Evening star. [volume], August 24, 1947, Page B-7, Image 36

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
■ Tljc ^untof' l
*_ _ .
, Just Between
Ourselves • • •
_By Philip K. Love_
Ten-year-old Loraine Blueford
<pictured at right) is an experienced
and successful grower and exhibitor
of dahlias.
Loraine grew her first dahlias in
1945, when she was only 8. And
they were good enough to win the
sweepstakes prize of $8 in War
Stamps in the novice section of the
National Capital Dahlia Society's
- regional show.
Last year, she entered her flow
ers in a more advanced section of
the show, one open to growers of up
to 250 plants. Some of the best
known aault members of the dahlia
society. were among her com
petitors. but she tied with three of
them for third place in the sweep
stakes and wound up with 22 blue
ribbons.
Now Loraine is getting her plants
ready for this year’s show, to be
held Saturday and Sunday, Sep
tember 27-28, at the Botanic Gar
dens. And she’s aiming at npthing
less than The Evening Star Trophy,
to be awarded in the large-flower
ing section.
Folks in the neighborhood of
Loraine's home, 4628 Chestnut
street, Bethesda, who have been
watching her blooms get bigger and
bigger, think the grownups with
whom she's competing had better
watch out.
* * * *
John D. Rockefeller, jr., is, in a
W’av, responsible for the newest ad
dition to The Star's comic pages,
daily and Sunday.
When Frank Robbins was 15 he
w orked as an errand boy in Radio
XT*.—* xr-T-_ Vi. _ ± :_
'"'Vi *»• *»» iuo opai c Lillie
he dashed off pencil sketches of
anybody in sight. One^of the draw
ings somehow was brought to the
attention of Mr. Rockefeller, who
decided that a boy with so much
talent should be given a helping
hand. He gave Frank a studio in
which to practice and an allowance
to help him get an art education.
Evidently Mr. Rockefeller knew
an artist when he saw one, for
Frank soon won a scholarship at
the National Academy of Design,
and thre* years later, at 18, was
awarded a prize for figure composi
tion in oil painting. His first comic,
"Scorchy Smith,” appeared in The
Star several years ago, and he also
has drawn for Life, Look, the Satur
day Evening Post and other publi
cations.
Now 27, Mr. Robbins devotes six
days a week to his new comic.
■Johnny Hazard.” For relaxation
he collects phonograph records and
weapons. He sometimes plays the
recordings for friends, but he has
learned by experience that one can’t
be too careful with weapons, espe
cially such noisy ones as firearms.
Once, 'while showing a Civil War
pistol to some visitors to his bache
lor apartment, he inadvertantly
pulled the trigger. The police came
with guns ready for action and the
artist and his friends were hustled
off to headquarters for questioning
in connection with a bank robbery.
* * * *
From 12 Gamblins road, St. Mar
tins S.E. 2, Christchurch, New Zea
land, Leith Bowater asks help in
finding a pen-friend. She’s 14 and
lists her ’’interests” as "swimming.
icuiiia, jcauuig, inuvic* tuiu miu
ting.”
Three Boys Rescue
Hiker Trapped in
Sequoia Crevice
Prize Contribution
By Gloria Miller, 14
Holly Modison Junior High School, Arlington
Tn the summer of 1941, I was trav
e'ing in the West with my parents.
My father being a geographer, we
were primarily interested in the
natural wonders; therefore, we had
no itinerary, no reservations, only
the knowledge that beautiful scen
ery lay ahead.
The wonders Included everything
from the Bad Lands in North and
South Dakota to the Grand Canyon
in Arizona. We saw Mount Rainier,
Wash., studied the serene faces
of the five famous men carved
high in the granite of Mount Rush
more, chased bears and watched Old
Faithful spout In Yellowstone Na
tional Park, visited 10 other national
parks, and sat in Great Salt Lake.
One ve"” hot afternoon in August,
we ventu 1 to climb to the top of
Moro Rcc . in Sequoia Park, Calif.
Following a very narrow and treach
erous path, we were met by three
boys running and yelling.
From the high peak of Moro Rock,
these boys, we learned later, had
seen a movement in the deep canyon
below and were willing to investi
gate, even In the face of danger.
Arriving at the bottom of the
gorge, they found a boy who had
gone hiking alone early in the
morning and accidentally slipped
into a crevice that wedged his body
so tightly that he could only wave
his arm in hopes of attracting at
tention. The boys who passed us
rescued him.
Uranus Discovered
By Music Teacher
By Ramon Coffman
One hundred and eighty year.'
ago. there lived in England a young
music teacher by the name oi
William Herschel. He was of Ger
man birth, but had entered England
as a youth and had settled there
Interested in the stars, Herschel
had too little money to buy a tele
scope. so he built one 5 feet long
modeling it after telescopes which
Isaac Newton had designed.
Herschel studied first one part'd
the sky, then another, making rec
ords of the stars he saw’. One night
he beheld an object which nevei
had been noticed before. It was the
planet we know as Uranus.
Hearing about the discovery. King
George III made Herschel his "pri
vate astronomer,” with a regulai
salary. He also was made a knight
and came to be knowm as Sii
William Herschel. His sister, Caro
line, gave him great help in mak
ing charts of the sky.
In later years, Herschel wfas abli
to work with larger telescopes, oat
of them having a length of 40 feiet
He found two moons near Saturr
which had not been seen before
and he made a long list of "doubli
stars.-'
Herschel married a wealthy widow
and -their only son, John, becami
almost as famous as his father
He studied hundreds of "doubli
stars" which had not, been seen be
fore. and also discovered severs
"star clusters."
Loraine Blue ford with some of her dahlias. (See “Just
\ Between Ourselves.”)
—Star Staff Photo.
Workings of Government
Studied by Boys'. Forum
Prize Contribution
By Raymond W. Bellamy, Jr., 15
Bladensburg High School
In the Junior Star of July 27, I reported on the first Boys’ State
session held in Maryland. I mentioned that William Poorbaugh of Balti
more and I, elected Governor of Maryland and President of the State
Senate, respectively, had been chosen to represent Maryland at the
National Boys' Forum at American University. We were among 103 high
school students who came here from all parts of the country to study
t/Ul l'lauv/iiai viurmuiivui. * »*v
program was sponsored by the
American Legion.
A Chinese-American youth, Ed
mond Gong of Florida, was elected
President of the United States—or,
| more accurately, president of the
National Boys’ Forum. The suc
cessful vice presidential candidate
was James Pittman of Mississippi.
Reception and Dinner.
Following our registration at the
university, we had a reception and
buffet dinner at the home of its
president. Dr. Paul Douglass, and
were addressed by Paul H. Griffith,
national commander of the Ameri
can Legion, and R. Worth Sumaker,
director of the Boys’ Forum.
The forum got under way the
next morning, Saturday, when we:
inspected the legislative chambers1
of the Capitol. While there, we
heard a talk on the function of
Congress by William T. Roy, as
sistant House parliamentarian, and
an explanation of the United Na
tions by Francis H. Russell, di
rector of the State Department Of
fice of Public Relations.
After luncheon, four of the dele
gates, Roy Greenaway of Cali
fornia. Kept Frizzell of Kansas,
Jim Murphy of New York, and Ray
1 Nation of Tennessee, broadcast over
a national hookup on a “Youth Asks
the Government'’ program. ' Their
questions were answered by Repre
sentative Kefauver of Tennessee.
The broadcast was followed b^ a
talk on the functioning of political
parties by Victor Harding, executive
secretary of the Democratic Na
j tional Congressional Committee,
iand "Individual Participation in
! Party Politics” was discussed by
Clarence A. veters, nauonai aireciw
of the Republican Open Forum.
Here and There.
Sunday morning we attended the
! churches of our own choice and vis
jited Arlington National Cemetery,
where Bob Black of California and
Bob Henderson of Georgia placed a
\ wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown
'soldier. We also visited the home
| of our greatest .statesman, George
Washington, at Mount Vernon.
Elections were scheduled for late
j Monday afternoon, but before elec
! tioneering got hot and heavy we
] toured several of the Government
departments. We first visited the
| Treasury, where Secretary Snyder
j explained Federal finances—in a
! general way, of course.
From there we went to the Penta
gon Building to meet high-ranking
[Army officers. After lunch in the
I cafeteria there, we called on Secre
tary of Commerce Harriman, Attor
jney General Clark and officials of
| the Post Office Department. «
One of the high lights of the meet
j ing was a dinner at the National
Press Club, where we were addressed
by Reiman Morin, chief of the As
sociated Press bureau here: G. B.
| Parker, editor in chief of the Scripps
“jHoward Newspaper Alliance: Earl
| Godwin. ABC commentator and
J Richard Harkness, NBC commenta
tor. Then the boys asked the news
! men their viewpoints on various
questions, and Tris Coffin of the
;CBS news department picked the
Win a Cash Prize
Writing, Drawing
For Junior Star
If you are not more than 18 or
| have not yet finished high school,
j 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 original.
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 black
craycm on white paper and must be
mailed flat, not rolled or folded.
3. Name. age. address, telephone num
ber and school of the contributor must be
in 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
■ contribution in whatever form he thinks
best, regardless of whether it is awarded
a prize 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
Building. HOI Pennsylvania avenue
0* W., Washington 4, D. C.
three best questions, awarding a
prize to the boy whose question he
considered tops. Monroe Wingate
of New Mexico won.
Addressed by President.
Tuesday was a big day. Herbert
Little, director of information of the
Department of Labor, arranged, a
program of lectures about various
labor agencies, and then came the
biggest event of all: President Tru
man received us on the White House
terrace and told us he is perfectly
willing to turn the country over to us
when our time comes.
Oscar L. Chapman. Undersecre
tary of the Interior, after addressing
us on the activities of his depart
ment, introduced us to the Governor
of Puerto Rico.
We had lunch in the Interior De
partment cafeteria, then heard ad
dresses at the Navy Department by
Undersecretary Sullivan, Fleet Ad
miral Chester Nimitz and Gen.
Vandegrift. Later, we were ad
dressed by Secretary of State Mar
shall.
Like all good politicians, we had
to have relaxation, so we took off
Tuesday night to be guests of Clark
Griffith at the Washington vs. Bos
ton baseball game.
Wednesday, our last big day began
with a mock Senate session con
ducted by Edward McGinnis, ser
geant at arms of the Senate, with
the assistance of the deputy ser
geant at arms, William Reed, and his
aide, Raymond Bellamy <my father).
Mr. McGinnis opened the meeting
with an invocation by one of the boy
delegates and introduced Senate
Parliamentarian Charles L. Watkins,
four Senate pages and several short
hand reporters. Mr. McGinnis then
introduced Senator Brewster of
Maine, who recalled his start • in
politics. Incidentally, Senator Brew
ster reserved 110 seats for us at the
Howard Hughes hearing.
Mock Supreme Court Session.
Back at our Senate session, we
took oath of office as Senators and
elected our president pro tempore,
Kendall King of New York, and va
rious other officers. After talks by
real officers of the Senate, four
resolutions were introduced and re
ferred to the proper committees, and
then we recessed. After lunch in
the Senate dining room, arranged
by Paul Johnson, veteran of 40 years’
service there, we went to the Su
preme Court, where George Wash
ington, assistant solicitor general,
spoke to us on the tribunal's activ
ities and supervised a mock session
with a case of election fraud being
argued before nine mock justices.
All the boys but four went by bus
to Annapolis later in the afternoon
as guests of the Naval Academy's
new plebe class. They toured the
Academy, took mess in Bancroft Hall
and saw the film, “Fighting Lady.’
The four who stayed in Washing
ton participated in a radio forum
with Representative Mike Monrone\
of Oklahoma. These four were Ower
C. Holleran of Washington, “Chug'
White of Virginia. James Hembree
of Oklahoma and myself. The sub
ject was universal military train
ing.
On Thursday, we toured the FBI
and heard a talk by Special Investi
gator Lee Pennington, jr. We re
turned to American University anc
attended “graduation exercises’’ ol
our forum. Each boy received ar
appointment to office in the govern
ment. I became Ambassador tc
Panama. After receiving our diplo
mas, we departed sadly for oui
homes, some 3,000 miles away, som«
sight blocks.
Guide to New Books
For Young Readers
Giants in Music, by Louise Schawe
(Keyboard; $2.50)—Parts of the live!
of such famous composers as Bee
thoven, Brahams, Chopin, Schubert
Tchaikovsky and Grieg.
Country Boy. by Margaret Warms
Buck (Abingdon-Cokesbury: $1.50)—
The story of a city boy with a coun
try heart, who spends the summei
on his uncle's farm.
Three Little Chipmunks, by Mar
jorie Torrey (Grosset & Dunlap
$1)—The story of a family of little
chipmunks that live in a big tree
in a pine forest, and the adventure!
of the three little ones—Chuffy
Chirpy and Cheeky.
Yeu Can Draw Anything, by Wil
liam F. Mullin (Winston'—A hook
to aid a child with his drawing.
Civic Problems, Civic Bodies
Grant Reorganization Plan Amplified;
Some of the Novel Features of the Plan
By Jess* C. Suter
More About Gen. Grant’s Reorganization Plan
Considerable interest has been shown in the plan for reorganization
of the government of the District of Columbia submitted in outline by
Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant III and discussed in this column on Sunday,
August 3. In response to some of the pertinent questions which have been
asked regarding more of the details of the plan, a rather full amplification
is here offered.
In the first place. Gen. Grant recognizes as fundamental that
anything approaching even a semblance of home rule for the District of
Columbia must provide:
1. Voting representation for these voteless and unrepresented
Americans in the Congress which is their sole national and local
legislature.
2. The right to vote for the President who, by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate, appoints the various administrative and
judicial officers of the seat of Government.
The form of local government recommended in the plan is discussed
under five headings: The Executive, Legislative Functions, Boards and
Commissions, Employment and the Judiciary.
THE EXECUTIVE.
a. A Governor, appointed for a term of four years by the President
with the advice and consent of the Senate, with the same qualifications
now required for civilian commissioners. In him would be vested all the
authority and responsibilities now vested in the Board of Commissioners
avPAnt o e AfVtArwnca inHinof oH
Ordinances, regulations and other legislative acts of the Council and
other agencies of the District government would l^e subject to his approval
or veto. Failure to act on them within 30 days would make them effective.
The Governor would transmit to Congress the District budget with his
approval and such comments as might be appropriate.
b. The Commissioner of Public Works, appointed as the Engineer
Commissioner is today, with the same qualifications and entitled to the
same number of military assistants as at present. He would have
supervision and responsibility for all the construction work of the District
and perform other related duties as specified.
c. The Commissioner of Education and Public Welfare, who would
be elected for a term of six years by the qualified voters of the District.
The qualifications of this officer would be the same as now required for
civilian Commissioners. This commissioner would be responsible for the
efficient and economical management of all health and welfare activities
of the District, including the reform and training institutions but
excluding the jail and penitentiary, and would be ex officio a member of
! all existing boards or other governing bodies of such institutions.
This commissioner would also be ex officio a member of the Board
of Education amd would submit to the Governor through the controller,
annually or when otherwise required, estimates of the financial require
ments of the school system. Health and Welfare Departments with such
recommendations as might be appropriate.
d. The departments having to do with public safety, Including
punitive institutions and the Department of Vehicles and Traffic, would
operate directly under the supervision of the Governor, who would be
directly responsible for their efficiency and effectiveness.
e. The District National Guard would be under the Governor in a'
relationship analogous to that of the States to their Governors.
f. There would be a controller appointed by the Governor with the
advice and consent of the Council, who would be responsible to the
Governor and Council for the assessment, and collection of taxes, for
I the disbursement and accounting of municipal funds, and for the honest,
j legal and efficient transaction of all fiscal operations of the District
' government. He would prepare the District budget under the general
supervision of the Governor and submit it each year to the Council not
later than October 31. With such modifications as were decided upon by
the Council, the budget would be prepared for forwarding to Congress
| by the Governor not later than January 15.
A novel feature included in this portion of the plan Is the following:
' “This budget shall include such Federal contribution as Congress may
j have authorized and such changes in the tax structure as are approved
by the Council. If Congress does not return this budget, or indicate what
I changes it wishes made therein, within 90 days, the budget shall become
law in lieu of the now usual District of Columbia appropriation act, and
expenditures in accordance therewith shall be legal.”
Definite equitable provisions are made covering financial require
: ments of agencies having partly Federal and partly municipal functions.
LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS.
All legislative functions now exercised by the Board of Commissioners
would be vested in a Council of eleven members. The Governor, the
Commissioner of Public Works, the Commissioner of Education and
Public Welfare, the Superintendent of National Capital Parks and the
chairman of the Board of Education would be ex officio members of
the Council. The six other members would be elected at large by the
qualified voters of the District. As the Commissioner of Education and
Public Welfare would be an elected official, the Council would comprise
seven elected members and four appointed members. The Council would
elect its own chairman, vice chairman and such other officers and
committees as might be necessary.
Members of the Council would receive no salary for their services as
such, but would be paid a per diem at the rata of $40 a day reimbursement
for the time spent at sessions of the Council or when otherwise engaged
exclusively on official business as authorized by the Council. They would
also be reimbursed for actual travel expenses, Including a per diem
allowance for board and lodging, in accordance with Federal travel
regulations, wnen actually periorming travel on omciai Dusiness oroerca
1 by the Council. In adaition to the legislative authority now exercised by
I the Board of Commissioners, Congress would be expected to delegate
I to the Council the legislative authority usually exercised by municipalities
in regard to strictly District of Columbia matters for the maintenance of
public order, welfare and safety.
As indicated above, the Council would adopt the budget for the •
District after hearings of the officials and public concerned, for submis-1
sion to Congress, together with such changes or adjustments in the tax
structure as might be necessary to meet the proposed expenditures.
The Council would have authority, on appeal, to overrule or modify
action of the Zoning Commission, the Public Utilities Commission and
other agencies having quasi-legislative functions.
BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
a. The Zoning Commission w’ould consist of the Commissioner of
Public Works. Commissioner of Education and Public Welfare, director
of the National Park Service (or a representative thereof designated by
him), the resident member of the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, the architect of the Capitol and two non-official members
appointed by the Governor from those nominated by the Council from
its own membership or from the citizens at large. Members of the Zoning
Commission would receive no salary as such, but the two members at
large would be reimbursed at the rate of $20 a day for time actually spent
at meetings or otherwise on commission business.
b. The Public Utilities Commission would consist of five members:
The Commissioner of Public Works (br such of his assistants as he might
designate), the United States district engineer and three non-official
members appointed by the Governor from those nominated by the Council
as in the case of the Zoning Commission.
c. The Board of Education would be constituted as at present, except
that vacancies would be filled when they occurred by the Governor from
nominations made by the Council.
d. The National Capital Parks would remain as at present, under the
jurisdiction of the National Park Service. Appropriations for the develop
ment and maintenance and policing of parks and parkway units within
the District of Columbia, primarily serving the residents of the District
and not an essential part,of the central area or of the sites and settings
of Federal buildings, would be included in the District budget and subject
to approval of the Council as prescribed in another section.
e. The National Capital Housing Authority would retain all its
present authority and responsibilities, but would consist of six members:
The resident member of the National Capital Park and Planning
Commission (or assistant designated by him), the Commissioner of Public
Works, a member of the Beard of Education selected by the board, a
member of the Board of Public Welfare selected by the board and two
unofficial members nominated by the Council and appointed by the
Governor. .
i. otner commissions. Doaras ana agencies penumimg
functions solely would remain as at present; except that, if their
responsibilities are concerned with public safety and order, they would
operate under direct supervision of the Governor; if concerned with
matters under supervision of the Commissioner of Public Wprks or the
Commissioner of Education and Public Welfare, the appropriate commis
sioner (or an assistant designated by him) would be an ex officio member
of the commission, board or agency.
EMPLOYMENT.
The Governor and each of the two Commissioners would be
I responsible for the efficiency of his own part of the government, and
; have authority to employ and discharge personnel as prescribed by the
3 Council with the Governor’s approval. Ordinances prescribing rules and
regulations regarding the hours of work, employment and discharge of
personnel, as well as their numbers, salaries and professional qualifica
tions, would be required to be submitted to the Congress and, if not
otherwise ordered by the latter within 60 days, would be considered to
have legislative approval. The municipal personnel would thus be entirely
separate from the Federal establishment, except insofar as the
municipal authorities considered it advisable to adopt Federal rules and
regulations and to utilize, on a reimbursable basis, the assistance of the
Civil Service Commission or other Federal agencies.
The District agencies would have authority, with the approval of
the Governor or appropriate Commissioner, to arrange by mutual agree
ment for work to be done on a reimbursable basis by any Federal agency
equipped to render the service and vice versa.
THE JUDICIARY.
As to the judiciary, the plan proposes no change.
In the opinion of Gen. Grant, the legislation to make the plan
effective would be a fairly simple amendment of the present basic act of
1878 and of a few subsequent acts which set up special agencies like the
Zoning Commission. , t ^
It is explained that the plan is not a sudden inspiration, but the
result of experience over a number of years and an effort to interpret the
basic shortcomings of the present District government. It is also the most
practical way to eliminate these and to give the people of the District
of Columbia a part in their own local government, without sacrificing the
amount of Federal control necessary to prevent the National Capital from
becoming just another city with the Federal Government occupying a
considerable amount of space therein. _
D. C. Scientists Invited
To Chicago Seminar
Six District scientists, together
with 15 prominent metallurgists,
have been invited to attend a two
day" seminar on ‘"Fundamental Re
lations in the Fracturing of Metals.”
to be held October 18 and 19 ip Chi
cago at the annual meeting of the
American Society for Metals.
They are Dr. D. F. Windenburg,
of the David Taylor Model Basin;
Dr. Finn Jonassen, National Re
search Council; I. G. Slater. British
Admiral delegation; Dr. P. Symonds
and Dr. George Irwin. Naval Re
search Laboratory, and E. S. Mac.h
lin. National Advisory Committee
for Aeronautics. ,
News of Aft and Artists
An eastside view of Francis Scott Key's home as it appeared in 1814 at the time of the writ
ing of “The Star' Spangled Banner.'’ This conception is an original oil by Col. Louis C. Pedlar
of the Veterans’ Administration. The location is now known as M and Thirty-fifth street, but at
that time was called “Bridge street and Tobacco road." From wharves at the foot of Thirty
fifth street, fine tobacco was shipped to all parts of the world. Col. Pedlar's westside view is
panoramic in sweep, shows shijfs and road to dock. In the last three years he has done about
100 canvases, most of them of the Georgetown scene. —Rothwell-Taylor Photo.
- ? __ __r:-:
By Florence S. Berryman
The third effort in 40 years to
preserve as a historical monument,
the house long occupied by Francis
Scott Key, appears destined for suc
cess. Most Washingtonians are
doubtless acquainted with the build
ing at 3516-18 M street, just to the
right of the north end of Key Bridge,
which was the residence and law
office of Key at the time he wit
nessed the bombardment of Fort
McHenry (September 14, 1814) and
wrote “The Star Spangled Banner.”
More than a year ago, the Co
lumbia Historical Society formed a
committee of Government officials
and prominent Washington resi
dents in its membership to save
what remains of the Key house
from being demolished to make way
for the loop planned to connect
the K street elevated highway with
the bridge.
Senators Taft, of Ohio, and Tyd
ings, of Maryland introduced last
February a resolution to authorize
$65,000 for the reconstruction of
the house, removing it to another
site east of the Key Bridge, where
it will provide an attractive ap
proach to the city from Virginia.
Just last month, representatives of
the Columbia Historical Society
appeared before a Senate Public
Lands Subcommittee with regard to
the new placement of the Key house.
They won their fight for the site
east of the bridge rather than a
block or more to the west, as pro
posed by the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission. The
resolution has passed the Senate
ana is expectea to pass me Mouse ai
the next session.
A comprehensive history of the
Key mansion is the subject of a
brochure published early this year
by F. Regis Noel, past president of
the society, which hopes to use the
restored house as its official head
quarters.
Painter of Key House
Reconstructions of its early ap
pearance have engaged for several
years the attention and enthusiasm .
of Col. Louis C. Pedlar, now chief
of the Graphics Division. Veterans' ,
Administration. He has been a j
newspaper illustrator and a com- (
mercial artist; but now paints in his .
spare time, as a hobby. He lives at ]
1209 Thirty-fifth street, the pic- ■
turesque little block that rises ;
steeply above M street, and can see •
the Key house site by looking out of (
his south windows.
Col. Pedlar, bom in San Francisco ,
in 1884, began his study of art at the ,
California Fine Arts School, later at- ,
tended the Art Students League of <
New York and subsequently the j
Corcoran School of Art. Coming to i
Washington in 1906, he became an i
illustrator first on the Times, later <
on the Post and worked mostly for (
the Sunday editions. i
After World War I, he established ]
a commercial art service in New 1
York City, specialized in advertising |
illustrations. This developed into ;
the advertising agency of Pedlar and
Ryan. Eventually he was able to ]
retire, with the expectation of de- i
voting all of his time to painting. \
However, in 1942, being a reserve i
officer, he was recalled into service, j
remaining until last year, when he <
was retired as a lieutenant colonel i
in the A. G. O. While in the Army i
he had found time off-duty to take <
up his painting for recreation. In i
the past three years or so, he has i
completed about 100 canvases. One i
of the larger and his works, depicting
the row of old houses in which he
lives, and entitled "Our Neighbors
on Rocky Hill Road.” was exhibited
at the Corcoran Gallery of Art last .
December in its first annual exhi
bition by arusis oi hssiuuswhi .
vicinity. '•
“Practically all of my work has ,
been within walking distance of my ,
home,” said Col. Pedlar. “I suspect
that an artist could reach Methu- :
selah’s age and never grow tired ;
painting the Georgetown kaleido- (
scope. That's one reason I found .
the relics of the old Francis Scott j
Key house so fascinating. I became ;
so involved in putting the missing •
links together that I must have .
made myself a nuisance at the Pea- ,
body Library as well as a dozen i
other places, including the court- ,
house at Frederick, Md., the Library
of Congress and the National Park ;
Service.
“From it all I acquired a reason
ably intimate knowledge of the Key ‘
family, their lives and activities in j
the old residence that first welcomed .
Francis Scott Key and his bride j
more than 140 years ago.”
For his imaginative reconstruc- j
tions of the Key house. Col. Pedlar
became something of an archaeolo
gist, read many books and examined
numerous pictures in an effort to
make every detail accurate. He
paints in a meticulous, naturalistic I
manner suited to his subject matter.
* * * *
Primitives at University
A small group of primitive paint-1
ings and sculpture is currently on
Current Exhibitions
NATIONAL GALLERY or ART, Con
stitution avenue and Sixth atreet—
Paintings and sculpture bx great
masters. Chiaroscuro prints. In
digenous Art o f the Americas,
through September 15.
NATIONAL MUSEUM, National Col
lection of Pine Arts, Constitution
avenue and Tenth street—Ameri
can paintings from private collec
tions and other gifts and loans.
ARTS AND INDUSTRIES BUILDING.
Jefferson drive and Ninth street—
Decorative arts collections.
SMITHSONIAN BUILDING. Division
of Graphic Arts, Independence ave
nue and Tenth street—Lithographs
bx Childe Hassam through Sep
tember 1.
FREER GALLERY OF ART. Twelfth
street and Jefferson drive—Oriental
and Far Eastern arts. Paintings
and etchings by Whistler and other
American artists; changing ex
hibits.
CORCORAN GALLERY Or ART.
Seventeenth street between New
York avenue and E street—Ameri
can paintings and sculpture and
the W. A. dark collection. Water
colors by artists of Washington
and vicinity. Sculpture by Helnx
Warneke.
PHILLIPS MEMORIAL GALLERY.
1600 Twenty-first street—Chang
ing exhibitions, paintings and
prints. Small paintings, drawings
and prints. Arthur Dove retro
spective.
LIBRARY Or CONGRESS. East Capi
tol and First streets—Division of
Prints. Fifth annual print exhibi
tion. Recent accessions to Rosen
wald collection. Utah centennial.
ARTS CLUB. 2017 I street N.W.—
Summer show of members' work,
to September.
THE WHYTE GALLERY at Uplted
Nations Club. 1701 Nineteenth
street N.W.—Summer exhibition of
Washington Artists Guild, through
September 7.
BARNETT ADEN GALLERT, 127
Randolph place N.W.—Six Wash
ington painters, extended through
August.
WATKINS GALLERY. American Unt
veraity cimyua-tvbwuib iuciuumbi
collection end student works, Sun
days. 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; weekdays.
JO s.m. to 5 P.m. Primitive
paintings and sculpture, through
August.
PUBLIC LIBRARY. Eighth and K
streets N.W—Exhibition of water
colors by Andre Plzzlnl. through
Augusr.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY GALLERY
OF ART. Pounders’ Library. Sixth
street and Howard Place N.W.—
Student work.
DUMBARTON OAKS COLLECTION.
1702 Thirty-second street N.W.—
Closed to .September 1S.
PAN AMERICAN UNION, Constitution
avenue and Seventeenth street
N.W.—Exhibition by Feline Or
lando. through August.
ARTISTS CO-OPERATIVE. 1 S20 M
street N.W.—Members' summer
sales exhibit through September
12. Daily 1 to fl P.m.; Sundays,
2 to 5 p.m
dew in Watkins Gallery. America
Jniversity. to remain through ne>
Sunday. It comprises several work
>y Haitian primitives, lent by Sel
len Rodman of New York, who wa
tmong the first to introduce sue
vork in this country, and by Jame
Vhyte, director of the Whyte Gal
ery. which had an exhibition c
iaitian primitive paintings a yea
ir two ago.
It seems to me that these work
lone by those whom the Unversit
:alls “pattern-conscious artists wh
:reate through their own inheren
astes and feelings without concern
or our artistic tradition” are over
ated. The intuitive feeling for pat
ern is offset by the raw, garis'
:olors,. staring faces and awkwar
irawing. A little panorama of
dllage on a river, signed R. Benoil
mpressed me as the best. It ha
he virtue of giving a fresh, livel
;limpse of life in some part c
3aiti, t[uite different from our owr
A few Early American primitiv
laintings and sculpture, lent b
nembers of the university's art fac
ilty, complete the show. Two life
ize angel heads with wings folde
n decorative patterns under thei
hins. are the most interesting: the
ire relics of a sailing vessel, o
vhich they presumably served a
lecorative elements. Although badl
weatherworn, they display far moi
lative ability than the painting
ind drawings.
+ * * *
\tkyns School Change*
Lee Atkyns announces the closin
>f his Washington Studio School <
fine Arts, as he has decided to gh
ill of his time to his art activity
n Puzzletown. Pa. He inaugurate
hem two years ago. intending to d(
elop a summer school and perhai
he nucleus of a small art color
such as those in New England. Sine
le reopened last May, he has four
he interest in Puzzletown and i
invirons largely concentrated in a:
nstruction and feels that it justifls
lim in devoting all of his time to
ear-round school there.
Mr. Atkyns is primarily interests
n bringing art to an artless regio
within a 100-mile radius of Altoons
which has no art galleries, and onl
State College as a source of art edu
:ation. He has been opening hi
tudio every Sunday to the publii
le will start courses in illustratio
s well as fine arts. His studio build
ng, originally an abandoned churcl
las 32 acres of land, which he i
UCTCM/pUiS 1U1 JCUCOUUlltti ^U1
and nature study. Although within
10 miles of Altoona, Puzzletown Is
sufficiently wild to be frequented
by deer, grouse and ring-necked
pheasant.
Mr. Atkyns is relinquishing with
regret his school and activities here,
where he was born and has spent
most of his life. But in view of the
fact that Washington has many ca
pable artists and competent schools,
while rural areas largely lack them,
he feels that the latter communities
have the greater need, and offer
artists a warm welcome and real
opportunity.
* * * +
Mount Show
The Corcoran Gallery of Art and
the United States Naval Academy
are among the lenders of paintings
by William Sidney Mount to an
exhibition of his works Just opened
at the Suffolk Museum, Stony
Brook, Long Island, N. Y.. to con
tinue through September 28. This
first American genre painter, born
140 years ago, is being commemo
rated with this showing of about 150
paintings, the most comprehensive
to date, including many never be
fore publicly exhibited, as well as
most of his best work from the
above - mentioned galleries, and
others In New York and Pennsyl
vania, as well as private collectors.
Hermann Warner Williams. Jr.,
director of the Corcoran Gallery,
was co-author with Bartlett Cow
drey of a definitive book on Mount,
published three years ago, when
Mr. Williams was on the staff of
i the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Mr. Cowdrey has prepared the
catalogue for the present show.
The village of Stony Brook, re
stored to its Colonial character in
1941, and the surrounding country
side, comprised the scene of Mount's
paintings of life in America about
I a century ago. Many stretches of
(landscape and buildings in Mount's
jpaintings can be identified and
I located easily today, as there has
i been little change in the place since
he lived and painted there.
1 * * * *
s Tribute to Washington
- Art Director
s j Thomas C. Parker, director of the
i American Federation of Arts, whose
s activities in connection with the
- Utah contennial exhibition of "One
f Hundred Years of American Art.”
r were reported in these columns last
month, has received tribute from
s officials of the centennial commis
f sion for the unusual success of the
> show. In their formal expressions
t of appreciation to the Metropolitan
l and Whitney Museums, New York
. Pitir whinb lent fhp nflint.iniTC t.hPV
- stated that Mr. Parker’s transfor
t mation of an immense cow barn
i into a well-laid-out art gallery,
i through careful planning of space,
,, execution of a suitable color scheme,
s lighting arrangements and expert
y hanging, had much to do with at
f tracting a total attendance of 20
i. 539 persons during one of the hottest
e Julys in the State’s history. This
y figure set an all-time high record
- for an art show in Utah, for which
- admission had to be charged to
j defray the expenses of assembling it.
r --
v Dunkerque Well Mined
3 More than 100.000 mines and
v I booby traps were destroyed by the
ej Allies in Dunkerque. France, before
, I its harbor was reopened to traffic
i in August, 1946. __
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