The Key West Citizen Newspaper, December 20, 1954, Page 4

4 ‘THE KEY WEST CITIZEN Menday, Dacomber 20, 1954 The Key West Citizen ——— lished daily (except Sunday) fro: i | a nde a aems y) m The Citizen Building, corner of Only Daily Newspaper in Key West and Monroe County L. P. ARTMAN, Editor and Publisher .........0- sesrmmesvne 1921 = 1954 NORMAN D; ARTMAN swntnmenmmunee Business Manager Entered at Key West, Florida, as Second Class Matter TELEPHONES 2-5661 and 2-5662 Member of The Associated Press—The Associated Press is exclusivel: entitled to use heplid Oy niger of all news dispatches credited to it nen ai ited in this paper, and also the local news pub- ere. Member Associate Dailies of Florida Subscription (by carrier), 25¢ per week; year, $13.20; by mail, $15.60 ADVERTISING RATES MADE KNOWN ON APPLICATION The Citizen is an open forum and invites discussion of public es it will not Resid and subjects of local or general interest, but anonymous communications, IMPROVEMENTS FOR KEY WEST ADVOCATED BY THE CITIZEN More Hotels and Apartments. Beach and Bathing Pavilign. Airports—Land and Sea. . Consolidation of County Community Auditorium. 1 2 3. 4 5. A FAMOUS DECEMBER DATE Though most Americans do not give it much thought, about this time in the year 1777, General George Wash- ington set up camp for a winter which was to be one of the hardest which American soldiers had ever endured. It was on December 19th that Washington marched his 11,000 men to Valley Forge, Pa. This was after the battles of Brandwine and German- town, after which the British had occupied Philadelphia. Therefore, the encampment at Valley Forge was not among the most optimistic prospects, nor after a session of complete success in the military field. Washington selected Valley Forge because he thought he could protect Congress, then sitting at York, Pennsyl- vania, from this location and because it was a highly de- fensible site. One side was protected by the Schuylkill and another side protected by a‘steep precipice. While being quartered at this site and amid many hardships caused by deficiencies in the commissary and quartermaster de- partments, the Contientals were, nevertheless, formed into a disciplined. army by the rigid instruction and training methods of Baron Steuben. Many of us give little thought to this momentous ac- tion and winter, a hundred and seventy-seven years ago. But it was to have a considerable bearing on the future history of the world and a direct bearing on every inhabi- tant in what was to become the United States. It is well that we remember Valley Forge and that hard winter, and those heroes of 1777. We should keep in mind that, should this generation be called upon to undergo a similar ordeal, it is the history and tradition of our people to ex- hibit their finest qualities in such critical tests. The best etiquette for hunters is not to kill other hunters. et] It would be easier to rush into a war with the six hundred million Chinese than to rush out of it. A good Christmas idea is to see that Santa Claus doesn’t miss any of the boys and girls in this community this year. Ignorance is responsible for more ills than sin; money invested in the community’s education system will there- fore return enormous dividends. We have met a number of people in our travels and almost without exception, all have the idea that he, or she, could write a newspaper column that would set the world on fire. ON SECOND THOUG This Rock “Pat” O’Brien, of Baton Rouge, has written an editorial which most of the Louisiana newspapers have used. Pat is Chairman of the Louis- iana Commission On Alcoholism. He and I were discussing his job while he was visiting Key West a couple of weeks ago. He wanted to know if I'd be interested in pub- lishing some timely articles on al- coholism and I told him “This Rock” was always anxious to car- ry anything which might benefit the public. So here’s O’Brien’s — Spirit Or Spirits? Several years ago, at a Christ- mas party, a couple of guys threw a friend of mine onto the floor and tried to pour a*@rink into him. Alcoholic that he is and sober for many months, he knew full well that one drink would ‘send him into a big drunk and a miserable Christmas. He fought off — his “friends” and made that Christ- mas happy for his wife. his daugh- ter and himself. His “friends” didn’t ‘now what they were doing. They didn’t know that the alcoholic cannot stop at Of Ours By Bill Gibb of happiness in the homes of al- coholics at Christmas. It is either all Christmas spirit and happiness, or it is all Christmas spirits and misery. For them there is no in- between. My wife and I will visit many friends during the Christmas season. Of these, the happiest will be homes, a dozen or so, where misery and suffering used to reign but which has now been replaced with joy and gladness, These are the homes where the true Christmas spirit has brought to the alcoholic release from the grip of what we have been calling ‘‘Christmas spir- its” — and we don’t mean ghosts. In these homes the Christmas tree may lean a little, but father won’t— Pat O’Brien, chairman, Louisiana Commission on Alcoholism, | i} a Philip pines 'To Have First Bull Fight MANILA (#—The Philippines is going to have its first bullfight Dec. 26—and if action in the ring is as furious as it has been outside it will be a corker. KEY BOOKS © (Note: . The follewing review of “The Bive Continent’ was » written by Jeanne Sneigr, one of Key West’s most enthusiastic and competent underwater de- votees.) Folco Quileici, author of ‘The | Blue Continent,” is a professional photographer who combined his profession with skin diving to docu- ment the findings of the Italian Na- tional Underwater Expedition in| 1952 and 1953. He has done a bet-| ter job of recording with his un-} derwater camera than he did with a typewriter above ground. Quilici’s observations and exper- iences are interesting to read mere- ly as underwater fun and adven-/ ture but the scientific aims of the} group do not sound convincing as | he attempts to tell about them. On the other hand his photos are beautiful and in the appendix he) generously lists data for exposure of color film, black and white, tells how to use artificial lighting under- water and writes on special effects. The expedition headed for the Red Sea because it is believed that | this body of water contains the| greatest variety of undersea life to} be found. After preliminary train- ing, experimenting and testing of| equipment, much of which the | group developed, they were ready to set out. Preparations for the trip} however, had eaten up much of their funds. At this point, another member of the group, Raimondo Bucher decided to attempt to break the skin - diving record of 115 feet in order to bring publicity — and money — to the expedition. For- tunately Bucher was successful, diving to 128 feet, and food, more equipment and money arrived in time. One of the goals of the skin div- ers of the group was to determine just how dangerous sharks are to swimmers in the water. After sev- eral encounters, their conclusion was that a completely submerged person has a much better chance The Philippines, although a for-)than one swimming on the surface mer colony of Spain, never has! and that sharks that live closer to gone in for the Spanish pastime. |iand are less dangerous to man And if some legislators, civic|than sharks of the open sea. groups and the Society for the) Im collecting a vast number of Prevention of Crelty to Animals| specimens of marine life, the group had their way, the Philippines hoped to add to man’s knowledge never would. . of the underwater world. Quilici’s President Ramon Magsaysay|“blue continent,” the underwater with considerable hesitation grant-| world, is ‘“‘a world of such riches ed promoters permission to go|that all the farms and factories ahead. Builders began erecting an| and mines of the exploited and de- 2rena in Manila’s Sunken Gardens, | veloped world above the seas could only 100 yards from the Legislative | not provide a tenth of the energy, Building, minerals, and foods of this new When word of this got around,|continent. The human race... . irate congressmen descended on|needs a new world to explore and the promoters. A bullfight only 100| develop . . .” The blue- continent yards from the halls of Congress|is that world, Quicili believes, and was “undignified.” is man’s to learn to control and Work was held up until the con-| harvest. gressmen were placated. Then there was another uproar. Some See Inherits opponents argued that the bulls Ye couldn't be killed. There was a} or rours uy — Mrs. Grace Thayer was named sole heir to the $86,497 estate left by the man ‘law against it. They citédd a law against the for whom she served as secretary for 30 years. slaughter of water buffalo, There The information was reported in! Whenever an after dinner speaker, or a platform orator, begins with the statement that the world is doom- ed unless we do thus and so, we suspect, he has no sen- sible argument. Crossword Puzzle AT ERR RIOIA AIN|SMEMIAIS'S] BT AL.) UGTA] TEIN! INIO} ISIE WEIR Al JQ aaa eal Solution of Yesterday's Puzzi: DOWN 1. Young man 3.Guido's highest note 17. Maple genus 18, Charge * 20, Finished 23 Timber tree 24. Come in 26. Snoop 39. Mythical bird 346. Idolize 7. Pertaining to weight 8. Device 9. Quick ta absorb 10. Unity 11. Strife 19. Supper 31. Source of metal 22. Weapons 23. Bard 26. Little one 27. Flower 28. Affirmative votes 53.Toa point inside 56. Siovan Indian 56. Swamp 57. Rare gas 48. Minute particle 49. Male chil- dren 51. 2000 pounds 54 By birth one drink! I know that you and} I are not going to throw our friends | ( or even our relatives) onto the floor to make them drink. But, we thoughtlessly might accomplish | with words what those fellows fail- | ed to do with force. I refer to the | all-too-common practice of “coax-| ing.” Such as, “Oh, come on, one | little drink won’t hurt” or “just a} - glass of wine couldn’t possibly do; any harm” and “after all, Christ- mas comes but once a year.” You might be speaking to a sob- er alcoholic in the midst of his Water use in the United States javerages 100 gallons a day for jevery person in the country. greatest battle. He may never Have been sober at Christmas before. Alcoholics may stay sober for weeks or at least, for days during the year but at Christmas time? It is unthinkable! He may have to live through one sober Christmas to realize fully that the Christmas | spirit and Christmas spirits are not the same at all. The tension at Christmas is very great; ordinary people want to drink. This reason gives an alcoholic a good excuse and a lot of free drinks too. Your coaxing, you see, may be putting words to his music, you may be singing his tune. He may already be thinking himself into drinking. It goes like this — “‘Well, after all it’s Christmas, I'll quit again right after New Years, and I've stayed sober now for four months and I can do it again. Any- way I’m not going to get drunk, | no sir, I know better than that | now. Even if I should, every one else is drinking and I can get away with it; even the boss and the little | woman will forgive me at Christ- mas. But I just know I won't get | drunk, I won’t touch any whiskey | at all—that’s what ruins me. After all just a little wine or a bottle: of beer certainly isn't going to doj any harm!” Unaware of these thoughts, you | unwittingly push a drink into his | hand, not realizing the split second reaction that can bend that elbow and carry the glass to those wait- ing lips the alcohol to that sick mind and finally miserv and suf- fering into the hearts of a wife or a mother or a child or all three and maybe more! Because the al- coholic cannot stop at one drink! There are no shades or degrees eras . x ESKI AND SANTA look sadly lets out a cry, pois to | Promoter Jes Cortes, with per- mission to stage six fights, has imported a troupe of bullfighters |from Spain and Portugal, ‘and 25 bulls. Cortes says the Manila fights will follow the Spanish and Mexi- can style. The bulls will be killed. This has made the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals most unhappy. Ostriches grow to be more than | seven feet tall. = “out of the window of Senta’s office, wo.. the problem of 9,876,543,210 too many Christmas tree emnaments satel! beautiful Mount Tannenbaum, covered with in the world. “I've an idea, Santo!” Eski shouts, “Why those trees and give them to oll the poor children in the world?” was an out, however. The bulls an inheritance tax appraisers re-| are imported, and they are not water buffalo. port filed in Probate Court Satur- day for the will of Edward L. Plattner, 79-year-old head of the foreign trade bureau of the Edwin F. Guth Co., a St. Louis electrical equipment firm. He died last May. NEW DIVORCE LAW HIT IN ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (}— Hal Boy Says NEW YORK —Sidewalk reflec- tions of a pavement Plato: If a grinning, skinny old man wearing a neatly clipped grey mus- tache, a pink shirt, and a stylish charcoal black suit climbs down your chimney on Christmas Eve, don’t shoot him or phone for the police. He may be Santa Claus! Christmas has gone so modern- istic that, sooner or later, some- one is going to start a movement to take away old Santa’s beard, put him on a diet and turn him into a fashion plate. But do we want that? Would it really improve Santa Claus to make him look like one of those neat, crisp fellows in the men of dis- tinction ads? The great value of Santa Claus has been that he makes no effort to keep up with the times, and has remained jolly and changeless and old-fashioned for centuries— a symbol of selfless kindness. It is a mistake to try to mod- ernize great traditions, and Christ- mas is a great tradition. But in recent years it has been getting more and more arty and, perhaps, less and less hearty. Take the Christmas tree itself. Any person of middle age can re- call the shared joy of a time when decorating the Christmas tree was a matter of family pride. Every- body took part — dad, mom, and the kids. Practically all the ornaments were homemade. Remember the thrill of threading popcorn and cranberries to rope the green tree with strands of white and red: Remember cutting long slivers of tinfoil from cigarette wrappers hoarded for months? And remem- ber the moment of ecstacy when dad, standing on a stepladder, care- fully fastened the cardboard star, covered with tinfoil, to the very top of the tree? Probably in thousands of homes this simple family ritual still goes on unchanged except that most of the ornaments now are bought at the 10-cent store. But in many other homes the Christmas tree has become so arty, so tortured out of shape, it is un- recognizable. You go into a guy’s home and ask what he’s doing Fictitious Name Used 59 Years ST. LOUIS (# — Charlie Sum- mers worked for one firm 59 years but it wasn’t until his funeral that fellow employes found out that name was fictitious. Thomas J. Dempsey gave him- self the name on the spur of the moment when he came here from Quincy, Ill, before the turn of the century and got a job as a porter with the Luyties Pharmacal Co. He climbed to head the firm’s shipping department. Dempsey’s identity leaked out at his funeral last week. Company employes who attended the rites also met his wife, whom he hadn’t mentioned. Mrs. Dempsey said yesterday “we never cared to take the trou- ble to straighten things out.” law adopted Tuesday by the Peron- dominated Congress. A veto is not considered likely. The Episcopate, highest church body in the country, met Friday !with a clothes rack in his living room, and he replies indignantly: “What do you mean — clothes |rack? That’s our Christmas tree.” To make one of these modern- | istic Christmas trees, the last thing | in the world you want is an actual tree. First you need a course in expressionism in the nearest art school. Then you take a stuffed moose head, and lay a piece of jbone-white driftwood across its widespread antlers. Next you tear apart an old mattress, then attach the coils of springs to the antlers with a pair of pliers. { Man, you've got something — the most up-to-date Christmas tree in the block, even if you have to ex- plain to the neighbors what it is, The same situation holds true with Christmas cards. There was a time when you could pick up a Christmas card and tell what it was by how it looked and the mess- age printed on it. If you can do that today, the card is regarded as a flop. I just opened an envelope on my desk a moment ago. It held a card showing a clown seated on an old soda fountain chair and bore this message: ‘Ah, Merri- ment.” I assume this is a Christ- mas card, and not an invitation to the circus, merely because this is December and the circus isn’t in town. Well, maybe I’m just getting to be a middle-aged fogy. But don’t most of us look back to a time when Christmas, always a season of the flowering spirit, had more of heart than art in it? Let’s make the modernists keep their paws eff Santa Claus. He’s perfect as he is. Key West In Days Gone By At a special meeting of the City Council held yesterday afternoon, the liquor ordinance, which was passed on its first readng the day before, came before the council and was passed on its second, third and final reading. The ordinance pro- vides for the payment of a license of $200 annually for the selling of intoxicating liquors. Domingo Milord, formerly of this city, where he served for a num- ber of years as Cuban Consul, is expecting to be returned to this post and again be at home among his many friends. x ko * December 20, 1944 For participation in sustained op- erations against the Germans while Commanding Officer of the USS Fitch, Comdr. Kinloch C. Walpole, on temporary duty here was a- warded the Silver Star Medal yes- terday at the Fleet School by Capt, R. B. Nickerson, Commanding Of- | ficer. News has been received by Mrs. Watson Carey, 729 United Street, of The Argentine Episcopate of the Catholic Church has called on} and Saturday to consider the law.|the discharge of her son-in-law, It permits divorce in Argentina for | Staff Sgt. Frank M. Miles from the President Peron to veto the divorce | the first time. |U. S. Marine Corps this week. “Wendertul!”