The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-10

VdOCA 4dVCAs <Av a signal, "Jim" flies onto a de- signated persons shoulder, or opens a book, or turns a key in 8 lock. or pecks out letters on type- writer.
 It is even rumored that he could pinch-hit 8 newspaper column, but refrains from doing so, in order not to encroach upon the trained seals.
 Jim comes from a nest in Red Rock Canyon in the Mojave Des- ert, where Twiford discovered him and educated him. They are deeply attached to each other. Hwiford confides that an impor- tant factor in traini- 2 raven or any other featherea lgeling is to avoid handling them, for this terrif1es and breaks their spirit.
 "A birds feathers secrete oils to keep them waterproof and stroking them removes this oil" quoth the raven trainer. There fore, they have an instinctive fear of being touched. And a bird can't be trained if kept outside 8 house. It must be kept in the company of human beings-so, eventually, it can regard them as of its own kind!"
 And, oh yes, Twiford believes that Poe's raven uttering "Never- more" probably was 8 magpie or 8 minah bird. He insists that a raven cannot be taught to speak. SOUNDPROOF WALLS
 IN TUNEFUL TAVERN
 The most musicianly hotel in New York is the Ansonia, on upper Broadway, opposite Verdi Square. An old hostelry, built in the European architectural man. ner, it has been a home for count less stars of the musical world and of other worlds of art.
 Lauritz Melchior lives on one floor. Elmer Rice lives just above him - they don't disturb each other. Pianists like Paderewski, turbulent violinists like Heifetz, dropped in for the night or year and practiced to their hearts con- tent in their own suites without complaints by the other tenants. This is because long ago the An- sonia, anticipating a musical cli- entele, sound-proofed many walls to avoid a cacaphony down the corridor.
 Yehudi Menuhin always taps on the walls of any hotel with his knuckles to check on the sound-proofing, for he is fidgety about annoying the neighbors (who often pay $10 to hear his concerts.) At the Ansonia, he feels sure enough without investigation. PLUSH LIFE
 OF HOBO KING
 The incomparable Dorothy Par ker will do a column for 8 new Manhattan tabloid to be publish ed soon. The other night, some one suggested to the acidulous lady-wit that it would be a tough job. Whereupon Miss Parker quipped, tits a cinch. I can do 1t with my ears shut"
 George Jessel accepted an hon. orary order from the hobo leader, Jeff Davis, the other day. In ac- knowledgement, Jessel remarked, "I'm no fool-I'm not letting a few weeks work go to my head!"
 That Jeff Davis, by the way, is an unusual hobo. Drawing 8 steady income from itinerants' tales that appear under his by line, from lectures and other hobo sources, he stops in New York's higher-priced hotels, dimes at the better restaurants, likes night clubs, dresses nattily and slaves every day. He likes to hob-nob with celebrities and confers al- most as many honorary orders up- on them as Kentucky hands out. SHE COULD MARBLE
 "AULD LANG SWING"
 Marian Anderson went to the Cotton Club one night to hear her friend, Cab Galloway, carry on in his Minnie the Moocher" style and hurried out before the lights went up.
 In departing, the singer whom Toscanini called the greatest of the generation" stopped for 8 brief chat with the Cotton Clubs proprietor. He didn't fail to re- mind her that seven years ago, he refused to give her a job at $35 8 week, because she insisted upon singing spirituals-and he needed hot-cha in the show.