Indianapolis Times, Indianapolis, Marion County, 17 April 1947 — Page 21
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IT ALL STARTED two years ago, not from scratch but scrap. With a scrap of taffeta to be exact. And today the more than 50 women in the L. 8, Ayres & Co. drapery workroom on the third floor of the annex, 10th st. and Capitol ave. are engaged in what could be. called big business except that the fruits of their lunch-hour labors go towards benevolent ends. Mrs. Mary Lawrence, a cutter in the workroom, for many years saw bits of material go to waste. One day. a piece of taffeta caught her fancy. 8he bought an apron pattern and during her lunch hour made an apron. Her handiwork received immediate response from the other ladies in the department, Why not do something with the odds and ends of materials? Well, why not? It was ok. with the store, n, enough aprons were made for every woman in the department. A party was planned and everyone was pleased with the product of their co-operative effort.
Hubby Takes Apron Home
WHY NOT MAKE aprons for the wives of the men employees in the department? Well, why not. It wasn't long before hubby took an apron home. The word was spread around and outside requests soon were coming in for the bright chintz, organdy, and taffeta aprons, “Let's sell the aprons we make and do something good with the money,” someone suggested. “Well, why not. : :
AND SO THEY SEWED—Mrs. Mabel Dobbins, one of the 50 drapery workers of L. S. Ayres & Co., who put their lunch hours to good use.
My Aching Feet
. I'm_not.an apron expert,
a i [2 0 | ss } :
Aprons at the rate of 25 a lunch hour were soon rolling off the production line. And they sold like So} cakes. In 1946 the ladies gave $100 to the Red ross, A. 4 Quantity orders began to come through from organizations. Aprons were being ordered for prizes, Christmas gifts, Mother day gifts and just because women wanted the aprons. ‘ The drapery department “kitty” grew and grew. Now was the time to do something. The something resulted in the complete furnishing of a day room at | Camp Atterbury with a cool $500 expenditure, | What else can we do the apron makers ask themselves, How about buying bed lamps for an entire ward” at Ft, Harrison. Good idea. Bed lamps for a whole ward it was, ! Many times the women went without lunch, Often when a big order was to be filled they came to work | early. Clothespin bags were added to the production | list and they, too, sold lige hot cakes. : | Finally it was decided to do ‘something real big." It's still a secret but this much can be told. At the present time lunch hour production of aprons is going | full blast, there is $1760 in the kitty and the something big {8 hospital equipment. Lunch hour for the drapery department employees | is from 12:30 p. jn. to 1:30 p, m: If you're standing at the lunchroom door about 10 minutes of 1, as I was yesterday, you'll hear, “Girls—Jlet's get some aprons made.” > Women file out, walk right past the Tecreation room and head for the drapery department, Mrs. Lawrence and Mrs. Donna Brown began cutting the scraps of drapery material, Other workers sorted material and carried it to the cutting table.
Looks Like Plain Sewing MISS HELEN HEEB was hemming, and Mrs. Mabel Dobbins was at another machine doing an op-, eration which she called assembling. It looked like plain sewing on a machine to me but it would since | i
Busy pinning the pieces of apron prior to sewing
were Miss Molly Miller and Mrs. Jessie Clark. Wield-
ing hand irons on the finished product were Miss Eileen Taylor, Miss Sarah Kiefer and Miss Emma, Phelps. | I was surprised how little talking there was] among the workers. There was work to be done and! they were doing it. Mrs. Clara Acheson, supervisor, had her hands full | co-ordinating the work among her staff. “It's been a lot of fun doing this,” Mrs. Acheson told me, “and recently we had a very nice compli-
ment froth a head of a drapery workroom in St,
Louis. This man bought an apron and said he would show his girls what we were doing here with the hope they would do the same. We all thought that was pretty nice.” Better than that, Mrs. Acheson.
By Frederick C. Othman
WASHINGTON, April 17.—There: are some ladies with unhappy expressions because their feet hurt from picketing the telephone company. The secretary of labor says that I, as a member of the public, should demand that they arbitrate their squabbles with the Loss. Ditte the phone company. Secretary Lewis Schwellenbach says I also should demand that the biggest ¢orporation now. in America get off its high horse. He's done his best, he says, and now it's up to the citizens to demand settlement of the strike. How does a member of the public, name of Othman, go about this? «Do I write to the American
Telephone & Telegraph Co., mentioning off-handediyy.
my fine new cote of carrier pigeons? And intimating that I soon won't need a telephone? Do I stride up to the weary beauties hoofing in the picket line and say, “Ladies, I demand that you cut out the monkey-business”? That's what I'm worrying about. I dropped by the labor department fo see if Mr. Schwellenbach had any ideas how I should present my demands without getting a poke in the nose. . His secretary sald he wasn't there. The poor guy was sleeping in after a couple of weeks of trying to get the phone company and its workers to turn their disputes over to an impartial board. So I talked to some of his helpers. ®
Caught Off Balance
“GENTLEMEN,” I said, “how does the public go abaut making demands like this?” This question seemed to catch them off balance, After considerable uhing, ahing, and throat-clearing,
I.
Movie Parties
EE —— a —
HOLLYWOOD, April 17.—8o0 you would like to go to a Hollywood party, You would like to rub shoulders with all the big movie stars, sip champagne and eat caviar. You would turn to Clark Gable and say: “Isn't this a delightful party?” And Mr. Gable would say: “Yes, it is. May I get you another drink?” But you had better be careful when you accept an invitation to a Hollywood party. Hollywood parties have a quaint habit of having ulteifor motives. There's always a reason, usually commercial, for icing up the champagne. A new picture, the introduction of a new actor or actress, or a new type of girdle is reason enough for a party. But the most annoying abuser of the Hollywood party racket is the host or hostess out to make an impression for monetary and social gain, It's an almost painless operation, and the guests usually don't even know what's happening. wo ;
Million-Less Host LIKE AN AFFAIR we heard about the other day. Word went around Hollywood for a week that a “millionaire” was throwing-an all-day party at his mansion in the Hollywood hills. ‘There would be swimming in the pool, champagne, buffet tables, and entertainment. ; The identity of the rich host wasn't revealed. All the inviting was done by a pair of reputable and well-known Hollywoodsmen. Quite a few “name” players said they would come. And they did. Bub instead of the sumptuous affair it promised to be, here's what Hollywood found: The “millionaire” was a former production aide in
| the experts said, Well, I could write the phone company and the union a letter. “Mentioning my pigeons?” I asked. The government fellows said they thought I was serious. I said I was serious. They said skip the pigeons.
Nobody Listening 1 SUGGESTED that maybe I could threaten nof to pay my phone bill. They said that wouldn't do, because the A.T.& T. probably would remove my telephone, unless all its phone removers also were on strike. + $5 The labor department gentlemen said just make :demands by letter, or by telegram ‘if I felt extravagant. They mentioned a phone call the secretary’s secretary had received from a veteran of the marine corps. He said he was going to phone the union and the company, too, as soon as he could get to a dial telephone. The secretary made his suggestion on the radio about the rest of us doing some demanding. His was a nation-wide broadcast; 12 hours later he had received six telegrams from people offering him their full support. This indicated either that nobody much was listening, or that only six people in America. cared about settlement of the strike. Maybe everybody's buying pigeons. Or perhaps the population is getting ready for the day when there's a lipstick-size broadcasting station in every vest pocket. I'd like to help out the secretary, myself, put those demands sound dangerous to me. Last time a lady striker socked me with her reticule, it left a nasty bump.
By Erskine Johnson
one of the studios currently trying to interest bankers in financing him to an independent movie. The “mansion” turned out to be a broken-down
pink stucco, rented for $150 for the day. There was no swimming pool. But there was a tennis court, on which the host had set up a 16-mm. movie camera | and sound equipment, and was photographing all of his important guests in affectionate poses with’ himself, | The buffet. was soggy ham sandwiches and soda pop. The atmosphere was gloomy except for the host who was rushing people in front of the camera. had to lasso them with a glib tongue, because guests arrived, took one distasteful look, and disappeared
quicker than ice cream at a four-year-old's birthday |
party.
Standard Practice SO NOW WHAT HAPPENS? J shown in the office of some banker or wealthy friend when the host makes a pitch for a loan to finance his movie. + © “See” the host will say proudly, “I had the Hollywood gang up to my house for a party. \They're all my pals.” ’ You think bankers are too shrewd has been done before in Hollywood, Are the two reputable and well-known Hollywoodsmen who did: the inviting blushing? Not a bit. It was all to their possible advantage, too. If the party's host gets the money to produce the movie, he will give them jobs. It's a Hollywood practice.
for this? It
trick that seems to be standard
We, the Women
’
By Ruth Millett
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“ KNOW he shouldn't be listening to all those gangster programs,” said the mother of an 8-year-old, “But after all, what can parents do?” They can-turn the radio off with a flick of the wrist. That's all there is to it. And they don’t need to give Junior his own radio, so he can go to his reon’ close the door, and listen to gangster talk and violent murder by the hour, As for the living room radio, they certdinly can exert a little contro] over that,
But the radio has parents licked. They think that the whole responsibility lies with those who write and produce radio shows, Parents think radio people should do something about it. “The radio keeps him quiet though,” parents admit almost as an afterthought. “Why, he sits for hours listening to his favorite radio programs.” ’
Ah! The Real Catch
THERE'S THE real catch. The radio < keeps Junior quiet and: out from underfoot. 80 parents let him have a radio and then complain because somebody doesn't do something about “those awful pro- : a dvesy evening, il 2 Jy} tr
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The film will be
SECOND SECTION
Camera Closeup—
Cossac
Li
ROYAL LOVE—Roselynn Smith and Walter Johnson wijl star as the romantic leads in "The Forest Prince" to be given at 8 p. m. tomorrow by the Philomathean soci-
ety of the Indiana School for the part of a kidnaped Russi outlawed Cossack chief.
the Blind. Miss Smith enacts an Princess. Her lover is an
Ser
SWEET VICTORY—Outlaw Cossacks sit around a forest campfire to hear Neal
a
THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1947 |
Lover Wins Prin iven By Blind S
is directed by. Miss Anna M matic critic,
Benner, Russian Czar, (center) read his surrender to Chief Johnson. (left) as Courtier. Donald Irvin holds a candle for light. Those in the cast are members of the Philomathean society which began back in 1901.
11th Dog Poisoned
* Another dog in the neighborhood
of 5800 N. Haverford ave., was near death today, the victim of poisoning. It was the 11th dog this month to have been poisoned in the neighborhood, seven of which have died. The animal, a six-year-old collie named Skippy, belongs to David and Phyllis Rich, children of Mr. and Mrs. Claude T. Rich, 5859 N. Haverford ave. Skippy has been penned up since the wave of poisoning begun, but is
Last night his owners released him’ at 8 o'clock and 45 minutes later he returned suffering from strychnine convulsions. Residents in the area have appealed to the police for assistance
{in finding the poisoner.
Danish King Barely Clings to Life
COPENHAGEN, April 17 (U. PJ). King Christian of Denmark was near death today from complications after a heart attack on Easter. A bulletin this morning signed by Dr. V. A, Fenger said the 76-year-old king spent a quiet night. His general condition was described as unchanged. His condition grew worse yesterday. T Danish cabinet ministers were remaining close to their homes and offices. Crown Prince Frederik is acting as regent for his father.
Man Killed in Traffic
EVANSVILLE, Ind, April 17 (U. P.).—Funeral services were planned today ‘for Oliver Buzzingham,
Evansville's seventh traffic victim the year. ~ :
4 ma HS SE
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let out each night for a short run. |
and dot her to rub you where you
si
| The Heart of America— Mattie Dear Writes About Neighbors; On Haverford Ave Her Copy Is Respected, ‘Run as Writ’
62-Year-Old Negro Woman Frequently Uses Her Own System of Phonetic Spelling
By ELDON ROARK
| + Scripps-Howard Staft Writer ALLIGATOR, Miss., April 17.—~Today I stopped here for a little in one of her columns: shop talk with one of my favorite columnists, Mattie Dear.
arie Jack, voice teacher, and
throne, would act should he
governmental reins in his weak hands.
oo” Mattie—"‘They always after me to say sump'n ‘bout ‘em and ‘their meetings,” she said. s » » MATTIE usually complies. She is pretty frank, though. For instance,
. | “He is just a common-looking
| Mattie is a fat, 62-year-old Negro woman who claps her hands and |little man (the preacher). To look
{laughs easily. Her column, of the
weekly page of “Colored News” in Col. Billy Snider's Clarksdale
| (Miss.) Press She's nq syndicated columnist, but people, white and col-
ored, read her. column with en- | thusiasm. Mattie is ungrammatical and frequently uses her own system of | phonetic spelling, but her copy is |respected and is “run as writ.” Her 'appeal lies in her frankness, her, originality of expression and her sound philosophy. She writes of | church meetings and _ funerals, crops and the, K weather, and the comings and ‘goings of her neighbors. » » »
WHEN 1 stopped by Mattie wasn’t at her cabin in the cotton en the Butler plantation. She had gone into Alligator to é&atch the train to Clarksdale. I found her at the station, all dressed up in black. Mattie was feeling good. Yes, sir, she had got relief for that misery in her neck and Shovidin.,
4 “I finally found me a girl who ain't never seen her daddy,” she said, “and I got her to rub me. That did me good.” : : ‘That was a new one on me, but Mattie said it works. “Jest ‘get: a girl who ain't never seen her. daddy
” » » SHE PASSED the information on in one of her columns. Mattie’'s writing habits are probably different from those of any other columnist,
“I have to write on Tuesday night and mail it Wednesday morning,” she explained. “So I goes to bed after supper and gets someé rest,
Then I gets up ‘bout 12 or 1 o'clock¢The church meetings
when ever'thing’s quiet. I sets down at my table, picks up my pencil, and I say: ‘Now, Lord, you know better'n I do what you want me to write. Jest put it in my mind,’ ” Mattie said most of the time things just pop into her head and she writes furiously. In no time her cbiumn is done, . » ® EVERY piece starts in prattically the same way: “Well, I thank the
‘Lord that I am yet alive.”
Mattie says she ain't afraid of no atom bum’ or any other kind of bum. As for what ‘a columnist should write about— “Well, I tell you,” she said. * likes for you to write about - ness, and somé likes a whole lot of
hurt.” Give you reliet.”,
foplishnes. It does ‘em 1 ‘mixes it up.”
“Tne Sayings of Mattie Dear,” is the feature ut him you wouldn't think he had
a thimbleful of sense, but let Mattie Dear tell you one thing. Looks don't get it. It is the brains that gets it.” Sometimes Mattie takes a flyer in the grand style: “The Silent Grove
news, and the Golden Star sung until our hearts caught on hallowed fire.” ”, 0» » SEVERAL YEARS ago Mattie went north, but she didn’t like it. up there aren't as spiritual, she réported. Farmers are always grumbling to Mattie about the weather, but she tells them not to tell her. Tell God. “Mattie Dear is well please at any~ thing the Lord do.” Here are a few bits of Mattie Dear philosophy: “Men hag always slept too much. . . . If I make one step towards the Lord. He will make two towards me. . . . I work hard for a living. I don’t rob no other woman's husband.” ; . = = f
e | Photos by Vietor Peterson, Times Sfaff : TALES OF BATTLE—Cossack John Ward tells two of in fighting the Czar's forces. Worshipping their hero are Patricia Hoffman (left) and Suzette Hoffman. These are the battles which bring a successful peace for the Cossacks, forcing the Czar to terms. The operetta, based on the music of Jschaikowski,
COURT BUFFOON—Jester John McCall ena his impression of how David Gentry, Russian heir to th
To Be May 1
special, sung until Heaven ‘got the.)
he ch
the fairer sex of his
Miss Margaret Singer, dra-.
become Czar and take
Planning
nounced. today that the India Ecovomic council will hold a ¢ munity planning institute’ at Tur key Run state park May 19 to The governor added that the cc cil will hold a series of district plan ning conferences over the state follows: Huntington, May 28; C lumbus, June 5; Vincennes, June Valparaiso, June 19; Indians