The sun. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1937-1972, January 19, 1945, Image 3
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.