Evening star., 1939-04-23
Capital SideIights
BIZ viii p. Kennedy

Congress has its own Charlie Nc
Carthy." The Edgar Bergen Of the team
Is Representative Paul w. Shafer of
Michigan and the wisecracking dummy"
is John McCabe, chief page on the Re-
publican side Of the House. Johnny is
feet inches in height and sits COM
fortably on the knee Of Shafer, who is
Johnny was in vaudeville for eight years
before coming to Congress. doing mono
logues and a dance act. Shafer, who is
remembered on Capitol Hill for putting
on last year the first big food show In his
Office suite, has also had considerable
experience as an entertainer. He was
for years In the newspaper business as
reporter and cartoonist. He was popular
in amateur theatricals, gave chalk talks,
made animated cardboard cutouts and
did sleight- -of-hand tricks, His particu-
lar pal is Jimmy Creighton, who with his
wife, Blanche, was big-time vaudeville
attraction. They are now running pop
ular Fiddle and Bow eating place in
Battle Creek. Shafer and Creighton be-
long to the Royal Order Of testers and
put on shows regularly for their society.
They have also entertained for the Guild
of Pipe Organ bumpers, which Shafer's
brother organized. The team of Shafer
and McCabe have been making a big
hit in the House cloak rooms with their
Charlie Mccarthy skit. Their first pub
lie appearance was at the smelt dinner
recently given by Representative Fred
Bardeley Of Michigan. But the real
"try-out" for expert criticism is to be
made today when they do their stunt
before the vaudeville headliners-Jimmy
and Blanche Creighton-who have come
to the Capital as Representative Shafer's
guests.
Q. What State in the Union has been
under 10 flags? A. Louisiana. The in
formation Is furnished by Representative
Bob Mouton of Louisiana, who during
the past week staged State fair in his
office suite, which included some of the
exhibits which will be displayed at the
Century of Progress Exposition in New
York. Mr.. Mouton, who Is considered
the greatest lover of flowers in Congress
and who has lectured to garden clubs
and florist societies over the country, has
also been giving illustrated lectures on
the beauty spots Of Louisiana. He has
attracted more than 10000 visitors to his
State fair and movies during the past
week. The movies included "The Azalea
Trail" Spring Fiesta" "New Orleans
Madri Gras," Bayou Beauties" water
Scapes," "The Miracle of Magnolias."
Lets Go Fishing" THE Jardins de
Mouton," and "The Lures of Louisiana" )"
This has been one of the most popular
exhibits and shows given at the Capitol
for many years. The 10 flags that have
flown over Louisiana are described by
Mr.. Mouton as follows: Flag Of CASTLE
and Leon, carried by Columbus and Her
ncndo de Soto; flag of Kingdom of
France, raised by De la Sale; Nag of
Bourbon Spain, raised by O'Reilly, 1859:
the Union Jack flew over West Florida
in 1853; French tricolor, flown for only
20 days, 1903; the 15-striped flag of the
United States, raised on December 20.
1903; West Florida's Lone Star flag, Sep
tember, 1910; Louisiana's own national
banner was flown for few days In 1861:
Stars and Bars of the Confederacy, 1861
until 1865; since 1865, Old Glory has
been the only banner over Louisiana.