Evening Star Newspaper, February 22, 1931, Page 21

HIGHWAY OFFICIAL AGAIN TO TESTIFY Wennessee Legislative Com- mittee Plans Probe Program | for Next Week. By the Associated Roes: NASHVILLE, aiter the ing testimony of the- week befo!:s {h - ve 000 of State funds in bank failures. Confe between week. call @wver to be recovered. . Explanation Is Invited. n., February 21— Nashville drew a deep breath today e legislative committee investigating the loss of around $3,000,- ce after conference was held egislative leaders during the day to map out the program fer next | ‘Tentatively they agreed to re- H. Baker, highway commis- sioner, to the stand Monday to continue | his story on how more than $4,000,000 of highway and bridge funds were canght in the jam of broken banks, only about half of which was expected | Bince Baker and John F. Nolan, | [Btate treasurer, have told the commit- | tee two entirely different stories, the | committee planned to invite the treas- urer to come back with any explanation he cared to offer. | ‘The divergent testimony between the | highway commissioner and the State treasurer center around highway with- drawal checks for approximately 000,000, which the commissioner testi- fled he sent to the treasurer last Oc- tober after they had agreed at a con- gerence at Col. Luke Lea's home to re- distribute the funds in banks to avoid | eriticism by the Republican guberna- sorial candifiate. The commissioner charged the treas- | farer refused to accept them or to have | them cashe@ and eight days later he n after some of banks went out and carried with Shem more than $4,000,000 of the funds, them canceled. Charge of Camouflage. But the treasurer claimed in previ- that the commissioner was only resorting to “camouflage” and did not intend for the checks to be cashed, but simply wanted him to fous testimony hold them until after the election, so | that the records would not be open to | Political attacks. With this check controversy standing tion, goqkemen for the committee indicated well to the fore of the investis would hold in the background for | & time the mysterious witness who said | he was ready to come forward under xlm of immunity and spread all the cts in his possession before the in- vestigators. This witness was described as a man who formerly occupied a re- sponsible position in one of the lark; an banking institutions that closed, ‘was in possession of important informa- | tion. Walter Faulkner, committee chair- | man, scoffed at the idea of the com- mittee pulling down its salls and tack- ing for calm waters. “We are going the middle of the fleld strike a 88 up,” he declared. LONDON PLANS BAN and to_plow right into ; it we big root we are going to plow ON HORSE VEHICLES i New Trafic Rule to Forbid All| Equine Traffic on Main City Thoroughfare. By the Assoctated Press. INDON, February 21.—For the first the history of London, horse LO] time in : THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C From the Front Row Reviews and News of Washington's Theaters. Garbo, at the Columbia, Continues to Be Great. rate the material current in the films of Greta Garbo. Scarcely has a picture begun breathing lT has become the fashion to be- when garrulous vultures pounce upon it and tear the story to small and miserable shreds. Then there is quiet. And then a summing up of the art of the star—which is either on the wane, or threatened by some foreign importation, or floundering through a language of which she knows little. After that, they go back and begin again on the shal- lowness of the plot. It was so in “Anna Christle.” It was even more 80 in “Ro- mance.” And in “Inspiration” it will be triply s0. That, how ever, doesn't ter the fact that Miss Garbo's “art,” as it 1is called, finitely above anything that she plays in, and that no story iIn the { world can do justice to her. It almost seems as if people took offense to what she acts in, for the simple reason that, after considering the star, anything else seems puny. And thus in the cinematic efforts of this lady, one cannot rationally discuss the merits and the defects of the film itself, since there are more important things to think about. There is little question that “In- spiration” is less stirring than some of Miss Garbo's other pictures. But —and this is a vital but—the genius of this star goes up in pro- portion to the decline of the story. ‘Whether you like what is going on or not, you will be spellbound—as we have always been. If Miss Garbo was photographed going up and down in an elevator for two hours she would probably still be the same. Other than the star, Messrs. Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer have truned M. Daudet's story, “Sappho,” over to Gene Markey, who takes all the credit for it; have included Robert Montgomery as the boy who finds his demimondaine love more bitter than he had planned; and have al- lowed Miss Garbo at least seven changes of coiffure—which is the only fault one may find with her. Mr. Montgomery seems not too happy in the part, which fact, however, does not noticeably detract. Others who provide necessary atmosphere for the play include Lewis Stone and Marjorie Rambeau. And by the way, the story concerns the love of & young boy for & “bad” woman, who is better than she thinks, But who cares? E. de S. MELCHER. is in- Greta Garbo. Daniels, Stone and Lyon Shine in Film at Earle. CU'RIOEXTY as to who wins is maintained throughout the play- ing of “My Past,” filmed and ex- hibited at the Earle Theater. A certain degree of impartiality is ex- from the mere observer, for it is a contest in renunciation, when two friends, uncertain as to each other's affections, aspire to the pos- session of & single matrimonial prize, Readers of the novel, on which the story is based, may find in the more definite action of the motion picture a means of giving intensified force duction, and is made effective by an excellent cast, while the princi- pals, Bebe Daniels, Lewis Stone and Ben Lyon, are well adapted to the requirements of the plot. It is an- other performance to the credit of Miss Daniels. trained in the quali- tles that are required when differing emotions follow each other in rapid succession. She is consistently the picture of superficial self-control, torn by alternating grief and unex- pected good fortune, but always the same conscientious character. Ever capable in such situations, Mr. Stone performs with the depth of feeling and spirit of human sym- pathy that are responsible for many of the attractive features of the play. Mr. Lyon has become the appropriate selection for a guileless victim of the buffetings of fortune. There is further pleasure in observing the impeccable figure of the attractive but somewhat unconcerned second woman in the case, played by Nat- alie Moorehead. Effervescent Joan Blondell is an indispensable and al- most omnipresent aid to Miss Danijels. Others on the roster are Albert Gran, Virginia Sale and Daisy Belmore. Chief of the stage performers at the Earle is Miss Patricola, who maintains her reputation as singer and comedienne, while Joe Morris and Flo Campbell give their musical farce, “Any Apartment,” and the dancing features are all worth while and distinctive, contributed by Joe Rome and Lou Gaut (“When Ex- tremes Meet"), and the Stanley Twins with Erhardt Brothers. Joe Penner has a short comedy film and the usual news reel and orchestra selections are offered. Miss Doyle officiates with her cu.*\oglré r.(l:(lll. Buster Keaton Better Than “Parlor, Bed Room and Bath.” FORTUN’E smiled on Buster Kea- ton when it gave him his face. To look at his expressionless visage seems to be “to laugh.” Buster Keaton, with his blank, mirthless face, cast in the role of one forced by circumstances to be a Don Juan with women, is the funniest part of “Parlor, Bed Room and Bath,” this week's feature at the Palace. When drama is burlesqued, re- gardless of the cast, it is frequently funny. Comedy, by the same process of burlesquing, often ceases to be amusing. So it is with “Parlor, Bed Room and Bath.” The stage play, which, a few sea- sons ago, provoked the laughter of metropolitan audiences, was an amusing farce, in which clever lines, combined with comprising but wholly innocent situations, afforded rather highly spiced entertainment for sophisticated audiences The motion picture production, which, with cinema expensiveness, extends the scense of its activities far beyond the restrictions of par- lor, bed room and bath, has lost much of the cleverness of the stage farce. A distinguished group of comed- ians, including, in addition to the funny-faced -Keaton, long-limbed Charlotte _Greenwood, Reginald Denny, Cliff Edwards and Edward Brophy, makes a combination which could not fail to amuse. It is not, however, through the humorous merits of the play that “Parlor, Bed Room and Bath” is funny. In fact, it appears regrettable that Holly- wood has used the inimitable Kea- ton, whose presence in town, like the Pled Piper, gathers all the children to the theater, to act in a vehicle re- pleate with lines and situations de- cidedly “double entente.” The fact that Keaton, along with Charlie Chaplin and Harold Lloyd, is considered by the children to be their own, was evidenced by the extraordinary number of young people in the Palace at yesterday's opening performance, “Parlor, Bed Room and Bath” of- fers complications involving several young people and their love affairs. Buster Keaton is made the innocent pawn in the love affair of a certain couple who cannot marry until an older sister has first taken upon her- self the connubial bonds. Buster, utterly without experience with the fairer sex, becomes involved in a sit- uation in’ which several women, in- cluding & young wife with a jealous husband, appear seriously compro- mised. “Older sister’s” interest is aroused by the young man, whom she believes to be a gay Lothario, and the play ends with her surren- dering to him her heart and hand, clearing the way to matrimony for her younger sister. ‘Two of the funniest scenes in the play are where Buster awkwardly elopes with a young woman in a midget car, which loses a wheel on a railroad track, and later where he and Charlotte Greenwood, attired in trailing-legged pajamas, race through a seaside hotel pursued by a gun- shooting husband. ‘The vaudeville for the week is par- ticularly attractive, offering clever dancers, singers and comedians. ‘These include Williams and Delaney, comedians: Gordon, Reed and King, dancers: Andrew and Louise Carr, Joyce Coles, Jones Preble and Yvette Rugel, who brings to the stage a fine operatic voice. Several short reels complete the program. G. 8. 8. “Dracula” Is Still Drawing 'Em in at Rialto, NIVERSAL PICTURES seems to be scoring another outstanding hit in its celebration of the silver anniversary of its _distinguished president, Carl Laemmle. As famil- jar as was the story of this un- canny mystery, taken from Bram Stoker's anclent novel, the Uni- versal screen presentation of it, with the man who originally created the title role in the picture, and its eerie, melancholy revelation of the things of another world that come back to earth and depart with the rising sun, is taking the fancy of the Riaito patrons in a way to rival its_predecessors. is, 1t appears, is what it is do- ing elsewhere throughout the coun- try where it is being shown. Mys- tery shows, always widely popular with screen fans, may always be de- pended upon to catch the crowds. The Universal production of “Dracula” at the Rialto seems to be not. only catching them, but in- creasing the numbers that pour into the theater daily at every showing of the picture. A _Universal newsreel, a two-reel FORD SALESMEN 346 Pa. Ave. NW. SMITHS MOVES &STORES FURNITURE OFALLKINDS 1313 YOU STREET, NW. PHONE No.gff: 3543 Just Think of It— ‘The Star delivered to your door every evening and Sunday morning at 1l2c per day and 5c Sunday. Can you afford to be without this service at this cost? ‘Telephone National 5000 and de- livery will start FEBRUARY 22 1931 —PART ONE comedy and organ selections are rovided as added entertainment, the looks it “Dracula” doesn't need it. “Tilicit,” Is Offered Now at Metropolitan. 'ARNER'S METROPOLITAN is now showing “Illicit,” the highly successful study of modern married life which was housed at the Earle not =0 long ago. In this film Barbara Stanwyck continues to prove herself one of the staunchest of the younger ac- tresses. She takes the part of a young woman who feels that her independ- ence is more important than mar- riage. and that the clever things of life are more essential than a hus- band whose business forces him to lead a nine-to-five life. In the end, of course, she finds that convention is after all pretty nice, and that she simply can't live away from her nine-to-five hushand. The most outstanding item of all this, other than Miss Stanwyck, is the acting of Charles Butterworth, who as an eternal Park avenue gin- hound gives one of the most amusing screen portraits of the year. E. de B. M. Strand Reopens With “Birth” as Attraction. 'HE Strand Theater at Ninth and D streets northwest reopened yesterday with “Birth,” a product of Culture Pilms, Inc., as its attraction. It is heralded as “highly indorsed by the medical profession,” and was made in Zurich, Switzerland. It is especially noteworthy for the absence of sensationalism, and for its ap- parently clear and straightforward message, which cannot well be in- terpreted as offensive. It is perhaps the least objectionable, if not the best, of the many clinical revelations of the silver sheet thus far presented in Washington. Withal it is difficult, take it as you may, to interpret it as amusement in the generally ac- cepted meaning of the word. Several hundred aged and infirm people at Ashby-de-la-Zouche, England, each received recently an envelope con- taining $2.50 and a gift card from an anonymos giver. | Archie D. Engel o Optometrist—Optician Now Located at 1416 F St. N.W. (Between the Willard \ and Washiugton Hotels) Phone District 7142, 25 GERMANS KILLED IN COAL PIT BLAST Nearly 50 Miners Rescued After Fire Damp Explosion 1,850 Feet Underground. “One Thing Venice D B the Associated Press. NOTHBERG, Germany, Pebruary 21. ——Twenty-five persons were killed and four seriously injured when a fire-damp explosion oceurred at a depth of 1850 feet today in the Eschweiler coal pit near Aachen. Two or three others of a crew of eighty in the pit are missing. Since the mine is a so-called wet pit the explosion fortunately was localized and ‘aftected none of the nearby pits. There was not much material damage. SBuccess of the rescue work, by which nearly 50 of those in the pit were ex- tricated safely, was aid to four fore- men who had just finished their shift, but who, upon hearing the explosion, insisted upon descending immediately into the mine to save their comrades. Their knowledge of the pit proved in- valuable. The Government Mining Commission representative arrived an hour after the explosion to investigate its causes. The street leading to the pit was soon crowded with anxious relatives of the ‘miners. Dictionary Sales Boosted. Since the banning of Chevalier's songs in Cardiff. because of alleged unfitness for a refined audience there has been a great increase in their sale in South Wales. And bookstores gleefully report that there also has been a great boost ln] the sale of French-Welsh diction- | arles. Suits & Overcoats Cleaned & Pressed. . 75(‘ H AND CLOCK REPAIRIN 814 14th St. N.W. Clocks Called for+ Delivered - Guranteed 5602 Conn. Ave. 1631 17th St. N.W. 1416 Park Road N.W. 3402 18tl. St. N.E. 1731 Columbia Road 3500 Georgia Ave. N.W. 420 H St. N.E. 1122 Vermont Ave. 622 7th St. S.W. R gHOW . 813 H ST . N.E, PHONE LINCOLN 10317 CY COLOGY SEZ: Much About is Automobil We are and as vou need a plumber. one thing we offer. other. problem, from a new job to a repair, gas or coal, we are readily, reliably, at your call! Easy Monthly Payments. Free Esti- mate. Neo Mortgage on Y our Property PRSEE 't Have to Worry Very ceidents.” PLUMBING HELP! near you as your phone instantly responsive—when Promptness is Reliability In any plumbing or heating Your Success in the Business World Depends Largely Upon Your Appearance All Dresses & Coats Cleaned & Pressed. .. $1 Cleaned and Blocked. 19 STORES TO SERVE YOU Ladies’ & Gents’ Felt Hats ¥ 50c| 3317 Conn. Ave. 1749 Penn. Ave. N.W. 2515 14th St. N. 2002 Georgia Ave. N.W. 5119 Georgia Ave. N.W. 2014 Nichols Ave., Anacostia 4302 Georgia Ave. N.W. 905 G St. N. Plant, 1343 South Capitol St. “Stick to the Goose That Laid the Golden Egg” Stores in 33 Other Cities 130 Sensational "easons Why CROWDS will flock here Monday the traffic is to be forbidden to one of the eity’s principal streets. ‘The time-honored ine traction has been constantly dwindling with the in- crease of motor cars, but enough horses still are used for heavy commercial traf- fic tn cause congestion. Comedy 1s ‘The ministry of transport today an- mounced an experimental scheme to be | operative during the coming Spring by which Oxford street, one of the great | east and west thoroughfares, will be closed daily to all slow-moving traffic, | including horse-drawn vehicles, between moon and 7 p.m. successful, the scheme may be ex- to the rivalry, which concludes very sbruptly when the Jast word has been said and the yacht carrying = = = . the survivors of the triangular ro- SEVENTH AND F STS. Monday, From 8 to 1 P.M ell placed in the Our Annual short day—8 a.m.to3 p.m: closing time 100 MEN'S WOOL SHAKER KNIT SWEAT- 31.35 ERS—Roll collar, button f{ront. Navy 'and maroon. 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MEN'S AND LADIES’ ICE SKATES 25c pair ONLY 30 Are Mentioned Here! 25 Men’s Genuine HORSE-HIDE SHEEP-LINED COATS Sold up to $38 36” Long Values up to $2 519 75¢ lz $1.50 MEN’S HEAVY RIBBED UNION SUITS 200 GOLF 65¢c Irons and Woods Worth up to $2 75¢ 40 MEN'S TRENCH RAINCOATS Men’s DRESS PANTS Values up to $5 values up 1 .95 1 all wool $1.95 60 PRS. MEN’S HIGH- CUT LACE BOOTS VALUES UP 3 4 TO $8.50 110 PRS. MEN'S HEAVY RED- SOLE RUBBERS Cost $1.75 palr. $1 KHAKI SLIP-OVER SWEATERS Sleeveless 29c 82 MEN'S ALL. ‘WOOL SLIP- OVER SWEATERS Mostly plain colors, 25 MEN'S ALL-WOOL LUMBERJACKS Values up to $7.50 105 MEN'S OUT- ING FLANNEL PAJAMAS The Balance Are Displayed at Our STORE COME!! SAVE!! 400 MEN'S DRESS SHIRTS 29(: Mostly whites with neckbands. Values up to $2.50. 60 Flannelette 36 SWEET-ORR OVERALLS WORK SHIRTS 45c Values up to $1.50 “Drought injured” shade trees are greatly retarded in recovery by an infestation of scale insects. A thorough application of the proper spray at the right time is an effective and inexpensive treatment for this condition. Phone or Write Us for Estimates FORMAN & BILLER Tree Surgery 20 Men’s Black Leather Sheep-Lined Coats 20 Men’s Corduroy Sheep-Lined Coats 20 Men’s Moleskin Sheep-Lined Coats Worth $ 5 25 Pairs Upto $15 Men’s & Women's Riding Boots Values up to $20 u.& Ds"“ OUR ONLY STORE 100 BLANKETS Values up to $5 Phone Clar. 500 Ballston, Va. DRIVING GLOVES Values up to $3.80. Be Prepared to . . ¢ $1.25 Blue. $2.25 Value Tame March Winds You can make March winds come in your office or home “like a lamb” at all times if you install the window ventilator pictured here! Admits all the air you need, but keeps I | out dangerous drafts. A good investment, and priced reasonably. Ask for estimate. EJMurphy INCORPORATED 710—12th Street, N.W. NAtional 2477 | g A Bl 7 {|}| 52 Slightly Soiled Madras Shirts. i - G e ey 30 MEN'S CHAMOIS LUMBERJACKS—25 MEN'S LEATHER LUMBERJACKS—Values up to $15 s5 3 24 Slightly Soiled Pajamas.................59¢ MBS ENOXRORDN CRB AL DO MACKINAW COATS 7 Pairs of Slightly Faded Gloves............39¢c 20 BOYS' BLACK LEATHERETTE SHEEP- LINED COATS. Worth $7.50 .....coceutinnirasnsons 6 NAVy 38c Garters. ... 17c | Soiled $1 Neckwear, 25¢ Rummage Sale of $4.65 to $6.65 Trousers 90 pairs, sizes 30 to 40, in grays, tans, browns, etc. e