Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 25 December 1940 — Page 15

The

Hoosier Vagabond

LISBON, Portugal.—The week’s biggest social event

in Lisbon-—at least among a certain group of Ameri-.

- cans and consular people—is seeing the weekly boat . of ‘the American Export Lines off for New York. + Getting. permission to go aboard is quite a rigmarole. You ge to the line’s office downtown, show your passport, and ‘receive a pass- with evenything on it but your engine mug ber. Then you go to the Inter- * national Police and get this pass stamped. Then when you get to the scene, you buy a dock ticket. That is a European custom. It costs- 18 cents altogether. But it is worth the trouble. George Lait and I went down to see our beloved Exeter off. The place was a madhouse, You'd never have recognized it as the same placid and sparsely populated boat we came over on. In the lounge stood row after row of cots. Two-by-fours, with holes bored in them, had been laid over the rugs. The cot legs were set in these holes, to keep them from sliding if the weather got rough. Only men were sleeping in the lounge. : Down below, every cabin was jammed. Cabins -with three beds had four people in them, The ship was alive with children. Luggage was stacked everywhere. You could hardly force your way through the companionways. The stewards were about to go nuts. Everybody was wanting something. And nobody could understand anybody. Bernie Garland, my steward coming over, said he could recognize about every language in Europe, but he had a cabinful speaking something he’d never heard before.

Some Are Hard to Please

: On these home-bound trips you're lucky to be aboard at all. Which made the request of one haughty woman sound ridiculous. I overheard it myself, She was in one of the best cabins. But.she didn’t like it. She came to the steward and asked if she Were in first class. He told her there was only one class. So she said, “Well, you must have better cabins. Change my cabin right away, even if I pay more for it.” She wanted to change—and with 80 people sleeping in public on cots!

Inside Indianapolis (And “Our Town’)

{ YOU'D THINK THAT WITH THE draft, the marriage business in 1940 would reach a new high. But it didn’t. In fact, with just seven days to go, we're almost 1000 behind a year ago in Marion County. Last year there were 5492 licenses issued, this year there have been only 4514, The hygienic marriage law, requiring a physical examination before a license is issued, apparently is responsible. = Francis Feeney, license clerk, cites these figures to prove it: In the first two months ‘of 1940, the total was almost 500 ahead of the same 1939 period. In fact, February's total of 715 was an all-time high. But came March and the new law, and only 84 couples applied for licenses. While many cities reported terrific increases immediately preceding the draft, Mr. Feeney says his offige never was crowded during August and Septembef, Even Christmas didn’t stir up its usual romance. Last year, a single day record was reported with 78 couples getting permits on Dec. 23 to say “I do.” It was Just another day this year. Mr. Feeney appears to be a little disappointed— ‘everyone else’s business curve going up and his declining. :

Carols From a Crankshaft

SOMETHING NEW IN CHRISTMAS chimes: Employees in one of the Allison plants were startled yesterday. to hear carols ringing clear and bell-like through the halls, A little investigating traced the sound to the vibration testing room, where a 90- . pound crankshaft was suspended from the ceiling. One of the employees in that department was happily tapping the different bends in the crankshaft with two wooden mallets, each bend giving off a different, clear note. He said it took very little experimenting to determine the crankshaft’s scale. After that the carols were easy.

Washington

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.—And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head; And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews! And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees, worshipped him. ° And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify

im. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, the place of a skull. And they gave him to drink

wine mingled with myrrh; but:

he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

‘He Saved Others—' And it was the third hour and they crucified him.

My Day

#

THE WHITE HOUSE, Tuesday —Christmas Eve is for me one of the busiest days of the year, and for many other people it must be the same, whether they

are housewives preparing for their family Christmas celebration, or busy, executives preparing for celebrations on a wider scale. One thing I think we should all remember, no matter how busy we are. Christmas was meant to bring us a spirit of calm. The shepherds would never have heard the angels if they had not been sitting in calm and quiet, watching their flocks. So, sometimes on Christmas Eve, let us try to clear our spirit to be in a receptive mood for the Christmas message. It is a joyous message, one that should bring consolation and good cheer to the suffering people of the world. It is hard to say the usual “Merry Christmas” to people whose liberty is gone; whose lives are temporarily directed by ‘alien people; for under the circumstances merriment does not seem possible. The old time greeting, however, “Christ is born, rejoice, for He shall save the world” can still bring comfort :to sorely tried souls. ° When one suffers, whether personally or through ‘others, the tendency is to be bitter against those who cause the suffering. No one could have agonized more than Christ Himself. as He realized what Insta | be-

£

The smoking room was a bediam. Scores crhmuried into it for last-minute drinks with their friends. Poor Luke, the bartender, looked ne though he wished he'd never gone to sea. ‘We got to talking to a couple of Americans who were homeward bound. They had been in England for nine months installing motors in boats, and had flown down from London a week ago. Their names were Neilson and Staples. They were swell guys, and said you really didn’t pay much attention to the bombs in London. But

you could tell they were happy to be on a boat for

home. For days I've had an American : nickel—my last U. S. coin—that keeps getting mixed up with my Portuguese coins, and it's a nuisance. So I fished this out and handed it to Staples and said, “Here, take this thing. I won’t be needing it for a while.” So he laughed and took it. Later he came around and handed nie a coin and said, “Here, you take this. I'm through with it.” It was an English half-crown, which is worth more than half a dollar. Guess I've got that old horse trader’s touch. ‘ ?

The Info on Prices

Maybe you'd like to know something about prices in, Portugal. Cigarets and matches are a monopoly of the government, so the duty on imported tobaccos is high. But not so high:as some Latin countries I've been in,

Standard-brand American cigarets cost 32 cents a|.

pack at the popular bars and big hotels, but ‘only 24 cents at the tobacco shops (see, we're getting wise. already). And the bars soak you 12 cents for 10 ordinary books of paper matches. There is a tax of $2.80 a year on cigaret lighters. This is so the public will buy more taxable matches. An American friend, of mine was advised not to use his lighter in public, lest he get hauled in. You can get some very late American magazines here. We have bought two Saturday Evening: Posts, one for 24 cents and the other for 20. I don’t know why the difference. We paid 9 cents for the latest Colliers, and 32 cents for the January American magazine, At our new hotel (which is good, but not the fanciest in town by any means) we pay $3.40 a day each for room and meals. There is one catch to this.

They add 10 per cent for tips, and then when you

leave you tip anyway.

And So the Recount Ended

AROUND NOON LAST MONDAY, Paul Tegarden, who was contesting Walter C. Boetcher’s victory in the County Treasurer election, filed a petition for a new judge in his recount suit. And Judge Earl R. Cox set dates for contest hearings in five other suits brought by defeated, Democrats. Late that afternoon, reports were heard that the five Democrtas were going to dismiss their suits and that Mr. Tegarden also would drop his contest. Tuesday morning, bright and early, Mr. Tegarden and his attorneys were in Circuit Court with their dismissal petition all written up and ready to hand to Judge Cox. They waited around for about an hour until attorneys for the five Democrats showed up. Then, together, the attorneys for all six presented their petitions to the Judge. And that ended the recount, Mr. Tegarden had on file a petition to investigate absentee ballots. It was believed likely the petition would be granted, and it also was believed that Mr. Tegarden would Pick up several votes from “these ballots. ¢ But it’s all over How cand we don’t know hy.

All Around the Town

WILLIAM. A. HACKER, THE assistant schools superintendent, didn't wait to see if we would have a white Christmas, He headed for Florida as soon as the school vacation period started. . . . Indiana's National Guard officers were moaning today. They've been expecting their quarterly paychecks from the Government before Christmas. Up to late yesterday they hadn’t arrived. . , . Kate Mullican, Hugh Barnhart’s secretary over at the Alcoholic Beverages Commission offices, received 28 hoxes of chocolates for Christmas that we know of . . . . Talk of the town are William Rockwood’s unique Christmas cards— little books. . . . One of the latest of the late shoppers was Frank Finney, Motor Vehicles Bureau chief. He's been having auto license troubles, no doubt. . . Lieut. Col: Robinson Hitchcock, Selective Service chief, brought his six-year-old son, Tate, a natty uniform and thought everything would be all right. But the youngster wasn’t satisfied. He wanted an air rifle to go with it. P. S..He got it,

By Raymond Clapper

And the superscription of his accusation - was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS, And they that passed by railed on him, wagging

“their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroydest|

the temple, and buildest it in three days,

Save ihyself, and come down from the cross. ‘Likewise also the chief priests, mocking, said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

‘There Was Darkness’

Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see, and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him. And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud » voice, My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me? i 8. »

Where, where is the heavenly host that once sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will foward men?”

By Eleanor Roosevelt

by their stupidity and greed, and yet nowhere in His preachings is there any tinge of bitterness. I have ‘come to feel that, on this Christmas Day, perhaps that lesson of charity. “toward others is the most important lesson we can take unto ourselves, for-it keeps us from indulging in bitterness of spirit. I was re-reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s Christmas Sermon last night, and I think the reiteration that we must not be too hard upon ourselves in order that we may not be too hard on others, would be good for some of us to remember. One particular quotation in that simple, charming essay has always been a favorite of mine, and I pass it along to you on this Christmas Day as worthy of our consideration: “To be honest, to be kind—to earn a little and to spend a little less, to make the whole a family happier for his presence, to renounce when that shall be necessary and not be embittered, to keep a few friends but these without capitulation—eabove all, on the same grim condition, to keep friends with him-

self—here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude

and delicacy. He has an ambitious soul who would ask more; he has a hopeful spirit who should look in such an enterprise to be successful.” May your Christmas season be one of calm joy. Let us pray together that we remember our obligations to others during the coming year, that we keep from all bitterness, and have equal charity for those whom we consider in the wrong as for those we feel are fighting the battle of righteousness. May we be given spread kindness

By Ernie Pyle|

> *

Ini

azis

The traditional “Peace on Earth” Ieans little to Europe today. This missile, a German bomb, probably weighing more than 1000 pounds, !

to pose for this picture.

on his way to Vichy.

PLANE ORDERS PASS BILLION

Southern California Backlogs Alone Total $1,287,000,000, Survey Shows.

1.0S ANGELES, Dec. 25 (U. P.)— Backlogs of Southern California aircraft ‘factories, working on military planes; for Great Britain and the United States, total $1,287,352,586 today, a survey show The aviation ities of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce revealed that Los Angeles and San Diego factories now employ 71,236

of more than 10 million dollars. Backlogs in the Los Angeles area include: Douglas, $347,000,000; Lock-heed-Vega, $276,500,000; North|’ American, $225,000,000; Vultee, $79,500,000, and Northrop, $24,500,000. At San Diego, Consolidated reported $323,000,000 and. Ryan $10,800,000.

PLANT GUARDED

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y,, Dec. 25 (U. P.)—A small army of private

been mobilized here to prevent sabotage and subversive activities in Ba cheytieal: inqustiles

A

workers and have monthly payrolls

not making any promises.

guards and Federal operatives has|

vital

Over Worchester, England, a Nazi plane swooped low over the airdrome to photograph this brace of falling bombs. On the field is a fighter plane, which the Germans said did not have time to leave the ground in pursuit.

At Norfolk, Va.,, Admiral William D. Leahy, new American Ambassador to France, pauses under the guns of the U. S. S. Tuscaloosa With him are Mrs, Leahy and Capt. L. P. Johnson. This photo was taken as Admiral Leahy embarked for Lisbon,

(

Vv

has a special mission, for the “W. C.” earmarked on the side indicates it is intended for Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister. Nazi retri- ' bution raids on England, according to the German-censored caption.

4

And on the other side of the English Channel, a massive German gun draws a | bead on Great Britain. Eternally cocked in the direction of England, the huge rifle displays every inch of its length in this unusual Photograph, passed by the German censors before being sent to the United States.

a mid-day snack.

other. Egyptian coast towns.

Mr. Winshin and Minute Men’ ' All Set for That First Snow

By RICHARD LEWIS

When. winter comes, City Streets Commissioner Wilbur Winship will not be far behind. Mr. Winship is not only prepared but: with his newly organized “minutemen” (who are pretty fast on the snow shovel), is waiting for the first sign of snow. : Although the weatherman seems still undecided, Mr. Winship has made his plans, Comes the first snowflake and Mr. Winship, his “minutemen” and their snow shovels will swing into action. At City Hall, they call it the City Snow Detail. The idea behind Mr. Winship’s plans and blueprints is to move the snow.off the downtown streets so fast the citizens will never suspect it had snowed at all. Makes No Promises " In his subterranean office at City Hall yesterday, Mr. Winship. Asked what he would do when it snows, the. Commissioner .replied: ~“Same-thing as we did last year.” Then he whisked some papers out |:

lof sight; chuckling as he did: so.

“Same as last year,” he repeated. But the papers said ‘otherwise, - This year, the entire Streets and Engineering Department have been into ' a compact unit awaits $ORly the call

12-hour: shifts. have been arranged to work around-the clock:

At “the head of the organization

is Mr. Winship, who is constantly

in close communication with his lieutenants, Martin Hayes and Kin-|' nie’ Watts... Mr. Hayes handles -the night shift and Mr. Y Watts ‘the day shift, ; ‘As soon as he spots the first snowflake, Mr. Winship calls his lieutenants, they call their inspectors and the inspectors round up the men in the Paul Revere tradition. Mr. Watts estimated he can get his men together in less than an hour, While part of the crew with shovels and trucks clean off the . Mile . Square, another group spread salt and sand on skiddy intersections. . With - blueprints in hand, Mr. Winship scanned: the : sky - yester-

wag day for the-first signs of snow, He

blinked a bit-in the: bright, warm sunshine and put back the papers in his pocket. with an air of :disappointment. Some - streets officials were ; pre-

dicting on the basis of yesterday's):

sunshine and Mr. Winship’s elaborate plans that it might not snow this ‘winter at all.gloomy forecasts, Mr. Winship and he Heutenants turned :a- deaf: ear. wait,” they - sald. - “You'll

But, to ‘these |’

FLEET PLEDGED AHEAD OF TIME

Admiral Stark Says Navy Will Expedite 2-Ocean Program.

WASHINGTON, Dec, 2) (U.P) — Rear Admiral Harold R. Stark, chief of naval operations, assured the na-

everything possible to complete the two-océan fleet ahead of ‘schedule. Admiral Stark said in u radic address that last year the fleet was strong, but not strong- enough to meet the test of world events. For thet reason, he said, Congress passed bills providing for an 11 per cent and a 70 per cent.naval expan‘within a. month of each other. “You may rest assured,” he said,

“that' the Navy will spar: no effort to te this program, not mere-

expedi ‘\y $0 odmplete it on time, ik but ahead

tion last night that the Navy will do},

‘An Australian convoy on its way from Palestine pauses for En route to Egypt to strengthen British forces ' there, these “Aussies” probably played a part in the surprise British ! offensive that drove the invading Italians out of Sidi Barrani and

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TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE

1--What is the popular term used to describe the informal radio talks by President Roosevelt?

{2—Does radio affect the weather?

3—Which of the following countries "was not neutral during World War 1—Denmark, Panama or Spain? 4—How many government departe’ ments are re ted. in the President's Cabinet? 5—The city of ........ is called, oe, home of the bean and the 6—Can the United States Governe ment appropriate a patent withe out the inventor's consent? Answers 1—Fireside chats, 2—No. 3—Panama. 4—Ten. 5—Boston. 6—Yes,

SE a ASK THE TIMES Inclose a $-cent stamp when