Art
Notes
Fine Arts Collection
In Centenary Show
At Smithsonian
By Florence S. Berrymon
The growth of the National Col
lection of Fine Arts during the past
century, is illustrated in a display
confined within a single alcove in
the special exhibition celebrating the
Smithsonian Institution's centen- j
ary. in the foyer of the Natural His
tory Building. But this little display
is a good paragraph summary of a
large volume, so to speak.
The National Collection of Fine
Arts actually began 100 years ago
as "a gallery of art” was includ-1
ed among the adjuncts of the in
stitution. Two workers, one paint
ing and one piece of sculpture, which
came with James Smithson's effects,
constituted the beginning of art col
lections which now number thou
sands of items, to the care and hous
ing of which three different bureaus
are devoted, and two handsome
buildings: The National Collection of
Fine Arts, the Freer Gallery and the
National Gallery of Art.
The first-mentioned of these three
bureaus is the oldest and most mis
cellaneous, and is also homeless.
Temporary quarters now devoted to
its exhibition in the Natural His
tory Building are much needed for
the scientific collections of that de
partment. Consequently, the impera
tive requirement of the National
Collection of Fine Arts is a home
of its own, for which a site has been
approved and plans prepared, butj
funds have not yet been made avail
able by Congress. This housing
shortage has actually slowed down
the growth of the collection by dis- j
couraging people who would give
works of art. if there were any as
surance of their display. As long ago
as 1924 Dr. William H. Holmes, the1
collection's first director, estimated!
that the Nation was losing annually j
masterpieces of art worth from
$500,000 to $1,000,000. which might:
have been donated but for lack of
a gallery.
From the outset small collections
of prints and other works of art
were purchased or otherwise ac
quired until the disastrous fire of
1865 destroyed the Stanley Indian:
painting on loan and exhibition, and
halted the development of the art
collections for about 40 years.
Johnston Bequest Important
Then, in 1906, a small but val
uable collection of paintings be
queathed by Mrs. Harriet Lane John
ston. niece of President Buchanan,
to a national gallery' of art when
one should be established, was
turned over by court decision to the
Smithsonian Institution. Its art
collections were known as the “Na
tional Gallery of Art” from that time
until 1937. when the name was
changed to National Collection of
Fine Arts in order that the older
title could be given to the collection
and building bestowed upon the
Nation by Andrew W. Mellon.
One of Mrs. Johnston's master
pieces is in the special exhibition:
“Miss Kirkpatrick.” by Romney (re
produced on this page last Sunday),
as well as a miniature by J. Henry
Brown of the donor herself, a beau
tiful and distinguished woman who
is depicted charmingly crowned with
a tiara-like arrangement of her own
hair.
Presumably influenced by the
Johnston bequest. Charles L. Freer
of Detroit in 1906 gave to the Smith
sonian Institution his superb col
lection of Oriental and American j
objects of art and paintings, and
funds for a building to house them
• which was opened to the public in
* I9£3'\ The Freer collection is to
remain always as a separate unit.
Within a year after Freer’s great
gift. William T. Evans gave (in 1907
and lateri 150 paintings by American
prtists. It would be difficult to men
tion a few outstanding works in so
notable a group, but in many opin
ions, one of the finest of Evans’,
gifts is Winslow Homer’s "High
Cliff, Coast of Maine” (now hang
ing in the National Gallery of Art).
In 1915, the French Republic gave
G2 original paintings and drawings
by French artists, one of which is'
Included in the special exhibition.
Henry' Ward Ranger in 1916 left
a bequest of $200,000, the income to
be used for the purchase of works
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ART
MATERIALS
Quality j
Since 1865
with!
710 13th Sf. N.W. NA 6386 \
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ftUILT TO^V^&CNOURf
Miniatures in the Bounetheau gift now on exhibition at the
Natural History Building. At top, upper left, Henry B. Boune
theau's aunt, by Edward Green Malbone, and upper right, self
portrait by Henry Bounetheau. Below, the artist’s son and
the artist's wife, both by Henry B. Bounetheau.
of art, which may be claimed under
certain conditions, by the National
Collection of Fine Arts. A portrait
Df Ranger by Alphonse Jongers
(said to have been an excellent like
ness) is shown, also Thomas Moran's
‘‘Cliffs of the Upper Colorado River,”
the first painting selected from the
Ranger fund in 1936 tlO years after
the artist's death).
Outstanding Gift
Ralph Cross Johnson's gift in 1919
of 24 old masters was (aside from
the Freer collection) the outstanding
donation up to that time. Especial
ly rich in portraits, it also includes
Madonnas and landscapes, and rep
resents the Italian, Dutch, Flemish
and British schools with works of
high standard, intrinsic value and
interest. It is well represented in
the Smithsonian centenary by Rae
burn's magnificent characterization
of a contemporary Scottish painter,
Archibald Skirving. along with a
portrait of Mr. Johnson by Ernest
Moore. According to Ruel Tolman,
director of the National Collection
of Fine Arts, Mr. Johnson consid
ered every one of his paintings of
equal merit.
From the collection of 1.200 cera
mics and other works of very great
value, given in 1919 bv the Rev.
Alfred Duane Pell of New York, a
little group of five choice items is
shown.
Twenty-two portraits of persons
prominent in World War I, painted
by outstanding American' artists
especially commissioned by various
groups, was given in 1921. In the
next few years, additions to a Na
tional Portrait Gallery were re
ceived: 21 original studies of World
I personalities from the artists John
C. Johansen < whose simple but vital
oil sketch of Paderewski is shown),
and from an older artist Otto Walter
Beck, his collection of 22 groups
done in pastel, containing 72 life
size portraits of Union and Confed
erate veterans of the War between
the States, one of which is on view.
The National Collection of Fine
Arts expanded again in 1929 when
John Gellatly gave 1,640 items, in
cluding 164 paintings and drawings
(chiefly American! and other ob
jects of art in many categories.
“Jonah,” by Albert Ryder, one of a
group of 15 paintings by this Amer
ican romanticist, was. in the donor's
opinion, the outstanding painting in
his collection.
The greatest cultural gift to our
Nation throughout its history was
Mr. Mellon’s donation of his priceless
collection of 111 old master paint
ings and 21 pieces of sculpture, and
a $15,000,000 building to house them.
Then followed in rapid succession
gifts of unique Importance from
Samuel H. Kress, the Wideners and
I^essing J. Rosenwald, not to men
tion many gifts comprising one or
more works of fine quality from
other donors. The National Gallery
of Art is a bureau of the Smith
sonian Institution, administered sep
arately.
Smaller Gifts
The National Collection of Fine
Arts, has been augmented during
the past half century by other gifts
besides those mentioned, ranging
from single works to groups such
as the A. R. and M. H. Eddy dona
tion of paintings, sculpture and
miniatures, and more than 700
prints by contemparary Americans
from the Chicago Society of Etchers
in 1935. Both of these collections are
represented in the special exhibition.
Another charming little group on
view is that of miniatures from the
Catherine Walden Myer Fund. With
the interest from this endowment of
less than $20,000, 54 miniatures have
been purchased since 1933. Most of
I
mmm
Miico.
them are the work of 18th and 19th
'century American miniaturists.
Among the few sculptures included
in the centenary exhibition, is a
bronze "Ecstasy” given by the Span
ish-Mexican sculptor, Francisco Al
bert, who was honored with a one
man show at the National Museum
in June. The life-size head of Ten
nyson by William Ordwav Partridge,
concluding the alcove showing, is
one of the finest works in the Na
tional Collection of Fine Arts, ac
cording to Mr. Tolman.
"There are many things, which in
their line, are outstanding,” he con
tinued, “the cameo glass (Pegasus)
vase by John Northwood, which took
six years to finish; jewelry, ancient
and modern glass, the priceless
emerald cup, the Byzantine neck
lace,” and many other items.
Indeed, the whole purpose of this
little display in the Smithsonian’s
centennial exhibition, is to direct
the visitor to the many collections
of which these few works are sam
ples. Although the National Collec
tion of Fine Arts is overshadowed
by the glamor of the National Gal
lery of Art. spaciously at home in its
own palace, the collection has many
superb things which will amply re
pay one to search for, among the
stuffed animals, fossil skeletons and
other miscellany in the Natural His
tory Building.
* * * *
Bounetheau Gift
Includes Originals
A collection of 22 miniatures
painted by Henry B. Bounetheau,
19th century American artist, was
given recently to the National Col
lection of Fine Arts by Mrs. Henry
Du Pre Bounetheau, and is now on
| view in a case in the entrance cor
ridor of the Natural History Build
ing.
i The collection includes original
miniature portraits by Bounetheau.
as well as copies "in little” by him,
of earlier artists’ paintings (severa,
portraits of Washington and Napo
leon, for instance); an exquisite
little portrait of the artist’s auni
by Malbone, and one of his mother
-in-law by an unknown French
artist.
Bounetheau’s work is fresh and
rich in color, which is applied in a
stippling technique. There is much
individuality in the little faces, as
well as the appeal of costume of a
century ago. In the artist’s self-por
trait reproduced, he is depicted In
an earth-red waistcoat. His wife’s
black dress is relieved by a lace col
lar, bright pink ribbon and pearl and
jet brooch, and their son, painted
at the age of 7, is a beautiful lad
with golden curls, wearing an olive
green velvet suit. The artist himself
was only 7 when Malbone did
the miniature of his aunt (also re
produced), a fragile blond in a
shell-pink gown.
Henry Brintnell Bounetheau was
born in Charleston, S. C., in 1797.
His father, Peter Bounetheau, was
an officer of Huguenot descent, who
fought in the American Revolution.
The son studied art early in his
life, but went into a business firm
at the age of 16, and except for a
brief period, he remained through
out his long life, a businessman
who devoted a part of each day to
painting miniatures. He was highly
respected for his reliability, compe
tence and personal integrity, and
at various times he was an officer
in the Bank of Charleston, a part
ner in a business firm and, finally,
chief accountant in another con
cern, with which he remained until
his death in 1877.
Despite his business career, he
was so industrious as to produce
considerable work, which was skill
fully done and extremely popular.
Although many of his miniatures
were destroyed in a disastrous fire
at Jacksonville, Fla., in 1901, in
which his son Henry Du Pre Boune
theau perished, numerous examples
remain.
* * * *
Washington Artists
Exhibit in Maine
. Several Washln&ton artists are
showing work in the Ogunquit Art
Center’s 26th annual exhibition,
which opened in July and closes
the end of this week- Eben F.
Comins’ portrait of Mrs. Harry
Grant Meem of this city, an excel
lent likeness; two lanscapes, one of
the Potomac, by Dr. Robert E. Mot
ley, and two by Edith Hoyt, one
done in Mexico, are among the
more than 200 oil paintings on
view. Miss Hoyt is also twice repre
sented in the water color and tem
pera group.
* * * *
Uruguayan Watteau
To Exhibit Here
An exhibition of paintings by
| Pedro Figari, eminent artist of
i Uruguay, who died in 1938, will
open at the Pan American Union
next Tuesday, under patronage of
Senor Don Mateo Marques Castro
and Senor Dr. Jose A. Mora. As
sembled by the Council for Inter
American Co-operation, It will re
main to September 22.
^^orld of Oamps
By James Waldo Fawcett
Isaac Gregg, director of the In-!
formation Division of the Post Of
fice Department, retired yesterday !
He had been preparing official news
releases, answering questions on
eVery phase of postal service, ad
vising philately writers and an army
of unspecializea correspondents, con
tributing to the durable annals of
the age since 1924. Before that date
he represented the New York World,
the New York Evening Mail and
other out-of-town papers. Still
young at TO, he now proposes to
turn wit reference “copy" for the
Encyclopaedia Britannica. His
friends in the stamp-collecting
hobby may reach him at 400 Com
monwealth avenue, Alexandria, Va.
Neat and clean machine cancel
lations are obtainable at the post
offices at Falls Church, Va.; Har
risonburg, Va.; Christiansburg, Va.;
Bainbridge, Md„ and Rock Hall, Md.
Also at Greenville, Ala.; Glen
dale, Calif,; Hermosa Beach, Calif.;
Mill Valley, Calif.; San Rafael,
Calif.; Oakville, Conn.; Kimberly,
Idaho; Brookfield, 111.; Danville,
Ind.; Camp Polk, La.; Rockport,
Mass.; Haverhill, Mass.; Newton
ville, Mass.; Hanson, Mass.; Cape
May Court House, N. J.; Egg Harbor
City, N. J.; Rockville Centre, N. Y.;
Worthington, Ohio, and Midland,
Pa.
Hand-cancellations, carefully ap
plied, likewise may be had at:
Francestown, N. H., and Zamora,
N. Mex.
Collectors desiring these markings
should send self-addressed standard
size 6*4 envelopes stuffed with thin
cardboard or folded paper. Address
postmaster in each instance and
inclose wrapped coins to pay post
! age on covers.
| Gael Sullivan, Second Assistant
; Postmaster General, is interested in
bicolored stamps and recently has
been in conference with Alvin W.
Hall, director of the Bureau of En
graving and Printing, on the oub*
ject.
The Seamen's Church Institute
will sponsor a commemorative cover \
for the maiden luxury voyage of the
giant Cunard White Star liner
Queen Elizabeth, Southampton to
New York, starting on October 6.
Orders at 50c each may be sent to
First Day Cover Agents, 25 South
street, New York 4, N. Y., for de
livery not later than September 3.
A cachet for the resumption of
service at Chemung County Airport,
Elmira. N. Y., is being sponsored by
American Airlines, September 5.
Send covers immediately to Post
master John O'Connell, ready to go,
stamped and sealed.
George A. Scott, writing for the
Associated Press, lists the following
I "governments” for the peace and
victory stamps of the British Em
pire, announced several weeks ago:
Aden, Antigua, Ascension Islands,
Barbados. Bermuda, British Guiana,
British Honduras, British Solomon
! Islands, Cayman Islands, Ceylon,
■ Cyprus, Dominica, Falkland Is
lands Dependencies. Fiji, Gibraltar,
Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Gold
Coast. Granada, Jamaica, Kenya,
Uganda and Tanganyika: Leeward
Islands, Malayan Union, Malta,
Mauritius. Montserrat, Nigeria,
Northern Rhodesia. Nyasaland, Pit
cairn Islands, St. Helena, St. Kitts,
jSt. Lucia, St. Vincent, Seychelles,
•Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somaliland,
| Turks and Caicos Islands, Trinidad
and Tobago; British Virgin Islands.
; To celebrate the beginning of Brit
; ish retirement from "the land of the
Nile,” four stamps have bpen re
leased by the government of Egypt.
The design shows the green and
white Egyptian flag over the citadel
at Cairo, occupied by British forces
for 64 years. Denominations are 10,
30, 50 and 100 milliemes.
Australia announces a set of three
’ stamps for the 100th anniversary of
the exploration of Central Queens
' land by Sir Thomas Mitchell. Values
J probably will be 2Up, 3>ip and lsh.
■ German stamps of the Nazi era
have been banned from sale or ex
I change inside the Reich. The mili
tary authorities of the four occupy
1 ing powers—the United States,
Great Britain, Russia and Fiance—
>j have proclaimed severe penalties
• j for violation of the prohibitory or
>, der. All stocks of the Nazi stamps
1i discovered in post offices and other
• government buildings are being de
> stroyed. This, naturally, will have
‘ the effect of raising the market
.prices on German postal issues out
side Germany.
•1 Charles Kohen of the Hobby Shop
leaves this morning for the Veterans
of Foreign Wars convention at Bos
ton. He will be accompanied by his
wife, will travel by plane and be
away until Monday, September 9.
—
Stamp enthusiasts are warned
against a new criminal racket which
recently has become common In the
large cities of the United States. It
involves the systematic theft of let
STAMPS AND COINSl
COINS. American and foreiin gold~Hlver
antiques, cameras, blahest prices paid
! Hepner 402 tilth st. n.w. PI. 2668,
STAMPS—COINS—AUTOGRAPHS.
Geld and Silver Bought and Sold.
HOBBY SHOP.
i 7IS 17th St. N.W._DL J272
Tiff T ril'C stamps a coins
UUIaIa^iII O bought a sold
40S Tanth St. N.W._ME. SSI7.
DAILY STAMP AUCTIONS
FLOOR SALES SATURDAYS—2 P.M.
WEEKS STAMP SHOP
! 1220 N. Y. Ave. N.W. NA. 8288.
ALBUMS
For Collectors. Stomps. Sets. Tongs, De
tectors. Hinges. Stock Books, etc.
Horry B. Moson, 918 F N.W.
Uyeno's Stomp Shop
| l»0g P.nn, Ave. N.W.__Tel. ME. M14
SILVER STAMP SHOP
8403 Georgia Ave . Silver Spring, Md.
SL. 7072.
_DAILY AUCTION
; VATICAN CITY—Ten different eyefllllnc
pictorials, entire set Ac, with approvals.
VIKING. 130-K. Clinton Street. Brooklyn.
N Y.__ _
VATICAN CITY—Cardinals Set epL—14
Large Pictorials, lOr. with approvals.
ROSENBAUM COMPANY, Bth and Liberty.
PltUburgh.Pn.
WASHINGTON STAMP CO.
- 937 Pa. Ava. N.W. EX. 3091
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i,
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ters from mail boxes in apartment
house lobbies and includes the de- {
struction or multlation of thousands
of covers which are taken only to
be discarded when they are found to
be empty of Government checks or
other remittances which feloneously
may be negotiated. Readers who
happen to see mail thieves operat
ing are requested to communicate
at once with the postal inspectors’
office at the Post Office Depart
ment, District 5360.
Benjamin Goodfellow. a British
stamp collector and writer of great
distinction, died on June 12. His
albums of New Zealand and Nor
way won high honors for him, but
he will be remembered for the grace
and charm of his kindly personality
rather than for the philatelic prop
| erty which he owned.
Dr. E. Albert Aisenstadt, ace phi
latelist of Pitcher, Okla., and
Kansas City, Mo., has been on a
cruise in the Caribbean area with
his daughter.
The Bureau of Engraving and
Printing had some difficulty with
the corn stalks on the Iowa stamp.
No less an authority than Secre
tary of Commerce Henry A. Wallace
is reported to have been consulted
in an effort to make sure that they
should be above criticism.
Collectors already are asking what
variety of plane it is that is pic
tured on the new airmail stamp,
scheduled for release on September
25. It is a four-motored transport,
but nothing thus far has been said
about where the original photograph
used by the designer was obtained.
Paul S. Hedrick, stamp editor of
I the Tulsa World, accompanied by
his wife and their daughter, Mrs.
Jack F. L. Casburn of Fort Worth,
as well as by Mrs. Hedricks sister,
Mrs. Jacob Miller, was in Washing
ton last week en route to New York.
* _
Entry blanks for the fourth Silver
Spring Hobby Show are ready and
may be obtained by communicating
with R. G. Clinte, chairman of the
philatelic department of the exhibi
tion.
The Collectors’ Club of Washing
ton will meet at 1012 Ninth street
I N.W. Tuesday evening at 8.
Legion Auxiliary
Executive Body
Names Unit Heads
Mrs. Lillian M. Judd, president of
the District of Columbia Depart
ment, the American Legion Aux
iliary, held her first Executive Com
mittee meeting on Monday night
when the following appointments
were ratified:
Secretary, Miss Mabel F. Staub:
assistant secretary, Mrs. Bertha
Fichthorn; treasurer, Mrs. Sarah
Deery; auditing chairman. Mrs.
i Ethel Wilt, with Mrs. Thelma Healv
and Mrs. Eula Hollis: budget and
finance, chairman, Mrs. Catherine
Crompton with the three depart
ment vice presidents, national
executive committeewoman, secre
tary and treasurer; Americanism,
chairman, Mrs. Dillian Howard with
Mrs. Frances McNichols and Mrs.
Edythe O'Connor; child welfare,
chairman, Mrs. Margaret Carroll
with Mrs. Henriette Epps and Mrs.
Helen McCabe; parliamentarian,
Mrs. Roberta Fawcett; national de
fense, chairman, Mrs. Della Luther
with Mrs. Vida Yoder and Mrs.
Ossie Ritter; building fund, Mrs.
Pearl Heagerty, three years and
chairman this year, Mrs. Margaret
Carrol], two years and Mrs. Flor
ence Dietsche, one year; rehabilita
tion, Miss Claudia Hall, chairman
with Mrs. Helen Spriggs and Mrs.
Addle Hardy.
Publicity and radio, chairman,
Mrs. Alberta Lacy with Miss Mabel
Staub; national news, chairman.
Mrs. Ada Riley; education of war
i orphans, chairman. Mrs. Edith Sad
ler with Mrs. Mary' Corwin and Miss
Mabel Staub; juniors, chairman,
Mrs. Edna Wright with Mrs. Helen
Z. Stokes; girls’ nation, chairman,
Mrs. Dorothy B. Harper; legislation
t chairman, Mrs. Olea French with
Miss Mackie Welch; Pan-American
study, chairman, Mrs. Elizabeth
Fries with Mrs. Sarah Small; me
morials, chairman, Miss Mary Elea
nor McCabe with Miss Courtney
Newton; membership, chairman
Mrs. Pearl Heagerty with Mrs. Mar
I garet Carroll; poppies, chairman
Mrs. Mary Spence with Mrs. Mary
Killeen and Mrs. Helen Wynne;
awards. Mrs. Rella deRosselli;
music, Mrs. Laura Lipscomb; enter
tainment. Mrs. Dorothy Mawhood:
cheerio, Mrs. Estelle Haldenstein;
I gift shop, chairman. Mrs. Eva Car*
' rico with Mrs. Marie Totten; com
munity service, general chairman
Mrs. Frances Cassedy with the fol
lowing chairmen on the various
committees, all coming under com
munity service: Red Cross, Mrs
Amelie Sellinger; Post War, Mrs
Evelyn Starnes; Braille, Mrs. Cath
i erine Davis; Seals, Mrs. Chloe Tray
i lor; Receiving Home, Mrs. Loretta
Norton.
Constitution and bylaws, chair
! man, Mrs. Sylvia MacLaughlin, with
all past department presidents;
! distinguished guests, Mrs. Pearl
'Heagerty and Mrs. Catherine Pen
nington; presidents and secretaries'
conference, Miss Mabel F. Staub
with Mrs. Sarah Deery and Mrs.
Bertha Fichthorn; office manage
ment, Mrs. Margaret Carroll; as
j sistant color bearers, Mrs. Edith
; McKeller and Miss Thelma Lohman;
1 assistant sergeant at arms, Mrs.
Juanita Milans.
The following units will hold in
stallations: September 3, Killeen
Unit, at their clubhouse; September
4. Nash Unit, 1322 Vermont avenue
N.W.; September 7, Transit Unit,
Legion Club; September 9, Jasper
Unit, at the Legion Club; Septem
ber 18, McCullough Unit. Legion
Club; September 20, Europe Unit,
Garnett-Patterson School; Septem
ber 24, Maritime Unit, Legion Club;
October 1, Costello Unit, Legion
Club; October 19, Du Pont Unit,
Minnesota avenue and M streets S.E.
There will be a group installation
of units September 13, time and
place to be given later, of G. A. O.,
Police and Fire, Potomac, 2d Di
vision, McAlexander, Woodridge,
Lincoln. Kenna-Main, Victory,
Spengler, Walker, G. P. O. and
Bunker Hill.
Officers will be installed by the
department president September 7
for the Capitol Transit Unit: Pres
ident, Mrs. Irene Taylor; vice presi
dents, Mrs. Florence Lewis, Miss
Catherine Bush and Mrs. D. An
drews; chaplain, Mrs. Jane Baker;
historian, Mrs. Elsie Howes; ser
geant at arms, Mrs. Aylce Paint:
color bearers, Mrs. Anita Buccucci
and Mary Buccucci: secretary, Mrs.
Edna Griffin; treasurer, Mrs. Mae
Reed.
«
£ v \
Hfje 3uniof ftfaf
Gordon Junior High Girl
Writes About Puerto Rico
Prize Contribution
2y Marilyn Jones, 12
Gordon Junior High School
What I am to write about i - an
island called Puerto Rico. I lived
there for six and one-half years and
enjoyed it very much. As you can
see by the name, it is Spanish
Everybody talks Spanish and a small
bit of English. The Spanish lan
guage is very much like French.
The island is situated in the trop
ical waters, southeast of Florida. It
is about 1,400 miles from New York.
The island in size is from east to
west about 100 miles and north to
south about 35 miles.
The capital of Puerto Rico is San
Juan, the second most important
commercial center in the West In
dies. _
The most important Industry is
sugar. In Puerto Rico they grow
tobacco, cotton, pineapples, coffee,
grapefruit, oranges, coconut and
many beautiful flowers.
Puerto Rico means rich port.
MARILYN JONES.
—Junior St»r Photo.
Deal Boy Describes Vacation
Train Trip Across Continent
Prize Contribution
By Paul Sheafs, 14
Alice Deal Junior High School
I arrived in Chicago on my way to
California after a short night on
the train. I could see the skyscrap
ers towering above Union Station as
j we pulled in. I couldn’t locate the
: taxi service at first. Then I saw
the sign. The limousine carried me
, to my new station—Northwestern. I
| checked my bag and then started
I exploring Chicago.
Crossing the much-bridged Chi
' cago River. I hurried to the shorp of
Lake Michigan. It was very hot be
tween the tall buildings, but here
the breeze was cool. The water
j front on Lake Michigan is beautiful,
i I went over to the Adler Planetari
um, but, unfortunately, it was closed.
I walked down to the immense
; Field Museum and spent several
! hours looking at the exhibits. I am
j particularly Interested in natural
j history.
My train did not leave for the
West Coast until 7:30 p.m., but I
went to the station early and waited.
When the yellow streamliner came
into the station I took a picture of
it. I went into my car with bated
breath, until I saw my seat was
near the window, which was a re
lief. Music was playing softly, and
there were many comfortable seats,
i The train was very smooth. As we
left Chicago, I realized I was on the
longest trip of my life.
Night—next morning—the great
plains—flat as far as the eye could
see. We soon started to climb. We
reached the Platte River and high
bluffs on each side of its valley soon
began to appear. We climbed into
hilly country, passing through Colo
rado for a few miles. With the
Wyoming line, mountains started to
appear. We stopped 10 minutes in
Cheyenne, and I took a picture and
ran around in the high mountain
air for some exercise.
The snowcapped Front Range,
with 14.255-foot Longs Peak promi
nent, appeared 60 miles to the south.
The rolling brown land, with wooden
snowbreakers, -was in the fore
ground, and the Laramie Range
came up in the west.
I saw a plover or a sandpiper high
in the mountains. I could see Elk
Mountain in the distance. An air
plane crash occurred here a few
years ago. This is desolate land,
covered with sagebrush. Then we
struck the Green River, with fan
tastically carved buttes and domes
occurring around.
We passed many of the curious
yucca or Joshua trees, which prob
ably have the slowest growth of any
tree in America. One tree was re
ported to grow only '4 inch in girth
in 68 years.
The train crossed the 3,820-foot
Cajon Pass and descended into the
orange groves and flowers of South
ern California. A few moments
more brought me to Los Angeles
the end of a several thousand mile
trip across the greatest country in
the world—America.
Snoopy the Squirrel
Learns a Lesson
Prize Contribution
By Marguerite L. Fake, 10
Ann* Been School
This is a story .of a little squirrel j
named Snoopy who lived in the hoi-1
low of Big Oak and who came by
his name honestly. He was a very
bad and very,
very nosey, and
because of this,
was always get
ting into trouble.
One day.
Snoopy’s mother
brought home a
big red box of
firecrackers. She
thotight she had
i them hidden
until the Fourth,
of July, but
Snoopy saw her
put the box into
the cupboard
and waited for a
Manutrite.
i chance to investigate.
After the rest of the family was
1 asleep. Snoopy got out of bed and
1 lit a candle. He went to the cup
1 board and lifted the cover off the
' box. In trying to see what was in
• ■ the box, he leaned over too far, and
’1 the candle fell out of its holder right
smack into the middle of the fire
crackers.
Then things started to happen
with a bang—and what a big bang
it was! They zipped and zoomed
all over the room and clear out of
the house and over into the house
of their next-tree neighbor. Mrs.
Fattail. The poor lady had her tail
badly singed and threatened to sue
Snoopy’s parents for 10 bags of nuts.
She finally settled for a big basket
of acorns, and Snoopy was made
to gather them.
When Snoopy had the basket full
i to the brim, he took it to Mrs.
Fattail. who told him to put it
under her table. Our nosey little
squirrel friend noticed a round box
on the table and, of course, wanted
to investigate. He sniffed and
sniffed very close until something
snapped and caught the end of his
nose and wouldn't let go. Snoopy
had sniffed too near to a mouse
trap. He ran home, trap and all,
and after his mother had removed
it from his nose tor was it his nose j
from the trap?). Snoopy made a
promise to keep his nose out of other i
folks’ affairs.
Win a Cash Prize
Writing, Drawing
For Junior Star
II you are not more than 18, or
have not yet finished high school,
you are eligible to write or draw for
The Junior Star. As many as five
cash prizes of $1 are awarded for
the best contributions published
each week, and writers of stories
which, in the opinion of the editor,
are of sufficient merit are issued
cards identifying them as Junior
Star reporters. Here are the rules:
1. All contributions must be orlxinal.
2. Stories, articles, poems, etc., must be
written on one side of paper: If type
written they must be double spaced ;
Drawings must be In black ink or crayon
on white paper and must be mailed flat,
not rolled or folded.
Name. age. address, telephone nttm
mer and school of the contributor must be
lu the upper left-hand corner of written
: contributions and on the back of drawings.
4. The editor's choice of winners is,
final and he reserves the right to publish
any contiioutlon in whatever form he
thinks best, regardless of whether It is
awarded a prise. He may also withhold
prizes awarded for contributions found not
to be original.
Checks for contributions awarded
prizes today will be mailed this
week. Address your contributions to:
Junior Star Editor, 727 Star Build
jing. 1101 Pennsylvania avenue N.W..
1 Washington 4, D. C. I
Blair Sub Deb Club
Aids War Orphans
Prize Contribution
By Kathleen Faulconer, 17
Montgomery Hair High School
When six Montgomery Blair High
School sophomores decided last sum
mer to form a Sub Deb club, their
purpose was to hold social gather
ings. Now, with the organization
only a year old, the girls report
that, besides having loads of fun,
they have adopted two orphans
through the Foster Parents’ Plan
for War Children.
It was in January that the club,
which now boasts 12 members,
adopted its first youngster. She
was 11-year-old Corrie Leleveld, a
native of Netherlands. The group
managed to send $15 monthly to
the colony which cared for the
child in England. Now Corrie has
rejoined her family in Italy, but
the Sub Debs still receive occa
sional letters from them.
The second war orphan. Carmela
Mazzella. an 11-year-old Italian girl
was adopted by the Sub Debs in
June. She is one of a family of
six children which endured the re
peated bombings of Naples. Her
father was killed by the Germans
because he opposed their occupa
tion. Now the Sub Deb Club is
providing for her at a foster parent
colony.
The six charter members of the
club are Elizabeth O'Connor, presi
dent; Enid Bean, vice president;
Elizabeth Smith, recording secre
tary; Katherine Bliss, correspond
ing secretary: Miriam Knight, treas
urer. and Shirley Hall. Other mem
bers are Mary Lakeman, Barbara
i Mitchell, Dolly Burr, Jackie Lusbv
Nancy White and Charlotte Cruzan
All are students of Montgomery
Blair except Charlotte, who attends
Calvin Coolidge, and Nancy, who
nas moved out of town.
The Sub DetJs meet every two
weeks at the home of a member.
Just Between
Ourselves...
By Philip H. Love_
Harry L. Casterlln, who found
many outlets for his talent in draw
ing and painting as a student of
Woodrow Wilson High School, has
been awarded a partial scholarship
to American University by the
Washington Chapter of the National
Society of Arts and Letters.
During his three years at Wilson
Harry illustrated the handbook and
yearbook and drew cartooha for the
newspaper. In his senior year
(he graduated last June) he also
designed the scenery for the spring;
play. r«
While working In the Chevy Chase
branch of the Public Library Harry
drew posters advertising various
children s books. Recently, he has
been making advertising display
signs for business establishments in
the vicinity of his home, 3345
Stephenson place N.W.
At A. U. this fall Harry wiil begin
training for what he hopes will be
a successful career in both commer
cial illustration and fine art.
* * * *
Overheard in a crowded bus:
“He got married in England while
he was in the air forces. Married
a British WAAF about 6 feet tall."
“Hm-m-m ... A gee-WAAF! ’
* * * #
This letter came to The Junior
Star recently from Naples, Italy:
“I beg your pardon if I permit
myself to write this letter without
to know you. I read your address
by chance, and since, in Naples, thefe
is nobody who can Help me, I write
to you, hoping that you take to
‘heart my misfortune.
“I am 20 years old and am prom-'
\ ised to a fine young man, but now
j it is not possible to marry because,
i two years ago, during the last war,
my parents died and my home was
destroyed with all my trousseau.
Now I am alone at home without an
occupation. Therefore. I pray you
to send me whatever things that
your family or friends is not more
necessary. In this way, you will
certainly do a good action for a poor
girl who will ask you this favor only
once. I shall pray always for your
health, happiness and good luck.
“I kiss your hands, and I thank
you very, very much, hoping In the
magnanimity of a free, fine and
compassionate American heart.
"America forever!”
The letter was signed “Orlando
Rita, Vico 1 Avvocata A Foria No.
72. Napoli. Italia.” A postscript gave
her height as 5 feet 5 inches and
her weight as 128 pounds.
* * * *
Junior jottings: Jim i^emon, 18
year-old editor-publisher of the New
Moon, Congress Heights neighbor
hood newspaper, has launched an
other publication. It’s the Lemon
Drop, a little four-page monthly is
sued for the American Amateur Press
Association. He’ll tell about his
AAPA work in an early issue of the
J. S. . . . Shirley Turner, long-time
J. S. correspondent at Roosevelt High
School, has been working as a re
porter for the Atlantic City Press.
She'll return to the University of
Maryland this fall, though. ... In
New Rochelle, N. Y„ no girl or boy
who has not received a Red Cross
' swimming and life-saving certificate
I can graduate from the public high
j schools.
1 rip to Gettysburg
■ Interests Student
Prize Contribution
By Mory Ann Robillard, 13
St. Anthony's High School
About 69 miles from Washington
, Gettysburg, Pa., the little town
, where one of the most decisive
, battles of the Civil War was fought.
The museum there should be visited
first if the sightseer is to appreciate
fully the many monuments on the
vast battlefield. Among the collec
t tions exhibited are a Confederate
soldier's cap, the flag used by the
i Union during the three-day battie.
t together with many pairs of spurs
. and hundreds of bullet shells.
One of the main attractions la an
; electric map made by George Roaen
. steel. It contains small bulbs which
; may be lit one by one in order to
; show the different manuevers of the
battle. a
» One of the most beautiful of the
. monuments was erected by the State 5
; of Pennsylvania. It has statues all *
. around, including ones of Lincoln, *
- Meade, Hancock and Sickles. »'
TTiere are many small monuments 1
,i which, though simple in design, are”
i equally as interesting as the larger
ones.
A great bronze book and two can- °
' nons mark the place where the
i famous Pickett's charge ended. In*'
> this battle as many men were loat in
50 minutes as the Americans lost in
1 five days in the invasion of Nor- •'
mandy. ■*.
Uncle Ray’s Corner
*“-By Ramon Coffman ' ■■■,1'
Lassoing Full-Grown Puma Proves Hard Task
Among the large animals of the
cat family is one of our own conti
nent with several names. Per
haps the best names are "puma”
and "cougar.” but it also is called
"panther,” "painter.” and even
“mountain lion.” although it is not
correct to class it as a lion.
The puma is a fierce and power
ful beast with sharp claws, and with
teeth fitted for tearing flesh. Often,
it grows to a length of 5 feet, not
counting the tail.
Up to about 1825 pumas were to
be found in almost every province
of Canada and in most American
States. Nowadays, they are seldom
seen running wild except in certain
parts of the Rocky Mountain area.
Carry Cubs in Mouth.
Many zoos contain pumas, and
sometimes we may observe such an
(interesting sight as a mother puma
carrying a cub around in her mouth.
Like a lion or a tiger, she knows how
:to hold a cub firmly enough so it
doesn't fall out, but not so tightly
as to hurt it.
Most pumas in zoos were captured
as cubs out in the wilds, or else were
born in captivity. Now and then,
however a full-grown puma is taken
alive, either in a trap or in some
other way. ,
Buffalo Jones, a cowboy, and Zane
Grey, a widely knowm writer, took
lassos with them when they went
out to capture a full-grown puma.
They also had the help of several
’ hounds.
On Branch of Tree.
Before long a large female puma
was seen on the branch of a pine
tree. The dogs howled as they
jumped about the trunk, and Jones
| majjp ready to throw his lasso. Be
fore he could do so, the animal
made a leap to the ground 30 feetr'
I below.
Then she bounded up “like a°
yellow rubber ball,” and ran with'
the hounds yelping after her. The
chase led down a ravine and became
so close that the puma ran up ’
another pine tree a few hundred1"
yards distant.
Out on a large limb went the
puma, but this time it did not dar^
to jump—for the limb hung ovef3
the deep ravine. Jones climbed the "’
tree to a point on the trunk above "
the limb, then threw his lasso. Time
and again, he threw, but missed. *
Then he circled her neck, and pul-'
led the rope quickly.
The puma leaped, and Jones usecf ”
all his might to hold the rope. '
beast swung in midair, and Jones'
began to climb down. Before toe''
reached the ground, he tumbled dtuJR*
let go of the rope. * stn
Slipped Down Ravine.
The next scene was a mass
fighting animals—the dogs against^
the big cat. In the excitemqpU,.*
Grey slipped and fell down the aide,
of the ravine. When he crawled,,,
back the fight was still going on*.,
but Jones had the end of the rqpf
again- ,nm;;
The puma made a flying le*p at .0
the cowboy, but missed him. ^ ,
moment later, he manged to tie.phe
end of the lasso around a sapling. .
Seizing a stout stick, Grpy drb'vp •,
the badly bitten , and
scratched dogs away from the j
Another lasso was thrown
her, and this was fastened to a”l)
ferent tree. Then the ai; I
legs were tied so she coti
; taken out of the forest.
a r