The Coral Gables Times

Thursday, January 11, 1962, page 4 (of 23)

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Coral Gables Times

Established Jan, 15, 1926 Published Weekly at 364 Seville Ave., Coral Gables, Fla. | Second Class Postage Paid at Miami, Fla. ROLFE NEILL | Editor & Publisher JOHN T. WATTERS | President Robert Collins | Advertising Manager Murry Evans | Circulation Manager Maurice Labelle, Raymond Lang | Reporters Mrs. Kay Squires | Classified Manager Miss Helen Reynolds | Society Editor Mrs. Dorothy McCreary | Office Manager Subscriptions: $4.20 year by mail anywhere

How to Live With A Monster (IV & Final)

To recant is not necessarily bad. It may simply be a sign that an individual is at last thinking straight about a subject. The recommendations to be made tonight (Thursday) to the Metro Charter Review Board are, in reality, a recanting by our City Commission. Earlier it opposed the McLeod Amendment, as did this newspaper. Broadly, the Commissioners' recommendations will be to strip Metro of much of its power. The Commissioners really would do about the same thing Johnny McLeod tried and almost accomplished last summer, i.e., return the municipalities' sovereignty to them. Under Metro, they are kings without a kingdom. As we see it, the Gables Commission's recommendations are sound ones (details on page 1). They would leave Metro the power it needs. Moreover - and this is very important, in our opinion - the cities would recover some of their rights. The truth is, we gave Metro too much in its charter. Our mayor and his four commissioners are unanimously agreed on this. A former mayor and beloved citizen of this community, W. Keith Phillips, became physically ill after helping to form Metro and seeing what he regarded as a betrayal of purpose fused into its charter. As The Times has said: We want a Metro. We want the achievements for our community of Dade that only a larger, centralized government can bring. But we needn't tear down our city hall to have it. We needn't become the fiefs of a system which would lord it over us, taking prerogatives we prize and giving us in return things we may not want. While the techniques of government have changed, its purpose has not (or at least should not): Its sole duty is to serve its citizens. And as its citizens, we prefer to lead that Government and not be led by it. See you at the Youth Center, 7:30 tonight.

From Tiffany's, Yet

Like we used to always say to Momma: Good manners should be comfortable, Emily Post notwithstanding (we were raised in the pre-Amy Vanderbilt era). Now comes some support for us from that autocrat of the salons, Tiffany's of New York. That rarefied commercial establishment has published a book which attacks the currently popular American etiquette of eating with a constant exchange of fork and knife, cutting one bite at a time, and placing the knife back on the edge of the plate before proceeding. Europeans and Britons have for many years regarded this as inefficient and follow a more civilized form. Walter Hoving, Tiffany's major domo, says keep the knife in your right hand, fork in the left and get on with it. Don't put the knife down unless you wish to eat vegetables. Br'er Hoving has nothing to say about the propriety of eating peas with a knife or how to get around the awkward situation of gristle that just won't chew up enough to swallow. But we won't fret over that. It was a late-in-life victory but we happily sent Mom a copy of the book for Christmas.

Remember The Times 10 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK

10 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK Henry G. Simmonite, attorney and Coral Gables resident, was elected president of the Philharmonic Society of Greater Miami at a meeting this week. Elected with him were John Winebrenner, vice president; Jeanne Elcock, secretary; John Barclay, treasurer, and Oliver Washburn, musical director. An executive committee, comprising the officers and Albert E. Harum, Walter Arnold and Newman Ackerman, was named.

OFF BEAT By MAURICE LABELLE

By MAURICE LABELLE Much to do has been made in recent weeks about the keeping of the minutes of the Recreation Advisory Board and their keeper, Bernard B. Weksler. Basically, some members of the seven-man board have not been happy with what they reflect. Not having been at the meetings, it is difficult to know whether the minutes are representative. If the information is erroneous or slanted, a new secretary is called for. One fact that struck me, however, was that in at least one instance the person complaining about the minutes was not present at one of the meetings in question. This brings to mind the first meeting of the board, shortly before which at least one of the members was exhibiting hostility towards another member whom she had not met before and only knew through newspaper stories and hearsay. It was apparent from the beginning that there was resentment on the part of some of its members about others selected to sit with them. This was bound to lead to differences of one kind or another. The battle over the minutes was primarily an expression of personalities-but also of basic differences over the role of the board. Apparently this role has been straightened out by the City Commission, and ironically enough, Weksler's viewpoint that the board should be an active, self-energizing one has prevailed. But one thing has not been straightened out, and that is the keeping of the minutes. While other boards, such as the Planning Advisory Board and the Zoning Board, keep fairly complete minutes of their proceedings and liberally indirectly quote or paraphrase what is said and done, the majority of Recreation Advisory Board members feel that only the actions of the board should be reported. It might be pointed out that, although City Clerk Miss Lorretta Sheehy takes rather copious notes of Commission formal and informal meetings, the minutes only show the actions. The policy differs from one municipality to another and certainly between one level of government and another. Many use mechanical and electronic recording devices. Generally, the higher the level, the less the reluctance to publish verbatim reports of proceedings. Which makes you wonder about some of the statements made about the greater democracy inherent in the grass roots system. Why are people prone to accept the honor of serving and so reluctant to take responsibility for their actions? Are they ashamed? Are they too modest? Are they afraid or timid? Are they contemplating something illegal or dishonest? Are they not believers in the democratic processes? And how are the people, the voters, the public, to know what is going on, or who to vote for, or what to support or oppose? This is a question that every public servant must answer for himself. -ML- Our correspondent, Joe C. Morris, in a story last week reports on one side of the jets for Yugoslavia deal that appears a marvel of rationalization. The argument, basically, is that an old gun can't kill as well as a new gun and it might give you more trouble than it's worth. Realistically, few nations-possibly a half dozen-possess the latest in weaponry. The others have to go about the business of vanquishing their foes with so-called second rate or obsolete weapons. They are really to be pitied and should be helped. -ML- A mark of immaturity is to assume that everything in existence today is better than what came before. It would be difficult to tell those of us who remember twice a day home mail deliveries that once a day is better, or that mail service, for that matter, is better than it used to be. Or that telegram service is better, or that train service is better, or that service in stores is better.

She Sees Our Buildings Falling, Falling Soon

-Photo for The Times by Joe C. Morris SHE TELLS YOUR FUTURE By JOE C. MORRIS (Correspondent) BERLIN: A fortune teller in West Berlin predicts the wall will be destroyed during the middle of 1962. She also predicts that Berlin and all of Germany will be reunited - suddenly. "I may be wrong about the time," she said, "but it is coming . . . soon." Ursula Kardos has been telling fortunes in Berlin more than 30 years and is well known all over Germany and in many European Capitals. Her predictions have been so consistently true that many of her forecasts are carried in the German press. "The Russians have invited me to several cocktail parties in East Berlin," she said, "and they ask me all kinds of questions about the future. I have told them about The Wall being destroyed but they just laugh and think it's a joke. "I see a war in Iran in 1963," she continued. "And I see skyscrapers falling down in American cities in '63 or '64. I can't tell if it is an atomic explosion or an earthquake. But many buildings are falling." She smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. You and your family will survive. In fact you will live to be 83!" When we parted she made another prediction. "You will write to me within three years." "Of course, of course," I agreed and took her address for that purpose. Note: So far Miss Kardos is 100% right. I wrote her a note December 21, 1961 . . . on a Christmas card.

Editor's Mailbox

EDITOR: In reviewing my subscription, per enclosed check, may I suggest that you start a campaign for the better surfacing of our roads. So-called boulevards such as Granada Boulevard, University Drive, and others too numerous to mention, are in a disgraceful condition and should be resurfaced before we destroy our cars by driving over them. MRS. WM. D. WEBSTER 3718 Monserrate St.

EVERYBODY'S Business By Rolfe Neill

By Rolfe Neill Turnabout I doubt that New Hampshire Gov. Wesley Powell failed to appoint Mrs. Styles Bridges to her late husband's Senate seat because he had convictions about it. Rather, he wanted his own protege, attorney general Maurice J. Murphy Jr., to have the post. However, I'm glad he didn't appoint the widow. It's always seemed absurd to me to appoint a wife to fill the unexpired term of a politician husband. It makes no more sense than asking the widow of your surgeon to operate on you. I see that Mrs. Bridges plans to run for the seat. If the people wish to confer the job on her that's as it should be. ★ ★ ★ Brrrr Now that the cold snap is past we can begin using the electric oven for what it was intended-cooking. ★ ★ ★ Necessary? Is that cussed stoplight at Andalusia and Le Jeune really needed? We got along without it for years and as far as I know there's nothing unusually hazardous about that intersection. Instead, the signal there delays traffic. And since it's out of time with the one a half block away at Miracle Mile and Le Jeune, it also irritates drivers. ★ ★ ★ Quick Review If you want some good movie entertainment, catch "Pocketful of Miracles" with Bette Davis and Glenn Ford. It's slapstick enough for the most uncomplicated mind and yet sufficiently sophisticated to interest almost any movie patron. Bette Davis will, in my opinion, be considered for an Academy Award for her role.

MAILBOX

EDITOR: Your article on Michael Commini in the Jan. 4 edition was most commendable. You pointed out that he won the Singer of the Year Award, (classical division). You also should know that he won it over more than 45 other singers. We in the Conservatory feel that Mr. Commini has an excellent voice and that with the added push of some interested individual or group he could become a worthy addition to our Coral Gables cultural growth. Michael needs a sponsor to continue his vocal work. He has no money of his own to pay for the added expenses. This would be a worthy project for some dedicated person or group. Michael is also available for singing engagements, and anyone desiring his services can call me at the Miami Conservatory and we will see that he is contacted. ROY OLIVER Modern Music Department Miami Conservatory