Evening star., 1937-04-25
This kite flying is a serious business

This kite flying is serious business.
Complications developed on the
Monument Grounds yesterday aft
ernoon after awards were made in the
annual kite contest of the Department
of Fairgrounds held under auspices
Of the District of Columbia Model
Aircraft League.
A group of boys from Happy Hollow
| Playground appeared in open revolt
against the judges who declared Ralp
Norcia of Rosedale Playground winner
| in the workmanship class.
While the Happy Hollowites con-
ceded point of beauty to the Norcia
boys kite, Tommy Southall, of 1918
Eighteenth street, claimed the kite
made and flown by Timmy Mullins,
boy from Puerto Rico, should have
won similar honors, because Timmy
had fashioned the kite in Is minutes
time and its workmanship was superb.
AS 1t was. Timmy's kite-an unusual
one and the noisiest one on the lot
got only consolation prize for
performance. Even at that, these
boys admitted Norcia's kite was
beauty; but they still clamored for
recognition
Outgrowth Of it is, the Happy Hollow
gang intends to rig up another kite
on the same order, fancy it up a bit,
and issue formal challenge to the
winner of yesterdays contest. They
demand satisfaction.
Knows About Kites.
1--WE been flying kites since I was
eight years old" Tommy Southall
Dragged, and know something about
kites
Tommy is about IA. was born in
Virginia, and cited the fact that he
learned how to fly kites from his
uncle, who was the champion kite
flyer Of the Lynchburg district. Once
Tommy's uncle flew kite all night
through storm: He tied it out there
to the barn." Tommy said, "and
next morning when he woke up there
was the kite still flying. That's what
I call kite flying"
Ralph Norcia overheard some of the
slams aimed at his kite and its per-
formance, but he was too busy basking
in the limelight to pay any attention to
the Happy Hollow groups grumbles.
Ralph lives over at lila Sixth street
northeast.
After hearing all Happy Hollow COM
plants, Richard Tennyson, of the
Fairgrounds Department, decided to
mollify the gang-and gave them a
red, white. and blue ribbon for the
performance of their Spanish-noise-
making kite.
The boys walked away in disgust
If that ribbon wasn't red white and
blue I'd throw it away" Tommy
Southall said, but that wouldn't be
very patriotic, would it? And it hasn't
even got any gold letters on it-like
the other ribbons"
More than 1000 kites were entered
in the contest, and SO were flown on
the Monument Grounds where the
main attraction was a father and son
contest.
That, too. had possibilities. of war
fare-and this morning, undoubtedly
some of the fathers will have a lot OF
explaining to do, for the sons certainly
will tell their mothers how the boys
of yesterday behaved.
Oldsters Back Number.
Hold it up" father shouted to
his son. Hold it up high. What's
the matter with you. Are you afraid
Of it?"
The boy dropped the kite: "Show
me how you want me to hold It," he
said.
The father ran down the lot, grabbed
the kite of the ground and held it
aloft: Like this" he said.
That's the way I was holding it,
the boy said.
mo, you we're holding it like this. u
the father said, and changed position
Of the kite A gust Of wind whipped
the kite out of the mans hand: What
did you do that for?" he yelled.
What did do?"
pulled that kite out of my hand" )"
Thus it went, fathers trying to show
their boys how to fly kites and boys
proving they knew more about 1t than
the men.
Four other locations were used by
the Department Of Fairgrounds for
the kite contest-two sections at Ana
costa Park, near the Eleventh Street
Bridge; Garrett Park on Garrett Park
road and Banneker Recreation Center
Georgia avenue and Euclid.
Kites Of many sizes and types flew
under skies that threatened rain any
time. Contestants came from the -four
sections Of town, from Maryland and
Virginia and some from foreign lands
children Of the Embassies. There