The Key West Citizen Newspaper, February 7, 1953, Page 5

SOCIETY — PERSONALS — NEWS OF INTEREST TO WOMEN ITEMS OF INTEREST TO EVERYONE _ DOROTHY RAYMER, .Society Editor Ladies Feted By Rotary Members At Valentine Banquet ,Thurs. Night Members of the Rotary club turned out in force Thursday to honor their wives ‘at the Rotary-Ann “Ladies Night” banquet given 4m the spacious dining salon of the Casa Marina Hotel. The men ‘wore light dinner jackets, tuxedos or dark business, suits. Their ladies appeared in formal or semi-formal array, many of them with @orsages to spark the colorful event, an annual banquet at which Rotarians pay compliment to their helpmates. The over 150 guests filed into din-' “a @er shortly after eight o'clock and were seated at tables ar- ®anged in a huge square. The speaker’s table was decorated with @ floral centerpiece of white snap- dragons, white iris and pale gold daisy mums. Bouquets of sunset Pink gladiolus sprays were placed at other tables. President Neil Knowles led the Pledge to the flag and one verse of “My Country Tis of Thee,” ‘sung by the group. The Rev. Ralph Rogers led the blessing prayer. The menu began. with a fresh fruit cocktail of honeydew melon, grapefruit, pineapple, grapes and other delectable fruits. The main entree was roast beef. Vegetables served were fresh asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, baked Idaho Potato in foil, a cornpone speciality and spring salad with the chef's own dressing. Ice cream-cake top- ped by whipped cream and coffee completed the banquet card which ‘was served by the hotel’s extreme- ly competent staff. Each. lady guest was presented with a huge, beautiful boxed Val- entine greeting with detachable lacey fan and an appreciative verse inside the folder. President Knowles asked cach member to introduce his Rotary. Ann and guests. All took a bow. Among the special visitors were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Wilson, Mr. and Mrs. Glynn Archer, Mr. and Mrs. Julius Stone, Jr., and others. tribute was paid to the wives in Knowles’ speech outlining Rotary aims which he said, “revolve @round the ways and means of giving better service to the com- mn ” Paul Sher, program director took charge and introduced Tom Whit- ley, instructor of music and his Key West High School chorus. The lented group assembled at one tal end of the big diningroom and en-|. - tertained the banqueteers with a stirring 1m of vocal numbers opening with the “Battle Hymn of ‘The Republic” and. ‘‘Anterica, The Beautiful.” Soloist and outstand- ing sifiger was Miss Jo-Ann Mul- lins, soprano. The .choris sang “You'll “Never Walk Alone,” and followed it with selections from the recent Spanish music operetta which was such a success under Whitley’s excellent direction. After the banquet, Rotarians and their ladies enjoyed dancing and were further enchanted with im- promptu singing by the choristers. Volunteers Get Praise For Aid In Polio Drive At the weekly meeting of the Island City Enlisted Men's Navy Wives Club, Wed., Feb. 4, at 10 a. m. in the White Hat Lounge on the Naval Station, Mary. T. Smith, president thanked Barbara Ward, Toni Thompson, Jean Deal and Edith Dunsmore for volunteering with her from the club to help with the Mother’s March on polio | Jan, 29 in the Poinciana area. During the meeting Teresa Brax- ton, Southeast regional vice pre- sident, discussed plans for send- ing delegates to Jacksonville in | May to the southeast regional con- vention. All members were sorry to hear that Ann Anderson, treasurer and welfare and finance chairman, is leaving next week. During- the short time Ann has been here she has been a great asset to Club 88, Maxine Kuchnel will take over | Mrs. Anderson's duties as welfare and finance chairman. A new treasurer will be appointed in the | pear future. A new candidate for member- ship was present, Cora Lee Vee- ser, wife of R. J. Veeser, EM 2, stationed aboard the USS Chopper. | The next meeting will be held Wednesday morning February 11, at 10 o’clock. All wives of enlisted personnel in the Navy, Marines CONCH CHOWDER By RAYMER The vandalism at the City Ceme- tery gives me chills. It’s unreal, insane! It’s as if the spirit of old von Cosel had returned in ven- geance because he put a time bomb. in the structure he had built and-was forced to abandon and that his ghost was determined that no other tomb or marker would remain intact. Of course, that’s all mystic and impossible, but the truly evil work smacks of diabolic tendency. If the culprits are ever caught I hope they are examined by a psychiatrist. This is the second onslaught of its kind. The damage to the Main Monument is extreme sacrilege. Even savages have respect for the resting place of enemies, Only a distorted and vicious mind of brutal category could account for what has been done. . .and age of the vandals is no excuse. Even if the persons are very young, the act committed shows warped personality. RALPH HARTENSTINE, tennis enthusiast who used to skim along Anniv +sary For USO’s 12th Birthday|Writers, Eric Berry, Herbert.Best, Observed Here With Festivities The USO YMCA in Key West celebrated the USO’s 12th Inter- Thursday night. USOs all over the world celebrated the occasion with various festivities. The USO. NCCS held a special dance on Wednesday night at their club YMCA held theirs on Wednesday. An open house is scheduled for for the USO NCCS on Sunday, Feb- ruary 8th, and-all servicemen and local persons interested in seeing the USO in operation are invited to drop in Sunday afternoon. The open house, previously planned for the USO YMCA is postponed until the renovation work now being done at the “Y”, is completed and ready for its unveiling to the ser- vicemen and the community. Notice of the date for the USO YMCA open house will be <Publish- ed later. The dance at Feb. 5 featured the music of Gus Ayala and his combo. A large blue and white, four-tier cake was made for refreshment time, and served by members of the local club’s Girls’ Service Organization. The cake was cen- tered on a table- backed with the American flag, the GSO Banner and the USO flag. Al Abrams of the Navy, ‘and Donald Wienke, of the Marines, and Miss Francine Johnson shared cake-cutting honors. The two ser- vicemen and Miss Johnson repre- sented the groups attending the activities of the local USO. Miss Johnson, president of the Girls’ Service Organization lit twelve gold candles around the cake, representing the twelve years of active service of the United Ser- vice Organization to the service- men of America throughout the { world. Following the cutting of the cake, Richard Evans, director of the the Key West horizon writes a|USO YMCA greeted the service- card from Yosemite Nationel Park |men and girls present and fami- in California saying that he ‘+ iarized them with the USO organ- doing some skiing to “rest up”; From what I’ve seen of skiing (Not Ski a la Skewis) it’s no rest- ing-up process but rather an end- ing-up and breaking-up exercise! After the ski scrimmage, then he played tennis on the valley floor. -Virginia Komlas’ house was the scene of a nocturnal visitor ». .that’s polite term for prowler . + .and for a few minutes she must have thought that rehearsals for “The Bat” which opens Thursday had moved from the Barn Thea- tre to her house! PAUL SHER is reportedly try- ing to be nominated for Rotary president. . .rumor is based on the fact that he emulated Neil Knowles and told a story about robin’s eggs just for lark at the Ladies Night banquet, . .Claudia Michaels has sold five of her lovely water colors now at Karns’ studio. . .she is leaving with -her husband who is being transferred in the near fu- ture. . .What with her departure and the loss of Karl Agricola who jis Michigan bound, the Key West | Artists group will have a gap in the ranks which is regrettable. Deedee Agricola startled me last night. She came in to contribute some salad to the repast being pre- pared by Earley Bird Johnson. . . and her hair looked the color of a gray ghost. At first we consoled her, saying that after all leaving Key West was enough to turn any- one’s hair white overnight. She said that she went to have her locks touched at a beauty salon: . . and under artificial. light selected what she’ thought was a conserva- tive ash-blonde shade. It turned out to be platinum gray and her husband says she now looks like a well preserved 60. . .Deedee is in her 20's. . .so it looks as if Custom Work Done In Our Own Decorating DIAL 2.2365 || 904 FLEMING ST. KEY WEST izations here in Key West, and the after exams (he's in the arsny.) {member organizations operating these and other clubs for the USO. The dancing continued following the intermission and ceremony un- til 11 p. m. Dessert Sale And Card Party Slated Thursday The Finance and Hospitality Committee of the Key West Wo-) man’s Club have planned a mid- season card party and dessert sale for Thursday, February 12, at 2:30 p. m. at-the Woman’s Club ‘319 Duval Street. The affair is open to the public and winter visitors are cordially in- vited. Refreshments will be served and a door prize awarded. No tickets are being sold, but tables will be reserved on request. Phone Mrs. Delio Cobo, 2-5501. Those attending are requested to bring their own eards. Mrs. Carl Bervaldi is in charge of the Dessert Sale. This is an opportunity for visitors to try some of the tropical candies and cakes made from recipes from the Key West Cook Book published by the Woman’s Club. someone is going to have to dye for hair apparent. BUDDY YOUNG who looks like Robert Mitchum is joining the crew who entertained, for free, the ladies at the O. W. C. luncheon yesterday. More of that sensational hour later. Joke about Buddy hinges on the other eve. I was seated next to Red Kerrick who has of course red hair. He got up and left the spot for a few minutes, although I didn’t notice that; or that Buddy, who is black-haired, had moved over in Red’s chair. heard, and I didn’t turn my head (because I was watching Johnny |Meyers) was the introduction. . . jand assumed that Kerrick was |being introduced all over again. \“They have met,” | said, still not jlooking. “No they haven't,” said |someone. “Why they did too, on Christmas Day!" I objected. . . and then turned about. . .and dis- covered Buddy was being introduc- ed, not Red. State of utter con- fusion followed with Buddy and Red and Ski mixing up everyone's || Mrs. Walter Price \| Piano and Theory | Instruction on Duval Street, and the USO Dear Dorothy: : Big things are in the making! Of course you know the Navy Charity Carnival is being held ‘Thursday, Friday and Saturday, bine to make this the Event of the year. Carnival was the big soring the cake and candy booth — which is only right as “sugar and spice and everything nice is what little and big girls are made of.” Have no fear of our nation not surviving for lack of unity; in the big things we certainly pull to gether. Already several members of the Woman’s Club have asked if they might donate cakes, cook- ies and candy — the answer, of course, is “yes.” This shindig is for all of Key bake for charity contact Mrs. J. P. Baillod at 2-7753. To add a bit of zip the girls have a new twist to the selling this year. Helping this along some of the board mem- bers like Ginny Truesdell, Alma Blinhorn, Mary Harrison and Mar- i. Toth have taken on extra ies. : Now Hear This — another board |, member, Maurine Boaz, is working out a plan to give some lucky per- son a@ new permanent wave. My lone secret desire is to own an electric sewing machine — well I can dream can't I? There is other news but the Carnival is such a worthwhile subject. Did you hear about the results| of the Duplicate Bridge at Ft. Taylor last Tuesday? Mrs. Ben- ham and Miss Lowe were high for North-South with Mrs. Duke and Comdr. Dickson coming in second. Mrs. Steinbreder_ and Mrs. ‘Drescher took tops for East-West with Mrs. Momm and Comdr. Hutchings coming in second. The turnout for bridge has been very good; eight tables played this week. The prizes for the high scores for ‘the month of January were earned by Col and Mré. Vermette for high; Lt. and Mrs. Peterson were second ird, was Coifidr:° and Mrs. 5 to be able to win at Received my new ,“ terest Groups” bull today. Somé changes have been made — Mrs. L. H. Goddard hag taken over the Dramatics Group — Bowling is on Tuesday from 1:00 to 3:30 p. m. | with Mrs. J. G. McFarlane as the | The Handicraft Group has been | mixed up due to the Navy's habit | of transfering husbands who in| turn take our chairman with them — really can't blame the poor men — wives are important! The new chairman for this group is Mrs. M. B. Ronan. She will 1:00 p. m. on the second floor of the Naval Station Library. Interest- ed are more than welcome — more details contact Mrs. Ronan at 2-7046. Mrs. A. J. Nelson is still keep- ing the wives slim with golf. Not many places can match the varied special interest program that gen- ral chairman, Mrs. E. A. Barham | presents to the wives here. | Hope this catches you up on with vivid stories of their life in Best is better known to the younger set as “Eric, Berry.” The charming illestrations in her books are all done by Mrs. Best who began her career as a fash- ion artist. Later, she wrote travel articles and began to paint seri- ously. Mrs. Best told of meeting her husband in England and how he introduced her to friends, own- ers of tin mines in Nigeria who arranged for her to come out to write-a series uf articles. The next time she went to Nigeria, it was as Mrs. Best. In her description of her trip into the interior to join Best, only to find that he had been called away to investigate a murder, she made her audience feel that they were also taking the long trip through the country and hearing the drums in the distance. Mrs. Best said that these drums were “heart throbbing” and later she came to know the meaning of the various chants and dances accompanied by | the drums. The particular “murder” that Best had been sent to investigate was Part of a tribal ceremony. The tribe had migrated from the head- waters of the Nile and were en- tirely different from any other tribe in the District. The men shave their heads and wear long ogta-like robes. The ruling chief guarantees that when he becomes old he will allow himself to be strangled. These primitive people believe that all vitality and life force emanates from their chief + .80 when he becomes feeble, cows will dry up, women will not have children and the crops will fail. To avoid this, it becomes necessary to do away with the old chief and to insure prosperity through younger ruler, Mrs. Best continued. Some months later the _ Bests were asked to attend the funeral of the strangled chief. They are perhaps the only outsiders to wit- ness these rites. Between the time of death and the funeral, the body is held over a low fire. On the day of the funeral, it is taken to a grass shelter in-a grove of trees near a lake. The body is put astride a horse and supported by some living person. As the horse starts away and turns back several times, | responsibility —- if all goes well, he| duced by Mis. Edgar not, a new Ht: long time personal friend. the living person scatters grain and seeds and water over the field. jgeously attired but their colorful ‘under his personal unbrella. It was Fascinate Woman’s Club Listeners Members of the Key West Woman’s Club and guests were slanal Birthday: Annive with a birthday party and dance, privileged to hear two outstanding speakers on Wednesday after- natiol y cops noon. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Best held their audience enthralled Nigeria, British West Africa. Mrs. Finally, the body is placed in a canoe and pushed oui into the lake where it slowly ‘sinks from sight. Mohammedan®feast day is held every spring. The men ~~~ dressed in many robes ‘worn one over the other in exotic colors. Mrs. Best likened their turbans to “wedding cakes.” The women are less gor- long skirts and the men’s robes make the market place an unfor- gettable sight. The Bests were the guest of the Amir who insisted that she stand an immense affair trimmed with gold fringe. The bearer who was seven feet tall kept twirling it around to provide both shade and a breeze. It is at this feast that the Amir must pass his yearly “trial.” He stands quietly while the lesser chiefs ride by him on horse- back and aim their spears at him. Under tribal law, they may kill him if they feel he has been wicked and deserves death. Best spoke briefly on the British Colonial system and stated that one must overcome many precon- ceived notions of Africa to under- stand the wide differences found on this little known Continent. Ter- rain and people vary greatly --- from the desert to mountains and jungles and from the primitive Pygmies to Arabs, Negros and Egyptians. All are “Africans.” He explained the way a Crown Colony is governed. Best said that being Governor of a district. is “rather like being a golorified school-master.”” The Governor must also be a judge, enforce the laws, settle tri- bal warfare and border incidents, collect taxes and keep missionaries out of trouble. He must learn lan- guages, build roads, bridges and DIAL: Citizen Of, Saturday, February 7, 1953 | THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Poinciana PTA Postpones Meet To February 16 Leland March, assistant super- tendent of public instruction has announced a special Art Instruction class for teachers on Monday night, February 9. Consequently, jthe regular meeting of Poinciana PTA must be postponed until Mon- day, February 16 at & p. m. at the school. Norman Lowe, program chair- man, has arranged a special Founder’s Day program. In Feb- ruary, all PTA’s honor the found- ers, -- Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst, and all past-presidents and charter mem- bers of the local units, This meeting will be in the form of a social evening with entertain- ment and presents an excellent op- portunity for any new parents to meet their child's teacher besides os all parents a pleasant social Apply To Wed Thad D. Patterson, 19, Fleet So- nar School, and Christine Ethel Wilson, 21, Margaret Street, have applied for a marriage license at the office of County Judge Ray- mond R. Lord. In the ancient world it usually | three was assumed that women could take no part in politics except when they became _ reigning queens, ernor takes his place. He compares this phase to being a coach and stated that it is the policy of the British Government not to interfer with established native tribal cus- toms if possible. After graduating from Queens College, Cambridge with a law de- gree, he entered Colonial service. He retired after 12 years as Dis- trict Governor in Nigeria. Since his retirement, he has devoted him- schools: He tries to inculcate West- jern ideals in rather unenthusiatic students. The District Governor must conserve natural resources and made improvements from the taxes he often has to collect per- sonally. The entire welfare of his | district and its people are his sole is applauded, if self to writing -- especially juvenile adventure stories, including the best seller “‘Young ’Un”’ <- a Book- ‘of-the-Month selection. He wrote several books on Nigeria and Colonial Government during his stay in Nigeria. _, Mr. and Mrs. Best were intro- ‘ Page 8 SALON OF 8 AND 40 WILL MEET TONIGHT Monroe County Salon Ne. 54% ° 8 and 40 will hold a “wreck” te night at the Legion Home of — ecg a Louise am, Past 5 Staaten By Gilmore Will Back Miss Barroso Gala goings-on have been plan- ward W. Gilmore is furthering the wi . Gilmore chances of their antenna’ for Navy Charity Carnival to seven o'clock Sunday, February 8. Tickets chased at the door. March Of Dimes Still Seeks Gifts Although the March of Campaign for 1953 on January Sist, there is still time to make a Chair- 2623 ievtve 7 | some of the news. Incidentally, Dorothy, will you please go to the | dogs with us on Wednesday, Feb- Tuary 11: Seriously, I mean this | — on that evening the Key West Kennel Club is donating all, pro- ceeds to the Navy Charity Car- nival! Not often you can go to the dogs for charity — such a painless way to give — enjoy your- self and help your hometown. See you there. SHOWS THE WAY TO BEAT INFLATION STARTING TONIGHT TWICE EVERY NIGHT DURING DANCING YOU GET ANY DRINK IN THE HOUSE FOR ONLY “tf Also YOU GET THE BIGGEST AND. BEST HAMBURGER IN KEY WEST FOR ONLY | 35¢ 409 Fleming St. Phone 2.4371 names for kicks. and Coast Guard are cordially in- Vited to attend. FANCY THAT !! , Prices Remain the Same in the | Smart FANTASEA ROOM at the J , -RADE WINDS, tho it’s Tops for 4 ‘ Tuality Service and _ Delightful intertainment That's Continuous! g. JACK TRAVERS-BUDDY YOUNG-JOHNNY MYERS | PHEYRE FANTASTIC ! 4 Served from 10 P.M. to Closing MUSIC FOR YOUR DANCING PLEASURE BY THE Famous Lou Bredice and his International Trio. NEVER A COVER OR MINIMUM A SHORT PROGRAM OF UNUSUAL FILMS INCLUDING “RYTHM OF AFRICA” AND OTHERS WILL BE PRESENTED BY The KEY WEST ARTISTS GROUP On Sunday, Fobrumy Sth, 8:30 P.M. r THE TRADE WINDS ~ CORNER OF DUVAL AND CAROLINE Make Your Dollar Go Further At... RAUL’S OPEN TO THE PUBLIC : FOR INFORMATION DIAL 2.4611