4 A
WEDNESDAY. MAY IS. 1962
""iveryone III Southern Or00
juajaejkullbjine"
pSEiTshKl Dally except Saturday t
r MEDrOKD PRATING CO
33 North Fir St. PhSP t-n.
"fiOBERl W RUHU Eftor
HKRB GREY AdverUitng Manager
CEKAUJ T LATHAM Bua Msr
ERIC W AU-EN JR.. Mnj Editor
EAR1. B AtlAMS City Editor
HARRY CHlPMANTelee Editor
H1CHAKD JEWE1X Sports Ed.to
OLIVE STARCHER. Women a Editor
DALE ERILyjONCIrculaUon Mgt
AiP Independent Newapaper
Inlered aa teoond elan matter at
Medford. Oregon, under Act 01
March 3. 1897
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
..... . rnnv jDT
Dally and Sunday 1 year SI 00
uany ana duiiuu y - . i;
n.tl .nrf Sunday 3 moa 4.33
Sunday Only-One year S JO
By Carrier In Advance Medtord
A.hland. Antral Point E a I .
Point. Jacksonville Cold Hill
Phoenw. Shaoy Cova Rogue Riv
. J am mnlnr mitt f
Daily and Sunday I vear tlJOO
Carrlep and Dealera copy lot
All Terma-asn in jovBn..
"orrieial Paper of city of MeefmrJ
Offlrlal Paper ofJaeliaoli County
" United P-e"aa International
Kull Leaaed Wire
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' OFIHCULATIONS
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NEWS PA f
PUBLISH lS
ASSOCIATION
NATION Al EDITORIAL
Flight 0' Time
Medford and Jackson County
History from the files of Th
Mail Tribune 10, 20, 30, 40
and 50 veara ago.
10 YEARS AGO
May IB, 1952 (Friday)
Medford school district vot
ers have approved a budget
in excess of the 6 per cent
limitation for the coming fis
cal year by a margin of 477
to 55.
The Medford High school
baseball squad left early this
afternoon for Albany where
It will take part in the state
prep tournament.
in veins AGO
May 16. 1942 (Saturday)
State hlchwaV Commission
S'Mn highway bouieneck
A .1.1 I'- TMn-an InlnrcAK.
Bl rtSIllttllU a l i at. a m iv. i
Uon.
simile PorUcoiumnf''sum. 'Annexation would cause the costs of city
mer unofficially arrived yes- government to go up somewhat, but not signifi
tcrday and the first citizen cantiv as far as Medford taxnavers are con
got his knuckles barked by
an electric fan.
30 YEARS AGO
May 16, 1932 (Monday)
Searchers find bodies of
elderly couple In Dead Indian
area; pair missing since se-l
vcre mid-January blizzard,
Primary election nominees
Include: Republicans - Frank
Perl, coroner; George Carter,
county clerk; William Briggs
jr., district attorney. Demo-
crals - George Codding, dis-
trict attorney; Lewis Ulrich,
county clerk.
40 years ago
My is. 1922 (Tuesday)
Woman here tells of break-
Ing record for driving between c
Portland and san rrancisco
by making trip in 22 hours,
43 minutes.
Medford citizens conduct
"bundle day" to collect cloth
ing for starving orphans "in
Near East.
SO YEARS AGO
May 16. 1912 (Wednesday)
City of Medford announces
rentals for booths In new mu
nicipal market of 20 cents a
day, $1 a week, $3 a month
and "nominal charges for per
sons with baskets."
L. Niedcrmcyer purchases
three lots on Fir street for
$10,500; plans to erect mod
ern livery stable on site.
Whafs Your I.Q.?
Nint or ten correct i lupirior;
even or eight it excellent; five or
tis It good.
1. Name thp four qualities
of taste sensations.
2. Is a nectarine a variety
of plum, or peach?
3. Is Ascension dav 20. 30
or 40 days after Easter?
4. Ncopolitan would denute
A native of which city?
5. Is there a law requiring
a Supreme Court Justice to be
native born?
6. Complete t h e proverb,
"Spare the rod . . ."
7. When an adult has a full
set of teeth arc there 14. 13,
or 16 In each Jaw?
B. If you wanted to have
permanent flowering plant",
would you use annuals, or
perennials?
9. Why is a horseshoe nail
ed over a door open end up?
10. Docs the Bill of Rights
of the U.S. Constitution con
tain 6. 8. or 10 amendments?
Answers: 1. Sweet, sour,
salt and bitter. 2. Peach. 3. 40
days. 4. Naples. Italy. S. No.
6. ". , and spoil the child."
7. Sixteen. (. Perennials. 9.
To keep the luck from run
ning out, 10. Ten.
Recommendations
It is not the usual practice for the Mail Tribune
to make any endorsements in contested partisan
races in the primary election, believing this to be
largely the function of the parly organizations o
and of the voters in each party.
We do, however, make known our recommenda
tions and opinions on measures, jyid in non-partisan
contests. Herewith is a recapitulation of those
views:
Judicial .
For judge of the Oregon supreme court,
position No. 6 Arno H. Denecke
For Oregon Tax Judge Peter Gunnar.
State Measures
Six per cent limitation amendment vote
yes.
Salaries of state legislators vote yes.
County Measure
Home Rule Charter vote yes.
Annexation Measure
For Southwest Medford area no recom
mendation. E.A.
Annexation Problems
We have been through a couple of annexa
tion election fights in the past dozen or so years,
and have seen how terribly upset people can
become in the throes of trying to decide whether
it would be better for them to join forces with
the city to obtain its services and conveniences
(and taxes), or whether to continue trying to
go it alone.
We have every sympathy with those who vio
lently oppose annexation; we also have every
sympathy with those who believe that becoming
a part of the city is the only solution to their
particular problems.
There are public policies and issues involved,
but basically, it is a decision which each indiv
idual will have to make for himself. We shall
make no recommendation on the annexation pro-
nnsal in ho vnforl nn Frirlnv. invnlvintr a larcre
area south and west of Medford.
OUR view is this:
TV Seifir nUrtiilrl rafnili-J linfltt nvr tlM 1 1 1 11 (T f n
i. 11C KsHJ OtlUUlU OLClI.ll I COU V U11U Willing lyVJ
accept this added area, should the people desire
if Vtif if a1t.111l.-l tiftf fnnA if Una rrtf in fViia cqco
llr UUI lb ouuuiu hju auu ii iAoa uun in who
actively promote annexation.
itary and similar problems, have caused the city
f fnl-rt n vi n .vci-.iL.c-i m inln In coalrinnr onnoV-itinn
nl Ik. fi Uots nia wia
must stand aside providing advice and authen-
fin fnni-a rf nrtlll'Cfl Knf n f VlOl'tliY Q (TiTI'OCCI 1 T
tit. iaV,kO) Ul lUUlOC) Ullt nuu w-iii ufjiv-i-'uifvij
fni tw noraintif f.hp nmnnsal
cerned, with most of the added burden being
borne by those who are annexed.
"THE people in the area have a real problem, and
must decide for themselves how to solve it.
PU n n Itrti.i-i i f itn-irt j i'-v f i- nnnflv tVia 1 flT frt
y -v.
iorm unwieiuy special service iiisu ills iui &eci ,
water and other services; to seek county or state
.ji ui,. ,,,u;,,l, i Vn'rrhlir unnm-tciin ovan
lcv',c,f,1 V """. V
improbable, under existing laws), or to dim
along in a situation which is certain to become
, timp p-nes on
WOlSe as lime goes Oil.
One other alternative
the Home Kule unarter is passea uus rnciay.
That is for the county to supervise the needed
service work under the authority given it in the
, . . ...,.,! ,.,:th ti10 V ,1Pm1lP
We believe that annexation is the best imme
diate path to solution, but also believe that this
is for the people involved to decide for them
selves. E. A,
Firm and
fliifl r,f mil- ciiKcrM-ilinrc t'n lcinrl nnmio'll tn
ut will . -,,-
send us a clipping from
p i t a
OI Apacne duncuon, Arizona, which is uuiuuu-
Wll lV "I'l'l UJJ' 1S 1 '!"''
In "The Editor's Notebook," Jim Brooks of
that paper wrote about a candidate who was
asKea to maKe ciear nis position on a mcany im
portant question. He was asked to take a stand
on whiskey drinking.
This was his reply:
"1 had not intended to discuss this most controver
sial subject al this particular time. However, 1 want
you to know ... I take a firm stand nn every issue
. . . regardless of how 1 feel about whiskey. And, Bro
ther, here's where 1 stand on this burning question.
,.ir .. ,i.A r,n..ir n..... ii, p., ;..., c,.,., r..
I. yuu in, nil nit- yiiiia un n, ,,.-,, kiv,.,,.,,
the Bloody Monster, the Defilcr of the Innocent, that
liquid that dethrones reason, creates misery and pov
erty, yea! literally takes the bread out of the mouths
of babes; if you mean that evil concnelion that topples
Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of right
eous and gracious livin down into the bottomless
pit of despair and degradation, shame, hopelessness,
then sir, I am against this Brew of Satan with all my
power.
"However, if you mean the oil of conversation, the
philosophic wine and ale that is consumed when good
fellows got together, thai puts a song in the heart and
laughter on the lips, and a warm flow of contentment
and well being Into the eyes, if you mean the Christ
mas cheer, if you mean the drink that enables a man
to magnify his Joy and happiness and forget his debts
and life's other tragedies, heart breaks and sorrow;
if you mean that drink, sir, the sale of wltich pours
into tiie treasury untold millions of dollars, which are
used to provide tender care for little crippled chil
dren, our blind, our pitifully ased and sick and in
firm, and to build highways, hospitals, schools, then,
Brother, I'm for it!
"This, sir, is my stand. I will not . . . retract one
word nor will 1 . . . compromise. You asked for my
stand on litis issue. There it is."
Does this remind you of anyone you've hoard
lately? E.A.
lialiniro hjVioii rho n'tT
-hi, i -e
is possible, but only if
Unequivocal
,,.,,. v-"i,fi, v"
The Apache Sentinel
i.:..i. ;
Dennis the
'I OONT THINK MY EARS ARE SO BIS. M I'M HCTA inUE
PITCHER. I HMflgffM&r
... Communications ...
Letters to the Editor must bear the name and address of the writer, although under
certain circumstances the use of a pen name or initial for publication is permissible.
The Mail Tribune reserves lh tight to edit all letters with a view to clarification and
condensation. Letters submitted for publication must not exceed 400 words. The letters
printed in this column do not necessarily represent the views of the paper; in tact the
contrary is often the case.
Untruth Protested
To the Editor: As secretary
for The County Citizens For
Home Rule Charter I wish
to correct a mis-statement
made by William Deatherage
in debate at Medford Senior
High School, May 14.
Mr. Deatherage said "The
name of Ben Day appeared
in an advertisement as one
of the persons willing to run
for Commissioner if Home
Rule is adopted." This is not
true.
Unfortunately, no records
were in my possession while
attending the debate so I
might answer Mr. Deather
age's false statement. It is also
unfortunate that this letter
will not reach each person in
attendance Monday evening.
It is my opinion that this inci
dent is typical of the mis
statements and half - truths
used by some opposing the
Home Rule Charter and that
it is an injustice, not only
to Mr. Day, but to the voters
of Jackson county attending
meetings in a sincere effort
to receive factual information
on the Charter.
For clarification, I submit
Ihe following facts:
I. In the April 20 edition
of the Mail Tribune, as well
as editions of the Ashland Tid
ings and Rogue River Times,
an advertisement appeared
with the following heading:
"Who would run for Commis
sioner if Home Rule is adopt
ed." The lis.1 of persons did
NOT include the name of Ben
Day.
II. In the April 15 edition
of the Medford Mail Tribune,
page 2A, the following head
ing appeared on advertise
ment: "We endorse Home
Rule." The name of Ben Day
DID appear In this listing
along wilh 36 names of highly
respected and intelligent mem
bers of both political parties,
including the name of Mr.
Deatherage's law partner, Mr.
Otto J. Frohnmayer.
The above is a matter of
public record. It would have
behooved Mr. Deatherage to
check the facts before making
a positive statement of un
truth in public debate.
Mrs. Earl B. Bigalow,
Secretary,
Citizens for
Home Rule Charter,
1005 East Main St.,
Medford
Taxes and Costs
To the Editor: Under the
heading of "What's Wrong?'
Mr. Ken Callison in Commu
mentions of 58 states: "Some
businessmen purposely owe
taxes and are willing to pay
interest rather than borrow
operating capital from the
bank."
This suggests a novel ex
planation for a portion of the
delinquency in personal prop
erty taxes recently reported.
In other words, our county
government is involuntarily
in the banking business, fur
nishing so-called operating
capital to some of the busi
nessmen in the county. Tbe
justification is that they are
paying Interest. This should
be reported to the bank that
"loves to lend" and some of
the delinquency can be col
lected promptly.
We agree with Mr. Callison
that some elected officials are
dedicated men and the late
Hay Schumacher is a fine
example. It was Mr. Schu
macher, along with many of
Ilis associates, who recom
mended to our Home Rule
committee that the assessor
should be appointed and not
elected. He attributed a great
many of his troubles in
straightening out the affairs
of the assessor's office to a
predecessor elected by the
voters of the county
If Mr. Callison will Investi
gate, t believe he will find
that Jackson county pays the
maximum salaries permitted
tinder state law for the varl-
MEDFORD MAIL
Menace
ous officials involved, at least
for counties of comparable
populations. His recommenda
tion to pay our county offici
als more docs not coincide
with his statement in the
final paragraph that the costs
of county government under
a Home Rule Charter would
increase immediately and
keep rising continuously.
Our Home Rule Charter has
not been prepared with the
idea in mind of increasing the
cost of county government. In
fact we have been assured
that if a majority ot the com
missioners elected are con
servative, economies can be
effected. However, if the vot
ers demand constantly in
creased facilities and services
and elect a majority of com
missioners who are so mind
ed, our costs can and will
mount.
To my mind this proves
that under a Charter our coun
ty government can be kept
under the control of our
voters.
McLeod Maurice,
Gold Hill, Ore.
Powers Questioned
To the Editor: Since the so
called Home Rule discussions
started in the paper, I have
read all with interest. As Mrs.
Rutter remarked at the origi
nal Public disclosure of the
proposed Home Rule Charter,
"It is indeed surprising how
right both those that speak
for and those that speak
against the proposed charter
can make it sound."
Therein lies much of the
danger, I believe. Those that
for one reason or another
want it passed can make it
sound SO right.
For example, it seems to me
much better to take the time
and whatever effort is neces
sary to do our own picking
trom among 28 sheriff aspir
ants, than to have absolutely
no choice at all.
They that want it passed
insist very strongly that it is
in fact Home Rule, and that
the people have the final
power.
Just where does this Home
Rule give ANY powers to the
people?
Chapter 2. Section 14, of
the charter, sub-section I and
2. dealing with powers vested,
states: 1. The legislative pow
er of the county is vested in,
and shall be exercisable only
by the board of county com
missioners, and 2. All other
powers of the county are
vested in the board and may
be exercised by it or by per
sons acting under its author
ity. Chapter 3, Section 15, Es
tablishment and function. A
board of seven commissioners
is hereby established as the
principal legislative and
policy making agency of the
county.
So the board of commis
sioners make the county laws,
put them into effect, and en
force them.
History teaches that in all
the countries where all pow
ers were given or taken that
it became in actual fact a dic
tator dominated country.
The cry is now concerning
Home Rule in our county,
OH! it couldn't happen here,
That same remark was made
about Germany, but it did
happen there, and in Italy,
Russia, and Cuba, to name
just a few.
Oh yes, the referendum
the power by the people to
recall. Has any one investi
gated what it would cost the
taxpayers to hold a recall
election? Or what legal gym
nastics would be necessary
before a recall election could
be started? The answer to
both is too much, with the
end result very much in
doubt
Please folks, before it's too
late. vtX- Ni on Home Rule.
J.arry Turner
Route 1, Box 383
Central Point, Ore.
TRIBUNE. MEDFORD, OREGON
Fires of Discontent Rising as Peasants
Of Pernambuco Face
By PHIL NEWSOM
UPI Foraign Nawi Analyst
By New World standards,
Recife is an anciet city which
lies along the AUantic Ocean
near Brazil s
eastern most
bulge. A sea
breeze relieves
the heat from
an equatorial
sun, bouncing
off cobble
stone streets
and old build
ings of yellow
Newaosa
ed stucco. It is
Brazil's third largest city and
it is a haven for smueelers
who have found the peddling
of American cigarettes, razor
blades and automobiles a bet
ter living than could be ob
tained on the parched plains
inland.
Away from the waterfront
is the swank Portuguese Club
where tropical flowers bloom
and there is a swimming pool.
Among the fashionable
homes in the neighborhood
Urge Yes Vote
To the Editor: The follow
ing residents of the Rogue
Valley Manor favor Home
Rule Charter. We urge the
citizens of this county to
tudy the charter and vote
YES on Friday, May 18.
Miss Clara Hinz
Miss Laura Hinze
Dr. Flora Ross
Mrs. Rease Braley
Ross Blythe
Mrs. Beatrice Brooks
Miss Kathryn Hornebrook
Mr. and Mrs. Damuel W
Amey
Ted Coates
Rogue-Valley Manor
Medford
She's Delighted
To the Editor: I congratu
late the Democratic party of
Jackson county on the high
calibre of its legislative can
didates presented in this
year's primary election.
How long has it been since
a Democrat has been elected
to the Oregon State Senate?
Not in the memory of even
the old old-timers. In fact not
many Democrats over the
years have been able to af
ford the sacrifice of time from
jobs, nor the money to cam
paign.
This time, I am delighted
to discover in my Voters
Pamphlet that Henry Padgh
am, one of Jackson county's
most outstanding, widely re
spectcd and public spirited
citizens, is running on the
Democratic ticket for the
State Senate.
Henry, a native Oregonian,
has lived and worked and
served in this community for
34 years. He launched and
has successfully run his own
business and payroll for 29
years.
Along with his wife. Auaus-
ta, and their family (reared
and educated here), Henry
has devoted more of his spare
hours to helping people in
need, working for civic, phil
anthropic and educational
causes in this community
than any one person I have
known.
Because he has eiven of
nimself for so long and so
unstintedly, he knows the
pulse and the needs of his
community. He will be the
most selfless, the most effi
cient, and the most dedicated
kind of a public servant. He
has my vote for the Stat
senate.
Mrs. Max Wimmer
1115 West Second st
Medford
Charter Not "Metro"
To the Editor: Recently
there has been an effort to
throw a bright red herrins be-
fore the voters in the form of
a scare campaign about
"Metro," the "Octopu s"
whose tenacles are about to
embrace us all. It is said that
the misguided authors of the
Home Rule Charter are work
ing with "1313."
1313 East 60th st., Chicago
37, is the address of the Coun
cil of State Governments,
which studies the problems of
government in metropolitan
areas. There are many other
such organizations, because
the problems of metro govern
ment are becoming acute in
our country as the population
rises, and with it the present
confusion of power and ret
sponsibility in our crowded
regions.
We in Jackson county are
fortunate that we do not have
such pressing metropolitan
problems. As yet ours is a
relatively thinly populated
county.
Our proposed county char
ter is NOT a proposal for
metro government: it does nit
propose annexation of all un-
i incorporated land into a con-
I solidatcd city government, nor
docs it outline city county
consolidation, nor a borough
plan, nor many of the other
the those of absentee owners
of Pernambuco state's vast
plantations, worked by tenant
farmers increasingly rebelli
ous under the prodding of the
Communist - led Peasants
League and the pressures of
starvation brought on by the
drought which grips the whole
of northeast Brazil.
The drought extends over
eight northeastern states with
a population of more than 20
million, and in all of them
violence rides close to the sur
face. Hungry peasants raided
market places and In Pesque
ira sacked a warehouse.
Pernambuco officials who
seized all available supplies
of black beans and corn for
distribution to the peasants,
estimated that in Recife ware
houses there were 2,000 tons
of beans controlled by specu
lators. Brazilian officials meeting
urgently, if belatedly, in Re
cife knew that only quick ac
tion could avert a major ex
plosion among people who
earned SO cents a day and
plans that are being studied
and used in highly congested
metropolitan areas.
Dade county in Florida
seems to be much in our peo
ple s minds. In 1957 Dade
county voted in a form of
metro government because the
sprawling urban areas of
Miami, Coral Gables, Hialeah,
and more than 20 other cities
were in a state of government
chaos. A unified transit sys
tem was urgently needed as
most of these municipalities
ran into each other. County-
wide garbage and water-sewer
control was desperately need
ed because Florida's flat land
and high water table make
private septic systems prac
tically Impossible. These
things and others have been
accomplished under Dade
Metro, and of course they cost
money. Nevertheless, the
VOTERS of Dade have NINE
TIMES reaffirmed their sup
port of the Dade Metro, in
spite of strong opposition.
Somehow the anti's of the
charter have decided that
Dade county is the perfect
parallel to Jackson county.
Incredible! Dade was already
a thorough mess when its citi
zens decided on a metro gov
ernment system.
Jackson county has been
blessed by reasonably good
government in the past, and
may expect its voters to con
tinue to be intelligent. But
we do expect growth. The
more orderly our system of
government, the more re
sponsive to the direct wishes
of the voters, the better.
In reply to the hysterical
and ill-informed people who
misunderstand metropoli tan
government in Jackson coun
ty: Under the charter the
cities would retain their sov
ereignty, the voters would not
lose their vote, the county
will not be run by Khru
shchev.
Irving Lord
588 Beach st.
Ashland, Ore.
Mosquito Problem
To the Editor: I think some
thing should be done about
these pesty mosquitoes. In
Jackson county there are lots
of ditches for mosquitoes to
breed. Why doesn't the health
department do something
about this? The mosquitoes
are in your ditches. Why don't
you get rid of them?
I'll tell you why, because
you can t pay for it. There
were lots of mosquitoes last
summer. There will be twice
as many this year. Mosquito
ones may cause infections.
I think something should be
done about these mosquitoes
Vlcki Ragland
(Age 9)
3182 South Pacific Hwy
Medford
Aahlanders for Charter
To the Editor: Your neigh
bors in Ashland urge you to
vote for Home Rule Charter
in Friday's election. Under
the Charter the voters can
exert control over countv af
fairs as they have never been
able to do before.
A vote for the Charter is a
vote for self government.
Dr. and Mrs. William
M. Sammons
Dr. M. E. Woodell
Dr. Elmo N. Stevenson
Mrs. Thornton Shively
All Ashland, Ore.
Porter's Record
To the Editor: This is my
first letter to you, but I have
been so shocked at some of
the letters written about Mr.
Porter, and some of the re
marks made about him by
Mr. Duncan, that I can no
longer keep silent.
I do not know Mr. Porter
or any of the other candidates,
but I do know Mr. Porter's
record while he was in Corj
grcss, and that's what I'm in
terested in.
I do not doubt the fact that
Mr. Duncan has a charming
wife, but it takes more than
a charming wife to make a
lood ComresJVnan.
As for what Mr. Porter
e
o
Hunger; Aid Belated
were being asked to pay 90
cents i pound for beans.
The same pressures were
upon President Kennedy and
Brazilian President Joao Gou-
lart when for 8' hours they
conferred in Washington last
month. '
Out of that conference came
promises of immediate U.S.
help and long-range plans
calling for each nation to con
tribute almost equally a total
of $275 million for construc
tion of roads, electric power
and educational facilities and
irrigation.
But the pressing need was
now. As a first step, the U.S.
announced this week that
10,000 tons of surplus U.S.
thinks about admitting Red
China into the U.N., as a
citizen of a free country he
has a right to that belief. If
one can believe what they
read in many of the papers
and magazines there are a
great many people all over
the world that feel that 650
million people can no longer
be ignored; especially as it
can't be too long before they
will also have atomic bombs.
While I might not always
agree with Mr. Porter, I re
spect him for his honesty and
integrity and I shall certainly
vote for him and hope all of
you do likewise.
Jean Quarder
3019 East McAndrews
Medford
Strongest Candidate
To the Editor: Above the
clamor and tumult of the
campaign for the nomination
of the Democratic candidate
for Congressman of the 4th
district, one fact still remains
clearly and inescapably ap
parent. This fact is that Rob
ert B. Duncan is not only the
strongest candidate, but he is
also the best one. Bob Dun
can has demonstrated that he
has the ability and character
that is necessary to be an ef
fective representative for our
District in the United States
Congress.
We have badly needed good
representation in Congress
for a good many years. For
tunately, we now have an
opportunity to nominate and
elect an outstanding man to
that position. I urge all Demo
crats to unite and vote for our
best and strongest candidate,
Robert B. Duncan.
Thomas J. Reeder
306 Fluhrer Bldg.
Medford
Camouflage
To the Editor: From the
sequoias of Giant Forest to the
pondcrosa pines of Clear Lake
and the cottonwoods of the
lower Feather River, one
hears a most musical dawn
chorus. A thousand-thousand
blackheaded grosbeaks voices
are in one grand out-pouring
of nuptial song, "She's - sweet
- and - rare - oh . , . Sweet,
and - rare - oh."
Try to locate an individual
chorister, however, and you
win have a lesson in Mother
Nature's camouflage. One in
a blue oak at Lower Lake was
an example. Through the
binoculars, one studied the
point from whence came the
song. A bit of black shade, a
bit of brown that was last
autumn's leaf . . . No, here
was a color pattern that
blended most harmoniously
with the tree. One would have
thought that, in that mass of
verdure, a green pattern
would have been better. How
wise is Mother Nature!
Camouflage that has saved
millions of lives in World
Wars I and II was the inven
tion of a nature study en.
thusiast. He mapped colors of
birds like grosbeaks, mam
mals, like skunks. The world
sneered him, now idolize him.
C. M. Goethe
3731 Tea St.
Sacramento 16, Calif.
Try and Stop Me
By BENNETT CERF
THE CORONER shot a sympathetic glance at the widow
dressed in hlanlr with Inv, .u. : J , .
... w.,, ......
bed the distraught
widow. "He said, 'Don't
try to scare me with that
shotgun. You couldn't
hit the side of a bain.' "
Billy Rose tells the story
of a well-known ham actor
who gave up Broadway and
became a surgeon. He re
moved an appendix so skill
fully one morning that sev
eral doctors watching him
started to applaud. Where
upon he bowed gratefully
and cut out the patient's
gall bladder for an encore.
"Can you recall your husband's last words?" he asked gent
ly. "Indeed I can," sob- i ,
Limerick Time:
1. There's a lass out In Grind Rapids, i.nh.
To meet whom I never would wlch.
She'd devour ice cream
Till with colic she'd scream '
Then order another big dich. .
J. A striking young girl in our choir
Haa hair that is ijdder than folr.
One more thing's unique
And that's her physique
So it s really a joy to be ir.
C ISiO by Bcnnttt Ctrf. Dutnbuted by Kief rceturea Syndicate
O
beans would be shipped in
by the quickest transporta
tion. Even that was a month
away.
Meanwhile, among the peas
ants Vho cannot, read and
hence knewnothing of these
plans for their future, the
fires were building.
Strictly
Personal
By Sydney J. Harris
(c rigid tntarprlsfa Jne.
RETURN TO THE ANIMALS
In times of stress, such as
ours, the human animal in
variably turns away from it
self to the con
templation of
other animals.
Somehow, life
among the
"lower or
ders" seems
higher, more
sensible and
s a t i sf actory,
than our own.
Harm Nothing else
would account for the recent
rash of best -selling books
about animal life of all kinds.
And this is not a purely Amer
ican phenomenon; a new issue
of "The Bookseller," publish
ed in England, lists a dozen
and more books about furry,
winged and aquatic creatures.
There is, "Timmy, the Story
of a Sparrow," by Clare Kipps
- and not a children's book,
as one might imagine. There
is a serious study called "Man
and Dolphin," by John C.
Lilly, in which man definitely
comes in second.
Eight titles in an "Animals
of Britain" series are now
ready - relating the habits
and antics of badgers, horse
shoe bats, hedgehogs, water
voles (whatever they are),
grey squirrels, red squirrels,
otters and grey seals.
People are apparently tired
of reading about people. How
else account for "The Story
of a Goldfish" by Roger
Mauge, translated, no less,
from the French? Or "Pen
guin Summer, by Eleanor
Pettingill, an ornithologist's
wife who lived on the Falk
land Islands when her hus
band was filming penguins for
Walt Disney?
The trend began, I suppose,
a few years ago, with that
rather charming book about a
lioness cub, called "Born
Free." It did so well that a
British publisher is now bring
ing out "Return to the Wild,"
a story of two lions, by Nor
man Carr, which is advertised:
"From Rhodesia a lion book
that is completely different -by
a man about two male
lions."
And, of course, one of the
best-sellers in this country last
year was "Ring of Bright
Water'' by Gavin Maxwell, a
tale of two otters. Since then,
two publishing firms have of
fered separate prizes - one of
$5,000 and one for $7,500 -for
the best animal books sub
mitted. Most such tales are hope
lessly anthropo m o r p h i c -which
is the worst thing a zoo
ologist can say about animal
books; that is, they ascribe to
animals the mental processes
and feelings that are proper
only to humans.
Except that, lately, we're
not so sure that being "hu
man" is exactly a commenda
tion. Life in the wilds, some
how, seems more rational and
even more tender than life in
what we ruefully call our
"civilization." I shudder to
think what a literate dolphin
might write about us.
.to.o an canting uuwn ner lace.