The Coral Gables Times

Suburbia Today THE MAGAZINE OF PLEASANT PLACES Published Monthly

In This Issue . . .

Santa in the Suburbs . . . page 6 He's there, all right, whether he comes by helicopter, jet plane, or one-horse sleigh. In this month's Round Table, you'll discover how suburbs across the country keep Christmas, and you'll see why the old familiar celebrations are still the favorites. Pearl Buck's Christmas Eve . . . page 10 The author of "The Good Earth" has a special ritual for this night. She hangs up "Nineteen Stockings by the Chimney Piece"-one for each of her own and her adopted children-and all by herself she fills them to overflowing. Her insight, as she reflects on the years just passed and yet to come, will tell you much about the Nobel Prize winner. What's New in Scandinavia? . . . page 13 Plenty. We sent correspondent Lydia Ratcliff to the Scandinavian Design Cavalcade to find the best ideas in everything from furniture to flower pots for the suburban home. Here's her report on Finland's flameproof earthenware and children's chairs from Sweden, decorative tiles made in Norway and Danish "candle burst"-all things of beauty for everyday use. The Weekend Game . . . page 16 Cartoonist Roy Doty and his wife have concocted a game to help you through a hectic weekend in the suburbs. Maybe you've put the lawn mower and garden tools away, but you still have to mind the baby and catch up on your office work. Here's a delightful way to take time out from these chores-and the winner gets a nap on the nearest sofa. On the Cover You can almost touch the Santa Claus whiskers and the tiny brushes on the Christmas work table. Cover artist Norman Adams has recorded, true to life, the ribbon and paper and cards of today, plus a collector's item, an apothecary jar filled with antique Christmas balls. And if you look closely, you'll see that the artist sends greetings on the card lying on the table.

LEONARD S. DAVIDOW Publisher ERNEST V. HEYN Editor-in-Chief MARION LOWNDES Editor LAWRENCE C. GOLDSMITH Managing Editor AUDREY WOLLENBERG Associate Editor PHILLIP DYKSTRA Art Director JOHN BAILEY Humor Editor SUBURBIA TODAY is distributed nationally with newspapers in selected suburban communities. Editorial offices at 60 East 56th St., New York 22, N. Y. Advertising offices at 575 Lexington Ave., New York 22, N. Y. Business offices at 153 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 1, Ill. Walter C. Dreyfus, Vice President. Patrick O'Rourke, Advertising Director. Ford King, Advertising Manager. Morton Frank, Director of Publisher Relations. © 1962, Suburbia Publishing Corporation, 153 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago 1, Ill. All rights reserved.

GETTING AROUND . . . to Our Pleasant Places and People

THE SIGHT of a Santa Claus doing business at the old stand last week reminds us of a story we heard from Mrs. Thomas Woodward of Dearborn, Michigan. It seems that a large toy store in a suburban town had its Santa Claus enthroned in a king-sized igloo. To add to the excitement, a brightly painted red sleigh carried delighted and awe-struck youngsters to the igloo. Sally, aged eight, had arrived at the "I'm-not-sure-I-believe" stage; nevertheless, with her mother in tow, she boarded the sleigh for a visit. Just before it rounded the bend that would bring them into Santa's view, Sally regretted her decision and hopped out. Her mother, now the only passenger, was left to complete the ride to the throne. "Well," said the man-in-red, his eyes twinkling over his bushy whiskers, "some people never give up, do they?" • • "Seems everyone around these parts owns a pair of thong sandals," says Mrs. Fred Van Dyke of Englewood, Colorado. "Our four-year-old had quite a time with her first pair. Once she mastered the trick of keeping them on, she announced with great pride, 'I just hook them on my thumb toe.'" • • Notice by a soft-drink vending machine near La Jolla, California: "Test your I.Q.-Try to put the round bottles in the square holes." A correspondent in Silver Spring, Maryland, who travels about the country, noticed this sign above a complicated electronic computer in the Los Alamos field office of the Atomic Energy Commission: "Achtung! Alles lookenspeepers. Das computenmachine is nicht for gefingerpoken or mittengrabben. Ist east schappen der springenwer, blowanfusen and poppencorken mit spiensparken. Is nicht for gewerken by das dummkopfen. Das rubbernecken sightseeren keepen hands in das pockets-relaxen and watch das blinkenlights." • • A special referendum to annex a 25-acre plot of land to the town of Mountain Brook, Alabama, was carried by a unanimous vote. The actual tally was 2-0, with Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. Wilsor the couple who live on the land, as the only vote.." • • Residents of Minnetonka, Minnesota, always look twice when D. W. McGregor rides down the street in his "Silver Ghost"-a 1926 Rolls-Royce roadster that cost nearly $25,000 when it was built. The long car has gigantic headlights, an aluminum engine hood, and a rumble seat complete with carpeting. Mr. McGregor bought the Rolls (and he's not telling how much he paid for it) from an antique-car fancier in New York. "And on the way home," he says, "I cruised along at 45 m.p.h. and enjoyed the startled looks on the faces of the other drivers." Continued on page 4