Coral Gables Riviera

CORAL GABLES RIVIERA

AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER 17th YEAR NO. 49 CORAL GABLES, FLORIDA, JANUARY 24, 1941 PRICE FIVE CENTS

OUR TOWN

by Jim Moore "I may not agree with what you say, sir, but I will defend unto death your right to say it." It's been many years since those words, were first uttered but in the time that has passed they have lived on and have come to characterize the spirit of Democracy that is now being so gravely threatened. Sacred too, are those words to the Fourth Estate, because embodied in them is the very principle of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. In reality, freedom of the press, with all its ramifications, is a lofty subject concerning only those crusading writers on government and international affairs. But in reality, it is just as important to the editor of a community newspaper as it is to the publisher of a large chain of metropolitan dailies. The other day a local woman jumped on us with "both feet" about an article written by a member of our staff. It wasn't an important piece-merely a review of a play. But our reporter was all wrong, asserting in the realism and had absolutely no right to express an opinion. A couple of weeks ago we wrote in this column asking readers to be free with their criticisms of the paper. In response to that plea we have received many letters, all of them containing constructive criticism, that have enabled us to gain an insight into what the reader wants to see in this newspaper. Just as we deeply appreciated those criticisms, we were glad to hear from the lady aforementioned. We were glad, we say, because it indicated that she had enough interest in The Riviera to tell us when something displeased her. But we can never agree with her that our staff member had no right to criticise the play. During the last city election, this same lady was very positive in her criticisms of some of the candidates, but no one told her that she was wrong and had no right to make those criticisms. What applies to world events applies just as strongly to local events. A community newspaper that never takes a stand on any question is of not use to the town that it endeavors to serve. In our democracy, it is just as important for a dramatic critic to say what he thinks as it is for a syndicated columnist to be allowed to express his views on governmental policy. For if you start to limit tailers the others will eventually follow. Last week we started a new feature in The Riviera called "The Inquiring Reporter." Every week some question that is of interest to the community will be asked of from 30 to 40 Gableites Through this medium, we hope to gain a cross-section of public opinion on things that are vital to our town. As a result of last week's poll, the idea of parking meters was definitely discarded by the city. This week's answers on the palm tree question show that our citizenry is definitely in favor of beautification of the business streets and should add impetus to the drive. Getting back to this freedom of speech business, we don't expect everybody to agree with what we say in print. For that very reason every newspaper has a "Letters to the Editor" department. If you think we're wrong on any point, write us your comments and we'll be happy to print them For we both have an equal right to express our opinions and we fervently pray that we will always have.

University Plans Acquisition Of 5 Acre Tract For Intramurals

Site of Athletic Center CADIMA AVE RIVIERA DRIVE ALESIO AVE PETIT CT AVE VISCAYA FLUVIA AVE LEJEUNE ROAD Zoning Change Is Requested By Institution Plans for the acquisition of a five-acre tract of land adjacent to present university buildings, for an athletic area, were revealed Tuesday by U. J. Hiss, business manager of the University of Miami. The tract, bounded on the east and west by LeJeune Road and Riviera Drive, and on the north and south by Cadima and Fluvia Aves., will be the site of tennis, handball, basketball courts and a large intra-mural athletic field, Hiss told the Coral Gables city commission. The university manager appeared before the city fathers to ask approval of zoning changes necessary for the project and to obtain permission to close off streets running through the area. Asked by Commissioner P. J. O'Shaughnessy if this move meant abandonment of plans to complete some day the University on its original site in the Riviera section, Hiss replied n the negative. "This year-to-year expansion has been forced on us by a rapidly-growing student body," he stated. "We can either stop progressing until someone gives us a million dollar endowment or continue with our immediate purchases of property near to the present campus site." Hiss stated that money was available for the immediate erection of four tennis courts, on which will be held tournaments of national prominence similar to the one scheduled for the Country Club of Coral Gables this month. The matter was referred to the zoning board for approval before final action by the commission.

1941 PROGRESS EDITION Scheduled For February 14th

The staff of the Riviera has started work on the annual Progress Edition, which is tentatively scheduled to make its bow on February 14. The Progress Edition has become somewhat of an institution in Coral Gables, and every year thousands of copies are sent to friends in the North by residents and visitors in Coral Gables. This year we are planning the biggest, and, we believe, the best Progress Edition we have ever attempted. Through story and picture it will review the advances made by this community during the last 12 months and tell the world that Coral Gables is THE spot on the globe for living, climate, culture and environment. Space will be devoted to every phase of living in Coral Gables. Civic organizations and Clubs will be invited to write their own stories of their accomplishments and histories. Considerable emphasis will be laid on beauty, environment, schools, recreation and homes. In other words, The Progress Edition will tell the complete story of Coral Gables to the world. In previous years, despite estimated press runs, we have found that our supply of papers had been exhausted long before requests for the paper had ceased coming in. Therefore, we are asking organizations and individuals who want copies to reserve them in advance so that no one will be disappointed this year. As to the advertisers, it is not necessary to dwell on the merits of carrying copy in this edition. Your regular advertising representative will call on you soon and be glad to assist you in preparing your copy. Through the Meyer-Both Advertising Service, we will be able to supply mats for any illustrations you may wish to use. Our regular advertising rates will be charged for this issue, despite the large circulation increase. We request, that those who can, prepare copy early so that proofs can be shown and the necessary time be given to good advertisement. We welcome suggestions from our readers about any features that they believe should be included in this issue. We believe that every Gableite, who is proud of his town, will not only want to send out several copies of The Progress Edition.

Rev. Robert W. Fairbank, an outstanding expert in rural reconstruction and a member of one of India's most famous missionary families, who will speak at the Coral Gables Congregational Church today at 2 p. m. under the auspices of the Woman's Association. He was born in India, his parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents being American Board Missionaries. He is a graduate of Amherst College and Hartford Seminary doing special work in Agriculture at Rutgers.

Chest Drive Starts Here

Coral Gables' Community Chest activity got under way this week with the appointment of Wallace A. Bell as major of the Gables area, serving under Glenn W. Gold, divisional chairman, and Louie Lanford, vice-chairman. The appointment was announced and accepted at the meeting of the Business Division. One of the most important factors in the campaign, the business division handles solicitations of executives and employees in the companies assigned in its division. Individual members of firms will be assigned to accept pledges, and members of these firms will not be approached by any other agency. Campaign dates now appear to be scheduled for March 17-21, although business solicitations will be planned for the time of greatest convenience to the individual concerns involved. The publicity committee announces that the Packer Display Co. has offered to donate vacancy billboard and poster space to the Chest when campaign time approaches.

City Officials Harassed By Premature Domestics

With domestics coming into City Hall in a steady stream, the cooperation of Gableites in the domestics' health examination ordinance hit a high mark in enthusiasm that is downright embarrassing to city officials. "Ever since the announcement of the ordinance that appeared in the Riviera," City Manager Curry said Thursday, "we've had domestics pouring in here every day. While I'm delighted to see the citizens so willing to help us, there are two things I'd like to make clear. One is that the ordinance will not become a city law until it has been read and passed at another meeting of the commission. The other is that we won't be able to set up the examining machinery for domestics until the latter part of February." The new ordinance, reported January 10th in the Riviera, requires that all domestics working in Gables homes be given a complete physical examination. This would apply the same protection to householders that the general public receives from the health examinations of all who handle food in such places as markets, restaurants, etc. "In spite of the fact that we can't start examinations now," Curry added, "it's encouraging to see that the householders are so willing to help us. Without their active participation, we could never enforce this health ordinance. I'm sure that they will benefit directly from their cooperation and good will."

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Building Hits $55,000 Mark

With $55,600 in construction going on, Coral Gables building this week sees eight new buildings and one addition under construction in the area. Mr. and Mrs. W. Scott Denning are building a new home at 3500 Granada Boulevard at a cost of $18,000. William Shanklin, architect, designed the new residence. Dr. and Mrs. R. R. Bronson are building a new house and garage designed by Upton Ewing at 918 Calibra St The permit calls for an outlay of $9,000. Mr. and Mrs. Nick Weis are planning a new home at 3600 Alhambra Court, which will cost $14,000. Their new house is being built under the supervision of Architect H. George Fink. Another new home is planned by George R. Veeder, who is building a $4,750 house under the supervision of Wolfe and Marion. D. Earl Wilson and the Kneale-Webster Co are building two duplex structures on Florida Ave. and Dixie Highway, while William Shanklin has designed an additon at 131 Giralda Avenue for J. L. Albury, which will cost $800.

Dressing Unit Opened Here By Red Cross

The Coral Gables surgical dressings unit of the Red Cross got off to a flying start with the opening of its brand new quarters Wednesday in the DeIgard Building. Mrs. Charles J. Sussong, chairman presided and 33 ladies were present from 10 a. m. until 4 p. m. W. W. Jefferson, head of the Red Cross, Mrs. J. T. Wilson, chairman of production for Dade County and Mrs. G. Castleman Estill, chairman of surgical dressings for Dade county, were all present and spoke. This unit's quota will be 600 dressings per day.

Kiwanis Plan Installation Of Officers

Formal installation ceremonies of the Coral Gables Kiwanis will take place tomorrow night in the palm-lined patio of the Coral Gables Country Club. Mark Wilcox, ex-congressman and Miami Kiwanian, will serve as master of ceremonies for the occasion, while Jim Hoffman, district lieutenant-governor of Kiwanis will conduct installation ceremonies. Dinner will be served at 8 o'clock, and will be followed by a dance after the installation activities. Early comers will receive refreshments before dinner. Andrew Houston, president; W. L. Gray, Jr., and R. A. Rasco, vice-presidents; and Harry Rath, secretary, are the new officers. The new board of directors includes A. R. Cassidy, William D. Fuller, John Gautier, Frank Holley Jr., Judge Thomas Mayes, Wade L. Street and Christian L. Witthow. On Tuesday at the regular Kiwanis luncheon meeting, Lieutenant-Commander Kenneth B. Salisbury, who is in charge of the naval air reserve base at Opa-Locka, will speak on "The Purpose of the Naval Reserve."

Twenty-one Palm Trees Pledged During First Week

Voluntary contributions of twenty-one royal trees for the beautification of the business area of Coral Gables, have been made this week, since the announcement of the proposed plan to plant trees along the side walks on Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Coral Way, Mrs. Alvie S. Lindborg, secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, announced yesterday. The first check to be received with which to purchase a tree was made to the Chamber of Commerce by Upton C. Ewing, Coral Gables architect and member of the chamber directorate. Those contributing trees were: E. Wheaton Crittenden, 5 trees; Upton C. Ewing, E. C. Thrall, A. B. Headley, L. E. Huegulet, A. B. Curry, Carrol S. Daniels, Dr. John C. Gifford, Judge D. J. Heffernan, Frank N. Holley, Jr., The Keyes Company, M. W. Wallenstein, Frank Shattuck, Chas. W. Henderson, 2 trees; Coral Gables Riviera and E. C. Dorris. Frank N. Holley, president of the Chamber of Commerce, announced that he had discussed the possibility of securing at least 150 trees from the county from Biscayne Key, with Com- (Please turn to Page Five)

Century Club Speaker Is Versatile

The Centruy Club of Coral Gables will entertain its members and guests at the first members' lecture meeting of the year, at 8:15 Monday evening, at the Miami Biltmore hotel, in the lounge. Edmund G. Harding, popular lecturer, will address the club. Mr. Harding is a past director of International Rotary, and has (Please turn to Page Five)

Bayfront Meet

Residents of Coral Gables are invited by the Chamber of Commerce to attend a meeting in Bayfront Park, Miami, Monday evening, January 27, at 8 p. m. to hear a lecture by James M. Wilson, superintendent of Dade county schools, on "The Financial Status of Dade County's School System."

City Ponders Trash Ruling

New rulings on trash collection will not be made until next week, A. B. Curry, City Manager, stated today. Curry reported that Fred Zimmerman was studying the problems, which were discussed last week by the Merchants' Bureau, and expected to complete his survey in several days. "We're trying to set up a fair way to cut down the city's losses on trash collection," said Curry. The City Manager explained that several large groceries and other business institutions were using too many trash collections in proportion to their garbage receptacles. The city ordinance on garbage and trash collection states that one trash can will be allowed for each grbage can, and that the quarterly charge for collection by the number of garbage cans required "The city has lost money every week on collections at these stores," Curry declared, "only because their garbage payments didn't begin to cover the cost of picking up their trash." It was emphasized that the city does not plan to make up the cost of trash collections in their proposed changes in collection rates, but only to make up the weekly deficit now showing on trash collection books. The new arrangements were sketched out last week at a meeting between the City Manager and members of the Merchants' Bureau.

Seven Volunteers

Seven volunteers, all colored, left here yesterday to join the army at Fort Blanding, Stark, Fla. All seven were registrants of local draft board seven, according to Gene Hunter, secretary of the board.

Gables, Grove Artists Elected In Blue Dome Fellowship Vote

Ralph Hamilton Humes of Coconut Grove was elected president of the Blue Dome Fellowship at the last regular meeting of the group this week, becoming the third president to take office in the Fellowship since its inception in 1925. Humes directly succeeds Lieutenant Commander Clephane of Coral Gables, developer of the Blue Dome, and Dewing Woodward, founder of the group. Ralph Humes, N.S.S., recognized as one of America's foremost animal sculptors, has representations of his work in the Permanent Collection of Fine Arts of the Pensylvania Academy at Chester Springs and the Huntington Museum of American Sculpture. Since coming to Florida in 1932, Humes has portrayed much of our local fauna in clay and bronze. Jean Jacques Pfister of Coral Gables was elected vice-president. One of the most familiar figures in our local art world, Pfister's painting of the Lindbergh flight gained a national popularity. His work is also represented in a number of permanent collections. Thor S. White, mural artist of Coconut Grove, was elected second vice-president. One of Miami's newer artists, White has nevertheless been influential in local art. Rosebud Clephane of Coral Gables, one of Florida's leading still life painters and wife of the President emeritus, was elected secretary and treasurer. Those elected to the board of directors include: Ernest L. Ipsen, N.A., Robert Little, Louise Zaring Robert Connivale and Sarah Albertson Woolley. At the same meeting plans were made for a jury exhibition of the Blue Fellowship to be held in Coral Gables at the Col-lege Cupboard on February 9th. Twenty selected works from the present Miami Beach exhibit will be featured As the present exhibit is of the highest standard yet attained by any local organization, the selected works should compose one of the finest groupings ever assembled here. This exhibit will be of particular convenience to residents of Coral Gables and the Grove, who, with little time to spare, would like to view collected paintings.

University Symphony Impressive In Concert With Albert Spalding

Miami should thank its musical stars that the University of Miami has seen fit to maintain a symphony orchestra. Not many communities of this size can boast a comparable organization. As Deems Taylor pointed out in an intermission discussion on a New York Philharmonic broadcast of some months back, small orchetsras play an play an indispensable part in America's musical development. They lead not museule up to the standards set by the large metropolitan symphonies, but they provide training ground for American and conductors, and, even more important, give us of the provinces first-hand contact with music in the flesh, which is all to the good. This by way of leading up to the second performance this season of the University Symphony, last Monday night. The orchestra is fulfilling the frantic in this third ensemble ably. It provides stimulatic evenings. It makes up for whatever it lacks in technical perfection by the vigorous, experimental approach which keeps music alive. And it brings us the best in solo artists—this time Albert Spalding, one of the greatest of living violinists. Under John Bitter's direction, the orchestra has made strides in technique since its first performance this year. Most of the fuzzy edges in the strings have been cleaned up, and the orchestra functions as a more coherent unit. The strings are particularly excellent, and Mr. Bitter is to be congratulated for opening the program with his own trans. cription for string orchestra of Bach's Prelude in B Flat Minor. It was a finished performance, with sensitive shadings and rich tonal quality. The second number was Beethoven's Symphony Number Five, and here both orchestra d critic run into difficulties. A creditable performance of an ambitious selection" suggests itself as an easy way out for the critic, but Mr. Bitter and the players deserve better than that. They did an interesting job. The Fifth simply requires more fullness than a small orchestra can give and more depth than students, however accomplished, can muster. Mr. Bitter tried to (Please turn to Page Five)

Miss Varner Rewarded For Best Slogan

Miss Marjorie Varner, Miami attorney and graduate of the University of Miami is the winner of the $50.00 Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce slogan contest, when her suggestion was selected out of more than 2,000 submitted. Miss Varner's slogan was "Coral Gables, Where Home Means More", will be used as the official chamber of commerce slogan with a cocoanut palm tree as a background, denoting that Coral Gables is in the tropics. George E. Merrick, chairman of the slogan committee declared that the suggestion of Miss Varner, "Where Home Means More", embodied all the ideals behind the creation of Coral Gables. The members of the slogan committee appointed by Wade Livingston street, chamber director, were: George E. Merrick, Dr. Jay Peson, Denman Fink, Frank N. Holley, Jr., and Miss Abigril Gilday.

Police Crack Down On Driving Faults

Since the enforcement of the new stiffer penalties for speeding and drunk driving four persons have run afoul of the law on charges of driving under the influence of liquor in Coral Gables, while 27 speeders have paid for their haste. The new penalties specify a fine of $100 plus five days in jail for driving under the influence of liquor, and a fine of $10 for speeding.

W. L. Street Is Improved

The many friends of Wade Livingston Street will be happy to know that he will possibly return home in a week or ten days from Jackson Memorial Hospital where he has been confined since January 12. It is intimated by Mrs. Street, that Mr. Street's many activities will be curtailed for some time to come.

Gableite Training

Carl M. Squires of Coral Gables is one of the 50 University of Florida students who have enrolled for the Civilian Pilot Training Program conducted by the Stengel Flying Service at Gainesville.