davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Spring in Damascus

Among all the Arab Middle East
lands that have been striving for eco
nomic viability and meaningful polit-
ical independence in the more than
forty years since World War I none
has been more beset with troubles than
Syria. Ironically, this has been the case
in spite of relative wealth in natural
resourceS-particular in an agricuI-
tural potential that exceeds that of
most OF its neighborS- of a superb
cial political Sophistication that devel-
oped under approximately two decades
of rule under French mandate.
Although Syria was proclaimed a
republil by French occupying authori-
ties in 1941, it was 1916 before the coun-
try was cleared of French troops. BY
that time it had become a hotbed of
Arab nationalism, but equally so of
political factionaliSm that was deStruc-
tive at home and mistruStful in its re-
lationS with the adjoining Arab states
of Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan. It's per-
Torrance in the Palestine War of 1948
compared poorly even with that of its
allies, an embarrassment that was re-
Elected in three changes of government
in 1949. 1t was on the thin basis of
Arab brotherhood" that the merger
with Egypt into the United Arab Repub-
lie took place in 1858, but this union
was dissolved last fall without evidence
before or since of significant social or
economic progress in Syria.
Against this background, there is
little reason for belief that this weeks
change of government by military coup
d'etat promises anything better or even
different. AS in so many countries of
political instability, the military in Syria
has been perhaps the most responsible
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
AdoIescent Adults

In recent articles and let
tiers on curbing juvenile
crime, experts have delved
deep into classic sociology, if
there is such a thing, to find
a cause and a cure for this
problem. This reason for
such scholarly research es-
capes me, since one need only
be alive and conscious to pin
point the core of this trouble.
I refer to our trend towards
kindocratic government.
In the Washington area
we have a Saturday radio
program, the Milt Grant
Show, advertised as the teen
network. Our own Star car
ries a special weekly section,
TEEN" A chain of restau-
rants has a sandwich called a
"teen-twist." and the tele-
phone company jumps into
the moppet market by push
ing a color phone in her room
so that the teen-age girl can
chit-chat for hours without
guilt reactions or fear of par
entail eavesdropping.
On the national level, a
weekly magazine ran a series
recently on what teens think
about everything from sex to
the bomb. The year I taught
high school history, students
were knee-deep in discussion
clubs and current events
panels where they were en-
couraged to voice their opin-
ions on the future of the new
African nations, but they
could not tell me who Cecil
Rhodes was. When one boy
finally came up with "he was
the guy who gave money to
people who wanted to go to
college" I felt that I had
truly tapped the spirit of the
age.
We have so dignified the
vegetation period called ado
lescence that it is no wonder
so many youngsters assume
carte blanche regarding their
actions. When I was in high
school people very negatively
referred to something called
the awkward age" and my
mother spent her time tell
ing me to hold my shoulders
up and stop eating so much.
Why are we so shocked when
oungSters commit adult
crimes when we force them
to grow up so fast! Little
baby boys, barely out of the
crib, today wear full-length
trousers. I remember the
males among my grade
school cohorts wearing
Knockers, and looking for
ward with respectful awe to
their first pair of long pants.
This resulting lack of self
Identification and self-reali-
zation creates explosive traits
in youngsters. They are wan
dering in an emotional pur-
gatory, not knowing who or
what they are. I was raised
in an era when children
knew that they were chill
dren. Now, we call Adde'S
cents young adults.
Florence King.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Bad Example

The 5000 public school teachers in
New York City who almost unanimously
voted to strike on April 10 unless their
demands for more pay are granted have
given their pupils bad example of
good citizenship For such strike would
be in direct violation of a State law
which has been upheld as constitutional
by New York'S Court of Appeals If
teachers show such contempt for law,
how can they or anyone else expect that
children, who look to teachers for
guidance, will have respect for law?
We do not know the merits of the
teachers demands for more money One
pay increase offered by the Board of
Education has been summarily rejected,
however, and the teachers union re-
fused to be appeased by Mayor WagnerS
statement that officials are trying to
learn if additional funds will be avail
able for teachers pay increases and
that he will have the information avail
able within a few days.
The strike vote was taken at a
mass meeting of members of the United
Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO at
which the union head, Charles Cogen,
denounced the "run-around" which he
said the teachers have gotten from
State and municipal officials. He de-
clared there has been "a breakdown in
government and we intend to fix that
breakdown" But the real breakdown in
government in New York City will oc-
cur when and if the public servants of
that government repudiate and defy
the laws they are sworn to uphold
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Good Show in Steel

On both the timing and the terms
as disclosed unofficially, the agreement
seemingly close at hand on a new labor
contract in steel warrants an unequivo
cal "well done" for all parties at the col
lective bargaining table. If the remain
ing technicalitieS of formal approval
are fulfilled as forecast in the next few
days, President Kennedy and his aides
also will merit commentator for their
efforts in behalf of a settlement that
would be in the public interest"
For as defined at present, the pend
ing agreement represents a reasonable
compromise on the part of Both industry
and labor, and one that falls.well within
the national interest guidelineS as set
forth by both Mr.. Kennedy and Labor
Secretary Goldberg on several occasions
in recent months. Providing no direct
wage increase during the first year, al
though permitting reopening of the
wage question for the following twelve
months, the two-year pact does give to
labor an estimated 10-cents-per-hour
package of fringe benefits involving
pension, vacation and job security pro-
visions. It is calculated that the 10-cent
figure raises employment costs by ap-
proximately "a per cent, safely below
the 8 per cent increase which economists
estimate could be offset by improved
productivity. On this basis, it is believed
that industry will not be forced to raise
prices to cover the extra costs-an &C
ton which could be harmful to steel
comparatively, both at home and abroad,
and which could start another infla-
tionary wage-price spiral
For two reasons at least, the timing
is gratifying. Present contracts in steel
do not expire until June 30, but any
threat to production as that date neared
inevitably would have prompted heavy
inventory buying with compensatine
contraction of demand later. This I'M
even course of production before and
after the 116-day steel strike in 1859
has been considered one of the underly-
ing causes of the 1960-61 recession Main
tanning the present recovery trend is
one of the national interest considera-
t1onS-in which steel industry and labor
alike have large Stake-emphaSize
by administration spokesman In addi-
ton, the pattern of the steel settlement
could serve as a basis for similarly non
inflationary agreements in other major
industries facing contract negotiations
later this year. The United Steelworkers
Union itself is due to talk contract with
the aluminium industry in few weeks,
and other contract bargaining is due in
aircraft and missiles, oil, metal fabricat-
ing and communications.
For all of these, the steel negotiat-
ing teams headed by R. Conrad Cooper
and Dave Mcdonald have set a good
example this spring in responsible
industrial craftsmanship.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Answers to Questions
BY THE HASKIN SERVICE

@. What is the word which
describes a person who gets
married legally for the sec
ond time?-Y. M.
A. The noun is digamist.
the adjective is digamous,
Dlgamy is the act or state of
being twice married legally,
as after legal divorce or
death of a spouse.
Q. Where do cuttlebones
come from - the kind used
IN bird cages?-P. L.
A. From the cuttlefish. a
mollusk closely related to the
nautilus, octopus, and suuid.
The cuttlebone is the limy
internal shell of the cuttIe-
fish - borad. spongy, and
chalky. The mollusk moves
by forcing water in or out of
the cavity between the cut
tleoone and the body, in a
kind of "jet propulsion" that
moves it backward or for
ward. The cuttlebone is put
in bird cages to provide birds
with lime salts.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Gershwin Passed Up

"A huge injustice was done
to a very talented show at
the Sunday performance of
GershWin, presented at the
w a S h in gton Coliseum.
Washingtonians should feel
ashamed for failing to turn
out for such top talent in
connection with the 25th an
niversary salute to Americas
most beloved composer.
Skitch Henderson COM
mented Although we out
number you (the people in
the audience, we will put on
a good show" which they
certainly did, even though
playing against terrific odds.
The acoustics were terrible
and the crowd was worse.
Some 5000 people were
turned away the previous
night, when the Globe Trot-
tiers played. Why couldn't
just half that many turn out
to hear Gershwin's memora-
BILE songs done in such an
outstanding manner?
ID, w. Hartnett,
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
THE PASSING SCENE
By WILLIAM S. WHITE
End of the Iona Poll Tax Road

The end Of the long road
toward knocking out the poll
tax by fair and constitutional
means draws near at last
in spite of the best efforts
Of professional civil rights
extremists to block the very
reforms for which they had
SO clamored.
The Senate, after token
Deep South resistance, has
approved by II to 16 the
necessary constitutional
amendment. Under the lead
ership of a genuine civil
rights advocate, Representa-
tive Emanuel Celler of New
York, who has always pre-
ferred action to personal
headlines, the House will
shortly approve the same
aInenQment.
Pre-'64 Windup Likely
1t will then go to the State
legislatures for final incor-
poration into the Constitu-
ton, a process requiring &C
ceptance by three-fourths of
the States. There is every
prospect that the Job will
have been done for good be-
fore the 1864 presidential
elections and thus that this
ancient tax upon the right to
vote will be removed forever.
Only five States still retain
it-Alabama, Arkansas, Mis-
SiSSippi, Texas and Virginia.
The whole sweating job of
bringing this reform through
the Senate has illustrated
with rare clarity a basic truth
about the struggle to for
ward sensible civil rights pro-
grams in this country. This
basic truth has been for years
that the minority Southerners
have usually not formed the
real and decisive barrier.
Most of the time, this real
barrier has been formed by
extremist Northerners, Re-
publican and Democratic
alike. Whatever and when
ever opportunity has pre-
Sented itself to make signifi-
cant progress, they have al
most invariably DISTRACTED it
by demanding the impossible
and the unfair.
Offered a loaf, if a small
one, they have denounced it
automatically, not as only
half-a-loaf but as no bread
at all. And instantly and
automatically they have de-
manded IL loaves.
This, inevitably, they did
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Good Will Emissory

The objection of a Repub-
lican Congressman, question:
ing the cost Of Jackie Ken
nedy's tour, is about as far
off base and out of line as
one could wish for.
In our intense desire to de-
velop international friendship
and good will, it would be
difficult to find a more eco
nomical method than sending
our First Lady on a world
tour. On numerous occasions
we have spent many times
the $45,000 involved and got
nowhere near the response
and good will as brought
about by the charming and
od-looking Mrs. Kennedy.
Herbert Sommers.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30

again in the Senate'S re-
cent debate. Notwithstanding
universally recognized fears
that any attempt to repeal
the poll tax without amend
ing the Constitution might
itself be unconstitutional,
they persistently demanded.
all the same, that the re-
pealer be attempted by sim
pie act of Congress.
This they did in the face
of the obvious fact that far
more than three-fourths of
the so States of this Union
were manifestly ready and
willing to end the poll tax
by constitutional means.
This they did in the face
of the demonstrable fact that
a vast majority of the
Senate-including it's North
ern Democratic leader and
its Northern Republican
leader-appealed to them to
accept the constitutional ap-
proach as the sensible ap-
proach.
This they did in the face
of what is surely to most
reasonable people another
fair and reasonable point:
Since there was undeniable
doubt that a simple act Of
Congress would be constitu-
tional, and since an undeni-
ably constitutional alterna-
tive was at hand, would it
not be sounder public policy
to take the certainly lawful
approach?
Extremists UnmOved
None of this moved the
professional civil rights ex-
tremists. Perhaps the most
extreme of them all, Senator
Jacob JavitS of New York,
unrelentingly demanded the
approach of doubtful law
fitness. His proposal was
overwhelmingly repudiated.
Only its reputation opened
the way to true action. Had
he miraculously succeeded,
the House would never have
gone along.
But now the House will 60
along, because Nanny"
Celler and a host of others.
who believe in the constitu-
tional approach as the right
approach, will see that it
does. So one moral of the
tale might be put in this
query: Who is really for ad-
vances-as distinguished from
gestures-in civil rights? A
Javits of New York, or a
Celler of New York?
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Civil Riohts

AS an advocate OF equal
rights and opportunity for
all citizens, I was sorely dis
appointed in the speech of
Roy Wilkins before the
NAACP as reported in The
Star.
Mr.. Wilkins spoke elo-
quently of civil rights. He
failed. however, to mention
the old legal equation that
every right has of necessity
a responsibility attached to
it. He suggested that the
crime situation in the Dis
trict of Columbia was caused
by the fact that the District
Commissioners and Congress
failed to give (the Negroes)
anything.
Society owes nothing to
the Negro except equal treat
ment under the laws of this
Nation. Such rights must be
vigorously enforced. But if
the Negroes, organized into
a group, desire more, it is
clear that it must be earned,
collectively and individually,
through responsibility. The
NAACP cannot equitably ask
for more to be "given" and
at the same time evade its
responsibility.
The Negro is not entitled
to be "given a job or well
fare" as Mr.. Wilkins suggests.
He must earn a job through
individual effort. Does Mr..
Wilkins suggest that if the
Negro is not "given a job or
welfare" that he has a right
to commit crime?
If the NAACP chooses to
use its weight of numbers to
produce rights and benefits
for its members, and for the
Negro community it aspires
to represent, it must also an
Swer directly for the short
comings of it's membership.
The NAACP in particular
bears the responsibility to
generate in the Negro COM
munity the highest degree of
moral character.
When it evadeS this re-
sponsibility. crying only for
more to be given, without
giving its best in return, one
cannot consider it's demands
seriously. Rather, such de-
mands border on irreSponsi-
bility.
Pierre Ea DOSterf.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
Liquor Prices

H. R. 1908, a bill providing
for general revamping of the
D, c. Alcoholic Beverage Con-
troll Act. purports to bring
up to date an archaic Dis
trict ABC law that has been
on the books since prohibit
ton. Generally, this need for
reVamping is correct - most
of the current provisions in
the existing law need updat-
ing. But the public and Con-
greSS should be warned that
this particular bill is a
smokescreen behind whic h
are hidden two provisions
which in effect would great
ly increase the price of al
cohol in the District by Cd
forcing the retailer to sell his
wares at 6 per cent above
cost and co forbidding the
publication of competitive
prices in the local news
media.
These two obnoxious pro-
visions (Which appear at the
tail end of a very lengthy
bilD strike at the very heart
of our competitive system of
marketing and, if enacted,
would result in large profits
to certain wholesale distribu-
tors in our town.
There is a serious question
Of principle involved here and
it matters little whether we
are talking about bread, ten
mis- rackets, automobiles or
scotch. Price-fixing provi-
sions of this type simply are
not in the public interest but
are designed merely to line
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
REX BRASHER, PAINTEI

ASH<A OASGASAAGANS AIN EAO
OF BIRDS, A Biography.
BY Milton E. BraSher. Illus.
(including 6 double page
color plates), 346 PIP. (Row-
man & Littlefield, $3.50
Rex Brasher (properly Reg
inald I. Brasher), age 8, made
a curious vow. HE would
paint every bird of North
America and thus cast (Au-
dubon) to oblivion"
A curious asseveration,
hardly to be taken seriously.
Except that in October, 1928,
Brasher laid down his brush,
having completed 875 paint
ings including over 5000 indi-
vidual bird figures and 1888
species of trees.
These paintings are now
the property of the State of
Connecticut. In the years
after 1928, Brasher got out a
series of sumptuous volumes
containing hand-colored re-
productions. At the moment,
the reproductions are being
reissued-printed of course,
not manually colored.
REX Brasher, Painter of
Birds" is in a sense a COM
panion to these volumes of
reproductions. Milton E.
Brasher is a nephew of the
artist, who died in 1860 at the
age of 81, and his biography
is based on family papers, the
artists unpublished auto
biography, a few of his print
ed writings, and above all on
Renaissance.
It is indeed more a memo
rial than a biography. This
being so, one can overlook it's
occasional contradictions and
vagaries and its unprofeS-
sional-though not illiterate
style, and accept it gladly
as a heartfelt tribute to a
remarkable man.
EXCEPT FOR a fateful
acquaintance with Louis
AgasSiz Fuertes, who seems to
have given him some kind
of brief and informal in
struction, Brasher was en-
tirely self-taught. The en-
counter with Fuertes made
him dissatisfied with his
work and he destroyed 300
completed paintings. A few
years later, he decided that
he had just learned the secret
of rendering feathers. And
again, his life work went to
the furnace-this time some
400 paintings.
BraSher's method was SIM
pie in concept and difficult
in practice. He tramped
about the country and sailed
its coasts making painstak-
ing sketches in the field.
The paintings were based on
these sketches, verified when
necessary by stuffed birds
and skins.
He supported himself by
working as a photoengraver
and a commercial fisherman
when he had to. But his
principal means Of support
before his art began to bring
an income was a strange one
at which very few men have
ever been successful: He beat
the races.
Obviously a character, and
one who in his later years
thoroughly enjoyed the role.
And obviously, too, a man
whose exploits were high
romance.
Brasher was one of a group
of fishermen who in the dark
of night released" an Amer
lean fishing boat impounded
by the Canadian authorities.
And he escaped murder in a
desolate corner of Florida by
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
LETTERS TO THE STAR

Pen names may be used If
letters carry DriterS' correct
names and addresses. All let
tiers are subject to condensa-
ton. Those not used Diu be
returned only ,Dhen accom-
panied by self = addressed.
stamped envelopes.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30
FutiIity of Geneva

Your recent editorials rela-
tive to the situation in &C.
neva confronting our Nation
and the free nations of the
Western World are outStand-
ing, and I believe represent
the thinking of the average
American citizen.
I am referring specifically
to the editorials captioned
Lets Take No Chances"
1--WE Must Stay on Guard"
and playing Russia's Game. {"
Columnist Constantine Brown
in his column of March %
adequately covers the same
subject matter under the
caption European Skepti-
cism Over Geneva"
The editorials definitely
point up the danger to our
Nation if we continue to be-
lieve or try to even under
stand the necessity of pro-
longing the discussions at
Geneva, because it is obvious
that the Soviet delegates are
playing the same old game of
preparing future tests while
sitting around the table and
trying by every means of sub
terfuge to obtain their OBJ
jective, which we know is
world control and conse-
quently the slavery of all free
peoples.
1t is understandable that
negotiations with nations
having a different concept
of life and liberty than our
own is desirable, but the past
record of negotiating with the
SovietS has taught us that
they cannot be trusted, and
that a signed treaty with
them is of little value, in
fact is worthless, as they
have demonstrated on sew
eral occasions. Therefore, it
is a mystery to this writer
why our Government more or
less Stubbornly continues to
insist that these worthless
discussions must continue.
We must continue to explore
nuclear tests and stop play
ing RuSSia's Game"
Herbert E. Forbes, Sr.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-03-30

the pockets of the already
affluent few.
Every effort should be
made to defeat this special
interest" legislation.
James A. COlgan.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-18

Dupont-"Jules and Jim; /.
sos, $40. 1880, 9:45 and 1855
pm.
Keith's - kid Galahad";;
11:15 am. los. $40, $40,
TBS. 9:35 and Has pm.
MacArthur-"Only Two Can
Play; 2, 1855, 6, 7:55 and e::55
pm.
Metropolitan - The Music
Man; 10:45 am, 1:20, 4, $50
end 9:l5 pm.
OntariO-'Jolita";; 1:15, 4:05
7 and e:55 pm.
Palaee-"My Geisha";; II
2:25. 4:45. 7:05, 9:25 and 11:45
pm.
PlayhOuse-"The Best Of En-
emies";; II. 2. 4, 6, 8 and $3.50
pm.
Plaza-"Two and Two Make
Six; HAS am, ITO, 2:40
4:l0. sos. 8 and $50 pm.
Town That Touch OF
Mink; 1905. 2:05, 4:05. sos
sos. 1905 pm. and 1905 am
TranS-Lux -" The Interns";
1870 am, 1885, 3:45, 5:55. 8:05
and 1910 pm.
UptOwn-"West Side Story;
2 and $3.50 pm.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-08-18
K.B THEATERS

ApEY @sl3 Moss. Ave. Wo. $500
Free Parking
FETER SELLERS in I LIKE
MONEY" Based on Pagnors To
Pare" at 100, 2:45, 1870, 6:l5,
sos and $3.50 PM.