davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
Worley,'s Union Has
 Holiday Luncheon

A holiday luncheon was held on Wednesday by the Women's Mis- sionary and Social Union of the First Baptist church at the Three Green Doors on Buckingham street. The tables were attractively decorated for the occasion.
 Those attending were: Mrs. Stuart Cook, Mrs. Walter Blake, Mrs Charles Height, Mrs. David F. Gaines, Mrs. George Stevens, Mrs w. A. Robbins, Mrs. Harrison Worth Mrs. John P. Clarke, Mrs. J. Rus Putnam, Mrs. James Morsehead, Mrs. Clarence Nickerson, Mrs. T. E Alexander, Mrs. Paul Marggraff, Mrs. Philip Johnson, Mrs. Arthur Gross, Mrs. Albert Sault, Miss Eliz- abeth Kendall, Mrs. Clifford Peck, Mrs. Eugene Beadle, Mrs. Herbert Constantine, Mrs. Harold Johnson, Mrs. Nelson J. Holconb, Mrs. Chalincey H. Ford, Jr., Mrs. Charles R. Hine, Mrs. Phillip Chabot, Mrs. Chester A. Baxter, Mrs. Harold c. Reynolds, Mrs. c. H. Holihan, Mrs. William H. vining.
 Mrs. Charles s. Doherty, Mrs. John Mclean, Mrs. Arthur Peircey, Mrs. Aubrey Greenlaw, Mrs. M. J. Dempsey, Mrs. Harold Fenton, Mrs. Ashley Barrows, Mrs. Arthur L. Pur- inton, Mrs. William E. Van Tassell, Mrs. Howard Sharpe, Mrs. Wilbur Allen, Mrs. Edwin H. Glover, Mrs. Ralph Ransome, Mrs. Perry A. Bor- den, Mrs. Harry c. Keshian, Mrs. Robert Turnbull, Mrs. Charles Schliff, Mrs. Robert Snyder, Mrs. Edna Merrills and Mrs. Hedley E. Belyea.
 The Women's let Together Club of the Third Congregational Church will hold their annual Christmas party on Monday evening at the parish hall. All members are urged to attend as election of officers will be held. Members are requested to bring a ten cent gift for the grab bag.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
MRS. CUTH'SPLAY
 TO BE PRESENTED
Second Church Mr., Mrs Club to Stage Local
 WOman's Script

Mrs. Frank Guth has written Q Christmas play which will be pre- sented as the feature of the covered dish supper and Christmas party which the MT. and Mrs. Club of the Second Congregational church will present next Wednesday evening at 6:30 o'clock in Davenport hall.
 Each one attending will bring a ten-cent gift for the Santa Claus bag and an article of food for the supper.
 The Miss and MT. Club will hold Christmas party next Tuesday evening in Davenport hall.
 The Annual Meeting of the Church will be held in Davenport Hall on Thursday evening, January g, following a Supper to be served at 6:3O D. m. by Mrs. Willis I. Blakeslee and her committee. All of- ficers of the church and of the var ious departments of the church are reminded of the reports which will be read at that time.
 Girl Scouts of Troop 3 will pre- sent a play ''T11e Little Fir Tree" by Adelaide Powell on Sunday morn ing, December a at i2 o'clock in Davenport Hall for members of the Junior Department. 4 cordial invi- tation is extended to members of the congregation to attend. The Girl Scouts also wish to thank la dies Of the church for their patFon- age ak their Food Sale December {.
 The next communion service and reception of new members will De held on January 5. Please get in touch with pr. Walker or MT. COonlbs before Thursday evening of next week # you are planning to unite with the fellowship. The names of the prospective members will be read at the Standing Con- mlttee taat night
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
Prospective Students To Be Guests AtALbertus Magnus

Many local people including girls in the junior and senior classes in high schools and the deans and principals of these schools have been invited to attend Prospective Students Day at Albertus Magnus College which will be held on Sun- day. At three o'clock members of the Guild of Our Lady and of the Campus Theater Players will pre- sent Robert Hugh Benson's Nativ- ity Play. Miss Airline Nevins, of Stratford, president of the Guild of Our Lady, has been elected by the members of the Guild to portray the role of the Blessed Virgin. Audrey Gallagher of Wallingford will be Joseph; Eileen Reynolds of
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
L'An,itie Sorority
 Attended Meeting

The L'Amitie sorority held its weekly meeting at the home of Mrs. Francis Bradshaw of Hitchcock lake. Plans were made for a Christmas party to be held on December g.
 The members present were: Kay Dalton, Ann and Bette Birmingham, Peg Conway, Eleanor Moriarty and Mrs. Bradshaw. The next meeting will be held at the home of Anne and Bette Birmingham.
 Prospective Students Day will be held at Albertus Magnus College in New Haven on Sunday, December IS. Any high school students who are interested in attending are cor dially invited. The Annual Christ mas play, The Nativity, will be held and will be followed by @ tour of the college and a silver tea.
 A birthday party was given re- gently in honor of Eva Doran of Lockhart avenue. She celebrated her fifth birthday. Blue and green dec- orations were used. Those who at- tended were: Julis Dibulis, Carl Sol- by, Carl Shove, George Shove, Elaine Rice, Ralph Cross, Jr., Shirley Stack Peggy Filley, Montague Cosgriff, Jr. Jackie Murphy and Eva Doran.
 
 Many motorists in Great Britain as ,k..a II. ~a.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13

lrolly, financial secretary; Mrs. Mar garet Penney, treasurer, Mrs. Eliza beth Savage, chairman standing committee; Miss Daisy Lord, chair man of Irish History, Mrs. Mae Lyons, mistress of arms: Mrs. Mary Teller, sentinel; Mrs. Hanna Sulli- van, trustee; pr. Alfred Finn, physi- clan; and Rev. Francis, M. O'Shea, chaplain.
 Installation of officers will be held during the first part of January in conjunction with the 18th anniver- sary dinner of the organization.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
By VIM. E. MCKINNEY America's Card Authority

Because most of the bidding sys- tems of contract bridge were created and developed in the East, many people are under the impression that customers are the better con- tract players. This may be partly true in regard to bidding, but some of the finest card players in the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Nurses Sponsor
 Chrstmas Sale

A variety of articles including toys, aprons and furnishings suitable for Christmas gifts will be on display ct St. Mary's hospital and nurses home today and tomorrow. The sale, which is sponsored annually by the Hospital Alumnae association, will continue throughout the day and evening.
 The committee for the affair is headed by Miss Marjorie Danaher.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
Contract Bridge
CORNELL CONTRACT CLUB

The winners of the Holiday tour- nament which is held on Thursday evening under the direction of Mrs J. c. Moriarty at the Cornell Con- tract Club were: north and South Mir. and Mrs. Arthur Grasso, 72; east and West-Mr. and Mrs. Robert Treat, 56; runners up: north and south--Miss Genevieve Carolan and Mrs. Daniel Butler, 5lA; east md west-Mrs. Frank Daley and Mrs Charles Stocker, 55.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13
Personal
DiDision s, A. o. Fl. Elects NelD Slate OF Officers

Mrs. Nora Doyle was elected pres ident of Division 5, A. O. H., at Q meeting held last evening.
 Others members of the new slate include: Mrs. Catherine Marinan, vice-prestdent; Mrs. Mary Grove, recording secretary; Mrs. Inez By
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13

A business deal that won't "jell'' and a romance that threatens to dissolve give rise to the many up- roarious situations of Mexican Spitfire Out West"-co-starrer for Lupe Velez and Leon Errol at RKC ] Radio.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13

country are located in the middle west and in St. Louis. The caliber of play by the women is exception ally good.
 Here is an example of fine play that I encountered in St. Louis.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13

Osaka, Japan, will establish an air raid defense school and intends to train 80,000 students there.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13

The Waterbury Hebrew Ladies Aid Society will hold a dance and special program of entertainment at Temple Hall on Sunday evening, December 15.
 The proceeds of the affair, which is under the direction of Mrs. David Potoff, will be donated to charity.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-12-13

Many motorists in Great Britain are storing their cars in anticipation of price rise after the war.
Evening star., 1940-05-05

and later, that even the National
Base Ball Club grounds were at
Fifteenth and L streets, and shacks
and two-story frame dwellings pre-
dominated as . part Of the land
scape. It was In one Of the latter
type Of dwellings in this vicinity
that Philip Barton Key is said to
have had clandestine meeting with
Mrs. Dan Sickles, which caused the
latter's husband to kill the son of
the author Of "The Star Spangled
Banner" Key was then the United
States District Attorney and ma
turally a man Of polish and refine
ment.
Famous Guests.
One of the chief promoters in
building up the vacant property near
st. Matthews Church was the phil
anthropist, w. w. Corcoran. The
Arlington Hotel, which occupied the
site Of the Veterans Administration
Building, was built by him about
1869. AS many recall, 1t was one of
Washington's famous hostelries, for
here stopped many of the worlds
most noted people, such as Dom
Pedro, President Diaz, King Kala-
kama, Ii Hung Chang, and other
Evening star., 1940-05-05

was named for him, and which for
many years piled the Potomac to
Mount Vernon, Marshall Hall and
other places and resorts, viii be re-
membered by many, as will also old
Capt. L. L. Blake, its chief officer,
with his picturesque white beard.
CorcoFan Cadets.
The Corcoran Cadets also select
ed his name to give that oreaniza.
ton better standing In the COM
munity. and it may truthfully be
said, that upon . number of oc-
casions, they reflected credit upon
their home city and upon their
sponsor.
The National Chamber Of Com
merce, at H street and Connecti-
cut avenue, now covers the site Of
the home of Mr.. Corcoran. This
was one Of the historic buildings of
washington, having been erected
by Thomas Swami tn 1871. It was
presented to Daniel Webster, who
made 1t his home and who disposed
Evening star., 1940-05-05

as its sponsors had believed 1t would
be, a success from the start. With.
IN a few weeks the postal service
became for the first time q public
service In the true meaning Of that
phrase.
Proposals Invited.
Meanwhile. the Treasury had in
vited AL artists, men of science,
and the public in general to of1er
proposals as to the manner in which
the stamp may be best brought into
use" Altogether. 2,7oo different
suggestions were submitted, among
the number being no less than 1000
designs for stamped labels and
wrappers. About q hundred were
considered worthy of study. four
were deemed deserving" and their
authors were awarded prizes Of
Evening star., 1940-05-05

lower chamber. The House of
Lords had yet to be won
over. But strict observance of the
social amenities, plus the usual
backstage political maneuvering,
appears to have brought the Duke
Of Wellington - into the fold,
and the rest Of the Lords followed
after.
"On August n, 1889, Queen Vic
toria gave her consent to the re-
form. In an address from the
throne she expressed the hope that
the new law would be productive
Of much social advantage and I'M
provement.'" Her expectations were
justified abundantly.
On January 10, 1910, the univer-
sal penny rate went into effect, the
post Office still protesting. It was,
Evening star., 1940-05-05

Matthews, when Cardinal Gibbons
celebrated pontincal high mass and
an elaborate musical program was
rendered by the choir under the
leadership Of l.. E. Cannon. The
sermon was delivered by Rev. J.
Haven Richards, 8. J., the president
Of Georgetown College. And Just
100 years hence, we find st.
Matthew's Church, though in an
other location, being made q
cathedral church.
When old st. Matthew's Church
was built a century ago, Washing
ton was truly city Of magnificent
distances, and Fifteenth and H
streets was considered a suburban
part of Washington. A block to
the north, where is Mcpherson
Square, was then, and for years
afterward used as the public
saluting grounds on inaugural and
patriotic occasions, and an carly
writer says that to we'll down in the
18th century, between H, L, Four
teenth and Fifteenth streets and
Vermont avenue. homes and other
buildings could be counted on ones
fingers.
Rural Situation.
Indeed, so rural was this part Of
Washington down to Civil War days
Evening star., 1940-05-05

foreigners equally distinguished.
Some Of our own notables who stop
ped there were Charles Sumner. Will
liam L. Marcy. Secretary Of State;
Louis Cass, Secretary Of State:
Presidents Buchanan and BENJAMIN
Harrison and Gen. Joseph Wheeler.
Prince Albert of Belgium, who visi-
ted this country as King Albert
following the World War, and who
then stopped with Breckinridee Long
at 2829 Sixteenth street NV,
was a guest at the Arlington in
1898.
Asphalt introduced.
It was in the square In front of
the Arlington Hotel, in 1870, that
the first asphalt pavement was laid
in Washington, and it is said to
have been the best pavement of its
kind ever laid here. A cube Sec
ton sawed to about II inches is on
exhibition in the old building of the
National Museum. In 1879 Vermont
avenue was resurfaced, and the Sec
ton displayed was taken from the
roadway in 1914. The people of
Washington highly regarded and
respected Mr.. Corcoran, and his
name was frequently used with
view to showing him honor. The
steamboat w. w. Corcoran, which
Evening star., 1940-05-05

front of the edifice resembled
Arlington, the home of George
Washington Parke Gusts. When it
was erected its architecture was
severely criticized, but 1t was prob
ably as pleasing to the eye and as
well constructed as the other early
churches Of the city.
At the time the church was built,
. two-story attic and basement
house was erected to the north Of
the church building on the FIJI
teenth street side Of the square and
this was used as the rectory by
Father Donelan and his successors,
some of the earliest being Charles
I. White, D. D.; A. @. S. Waldron,
assistant, and later John McNally
and D. De Wolf assisted the rector.
Rev. Francis E. Boyle followed, with
P. Ryan, assistant. Rev. P. l..
Chapelle came next with John D.
Boland and John A. Ahern, as
sistants. In 1885 the rectory was at
1415 H street, and the sexton, p.
O'Hare, was probably living in what
was formerly the rectory, at 813
Fifteenth street, also the site of
the Southern Building.
On September 81, 1890, so years
after the dedication of the church,
jubilee service was given at St.
Evening star., 1940-05-05

Of It to Mr. Corcoran. During the
Civil War It was occupied by the
Marquis de Montholon, Minister Of
France. Corcoran greatly improved
the house and made Of it an i'm
pressive mansion, and 1t was here
that the Corcoran Gallery Of Art
had its beginning.
Mr.. Corcoran was q benefactor in
many ways. The Louise Home,
which perpetrates the name Louise,
borne by both his wife and his
daughter. was erected shortly after
the close of the Civil War. It is
situated on the south side OF Mas
sachusetts avenue, between Fiji
teenth and Sixteenth streets NV,
and the building and grounds cost
$500 600, which the donor endowed
with . further gift of $3.50 900. The
home is for women of refinement
and culture who have become re-
duced In circumstances in their old
aee. As stated, 1t Is named after
Mr.. Corcoran's wife and daush-
Evening star., 1940-05-05
By James Waldo Faucet.

All over the world, even In coun-
tries at war, philatelists of very age
and class are celebrating the
centenary of the release of the first
adhesive postage stamp. The famous
Penny Black of Great Britain went
on sale In London exactly 100 years
ago tomorrow. With it began the
hobby, the art, the science and the
business to which the philatenc
public is devoted.
The sponsor of the pioneer postal
issue was Sir Rowland Hill,
mathematician, schoolmaster and
reformer, born at Kidderminster,
December 3, 1795. Deciding from
his observation and experience that
"exorbitant postage wa( the most
pernicious Of taxes" he urged an
entirely new psychological approach
to the problems Of the post ONCE.
The practice of measuring postage
IN terms Of distance, he argued, was
based upon an untenable theory.
Instead OF such a rule, he proposed
that mail should be charged by
weight, with uniform rates for the
whole Kingdom.
Hills major discovery, however,
was that the prevailing expense Of
mailing q letter forced postal
revenues downward. Lower rates, he
insisted, eventually would result in
greatly augmented earnings for the
post ONCE. Mauritz Hallgren, in
"All About Stamps: Their History
and the Art Of Collecting Them" ex-
plains: "The principle 0e) was
here enunciating has since become
automatic. It forms the very key.
stone Of mass production in modern
industry. But in England hundred
years ago, few economists-and still
fewer politicians recognized the
principle. Every British postmaster
general for two centuries had been
convinced that the only cure for
falling revenues was still higher
postage"
The changes Hill recommended
included prepayment. "A uniform
rate Of one penny would be
sufnciently low to neutralize III
pecuniary objection to its being In
variably paid In advance" he wrote.
Senders should ''be required to in
close their letters In bands or wrap
pers, or in little bags called en-
velopes,' which would be specially
printed for the purpose and would
bear on their face evidence that the
postage had been paid" These
covers, it was suggested, should be
franked with . bit Of paper Just
large enough to bear the stamp, and
covered ct the back with . glutinous
wash. which the brinser might, hy
Evening star., 1940-05-05

built the Dyer and Walker resi-
dences and a few frames around
on Fourteenth street were the only
improvements In this block. In
1900 the ground was valued at three
cents q foot, and in 1920 at nine
cents. This was different from the
$50, 900, which the church property
IS said to have brought in 1910, when
the Southern Building was erected,
and which was completed October
10, 1911.
Building Criticised.
AS the writer recalls this old
church, 1t faced H street and for
many years had . steeple with q
square base. In general way, the
Evening star., 1940-05-05

100 pounds each. Hill, however,
"lked none" OF the proposals. He
had his own ideas respecting the
manufacture Of postage stamps"
Two qualities, he declared, were in
dispensable: First, cheapness; Sec
ond; security against imitation. To
obtain this latter quality it was nee
essary to have excellence both Of
design and workmanship, together
with exact uniformity In the whole
number issued"
After inspecting the designs sub
mitted, Hill dumped the lot Of
them. prize winners and al. into
the discard, got out his old box Of
water colors and painted on . piece
Of paper his notion Of what 4 post
age stamp ought to be Ike. His de-
sign, reproduced on the poster label
issued to publicize the postage stamp
centenary celebration In Washing
ton this week end, was attractive
in its simplicity. It consisted Of .
bust Of Queen Victoria done in pro-
file."
The work Of developing Hills
sketch was intrusted to Henry Cor
bould, . distinguished artist. 'Tor
his portrait Of the Queen" Mr.. Hail.
gren reports, ''he used the head ON
the City Medal, which had been de-
signed by william Wyon and struck
In 1887 In commemoration OF Vic.
torias visit to the duildhall. -
The same head was used as q model
for all the later Victorian stamps" Of
England and for most Of those Of the
colonies.
Protection Devised.
In quest Of his exact uniformity
In the whole number issued" Hill
sought the help Of IN American
genius, Jacob Perkins BY name. He
WAS . native Of Newbu1yport, Mass,
born July ., 17es, and had been .
goldsmiths apprentice In boyhood.
Seeing with what ease copperplAte
engraving could be forged and falt-
ned, 1t had occurred to him to try to
perfect . method Of engraving on
steel which should make counter
feiting difficult, II not impossible,
and decrease the cost Of printing.
When his experiments had con-
nrmed his theory, be sought . patent
on his discoveries, and this was
granted March u, 17oo. But he still
was faced with the problem Of put.
ting his invention to business. A
textbook on penmanship, In which
he had the assistance Of Gideon
Faifman, was his drst venture. II
marked probably tke earliest uso
Of steel plates in book manufactxre.s
The printing of calrrency, however,
wss his mater ohjeetiva. and 81 that
b ~ 1isaSeeln10d y the oev.
Evening star., 1940-05-05

ernment of his own country. Re-
fused an opportunity to engrave
banknotes for the United States, he
acted upon the hint of the British
Minister at Washington and crossed
the Atlantic to London to compete
for . contract to print the money
Of the Bank Of England. This, 1t
seeps. he won; but his triumph was
observation-disclosures he was q for
eigner, it was decided that he could
not be trusted with responsibility for
making British currency.
Perkins then formed partnership
with Charles Heath and Joshua
Bacon, out Of which grew the firm
Of Perkins, Bacon & Co., Ltd, the
most important stamp-manufactur-
ing concern ever operated In the
British Isles. To its odices Rowland
Hill brought the riddle with which
he had been wrestling. The answer
was waiting for him. "On Decem-
Der 3, 1885," according to Mr.. Hall
gren, "the firm agreed to produce
the stamped paper at a charge
not exceeding eightpence and not
less than sixpence per thousand
stamps. This cost was to include
the engraving Of the necessary dies,
al Of the mechanical work Incl.
dental thereto, as well Is the print
ing. though the stamp once was to
furnish the paper. 80
The Corbould drawing was turned
over to the Heath family. who en-
graved from 1t . master die for
the first stamp. It Is still . matter
Of dispute among artists and phi.
latedsts as to whether the actual
engraving was done by Charles the
father or Frederick the son, but
there has been no dispute q to. the
excellence Of the work. At this
point Joshua Bacon appears to have
taken charge Of the Job. The mas
ter die or matrix, to quote Hill,
being subsequently hardened, WAS
employed to produce Impressions
on soft steel roller Of sudacient
circumference to receive II, and this
being hardened In turn, was used,
OAlocI very uAIu pressure, 70 pro-
duce and repeat its counterpart on
. steel plate, to such an extent
that this, when used In printing,
produced at each impression 40
stamps: al this being done, q
machinists win ct once perceive
(byJ the process invented
BY Mr.. Perkins.'"
On May 8, 1910, the Penny Black
and . twopence twin" were ~
leased to waiting patrons Of the
post once system. Both stamps
ware collected from the moment
Of their debut. The Government Of
the United States brought out it,
own postal adhesivos-a scent and
Q 10-eent-co July !, 1ol5.