The Coral Gables Times

And Forgive Me, Dr. Henry

By ELVA CHARLTON Correspondent Dr. Henry squeezed tight eyelids over eyes already aware of the morning of a new day. The habit of rising at daybreak was one of the hardest habits to break, he reflected. The other habit was listening for his name being called in urgent demand in the matters of life and death. The smell of coffee perking reminded him that woman, once their major job in life was completed, still had the ineffectual job of housework to keep them busy. His wife was getting breakfast. He had no interest in it. He didn't feel well. He had arisen as usual, contemplating his many ailments, trying to think what to do about them. He couldn't read any more, neither could he get interested in television. God, he thought in exasperation, I act exactly like all the neurotic women I have ever treated. But somehow, his own plight was different. At least to him it seemed so. But perhaps he had done the wrong thing to have retired himself so early, just because he had made the goal, mission accomplished. He could always think of his five children he had successfully launched on lives of their own. He could be proud of the use of the education he had worked so hard to give them. And he could always . . . do what? Once a prominent specialist, and a good friend of our family, Dr. Henry now sits in his beautiful home in the Gables disinterested in his retirement. Our children grew up with his. Children do grow up, but parents sometimes don't. I tried though, and developed a certain dizziness in the process. I had already spent a fortune when I landed in the hospital (where Dr. Henry was the head) for X-rays of the skull. "X-rays of the head? Are you just getting around to this?" he asked as though I were some kind of a nut. "Don't talk, just work," I interrupted, "and while you're doing it, take some of the neck." Afterwards, I could not resist asking him about my head. "There's nothing in it, what did you expect me to find?" "And my neck?" "Rotten." "Will it get better?" "No, it's going to get worse." "What to do?" "Hang by the neck until you are . . . but not yet," he answered. Brusqueness, that was Dr. Henry. Take it or leave it. Now I would like to prescribe for him. Choose a field of activity which is completely alien to you. Pick out something frivolous you have always wanted to do. Make it very tough for yourself, but get it done. Then work hard for perfection in it. That is my prescription for you, doctor. Wash the bitterness of the pill out of your mouth with the sweetness of my thoughts of you. And forgive me, Dr. Henry.

Skin, Scuba Courses Set At Center

Skin and scuba (self contained underwater breathing apparatus) classes are to begin at the Coral Gables Youth Center when 10 people sign up. Classes will be held for 10 boys or girls at one time for 11⁄2 hours. The charge will be $10 for five lessons. The main requirement is being able to swim well. Adults and teens must be able to swim 75 yards and 9 to 12 year olds must swim 100 feet. The child will receive a certificate stating that he has passed a certified course in skin and scuba diving which will permit him to use and purchase diving equipment. Registration can be made by calling the Youth Center at HI 8-2567.

MAILBOX

EDITOR: These are reflections, 10 years from now: — Yes, it's still a pretty city. But it used to be beautiful. There were trees everywhere. And space. And the architecture was unique — —, Spanish, Greek, Colonial — but, whatever, it fitted well with the surroundings. None of these unimaginative boxes, flat and fitted with glass squares. And the buildings were low, two or three stories at the highest. This made a peaceful, quiet scene and held down the density of population and traffic. That high-rise building over there, for instance; I remember when two houses and two families occupied that space. Now maybe 20 or 30 families live there, each with a car or two, and traffic to and from is compounded accordingly. So it is, now, all over the city. It'll never be the same again. Commercial interests stores, newspapers, builders, filling stations, real estate investors — they all pull for more people, more business, more traffic, more activity, more buildings, more, more, more. The pressure is continuous, endless. Why didn't the people resist? They did! But the great mass of citizens, the average citizen — he works, he tires, he has duties and responsibilities that take his time. He cannot regularly or ordinarily attend and participate in council meetings; he has elected representatives to guard and maintain "The City Beautiful." But if a commercial group wants an outstandingly beautiful tree or landmark destroyed, believe me, in time it will be. Too bad; it used to be such a nice, quiet beautiful city! ROBERT H. THRONE 417 Santander Ave.

YES! LOWER CAR NOTES

may be the answer to your financial problem Refinancing over 36 months often reduces car payments by one-half YES! IF UNEMPLOYED SKIP-A-MONTH NO CHARGE IT'S EASY TO QUALIFY FOR A LOAN OR REFINANCING AT CORAL GABLES First National Bank 100 MIRACLE MILE For a Loan, Phone HI 5-2661

STEWARTS 2S for STEAK SOUTH MIAMI'S NEWEST STEAK HOUSE

LUNCHEONS SERVED FROM 11:30-2:30 MON. THRU FRI. COCKTAILS SERVED FROM 11 A.M. TILL 2 A.M. DINNERS SERVED FROM 6 P.M. 5859 S.W. 73rd ST. SOUTH MIAMI RESERVATIONS 667-8851

QUESTIONS ANSWERED

on low cost car insurance LOU HAUSHEER 320 ARAGON AVE. Coral Gables HI 3-8968 MO 1-2961 STATE FARM INSURANCE AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE COMPANY Home Office: Bloomington, Illinois

Be wise... The Keyes Co. REALTORS

call Keyes HI 3-7423 315 MIRACLE MILE CORAL GABLES "IN THE GABLES" TO BUY OR SELL • HOMES • APARTMENTS • BUSINESS PROPERTY • ACREAGE

VOTE FOR CARL L. LIBBY

Resident of So. Florida Since 1937 BOARD OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION GROUP 3 PAID POL. ADV.

LOW RATES — LIBERAL TERMS AUTO LOANS!

MERCHANTS BANK OF MIAMI 950 RED ROAD (S.W. 57th Ave. near the Trail) Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Over 100,000 Readers See Times Want Ads!

Look at the Value in this DANISH INSPIRED 3-Pc. FLORIDA ROOM SET

Murphy's THE COMPLETE VARIETY STORE Look at the Value in this DANISH INSPIRED 3-Pc. FLORIDA ROOM SET ONLY $29.99 3pc. set 42-Inch SOFA with 2 MATCHING CHAIRS • FLAMINGO • TAN • TURQUOISE • WHITE Wonderful for Fla. room or dens! Well constructed! Sturdy 1-inch tubular coppertone steel legs with shaped walnut-stained hardwood arms. No-sag spring construction, tufflex padding and covered with vinyl leather-like plastic, so easy to keep clean. ALL 3 PIECES ONLY $29.99 G. C. MURPHY CO. CENTRAL SHOPPING PLAZA 3709 N.W. 7th STREET OPEN EVENINGS TILL 9 P.M. CLOSED SUNDAYS