Imperial Valley press., 1937-05-23


81 it miracuously did not explode Indeed there
s1 seems to be guardian angel watching over
young Macmillan Romberg that gives credence
to the rumors that he bears a charmed life. But the
ove of his wife has helped him keep out of reach of
the Grim Reaper several times. Panic stricken wit
nesses summoned doctors and ambulances but again
the Baron had escaped unharmed The Baron while
telling of the accident to a group of reporters was
Outwardy calm, His clothes not mussed,
only the hair the back of his head was slightly
snged and he laughingly explained that he had been
on his way to Los Angeles for haircut anyway.
The more imaginative of the Baron's friends have
occasionally wondered if the young sportsman
secretly some charm amulet-a kind of
mascot believed by some men engaged in dangerous
adventures to ward off disaster Throughout history
heroes and daring leaders have placed instructive
far in the protection of certain symbolic embems
very much like prehistoric valued Shells
coral, teeth, and colored stones although among
civilized the supersttious part of the practice
has largely disappeared
One reason given for the wearing of such lucky"
amuets is that like attracts like and that the effect
must resemble its cause. modern example is the
hoof of the mountain goat-a surefooted animal
whose sharp feet are valued by Alpine climbers as
curious charm against falling. In the tropics beads
resembling teeth are often hung around the necks
Of children to prevent their teeth falling out
The custom of carrying charms is hidden in
antiquity In many countries they believed to
have fallen from the sky-and such objects as ar
rowheads were kept to preserve people from light
ming Among the early Celts great variety Of
amuets were popular and in sections of Scot
land and Ireland still reveranced. In France
and England certain people cling to the old fashion
and wear the tiny symbolic wheel of the god
semi-precious pebbles the teeth of wild
boar, and even pieces of dark amber. Indian
amulets are common throughout the Far East
and IN northern India almost every man of high
z social position wears jeweled leaf around his
neck-an amulet supposed to have descended
from indra's heaven.
Because Of the Baron's deep interest in avia-
ton his friends have decided that if he does
wear some rare and ancient amulet, it is prob
10 ably a miniature golden wheel a silent tri-
butte 10 the sun god-the great red circle in the
ts sky toward which he so often flies.
as That up 10 the present time of writing, COM
n pletes the list of outstanding narrow escapes
b. from sudden death the Baron has had in his
~ youthful but dangerous career. Now, since he is
IN temporarily without plane he has acquired a
n new string OF ponies and is again playing polo
II Better the experts say than before his concus-
is sion. Between thrills he has been working hard
1n az his photography so skillful has he become
a that his pictures have appeared in the leading
be magazines throughout the country, and upon
ID merit alone he vas appointed Photographic edi.
tor of his wife's magazine Now although they
. live apart, they work together And they nave
Se announced that tn the fall when the new. house
as the Baron Ia building Is completed there will be
r. reconciliation and this time they are confident
HnaH alrN HHn.m han Ia aFf.