davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1961-10-29

Privilege has a sly way of
concealing from the PAM
pered how the other half
lives. whether across the rail-
road tracks or across the
world. Light may hide as well
as reveal. Those Of us who
live in free lands, boasting
that they have no curtains,
had better not be too sure.
In the days Of the Rus
sian Cars, around the bril-
liant court, surfeited with
luxuries, a curtain Of light
hid from the ruling class,
and even from the church,
the plight of the exploited
populace. A French queen
was so isolated by a royal
curtain of light that when
one dared to tell her that
her subjects had no bread,
she replied, why don't they
eat cake?" The New Testa-
ment tells Of the pride-smit-
ten Pharisee who, because of
his own luminous halo, could
not see that in the despised
publican beside him were
qualities that heaven ap-
praised as golden, while his
own alleged virtues were seen
as what they were worth
less glitter.
When a survey Of the city
Of the Great White Way
revealed that in that vast
metropolitan center there
were a quarter Of a million
bedrooms into which no di-
rect breath of air or ray of
sunshine has ever come, a
great Christian leader living
in comfort in that same city
expressed deep concern be-
cause so many of Gods
children were forced to exist
in such dark caverns. But"
said a friend, you ought not
to blame yourself for that"
mo-" said this outstanding
citizen, but it is of prime
Importance that I should
recognize it and that ! should
say to myself. You have been
privileged and so probably
you are socially blind - blind
as an owl at noon-day-to
what is going on in society,
and what ultimately ought
to go on"
There is no greater danger,
so far as the world of to-
morrow is concerned, than
that this most opulent ma
ton history has ever known,
living in a million-watt IL
Elimination, amid its shiny
mechanical gadgets catering
to comfort, pleasure and con-
venience. should be so
blinded by the glare about
1t as to miss the significance
Of the revolution sweeping
the world today demanding
more abundant life for the
teeming hosts of that half
Of the earth which exists in
misery and hunger. God bless
America with wisdom to see,
in the present crisis, that
the very light in which we
live may tend to make us
the Country of the Blind.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
The Tanks Pull Back

whoever was responsible Tor hreak-
ing off the 16-hour conformation Of
American and Soviet tanks in Berlin
should be cited for a commendable dis
play of good sense. For when tanks are
lined up 200 yards apart, their guns
trained on each other, the smallest spark
can touch off a massive explosion. In
such a situation, as they used to say in
the old West, man shouldn't reach for
his gun unless he intends to shoot. 1t
may be important to save "face," but
the risks should also be taken into ac-
count.
In this connection it may be useful
to give a little thought to Mr.. Khru-
shchev's political position at home. The
evidence indicates that he has things
well under control. Nevertheless, there
obviously is a certain resistance to his
peaceful co-exiStence" theme on the
part Of the so-called StalinistS, who cling
to the doctrine of inevitable war. And
while one should be wary of reading too
much significance into this, 1t could very
well mean that the Soviet Premier has to
protect himself against anything which
would seem to lend support to the COM
plant that he is too soft" in his deal
ings with the West. This, conceivably, is
enough to explain some of his tough"
talk, and it surely suggests that he can
Ill afford to retreat in the face Of open
pressure from the West.
All of this, of course, is speculation.
But it seems to us that there is enough
substance in it to caution against un-
necessary action which might force Mr.,
KS hand-unlesS we would prefer to
risk having to deal with the inheritors
of the Stain mantle.
Presumably, this Is what lies behind
the tank pull-back and the reports that
the administration has decided to avoid,
If possible, further use OF American
troops in crossing the East Berlin bor-
der. No doubt there will be those who
will say that this is form Of appeaSe-
ment. But we do not think so. In the
first place, 1t would be utterly senseless
to precipitate an unnecessary armed
clash. Secondly, despite all Of his faults
and all of his bluster, we suspect that
the chances Of preserving the peace will
be little better If Mr.. KhruShchev con-
tinues to run the Kremlin show. If he
should be cut down in another political
blood-letting in Moscow, we may find it
impossible to deal with StaliniSt sue
ceSSOr.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Smut Runs Wild

I would like to call to the
attention of parents and all
citizens interested in COM
batting the unhealthy sex
stimuli slanted at our chill
dren day after day in trashy
novels, magazines and movies
an excellent article in the
November issue Of Good
Housekeeping magazine. This
article by Howard Whitman
is entitled "SMUT-The Poi
son That Preys on Our Chill
dren."
For too long we have
silently stood by, through
ignorance or permissiveness,
while q half billion dollar
smut business profits in de-
veloping sickness of great
consequence in the body,
mind and soul of our youth.
virginia Patterson
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Byrd on the Spot

It will not be surprising If Senator
Robert C.. Byrd of West Virginia joins
his opposite number in the House, Rep
reSentative Louis c. Rabaut of Michigan.
and gives his personal authorization to
the District Commissioners to suspend
the reductions they had previously
agreed to in certain relief payments.
For the issue as now presented to him,
as an individual, is whether he will
agree to taking bread from hungry chill
dren. The issue, thus described, is phony.
Yet is does not invite Senator Byrd to
stand like stone wall in opposition.
That was not the issue confronting
the House and Senate subcommittee
handling District relief appropriations
last August. The issue then was to find
some reasonable approach to cutting
down on the rapidly spiraling cost Of
public relief-a cost which has increased
out of all reasonable proportion to other
factors, including previous measure
ments of need, and Is assuming the as
poets of a public scandal rather than
public generosity. Aid to dependent chill
dren, which now accounts for half the
total cost of public welfare in the Dis
trict, and includes four-fifths Of those
receiving welfare, was chosen as one
expenditure that might be slightly re-
duced.
It was not chosen by Senator Byrd.
It was chosen by humane and con-
scientious Director of Public Welfare,
Gerard NJ Shea. The proposed reduc-
tions of 50 per month for fatherleSs
families Of four, and Of $4 per month for
each additional child, were proposed by
Mr.. Shea as a reasonable reduction. Its
effect was the subject Of searching ques-
tions by a member Of Senator Byrd's
committee, Senator MCGEE Of Wyoming,
one who is not given to taking bread
from the mouths Of hungry children. 1t
was supported without dissent by the
Commissioners, who evidently assured
themselves that such reduction would
not be among those described by Secre-
tary Ribicoff as "heartless cutbacks."
After the proposed reduction was
formally approved once more by the
Commissioners, they were presented
with proposal to appoint committee
which would attempt to measure the
possible hardships inflicted by the re-
duction-and to suspend 1t until the
committee made its report.
We doubt, from careful reading OF
Mr.. Shea's testimony, that the proposed
reductions would have any important
effect, one way or another, on the well
fare Of those depending on relief checks.
The grim problem faced by the welfare
authorities is not so much the hunger
and deprivation among children caused
by lack of available food. Their condi-
ton is largely the result of irresponsible
ity, ignorance and combinations OF cir
cumstanceS that are not materially
affected by the loss or gain OF a few
dollars a month. Even with the reduc-
tions, Congress appropriated a million
more dollars for welfare in the District
this year than last.
We hope the citizens committee
may be able to shed more light on the
solution of a problem that is far more
involved-in its sinister influences and
its strange contradictions-than the &C
tual effect of ceiling Of some sort on
relief payments to large families.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Pride and Prejudice

Messrs. Strauss and Hewitt
take the position that Ne
groes show lack of race pride
by seeking entrance to areas
Of life where they are not
wanted. Not wanted by
whom?
The gentlemen solemnly
imply that the privacy of
whites is being indelicately
invaded by Negroes with the
aid of the Federal fathers.
Here a question of seman-
tics may be involved. How
far does privacy extend into
public? How far can the op-
orators Of public accommo-
dations, such as restaurants
and theaters, which are sub
ject to the regulations of
law. exercise their private
preferences and prejudices in
the running of the busi-
nesses?
This matter Of race pride"
needs definition, also. Under
Hitler the Germans made it
mean race superiority" In
my book race pride means,
first of all, individual self
respect" and then respect for
ones racial group. Therefore,
because 1t is inclusive rather
than exclusive. it conveys the
idea of an equal respect for
other races and ultimately
for the only true race-the
human race.
I doubt very much, as Mr..
Strauss intimates, that Jews
have gone only where they
were welcome. How did they
go to Germany? I doubt sim
ilarly that Mr.. Hewitt would
feel proud Of his race, II it
were the target of a whole
battery of legal restrictions
which it was doing nothing
to remove. The truth is that
Mr.. Hewitt gives compliment
to, by the very frequency of
his comment on, Negroes.
]. w. Haywood, Jr.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Virqiniu Blue Lows

Arlington County Board
member Herbert Brown is to
be commended for his in
sight in the matter Of Vir-
ginia's blue law. The major
ity of Virginians will agree
with him that these laws are
"unenforceable, archaic. con-
Trajectory, .hypocritical and
offensive"
No blue law is desirable,
but one that permits the sale
of ham and beer but prohibits
the sale Of potatoes and eggs
is absurd. 1t is gratifying to
know that the Arlington
Board will urge the next
General Assembly to repeal
this law.
Harold r. Masters.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Compares Emissories

I wonder how many of
your readers unused over, as
I did. the contrast between
% the comments and gen.
eral effectiveness during his
visit here Of a middle-aged
illiterate camel driver from
Pakistan. and 90 the COM
ments and their effect of a
young Smith College honor
graduate and Peace Corps
member during her short tour
Of duty in Nigeria?
I draw no conclusions from
this comparison, but it does
raise some questions. Are the
Pakistanis better at training
their representatives than we
are? Is the experience of mid
die age Of more value than a
degree from one Of our better
colleges? Was 1t to the ad-
vantage Of the camel driver
that he was unable to write
a postcard home?
]. Sam Mewhinney, jr.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
100 Years Ago

A gallant old soldier, Grip
pied to near-helplesSness by
the rigors of three wars,
stepped out as chief Of staff
Of the Union Army a century
ago to make room for an am
bilious young subordinate. 1t.
Gen. Winfield Scott, rs,
didn't exactly fade away; he
was more or less pushed
aside by Mai. Gen. George
Mcclellan. 35. The two had
quarreled and bickered almost
from the day Mcclellan took
command of the Army Of the
Potomac. Little Mac" felt
that "Old Fuss and Feathers"
was a nuisance and tried to
pressure him into retirement
through cabinet and Capitol
friends. President Lincoln
stood behind Scott in August,
1861, when his chief of staff
wanted to resign because of
McClellan's open arrogance.
But in mid-October of that
year, Lincoln gently notified
Scott that he would consider
his r etir e m e n t favorably.
Scott then was a shell of a
man, compared with the Wig
orous campaigner he was in
the War of 1912 and the War
with Mexico. He had to nap
frequently at the War Depart
ment and needed help getting
home. Scott's termination of
duty was revealed by The
Star on November 2, 1861, as
it printed his retirement re-
quest, along with Lincoln's
letter granting same. Scott
wrote Secretary Of War Cam
eron: ". For more than
three years I have been un-
able, from a hurt, to mount
a horse, or walk more than
a few PAGES at a time, and
that with much pain. Other
and new infirmities - dropsy
and vertigo - admonish me
that repoSe of mind and
body, with the appliance Of
surgery and medicine. are
necessary to add a little more
to a life already protracted
much beyond the usual span
of man. 1t is under such cir
cumstanceS - made doubly
painful by the unnatural and
unjust rebellion now raging
in the Southern States of our
$50 late) prosperous and hap
by union - that I am COM
PEELED to request that my
name be placed on the list
of army officers retired from
active service :" The Star
said: &c. The President, ac-
companied by the cabinet,
Evening star., 1961-10-29

proceeded to the residence of
Gen. Scott, when the Presi-
dent read to him the official
order carrying out his deci-
sion granting the retirement
request. The venerable gener-
al, oppressed by infirmity
and emotion, rose with diff
Guilty to make to the Presi-
dent his acknowledgements,
which he did in touching
terms, concluding with the
declaration that the kindness
manifested towards him on
this occasion he felt to be
the crowning reward of a
long life spent in the service
of his country, and his deep
conviction of the ultimate
triumph Of the national arms
over rebellion, and the happy
termination of the present
unnatural and parricidal war.
:" General Orders No. 10,
which this paper printed the
same day put Gen. Nc
Clellan in command of the
United States Armies. In the
order announcing his own
promotion, Mcclellan wrote
of Scott: 1.-THE Army will
unite with me in the feeling
Of regret that the weight of
many years and the effect of
increasing infirmities, con-
tracted and intensified in
his country's service, should
just now remove from our
head the great soldier of our
Nation - the hero who, in
his youth, raised high the
reputation of his country on
the fields of Canada, which
he sanctified with blood;
who, in his more mature
years, proved to the world
that American skill and val
or could repeat. If not eclipse,
the exploits of Cortez in the
land of Montezumas; whose
whole life has been devoted
to the service of his coun-
try. :" Mcclellan after
wards penned this message to
his wife: THE general Or
DER was a little rhetorical,
but I wrote it at him, for a
particular market! 1t seems
to have accomplished the OBJ
ject." The press, the public
Evening star., 1961-10-29
so Years Ago

The greatest array Of war
ships ever assembled in
American waters swung at
anchor in the Hudson River
so years ago. The Star of
November /, 1911, reported
from New York: Ninety
nine fighting ships, groomed
for the first formal event
Of the greatest mobilization
in the history of the United
States Navy-an inspection
by Navy Secretary George
Won L. Meyer-formed a gray
line seven miles long in the
Hudson River today. The
fleet included every battle
ship now in commission in
the United States Navy, twen-
ty-four in all, every one in
fighting trim. President Taft
will review the fleet tomor-
row as it passes out to sea
before dispensing. . :"
Two of baseballs greatest
managers, Connie Mack and
John McGraw, locked horns
in the World Series so years
ago, and Mack's Philadelphia
Athletics won, beating the
New York Giants four games
to two. The Star, "extraed"
in those days. before tele-
vision and radio brought the
play-by-play right into the
living room. The final game,
reported by this paper on Oc-
tober 26, 1911, was a walk
away for the AS, who scored
13 runs to the Giants 2.
Chief Bender held the New
Workers to four hits. The
AS lineup included such stars
as Lord, Oldring, Collins,
Baker. Murphy, Barry,
Coombs and Plank, while the
Giants boasted of Doyle,
Snodgrass, Merkle, Herzog,
Ames, Marquand and Math-
ewson. Despite all this talent,
there were eight errors in the
last game.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
'Fneproof Paint

1t was a natural and prop
er consequence Of the dis
astrous and tragic fire in a
convalescent home last year
that there would be an Of
ficial investigation and a
vigorous and earnest effort
to find preventive measures.
/ suppose it was natural also
for the public powers-that-
be to come out with new
regulations which even
though they were ineffective
would show that public Off
cials had done something"
One Of the new orders is
that certain public buildings
and apartment houses have
their doors painted with
"Fireproof" paint. OF course,
there is no such thing as
really fireproof paint. True,
certain paints with a mix
ture Of crystals having So
called water of crystalliza-
ton have an inhibitive effect
against the start of a fire,
but apartment house fires do
not start in the doors at
entrances of apartments and
the fireproof paint would
have little or no preventive
power against a raging fire:
in fact, the ingredients Of
the paint would probably add
fuel to the fire that is al
ready well underway, which
is the usual case, rather
than prevent fires.
So here again we have Of
ficials trying to do a public
spirited job, setting up regu-
lations based on superficial
study or influence of a few
who have something to gain
commercially, with the re-
suit being the opposite of the
good intentions. How futile!
]. b. Andrews
Evening star., 1961-10-29
FROM THE STAR FILES.

and Scott himself were i'm
pressed by McClellan's dis
play Of affection as he ac-
companied the tottering hero
OF Lundy's Lane and Cerro
Gordo to the depot on that
rainy morning, November 2,
1861, when Scott left WASH
ington for New York. The
general was escorted on his
trip by Secretary Cameron
and Treasury Secretary
Chase. For a while Scott
lived at Delmonico's in New
York, but later moved to
West Point. He lived to see
the end of the war,
Evening star., 1961-10-29
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used II
letters carry tDriters' correct
names and addresses. All let
ters are subject to condenSd-
tion. Those not used tDiH be
returned only tDhen accom-
panied By self = addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Irrelevant Issue

The question presented to the Re
development Land Agency by the pend
ing Tiber Island proposal is whether
corporation, organized for the purpose
and otherwise competent to discharge
responsibilities involved in Southwest
redevelopment, is to be disqualified be-
cause one of its principal stockholders
has been accused of discriminatory bous-
ing practices in private housing develop
ments elsewhere.
This question, in our opinion, is ir-
relevant. 1t has been raised through
bitter criticism of the w. C. & A. N. Miller
Development Company, a so per cent
stockholder in corporation organized
to lease and develop the Tiber Island
project The criticism is based on racial
and other discriminatory practices at
tributed to the Miller company in certain
of its real estate developments, notably
Spring Valley and Wesley Heights. Sub
stance of the criticism is that such prac-
tices morally" disqualify the Miller
company as participant in the Tiber
Island Corporations proposed under
taking and that its reputation as pri-
vate developer makes it untrustworthy
as far as nondiscrimination Is concerned.
The RIA must and will insist on
nondiscriminatory policies and practices
by the lessees of public land in South
west redevelopment. One result of the
Miller company controversy is that RIA
requirements, in this regard, have been
greatly strengthened. But rigid insist
ence on such requirements is where
RLA's responsibilities in this particular
field should end. 1t has not, up to this
time, required clean bill Of health in
this regard as to past practices by other
developers, or their stockholders in
Southwest redevelopment. One doubts
that such clean bill of health would be
available. Qualified spokesmen for the
Tiber Island Corporation have pledged
strict adherence to RLAs frightened re-
quirements. The Miller company has not
been charged with illegal acts in its
operations elsewhere as a real estate
developer. These operations, as subject
as they may be to criticism by those who
Evening star., 1961-10-29
'Hooroy for McGuffey!'

Your editorial, "Hooray for
McGuffey!" is one that ev-
erybody should read. II the
McGuffey's Readers had been
used in our schools from
1886 until now, I believe the
moral standards of this coun-
try would be on a higher
plane than they are now. I
would like to see these read
ers or others like them put
back into our schools. Each
generation needs to be taught
what is right and wrong. We
are supposed to be a Chris
tian Nation. Then, let us
act as one.
Raney Coppadge.
Evening star., 1961-10-29
SPIRES OF THE SPIRIT
Light That Hides
BY DIR. FREDERICK BROWN HARRIS
Chaplain Of the United States Senate

just as Tile COIlllQcnI as
sertion was being made in a
world fast becoming one that
the day Of artificial fences
was a thing Of the past, 10,
the thickest walls ever known
are being thrown around mil
lions to isolate them from
other millions. The brick and
stone wall to separate East
Berliners from the freedom
most of them seek is the
latest tragic example. The
one system which loudly ad-
vertises to the workers Of
the world that it proposes
to tear down all partitions
between groups, and whose
avowed goal is a CLASHES
society. attempts to erect,
around this far borders and
the borders Of peoples it has
captured, a curtain so opaque
that it is called iron. One
reason for this policy is to
prevent the light that is on
the outside from dispelling
the darkness that is on the
inside. The idea Is to keep
regimented slaves back of
spiked fences in ignorance of
the world outside their
frontiers. to jam broadcasts
from the outside. and to feed
their fettered people false
impressions of the past his
tory and the present posi-
ton of their own country
in its relation to the rest
Of the world.
H. G. Wells has a short
story with the title, THE
Country Of the Blind" In it
he describes a race of people
in an inaccessible valley who
had lost their sight. When,
by accident, a traveller
reached their valley and told
them Of a world in which
there is light and color and
spoke to them of the rising
and Of the setting of the sun,
Of the sky at night gemmed
with stars, they believed that
he was mad or the victim
Of some mysterious disease.
Their world of darkness was
to them the real world-the
only world they knew-and
they could imagine nothing
outside 1t or better than it.
That story is a parable of
what happens to people who
live in a world back of cur
tains. Those who put up such
partitions watch with cruel
eyes lest there should leap
through from the outside
world information which
might refute the official
propaganda.
But there is still another
curtain which may be
thrown, not about the chill
dren of darkness. but which
may hem in the children of
light. Even we of the West,
who scoff at curtains whose
strands are fashioned of fear
and inferiority complexes,
may unconsciously use the
very light in which we re-
vel as a curtain which hides
from view the tragic facts
Of others less privileged than
we. The old expression, II
was blinded by the light"
may have implications to
which we need to be alerted.
George Eliot. in her monu-
mental novel, "Romola," in
depicting the Florence Of
Savonarola, coins a phrase
which opens UP warning
vistas regarding this matter
of curtains. She says, THE
light can be a curtain, as
well as the darkness" All,
here is a danger of which
we in privileged America
need to be made vividly
aware lest we construct a
curtain out of 0lIr light
Evening star., 1961-10-29
Misleading Name

Ralph McGill's "Anniversa-
ry of a Tragic Blunder" says:
Cecil Woodham-Sm wrote
a brilliant, fascinating book
on the battle. He concluded:
Who blundered and why re-
mains ETC."
Cecil Woodham-Smith is a
woman.
w. A. WydenbrOok-Loe