
about civil rights in this
country when. while he was
Commander in Chief" the
loves that term. he continu-
ally brushed this difncult
problem aside? Has he given
this administration any
credit for really tackling this
problem?
All in all, it would seem
that. before Mr.. Truman
starts out TO gain friends
and influence people" he will
want to have something more
than q broken-down country
to hold before them: he can
not expect prospective friends
to hold of until the Demo-
Gratis again take this country
in hand. That time may be
farther away than lust
around the corner"
Ada NJ. Wentz,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28

@. Did the Winecon Hotel
in Atlanta have exterior FIRE
escapes at the time Of the
disastrous FIRE there2-R.M.
A. No, the hotel was sup
posedly "fireproof" and was
not equipped with FIRE
escapes. The FIRE. on Deem
Der 7. l946, took ll9 lives.
highest toll of any hotel FIRE
in United States history. 1t
was the crest Of a wave OF
hotel fires, including that OF
the LaSalle in Chicago. where
81 persons died in June 1916.
Reassessment OF fire regula-
tons in many cities and
States was made following
these disasters.
q. Are DotatoN6 4hae aAov
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28

year, but moves out Of the
State at least a month be-
fore the end of that resident
year. what will be the pro-
cedure by which he can re-
ceive Q rebate from the State
for those nonresident months
for which tax has already
been paid in advance?
Maxwell A. Kerr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-02-28
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used IL
letters carry DriterS' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
SGtion.