davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-04-26
Previous Books

In stunning on themes, Hoff-
man has come up with a couple
CT pretty successful ones before
TIE latest which had a review
date just last week. "Trumphet
Unblown." published in 1855 was
purchased by a producer. 1t
concerned the Medical Corps in
World War II and tried to show
that there are a great number
of casualties among service units
like the medics as well. as in
combat units.
Tho second novel, Days III
The Yellow Leaf" was publish
ed in 1858. It's basic theme was
a persoL, who was essentially
do-gooGer, but caused the
downfall of everyone else.
"All books are autobiography
cal in a sense" said Hoffman
when asked if his books were
ased on his own experiences
Prior to returning to Farmville
10 teach at Hampden-Sydney in
1852 the teacher Of creative
writing accumulated a number
of varied experiences.
Hoffman served with the
Army Medical Corps during the
war. In tie spring of 1850 he re-
turned to Farmville for the
summer and attempted to write
short stories.
Then, he won a scholarship to
study creative writing at b e
University Of Iowa for a Sc
n ester A few months was spent
in Charleston. his hometown.
and after that he went to Wash
lnetol to work as a copy boy
and dIctationiSt for the Evening
Star. The last stop before Hamp-
den-SydDcy was i'll New York
City. where he worked as a
night Clerk at the Chase Ma
tlonsl. now Chase Manhatten
Bank, and wrote III the daytime
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-04-26
Author William Hoffman Says
"A Place For Ny Head" =. Not Topical
BY BEN BOWERS

"A Place For My Head, ;"
William Hoffman's latest novel,
is not a topical book, the author
asserted here this week.
The author of two successful
novels and an assistant pro-
lessor of English at Hampden-
Sydney College, Hoffman said,
l am afraid the publishers are
trying to push the new book as
topical one-trying to CAPT
talize on the school situation in
the South"
Hoffman admits the intention
OF a vague allegory in "A Place
For MY Head" that would mis-
lead one to believe the book is
topical. A good bit Of the story
developes around the part the
Organization plays. represent
ing an element on the right; and
the part the Reverend. repre-
senting fanatical group on the
left, plays in the book.
Characterization
However, he is not willing to
classify it as topical 4 feel the
important part of the book is the
characterization of an individual
who tries to become a signifi-
cant-tries to get out of his
place in life the successful
writer at 81 said.
In brief. the plot goes this
way. The individual. a nonentity
tries to make money TO win the
woman he loves by taking an
unpopular case of a Negro. He
wins the case, after taking it
over the pressure of a certain
group. and then unWisely deals
IN land speculation. In the end.
he winds up without the woman
OF the money, no place for his
head.
A native of West Virginia.
Hoffman was educated there. at
K niue k y Military Institute.
Hampden-Sydney. and Washing
ton and Lee University. 1t was
at W. and L. that he got started
IN writing. under the guidance
of the late Dr.. George Foster.
The Beginning
Where does one begin when
he decides to write a book?
Hoffman S answer First, one
must have the desire to write.
and then cast about for some
thing to write on. I sort of
stumble onto themes, I draw
from a dozen or more sources
what | see. what I experience.
daydreams, ETC."
The professor said. Il have
the desire to do it, and before
! actually begin to write
book | know how l want it to
end But how to get to the
ending is a different story. He
said. Sometimes you are lucky
can get there in nine months
or a year. other times it takes
year or two"
Set on writing as a way of
life, Hoffman is taking a leave
Of absence from his post at
Hampden-Sydney to devote full
time to a novel, already in
preparation The theme of that
book will not be known until it
is completed. He said. Il don't
like to talk about future books
until they are finished not even
my wife gets to read them be-
fore then"
pra.iotrc Ranic
The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-04-26
POwhatan Soldier
Gets Trainee Award

POWHATAN. April Is ~ Gabe
Cosby, son of Mr.. and Mrs. Rob
ert A. Cosby. Of Route |. Pow
hatan has completed eig h t
Evening star., 1960-12-22
British Fighters
Join NATO's
Defense Force

LONDON, Dec. % (AP).-
Britain's fighter command, o
force Of more than 100 jet
fighter planes plus guided mis-
siles. is to come under the
control Of NATo's supreme
commander, Gen. Lauris Nor
stad. ...s
Defense Minister Harold
Watkinson told the House Of
Commons last night the
British fighters win join the
North Atlantic Alliances new
unified air defense system for
Europe. Uni1ication Is neces-
sary, he said. because Of the
speed and range Of modern
aircraft.
West German, Dutch, Bel
gian and some other con-
tingents have already been
committed to the NATO COM
mand. French President Charles
de Gaulle. the chief opponent
of unification, has agreed 70
give the NATO command con-
troll only Of French air units
in West Germany and those
in France near the German
border.
Evening star., 1960-12-22
CONSTANTINE BROWN
u. S. Facing Greatest Problems

and has suffered the devaSta-
tions Of three years Of COM
muniSt, aggression, remains
one of our strongest bastions
in the Far East. Unless the
reports received from the Far
East are utterly wrong, we
should expect large scale
operations conducted by the
Communists and spurred by
Peiping in the next few weeks.
The Soviet Union is not
seeking . iluclear war with
us. Its military leaders, as
well as Premier Khrushchev
himself. know this must mean
the destruction not only Of
the USSR but Of communism
as well. The objective Of the
Moscow-Peiping axis is evi-
dent. II is prepared to sup-
port brush fires In order to
compel the new administra- :
ton in Washington to sur
render to its policy Of CO.
existence on the Communist
pattern. It's hopes Of achievs
ing this are based on the be-
lief that a number Of men in
key positions In the new
administration favor CO.
existence. at least partially.
Evening star., 1960-12-22
Governors Delay on U. N. Post Termed
Courtesy to Kennedy and New Secretary

ments in press, radio and
television that he was "be-
hind schedule" In selecting
his cabinet. After all, whose
schedule was 1t? It was his
alone. The only limitation on
it was finding men who fitted
into his plans. He had, and
has, one broad concept. The
men he selected must At into
q central plan OF administra-
ton.
Senator Kennedy is. one
should keep In mind. not
merely d professional politi-
clan in the best sense Of that
phrase, but also o scholar
and q student Of government.
President Eisenhower's ex-
perience Of command had
been to appoint commanders,
given the authority Of STRAIT
egy and decision, and leave
them alone until they were
In trouble. This Is fire for o
military command. But as we
study the policy making ste.
tus Of the Secretary Of the
Treasury, George Humphrey.
and Of Secretary Of State
Dulles, and recall how often
their decisions and policies
made 1t necessary for the ad-
ministration to extract itself
from the results. IT, is plain
that "time" Is not the way to
organize government.
Under the Constitution, the
President Is solely responsible
Ito the people-for policy.
Therefore, Senator Kennedy
plans to accept this reSporl-
sibility and to have about
him men who can assist in
creating a n d administering
policy. He viii not be a
"strong President" in the
sense Of doing all the Jobs.
But he will be at the center
Of them.
He will not, therefore, be
"his own Secretary Of State"
AS his structure Of an ad-
ministration Is completed, 1t
will be seen that he has
shored up the state Depart
ment. Secretary Rusk will
Evening star., 1960-12-22
DORIS FLEEsoN
Eisenhower innovation Is Adopted
BY Kennedy in Naming of Aide

President elect Kennedy
has adopted one outstanding
Eisenhower innovation ct the
White House despite pointed
criticisms of the executive
methods Of his predecessor.
It Is appointment Of q Sec
retary to the cabinet.
His choice for the post Is
Frederick q. Dutton Of Cali.
fOrnia, executive director Of
the Citizens for Kennedy
and johnson. and former
executive secretary to- Gov.
Edmund G. CPat) Brown. In
1858, Mr.. Dutton managed
the spectacularly successful
State campaign from which
Gov. Brown emerged with O
million-plus plurality over
his Republican rival for the
governorship, former Senator
William r. Knowland.
As 0 result national repor-
ters and politicians soon
learned the way to Mr.. Dut-
tons door. He also appeared
here frequently during the
pre-convention months as in
yestigator and negotiator for
Gov. Brown. Il was not an
easy task.
The Governor had to put
together q representative
delegation to the convention
which would be one Of his
biggest and would be called
on 10 choose It's candidate
early in the roll call, Cali
Evening star., 1960-12-22

dustry In the last few years.
Because Of their compare
lively low costs Of production
they are underselling us not
only In foreign but also in do.
estic markets which hitherto
have been free Of foreign
competition.
The dollar is continuing to
lose Its purchasing power and
Is at the same time threat
ened internationally. Some
$34 billion have fed the
country In the last five years
to find more remunerative
fields abroad. And 1t is
pointed out by economists
that for the time being the
Soviet Union has not begun
its avowed policy Of dumping
its state-controlled produc-
ton on the international
market at prices defying any
competition from the free
economy Of the Western ma
tionS.
internationally, the situa-
ton is considered by compe-
tent and realistic observers
to be even more threatening.
International communism
has made unexpected and,
to some, unbelievable ad-
vances in the last few years.
It has established a strong
'beachhead in Cuba where
Fidel Castro and his gang,
at one time supported by the
State Department because
''he was better than Dictator
Fulgencio Batista" have gone
completely over 10 lnLerna"
tional communism.
There are Ill winds In
other Latin American coun-
tries where the American
prestige has suffered greatly
to the advantage and ad-
vancement Of Moscow and
Peiping. We have been slug
gish In those vital areas as
well as In Asia. The crisis In
Laos Is over only temporarily,
We must expect early in the
new year revival Of the actions
of the Communists which we
witnessed q few weeks ago.
Conditions in South Wet
Nam are dangerous and could
easily extend to Thailand II
America continues to lose
face. The South Korean re-
public has never recovered
its stability since the April
revolution which witnessed
the downfall of the Syngman
Rhee government which with
all It's faults. inherent in a
republic which gained Its
freedom only Is years age
Evening star., 1960-12-22
New Secretary to the Cabinet

For the President-ele
proposes to use his cabinet
much more than Mr.. Eisen-
hover did, possibly much
more also than Democrats
Truman and Roosevelt did.
They viii not be given 90
much free rein to make sig
nificant decisions on their
own as In the recent past:
they viii be expected TO do
much more toward the Gre
alton Of o national Kennedy
policy.
They win be expected also
to help the public under
stand 1t and support It. Co
operation with the party will
be on their must list.
Word is being passed that
unlike Mr.. Eisenhower. Sem
ator Kennedy wants to hold
down attendance ut cabinet
meetings: In the Eisenhower
regime they frequently in
cluded 80 or more big wheels.
White House -staR members
win not be encouraged "a
crash the gate.
These are the rough out
lines Of Mr.. Dutton's job. II
is noteworthy that his cab
met charges are strong, slaaw
men. They are nearly all
young and raring TO so. They
are not. as In the Eisenhower
administration. drawn from
one area Of American life
but from many. MIR. Dutton
may not, after ell. find him
self exactly anonymous %
time marches on along the
New Frontiers.
Evening star., 1960-12-22
RALPH MecML

Behind Adlai Stevenson's
delay In accepting the United
Nations post is o story which
reveals his stubborn integrity
and not - as his critics
charged-indec
On the afternoon Of De-
cember 8, when he met with
the President-elect at the
Iatter's house, Senator Ken
nedy had not reached a final
decision on the Secretary OF
State position. There was one
person tentatively on the list
Of possibilities whom Mr..
Stevenson liked, but with
whom he felt 1t would not be
possible to work in the field
Of ideas. rr-.
Mr.. Stevenson's reply, In
substance was that he was
honored by the offer. But he
had certain ideas about pol
icy. II 1t turned out that the
secretary yet unnamed had
concepts strongly at variance.
then he, Mr.. Stevenson.
would be at odds with his
chief. The result would not
be good for the Kennedy ad-
Saainistration. This would be
harmful to the country.
Therefore, 1t would be best
to wait. This was agreed
upon as wise.
Later. on the stoop Of the
red brick home, the an
llouncement was made. Mr..
Etevensor's ever-ready group
of critics was quick to say,
"As usual, he can't make UP
his mind" A lesser man, Of
course, would have accepted
with alacrity. But Mr.. Ste
venSon had not come with
hat In hand. He wanted to
help. He long had believed 1t
imperative from the national
viewpoint that q Democrat
be elected and new foreign
policies initiated. Therefore,
IL he could not be helpful In
the position. he could better
serve out Of 1t.
It also can be told that
Senator Kennedy himself was
wryly amused by. the state
Evening star., 1960-12-22
POTOMAC FEVER
BY FLETCHER KNEBEL

Roswell Gpatrc New York attorney is the new Deputy
Defense Secretary. Very fitting Gilpatric assistant
leader Of McNamara's band.
The Nixon camp looks the New Year without bitter
ness There Is prospect Of glorious mutual Knockout
by Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater
#*
Teamster Boss James Hofa comedies that Bob Kennedy
new Attorney General has grit ability and integrity Hoa
figures that's the trouble: not one redeeming vice.
The Electoral Colleges decision confirms Dick Nxons
worst suspicious: There amt no Santa Claus.
Jack Kennedy says the Nation Is not physically 1T WELL
he'd been glued to the TV set ali fall watching the great
debates. he wouldn't feel so spry, either.
es h$A
Republicans take dim view Of their fellow Republican
Douglas Dillon agreeing TO be Kennedys Secretary Of
Treasury he succeeds In keeping the country solvent
may bankrupt the Republican Party
Evening star., 1960-12-22

fornia Democrats were noisy
and divided: the hopeful
candidates were eager and
prepared to be ruthless. SEN
I ator Kennedy was bent on
the first ballot nomination
he managed to achieve.
Senator Kennedy did not
make Q clean sweep Of the
California delegation, but the
impression made on Robert
Kennedy by Mr.. Dutton was
apparent when he was
brought here to give the
professional touch to the
Citizens group headed by
Byron c. (Whizzer) White Of
Colorado who viii be Roberts
second in command ct the
Justice Department.
Neither Mr.. White nor Mr..
Dutton campaigned with SEN
ator Kennedy. The positions
for which they have been
chosen suggest that what
they did and how they did 1t
made an extremely favorable
impression on the brothers
Kennedy.
Mr.. White probably viii
come In for o much more
public attention after Janu-
ary 20. Yet those who ind
their greatest pleasure and
edilcation in the operations
Of White House power believe
Mr.. Dutton has the most
challenging and interesting
lob.
Evening star., 1960-12-22
Politics: 7 90 Much or Too title?
basis Of efnciency and abil.

basis Of efnciency and abil-
ity. &
When Representative Daw-
son declined the offer to be
Postmaster General, he gave
as his reason that his age
70 years--would not permit
him to engage in such exec
utiye duties as the post re-
quired. s en- q tot Kennedy
must have known beforehand
about the age of the Illinois
Congressman. Certainly, he
could not persuasiyely argue
that he looked throughout
the whole United States to
1ind the most efficient man
he could get for Postmaster
General. and finally decided
on q 74-year-old member Of
the aouse-who Just hap.
pened to be q Negro.
The truth, Of course, Is
that, Just as It was supposed
to be smart politics for
Henry Cabot Lodge to talk
during the campaign abcslt
the prospective appointment
of q Negro to the cabinet. so
1t is considered good politics
now In preparation for the
1864 reelection campaign to
say to the Negro voters Of
America that Senator Ken
nedy actually offered q Negro
the portfolio of Postmaster
General.
Playing politics with the
Post Once Department Is an
old story. but the new from
tiers" Of politics now evi-
IDENTIFY also cover the Depart
ment of Defense. It win be
recalled that James Forrestal
first man to be Secretary
Of Defense-earned the dis
favor Of President Truman
when he refused to particle
pate in the 1948 political
campaign because he felt
the Department Of Defense
should be kept out Of poll
tics. But apparently there is
q throwback now to the Tru-
man days as % high position
In the Defense Department"
Is offered to O State political
leader for the obvious pur-
pose Of paying 0 political
debt.
(copyrisht. 1e00)
Evening star., 1960-12-22
Kennedy's Burdens Called Heavier
Than Those of ANY Predecessor

No man In the history Of
this republic faces more COM
plex and burdensome prob
lens than President-elect
John F. Kennedy. And all
Americans, regardless Of pc
litical belief. hope that Gen.
de Gaulle's words when he
heard Of Winston Churchill's
defeat In July. 1945, From
now on we are faced with
an era Of rule by mediocri-
ties" win not apply to us.
When Franklin Delano
Roosevelt assumed ONCE In
/, 1888, the country was in an
economic turmoil more dra-
matte on the surface than
In reality. Our wealth was
still untapped and the crisis
was purely domestic. Hence.
stringent measures-eyen If
they srnacked of socialism
In our time-were sufficient
to bring the Nation on an
even keel.
In 1888 the international
situation was not worrisome,
either to US or the rest Of
the free world. The ominous
words international commu-
nism" did not exist in the
diplomatic vocabulary. The
world was chugging along at
= an easy pace. Our economic
ailments had succeeded those
Of the Weimar Republic two
years earlier. But there was
an even economic balance at
the time F. D. r. took over.
While we were In an eco
nornic crisis, Europe had re-
covered from the shock OF
the German and Austrian
bank failures brought about
by the French gold Withdraw
ais. The problem of the new
Roosevelt administration was
to spur the economic produc-
ton Of the United States-
there were plenty Of markets
available. l.
Senator Kennedy viii as
sumo ONCE under far more
dificult conditions. On the
surface, the situation appears
less dramatic than In 1888,
but In fact 1t Is much more
critical than in those days.
Senator Kennedy is con-
fronted with far more difii-
cult problems than any Of
his predecessors. Our eco
nomic situation is sagging.
While domestic consumption
remains high so long, as we
have the present 4.6 million
unemployed. we are rapidly
losing the international mar
kets to other nations which
have developed powerful in
Evening star., 1960-12-22

50th anniversary programs
throughout the Nation have
given our citizens the oppor-
tunity for renewed recognition
Of the values Of scouting In the
development Of our country'S
future leaders.
MAY the New Year mark
the beginning Of another half
century Of outstanding service
for the Boy Scouts Of America. !"
Evening star., 1960-12-22
DAVID LAWRENCE

It has often been said
around washington that the
Eisenhower administration
has not played politics
enough. Before long, how
ever. comments may be heard
that the Kennedy admin
istration is doing just the
opposite playing politics too
much
Certainly the. high hopes
Of many observers that the
selfish game Of politics would
be- submerged, II not sup
pressed. In this critical period
of world history. were soIae-
what dampened by the afl-
nouncement issued by presi-
dent-elect Kennedy at Palm
Beach, saying he had offered
So high position in the De-
tense Department" to for
mer Gov. James P. Coleman
Of Mississippi.
It so happens that Mr..
Coleman declined, but evi-
IDENTIFY It was regarded as
good politics to puhlicize the
offer. In fact, its signin-
cance was emphasized by Mr..
Coleman himself when he
frankly said afterward that
he was ''u1ore grateful for the
offer as recognition to the
State of Mississippi" than to
himself.
Former Gov. Coleman did
yeoman service for the Ken
Johnson ticket in the
last campaign. But the peo.
pie Of Mississippi gave more
votes to the unpledged elec-
tora-who cast their ballots
In the. electoral college for
Senator Harry Byrd Of Vir-
ginia--than they did to regu.
lar Democratic nominees. But
somehow 1t Is considered i'm
pCrtant by the Kennedy
managers to show the faith
ful politicians in Mississippi
that Federal jobs win be
Forthcoming to them just the
same.
What is surprising is the
bold way in which this piece
Of politics was played. One
would think things like this
Evening star., 1960-12-22
The Integrity Of AdIoi Stevenson

travel. But he VIII not be
dashing all over the globe.
as did the late MIR. Dulles.
While Mr.. Dulles was 80 fre.
quently away. there was no
one In charge in his once
and the affairs Of state sui.
fered. The appointments Of
Undersecretaries Bowles and
Williams illustrate the Ken
nedy plan. We must have
more strength In the hard
work school Of diplomacy.
Ambassador Stevenson is
known to have called atten-
ton to the fact that the
United States delegation to
the United Nations Is hope
lessly inadequate. For all the
sincere support this coun-
try has given that presently
harassed and endangered
organization, we have never
sent there o delegation con-
tanning the necessary special
lists. They may not exist.
We have In our country the
most meager facilities for
training specialists in foreign
affairs and languages. It is
not quite an old Mother
Hubbard's cupboard situa.
ton, but 1t Is close enough to
be uncomfortable.
The President-elect, Of
course, is in agreement. He
was aware Of the deficiencies
before the campaign began.
In his speeches. he spelled
out some Of the inadequa-
cies.
In the United Nations, for
example, MIR. Henry Cabot
Lodge, Of necessity, gave
most Of his time to the di-
rect problem Of the Russians.
His STAFF toiled faithfully,
but it, too, was largely occu-
pied with preparing MFR.
Lodges material. He, as the
campaign revealed, was not
happy in the role Of being on
his own. The need is great
in the United Nations and
Mr.. Stevenson will obtain, II
they may be had. aides to
talk with the other SO MEM
ber-delegations while he is
busy with the central chal-
lenge. This also, Of course.
is equally true In the State
Department itself.