The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, September 14, 1961, page 4 (of 20)

← Earlier issue Later issue → Download this page

The page

You can also pinch or scroll to zoom, and drag to move around.

The text of this pageRead by computer from the scan, so some words may be wrong. The page picture is the original.

THE CORAL GABLES TIMES

Established Jan. 18, 1926 Published Weekly at 364 Sevilla Ave., Coral Gables, Fla. Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher JOHN T. WATTERS | President Robert M. Slane | Advertising Manager Roy Speier | Circulation Manager Maurice Labelle, Raymond Lang, Becky Doyle-Quinn | Reporters Mrs. Irene Stoeber | Classified Manager Miss Helen Reynolds | Society Editor Mrs. Eleanor Newsholme | Office Manager Subscription: $3.00 year by mail anywhere

Let's Stop Living With a Lie

We're in that periodic phase of the moon when it's time to get riled over fraternities in Coral Gables High School. (Despite the fact that they flourish, the groups are illegal you know, a matter to which we will return in a moment.) Sensational charges have been flung in the air and we await with interest their documentation. If true, a few razor straps could act to correct many of the situations. Stronger action can handle the minority. The really basic thing involved here, however, is not the conduct of Coral Gables High School students. That is the parents' responsibility although too often many parents seem to have to be reminded of it. What is the basic involvement? Whether hypocrisy will continue in the matter of permitting fraternities to exist. State law says they shall not, except by civic sponsorship (a well-intentioned but poorly-executed requirement). Parents sign pledges swearing their children are not members. The Dade County School Board handbook for administrators tells what to do to any student known to be a member. Yet, more than 200 students at Coral Gables High are members. It is absurd for parents to sign a lie, the school administrators live with it and the County moguls wink at it. Either change the law or obey it. Let's stop fooling ourselves—and our youth. The Times has no objection to the idea of fraternities nor to their practice of exclusiveness and discrimination. As long as they are private associations not infringing on public rights, we believe they should be permitted. But there is a law to the contrary. What does this community intend to do about them?

FENCING CLASS

A new adult class in fencing for beginners will start at the Coral Gables Youth Center and will meet on Tuesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. This class is under the guidance of Fencing Master Anthony Greco. All equipment for the class is provided for by the Youth Center with a fee of $8 for eight lessons for beginners and .75 per time for all others.

'Big Parks, Well-Dressed People' Caught Bill's Eye

(How does a 14-year-old describe a vacation that covers his own country and countries beyond? Here's a personal account from Bill Compton of 1101 Sorolla Ave. Bill, incidentally, is one of our Times earlier salesmen. —Editor.) By BILL COMPTON Correspondent The Compton family is back home after a real fine vacation. Dad, Hosmer Lee and I left Miami International on Aug. 3 for New York, Paris, and London. Mother, Philip and Robert left the same day for Grandma and Grandpa Ransom's farm in Ohio by way of Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh. After two weeks in Europe, we met my mother and brothers in Ohio and together drove to Niagara Falls and through some of Canada and the New England States to Boston where we caught a plane for home. Hosmer Lee will return to Gables High as a senior and I will be entering my last year at Ponce with memories of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame Cathedral, Louvre Museum (where the beautiful "Mona Lisa," and the "Last Supper" by Leonardo de Vinci and other paintings were seen), and the Pantheon in Paris. In London we visited, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, the Science Museum and the National Gallery. There we saw the painting of the "Duke of Wellington" which was valued at three hundred and ninety two thousand dollars. (This painting was stolen a few days after we left.) To me, some of the most interesting things in London were the big parks and the well dressed people. In the New England states, we visited Bennington Gallery, Bunker Hill, Old Ironsides, Harvard University, M.I.T., Boston College, and Union University which is the oldest university west of the Hudson River. On Aug. 27 we arrived at Miami International Airport and ended our wonderful vacation.

More Room, But Where's More Money?

By PHILLIPS RUSSELL Correspondent Now that opening time for the schools and colleges is near, "no more room" is the cry heard throughout the land. It is a strange fact that throughout our history the city, county and state authorities have never caught up in their thinking with the continuous growth of the population. Their building has never kept pace with the baby rate. It would appear that at various intervals, building committees for the schools and colleges have believed that the population had arrived at a standstill and that existing structures were adequate. Either that, or they were frightened by the outcries of taxpayers. The consequence is that a prospective college student in many states faces two dilemmas: he must first procure admittance and then he must find a room to live in. In the schools there is a recurring shortage of classroom space and adequate facilities for laboratories and recreation despite huge building programs. The result is the paradoxical fact that in the richest country of the world its vital activity, education, is hampered if not stunted. What will be the cost to the USA when it faces even sharper international competition than exists at present? Building committees have a formidable defense. They point out that buildings cost money, and the money can be had only from taxpayers who resist every effort to raise the rate. The conclusion must be that Americans praise education, but are not willing to pay for it.

Remember The Times

25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK MARVIN E. KEMERY has been elected head of the Coral Gables American Legion Post. The Rev. Leslie J. Barnette, of the Coral Gables Baptist Church arrived home from a months vacation on Sept. 16. He discovered upon entering his home at 540 Blue Rd., that thieves had removed all of his furnishings, including the electric range and refrigerator. An ordinance providing for garbage collection in the city has been passed by the City Commission. 10 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK The Coral Gables PTA has launched a drive against child molesters in local theatres. Plans have been revealed for the expansion of the Post Office Building on Aragon Avenue. Tennis Champs Doris Hart and Gardnar Mulloy are welcomed here. They will play in exhibition matches at Salvatore Park soon. The Coral Gables Business and Professional Women's Club plans a 100-table bridge and canasta tournament at the Coral Gables Country Club. ONE YEAR AGO THIS WEEK Damage from Hurricane Donna totaled $65,000 in Coral Gables. As a result of the storm the city fire alarm system was knocked out as well. Suits have been brought by the city to end the operation of apartment houses as motels on South Dixie Highway. Chief Paul Matheson of the Gables Fire Dept. was honored by the Jaycees for his efforts to improve that department during his five years as chief.

Editor's Mailbox

EDITOR: Is Coral Gables missing the boat? Is it lacking in foresight for a definite housing necessity? We are over-stocked with apartment houses and cooperatives. It's becoming more difficult for persons to make a profit on their investment in apartment houses. Coral Gables is not the community for large and sprawling "rabbit warrens." These oversized places will in the near future become slums of our lovely city. For no one, that is, no one who comes to the Gables to live is the type of person who wishes to live in large community projects. The usual Gableite wants privacy and exclusiveness, not a conglomeration of neighbors. What we need here is an exclusive medium-sized apartment hotel, built somewhere in the Biltmore or Coral Way area, a good-looking, four or five story building with the upper floors of one and two bedroom apartments and the lower floors of hotel rooms. This building should have enough grounds to have a nice garden and swimming pool, large lobby and a dining room. The roof should be a sun deck with a penthouse that would serve as an auditorium or game room. There are numbers of well-to-do persons, many retired couples and single persons who would like to live in the Gables away from the dirt, noise and traffic of Miami and Miami Beach. They do not want apartments but rather a [?]ce where they can have maid service and all night office. Many of these persons are older and not too well and would like to know that if they suddenly become ill someone in authority could take care of them and their possessions. Why doesn't some enterprising person try this? But remember, not too large and exclusive. P. M. RABELL 912 Sorolla Ave.

INK SPOTS by INK

CHIEF, I-AH-HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS AS A MATTER OF FACT, SO DO I! CHIEF OF POLICE WM. KIMBROUGH ANSWERED A METRO COURT INQUIRY REGARDING THE DROP OFF IN TRAFFIC TICKET WRITING BY RAISING A FEW QUESTIONS OF HIS OWN. FOREMOST AMONG THESE WERE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE NUMBER OF TICKETS WRITTEN BY METRO OFFICERS AND HOW MANY VIOLATORS WERE PROSECUTED IN METRO COURT. SPORTS U of M THE HURRICANES LOOK PRETTY TOUGH THEY MAY GO ALL THE WAY, BUT FIRST THEY HAVE TO BEAT OL' PITT, THIS COMING SATURDAY 12 FOREIGN STUDENTS ATTENDING THE U. OF MIAMI ARE TOURING ALL PHASES OF CORAL GABLES COMMUNITY LIFE AS PART OF THE SEE AMERICA IN ACTION PROGRAM. THE ROTARY CLUB AND THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARE HANDLING THIS GROUP. I DIDN'T THINK I'D MAKE IT. FORMER METER GIRLS SHIRLEY SEARLE AND NORWEDA BARROW APPEARED BEFORE THE CITY TRIAL BOARD LAST THURSDAY AND ADMITTED FALSIFYING TICKETS. THIS WAS DONE, THEY SAID, BECAUSE THEY WERE HOUNDED BY THE CITY'S AUDITOR. NO DECISION HAS BEEN REACHED. NEARLY 10,000 ELEMENTARY AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TREKKED BACK TO TEN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS WEEK, GIVING MANY PARENTS A MUCH DESERVED REST.