Coral Gables Historical Archive
Coral Gables Riviera
Friday, November 14, 1941, page 6 (of 8)
The page
The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.
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.
Make Them Responsible
The grim crop of accidents which has dotted the police blotters in the Miami area during the past few weeks paints a wicked smear on the margin of our common sense and good judgment. The accidents themselves take a toll of heartache upon the family and relatives of those either injured or killed. But the monetary cost of injury and death is no small consideration. Too often the parties involved in an accident are financially irresponsible, nor have they insurance against the possibility of injury or death in an automobile accident. To the family of the killed or injured party in an accident, in addition to the worry or bereavement, comes the burden of paying mounting hospital bills or perhaps funeral expenses. We are an advocate of the principle of establishing financial responsibility for those who drive automobiles. If each car owner were obliged to prove himself capable of paying for potential injury or death, at least a small part of the horrible aftermath of accidents would be removed. True, this would cause many so-called jaloppies to be piled on the junk heap, because an insurance premium would amount to more than its worth—but maybe that's what we need, too! We know too, that many unable to afford to establish financial responsibility would be set on their feet and told to walk—but let those people think of the greater good for the greater number. This is a Democracy and Democracy means the greater good for the greater number. It does not mean that potential killers may scream over the countryside in so-called automobiles and set up a peril against the vast majority who prefer to live—and in one piece! * * *
Homecoming
Old grads who, during the last 16 years, have gone forth and taken their places in the world, will return to the University of Miami campus today for the week-end of homecoming festivities climaxed by the Florida-Miami game. Those who return to the Gables for the first time in a number of years will no doubt be surprised by the way the city has grown during their absence. New stores dot the business district and homes have sprung up where they remember vacant lots. Coral Gables has not stood still during the years that have intervened since the first graduating class went forth from the University. But the fact that should fill the old grads with pride is that their University has also kept pace with the progress of the community. Despite setbacks and adversity, the institution has grown steadily. It should give the alumni a feeling of satisfaction to stroll about the campus and realize that they took a part in building the University of Miami today. * * *
Badge of Mercy
Once again the tiny round button, on which is emblazoned a red cross, is appearing on coat lapels throughout the city, signalling the fact that the 1942 Red Cross Roll Call has started. There is no need for us to call to your attention the tremendous task the Red Cross is undertaking in the embattled world of today. From all parts of the globe come the pitiful cries for help and tiresomely the Red Cross answers. Despite the fact that we are called on so much for aid these days and that costs are rising, we don't believe that any person, possessed of one ounce of the milk of human kindness, will turn down this appeal. Let the little badge of mercy be worn by every resident. * * *
Christmas City
We don't remember when we've encountered a group of people as enthusiastic as those working out the plans for Coral Gables' Christmas Festival. Merchants, civic clubbers, city officials and private individuals are as busy as the proverbial bee getting decorations lined up, arranging music programs and seeing that all will be ready when the holiday season arrives. When their work is completed, Gableites will experience a festival that they will not forget for a long time. All through the prolonged holiday season the streets will be filled with music. Ponce de Leon Boulevard and Coral Way, when viewed from the air, will be transformed into a huge cross, composed of over two miles of Christmas lights. It will attract visitors from all over the area. Residents, too can co-operate in these plans by decorating their own homes. Attractive prizes are now being arranged, so that the efforts of the home decorators will be well worth their while. Let's all work together and transform Coral Gables into a real "Christmas City."
RIVIERA RVIEWS by Jim Moore
JIM MOORE We're sorry to have to report today that all of the Christmas cards that you folks will soon be sending, will be going forth from this city with-out a Coral Gables post mark. We had hoped, that by the Christmas season, that the problem of getting a local cancellation for Coral Gables mail would be ironed out, and that local let-ters and cards would not bear the "Miami" annullment. That, however, is not the case. Pat Cannon was right when he told postal officials that they seemed to spend too much time figuring out why things could not be done and too little time trying to find out how they could be done. After exhausting all possible arguments, the post office de-partment has now taken to waving the flag. In other words, the excuse that has become so popular for everything that can-not be done nowadays, has been pounced on by the postal authorities—National Defense. Gableites will remember hearing that one from the post office before. Not so long ago, we wanted a new post office building out here. We got up a lot of facts and figures showing the large volume of business Uncle Sam did in Coral Gables and we proved beyond a doubt the need for that new building. The post office officials in Washington agreed with us, but we didn't get the building. No indeed. They reached down into the excuse file and pulled out "National Defense". They said, "Look folks, we know you have a nice little town down there, but right at this time, Uncle Sam needs other things for the defense program. Know-ing you are good citizens, we feel that you'll agree to wait until the crisis is over." Of course we agreed. Nothing more was said about a new building. We understood. We did how-ever, make one little request. We said to the postal authorities, "As citizens, we realize the need for federal funds in other places at this time, so we are willing to forget about our new building until the crisis is past. We do feel, however, that since we are not getting the building, you could arrange it so that the mail go-ing forth from Coral Gables would bear the name of our city on the postmark." Somehow this didn't seem unreasonable, but our Uncle Sam said excuses are it in Washington. In recent months Congressman Pat Cannon has been trying to help us get the postmark. Last week he made a personal call on Ambrose O'Con-nell, first assistant postmaster general and again outlined our plea. But that old "National Defense" again. It was explained to Pat that with the tremendous expan-sion of postal service brought about by the es-tablishment of military cantonments and bases and the necessity of separate facilities for such bases, quite strict regulations have been issued in connection with facilities at non-military estab-lishments. Further, O'Connell said, "Such action would not only increase the expense of the postal ser-vice in Miami, but would probably tend to delay the dispatch of outgoing mail in that this mail would have to be collected from the various sections of Coral Gables, stopped at the station for cancella-tion and then sent to the main office for dispatch. "At the present time no employee is on duty at the Coral Gables station after 7:15 p. m., and if the evening collection were to be postmarked at that station it would be necessary to increase the service by at least four or five hours, and to make at least two additional round-trips truck runs, each run approximating one hour's time. "At the present time the Department is making every effort to avoid any expenditures that are not absolutely essential and necessary, and this additional expenditures at Miami would not pro-vide any service advantage." And with that, the file is closed as far as Washington is concerned. What Mr. O'Connell says all may be true, but we don't feel that it's a good answer. In the first place the people of Coral Gables don't care whe-ther or not the stamping is done in Coral Gables or Miami. We don't see why the "Coral Gables" cancelation machine couldn't be installed in Mi-ami, and the stamping done there. If this were done, then all of Mr. O'Connell's fine arguments are left without a vestige of support. Personally, we feel that the people of Coral Gables are doing as much as anybody else for the defense program. We think that all this hocus-pocus about setting up new stations in camps, etc. is poppy-cock when it is applied to so minute a matter as stamping "Coral Gables" instead of "Miami" on several thousand letters. Why don't you quit kidding us Mr. O'Connell?
IN OUR MAIL BAG
Editor, Riviera: Editor, The Riviera I have followed with interest the position the Woman's Club and City have found themselves in about the beautiful library building and communi-ty center, but am not at all surprised for, from ex-perience here, I know so well the WPA regulations. I wonder if some of you had not thought of this solution; Have the deed to the property owned by the City and the City then lease it to the Ladies for $1 a year rental. As the *Gables now makes a substantial contribution for its upkeep, this is assurance to the WPA that the place will be kept in good condition. And this arrangement should mollify and satis-fy the Women. It is one of the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Paducah plans to use when it builds a club house on the local Municipal golf course which was sponsored by these young men. The boys raised the money, bought 107 acres of ground, deeded it to the city and the WPA con-structed the links. Continuing the program, the club will erect a club house, and have the use of one big room for its gatherings by paying rent. The rest of the structure will be devoted to the use of the golfers. I am delighted, and surprised to see the con-tinuation of the wonderful building program that has been going on in the Gables. Every November when we come down, our first day is devoted to drives around the area just to see what has been done since we left, the preceeding May, and it is always interesting and inspiring. Wishing you well with your venture on that good paper, I am Cordially and fraternally Edwin J. Paxton, Publisher Paducah Sun-Democrat
to Private Walter Jones
TWO HUNDREDTH AND SIXTEENTH REGIMENT CAMP SCOTT, TENN- BRISHSHSH-H-H-H- H-H- H-H- H-H Contest by: Ronald E. Edwards, 1790 sw. 21 St, Miami, Fla. Coral Gables Riviera Fort Wayne Engr. Co. (WNU Service)
Dollars and Sense
By ROMEYN W. SMITH Investment Consultant History shows that the safest form of proper-ty to hold during a period of inflation is gold. But the ownership of gold is outlawed in this country. Selected gold mining stocks offer an opportu-nity to own gold in the ground, plus the cost of getting it out. But it should be remembered that the price of gold is fixed by law at $35.00 per ounce. To the extent that the gold price is in creased by government edict, gold offers a short. Mr. Smith swing hedge against currency depreciation. There are five different kinds of investment mediums by which a defensive investment program may be carried out. They are real estate, foreign bonds and currencies, foreign common stocks, American com-mon stocks, and Commodities. Real estate is a good long-term defensive investment. Usually it is the last commodity to derive price stimulation from inflation. It also, as a rule, lacks ready marketability. As rents increase, taxes also increase. There are various types of real estate. Home ownership today is an excellent investment for the individual. Moderately wealthy people would do well to own income-producing property, such as store and office buildings, commercial hotels, etc. Resort hotels are more speculative from a revenue viewpoint. Our own first choice would be the ownership of productive farm land. We cite the recent action of one of the most forsighted men in this country, Mr. John J. Raskob. A few weeks ago, Mr. Raskob, in conjunction with the well-known wheat farmer, Mr. Thomas Campbell, purchased hundreds of thousands of wheat acres in the State of Arizona. Thus Mr. Raskob has a principal fund consisting of land and a money crop which could be converted, or bartered, into some form of income. Foreign bonds and currencies provide a good hedge against domestic inflation if one can feel sure that the gold value of the currency in the country whose bonds or exchange are bought, will not also diminish. Certainly no European or Asiatic bonds and currencies are attractive investments today. About the only possibilities are in South America. And the possible choice there would be narrowed down to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. The bonds and currencies of one of the countries, perhaps Argen-tina, may come through the present world upset unscathed. But the political factor in South Amer-ican countries is an uncertain quantity. Foreign stocks, if you can find suitable ones in South America, would seem to be a better me-dium than foreign bonds and currencies for the long trend. Stocks probably would be less affected by the decline of currencies in the countries selected. Domestic common stocks, carefully selected, or-dinarily would afford an excellent inflation de-fense, particularly as they are now selling at low market levels. But here again we have higher and higher taxes staring us in the face together with poor management on the part of the government. Just one example. Our Secretary of Treasury wants to increase individual tax rates and limit corporation profits to a fixed percentage on cap-ital. To us a simpler and better way to raise taxes would be to increase capital values. Specifically we mean to increase the values of securities. If stocks listed on the New York Exchanges were to double in value, our government would have no difficulty in selling billions of additional defense bonds. Commodities, carefully selected with regard to supply and demand, appear to be as good a pro-tection as any against inflation, particularly if a reasonable degree of diversification is observed. Government interference and taxes hardly can be as drastic against corn and copper, etc. as they might be in the case of the equities.
Too Late To Classify
By RUSSELL KAY The prize Duke and Dutchess of Windsor story to come to my attention is the one that has to do with the unusual experience of two Polk county girls, which rivals the story of Cinderella: When it was learned the Edward and Wally, returning to Nassau, would pass through Sebring, this enterprising community got busy and planned a "royal greeting". The crack high school band and several thou-sand citizens were scheduled to meet the train and do honors to the royal couple. Of course there should be flowers to present—great gobs of them—so someone 'phoned Dick Pope at beautiful Cy-press Gardens, asking if he would be good enough to fix up a knockout of a bouquet to be presented during the ceremony. Always willing to oblige, Dick said "sure". and as he never does things by halves, he arranged to have two of his most charming models, dressed in old fashioned southern costumes, make the presen-tation. Since the speedy "Silver Meteor" was sche-duled to stop for breath at Winter Haven, Dick arranged with Seaboard officials to place the two girls (Miss Martha Mitchell, "Gardenia Queen", and Miss Alice Bryan, "Camellia Queen", known as the most photographed girls in America) aboard the train so that they would be on hand to make the presentation during the ceremony planned at Sebring. The girls, of course, were thrilled to tears and for several days talked of little else, and the thought of actually meeting the Duke and Dutchess, even if only to curtsey and present the bouquet. They were hardly settled in their seats before an immaculately dressed gentleman approached them, introduced himself as Secretary to His Roy-al Highness, and stated that the Duke and Dutch-ess were ready to see them. "There must be some mistake," said Martha, timidly. "We're just the girls Mr. Pope sent to present the flowers at Sebring." The gentleman smiled graciously and replied: "I understand, but the Duke and Dutchess wish to see you in their private car." Following the guide with quaking limbs and thumping heart, the two girls were ushered into the presence of the royal couple. They arrived to find the Duke and Wally all smiles and waiting to greet them. With their warm welcome and gracious and friendly manner, the royal couple put the girls at ease. "And how is my friend Mr. Pope?" ques-tioned the Duke. "Oh, he couldn't come," Alice re-plied, "you see, he had to stay at the gardens and entertain a group of Garden Club ladies." "Do you know Dick Pope?" queried Martha in amazement. "Yes, every bag has pictures of meet-ing him," his royal highness replied, "but I know his wonderful flowers and have heard so much about him and his lovely Cypress Gardens from his charming friends the Hasties of Charlston that I wanted to meet him." Conversation then turned to Florida, flowers, Nassau, and before anyone knew it the train was pulling into Sebring. Panicky, the girls remem-bered their duty and explained that they had not expected to meet the royal couple on the train, but were supposed to present the flowers at Sebring. "Of course, I understand," said the Dutchess, handing the gorgeous bouquet back to Alice. By this time the train had come to a stop with sev-eral thousand people jammed about the platform of the private car. Alice, her arms full of flowers, was nearest the door and stepped out with Martha close behind her, eager to get off the train and play their part in the arranged ceremony. The mob at the station, waiting to scream their welcome, took no time for indentification and see-ing the beautiful and charming girl emerge with her flowers, immediately assumed that she was the Dutchess and the cry arose—"The Dutchess, the Dutchess" . . . The band struck up "God Save the King". Poor Alice, embarrassed to tears, screamed back: "But I'm NOT the Dutchess, I'm NOT the Dutchess." Eventually the mistake was discovered and the show went on as planned. The real Dutchess, amused, comforted Alice and urged the girls to remain with them on the trip to Miami. "Oh, she was wonderful—so gracious—so beau-tiful and so kind," said Alice in recounting her experience. "No wonder the King renounced his throne," said Martha.
this takes YOU
SURVEY—We pulled our "Dr. Gallup" complex out of the mothballs the past week and at-tempted to learn how you folks liked our column. We found out lots of interesting things. One read-er tickled our vanity by saying she always read "This One's On You" first off. Generally we found that the column is popular and well read, so we're going to tell you something about it. "This One's On You" isn't any single author. The "we" you often see may be anyone in the Riviera office—from the publisher right down to the boy who puts the waste paper out back. It's a sort of collective "we" and we on the Riviera would like to include you in our personal pronoun. We like to print the cream of the anecdotes in "This One's On You"—and if we're going to have cream we must have something to skim off. Sit down and write your little story on a penny postcard; or tell it to anyone on the Riviera staff either per-sonally or on the telephone. Let everyone get a chuckle out of the column. Please!!! * * * INSOMANIAC—We don't object to people who like to jump out of bed at the crack of dawn, full of pep and ready to go places. We would however, like to get our hands on the joker who called at 6 a. m. the other morning, and when we answered the phone, chirped, "Hello Joe, Whaddya Know?" and hung up. G-r-r-r-r. * * * ONE WAY TO DO IT—We were sipping a coke in Chester Moore's soda shop the other afternoon when the Rev. Carlock Hawk of the Methodist Church dropped in for a newspaper. "Say Doc-tor," said Chester, all aglow, "I'm going to pay my church dues this week. I hit a horse!" * * * ESPIONAGE—During the course of the filming of "Here Come the Marines", Louis Gasnier, the director, and a marine officer who was acting as technical advisor, were taking time out one even-ing for a short one at Tommy Hands. As they sip-ped their drinks, the officer was explaining some of the marine movements that were to be used in the next day's shooting. A lady sitting next to them kept bending her ear closer and closer, drinking in every word. Finally she jumped from her stool and said to the officer: "Where are you going?" her companion queried. "To phone the F.B.I.," she hissed. "There's a spy sitting next to me pumping a lot of information out of a marine." * * * ALL THE WAY—At the Wesleyan football game we were seated next to Jim McLain, radio editor of the Miami Daily News. Jim had missed his dinner and as the game progressed, the pangs of hunger started to gnaw. Finally a hot dog vender came up the aisle, and Jim ordered two, "all the way". Then began the long tedious process of passing the sandwiches, brimming with mustard, relish and onions, along the row of spectators. As they passed through the hands of one gentleman, who had looked long on the wine when it was red, most of the condiments were deposited neatly in his lap. When the morsels finally reached Jim, sans mustard, relish, etc., the inebriate leaned over and shouted, "Hey, you got the hot dogs, but I got the 'all the way'." * * * BULLETIN—Helen Reynolds got the following postcard in the mail this morning from Indian Springs, Georgia: "As the thermometer was down to 26 this morn-ing, I think it is time I was headed South and I expect to leave here next Sunday morning. So please send my paper to me at the old station. Mrs. J. E. Calkins * * * PRIZE—Our two youngsters decided to go shop-ing last week for a birthday present for their mommy. "We got the prize money for Mommy," was the way the younger one put it. Having established a policy many years ago of letting the youngsters buy whatever they wanted (within reason) for birthday gifts we were quite proud of the newly revealed reformation. Last year when we took them shoping the younger boy bought his mother a toy tank; the older boy a nasty-looking repeater cap-pistol. Both of these, as you can easily see, could be handed down to the younger generation almost immedia-tely following the birthday ceremony and be very useful. This time the younger boy selected beautifully colored tapers and the older boy a combination salad serving set made of plastic material. * * * THE SLEEVES, JEEVES—Allen Collins, who tea-ches theory in the music department of the Uni-versity of Miami will always remember the sum-mer of 1941 and the suit of clothes he bought in a Rochester, N. Y., haberdashery. It seems young Collins, who is blond and quite young looking despite his 28 years decided to buy a new suit of clothes while visiting his parents in that city. Accordingly, his wife and parents accom-panied him to make the selection (as wives and parents do). When the correct suit was found and the sales-man was doing "this and that" to the suit to make it a better fit, he stopped when he came to the sleeves which were a little long. Looking up at Mr. Collins Sr., the salesman said, "We will leave the sleeves just as they are, your son will be growing into them in a few months".