The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-30


watches adorned his wrists. On his
fingers were rings made Of silver |
coins beaten down to form a strand |
and decorated with smaller coins
pice, think they were. Several
similar bangles tangled on his
Observation-Disclosures arms, and
in his hand he carried bag filled
with cowrie shells. Cowrie shells
are used by the natives as currency
to split up the unsplittable African
copper cent which in our language
rated thirty to a dime.
These he displayed to me proud
ly, and asked to be discharged from
my employ, to be given the fifteen
supees month pay due him for
several months alleged work, and
to be returned to the fieSh-pots to
enjoy what was sure were his ILL
gotten gains.
Now, as I have said, there were
no secrets between Watutubira and
myself, and when I challenged him
on thievery he swore colorfully in
Swahili (Watutbira taught me more
Swahili than I ever learned from a
book and protested that the
African equivalent for the galloping
dominoes had been responsible for
his acquired wealth.
That was not difficult to believe.
Watutubira was alwayS-Shall we
say-lucky? But where did he get
his stake? Then he 'fessed up.
Soap!
From the supplies, over which I
was supposed to be exercising
guardian eye, he had borrowed a few
cakes. These, as it turned out, had
a terrific value among the natives
in the territory which we had con-
quered on our march. Talk Of CELL
ing prices! Waturtubira demanded
and got what he wanted for a
small piece of soap.
For the record I was furiously in
dignant, threatened to turn him in,
have him jagged and heaven knows
what. But I didn't. Watutubira was
somewhat of psychologist. I didn't
have him turned in, for he waxed
confidential. He had only taken
little" soap. But it was the very
best soap in all Africa. ought to
know, he reminded me-and don't
tell me there wasn't a bit of an
Irish streak somewhere in& Watu-
tubira'S forefathers-for it was the
very kind which I used to sell my
self before I had Joined the Army
and was a trader in what is now
known as Tancanyika Territory.
"You are a man of discernment
and sagacity," told Watutubira,
while his round, ugly moon-faced
creased in smiles as it always did
when he knew I was jesting For
that reason I'll let you go home"
gave him a pass to back of the
lines, though that was hardly ne
cessary for a man of Watutubira's
attachments, and I gave him
check for his wages, and gave
him my blessing.
He was not to be outdone. He
gave me three of his rings, and two
of his bangles. These I brought
back to the States and distributed
them where thought they would
do the most good, and not one of
the girls disapproved of them a
whit when I explained they were
surely stolen SWag.
All of that came into my mind
listening to Bob Burns in Bab's
guest last Thursday night over
WEAF, and was still chuckling
at my "reminiscences when Frank
Morgan, Hanley Stafford and Fanny
Brice broke in on my reveries, and
one chuckle gave way to more.
Next I dialed Americas Town
Meeting" to catch snatch of the
debate 'Ts there too much Censor
ship of War News?" between Henry
J. Taylor, foreign correspondent,
and William Utley of the Chicago |
Sun. wanted to stay on that pro-
gram, for found 1t fascinating, but |
I wanted also to catch Death VAL
ley Days" to which had never lis
tened before. I listened to this pro-
gram to its's end. My reaction to
it wasn't quite fair to the program.
The scenes enacted were taken from
old records and stories. They were
true was told. don't doubt that.
But as one time Writing-hack who
turned out some eight or nine
hundred true" stories for a news
paper syndicate some years ago,
take nearly all "true' radio dramas
with grain of salt, and keep Won
dering what twist I'd have given
the script had the writing been as
signed to me.
Usually I tune in on Gabriel
Heater, but last Thursday night
passed him up, and I hope that
that estimable raconteur will for
give me, to listen to Major Bowes
and his amateurs, (mighty enter
tanning they were too); Of course
The Kraft Music Hall-an old fav-
orite.
$3.50 came, and an embarrassment
of riches For here, all scheduled
for the same time were 1.-THE Treas
ure House of Song" (WOR), spot
light Bands, with Shep Fields,
(WJZ), which is another Of my own
personal "musts," and the Dinah
Shore (who needs no praise from mel
show with Ronald Young guessing.
Well, I caught a bit Of them ALL
and richly repaid was I. I'm still
tingling at the recollection of Fran
cesco Valentines rendering of pale
Hands" the beautiful Going
Home" and Licia Albanese's sing
ing of the Aria from Tosca, the
whole topped off by both in the
duet "Someday" from Friml's oper-
eta "The Vagabond King"
But everything comes to an end,
and these programs came to an end,
and thought I'd have ample time
to get a good deal of the bout be-
tween Stolz and Larkin at Madison
Square Garden. But was disap-
pointed in that. The technical knock
out had just been scored. I was too
late. But I wasn't too late to nab
Raymond Gram Swing on the run.
and To tune in on a bit of the eX-