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b Looking at HOLLmOD I 'M GOING to leave my Hollywood * beat this time in order to share with you a letter from "Spec” Mc Clure, formerly of my staff and now serving with our army in Belgium. I have found no finer expression of what our soldiers think about and their hopes for the post-war world. The army nurse to whom Spec pays tribute in this letter was Frances Slanger, who was killed by a German shell October 21, 1944, just a few hours after she had mailed to Stars and Stripes her open letter expressing her appreciation of the fighting men she served. Spec’s letter follows: “Dear Miss Hopper: It is late afternoon, and here the earth is rela tively quiet—as quiet, one might say, as the army can ever be—a thrum of distant motors; perhaps a friendly if loud argument or two; perhaps a lone G.I. grievously ad dressing his Maker over the latest exasperation. . . . "I have intended writing you something of entertainment here, but since morning I have been think ing of a dead girl whom I never knew but whom I, doubtless along with countless others, felt I knew. “She was an army nurse, and a few weeks ago, in answer to the blessings the wounded and dying had heaped upon her kind, she wrote an open letter to the men. It ap peared in our Stars and Stripes. And it was a model of a selfless devotion, a humanity, and an in tegrity one thinks extinct. . . . • “She wrote as a G.I. Jane to a G.I. Joe deeply involved in a bloody business called war, asking not for understanding, expecting no mercy, but giving to her limits in both. Comradeship “And we knew there wasn’t a false word in the letter. . . . We knew it for our world., and we grinned in appreciation, knowing that we read the letter of t\ girl already dead, and her words fixed beyond altera tion. They were sealed with her blood. . . . “During this war, as both civilian and soldier, I’ve seen ideals tram pled in the mud by those who most profess to uphold them. I have seen this too often to have much faith left. And I have seen, as all who make an honest effort must, a thou sand forms of betrayal and stupid ity. And in weariness I hswe told myself a thousand times nothing re mained to believe in—that the an cient enemies of mankind—greed and ignorance—were too great for our mortal strength to conquer. But now I know that this is not alto gether right. . . . One Ray of Hope “For somewhere in the sordid, self ish, shameful business that makes up most of our petty lives there is a nobility that will not- perish. And men declaring that nothing is worth fighting for are known to die with their faces to the enemy, refuting by their action the words their lips have shaped. ' “And I have seen too many graves of those who, loving life as dearly as I love it, nevertheless died in or der that something might keep on living. . . . “They say this war is won and the victory is ours. I believe it is. They speak of winning the peace. That remains to be seen. But this I do believe: If the common atti tude is not changed, if greed is not uprooted and sincerity restored to life, if a man’s ideals are less than his purse, and the graves are for gotten, we will not have won the war; we will not have won the peace; we will have rather lost the world. . . . My love, SPEC.” Thanks That Count Following is part of Frances Slanger’s open letter to Stars and Stripes, written just before the shell- Hig began which took her life: “For a change, we want the men to know what we think of them. . . . I’m writing this by flashlight. The G.I.s say we rough it, but we in our little tent can’t see it. We wade ankle deep in mud. You have to lie in it. . . . We have a stove and coal. We even have a laundry line m the tent. Our G.I. drawers are at this moment doing the dance of the pants, what with the wind howl ing, the tent waving precariously, the rain beating down, the guns fir ing. . . . “Sure we rough it. But you, the men behind the guns, driving our tanks, flying our planes, sailing our ships, building bridges, and the men who pave the way and the men who were left behind—it is to you we doff our helmets.” Frances Slanger is buried in a military cemetery, flanked on either side by the fighting men she served. Precautionary For the closing scene of “Love Letters,” Joe Gotten and Jennifer Jones walk into the sunset. William Dieterle kept saying, “Put a little more feeling into it, Joe.” Just then an electric cord started burning, and Dieterle said, “What smells?” Quickly Gotten replied, “Don’t any body answer that!” ... Joan Loring, that fine little actress that Warners signed up on a long term contract, goes into “Three Strangers,” with Geraldine Fitzgerald, Sydney Green street and Peter Lorre HOW WILL- YOU HAVE YOUR POSTWAR CAR? The society of Automotive Engi neers wants suggestions from the public on the construction of post war cars. It has sent out the follow ing list of questions, to which Elmer Twichell has appended answers: 1— Should automobile bodies be made longer or more compact so they could be parked easier? Ans.—Shorten them up, boys! And how’s about installing a swivel so they can be folded in the middle? • 2— What Is the better type of body, the standard flve-passenger, four- door sedan or the model with two large doors? Ans.—That two-door buggy is okay only for gymnasts and contortion ists. And when you open one of those doors you are practically establish ing a roadblock. • 3— Should headroom be sacri ficed for a low, rakish roof? Ans.—Are you kidding? Liower that roof another quarter-inch and only a turtle can be comfortable in it. You might keep the roof where it is, but cut holes in it for heads and hats. * * • 4— Would an air-conditioning unit for summertime be worth the extra cost? Ans.—It depends on the extra cost. Personally I think it a mistake to make the autoist any more com fortable. He seems to be asleep most of the time now. Has he become too lazy to open a window? • 5— Does the windshield construc tion and design permit vision clear enough for safe driving? Ans.—Now you’re on a vital mat ter, mister. The primary need is a new type of windshield glass to which no sticker can stick. A wind shield should be a windshield, not a combination filing cabinet, bill board and wastebasket. A driver should no longer be in doubt whether what he sees direct ly ahead cf him is a pedestrian or his tire certificate. And no sunset is improved if the sun appears to be setting behind his toll-„ate sticker. Federal auto tax and parking-space stamp. • 6— Has ornamentation gone too far? Has too mnch attention been paid to fancy hardware, fancy shapes, contours, etc.? Ans.—It is high time to draw a line somewhere between automo biles and nightclub bar fixtures. Ra diator ornaments should srem less like meathooks. And those door knobs rip a lot of garments. • 7— Should the new cars be so de signed as to place the driver far ther front or farther back? Ans.—Further back! He seldom sees the red lights from where he ts now! • • • THE PRIVATE PAPERS OF PRIVATE PURKEY Dear Harriet— Well Congressman Clare Luce came to the front and fired a howit zer, but them Germans is still re sisting and it looks like we would have to try something else. I was very diserpointed by the results. Miss Luce fired the gun okay. Her form was good and her rhythm was pretty fair. Also so far as we know the gun was alright. We all waited hreatherlessly on account of this was the first time any gun with so much person ality behind it had been used in the war. Also never before had a gunner been so perfectly dressed, with no flaw 'in the style nowhere. The lady wore a regulation officers coat and pants, with ski-shoes, wool en socks, a dotted kerchief with muffler to match and earrings. (It was the first experiment with earrings by either side so far.) * • • Well, like I said we all waited for big results but nothing special happened. There was the same ex plosion, roar and distant explosion blit no white flags. Sergent Moon ey says the Krauts did not know who was firing that howitzer and that our side fell down in not notify ing them. He says if the Krauts had anybody a half as good looking as Clare Luce behind a gun Goeb- bels would of been warning the whole world about it for weeks in advance. • I feel better about the whole war. I hope Miss Luce sticks around and that in the next campaign we get Mrs. Lydig Hoyt and Lana Turner. All my love, Oscar. • • • Caught Napping It never fails to raffle me When neighbors do their carpentry On Sunday afternoons the minute The crib at last has “Junior” in it. It may be they have tried, but can- Not love their little fellowman Who blithely wakes them up at dawn Before they’re even set to yawn. Perhaps they feel the sprightly chap Has proved he doesn’t need a nap By acting like Vesuvius, But. holy smoke, his mother does! A REAL LOSS The usual gossip was being en joyed over the back-garden fence. “Did you hear about the row at No. 17 last night?” said the lady at No. 3. “No; what was it?” asked her neighbor at No. 5 eagerly. “Well, she broke a chair over her husband's head, but I hear she’s very sorry for it now.” “Pity she didn’t think before she did it then.” “Yes,” sighed No. 3; ’it was one of her best chairs.” FINE MIXTURE Jimmy—Give me a penny’s worth of mixed candy. Clerk—Here are three pieces. You can mix them yourself. Times Have Changed Mrs. Newlywed—Last Christmas I hung up my stocking for Christ mas, but next time I’ll just have to hang up an empty bottle. Hubby—How come? Mrs. N.—I'm wearing leg make up. Among the Clergy Baptist Preacher — I don’t like your Methodist system of church government. It has too much ma chinery about it. Methodist Ditto — Yes, but then you see it doesn’t take nearly so much water to run it! Results of Food Englishman (surveying a field of oats)—Oats is a grain which in Eng land is generally given to horses, but in Scotland it supports the peo ple. Scotchman (enthusiastically)— Yes, and where in the world will you find such horses and such men! Let ’Em Grow City Boy—These eggs are too small. Grocer—They’re fresh from the country. C. B.—That’s the trouble. Those farmers pick their eggs too soon. On the Avenne Stranger (at the door)—Is Mr. Smith at home? Maid—Which one, sir? There are two brothers living here, sir. Stranger—The one who has a sis ter living in Milwaukee. Music Lesson Lettie—Who is making that infer nal jangle on the piano? Nettie—That’s Betty at her exer cises. Lettie—Tell her to get her exer cise some other way! Relatives Grandma (despondently) — Well, darling, I shall not be a nuisance to you and John much longer. Granddaughter (reassuringly)— Don’t talk that way, grandma, you know you will! NOT LOVESICK He—I’m just what the doctor ordered for you. She—Get away from me, you pill! Any Meat For Sale? Jack—According to this all butch ers have rheumatism. Mac—I don’t get it. Jack—Well, this article says rheu matism causes a man to imagine his joints are much larger than they really are! School Daze Teacher—Name three hardships Columbus had while on his jour neys of exploration. Bright Scholar—The Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria. School Daze Harold—What time is it, please? I’m invited to a party and my watch isn’t going. Gerald — Wasn’t your watch in vited? Daffynltion Polly—What is “executive ability?” Dolly—I’d say it is the art of get ting credit for all the hard work somebody else does. School Daze Tess—I’ll be over at your house about eight o’clock tonight. Bess—Okay. If I'm studying when you come, wake me up! Revised Etiquette She—Is it bad luck to postpone a wedding? He—Not if you keep on postponing it. Family Affairs HI—My cousin Bill is going to marry a pretty girl and a good cook. Si—He can’t do that: it’s bigamy! Amateur Cooks Cora—How long did you cook the spaghetti? Dora—Oh, about 10 inches. SEWING CIRCLE PATTERNS Well-Fitting Slip for Larger Figure 8738 36-52 Slenderizing Slip AN IDEAL slip for the slightly heavier figure. This well fit ting slip has darts to give it figure- hugging lines, and built-up shoul ders that stay put. Nicely tailored panties make an attractive ensem ble. • • • Pattern No. 8738 cornel In atzes 38. 38, 40. 43, 44. 48. 48. SO and S3. Size 38. slip and pantie. require! 4‘i yards ot 33 or 39- tnch material. Due to an unusually large demand and current war conditions, slightly more time is required in Ailing orders tor a few of the most popular pattern humbers. SEWING CIRCLE PATTERN DEPT. 330 South Wells St. Chicago Enclose 23 cents In coins for each pattern desired. Pattern No Size Name Address Ingenious London Pillboxes Decei ved Even the Natives London is now demolishing the many pillboxes ’erected in 1940 to defend the city against invasion, says Collier’s. Although concrete fortifications, they were never de tected by the aerial cameras of the enemy, being ingeniously cam ouflaged as newsstands, informa tion booths and similar small structures. For some time, they even de ceived passers-by, despite having such facetious signs as: “Closed on Sundays; not open during the week.” Sen-Gay QWCK\ • Get this teat, welcome relief from muscular pain and ache! Soothing, gently warming Ben-Gay contains up to 2 Vi times more methyl salicylate and menthol—famous pain-i dieving agents your doctor knows about—than five other widely offered rub-ins. That’s why it’s sq fast •••so soothing. Always insist on genuine Ben-Gay! Copyright. 1944, by Thos. Itmlns * Co^ lac. . Ben Gay -THE ORIGINAL ANALGES!QUE BAUME 'PAIN f RHEUMATISM ] THERE'S ALSO tr A/cO for' s NEURALGIA , MILD BEN GAY I AND 1 ~ -nr.. FOR CHILDREN PEC i - - < , ■ •-' ‘ .V r I _ ri rl Workman:....s- / Guaranteed Ma.enals and W , ^ Prompt Service Tread on Any * S Famous firestone Ge 4 Grade A Quality Camelback ^ r- . vu-rhods Used Ercclus.veW Any Make Tire 5 AApthods useu Factory Memo ^ Extro Tread 0 Safety, Longer Mileog J Other Sizes Proportionately Low NO RATION CERTIFICATE REQUIRED LET US HELP YOU KEEP YOUR CAR IN SERVICE 1. Oriqlaal laspectioa Onr strict inspection standard! are designed to eelect only those tiros that justify additional labor and material. 4. Ceiaelbeck Firestone Grads A Oamolback mads with Flrsstons’s exclusive Ingredient, “Mutae,” gives prewar mileage to passenger tires. 2. Beffley Firestone’s Dyna-Balanos buffing equip ment assures finished treaded tires which con form to the highest bal ance require ments. 5. Cerlsq Firestone’s treading cures are governed by strlot specifications developed by Firestone Laboratories and controlled with precision equipment. patches special sepals method* eomblne to produeo tho highest qual ity work tea broken o* weakened laspecHeo Only thoso tlrea whieh conform to Firestone’* high stand* ards of quality are permitted to pass tho strict final inspection. SAME HIGH QUALITY METHODS FOR TRUCK AND TRACTOR TIRES See 'Zfiour 'HerziStf f pire&to*ic 'Dealer Store or ^creotone Store Listen to tie Voice of Firestone every Monday evening, over N. B. C.