Coral Gables Riviera

CORAL GABLES RIVIERA

AN INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER Published every Friday by the Miami Riviera Publishing Co., 306 Coral Way, Coral Gables, Fla. Established January, 1926 Combined with the Dade County and Coconut Grove Times, 1929. ALBERT E. HARUM President and Publisher JAMES B. MOORE Managing Editor Mailing Address, P. O. Box 704 Telephone 4-1634 Member, Florida Press Association National Editorial Association Represented in the National Advertising Field by the American Press Association, New York City SUBSCRIPTION RATES One Year by Carrier, Coral Gables and Six Months $1.25 One Year $2.00 Entered as second class matter May 21, 1926, at the Postoffice at Miami, Florida, Under Act of March 3, 1879.

Gas Again

Scheduled on the agenda for the next meeting of the city commission will be the discussion of a proposed gas franchise fer Coral Gables. Ordinarily, word that the commission was planning to take up such a matter, and give thought to the granting of a franchise whereby gas mains would be laid in the streets, making gas available to Gables homes via pipelines, would give rise to considerable discussion. However, the matter has popped up so many times before with no resulting action, that the citizenry has come to look upon it as something that is discussed every year and then shelved until the next. As a matter of fact, the proposed franchise has been brought to the city's attention at least once a year for the last seven years. Now it comes up again. We don't know whether Coral Gables needs gas mains or not, nor do we care, at the present, to venture an opinion as to whether the franchise should be granted. It does seem, however, that this franchise matter should be settled one way or another. Last February Charles E. Starr of the Consumers Gas and Fuel Company, placed a proposed franchise ordinance in the hands of the commissioners. At the same time, through advertisements in the Riviera, he stated that a referendum of the subject had been requested. Mr Starr will undoubtedly appear for his company at the next commission session. At that time, all cards should be laid on the table. Mr. Starr should tell the commission exactly what his company plans to do if the franchise is granted, show evidence of financial stability and state whether or not the Consumers Gas and Fuel Company plans to operate the gas system or lease or sell it to some other company. The commission, in turn, should decide, once and for all, whether a referendum on the proposal is to be called or whether the gas company will be given a definite "No".

The "Can" Attitude

"I feel that while the department has given a great deal of consideration to the desires of the patrons of the Coral Gables branch post office, it has only been from the angle of 'why it CANNOT be DONE' rather than from the angle of 'how it CAN be done'." These words, taken from a letter written by Congressman Pat Cannon to Ambrose O'Connell, first assistant postmaster general, seem to aptly characterize the attitude of postal authorities in Washington towards Coral Gables request that outgoing mail bear a "Coral Gables, Fla." cancellation. On top of the optimistic news that Congressman Cannon was going to push the issue in Washington came a rather brief and disinterested note from Senator Claude Pepper that seems to reflect the same attitude as that of the postal officials. Addressed to Andrew Houston, chairman of the Merchant's Bureau, the senator's note stated that he had taken the matter up with the postal authorities and they had explained to him why the request of the citizens of Coral Gables could NOT be granted. Senator Pepper let it go at that. Pat Cannon was also told why it could NOT be done - but he was not content to let it rest. Realizing that Coral Gables has a legitimate claim, Cannon is now seeking to find out how it CAN be done. He has the information and is using all his power to help this community. We need more men in Washington with the "CAN", rather than the "CANNOT" attitude. It's too bad that Claude Pepper doesn't think enough of the people of this community t eaotkothotlef"vJ(nnfodif'fr community to take that attitude. Citizens have a habit of remembering the attitude of their elected representatives toward their requests. They will not forget Pat Cannon.

JOIN AMERICAN RED CROSS

Halloween

(WNU Service) SHORTAGES INVASION SPENDING BOO! TAXATION DEFENSE COSTS PRIORITIES INVASION PUBLIC

YOUR GABLES and mine by Jim Moore

Tuesday, which started out prosaickly like most week days, turned out to be apretty adventurous one for us. In the first place we had lunch with a Cheetah and a Chimpanzee, which ordinarily would provide us with enough excitement for many months to come. Then to top that off, we met two of the most interesting people we've come in contact with in many, many moons. We believe that in all men and women there lies the restless quest of adventure. Most of us appease the craving by gorging ourselves on books of adventure and seeing movie thrillers - but not so Armand and Leila Denis. To them the wilds of the Africa'n veldt and mysterious tangle of the Belgan Congo jungles are as real as the streets of Coral Gables are to us. They have spent years delving into the out-of-the way places of the world and coming back with the proof of their adventure on movie film. Those of you who saw the motion pictures "Dark Rapture" and "Goona-Goona", will have an inkling of the kind of lives Mr. and Mrs. Denis have led. They were in Coral Gables Tuesday, as guests of the Kiwanis luncheon. With them came "Mugwump", a droll Chimpanzee who sat next to President Andy Houston and ate his luncheon in a gentlemanly manner, and "Carli" an African Cheeta de Mousing leopard), who sat quietly in the corner and looked out the window with a bored expression on his face. Mr. and Mrs. Denis have come to Florida to "settle down" as they put it. We can't quite agree with their terminology. They have purchased an old rock pit near Dania and are going into the business of breeding Anthropoid Apes. Already they have gathered the largest private collection in the world and the St. Louis Zoo is the only public collection that is larger. As Denis explains it, the Anthropoid Apes are invaluable to scientific research, as they are the only animals with the same physical reactions as man. The war has cut down the supply from Africa, and the demand for them is great. At the present Mrs .Denis is occupied with operating the Thunderbird Indian Trading Post, which they puchased along with the rock pit, and taking care of five baby Chimpanzees. She tells us that her experience in raising her own three children stands her in good stead as the little apes require practically the same treatment. Every morning they are bathed and have their teeth brushed, just like regular babies. Leila Denis is just as much imbued with the spirit of adventure as her husband. At one time when Mr. Denis was off making a picture with Frank Buck, Leila and a girl friend bought a Ford and drove it 26,000 miles in 14 months from Antwerp, through Calcutta and Singapore to Java and the across the great Australian Desert. She has been charged by lions, attacked by baboons and bogged down in the midst of Australia with no water. The latter experience she believes was the most terrifying of all. It occured on her jaunt with her girl companion. They lost the trail and their car fell into sand and almost turned over, becoming hopelessly mired in the process. The tipping of the car overturned their only water container and the last drop soaked into the ground. As far as they knew, there wasn't a human being in hundreds of miles, nevertheless they started to backtrail on foot. By a miracle of coincidence, a lone prospector found them, pulled them out and sent them on their way.血 Incidentially, on that trip they burned out three motors, used 27 fan belts and 11 patch coats. Her maiden name was Roosevelt and she is related to both F.D.R. and the late Teddy. That may account for some of her adventurouses spirit. Denis told us that he believed that when he got married that it would mean his settling down, but since that time he has covered more miles than he did when he was single. Things were rather quiet for them for about the first three years of their marital existence, but they couldn't stand it for long. Shortly after their third child was born they were on a freighter bound for Bali, where they filmed the picture "Goona-Goona". Yep - Tuesday started out as a quiet day,but we went through a lifetime of adventure with Armand and Leila Denis.

Dollars and Sense

By ROMEYN W. SMITH Investment Consultant From the viewpoint of the investor, we are not concerned with the economic soundness or unsoundness of inflation, nor with the moral right or wrong of inflation. What we are concerned with is: "How will it affect us as investors?" Inflation is confusing to the average investor. It is confusing because it is an attack from a quarter toward which he is accustomed to look for protection and safety - the federal government. The investor who suffers most from inflation is the one who does that which, under normal conditions would be the most conservative thing to do. The greatest sufferer is the investor who holds cash, or obligations payable in cash, such as government, municipal and high grade corporation bonds, mortgages, etc. The investor must realize that everything he has been accustomed to do to "play safe" is exactly reversed in a period of inflation. There are numerous ways of protection, but the one way which certainly will not work is the very one which a lifetime of investing has taught most people to regard as safe. Another cause for confusion is the nomenclature of economics. Ask the next few people you meet to define inflation, deflation and purchasing power. You will receive a variety of replies. Let's review these three terms and see if we can't get a better idea of their meaning. For instance, take inflation and deflation. One person talks about dollar inflation, or currency deflation and the next uses "inflation", apparently with exactly the same meaning. As a matter of fact, we do have dollar deflation and dollar inflation at precisely the same time. The dollar deflation we mean, however, is deflation of the value of a dollar in terms of an ounce of gold. An ounce of gold used to be worth $20.67. Now it is worth $35.00. A dollar formerly was about 1-20 of an ounce of gold. Now it is 1-35 of an ounce. Dollar or currency deflation means reduction in the value of the dollar in terms of gold. At the same time we have dollar or currency inflation. Here we mean inflation of the quantity of currency or dollars in circulation. As you see, there might be currency or dollar inflation without dollar deflation. But in America at this time we have both. Along with currency inflation, sooner or later, we find price inflation - higher prices for merchandise, commodities, etc. The establishment of "price ceilings" is an attempt, but only an attempt, to stop price inflation. "Purchasing Power" is a confusing term because there are two kinds of purchasing power. We refer to people, to their ability to buy - as "the purchasing power of the farmer" or of the wage earner. The other applies to the capital owned by the people, i.e., the "purchasing power of the dollar. If crops are poor or the prices of farm production low, then the "purchasing power of the farmer" is low for the reason that, as a class, they have little money. "Purchasing power of the dollar" has an entirely different meaning. If prices of merchandise or commodities are low, then the purchasing power of the dollar is high, because a dollar will buy a lot of merchandise. But if merchandise prices are high then the purchasing power of the dollar is reduced. What we are concerned with is, of course, the "purchasing power of the dollar." Now for a definition of inflation. Inflation is a financial maneuver, vlountary or involuntary, on the part of a government, the effect of which is to raise the price of things - merchandise, commodities - iron, wheat, copper, furniture, wearing apparel, groceries ,automobiles, bottles, real estate. And as we have seen, raising the prices of merchandise and commodities decreases the purchasing power of the dollar. Next week we shall continue our discussion of inflation.

Turning a New Leaf ... Book Briefs

- "BOMBER COMMAND" - (Doubleday-Doran) The official British Ministry of Information report, Bomber Command, a 128 page book containing 80 illustrations, is being rushed through to press for American publication on October 22. Bomber Command reveals in detail for the first time the strategy, technique and progress of the division of the Royal Air Force which is now making history over Germany. It was written, although it shows no by-line, by Hilary St. George Saunders, whoturned out the widely read report on the Fighter Command entitled The Battle of Britain. The official Air Ministry photographs which illustrate the volume, appear in America for the first time with publication of Bomber Command. Opening with a moving description of the bombing of the German fleet at Helgoland in September 1939 the book carries the story of Britain's bomber pilots up to the present air offensive against the Third Reich, in which the Royal Air Force is dealing heavy blows against German industrial and communication centers, heavier blows, according to Bomber Command, than those which the Luftwaffe scored on England during the Battle of Britain. British air supremacy over the Luftwaffe, recently proclaimed by Winston Churchill, is directly attributable to the crews of the British bombers, as the saving of England itself during the Battle of Britain edpended upon the lone pilots of the Hurricanes and Spitfires which met Goering's bombers over the Channel, Bomber Command says. British bomber pilots have been lighting up fires and smashing factories to rubble in Western Germany, Northern Italy, Africa and Berlin. They have pounded the so-called "Invasion Coast" and worked night bombing and today they stand supreme in this phase of air warfare, a phase which may be the determining factor in the outcome of the war itself. British bombing operations, following a system of strategy carefully framed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Charles Portal, are based, according to Bomber Command, on the theory that systematic bombing of German aircraft factories, ports, railroads and industrial plants will do more to cripple the Nazi war effort than indiscriminate harassing of civilians, as practiced by the Luftwaffe. Bomber Command reveals for the first time the clash between British and French authorities during the Battle of Flanders which prevented British bombers from engaging in an all out offensive against Germany. The book discloses that on at least one occasion French army officials ordered military lorries driven across RAF airdromes in France in order to prevent British bombers fom taking off. The temperamental differences between bomber and fighter pilots are made clear, and the functions of bomber crews are explained. Fighter pilots, who go into action in single place aircraft, on their own once battle has been joined, are in the air at the most an hour and a half - of desperate, almost hand to hand fighting. Bomber pilots, navigators and gunners, on the other hand, may be required to pass eight or ten hours in the air, to perform their missions under the fire of anti-aircraft artillery and the assult of enemy fighter planes and to maintain a coolness which permits them to bomb specific objectives. Together with The Battle of Britain, Firefighters of London in Action and The Northern Garrisons, Bomber Command coems out of the white heat of Britain's struggle, a report ot the British people by their government, of interest to all who are concened with the democratic struggle.

In Our Mail

Since I have been at Brenau College, I have enjoyed reading The Riviera each week. It interests me to know what is happening at home and The Riviera supplies me with that information. Brenau College is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the most beautiful sections of the state, and near the Chattahoochee River, which inspired Sidney Lanier's beautiful poem. Near Brenau is also Riverside Military Academy, one of the most famous of its type in America. Brenau offers excellent courses in many subjects, speech and music being two outstanding ones. The students maintain a number of organizations representative of the various activities, and it is for the honorary fraternities that each student works hard throughout fer four years. I am taking a course in journalism and enjoy the work very much. Since I am interested in advertising, I hope to be able to continue in this line of work. HELENE ZIMMERMAN.

This Is On You

HOUSE RULES - We present, herewith, a list of house rules posted by a Gables host and hostess at a recent gathering: 1. Please leave all guns with our Butler (He has to learn to shoot sometime). 2. We like our home furnishings admired, but not removed. 3. If you don't see what you want, please don't ask for it. You wouldn't get it anyway. 4. Ask to see the host's collection of chutney - it's hot! 5. Our applejack is limited, Note the abundance of ice in the glasses. 6. Do not covet thy neighbor's butler. 7. We had a very nice time up North. That settles that. 8. If in doubt who to take home just remember what you did before you were married. 9. Do not tell the hostess how well she looks. She knows it. 10. Necking allowed only in our car. See that the brake is on. CORRECTION - In S. E. Giffen, Coral Gables has a super watchdog for its reputation. A three line "filler item" appeared in last week's paper stating that the average temperature in Coral Gables was 95.2 degrees. The ink was hardly dry when "Giff" called to tell us about the typographical error. The line should have read "85.2". DUE CREDIT - We walked into Tommy Hands the other evening to be greeted by a baleful stare and a cold "hello" from Harry Denhart, a rotund and usually jolly mixologist. Seeking the basis for the cold shoulder we discovered that this column had printed Harry's favorite joke two weeks age without giving him credit for it. So to avoid a possible Mickey Finn, we wish to go on record that the story of the monkey that was trained to pick oranges was given to us by Mr. Denhart. MENTAL FILING SYSTEM - Many's the time we've been amazed at the marvelous memory for prices displayed by clerks in "serve-yourself" grocery stores. So the other day we asked Robert Schneider, propreitor of the Coral Gables Grocery, to let us in on the secret. Do these fellows have price lists hidden behind the counter where they may be available for quick reference? Well, we were quite amazed at what Mr. Schneider told us. He said these young fellows - and for that matter almost every one employed in that type of store - memorizes the prices and price changes. How is it done? Most 'say-so' heary of the photographic mind through the use of which one can record on the mind great masses of detail at one glance. "In this business we can look at whole lists and the price changes stand out like sorethumbs," said Mr. Schneider. "It's very much like a newspaper man picking out the error by a quick glance at a newspaper page - or an accountant sensing an error by a blanket glance at a financial statement. If such a thing weren't possible the serve-yourself grocer would soon go out of business. All you'd need would be a few errors to wipe out the small margin of profit on which we operate." SIMIAN DISTURBANCE - It was a foursome of bridge players, Friday afternoon deep in their game on Mrs. Frank Holley's porch, when the maid rushed out to say: "There's a monkey on top of one of you-all's car out there". One glance, and sure enough there was a monkey dragging his chain over the top of Mrs. Douglas Atkinson's car. As the ladies rushed out, Mr. Monkey's chain was caught in the wind shield wiper. He tugged and tugged with both "hands" and finally got loose. Children coming home from school, quickly identified the ape as the pet of Charles F. Weber of Segovia Circle. The monkey, by that time, having collected quite a crowd, was dancing madly about on the highly polished top, jabbering, and carrying his chain over his tail, napkin fashion, ever mindful of that windshield wiper. Then came the Webers' house man across the lawn. He gave just one command to the wandering simian, "Come down off there, get on my shoulder where you belong". The monkey did, the ladies returned to their game, and Mrs. Atkinson is still wondering why there weren't more scratches on top of her car. HURRICANE PROOF TEPEE - The last place in the world we would have chosen as hurricane refuge is a tepee - until this week when we saw a real tepee. This tepee is a concrete and steel building, originally intended to be a five story hotel and which was roofed over by its owners upon completion of the first floor. The steel beams in this building located on the Tamiami Trail near Red Road, are supposed to make it as solid and safe as the DuPont Building. We didn't personally test the beams or shake down the walls, but come the next hurricane we wouldn't mind being closeted with "Jay" in the Tepee. A GOOD START - Our six-year-old son caught his first mackeral the other day - and won himself a grand opportunity to join the Tall Story Club at the same time. When he reeled his catch in there was evidence that a barracuda had bitten a good chunk of his fish in the course of reeling in. Maybe it isn't good training for us to tell him all about what liars fishermen were - and explained what a golden opportunity he had in that catch. He could say that his fish had originally been t-h-a-t long but that a barracuda had chewed off at least four feet