Coral Gables Riviera-Times

Thursday, November 20, 1947, page 4 (of 8)

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CORAL GABLES Riviera TIMES

PAGE FOUR RIVIERA-TIMES THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 CORAL GABLES Riviera TIMES Published Monday through Friday afternoons by the Riviera Publishing Company, 300 Avenue Aragon, Coral Gables 34, Fla. Established as a weekly newspaper in January, 1926; combined with the Little Riviera & Coconut Grove Times, 1929. Published daily except Saturday and Sunday. Members of THE NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION and Florida Press Association. Albert E. Harum, Editor and Publisher; Kenneth S. Reynolds, Business Manager; James B. Moore, Managing Editor; James Bardsley, Sports Editor; Edward W. Wright, Circulation Manager. Theis & Simpson, New York-Chicago-Atlanta-Detroit National Advertising Representatives MEMBER, AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS 21,303 COPIES, TOTAL CUMULATIVE CIRCULATION NATIONAL EDITORIAL ASSOCIATION Active Member RIVIERA SUBSCRIPTION RATES-Ten months, $6.00; one year, outside of United States, $15.00; local, $12.00; one year, out of state, $15.00; daily delivery by carrier, 25 cents per week. Entered as Second Class Matter May 11, 1926 at the Post Office at Miami, Fla., under the act of March 3, 1879. Mail Address, Box 6072, Coral Gables 34, Florida. Phone 4-2551; Classified Dept., 48-1761. The Coral Gables Riviera-Times is liable for errors in advertiseinents to the extent of the space in which the advertisement appears.

Precarious Situation

The warning, issued yesterday by the City of Miami's Water Board that the Consumers' Water Company must confine its operation to Coral Gables because of increasing consumption among present Gables residents cause for serious thought. While it is not likely that we will awaken some morning to find Miami grown to such an extent that this community has been cut off from its water supply-it is not beyond the realm of possibility that sometime in the future Miami will find itself unable to serve this city adequately. The Miami board has stated, and rightly so, that its first duty is to furnish water for the citizens of that city. Coral Gables buys its water from Miami and distributes it through the Consumer's Water Company system. Despite plans for a new plant with an 80,000,000-gallon capacity, it is not beyond the realm of possibility that some day in the future this expanded area will be taxed beyond the limit of its new capacity. Remember, it was not too many years ago that Miami planners thought the present plant would serve the needs of the area for an indefinite length of time. It doesn't seem logical for Coral Gables to depend completely on another municipality for such a vital commodity as water. With the output of the present plant so near capacity and no definite assurance of when the new plant will be in operation it would seem expedient for the Consumers Water Company and the City of Coral Gables to begin an immediate survey of the possibilities of a plant of our own. Perhaps the plant would not be possible from both engineering and financial standpoints. On the other hand, perhaps it would. At any rate, it is a precarious situation and one that should be investigated thoroughly and soon.

Florida Weeds Beckon To Skilled Weavers

By RUSSELL KAY In Florida's forests and scrubs, along her glistening beaches and deep in her mysterious Everglades grow plants, weeds and grasses that beckon those skilled craftsmen who have mastered the art of braiding and weaving these native materials to create an amazing variety of useful articles and countless novelties. The art of braiding and weaving such materials is as old as history and this skill has been handed down by word of mouth from mother to daughter. A variety of patterns are found, the close-curl, fishtail, goose-eye, fishpot and others. It remained for Viva Jane Cooke and Julia May Sampley to assemble from every possible source the fascinating story of this native industry and compile all available information in a book, the first of its kind ever published, entitled "Palmetto Braiding and Weaving." Skills Revealed Through painstaking effort and tireless research these two enterprising women have gathered and pieced together the many bits of knowledge from those who know the secrets and the skills of braiding and weaving and present this interesting and valuable information in printed form, with each step clearly and simply explained and supported by illustrations so that even the novice who carefully follows these instructions may become a skilled braider and weaver in a short time. Those who have mastered the art will find all the materials they need in woods and fields, saw palmetto, palms of many types, grasses, reeds, rushes, sedges, and native dyes, where may be made such a variety of articles as fans, pincushions, purses, mats, baskets, hats, vase and bottle covers, shopping bags, bonnets, belts, and many other things. The book "Palmetto Braiding and Weaving" is beautifully printed and profusely illustrated with the finest half-tone engravings that show many examples of the braiding and weaving art and serve to guide the student with charts and illustrations of the various weaves and braids. It is exceptionally well written and well edited and is indeed a credit to its authors. Published by Manual Arts Press, Peoria, Ill., it sells at your book dealers for $2.75 or may be ordered direct from the publishers. Job Well Done Florida is indebted to Viva Jane Cooke and Julia May Sampley for a job well done in compiling and presenting this interesting and helpful work. But for their enterprise and effort the skill of braiding and weaving might have become a lost art for it is primitive and local in nature and heretofore has been acquired by word of mouth. One of the most fascinating traditions in the great southern handcraft belt of the United States is the braiding and weaving lore that has developed in the relatively short life of our nation. Included in these traditions is a wonderful native craft material, the palmetto frond and the braid patterns for its use passed on from mother to daughter through successive generations. In Long Strips Commercially the palmetto comes in long clean strips or fronds of almost perfect color and structure for weaving. In its native state, a single leaf may be stripped and made up into a large sized basket. Fronds may be purchased plain or dyed. If gathered by the worker, they are easily prepared for use. And now a word about the authors: Julia May Sampley, born in South Alabama, came to Florida as a child and was raised in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. In 1935-37 she made a survey of Florida industries for the Florida State Chamber of Commerce which resulted in the publication of the Industrial Directory. From 1938 to '41 she organized and directed a homecraft training program with the co-operation of the Florida State Farmers Markets and the State Department of Education. Viva Jane Cooke was also born in Alabama, locating in Florida in 1921 at Eustis. As proprietor of a gift shop and manager of a Farm Woman's Market she learned much of native home craft and became an instructor in this subject with the vocational department of the State educational system. Later she became manager of the Home Industries Division of the Holly Hill State Market. Mutual interest in home craft brought these two capable women together, they pooled their knowledge, searched diligently for all available information and have given the result of their labor in this most interesting and valuable work which should have a place in the library of every Floridian.

OUR TOWN Still Coral Gables

OUR TOWN By Jim Moore Still Coral Gables By Jim Moore I can't tell you how much good it did me to see about 40 Jaycees turn out Tuesday morning to help put up the Christmas lights for Coral Gables. To me it was a sign that a spirit I feared was nearly lost in our town, was still here after all. I've heard so many people say that Coral Gables isn't like it used to be with everyone pulling together for the good of the community that at times I have almost believed it myself. That's why I drove up to the fire station at 5 a.m. with some qualms. I must confess that I expected to find about three or four JIM MOORE six sleepy young businessmen standing there waiting to do their bit. Instead there was a large, good-natured crowd of them hastily gulping a cup of coffee, impatient at having to wait until staff photographer Lou Mercer got his pictures and shouting, "Come on, let's get to work." Somehow it took me back to the 30's when I first came to Coral Gables. It was a small community then, and nobody had a whole lot of money, but everybody had a lot of fun. The town wasn't succeeding as it is now. There were plenty of vacant store buildings in the business area. But every doggone resident had a fierce pride in his community and any outsider that cast a slurring remark about Coral Gables had an argument on his hands. Since then the town has grown-so rapidly at times that I can hardly realize it. New people came to live here. The ring of the hammer and the whine of the saw filled the air as new buildings arose. Money came too, and people that had celebrated on nickel beers were drinking Johnny Walker Black Label. But I've always liked to think that the spark of Coral Gables-the pride in the community that was something more than the average man's pride in his town-never dimmed. People got busy, we had a war, more buildings grew up. A lot of Old Timers shook their heads. "Coral Gables isn't the same anymore," they said. "It's just another town. People don't care about George Merrick's dream any longer. They want to slap up any kind of a building and make money and to hell with the community." Some went so far as to say we might as well consolidate with Miami and get it over with. I won't say that my faith in the Coral Gables spirit has never been shaken. It has, many times, by the apathy of some groups and some individuals. But, as I said before, I still felt that that spark was glowing. Tuesday morning, as I watched the Jaycees at work decorating their town for the Christmas season, I knew the spark was still alive. Some of the men are newcomers to Coral Gables. Many of them were not here when the town was born. Yet they had that pride in their community that has always been indicative of Coral Gables. They were pitching in to do a job for their town-a job that some merchants have neglected to participate in, even though they will derive the most benefit. Despite the loss of sleep and arising before dawn, I wouldn't have missed that sight on Tuesday for anything in the world. And as I surveyed the thousands of feet of lights swinging from the poles, I felt all warm and swell inside. Coral Gables is still Coral Gables, and as long as we have guys like those Jaycees, it will continue to be that way.

SHORT QUIRKS

City Bars Union Cordele, Ga. (UP)-The City Commission has adopted a resolution prohibiting the city from employing any person who is a member of a labor union. The action was intended "to guarantee safety, welfare and health of Cordele citizens against continued which might arise from labor disputes and strikes." This is 1947 Hillsboro, Wis. (UP)-Annual smorgasbord dinners sponsored by the First Congregational Church from 1939 through 1946 were advertised "all you can eat for 40 cents." The 1947 sign read "all you can eat for $1." Many, Many Nickels Boston, (UP)-The Boston Five Cents Savings Bank has 180,000 depositors and the average deposit is $1,111.11.

THE BUSY LIFE By Gluyas Williams

DOESN'T UNDERSTAND WHY GROWN-UPS EVER COMPLAIN OF BEING BORED FOR INSTANCE THIS OLD BOX CAN KEEP A PERSON BUSY FOR HOURS: BECAUSE FIRST YOU TAKE THE COVER OFF AND THEN YOU PUT IT ON AGAIN AND THEN YOU TAKE IT OFF AND THEN YOU PUT IT ON AND IF YOU EVER GET TIRED OF DOING THAT YOU CAN PUT IT ON YOUR HEAD LIKE A HAT AND YOU CAN ALWAYS GET A RISE OUT OF THE FAMILY BY STARTING TO SUCK YOUR THUMB

It Says Here

The workings of the sub-conscious mind have always fascinated us. That's why we were deeply interested in hearing the monologue muttered last night by John Halifax as he came out of the ether following an operation for bursitis. Seeing the nurse entering the room he said, "Gimme the application, I'll sign it." This was followed by "Boy I just made eleven bucks" and finally, "I want a bottle of beer." When she heard the last statement, his spouse said, "Now I know he's going to be all right. And speaking of the sub-conscious, we're puzzling over an incident that happened today. We were seated at our desk gazing out the window when Police Officer Charlie Gouveia came pegging up on his cycle and said: "Remind me to tell you about the dream I had." With that he was off. Such things drive us crazy. By sheer coincidence on Tuesday we carried a story on page one in which the C of C denounced folks who are gouging on room rental prices and a classified, advertising a room for thirty bucks, on the back page. One reader saw both and called up the advertiser and gave her hades. Jean Gray (that's Mrs. Bill) has a hobby of collecting earrings. Her favorite pair are miniature flower vases in which she can put real buds.... The Cleve Allens are planning a new house, so we learn from the zoning office up at city hall.... Mrs. Jessie Lewis was telling us about her daughter Mary Louise and her husband Gene Shaw who are based in the Philippines where he is a supply officer. They were lucky enough to get a Navy bungalow with a bath-one of two on the entire base. Roy Page is back in town looking very fit and rested. ... The Joseph Hyman's daughter was numbered among the Kiwanis Christmas decorators yesterday morning is because Obie Sutton called him at 6 a.m. and got him out of the sack.... Louise Lewis Blanchard is recuperating from a trip to the hospital.... Dora Thomas Livesay, the gal who was married in a hospital, called us up the other day. It was good to hear her sounding so happy.... The incident of the cartoon that was torn out of the Hurricane football program last week has an additional angle. In eliminating the drawing that had a touchy reference to firing a coach, they also had to tear out a full-page, paid advertisement from Belcher Oil Company that was on the back of the "objectionable" feature.

FROM A RIVIERA NOTEBOOK THE GERM OF AN IDEA

FROM A RIVIERA NOTEBOOK By Mary Helm Clarke THE GERM OF AN IDEA George E. Merrick and his associates were undoubtedly originators of the design for Coral Gables, but it is entirely possible that the corporation plan of procedure came from a town that was blue-printed, but short-lived as a municipality, Coconut Grove. The town of Coconut Grove sprawled in a haphazard but happy-go-lucky fashion along Biscayne Bay and extended inland to the F. E. C. tracks. It was incorporated in 1919 with Irvin J. Thomas as Mayor. In its new consciousness as a growing municipality, the leaders of the town sought a plan by which they could expand and beautify the city. To the Coconut Grove Library came in a copy of the original blue-print, submitted in 1920 by a noted Philadelphia architect, John Irwin Bright. Sketches accompanying the blue-print call for a Community Center around an oblong Plaza, extending to the waterfront. The municipal buildings and Park are pictured as and inviting. In addition to the sketches, he suggested a technique for providing that sounds vaguely familiar. Perhaps this germ of an idea had already been planted at Coral Gables Plantation, or perhaps it drifted with the winds from the Bay. At any rate, this plan was used almost simultaneously to inaugurate a city soon to be born, Coral Gables. The procedure, as outlined by John Irwin Bright, is quoted from that 1920 blue-print for Coconut Grove: "The prize function of a city should be to create a pleasant place in which to live." "The town government-would have to be endowed with powers to plan, zone, and to regulate the number of houses to the acre and the size of house to the lot-to own and administer enterprises and to condemn land in excess of actual requirement (of the owner)." He suggested the formation of a corporation to buy from the land-owners all the property in a desired area; to re-sell this property to the owners or to other buyers with the planned city in mind-to set aside acreage for civic centers, schools, churches, etc., and to zone for property values. One of his suggestions would put an end to the controversies about low-cost housing and negro housing centers. He suggests a productive strip (groves or gardens, for instance) to protect planned areas against the encroachments of projects which might lower property values, and preserve for future growth areas assigned for such projects. It may be a co-incidence, but it is not beyond the realm of credulity that the seed, blown by winds of indifference or impracticability away from Coconut Grove, was received at the nearby plantation, nurtured and cultivated until it became the planned city, administered by a corporation, which was called Coral Gables.

GABLEITES SPREAD WELCOME MAT FOR PRE-SEASON HOUSE GUESTS

William R. Ashby, son of the Walter S. Ashbys, flew in from Philadelphia recently and spent a few days with his parents in their home at 3609 Monserrate Street. According to Mrs. Ashby, her son is a frequent "pop-in" visitor and she never knows when to expect him. It'll be a quiet Thanksgiving for the Ashbys. Their daughter, Mrs. David E. James, and her husband and three children will join them at their home for a family Thanksgiving dinner. Here from Arkansas City, Kansas, are the Robert L. Gordons and their young son, Gordon. Visiting in the home of Mrs. Gordon's parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Gordan, 1706 Country Club Prado, the guests will remain here until after Christmas. Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Norfleet, pigskin enthusiasts from Fort Myers, will arrive tomorrow afternoon in time for the University of Miami versus Florida game. They will be week-end guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Gordon at their home on 1706 Country Club Prado. The foursome will attend the regular dance of the Country Club of Coral Gables Saturday night. Mrs. Hortense Ingersoll, daughter of Mrs. Rose Wolfort, 2622 Country Club Prado, will arrive Monday for a week's visit with her mother. Mrs. Ingersoll is from McClenny, Fla. It will be real homecoming for the Huntley Redfearns, former Gableites, when they arrive tomorrow from Keystone Heights, Fla., to attend the homecoming game between the University of Miami and the University of Florida. While here the Redfearns will be guests of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Meigs, 230 Avenue Aledo.

Church Society To Hear Talk On Work Of A.A.

What the Alcoholics Anonymous Association does will be explained by Robert Kehoe to the WSCS of the Coral Gables First Methodist church at their general meeting which is to be held tomorrow morning beginning at 10:30 o'clock at the church. Also on the program will be a discussion of the work done by the Community Chest. This will be made by Mary Helm Clarke. Devotionals and music will be presented by Mrs. Clyde Neil. Under the leadership of the president, Mrs. Byron Sperow, an annual election of officers will be held. Luncheon will be served at noon by Mrs. W. L. Logan and Circle 5 of which she is president. All women of the church are invited to be present at this important meeting.

Fairchild Ramble To Feature Booths

Fairchild Tropical Gardens members will set up a "big top" to house the country store that will feature the annual "Ramble" on December 9th and 10th. Mrs. Robert H. Montgomery and her committee today were rounding up merchandise to be displayed on the canvas-covered counters at the Gardens. "We'll have booths for new articles-gifts, plants, baby clothes, jellies and the like" she wrote members and friends. "But don't neglect to send along White Elephants and used items for our rummage table." Bulky articles will be picked up by truck and stored at Fairchild Gardens until the Country store is ready to open up shop, the chairman announced.

Baptist Circles Set Gatherings

Three circles of the W. M. S. of the University Baptist Church will meet tomorrow morning beginning at 10:30 a. m. Circle 2 will meet in the home of Mrs. Virginia Hamilton, 1111 S. W. 13th Street. Mrs. G. V. Shaffer, 3101 S. W. 19th Terrace, will be hostess to Circle 4 in her home. Circle 5 will meet at 786 Avenue Majorca, the home of Mrs. J. M. Markley Sr.

'Pikes' Entertain At Cocktail Party

Gamma Omega Chapter, Pi Kappa Alpha will be hosts at a cocktail party from 4 to 6 p.m. preceding the game tomorrow night at the McAllister Hotel. The festive affair will honor the large group of alumni both local and state who will be here to witness the annual homecoming game between University of Miami and University of Florida. Honored guests will be members of the "Pike" chapter at the University of Florida.

AAUW Meets

Ernest Coe, "Daddy" of Everglades National Park, will be guest speaker at the general meeting of the American Association of University Women Monday. The session will be held at 8 p.m. in Simpson Park clubhouse, 55 S.W. 17th Road.

Food for Thought

Roquefort Canapes are a canape that give guests the flattering impression you've worked all day over a hot stove just to tempt them with the delectable morsels. Actually, the modicum of work involved is done the day before. Make up one-half of your favorite plain pastry recipe and roll an eighth of an inch thick on floured board. Lather lightly with Blue Moon roquefort cheese spread and roll firmly. Wrap in waxed paper; place in refrigerator until ready for use; then cut in one-quarter inch slices and bake on a greased baking sheet in a 450-degree oven until lightly browned.

A Word to the Wives

By Julia Harum Joe Saunders decided he was target for a practical joker when the mailman began delivering daily swatches of Charles (build-your-biceps) Atlas literature-until eight-year-old daughter Diana informed her Daddy she had signed his name to a coupon requesting immediate information on how to become an Adonis. Each day from then on, the Gables man solemnly turned the treatises over to Diana. Just as solemnly she scanned the "special offers" of barbells and spring pulleys guaranteed to induce "dynamic tension" over night. Yesterday Diana asked her mother to mail a letter she had just written. In the childish scrawl, Mrs. Saunders read: "Dear Mr. Atlas: Thank you very much for the nice letters you have sent me although I haven't gotten any results yet. You do not have to write me any more as I have decided to take up acrobatic dancing instead. MRS. HARUM Signed, Joe Saunders, aged-34." * * * TEE-DIOUS-Granada Golf Pro Umps Clark gave his pretty wife a-stern lecture recently against too much golf. "It's no wonder," defended Mrs. Clark. "I played 18 consecutive holes for the first time in my life during the Country Club tournament last week," she explained. "And I have stayed up all night rushing liniment and hot water bottles for my aching back and tortured muscles!" * * * MEA CULPA-I HATE the circus. Trundle me off to Chattahoochee if you must, but that's been simmering for 27 years; six as a juvenile circus-goer; six as escort to juveniles; and 15 as a reporter assigned annually to do hooray-the-big-top's-come-to-town features. It was the last 15 years that got me-scuffing through sawdust and the stench of too closely confined animals; clambering around guy ropes; interviewing hard-faced women who bulged in the wrong places; listening to backstage bickerings as tawdry as the lewd catcalls of roustabouts. "Death-defying" antics leave me cold. There's nothing more wonderful in a circus than the precise skill of the tight-rope walker as he tip-toes down the wire or the rippling grace of acrobats. Within ten feet of the ground, it's art. When they go up 50, 60 or 100 feet it becomes pandering to ghouls who watch pop-eyed for the fatal mis-step, the split-second error in timing. For 15 years I wrote syrupy symphonies about the-little-girl-in-me who goes berserk with joy at the sight of calliope and first sniff of elephant. Well-Bang! I just shot the nauseating little rascal dead. Next year I'm going to stay home and read a book.

JUST BETWEEN US Don't Pine If Steady Beau Becomes 'Once-in-a-While' Dating Partner Says Nancy

By Nancy Mottram "Dear Nancy: I have gone with a boy for a long time. We're both 16, and although we've just broken up, we're still on good terms. The trouble is, I still like him a little and I know he feels the same way about me. But neither of us wants to go steady anymore. How can I really forget him, and still remain good friends?" If you both are still fond of each other, but don't want to continue your romance on a "steady" basis, why not go out occasionally and still have other dates? This way, you might become interested in someone else, and not feel regret because you still think of him and don't see him any more. In your conversations, steer away from reminiscences of the "old" days, but be pleasant when you see him. After a few other dates, you'll find some one who'll take his place and you'll still have him as a friend. "Dear Nancy: A boy and I constantly double-date with a girl friend of mine and another boy. Whenever we do this, the evening always winds up with my date and my girl friend having a wonderful time, while I am left to carry on conversation with her date. I used to have a lot of fun on dates, but now I just can't seem to carry my end of the good time. I can't concentrate on anything any more because this sort of thing is beginning to bother me, as I always find myself left out of things. My week-ends are all about the same, and I don't look forward to them anymore. Is there anything I can do about this?" It would seem that all your trouble stems from the fact that your girl friend immediately starts monopolizing your date from the beginning, and leaves you with no choice at all. The only thing you can do to remedy this situation is to cut those double-dates off now, and give your own personality a chance to show itself. Once you begin going out with him without benefit of another couple, or with another girl and boy, your problem will vanish.

FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE NEEDS SEE LESLIE H. COOMBES

REALTOR 2312 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Phone 4-2586