Evening star., 1937-05-28
MAGIC EXHIBITION
TO AID CHILDREN
P.-7. A. Benefit for Under
privileged Set Fer Week
of June ID.

Washington's underprivileged school
children who are furnished clothing
anu shoes by the Student Aid COM
nuttee of the District Parent-Teacher
Association.
plans for the shows, to be presented
Dune 14-l9, inclusive, were disclosed
today by Mrs. Walter B. Frye, PIT. A.
persldent, Mrs. E. j. DoWling, chair
man of the Student Aid Committee;
Mrs. William A. Meyer, chairman of
the PIT. A. Ways and Means Com
naittee, and Charles w. ToVnsley, vice
President of the Washington branch
Of the Society of American Magicians
The shows will be presented by vet
efan magicians under auspices Of the
P-T. A.
For many years. the committee
work has been notable in Washington,
with the organized school mothers
Contributing their time and work for
the relief of children who lack suffi-
Client clothing either to be properly
and healthfully clad or to be pre-
sentable before their classmates.
The exhibition of magic-designed
with full-hedged stage illusions and
equipment and magicians trained to
rlIal the displays of Blackstone and
keller-will be staged on successive
nights of the week beginning Mon
day, June IA, with a matinee per-
formance on the following Saturday
fot the benefit of Washington's school
children.
Stage Arrangements.
ToWnsley, assisted by other mem
bers of the Society of American Ma
eicians, will make all stage arrange
ments for the show and conduct 1t
with the wares of the magicians art
now being assembled here from all
parts Of the country.
Among those collaborating with
Tovnsley are Robert Mainfort Of
Alexandria, Va, Central High gradu-
ate and now student at George
Washington University, described as
genius" at card manipulation, with
stage presence that rivals the pro-
feSionals, and Comdr. Charles C..
at Annapolis. Comdr. Slayton Is a
member of the society.
A series of shows for the benefit
Of all of Washington was decided
upon unanimously last Tuesday at a
meeting of parent-teacher leaders
In collaboration with Townsley, who
has long been interested in the Stu
dent Aid Committees work
Last year." said Mrs. Frye. "the
Student Aid Committee helped 1,1OO
school children and from a separate
iund purchased shoes for 900 others.
The requests for help have been so
heavy, however, that We have had to
buy more clothing than usual.
THE purpose of the magic shows
y to supply the PIT. A. organization
with fund with which to begin
this work in September, when the
children return to school. We are
literally deluged with requests for
aid each year just before the opening
OF school. These calls come from dis
dressed parents, who are unable to
clothe their children properly so that
they may attend classes"
The shoe fund constitutes the only
outside contribution. 1t comes from
the Community Chest. The clothes
come from bundle days" held at
schools throughout the city during
the school year, when children with
available old and used clothing bring
It to school, This clothing Is then
turned over to the Aid Committee, and
each Wednesday the PIT. A. mothers
spend most Of the day sewing, other
wise repairing and distributing the
apparel from the Park View School,
Warder street and Newton place.
Citizens Aid Asked.
s'"We are calling upon all of Wash
Mgton,' Mrs. Frye declared, "to help
n this cause. The $4,000 members
OF the PIT. A. are devoting their
time and personal services to the
work without compensation.
s'Our goal Is $4,000, which we trust
Will be realized from the magic shows.
This will give us the start We need
and help us through the year"
Mrs. Dowling has been chairman Of
the Student Aid Committee for the
last ii years. "One of our jobs right
now" she pointed out, "is to help
some OF the students secure their
graduation apparel. We are outitting
one girl at the present time"
This isn't all of our work. she
said. I'VE often get in touch with
thRpublic welfare agencies when we
make visits and find cases of actual
punser, privation and the threat of
diSpossession from home, the lack of
p1oper medical care and children who
dohot get enough milk to drink daily"
-1IoWnsley said I'VE plan to present
'4,EKery high grade show, bringing into
Namany talented magicians of the
washington area, all of them men who
fAve studied and practiced the arts of
ns9glc for many years. Our stage
equipment and illusions will be OF the
WY best, because We are acquiring it
1non professional sources"
Use of the National Theater was
secured for the week of June IA
thrpugh the efforts of Edmund Plohn,
Ns~manager, who made arrangements
for the exhibition of magic with the
Erbnger estate, owners of the theater,
Mea trip to New York this week.
Meanwhile, pledges of support have
been received from school, business
end civic leaders throughout the city,
aaswell as the PIT. A.
Tickets will be placed on sale in
few days, in cooperation with the
Merchants and Manufacturers Asso-
et4tion, governmental departments,
sis4c clubs, hotels and ticket bureas.
C@nplete plans for the sale will be
announced later.
ia. A. URGES MOTORISTS
10 AVOID MEXICO NOW
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