The Washington times. [volume], January 11, 1932, Image 13

About The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939

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AN ACROBAT DENIES.
AND A CRITIC
REPLIES
— Ry GILBERT SEI ZES —
IHAVE received a letter from an acrobat, and here
after jokes based on the idea that acrobats can read
only closing notices and can’t write at all are definitely
out. It is, in fact, as a gentle reproach to me for sug
gesting a low opinion of acrobats that this letter comes.
»•
TL £
GII.HF.KT SKI.OEM
Os course I know why I said “like
acrobats.” The turn, the particular way an acrobat ex
tends his arms at the end of his act (technically called
“styling”), is an open invitation to applaud. 1 was try
ing to suggest that actors and vocalists are attempting
the same thing in hardly more subtle ways, and, not to
put too fine a point upon the matter. I will say openly
that the acrobat is entitled to his applause and the others
are not. The moment an acrobat finishes an exhibition of
agility, or has risked his life sufficiently, applause is
merited and desirable: his next stunt has no relation to
the one that is over, except that it is probably even more
difficult or dangerous, or both. Whereas the end of an
aria is not the end of an opera and the music which
follows is, or ought to be. important.
Applauding Ideas
The worst type of applause is intellectual applause, as
when a character in a play makes a snide remark against
the capitalist system or chastity. To show' themselves
liberal minded a certain number of playgoers always
applaud such sentiments (and always wonder a little why
other people applaud the American flag when it is carried
on by chorus girls). The motto for all patrons of the
arts should be: Keep your hands to yourselves.
The Lowdown
And now, perhaps Mr. Hazard won’t mind my telling
him why acrobats are held in small esteem; why “May
all your children be acrobats” is the vaudevillian’s curse.
It is not because the acrobats lack intellectual stamina.
Mr. Hazard assures me they are more intelligent than
many of the smart men who merely repeat, day after
day, witty cracks written for them by others. The reason
is that acrobats have gone off on a wrong tack. They
are so interested in doing something difficult that they
have stopped trying to make what they do interesting.
Dental Agility
The absolute minimum in entertainment to me is a
man or a woman hanging by his or her teeth. I do not
care what they hang from or what they hang for; the
dental and maxillary strength of the human creature
does not enchant me. But even here a difference exists
between good and bad teeth-swingers. The good ones
add a touch of grace, some niceness of movement to
their work; the bad ones hang, and that’s all. Good
acrobats try to make their work seem easy, and do intri
cate movements without the appearance of strain; they
know that the eye has to be pleased. Like tap-dancers
who know their job, they not only do the impossible but
charm us while they do it. Whe" two little Japs lie down
on their backs and toss a rolled-up child like a ball
between them it is not the stunt but the neatness of the
■execution which pleases us; and if an acrobat could lift
another by one toe it would not be worth looking at
unless the positions taken at every moment were a
pleasure to the eye.
In short, the acrobats are too intellectual. They are
giving us diagrams of strength, like mathematicians in a
scientific meeting. What we want is a little human inter
est, and one of the greatest of human interests is interest
in beauty.
Dress Sale Window Crash
Wins Newstip Prize ,
It started out to be a giant,
dress sale in a downtown store
the other day, but eight of the
early morning shoppers ended up
either in Emergency Hospital or
under treatment by the fire res
cue squad when cut by glass
from two shattered windows. The
tip on the story won first prize
of S2O in the weekly Washington
Times Newstip Contest
A tip from Quantico, Va., on
the frustrated attempt of a father
to save his child’s life when his
home near Joppa was destroyed
by fire won the second prize of
$lO.
A bold robbery at the Green
Grove Tea House at Waldorf.
Md.. won a resident of vhe town
$5. third prize.
The story of the tragic death
of a man who was struck by a
W., B. & A. electric train near
Seat plesant. Md.. received fourth
prize of $3.
Six $2 prizes were awarded for
the following: The suit for $25.-
000 filed by a minor for alleged
breach of promise: the depriva
tion of annual leave tor more
than 5.000 employes ot the Vet
erans’ administration until their
work is brought up to date: re
ceipt of a “duck hen” at a local
wholesale poultry house; auto
mobile wreck at Second and E
SSO for News Tips—Ten Cash Prizes Each Week—Phone News Tip Editor, Washington Times, District 5260
from one of them. Hap Hazard by
(I hope) stage name, who is also an
aviator, and who will not let pass
the insinuation that acrobats are the
lowest form of animal life. He quotes
me: “The misfortune is that singers
and dancers, like acrobats in vaude
ville, have made up their minds that
encores prove something,” and prac
tically at once flashes back the ques
tion. “Why ‘like acrobats?’” The
acrobat, he says, “is the last person
in the world to even ‘steal’ bows, let
alone ‘force’ encores,” and he and his
tribe are “probably the hardest work
ing and least appreciated of show
folks.”
Style to the Left!
♦ Streets northeast: the arrest of a
. ‘ panhandler by Brig Gen. Pel
, ham D. Glassford, chief of police,
after the man had asked for
' 10 cents to buy a cup of coffee,
’ and the death of Herbert Tubbs,
superintendent of roads for
; Prince William county, Va., when
■ struck by a train near Manassas,
■ V&.
SKIPPY By Percy Crosby
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DISTRICT PROBES CARPENTERS’ PAY PLAINT
Two Marines Die In Stolen Auto, Wrecked During Chase
BRIDE TO PROBE
‘ILLEGAL PAY'
worn
Carpenters’ Charge Denied by
School Contractor; Wage
Scale at Issue
An investigation was
launched today by District of
ficials into charges made by
fix carpenters employed on
the Benjamin Stoddart School
project in Br.rleith.
That they were paid less
ihan the prevailing wage scale
by the contractor, Charles S.
Bannet, Inc. of Philadelphia.
i« alleged’.
Affidavits, sworn to by the car
penters, were received by Major
H. L. Robb, assistant engineer
commissioner, from the Washing
ton Building Trades Council. The
affidavits, Major Robb said, re
cited that the workmen were
obliged by the contractor to sign
blank payrolls.
1 ayrolls Called For
The workmen swore they re
ceived wages of s4l a week. The
payrolls were called for by Major
Robb and he said they showed the
l workmen were paid the prevailing
scale of $66 a week. Major Robb
■ said Bennett, submitting the pay
rolls. swore to an affidavit that
I they were correct.
Major Robb has recommended
that the matter be placed in the
hands of Corporation Counsel
William W. Bride for investiga
■ tion.
A Second Controversy
The row js the second major
controversy since the District
Commissioners adopted a prevail
ing wage scale to be paid by con
tractors on municipal building
as provided by the Bacon-Davis
law.
The first grew out of charges by
workmen on the Woodridge school
addition against the W. P Rose
Company, of Goldsboro. N. C..
that were paid less than the pre
vailing scale. The company ad
mitted the charges and agreed to
pay workmen the prevailing
scale.
King to Show Plans
For Feb. 22 Parade
Charles W. King, chief of staff
of the George Washington Birth
day parade in A’cxandr’’, Feb
ruary 22, will present a tentative
line-up of the parade to the meet
ing of the association tomorrow
night, in the Alexandria Cham
ber of Commerce.
Fined for Stoning
Love Rival's Home
On a charge of destroying pri
vate property, Acey Strong, 25,
today was penalized sls or 15
days by Police Court Judge Gus
A. Schuldt.
Strong is said to have thrown
stones at a “love rival’s” windows.
INSTALLATION
Mt. Rainier Lodge No. 156. I. O.
O. F„ will install officers tonight
at the Odd Fellow’s Hall.
ASK BUILDING PERMIT
Wilbur E. Nichols, builder, of
Arlington. Va„ yesterday filed an
application for a permit to erect
a bungalow on Klondike Street,
Radnor Heights, Va.
8R
Keep Your Eyes Open for Unusual Events—Don’t W rite—Phone Between 6:30 A. M. and 6 P, M.
wASHiNfiinNTiMES
Telephone District 5260
MONDAY. JANUARY 11, 1932
GOURI POWERS
FOR POLICE IS
AIM OF BILL
Blanton Would Abolish Trial
Board, Substitute One
Os More Latitude
Abolition of the District po
lice trial board and substitu
tion of a discipline board, con
sisting of three members ap
pointed by the President, is ad
vocated in a bill introduced in
the House today by Represen
tative Thomas L. Blanton (D.)
of Texas.
District Commissioners would
be empowered to fine, suspend
or dismiss members of the police
force for violation of laws,
whether before or after conviction
in any case which might be
deemed beneficial to the service.
Special policemen and additional
privates, under the bill, could be
removed from office without
trial.
The discipline board would be
composed of men holding no
other public office and salaried
at $2,000 a year. They would
have power to subpoena all per
sons. bookp and records needed
in the investigation of particular
cases. Witnesses would be paid
regular fees and false testimony
would be regarded and dealt with
as perjury.
No policeman or former mem
ber of the police force or persons
doing business or contacting with
the District would be permitted to
serve on the board.
The bill was referred to the
House District Committee.
VOTE UN ELGEN
FACES DELAY
No action is to be taken by the
Senate District Committee on the
nomination of Riley E. Eigen to
the Public Utilities Commission
of the District of Columbia for a
week or 10 days, it was announced
today at the Capitol.
Mr. Eigen’s nomination was
sent to the Senate Saturday by
President Hoover and referred to
the committee, which handles all
nominations of District officials
except those dealing with the
judiciary.
Mr. Eigen, who is a valuation
engineer with the Interstate Com
merce Commission, is named to
succeed Harleigh H. Hartman, re
signed.
Botanist's Exchange
Organized at C. U.
A botanists’ exchange is being
developed at Catholic University
by the Rev. Dr. Hugh O’Neill, in
structor in biology.
The exchange, it is planned,
will serve as an agency by which
botanists, not only in America,
but in all parts of the world, will
be able to acquire specimens of
plants from distant places in re
turn for those common to their
own vicinity.
JUDGE THOMAS HOST
Judge Harry Thomas, former
judge of the Arlington Police
Court, entertained the entire
county police force at luncheon
yesterday.
Office Address, 1317-21 H St. N. W. |
INSPECTING DEATH CAR AND CRASH VICTIMS
RIPPERGER RISON
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MUTCHLER
TWO MARINES were killed early today when this
automobile crashed into a tree at Orange Street and
Nichols Avenue Southeast. The Marines were identified
as Pvt. Fred Reffer, 24, attached to the Navy Yard,
and Pvt. Charles Mutchler, 23, Marine Barracks. Po
licemen C. E. Ripperger and R. L. Rison, of the Eleventh
precinct, are viewing the wrecked car.
AHEARN,3 AIDES
ASK TRIAL
Four men. seized in a liquor
raid Saturday at 1636 Con
necticut Ave. N. W., today pleaded
not guilty and demanded jury
trial when arraigned in Police
Court before Judge Gus A.
Schuldt on charges of maintain
ing a niusance and possessing
liquor.*
The men gave their names as
Patrick J. Ahearn, Harry W.
Wood. Joseph H. Hall and John
C. Kelly, the latter two colored.
Judge Schuldt ordered the men
to post bond of $1 00n each for
their appearance in jury court
January 25.
A quantity of liquor and
paraphernalia alleged to have
been used in operation of a
speakeasy were seized in the raid,
police say.
LION’S DINNER
The Lions’ Club of Silver Spring
will hold its weekly dinner to
night at Ryckerd’s Restaurant.
Dr. Howell Forsyth, president,
will preside.
REFFER
SPEEDER WINS
courtmercy
Unfamiliarity with local traffic
regulations today gained freedom
for Reuben H. Sparkman, 309
Maryland Ave. N. E.. who says
he is employed by Senator John
J. Blaine, when he was arraigned
before Traffic Court Judge Isaac
R. Hitt.
Judge Hitt accepted Sparkman’s
personal bond on charges of
speeding, failure to exhibit a per
mit, and driving with expired
license tags, when he explained
he had just arrived in the city
from Wisconsin.
Fete Board Receives
4,000 Letters Daily
Incoming mail of the United
States Bicentennial Commission
has almost doubled since Janu
ary 1, with 4,000 letters coming
in each 24 hours.
More than 1,100,000 pieces of
mail were sent out in December,
and this record will be broken in
January, it is stated.
NEWS OF SUBURBS
— Times Staff F
WRECKED CAR
2 IRE POLICE
GO ON TRIAL
Policemen Charles R. Brem
merrnan and Hollis H. Clark, un
der suspension, were put on trial
in District Supreme Court before
a jury and Justice F. Dickinson
Letts today.
They were indicted on charges
of beating Thomas M. Williams.
17, colored, with a wooden club
on three successive days last June,
while he was a prisoner.
The boy was the first of 23
witnesses the Government planned
to put on the stand.
Stuart's Washington
On Display March 5
The Lord Roseberry original
Gilbert Stuart painting of George
Washington, which is to be in
cluded in the United States Bi
centennial art exhibit of Wash
ingtonia, is to be insured for £SO -
000 before it starts from its Lon
don location.
The exhibit, originally planned
for the National Museum, is to
be held at the Corcoran Galleiy
of Art. The formal opening is
scheduled for March 5.
Colonial Gardens
Due to Sprout Here
Plans for a colonial garden con
test between District and neigh
boring clubs are being made by 15
organizations in this area.
The plan was presented to the
Battery Park Garden Club by
Charles I. Stengle, of the District
Bicentennial Commission, last
week, and was presented to the
Chevy Chase Garden Club today.
Flowers, shrubs and garden ar
rangements popular in colonial
days are to feature the contest
Reserve Commissions
Granted 5 D. C. Men
A commission as reserve lieu
tenant colonel has been issued
Maurice Roger Colbert, 912 Madi
son St. N. W,. and a first lieu
tenancy in the air reserve to
James Hall McKenney, 1523
Rhode Rhode Island Ave. N. W.
Second lieutenancies are issued
Jason Harold Byers, 65 M St.
N. W.; Peter George May, 1702
Massachusetts Ave. N. W., and
Frederick Daniel Suttenfield. 1023
Connecticut Ave. N. W.
WILD DIDE ENOS
AD MACHINE
HITS TREE
Pursued Car Attains Speed of
70 Miles An Hour; Both
Men Were Privates
Two United States Marines
were killed instantly last mid
night. when their stolen auto
mobile, pursued by a police
man, crashed against a tree at
Orange Street■ Southeast, near
Nichols Avenue.
The m?n were identified as
Pvt. Fred Reffes, 24, attached to
the Navy Yard, and Pvt. Charles
Mutchler, 23, a cook at Marine
Barracks.
Climax of Chase
The crash was a climax of a
wild chase through southeast
Washington, in which the stolen
automobile was pursued by Po
liceman Eugene Lohr and sev
eral taxicabs.
Police had been informed that
an automobile had been stolen
from the vicinity of Virginia
Avenue and Second Streets South
west, belo aging to Clyde A. Sher
man. 931 Virginia Ave. S. W.
Policeman Lohr later saw the
automobile and gave chase. The
machine sped toward Anacostia
Bridge at a speed estimated at
70 miles an hour.
Car Uproots Tree
Crossing the bridge the speed
ing car nearly struck another
machine and sped on, outdis
tancing its pursuers.
As the machine attempted to
turn off Nichols Avenue into
Orange Street, it struck a tree,
uprooting it. The speed of the
machine threw it across the
street, where It smashed against
a telegraph pole.
raw
STILL DEBATED
The Veterans Administration
may no,t be decentralized after
all, Gen. Frank T. Hines, direc
tor, admitted today.
Since the plan for splitting up
the work, now done at headquar
ters here, among the 54 regional
offices, opposition to the plan
has been growing.
Today at the office of General
Hines, it was admitted that the
plan was “still being considered,”
but was now regarded as just a
proposal.
A. R. Barta Renamed
Head of Aero Club
A. R. Barta was reelected presi
dent of the Aero Club of Wash
ington at a luncheon meeting at
the Willard Hotel today.
Other officers elected by the
organization were: Dr. George W.
Lewis, first vice president; P. E.
D. Nagle, second vice president:
Jack Wynn, third vice president:
Elton Layton, secretary, and Dr.
W. G. Brombacher. treasurer.
Church Prepares
To Dine Jobless
Dr. A D. Avery, of Greensboro,
N. C„ was the guest speaker
at the morning services at the
Metropolitan African Methodist
Episcopal Church yesterday.
The services ended a revival in
progress several weeks. The Rev.
R W. Thomas, pastoi, an
nounced that on next Friday
free dinner will be served at ths
church io all unemployed from
3 to 5 p. m.
Tripped by a Rug,
Woman, 70, Injured
Mrs. Mary Stafford, 70. 3561
Holmead Pl. N. W., is at George
town University Hospital with a
possible broken hip. suffered to
day when she slipped on a rug at
her home.
The fire rescue squad took her
to the hospital.
TO ELECTDTrECTORS
Stockholders in the First Na
tional Bank of Southern Mary
land Upper Marlboro, will elect
directors tomorrow.