Christinas Flower
WHEN you buy one of those
scarlet-petaled flowers called
the poinsettia to add to the festive
appearance of your home at Christ
ie mas time, you are helping perpetu
ate the fame of an American who
little realized that his name would
become associated with one of the
symbols of the Yuletide. For Joel
yR. Poinsett had so many other
claims to distinction that it seems
curious he is best remembered be
cause a flower bears his name!
Born in South Carolina in 1779, he
studied both medicine and military
Science abroad but his father in
duced him to abandon his intention
of entering the army and to be
come a student of law. Poor health
forced him to give that up and he
asked President Madison for a com
mission in the army.
Instead he was sent on a dip
lomatic mission to South America
where he mixec in the politics of
Chile, and fomented revolution un
til he became known as “the
scourge of the American continent”
and was recalled. Next he was sent
to Mexico. Always interested In
botany, he brought oack from that
country the flower which was given
the scientific name of “Poinsettia
Pulcherina.”
» Just as he had been a stormy
petrel in international politics, so
he was a disturbing element in the
politics of his native land. During
the Nullification controversy in
South Carolina he organized and led
• the Unionist forces. By doing
that he won the esteem of the nation
al government and President Van
Buren made him secretary of war.
Poinsett improved and enlarged
the army, organized a general staff,
built up the artillery, directed the
Seminole war and managed the re
moval of some 40,000 Indians to In
dian Territory. In the midst of this
activity his scientific interests were
not neglected. He experimented
with scientific agriculture, sent out
vthe Wilkes expedition into the Ant
arctic and was largely instrumental
in founding the National Institute
|or the Promotion of Science and
the Useful Arts which later was
inerged with the Smithsonian Insti
, -Hution. His busy career came to an
<tad in 1851 while he was living In
retirement as a plantation owner in
his native state.
"Brooklyn Bridge Juniper
BACK in the eighties the Brooklyn
bridge was one of the wonders
of the modern world. Its dedication
on May 24, 1883 was an event of
nation-wide interest but three years
4ater it was even more in the news
because of a man with whose name
that great span has been linked in
popular memory ever since.
He was Steve Brodie, bootblack,
'fktreet car conductor, sailor and
worker around the docks who be
came a professional walker as a
means of earning some easy money.
But hevwas never better than a sec
ond-rater and none of his walking
‘ matches ever benefited him great
ly. In the summer of 1886 he was
nearly “broke.”
One day in July he heard some
of his friends talking about the lat
est casualty among the men who
had tried for fame and fortune by
diving from the Brooklyn bridge to
the river, 135 feet below. Seven of
then had tried it and all of them
bad been killed.
“Huh, I bet you I could do it and
not be killed,” boasted Brodie. “Bet
you $100 you can’t!” replied a
friend. “You’re on!” was Brodie’s
answer. But he was evidently none
^too confident that he could make
good on his boast for he took out a
life insurance policy for $1,000 as a
protection for his wife, just in case
On July 23, 1886 Brodie jumped
•iatf the bridge and came up without
a scratch. Officials of the life in
surance company were furious be
cause he had risked $1,000 of their
money to win $100. They returned
hi< premium and cancelled his poli
cy—which was foolish, for he lived
to a ripe old age!
His successful Jump was widely
publicized. It won him an engage
ment in a melodrama called
“Blackmail” in which he had to
dive oft a great height into a net—
» a feat which, he declared, was even
1 Wjnore dangerous than his jump from
the bridge—and his performance in
this (at $100 a week) made “Bro
die, the Brooklyn Bridge-Jumper”
famous all over the country. His
^achievement encouraged imitators
and during the next few years no
less than 11 others tackled the na
tion’s most spectacular high dive.
Althnngh the first seven had per
ished in their attempts, Brodie
seemed to have broken the jinx,
for every one of the 11 survived.
^By that time the novelty of sueh a
‘'feat had somewhat worn oft. But
Brodie’s fame as the first to make
a successful jump vas secure.
Moreover, he contributed another
picturesque phrase to the Ameri
^can language, for “doing a Brodie”
^isstill a synonym for a spectacular
jump or plunge from a height.
New Suits Stress Contrast Wools
By CHERIE NICHOLAS
ALMOST any suit is trumps in
spring fashions. The great va
riety of wool fabric has been an in
spiration to the designers, who have
outdone themselves in creating ir
resistible suits ranging in type
from the most casual sports mod
el to the most formal dressmaker
suits.
The outstanding appeal of suits
this spring is their ingenious play
of contrast—the most fascinating
contrasts in weaves and in pattern
ings, some plaided some striped,
others such as bright tweeds with
multi-colored nubbings and other
amazing novelty woolens, these
contrasted with plain most fetch
ingly.
The old story of mannish tailored
suits is given several brand new
twists this season, greatly due to
revived fashion interest in fabrics
that were your grandmother’s fav
orites when she was a girl.
The old-fashioned, now new-fash
ioned twills which are showing such
strong revival are as adaptable
to dressmaker suits, which are fem
ininity itself, with their quaint
peplums and soft stitched lapels as
they are to strictly classic tailleurs.
Gray, beige, postman blue and navy
are favorites in twills.
Sheer wools and wool crepes in
solid or novelty patterned fabrics
answer to the call for bolero and
eton jacket suits. Often the bolero,
or some such jacket type, is of .the
novelty wool topping a suit or tai
lored dress of monotone weave.
These feminine devices in refresh
ingly versatile moods will be flour
ishing the entire season through and
we’ve seen them with linings and
blouses in bright or pastel taffeta
with either swing or full-pleated
skirts.
For planning a spring wardrobe,
the three-piece suit is a logical be
ginning. By three-piece we mean
any type suit or tailored wool dress
you may choose plus a weather
resisting topcoat or a debonair cape
(capes are so very smart) in a gor
geous woolen that accents color
glory and weave to an exciting de
gree. ,
Your suit choice may be delight
somely frivolous and youthful,
stressing a perk jigger coat, (the
young set adores this new type) es
pecially if it is of gay tapestry plaid
woolen in colors of saddle-tan
and brown as centered in the group
pictured. Note the small pointed
collar and diagonal slash pockets.
The skirt in saddle-tan shetland
type tweed has three stitched gores
in front, and the matching border
stitched tuxedo of the coat buttons
down on either side of the collar.
Perhaps you prefer to top a lus
trous fleece wool in saddle-tan with
a finger-tip swagger coat that fas
tens high at the neck with an un
usual leather clasp, as illustrated
to the left. The suit itself has five
leather buttons down the front of its
Jacket, because leather trimmings
are quite the rage this season.
In the model to the right the color
contrast theory is worked out stun
ningly in that the collarless cutaway
jacket worn with this smart finger
tip jacket-suit of men’s wear flan
nel, is of gray and red check woolen
with a red belt and ascot for ac
cents. Topped with its jaunty swag
ger coat in a gray herringbone wool
the idea of using three contrasting
wool weaves is demonstrated to a
nicety. And so in conclusion, what
ever system you use, in a swank
suit, you’ll lead in fashion-rightness
—and with finesse.
© Western Newspaper Union.
TAFFETA WITH NET
By CHERIE NICHOLAS ”
Net enters into many phases of
the mode this season, not th'e least
important of which is its use for
daytime dresses and for tailored
themes, in contrast to its sprightly
bouifancy for full-skirted party
frocks. The very good-looking tail
ored afternoon dress here shown is
of black net of bemberg yarn band
ed with black taffeta. You’ll find
this gown a friend indeed all spring
and all summer. Just now it is ideal
to wsar under your coat. Top with
a gay little chapeau and you will
be ready to go anywhere social ap
pointments may call.
ACCESSORY NOTES
ON SPRING STYLES
Some of the trimmed sports
frocks this spring are made of
men’s shirting. Chambrays in dusty
roses, blues and olive greens,
brown cottons splashed with small
white figures and gray and white
striped silks make both dresses and
play suits combining skirt, blouse
and shorts (longer than last year).
Tucked bosoms and vests and pock
et acctnts whose 3tripes run con
trary to those in the blouse are
among the mannish accents which
have been borrowed for thes- fem
inine frocks.
Accessories hold a bright spot in
the spring style spotlight. Several
Fifth avenue shops display entire ac
cessory ensembles in patent leather.
Big patent leather bags, patent
leather daisy boutonnieres and
black suede shoes tipped with the
same shining leather are designed
to wear with suits.
Other accessory notes are twin
boutonnieres to be worn on each
lapel of a suit jacket. Sometimes
they are rich carnations of the
same color, again feather butter
flies with bright spots on their wings
and again gay feather fancies like
those worn in Tyrolian hats.
Romantic Motif Marks New
Gowns for Evening Wear
Embodying the glamour of the
era when Vienna danced to the
rhythms of Johann Strauss’ immort
al melodies, the new evening gowns
recapture the flowerlike grace of a
romantic century.
Starched nets and chiffons, white
and pastel colored organzas and
stiffened laces are the-most impor
tant fabrics and pastel colorings
are stressed. *
Bodices for the most part are
simple, many being adorned with
big clusters of chiffon flowers in
contrasting shades. Girdles are nar
row and emphasize slender waist
lines.
WHO'S NEWS
THIS WEEK...
By Lemuel F. Parton
yvfmmvvfmvmmw
EW YORK.—In 1933, Am
-L ^ bassador William E.
Dodd protested to Chancellor
Hitler against assaults on
Americans who failed to give
the Nazi salute. He made
these representations quietly
but emphatically. His protest
was effective.
Being naturally calm and tactful,
it is quite certain that he will not
aggravate the present difficulty as
his government calls Germany to
account tot press attacks on Amer
ica. But he is not spineless and
will not be merely a messenger boy.
He has disproved the assumption
that an ambassador to a major pow
er must be rich. "Just a poor his
torian,” he lives simply and rides
third class around Germany. He
says this is a much better way of
understanding Germany and know
ing the people than attending state
banquets—which he abhors.
The Germans like him and even
forgive his belief in democracy,
which he bluntly expresses when
such expression seems pertinent.
His doctor’s degree was obtained
at the University of Leipzig, and
one of his best books was a biog
raphy of Thomas Jefferson, written
in German. They have forgiven
that, too.
Most of his thirty years as a his
torian was spent at the University
of Chicago. When he was appointed
ambassador in June, 1933, he
smilingly expressed doubt about be
ing a diplomat. “The trouble is
that a historian has to tell the
truth,” he said. Two former am
bassadors to Germany, Bancroft
and White, were historians, but in
less troubled times. He has spoken
frankly, and has been only occa
sionally vilified, as when Julius
Streicher, Germany’s notorious
anti-Semite, slurred his family on
August 16, 193S.
"Just a Poor Historian.”
A native of North Carolina, he
keeps a little cottage down in the
Bine Ridge mountains, and drives
aronnd in a worn little old car when
he comes home. He likes ont of
doors and Is usually sun-tanned. He
la medium, somewhat athletic in
stature, with a look of keen aware
ness and competence, which softens
as he speaks—he is essentially a
humanist.
The failure of the League of Na
tions he regards as one of the trag
edies of mankind. He - has long
been a torch bearer for the Wil
sonian ideals, co-editor of “The
Works of Woodrow Wilson,” with
Ray Stannard Baker. He is a for
mer president of the American His
torical association, highly distin
guished and authoritative in his pro
fession. He is sixty-seven years old.
• • •
“Too Many Nice Boys.”
MR. TYLER DENNETT, presi
dent of Williams, says his col
lege is getting too many “nice
boys.” It was in 1929 that Profes
sor Robert E. Rogers of M. I. T.
told his class that the thing to do
was to ’‘be a snob and marry the
boss’ daughter.”
In 1934, he took it all back. A
graduate might be a snob cum
laude, but he was running an ele
vator just the same. Out in Min
nesota, a college dean recently
urged students to take postgraduate
courses in refined speech, dress and
decorum. It must be hard for the
youngsters to decide what to be or
do.
Dr. Dennett evidently doesn’t sug
gest “rowdy” as the alternative of
"nice.” What he seems to have in
mind is that Williams should draw
more from the main democratic
bloodstream, and not so much from
the blue-blood arteries. He thinks
the exclusive preparatory schools
are funneling too many students in
to Williams.
• • •
The Admiralty Speaks.
SIR SAMUEL HOARE, British
first lord of admiralty,. defends
his $500,000,000 naval plan and urges
the United States to build right
along with England—we are broth
ers. Already there is a yell over
here that England is, as usual, try
ing to get us to pull her chestnuts
out of the fire. But that's some
thing for the editorial page.
Sir Samuel, with his high-pitched
nasal voice, his long, sharp peda
gogue’s nose, his glassy eye, and
his way of laying things on the line,
is always good copy for the report
ers.
Simultaneoosly, he broke the il
lustrious and inquisitive nose, fig
ure-skating, and was eased out as
foreign minister because he was
too realistic about Ethiopia. His
comeback was amazing in its swift
ness. In a few months, he headed
the admiralty, and articulate and
dominant tory England had swung
to his view on Ethiopia.
His goldsmith ancestors founded
Ye Olde Golden Bottel bank in the
reign of Charles I. It is still owned
by five Hoares, with one of them
sleeping on the premises every
night as their ancient charter re
quires. Sir Samuel, it is believed,
never sleeps, with an eye never
closed on the empire where the sun
lever sets.
© Consolidated News Features.
WNU Servii e.
JlFeu?
Little i
JSmiles
QUITE SENSITIVE
The other day I heard of one of
these baby autos speeding 50 miles
an hour on one of our main high
ways. And every 50 feet the little
trinket would hop right up in the
air about five feet. A motor cop
finally overtook the midget motor
and brought it to a stop.
"What’s the big idea of that car
jumpin’ that a-way?” asked the cop.
The driver answered:
"Why, officer, there’s nothing
wrong with the car. You see, I—I’ve
got hie—the hiccups!”—Vancouver
Province.
Comatose Courtship
Bier—The Weavers are so quiet
tonight. Is there anything wrong?”
Gardiner—No; they’re always
that way. When he proposed he
just held up a diamond ring and
said "Eh?” and she looked at it
and said "Uh-huh.” — Pathfinder
Magazine.
Not to Be Put In Words
Said the bumptious young man;
"I’m a very good thought-reader;
I can tell exactly what anyone is
thinking.”
Said the other: “In that case, I
beg your pardon.”—Stray Stories
Magazine.
ACCOMMODATING
“You say Harry proposed to you
last evening?”
“Yes, and I accepted him.”
“Oh, my! I proposed to him to
day and he accepted me.”
Lucky
“Mr. Chairman, ” complained the
speaker, “I have been on my leet
for nearly ten minutes, but there
is so much interruption I can hard
ly hear myself speak.”
“Cheer up, my friend,” came a
voice from the rear, “you are not
missin’ much.”—Boys’ Life.
A Student of Publicity
“There is a time and a place for
everything.”
“Yes," answered Senator Sorg
hum, “and it’s rather unfortunate
that one of the most reliable ways
to attain publicity is to say some
thing at the wrong time in the
wrong place.”
Likes Night Life
Fred—I suppose your baby Is
eery fond of you?
Jack—Fond of me! Why, the lit
tle rascal sleeps all day long when
I'm at work so he can stay up
nights and enjoy my company.—
Pathfinder Magazine.
Different Methods
Judge—How long have you been
driving?
Motorist—Ten years.
“But you have had a license for
only one year.”
“I drove horses the other nine.”—
Houston Post.
Useless Fabrication
Young Writer—The art in telling
a story consists of knowing what
to leave unsaid.
Married Friend—It doesn’t make
much difference, my boy. My ex
perience is that she finds out any
way.
HIGHBROWS
First Mouse—I’m very fond of
Dickens!
Second Mouse—I find encyclope
dias more to my taste!
Poor Fellow
Tramp—Kin you let me have a
cake o’ soap, mum?
Housewife—Do you mean to tell
me that you really want some
soap?
Tramp—Yes, mum. Me pardner’s
got the hiccups an’ I want to scare
him.
Higher Up
The gallant captain was showing
the fair maid over the ship.
“This," he explained, “is called
the quarterdeck.”
“Indeed!” rejoined the sweet girl
graduate. "And where is the 50-cem
leek?”—Indiananolis ■'lar
AROUND
the HOUSE;
Items of Interest
the Housewife
Cooking Vegetables — A small
piece of butter added to the water
in which vegetables are to
be cooked will prevent them from
boiling over.
• • •
Flavoring Gravy — Half milk
and half water makes the best
colored and best flavored gravy.
• * •
Suede Shoes — Rain spots can
be removed from suede shoes by
rubbing with fine emery board.
• * •
Boiling Cabbage — When you
cook cabbage, put a small hand
ful of breadcrumbs tied in muslin
into the pan. The bread absorbs
all the bitter juices and makes
the vegetable more digestible.
* * •
Worn Socks —Children very of
ten get enormous holes in the heels
of their socks. This is often due to
the lining of the shoe which has
worn rough. If the ragged bits
are cut off and the inside of the
shoe covered with adhesive tape,
many a large “hole” will be pre
vented.
• * *
Sausage and Fried Apples —
Pan broil the required number of
small sausages or cakes of sau
sage meat and as soon as the fat
collects, add as many halved,
cored and unpeeled apples as re
Ask Me Another
0 A General Quiz
<g) Bell Syndicate.—WNU Service.
1. Who are the Pariahs?
2. What measure does “dm.”
indicate?
3. Where was Libby prison?
4. Why are some trees called
deciduous?
5. What was the origin of salut
ing?
6. When was the first wireless
distress signal used at sea?
7. Which is the world’s longest
railway tunnel used by passenger
trains?
8. When is a person taller,
when lying down or standing up?
9. Is it illegal for a United
States’ President to take the oath
of office on Sunday?
10. When was the first silver dol
lai coined?
11. What is the meaning of cover
charge?
12. From where does Troy
weight get its name?
Answers
1. Members of an aboriginal
non-Brahmanic race of India;
hence “outcasts.”
2. Decimeter.
3. Richmond, Virginia.
4. Trees which are not ever
greens are called deciduous. II
is derived from the Latin “de,"
meaning down, and “cadere,”
meaning fall; and refers to the
falling of the leaves.
5. It is said to date back to the
Borgias, when inferiors, coming
into the presence of their supe
riors, raised their hands to show
no dagger was concealed.
6. January 23, 1909, when White
tar liner “Republic” collided
with the “Florida.” It was not
S O S but C Q D.
7. Golders Green to South Wim
bledon, London. Total length 16%
miles.
8. When lying down. As much
as an inch has been noted.
9. No. President Wilson did so.
10. In 1794.
11. A charge made for the privi
lege of occupying a place at a
cafe or restaurant. It does not
include the cost of the food con
sumed.
12. From Troyes, France, where
the weights were used in the Mid
dle ages.
quired, first dipping them in floor
to which a little sugar has been
added. Saute slowly until soft and
browned. Place on a serving dish,
with two small sausages on each
half.
• • •
Ironing Shirts — Soft collars at
tached to shirts should be ironed
on the right side first, then on
the wrong side. This prevents
wrinkling the collar.
• • •
Baking Potatoes — Before put
ting potatoes in the baking-tin,
stand them in boiling water for
a few minutes, then drain on a
clean cloth. They will cook more
quickly and taste better.
• • •
Making a Footstool — Do yoa
know that you can make unique
footstools out of the single spring
seats of an old automobile? Cover
the old seat with upholstery and
attach castors at the four corners.
This will give you a comfortable
seat or footstool for your summer
cottage.
• • •
Cocoa Egg Cake Filling — White
of one egg; one cup icing sugar;
two teaspoons cold water; four
tablespoons cocoa; half teaspoon
vanilla. Beat white of egg until
stiff and dry. Mix cocoa and sugar,
add cold water. Add gradually to
egg white until thick enough to
spread.
• • *
Washing Embroidery — Do not
wring embroidery after washing.
Press out as much moisture as
possible between the folds of a
towel, then spread on a towel or
blotter to dry, face up.
WNU Service.
INSIST ON GENUINE
O-CEDAR
Don’t take chances! Use only
genuine O-Cedar Polish—
fkvorite of housekeepers the
Jworld over for 30 years.
O-Cedar protects and .
preserves furniture,
prevents spider*
web checking.
/
0(edar
POLISH
MOPS • WA)
GLADS
ISO Gladiolus Bulbs St SIM
SO standard. 6 Special FtiiSw
Prepaid In U. S. only.
Dspt. B
CLASSIFIED
DEPARTMENT
BABY CHICKS
TOM BARRON'S. Strain White Leghorn
Chicks. If you like large Leghorns and
large eggs change to this great strain thia
year. Many of our breeding males are
from Imported stock whose dams have
egg records up to 313. Beautiful circular
free. HEATWOLE'S ENGLISH LEGHORN
FARM, BOX W, HARRISONBURG, VA.
AGENTS
AGENTS*** WE FINANCE YOU men.
women, small towns. Full or spare time.
Good income. 25c Brings sample or write
for free details. Huntress, 20 Rosewood.
Mattapan, Mass.
PHASE ACCEPT
GAME CARVING SET
for only 25c with your purchase 1
of one can of B. T. Babbitt’s
Nationally Known Brands of Lye
This is the Carving Set you need
for steaks and game. Deerhom de
sign handle fits the hand perfectly.
Knife blade and fork tines made of
fine stainless steel. Now offered for
only 25c to induce you to try the
brands of lye shown at right.
Use them for sterilizing milking
machines and dairy equipment
Contents of one can dissolved in 17
gallons of water makes an effective,
inexpensive sterilizing solution.
Buy today a can of any of the lye
brands shown at right Then send
the can band, with your name and
address and 25c to B. T. Babbitt,
Inc., Dept. W.K., 386 4th Ave.,
New York City. Your Carving Set
will reach you promptly, postage
Send today while the supfdy
OFFER OOOD WITH ANY BRANS
SHOWN BELOW
#
TEAR OUT THIS ADVERTISEMENT AS A REMINDER