davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
Man bout
Manhattan
By George tucker

NEW YORK, Feb. 2o.-some-
times in the list of characters on
theatrical play-bills you run across
the name of George spelvin.
Actually, there is no such person
He is as fictitious as any Of the
characters in the play itself-per'
haps more fictitious, because he
has no human counterpart.
He is a cover-up a pseudonym
for actors who play two parts in
the same show. For instance, if I
were an actor in Uncle Toms Cabin
and played both Topsy and Little
Eva you'd see something like this:
Little Eva-played by George Tuck.
er; Topsy-played by George Spell
vim.
The virtue Of this make-believe
is two-fold: it helps preserve an
illusion, and it keeps the audience
from finding out how cheap the
producers are, the superstition being
that producers who weren't cheap
would hire an extra actor to play
the other part.
We've been running into George
Spelvin for years, only in plays
but also in various columns. For
he is usually nominated by column.
lists OF play the role of the Aver
age American or any other role
they want.
But in all the years we've en-
countered him, it never occurred to
use that he should form the sub
ject of a New York letter until
Norman Nelson, of Fort Worth,
Texas, wrote in and inquired aft
er this Mr.. Spelvin. So, Mr.. Mel.
son, this one is OF you.
Perhaps we shouldn't stop Mr..
Spelvin without inquiring into his
antecedents. Winchel Smith, the
playwright, usually gets credit for
creating this mythical bloke.
Smith never liked to have the
characters of his plays listed with
out Spelvin's name, and on those
occasions when no actor played
two parts-you'd find him there
anyway. Once Smith caused this
line to be inserted in the playful:
"a Policeman-played by George
Spelvin." There was no policeman
in the play.
Fifty-Second street is so crowd.
ed with noisy, rowdy bars where
loud orchestras play, that it has
long been known as the Street of
Swing.
But there is one place at least,
in the very heart Of SIND street
where the only swing to be found
is in the swing of a giant negro's
arm as he swings open the bar.
becue pit to serve ribs, barbecued
pork ribs with hot, red barbecue
sauce.
It's a great place for afternoon
eating and after midnight eating
and in-between eating. You get
barbecued oysters and slaw and
those big, lean, beautiful ribs with
that sauce, and sweet potatoes and
apple pie and coffee, for a buck.
You can even have a little mu.
sic with your ribs if YOU shove a
nickel into a coin machine which
plays records. But that's the only
music there is, just the music of
the ribs b%arbecuing and the ma
chine playing. And the records
we'll, 1 suppose some of them are
swing, because now and then you
run into one of Benny Goodman's
records. Which, after all, isn't very
surprising when you consider that
this barbecue banjola is owned by
Benny Goodman's brother.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
HlNDUS LECTURES
ON EUROPE'S WAR
Continued From Page One

years he felt it necessary to pass The
post on to some one else and asks
for suggestions from the audienN
as to his successor.
Two nominations were made, H.
NJ. Roland, superintendent d.
schools and the Rev. Walter Free,
pastor of st. Johns Lutheran church,
The executive committee will &c.
upon the nominations and advise the
membership of its decision.
AS this was the closing event Of tA
current season, members were ashs
to deposit the stubs of their season
tickets in boxes at the door and thus
give the executive committee an idea
of the probable attendance next year.
He further ANNOUNCED that the season,
however successful cultura.y, hal
not met expectations financially a
small deficit is still to be made up
Mr.. Hindus traced the rise to power
of Hitler and retraced a recent Jour
ney through Europe during which 70
paid particular attention to the at
tude of the masses. 1t is his conclus
ion that the German people reaA!
want Hitler. Else the Germans Id
DanZig and in Czecho-Slovakia VIII
had everything to make living a com
fort, would not have voted Tor az
sorption by the reich. When 1a'
mans in Germany were on sn@
rations, deprived even of Their l'
orite whipped cream and putting Wy
with divinely ancient eggs, the 's'
mans across the two borders OF Lar
zig and Czecho-Slovakia Wiling
gave it all up to come under Hitler
harsh rule.
In Prague, he said, the spirit Of I'
Czechs is unbroken. despite the Fu'D
less spoiliation by the Nazis, Eo-a4'
was sacrificed by its military rus'
who fled at the first sound OF cav
non. But what best illustrated wv
baneful power of Hitler, the leCE''
er declared, was the timorouS s'
mission of Prime Minister ChanD"'
lain to his will. He scored the p''
mier severely for his assertion 'Na,
the Munich surrender would asSU'
peace in Europe for rs years.
He believed the war Stain To-
started in Finland, and which has ~
posed the Colossal inefficiency v,
Russia, has not really begun u
fact, he thinks the major war IL In
rope is in the same state OF l'l'u,,
and will not be concluded for lH1'
years. =,
This particular outbreak may y,
terminated with some KIND u
peace, but the spirit of war WIZ WV,
Hitler has inspired will not '".
to any peace, perhaps until all i' r
of the continent are eXhausleu
resurrecting old hates Ola ~,
animosities, Hitler has plu17e'
continent into a conflict WHIT" ="
survive for generations.
That Germany will triumph
probable, he said, because o. ..r
blockade. Germany ,,,,
must yield as the wise u
ems on her supply sources
Mr.. Hindus filled his ensassI.
agai st medical advice, ana sew" n,
times during his lecture sho"e'
strain he was under, despite =
liant effort to disguise IT,
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
WOMAN ARRESTED

DAYTON, O., Feb. 2o.-R-Mrs.
P. Bishop, so, bookkeeper
for the Dayton Community Chest
its establishment 20 years ago,
was arrested today and charged with
e~mbezzling $6,775 of chest funds,
Prosecutor Nicholas F. Nolan, him.
self an official of the organization.
said n had signed a statement ad.
hitting the defalcation.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
LANDED
LONDON, Feb. 20.-CPJ-sN y

N ID Feb. 2O.-JR-sX or ~,
passengers and seven Danlsh :.
thought to have been lost WIZ" q,
Danish passenger ship SIelpnei 40,
torpedoed off the coast OF o' N,
Feb. IS, were landed today al d h,
in northeastern Britain. IN" II:
been picked up by a steatllei .tss1
IL hours in a lifeboat. All ,,4
aboard the Sleipner, II pas, W
and Is crewmen, were lahu''
Friday.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
TOP o. THE MORNING

W do not ask for peace, o God, When euil
needs to be fought, We do not ask for rest
When Thy Work is get unfinished. Glue us
courage to believe in Thy Kingdom promises,
and taithfutness to our tasks tor Thee"
Through Jesus Christ.-From DAY BY DAY
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21

No country, and particularly no free country,
goes to war in one strike. 1t goes stage by
stage until one day we. find ourselves in a po-
sition from which we cannot turn back.-Sena-
tor Walter F. George (Dem, Ga.).
I'm going to get out of politics. I want to be
able to tell a lot of people to go to hell, and
I am going to tell them.-Governor A. Harry
Moore Of New Jersey.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
KENNEDY TO RETIRE

BOSTON, Feb. 90 joseph
r. Kennedy, U. S. ambassador to
Great Britain, said tonight he would
retire from public life when he
completes his present work at the
Court OF st. James
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
UH
ing.
SEEKS SON

los ANGELES. Feb. &c. -
Mrs. Helene Fortescue Reynolds.
New York society woman now in
the movies, sought a court order
today for exclusive custody of her
son. Richard Roland Reynolds, II.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
We're Responsible People

However, says Fahey, "the experience of the
Hole has demonstrated all over again that
the great mass Of the American people respect
their obligations and will meet them, if you
give them half a chance"
Nevertheless, in the case of the borrowers
with accounts still outstanding, Hole has to
pet along 1852, 900 to keep them out of trouble
That is nearly half the number outstanding.
Most of these are always in trouble over their
affairs and must be picked UP and straighten
ed out every few months. Others bought houses
far too fancy for their purses during the
boom. A fair number chisel and squirm until
the axe gets them.
So, as it stands now, the government has
bought 1,017, 900 bad mortgages. OF these, 62,485
borrowers have paid off all their debts. Anoth'
err 1875, 900 were foreclosed. Fahey says 7S5,50o
accounts still are on the books. That totals l.
OLE, 1886. We are short Is homes, or mortgages'
or borrowers. Don't ask us where they are. ASK
Fahey. They probably got lost in an approx
mately."
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
WASHINGTON
DAYBOOK
BY PRESTON GROVER

WASHINGTON, Feb. O.-Uncle SAM, who
holds more mortgages on American homes than
anyone in history. has filed a report on how
he is taking carI of them that indicates he
will be handling slow paper for a long time.
This report covers only the Home Owners
Loan corporation, which began in 1888 to alb.
serb 1917, 900 mortgages that were sour. The
report does not include such agencies as the
Federal Housing Administration, which cur
rently is insuring mortgages on many new
houses.
Hole began bailing out distressed home own.
ers at the bottom of the depression. 1t put
SO, 093,0 900, 900 into the home-rescue business,
about SO, 900 a home.
AS a mortgage holder, Uncle Sam is a softie.
He mingles relief with business. He has to, or
he would have four or five times as many
dispossessed homes on his hands as he has
now. But even SO he has foreclosed or is fore
closing on 165, 900 homes. The rate Of foreclos-
ure is increasing. How fast it will increase,
says John H. Fahey, chairman of the agency,
depends largely on economic conditions of the
next few years.
The Wilmington morning star., 1940-02-21
It's Good Business

"Since the passage of the Mead amendment
authorizing the extension of loans to a period
not exceeding rs years." says Fahey, "our field
offices have been reviewing all cases in which
foreclosure seemed Inevitable in an attempt to
relieve to the utmost the burden of these Dor.
rowers and prevent every possible foreclosure.
1T is merely a question of wise social service
in going the limit, within reason, to prevent
foreclosures and to save these homes for these
people. We ought to prevent every foreclosure
we can, just as a sound businss proposition"
Nevertheless, foreclosures go on at the rate
of more than a thousand a month. Just now
they have hit a low Of 300 a month, but Fahey
estimates they will amount to 1900 in 1910.
Losses on foreclosures average about 5000
a home, for a total loss of $66, 896, 900 on those
already resold.
Ordinarily, Hole does not take a deficiency
judgment against foreclosed home owners.
There are exceptions. Any borrower who has
been a pain in the neck to the organization
is likely to be pursued by a deficiency judg'
ment.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
rDd1l[adba,
|M6RQfG0-QQuND

Observation-Disclosures Vanden-
berg privately is very uneasy over
the unfavorable effect upon his pres
identia1 campaign of his clamor for
aggressive action against Japan.
He is so concerned that he sum-
moned his regional managers to
Washington for a secret pow-wow.
Their advice was that he should soft
pedal the issue for two reasons:
(1) The inconsistency, to the pub
lie, of his denouncing Roosevelt's re-
peal of the arms embargo as war
move, and at the same time de-
manding a war-like policy toward
Japan; and (2) complaints by G. o.
P. leaders that Vandenberg played
into the hands of the Democrats by
diverting public attention away from
domestic affairs and focusing it on
international problems.
Republican strategists have point
ed out that the one thing the Demo-
Gratis want is to wage the campaign
on the administrators international
policies, and a G.. o. P. candidate
who allows them to do that would be
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22

Gay ignored the question. She
turned the brushes arranged with
precision on the pine top of the
chest. There were no monograms.
There's the closet" Kate sug-
gested.
Gay turned from the mirror,
walked quickly halfway across the
room and opened a door. Kate, fol-
lowing, tipped the shade of the lamp
so that the light shone directly into
the closet. A brown tweed suit,
top-coat, two pairs Of khaki trousers,
tan pajamas striped in wine-color,
a wool dressing gown which had
seen service, a dark sweater with
a letter stitched to the heavy rib
bling, hung in row from the hooks.
A tan felt hat rested where it had
been flung on the shelf above, and
on the floor below a pair of brown
oxfords stood beside brown leather
moccasins laced with thongs. Moth
ing here, surely, Kate thought, and
was about to voice the thought in
words.
A sound held her silent, quickly
drawn breath audibly and slowly
exhaled. Gays hand touched the
sweater. AS Kate watched, her fore
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
Building Survey Reveals
American Idea of Home

When you suggest owning a new
home to the average American, he
or she thinks in terms Of house
costing less than $4,000, and con-
templates between 10 and Is years
to pay off the debt.
These are some of the things that
the committee on trends of the Unit
ed States Savings and Loan league
has learned, from a QUESTIONABLE
on public attitudes. Surveys were
made of the attitudes Of people Sc
lected at random, including 5 per
cent factory workers, z per cent
proprietors of businesses, 20 per
cent housewives, 16 per cent profess
sional workers and IL per cent sales
men and miscellaneously employed
others.
Results of the last six years EN-
phasis by government agencies on
the monthly repayment home mort
gage, which is century-old heri-
tage from the savings and loan in
situations, show prominently in the
survey. Nine out of every 10 per-
sons would prefer an amortized
mortgage in financing their homes.
The league committee points out
that before the depression only those
who were borrowing money from the
thrift and home financing institu-
tions-about one-third of all the
mortgagors-were making steady
payments to reduce their debt on
the home.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
CHAPTER III

She couldn't force Gay to tell her.
Kate regarded with satisfaction a
bun on a long toasting-fork which
she held over the bed Of embers in
the fireplace. She would be obliged
to bear with her curiosity until the
owner of the sweater. appeared. He
was taking his time about it. She
and Gay had unpacked the rumble
of the coupe. They had found can
of kerosene beside the back steps
and had filed and lit every lamp in
the cabin. They had brought two
pals of water up from the lake.
Preparations for late supper were
well under way, now, and still he
had not appeared.
Gay was in the room which she'd
called the master-bedroom chang
ing her clothes. She'd gotten her.
self pretty wet bringing water up
from the lake. Was it deliberate?
Kate wondered, not without just rea-
son for suspicion. What effect was
she creating, now, before the mir
ror above the chest of drawers?
She sounded very blithe and gay.
Her voice, sweet and husky, infiu-
enced, no doubt, by the night-club
singer who was the latest enthusi-
asm of Gay and her intimates,
fioated out through the open door.
She was singing with the radio.
Appropriate, Kate thought. Whew!
A smell of scorching recalled her
attention to the bun. She removed
it from the fork, placed it with three
others on plate keeping warm on
the hearth. The coffee was boiling
over. Kate rose from the foot-stool
on which she sat and bent forward
to lift the pot from the bed of en-
bers. Pale brown bubbles foamed
down over her hand. The exclama-
ton she gave, sharp and unstudied,
stopped the singing. Gay came into
the room knotting a scarf around
her neck.
"Salty language, my FRIEND" she
said. "Oh, you've burned your hand.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
By L I D A L A r RI 0

Here, let me take it," She unknot-
ted the scarf and wadded it around
the handle of the pot. "Does it hurt
terribly, Kate?"
"Tll probably survive" Kate
tapped her injured hand. So the
keynote was to be simplicity, she
thought, considering Gays appear
ance with a quizzically lifted brow.
She wore dark wool skirt, a white
wool jumper, ghillies and white an
CORA socks. She had brushed her
red-brown hair into softly curling
halo tied with bright blue ribbon.
Her face had a scrubbed and shin
ing look. The freckles across her
nose, undisguised by powder, were
young and endearing. Kate smiled.
"Isn't the ip-stick out of key?" she
asked.
''It points the contrast" Gay, I'M
abashed, returned Hates smile.
1.-THE coffee smells marvellous" She
poured the dark brown liquid into
cups from the picnic-hamper ar
ranged with plates and forks and
spoons on the low table beside the
hearth.
"Does it? hadn't noticed" Kate
returned to the foot-stool. 81 can't
smell anything except that perfume.
It's certainly off-key."
''No it isn't" Gay pulled an arm
chair close to the table, settled her
self, bit into a sandwich. ut
breathes of the great out-of-doors,
crushed ferns, messy dells, moor
land heather. I bought it especially
for the occasion.
Kate made derisive gesture. ''It
breathes of Fifth Avenue and the Sill
yer Room at the Ritz"
"Maybe you're right" Gay said
amicably. 81 adore hamburgers.
Toasting them was an inspiration.
I'm starved"
But she ate scarcely anything. She
was listening, waiting, Kate thought,
preoccupied with heaven only knew
what thoughts, memories, anticipa-
lions. The continuing ripple of ir-
relevant comment was smoke
screen deliberately raised. In the
intervals of silence when she lay
back in the chair, her arms crossed
under her head, Kate observed her
warily. She was excited. That was
obvious. But, though she smiled,
her face in repose reflected some
more tender emotion.
Don't you think" she began
and stopped short. There were
sounds outside the cabin, an expir-
ing exhaust, a motor suddenly si-
fenced, a brake jerked on, door
resoundingly slammed. Kate, watch
ing Gay, saw her start forward,
saw the bright trembling expectan-
cy, unrelieved by humor or brava-
do which, for an instant, Illuminated
her face. Then, conscious of Kate's
intent and somewhat disconnected
gaze, she slowly relaxed. Compo-
sure slipped like mask across her
face. She sat back in the chair.
ARRIVING in a cloud of DUST" she
said, her voice only little shaken,
her eyes turning from Kate to the
door.
"Mud, which must certainly spoil
the effect" Kate rose from the foot
stool. well, let us be brave. Me,
feel Drawer standing" She walked
to the end of the hearth and stood
leaning against the chimney, her
arm on the low mantel shelf.
On the radio a baritone sang melt
ingly of a rendezvous on the Isle Of
Capri. Through the music came the
sound of door explosively opened,
resolute footsteps thudding across
the kitchen floor. Kate's eyes turned
from Gays profile to the door.
ITO BE CONTINUED)
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22

licked from the start because the
party is split on these questions.
Many prominent Republicans and
big contributors have publicly sup
ported New Deal foreign measures.
The managers also reported that
in the coastal states, where Vanden-
berg is weakest, there is much pub
lie opposition to his "let's go get
'em" stand on the Japanese. No
final conclusion was reached at the
conference, but it is significant that
since then Vandenberg has been si-
lent about Far Eastern affairs.
N0te-The consensus of opinion at
the meeting was in favor of enter
ing Vandenberg in more state pri-
maries in opposition to Dewey. Most
of the managers reported that the
New Yorker, despite his lead in pop
ular polls, was losing ground with
local C. o. P. leaders and news
paper men, with whom he had a
number of personal clashes during
his recent Western sorties.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
NO GUN-RUNNER.

The protocol Office of the state de-
partment ran into a novel war-born
problem the other day when David
Gray, new minister to Ireland, came
in to make plans for his departure.
Gray is tall, slender gentleman,
with a taste for hunting. He told
the protocol Office that he couldn't
be happy on the other side without
his sportsman's shotgun.
"But I am going to Dublin by way
Of Europe" said Gray. 81 wonder
what they will think of U. S. dip
lomat if he shows up in the war
areas with a shotgun"
Gray was assured that, enjoying
diplomatic immunity, he would not
be jailed as gun-runner.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
SYNOPSIS

Charming, wealthy Gabrielle Gay for
SHORTY Graham. engaged to Todd Janeway.
returns to cabin in the Maine woods &C.
companied by friend. Kate Oliver The
idea of a stay at the cabin occurred to her
when she received key to 1t following the
death of her godfather, Uncle John Law
renee. The two girls notice Immediately
that someone has been, and probably Is,
living in the cabin. Kate suspects that
Gay knows the identity of the mysterious
occupant
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
MERRY-GO-ROUND.

When Venezuelan Minister Of War
Medina visited Washington he did
three things: first, placed wreath
on the tomb of the Unknown Sol
der; next, called on Secretary of
State Hull; third, visited the Fed
eral Bureau of Investigation to scan
the death mask of John Dillinger
and other Oman trophies.
In one afternoon recently, Uncle
Sam bought no less than 5000, 00o
yards of cotton piece goods. 1t was
used to supply WPA sewing room
projects.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22

finger tipped with an almond-pink
nail traced the letter stitched to
the ribbing.
She turned after moment.
"a completely anonymous per-
son." she said and closed the door.
But Kate was not deceived. The
gesture of the finger with the pink
tipped nail had been very revealing.
If she had not known before, Kate
thought, again both concerned and
amused, Gay knew now, at least,
who was here.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22

WOMENi Relieve "Trying Days"
by taking DR.. Pierce's Favorite Pre-
scription over a period of time. Helps
build physical resistance by improving
nutritional assimulation.-Adv.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22

That Which Reigns
At 20 years of age the will
reigns; at 80, the wit; and at 40,
the judgment.-Gratian.
The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
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The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1940-03-22
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