davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
ID STREET Sc.

- STREET S.E.
Dear Sir:
"Are the fieas that get on
cats the same fleas that get
on dogs?
II have been having quite
an argument with q friend
about this, and he says they
are one and the same flea.
MY belief is that the cat
fiea is smaller. a trifie. than
the dog flea, although they
look exactly alike otherwise.
II would like to have your
verdict on this. as I know
you are interested in the
subject. ! recall that some
time ago you wrote on ways
to exterminate them.
LET me know about this.
1T seems to me also that
fleas OF my cat bite me worse
than fleas from my dog.
"Is there anything to my
belief? And what remedies
do you recommend to stop
the itching? / find that flea
bites are more annoying than
mosquito bites.
Sincerely. H. s."
The big dictionary says that
the two kinds of fieas are
different.
The dog fiea-hold your
bre a this Ctenocephalus
CAMS, and the cat flea is C.
felis. naturally enough.
They were formerly re-
garded as one species. c. CAMS
for both. and 1t was from this
name the idea came about
that there is but one flea, the
same on both animals.
A synonym Of the older
name was Pulex serraticeps.
The human flea, fortunately
almost unknown in this coun-
try. is P. irritans, and the
latter name is understand
able.
Fleas are small hard bodied
wingless bloodsucking insects,
renowned for their extraordi-
nary leaping.
They are often written
about, and even sung about.
"Song of the Flea" is a IA
nous Russian basso song.
This extols the itching and
jumping prowess Of the hui
man flea.
For most people, the cat or
dog flea is bad enough.
In the old days. people
spoke Of the cat and dog flea.
Now we differentiate the two.
but 1t really does not make
much difference.
The cat flea may be q trifle
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
VISTAS IN SCIENCE
Top of Shakespeare Is All Black

there are no clouds Of any
sort throughout the 400-mile
range. The second horizon
frequently forms at the juno
ton Of the blackness above
and the top Of the clouds.
Thirdly. there Is occasionally
in the white zone above the
horizon q layer Of dusty -ap-
pearing haziness Just above
the clouds. which looks like
q horizon.
During afternoon and early
morning. he records. there
were three distinct yellowish-
white lines In the band Of
sky just above the horizon.
Apparently. he says, they
were due to dust layers be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000 feet
above the earth. composed Of
particles so small that they
could be seen better by back
lighting than by front-light-
ing.
I'm the very early morn
ing" he reports, Cooking
out toward the horizon to-
ward the moon there is q
very gauzy, filny white eff
feet that obscures the stars.
1t looks like a very, very
thin foggy cloud, like q
ground fog that doesn't quite
extend to the ground.
Sun White Disk
"As might be expected,
the darkened sky made the
sun appear as a white disk,
with no perceptible sky
brightness or luminescence
surrounding it. The auroras
seen shortly after sunset
were clearly visible to their
termination just above the
horizon, whereas ordinarily
the lower portions would
have been obscured by the
atmospheric haze and the
lights on earth. They are OBJ
servable beyond the normal
range Of light because Of
the increased transmission
at such attitudes Of both
the ultraviolet and infrared
ends of the visible spectrum.
After sunset the stars
shone with en- unblinking
brilliance never seen from
the earth. The complete abb
sence Of twinkling brought
out the color Of each Of the
stars in sharp contrast. so
that the blue stars were
wildly blue and the red
stars brilliantly red, as COM
pared to the relative smeared
appearance caused by scin.
tillation."
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

The Fulbright resolution on Selec-
ton Of Worlds Fair site has been killed
as legislative act, but its sensible pro-
visions still can-and Should-be carried
out. For, as Senator Fulbright reminded
the Senate, survey of that body has
indicated that an overwhelming major
ity of its members would have voted for
the resolution If they had been given the
chance during the closing hours Of the
late session.
There Is no apparent reason why the
sense of the Senate" as expressed in the
resolution could not be given force by
President Eisenhower. Thus, through
the State Department, he could negotiate
with the International Bureau of Ex-
positions for approval of some American
city as site for the 1864 fair. Then,
with the fair assured for America, he
could appoint citizens committee to
recommend to Congress the city best
qualified to be the fairs host.
The prolonged oratory of Senators
Javits and Heating of New York, was
designed to block the Fulbright plan
for an objective, impartial choice of a
site. Judging from the stories appearing
in New York newspapers, boosters of
Manhattan for the big show have been
talking and acting as though they had
the fair in the bag. This display of con-
f1dence is rather premature, to say the
least. The site for the 1864 fair, If one is
to be held in this country, should be care
fully chosen, with view to holding the
exposition where it will best serve the in
terests of the whole Nation - not the
special interest of New York, or Los
Angeles or Washington and its suburbs.
A presidential committee, made up
of citizens whose paramount duty would
be to pick site most likely to serve the
national interest, could avert an I'M
seemly intercity contest that could hurt
rather than promote the fair. Once
city is chosen, all cities and States and
private interests should unite to make 1t
big success.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
Integrotion Appraised

In Prince Edward County.
Va, the white residents ar
rived at the decision that
they did not wish their chill
dren to attend public schools
with the colored children.
Freedom Of association
seemed to them to be a we'll
accepted principle. and it
would appear that their vol
untary action was and is in
keeping with principles Of
democratic action.
The white people organized
a teaching staff for the pri-
vate instruction Of their own.
They found places for their
children to be taught. Trans
portation problems were met
and the money required for
the program was voluntarily
subscribed. The opening Of
school and the continuance
Of the schooling Of the white
children has involved many
problems and innumerable
hardships. but their educa-
ton moves forward.
The colored people, by con-
trast. have not applied either
energy or ingenuity or money
or interest in establishing any
such program on behalf Of
their children. The main ac-
tivity on their behalf is the
filing Of one more suit by the
NAACP to force the white
people to maintain and pay
for the schooling Of colored
on an integrated basis.
AS for me personally, I am
a little sick and tired Of the
misdirected activity Of the
NAACP. Social acceptability
is earned and 1t must come
by invitation. It cannot be
rammed down peoples
Threats. The NAACP can do
more for its people by educa-
ton and moral advancement
than by court action.
william M. Werber.
Forced school indignation
is more than tyranny over
freedom Of assembly; it robs
morality from the actions Of
millions Of Americans in that
it initially destroys freedom
of choice.
Never before in the history
Of Christendom has tyranny
over the mind affected so
many Christian men. women
and children.
Little Rock pays and pays
for the sins Of the Supreme
Court Of the United States.
Arnold L. Hindman.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

used a rubber stamp to sign
documents.
@. How much wealth is
held or controlled by Amer
lean women?-W. v.
A. It has been estimated
that women hold about two
thirds Of all defense bonds
and accounts in mutual
savings banks, that they
have title to about 40 per
cent Of American houses, and
that over so per cent Of pub
licly owned stocks are in
women's names. Women are
beneflciaries Of 70 per cent
Of all legacies of men and of
ga per cent Of those Of wom-
en-, and they have about $50
billion in life insurance. In
most United States families
women also control the fam
lily budgets and make or
influence at least three
quarters Of all consumer
purchases.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
been either modified o
abolished by law.

been either modified or
abolished by law.
Conditions that once pro-
vided material for certain
Of London's stories would not
be tolerated today. In those
stories, London has become
an historical novelist of sorts
in that he recorded bits and
pieces of his time as he
found them and as they did
exist. but do no longer. In
reading these London sto-
ries, the Russian people are
reading about fragments Of
an America contemporary
with the reign of their for,
mer car!
Your excellent columnist
calls London a crude"
writer. Victor Hugo, one Of
the great writers civiliza-
ton has produced, is de-
scribed by a standard refer
ence work as awkward. "
Perhaps so, but oh, to be as
"crude" and as awkward"
as either of theml
Charles Garland.
Jack London was in no
sense Of the word a beat
mix" Only at the very end.
when he was a beaten and
bankrupt man dying from
alcoholism and on the verge
of suicide, did his writing
ever approach the lethargic
nihilism we call beat"
There is no such thing as
London's lone really finan-
cially successful book" Lon
don at his peak was recog-
nized as the most highly paid
writer in America. THE Call
Of the Wild" was by no means
either his first or his last
successful" book.
Throughout his writing
London extolled the heroism
Of the individual. If Khru-
shchev read more carefully
If indeed he does draw
his ideas from London .
and understood this, London
would be banned behind the
Iron Curtain. because this
theme is totally inimical to
communism and totally in
harmony with American de-
mocracy.
Jay Anthony
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

ternatives must be found.
The longer we miss finding
these alternatives the danger
Of war will not only continue
to exist but will probably in
crease. While there are many
Of us emotionally and spirit
ually opposed to communism
and its representatives we
must recognize that Khru-
shchev's stature as a leader
Of one Of the two most pow
erful forces on earth remains
unquestioned. Our people
must conduct themselves in
a manner giving full recog-
milton to the political stature
Of Khrushchev and cooper
ate with the detectives of
our own leadership to ex-
plore genuine methods for
easing world tensions, at the
same time bearing in mind
the courteous treatment ex-
tended to our Vice President
in Russia.
Frank b. Christopher.
\ 4 4 n
The hard, cold facts tell
us that the forces of COM
munism are bent on enslav-
ing the world. This is what
Khrushchev has in mind
when he talks of peace"
A psychological bully and
buffer, he comes to our
homeland with a great show
of might expecting to
brighten Eienhower into fur
ther appeasement. To busi-
nessmen with an obsession
for booming profits he may
mouth words that Soviet
Russia is the loving friend of
all peace-minded Americans.
Electrifying overtures h e
may make such as a promise
to relinquish East Berlin in
exchange for the recognition
of Red China. He may. go so
far as to pull troops out Of
Laos without asking any
thing in return, in order to
demonstrate splendid good
faith.
Drowning out these prot
estations Of sincerity are
the resounding realities Of
slave labor camps, religious
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

prosecutions, and the loss of
freedom throughout COM
munized lands. Let Khru-
shchev end these evils and I
will extend him the hand Of
friendship; but in that event
he would no longer have
power over men, and he
wouldn't be In America talk
ing peace"
Realizing, then, that
America is the grand prize
of Khrushchev and his Com
mics, what are we going to
do about it? Are we going to
defend ourselves now, later.
or not at all?
I advocate defending our
selves now by Cd breaking
of relations with all Red
regimes, co helping en-
dangered countries to their
complete and successful de-
Tense and 90 mobilizing
fully our armed services to
deal with any eventuality.
Let us end this bullying
once and for all. If Khru-
shchev thinks he can bury us,
let him try it now!
John F. Heath.
y 4 y 4
The silent treatment &C
corded Khrushchev by the
public showed great disre-
spect for our President, who
was trying so hard to ex-
tend his gracious welcome to
the foreign visitor. This was
a grave insult to a man who
has done so much for those
very ignorant spectators.
President Eisenhower ex-
tended a warm welcome to
Mr.. Khrushchev and his
family. In due respect to
him, the people should have
done likewise.
I especially noticed the
man with the black band on
his arm pointing his thumbs
down. No doubt he was an
ignorant foreigner, not an
American citizen; just one
who came to this country to
insult the guests Of our
American President. Those
slobs we can do without.
Ann O'Connell.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

Two major points concern
me with regard to Khru-
shchev being here, travelling
through our country and A.
nally holding private talks
with Mr.. Eisenhower. allude
specifically to the fact that
the American people, as a
whole, have never awakened
to the vivid fact their way Of
life is in mortal danger at
this particular juncture Of
world affairs. Our political
representatives have a PEN
chant for diffusing the real
issues by telling the people
what they think they should
hear-not what they should
be made to understand. We
are confronted with speeches
composed Of platitudes and
nonsense referring to the
freedom loving people Of
this land" when we have
among us the very seeds Of
destruction from within in
the form Of people in power
publishers Of Topographic
material, etc. who disregard
the myriad Of encroaching
dangers from without and
abuse the work Of our found
ing fathers who, If today
they could return, would vir-
tually find it impossible to
recognize their handiwork.
The Khrushchev visit could
well be designed to add i'm
petus to the existent false
sense Of security in this
country and provide lullment
into extended apathy and it
is to this possibility that we
must recognize the require
ment of extreme vigilance.
My final concern deals
with the fact that the Eisen-
Observation-Disclosures exchange
may be the final opportunity
to avert war. Tensions &C
celerate from a "cold war"
state Of affairs and ulti-
mately an insane horror Of
"the enemy" will result with
a neurotic state of nerves
coming into play from both
sides that may well eventu-
ally make an explosion seem
less dreadful than continued
apprehension. Therefore, al
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

@. What religious body
made the first formal protest
against Negro slavery?-F. S.
A. In 1888 Francis Daniel
Pastorius drew up a memo
rial against slaveholding
which was adopted by the
Germantown (Pa.) Friends,
sent to the Monthly Meeting,
and passed on to the Yearly
Meeting in Philadelphia
This is believed to have been
the first formal protest
against Negro slavery made
by a religious body. The orig
inal document was found in
1874 by a Philadelphia anti
Quarian.
@. What Presidents auto
graph is the rarest?-D. M.
A, Collectors report tn a t
the signature of Andrew
johnson is probably scarcest.
Because of an injury to his
hand, President Johnson fire.
quently wrote in pencil or
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

There Is no "sky" at the
top Of the stratosphere-just
an apparent infinite black
ness.
Such. at least. is the APP
pearance Of the weirdest
realm yet penetrated by man,
nearly 20 miles above the
earth. The testimony is that
Of 1t. Col. David. q. Simons,
chief Of the Air Forces aero
medical field laboratory, re-
ported in the journal Of the
Air University at Maxwell
Field. Ala. Col. Simons' OBJ
servations refer to daylight,
before appearance Of moon
or any stars.
When looking toward the
horizon, he records, zone sees
both the brilliant white
clouds below and the dark sky
above in one view. The sharp
contrast makes the sky above
appear black or, more accu-
rately, absent. This gives
the impression of being sus-
pended above q large soup
bowl without a top and with
low, distant. upturned edges.
Thus one feels more in space
than on earth. Looking out
on the family curved hori-
zon. one needs very little
imagination to realize that
he is on the very fringe Of
space"
Upside Down View
Looking at things from the
upside down, DR.. Simons
says, appearances are COM
pletely strange. Instead of
the gentle color variation
from horizon to zenith, bands
Of color are seen. The first
band above the horizon Is
white. Just above this is q
narrow band of blue which
shades gradually from the
white zone beneath through
increasingly deep blues to
dark blue-purple. This last,
he says, seems to be the ac-
tual color Of the sky except
that it seems at about the
limit Of human vision, like
a sound almost too high to
hear" This is what gives
the impression Of nothing
ness above.
Throughout the day, he
records, there are three diff
ferent horizons. First is the
true horizon, about 400 miles
distant, representing the in
tersection Of the sky and the
limb Of the earth. This could
be seen only rarely, when
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17

described by ALL C1o President George
Meany as "labor's No. / enemy" will
fight this move to the bitter end. It is
also hardly necessary to say that the
monitors would not have brought this
proceeding unless they thought they
had a strong case. But on the basis of
past performances it would be wiser, we
think, not to start counting Hoffa custer
chickens until they have been Matched.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17


Ralph McGill's reference
to Jack London's present
popularity in the USSR, and
to Premier Nikita Khru-
shchev's familiarity with
London's descriptions Of the
bourgeois. tend to cast a
pinkish glow around the
London image.
The life Of London. whose
works have been popular for
more than half a century.
roughly conceded with that
Of Russia's last car. the
murdered Nicholas II d868-
1879.
London's lifetime preceded
political communism. No
evidence that I have seen
indicates that London ad-
vocated overthrow Of any
government or was aware of
the sinister political ferment
in Moscow climaxed by the
assassination of Nicholas
and the Russian imperial
family in the summer of
1918. London, in his last
years, had prospered under
capitalism and he enjoyed
his profits.
London was a struggle.
m use le-a n d-b o ne writer.
Such writers have been
popular In Russia for CEN
turtles. Communistic Russia's
discovery of Jack London
merely follows capitalistic
Americas and Europe's ear
-lier discovery Of him. London
was popular in Europe when
capitals were adorned by
kings and queens. without
a Communist lurking in
castle pantries or behind
court pillars. This is to say
that London did not need
communism to popularize
his. work. His fame and
popularity preceded the nom
royalty paying Communists.
London's pen fought the
elements, man, society, the
status quo. Ice, snow. hur-
ricanes. DULLES, alcoholism.
and that which he regarded
as social and system weak
ness, he turned into copy
editors accepted.
During his lifetime there
was no bottom for wages
and no ceiling on hours
worked. Sweatshops abounded
in child labor. Many of the
things reprehensible to Lon
don continued into the
1930s; they became success
full campaign issues and the
ills as he saw them have
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
Wonder What cupituIist Wears in Moscow
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used u
letters carry iortters' correct
names and addresses. All
letters are subject to conden-
sdtton.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-09-17
Questions and Answer.
By THE HASKIN SERVICE

reader get anSysr BY nan
seaddressed stamped enVeiop
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-22
Protect
Porch
Areo .A.
BY DOUGLAS TuoMEY
csntributIss Writer

There are many houses.
porches. additions, which are
built separately from the
main building and not over
the house foundation. Usual
" these are built on posts or
on cement-bl or brick
piers, and the area beneath
them is left open.
This is not only q bad con-
dition, but is also . very
dangerous one.
To begin with. dried leaves
and grass, small twigs and
wind-driven paper. have q
habit Of blowing under the
structure, accommodating and
drying until they form q fine
mass of finder. ready to
break into q flame If q spark
reaches them. It Is almost
impossible TO reach the IRE to
put It out unless q hose hap
pens 10 be right at hand.
When the owner does not
want the expense or effort of
closing UP this type Of area
solidly, and with proper
screened ventilating OPEN
inEs, he win find lattice
work quite satisfactory.
This lattice Is made OF
wood strip about two inches
wide and q quarter-inch
thick. 1t Is easy to cut and
to nail, and the average
area can be fitted in . half
day.
In the case where there
are masonry piers and not
posts, q wood batten can be
secured to them with cut
nails driven into the mortar
Joints, and then the lattice
nailed to the battens.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-22

PROCEED. A wet basement can
detract from comfort, and
eventually damage the struc-
ture.
No one lot is all good or
all bad. except in terms Of
the needs and tastes Of those
who are to use 1t. But be
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-22
Better Study the Lot
In Choosing q House
By WOODS HANSEN
Star Staff Writer

FONT COMBINE your
house hunting to the
h0usel
Take . good long look at
the outdoors. And take 1t
In the light Of your own like
or dislike Of outdoor activi-
ties and Of your taste IN land
scaping.
With the house itself, such
an approach is instructive.
Almost everyone considers
such things as the number OF
bedrooms and bathrooms In
terms OF how many persons
there are, or can be expected
to be, In the family.
The house hunter also will
look for q dining room or an
extra Large kitchen With
space for 4 table. In the light
Of the family's mealtime
needs. The presence Of q
den, family room, basement
recreation room, or space
for one, win be observed IN
the light of the family's
habits and recreational tastes.
Lock ct the Yard
Take some Of the same
common sense outdoors with
you, too. when you look at
the yard.
II your family's choice Of
outdoor activities runs
strongly TO such things as
badminton or eroquet, is
there enough nat space for
these games?
Do you want to cook and
eat meals in the yard on
summer evenings? II 30. is
there q suitable spot? Is it
shaded or oriented in such
a way that you won't be
cooked by the late after.
noon sun at the same time
your dinner Is sizzling on the
grill? Also, is the area
screened, or can it easily be
EITHER by growing 4 hedge
or By erecting q fence--s0
that you won't have the feel.
ing Of being in = fishbowl.
1 II you have hopes Of in-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-22

stalling a swimming pool
some day, is there q good
place for that?
The landscaper or gar
dener has q few other things
to look for. Existing land
scaping can be torn out and
replaced IL you don't care
for it. But there are a few
things not so easily fixed.
The iorientation Of the lot
is of major Importance. II
there are large trees on adj
joining lots that are going to
keep your own yard in al
most perpetual shade. you
should take that into con-
sideration.
Drainase On Item
II there are large trees on
your own lot. and you don't
want them. they can be cut
down. But IL may be an ex-
pensive process. II there are
no trees. remember that It
takes sometine to grow
them.
Another thing to look for
is whether or not the lot Is
well drained. Hers again,
there is an element Of choice.
Some plants like wet feet. 2
whether people do Or not.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-05-22

Others like well-drained soil.
Your taste in plants again
can be your guide--with one
important exception. II a
poorly drained area Of ground
abuts the foundation or base
ment wall, be sure the wall
has been adequately water