Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 10 April 1939 — Page 9

Vagabone

." From Indiana —Ernie Pyle

Ad Topperwein Fired at Flying Wooden Blocks 10 Days in a Row And Missed Only 9 Out of 72,500.

AN ANTONIO, April 10.—I spent a fascinating evening in the home of Adolph and Plinky Topperwein, the world's greatest team of sharpshooters. It was just luck that I caught Ad at home, for he’s on the road most of the time, giving exhibitions for the Winchester Arms Co. You never saw two more sociable people. We sat’

for hours in the Topperwein den, which is a remark-

able, helter-skelter, gun-infested room. There are guns everywhere.

5 i;

In cabinets, hung on the walls, standing in corners. And from under | the couch Ad will pull suitcase after | suitcase, each one full of six- | shooters. He takes special ones out | and fondles them. | He always looks to see if they're | loaded. He say he has found car- | tridges many times in guns that | he knew absolutely were not loaded. And that brings up what is, to me, the most amazing thing about this couple's amazing 40-year career as , professional crack shots. In 40 years of almost daily shooting, they have never had any Kind of accident. Both Ad and Plinky have certain | favorite guns they hate to quit using. His is a | 22 rifle, hers is a six-shooter. I asked about the Wild West custom of “fanning” a gun, and he showed me how fast he can do it. “Fanning” means knocking the hammer back with | the back of your hand. instead of pulling the | trigger. | Topperwein admits you can fire faster that way. | But he says when you hit the hammer.. it throws | the gun out of line. He showed me. “You might fire three times while the other ! fellow was firing once.” he said. “But your shots | would be wild, and the other fellow would Kill you | with one good shot.” He doesnt carry a gun around town. but Some. 1 times on trips he carries a six-gun. His shooting isn’t purely academic. He is a great hunter, and goes | after deer every fall. Mr. Topperwein wears glasses to read by. but not for shooting. I asked him if he wore cotton in his ears during his exhibitions. which last about 45 minutes and in which he fires from 600 to 700 shots. He said he didn't but wished he had, for he's a little deaf from it.

He's Sure He's Safe

Both Ad and Plinky hold some remarkable records. | Nobody even tries to break them. In 1907 Ad Topperwein shot steadily eight hours a day, for 10 days In a row. He was firing at 24-inch wooden blocks, tossed into the air. He used a 22 rifie. He shot at 72.500 blocks. and missed only nine! Out of the first 50.000 he missed but four. He had a number of runs of more than 10.000 without a | miss. and one run of 14540. He -says the strain of it, day after day, almost drove him insane. At night he had terrible dreams. Plinky's record of 1952 hits out of 2000 targets in trapshooting is a world’s record for anvone, man or woman. She shot for five hours straight, using a pump gun. It raised such a blister that a few days later the whole paim of her hand came off. The Topperweins are simply grand people. If Ad likes you, hell talk guns all night. Plinky is emotional, and loves evervthing almost to heartbreak. Her voice breaks over an unkind word, and just as quickly over a thoughtful gift. When I went to go. thev refused to let me call a taxi, and got out. their own car and drove me downtown. They say the next time were here we've got to come out for dinner or get shot. All right, we'll be out. But not because I'm scared. They may be able to plink dimes thrown into the air. But I'll bet they've never shot at anything as thin as I am, standing edgewise. ha

My Day

‘By Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt

Hate and Greed Still With Us as Christ Waits for His Kingdom.

YDE PARK, N. Y., Sunday—Easter Day, in a H werld where a great number of men seem to be thinking of destruction, and the resurrection of the Prince of Peace is celebrated. Some of His followers thought he had come to reign over an earthly kingdom. They found it hard to understand that He should die like a criminal in order that He could rise again within men’s hearts and live through the ages as the personification of love and forgiveness. His way was the only way to peace among men. He charted a way for the world but He has not as vet won His kingdom. It still exists only in the hearts of some people and the fight goes on. Every Easter we are reminded that it is possible to triumph over hate, greed and horror and that the Christ still lives and waits for His kingdom. The other night I saw a play, “Family Portrait.” which, just at this season, I think, is good to see. Judith Anderson gives a remarkable performance. To play as she does. must mean there is something within her which can soar above most ordinary mortals. I wonder if the part, itself, does not leave something indelibly written on the soul of the person who plays it. Leonore Coffee and William Joyce Cowen have written a very moving play. Wisely, the Christ, around whom the whole play centers. never appears on the stage. You see His family. His friends. the influence of His work, and you see Him through the eyes of His world.

A New Way to Peace Curiously enough, His world is not so very different from the world today, and so I did not miss the costumes of other days. The casting seemed to me very good. Juda and Judas Iscariot stand out in my memory for the way they plaved their parts. I aiso enjoved Mary Cleophas. Every family should have someone like her to bear some of the brunt of smoothing out the tangled web of familv dissensions. | I know that the Connecticut Nutmeg is widely | read, but perhaps some of my readers are not | familiar with it, and so I would like to suggest that | those who are looking for new ways to neace, get a | copy of the March 30 issue and read: “Peace by | Wireless.” by Irving Caesar. The difficulty is that | In this plan, as in many others, nations must agree | or it will not operate successfully. i Perhaps, when we are war-weary and sane again | for a short time. this idea of using the radio to let | the people of different nations really know what their | neighbors in the world are thinking, on any given | subject at any given time, might be a new way to | peace. In any case, we should neglect no new idea. Everything is worth a trial.

Day-by-Day Science

By Science Service TT American idea of making tree-rings tell the age of Indian pueblos is now used to reveal Viking dates. One famous Viking mound 60 feet high, in southern Norway, is believed to have been constructed in 931 A. D. By tree-ring evidence, Norsemen chopped trees to build a wooden burial chamber here and cover it | with earth n 931. | The impressive burial mound is one of Norway's mysteries, for when it was probed in 1868 only wooden | wreckage nud remains of a horse were found. i Ebba da Geer, a leading investigator of the pos- | sibilities of dating Scandinavian ruins by tree-rings, | is dating ruins like this by aid of Californa’s venerable Sequoia trees and clay varves from northern Sweden. The Sequcias offer a long record of growth rings. | The aiternate light and dark layers, or varves, of | clay deposited in the wake of retreating glaciers also | mark time for long eras. Miss de Geer puts together three-way evidence and gets her Scandinavian dates. A Swedish fort in Gotland is a pre-Viking ruin | . dated in the fifth century A. D. . Roundabout methods are used because no complete tree-ring calendar has been made using northern Europe’s own trees.

i

Where does American public opinion stand today as Europe faces the most ominous sume mer since 1914? The following exclusive survey, conducted for The Indianapolis Times and 85 other American newspapers, shows the effect of the seizure of Czechoslovakia and Memel on the publics willingness to aid Britain and France.

By Dr. George Gallup Director, American Institute of Public Opinion EW YORK, April 10.—If a new major war breaks out in Europe in the coming

| weeks, as a number of care-

ful observers fear, the American people would be immediately confronted with momentous questions. Should we sell food supplies to Britain and France ? Should we seil them airplanes and other war materials? Should we send our Army and Navy abroad to fight on the side of our former allies?

Just exactly what the public would do is something that

cannot be answered at this

time. Much would depend on

the circumstances here and abroad. But the American Institute of Public Opinion has just completed a nation-wide study which shows how the American people stand today on these vital questions—before any point of crisis has been reached or any shots fired. In a scientific cross-section study of several thousand men and women in all parts of the United States and all walks of life the Institute finds that: 1—More than four Americans in every five (82%) are in favor of selling food supplies to Britain and

France in case war comes.

2—Two persons in every three (66%) are in favor of selling them war planes and other war materials— items which are now banned under this country’s Neutrality legislation.

3—But an overwhelming number of Americans (84%) are opposed to sending the Army and Navy abroad to help our former allies. There are no important differences on these vital questions, and no major differences in the various sections of the country. It is important to note, however, that while the sentiment for sending foodstuffs and war materials to Britain and France has increased materially since Chancellor Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia and Memel last month, there has becn neo increasing disposition to send American troops abroad. The discovery and frank realization of what the average American's reactions might be in case of a war involving Britain and France against Germany and Italy may go a long way toward clarifying this country’s position.

= » 5 ASERICAN sympathy for Britain and France in case of war has been clearly indicated in previous Institute surveys. On March 13—just before Hitler announced that he had taken Czechoslovakia under his “protection” —the Institute reported 52 per cent of the voters in favor of sending war supplies to the English and French in the event of a showdown. But today's survey shows how that sentiment has increased following the seizure of Czechoslovakia (March 14). the annexation of Memel (March 21) and the presentation of Italian demands to France. Note how the willingness to halp England and France has actually been rising since the Munich Agreement last September:

Favoring Help to Britain and France

Before Last ToMunich Month day

Sell Food? .... 37% 76% 8297, Sell Arms? 35 66 Send Troops?.. 3 17 16

It is a significant fact that there is littie or no indecision on the way the average American answers these questions today. The Institute found that only one person in twenty, one the average, was undecided as to what the United States should do. It is also noteworthy that the Institute has found an average of only one person in a hundred favoring Germany and Italy in the event of war.

Agreement last September.

MONDAY, APRIL 10, 1939

Aid for Allies Gains Again

Those who oppose the idea of sending food and war materials to England and France do so, the comments of such persons show, because (1) they think the United States should remain neutral in every possible way (2) they believe that aiding the French and English would eventually draw us into the war, or (3) they resent the fact that these countries have ignored their World War debts to this country. = E = Te Institute's surveys show what a momentous change has taken place in American thinking in a relatively short period of time—a change comparable in some ways to the epoch-making decision of the British Government to guarantee assistance to Poland and other countries which may be in the way of German expansion.

It is just 22 years since our entrance into the World.

War, and for many years subsequently the predominant attitude of the American people has been against any sort of aid to European countries that might conceivably invoive the United States. Two years ago Congress voted to continue the Neutrality Act with its clear-cut prohibitions against sending war supplies or other contraband to either side in any new warfare. Today's survey shows that the majority of voters are new in favor of doing exactly what the present Neutrality Act forbids, a fact which is important in view of the current discussion of the act in Washington.

T= chief reasons for the change in American opinion are indicated in a careful study of the comments:

1—Americans have come to regard naziism and fascism as threats to the security of “the other democracies.” They fear that if Germany and Italy should succeed in defeating Britain and France, the axis would then be turned against the United States. 3—They are willing to sell goods to Britain and France because of the stimulus of war-trading to clogged business and employment channels in the United States. This reason is given by about one person in five who faver sending aid. The first two reasons are given by about three out of five. A typical expression is that of a Lynchburg, Va, auto salesman, who comments that “I don't see how the democracies could win without some help from us— and if they lost it would only be a matter of time until we'd be engaged in a war with the totalitarian governments ourselves.”

The survey reveals that there are no significant dif-

BOYCOTT?

Another Institute survey in The Indianapolis Times will report on rank and file sentiment for a boycott of German goods.

Entered as Second-Class Matter Indiananolis, Ind.

, at Postotfice,

The above chart shows the steady increase in American sentiment for sending food and war supplies to Britain and France in case of a war, as indicated in three nation-wide Institute surveys—the first just before the Munich All three surveys show strong opposition to sending American troops abroad.

ferences between Democrats and Republicans on the question of what America’s role should be. It is not a party issue at this time:

Favoring Help to Britain and France DEMO- REPUBLICRATS CANS Sell Food? ......... 85% 80%

Sell Arms? .......... 70 65 Send Troops? ....... 18 12

Of all sections of the country, the South shows the greatest inclination to send material assistance and the ‘highest vote (24 per cent) for sending troops. This is the best available picture of the way Chancellor Hitler's moves have affected the average American's think ing. What would have been the picture in 1914, Unfortunately that question can never be answered in the same objective way, but future Institute surveys will show the trend of opinion in this country, measures the impact of new European moves and keep the American public informed of its own aggregate verdicts.

WPA Computing Complex Mathematical Tables

By Science Service

EW YORK, April 10.—Mathematical tables highly useful in the theory of relativity calculations are now bpeing computed by the Works Progress Adminis tration for the City of New York. The highly intricate and tedious task is part of the general project on computing mathematical tables sponsored by Dr. Lyman J. Briggs, director of the National Bureau of Standards. In charge of the New York project is Dr. Arnold N. Lowan who, during his graduate studies, worked at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N. J, where Prof. Albert Einstein, father of relativity theory, is located. Among the projects completed is a table of exponential functions computed to approximately 15 decimal places, and a table of the first ten powers of the integers from 1 to 1000. If you think the latter is no task, try multiplying some number, like 725, by itself 10 times and see how long a job it is. The complex tables, worked out by a skilled staff on giant calculation machines, will have inestimable value for mathematicians and other scientists for years to come. Some of the tables have never before been worked out to

to such exactness.

TEST YOUR

Side Glances

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2938 BY NEA SERVE. NC. Y.M. REG. U. 8. PAT. OFF.

"I hate to go to the country this summer. The best fruit and vegetabies are shipped here and you just have to

take what's left.” &

KNOWLEDGE

1—What Strait is at the southern tip of South America? 2—Name the first letter of the Greek alphabet, 3—How often is a population census of the U. S. taken? 4—What is a magnetometer? 5—For which state is “Constitution” the nickname? 6—What is the correct pronunciation of the word ailopathic? 7—Name the capital of Greece. 8—For what Government agency do the initials FAA stand? = 2 =

Answers

1—Strait of Magellan. 2—Alpha. 3—Every 10 years. 4—Instrument used to measure strength of a magnetic field. 5—Connecticut. 6—Al-lo-path’-ik; not al-lop’-ath-ik, 7—Athens. 8—Federal Alcohol Administra tration.

ASK THE TIMES

Inclose a 3-cent stamp for reply when addressing any question of fact or information to The Indianapolis Times Washington Service Bureau, 1013 13th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. Legal and medical advice cannct be given nor can extended research be undertaken.

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Everyday Movies—By Wortman

PAGE

Our Town

By Anton Scherrer

Father of Cartoonist Schultze Lived Here All Right—At Twe Different Times — Search Proves.

NCE upon a time, I had occasion to mene tion Carl E. Schultze, the author of the comic strip “Foxy Grandpa,” who died ree cently in New York. His father, I said, used to live at 442 N. Pennsylvania St., and for

a long time gave piano lessons around here, Rightaway 1 got a pleasant letter from New York, from Julivs Joseph of the Whistle Co. of Pennsyle vania, saying that he and Carl were pals in Columbus, O., in 1919, and “at no time did he refer to Indianapolis as being his home nor knowing anyone living there.” The letter closed with the query: “With this information can you be mistaken?” Mr. Joseph's letter, I don’t mind saying, had me scared like everything. Enough, anyway, to do something about it, and so I set to work to iearn more about Carl Schultze’s father, the man I so casually introduced to my audience as once having lived in Indianapolis. Well, it now turns out that Charles Schultze, the cartoonists father, not only lived in Indianapolis at one time, but twice. Seems that he came to Indiana in 1854 when he was 15 years old and settled in Ft. Wayne, where he at once began to teach music. He brought with him from Germany a mahogany case upright piano, probably the first piano of that style in Indiana. He could play it, too. His father saw to that. When the young Schultze left Germany, his father was imperial royal chamber musician and a member of the Cassel Opera orchestra led by the violin virtuoso, Ludwig Spohr, billed at the time as “the Paganini of the North.”

30 Years in Lexington

Apparently Pt. Wayne, then a town of 10,000, didn’t suit Mr. Schultze for shortly after that he moved to Indianapolis. It didn’t suit him any better. Here he contracted chills and fevers which determined him to try his luck in Kentucky, to which State he migrated in 1855. He stayed there for nigh on to 40 years, 30 of which were spent in Lexington. It was there that his son, Carl E. Schultze, Mr. Joseph's pal, was born. In 1895, Father Schultze, now 56 years old, left Kentucky to seek a larger field of labor and returned to Indianapolis. He went right to work giving piano lessons. Five years later he opened a studio in the old Propylaeum Building on E. North St, and ran it for several years. At that time, he was one of the most striking figures in Indianapolis, a man with a long white patriarchal beard. It was so long that it covered all of his necktie. A dozen years later when he was somewhere around 70 years old, his beard was even more magnificent. That's when he was living at 442 N. Pennsylvania St. It was in that house, I remember, that he had a little piece of sculpture portraying two chile dren kneeling at a chair. It was called “The Nursery Prayer” and was the work of his son, Carl, representing a phase of his career which is almost forgotten now, The piece of sculpture must have been brought to him by Carl, or maybe it was sent. In either case, Carl E. Schultze knew somebody living in Indianapolis,

Jane Jordan—

Husband Unwise in References fo First Wife, Mother Is Advised.

D> JANE JORDAN—I am the mother of twe children. I am 35 and my husband is 64. I am very fond of my husband and children and we get along fine. I know that he cares for me. But should he speak of his first wife to me and how she did things and what they have done together? Should he keep her things for keepsakes? We have been married five years and I don’t think there would be many wives who would like their hus bands to speak of their first wives or to keep their things. Am I right or wrong? E. M.

Answer—I assume that your husband’s first wife is dead and that nothing unpleasant happened to spoil his recollection of the life he lived with her. In that case I do not see why a second marriage should completely annihilate all memory of the woman. or prevent a sentimental attachment to the things which he regards as keepsakes. However, I think he is unwise to speak of his feele ings to you, particularly if his references to her carry a hidden reproach to you. I wonder if what irks you is not so much the man’s loyalty to a relationship which is past, as your fear that he compares you une favorably with his first wife? In any event youll simply have to tell him that you want to hear no more about it. Then if he cone tinues to talk about the past you will know that he privately enjoys your discomfort. Your jealousy is flattering to him and he uses it as a weapon. Should this happen, you can deprive the trick of its power by showing no reaction to it whatever. Most people discard weapons which have become useless. ” ” o EAR JANE JORDAN—A group of girls were dis» cussing whether or not girls of 14 or 15 years of age should go with boys or not. If not, what age should a girl be? F. G. 8S.

Answer—It is generally recognized that the best

Mr. Scherrer

In and Out of the Red With Sam

"Bandage my right hand up good, Sophie: # couldn't sign a check for five cents today. It's the 10th. be plenty of collectors around.” ES

a

of the month and there'll

balanced girls are those who have played with boys | from babyhood, who have walked back and forth ta school with them from the primary grade up. Girls of 14 and 15 are not too young to have dates, though transportation problems require co-operation from parents. The parents whom I know whose chile dren are too young to be out at night alone, take turns in fetching them back and forth from movies and parties, and they encourage their children te gather at their homes for good times. Those parents who forbid their daughters to have dates before they are 18 or 20 are not acting in the best interests of the girls. These girls are the ones most apt to find difficulty in adjusting to men in later life. The only way to get along with men is to associate with them. The sooner the better. JANE JORDAN.

t vour problems in a letter to Jane Jorda ne your questions in this column daily. n. whe will

4

New Books Today

Public Library Presents— )

1= English family novel with its conventional cast of county gentry, upper middle class, their serve ants, and a few odd characters in a setting of pretty countryside and gossiping village NIGHTINGALE WOOD (Longmans) by Stella Gib= bons, whose “Cold Comfort Farm” is remembered with delight by readers who enjoy a gentle ribbing of the “type” novel. : No duller or more inhibited family than the Withe ers of The Eagles can be imagined. Mr. Withers, whose chief interest is his grasp upon the family purse strings, rules his timid wife, repressed daughters, and unhappy daughter-in-law in the best Victorian fash= jon. His gradual subjugation through an amazing chain of events makes light and humorous entertain

ty ball, to an outcome which

: party or

pro=

is satirized in’

ment. The characters and action of the book move