The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-05-11
Observations
Civic Minded Open
Drive For Thearer
in W ashington
Rv HELEN EssARY


To the question many people are
akking win the outside Of the
White House be given the painting
a SO desperately needs. now that
Il is taking in new tenants. The
answer is No"
The explanation for this decision
Is "Manpower shortage II would
take the work OF many men TO re
move the old coats Of paint from
the executive mansion. Some parts
OF the house have been painted and
repainted with such abandon that
they boast forty and fifty coats OF
white
Maybe the versatile Dolly Madi-
son put on the first OF the coats
when she came back to the White
House from which she had fled
when II was partially burned by the
British in the War OF 1872.
Have you seen our polo ponies
one OF the White House attend
ants asked me. Polo ponies
Don't tell me the gentleman from
Missouri is going n for the sport OF
kings"
The polo ponies we're talking
about are rats, ! was informed,
They are 90 big and active, gam
boiling about under the old trees
after nightfall you might az least
take them for 81. Bernard dogs
White House caretakers tried 10
get rid OF the rats by spreading
poison paste about. But more
squirrels than rats were killed Now
nothing is being done 10 stop the
spread OF the plague.
Most OF Washington Is infested
with rats. II is the spring menace
ot 1e45.
Going civic minded for a moment
"A few words about the drive for
the municipal theater now being
enthusiastically started in Wash
ington. The idea OF a municipal
thester seems excellent 70 me
Certainly the response 20 the move
ment is gratifying 10 lis organ
iLers
But-hsts to do it-there 10
but. Any thester plans for the
capital should be on a large, ex-
panding scale. Any new theater
plans should include ARRANGEMENTS,
Sfor opera presentation. .-s1~st
presentation and ballet presenta-
ton.
Everybody in Washington knows
what an inadequate, dispiriting
place is Constitution Hall, gather
ing spot Of cultivated minds. You
have TO work 80 hard getting
ready TO have a good time there.
surrounded as you are by memor-
isls TO best beloveds, that BY the
time the show comes on you are
too tired TO look or listen TO the
performance. You mostly want TO
doze off and nap until II is time
TO 10 home
Despite the lack OF comfort and
inspiration in Constitution Hall.
almost any presentation il offers is
well attended. So many people
in Washington are looking for en-
tertainment. Maybe this Is one OF
the reasons they 20 TO Constitu-
ton Hall. They like TO see the
ballet dancers squirm TO avoid fall
ing from the Halls narrow stage
into the footlights. II may amuse
them to wonder when National
Symphony Director Hans Kinder
will lead himself backwards into
drop on the front row chairs sac
red 10 the memory OF some OAR
patriot. Maybe my. own.
Writing seriously. the municipal
theater effort should be made for
activities other than straight thea.
ter. BY enlarging its scope II will
draw the support OF many useful
groups and provide housing for
many needed artistic productions.
Another point, why should the
promoters OF the municipal theater
spurn government subsidy
Fhesyen's sake. Everything else
in the world has United States
government subsidy. Why not
thester in Washington I'd like
TO bet you right now that half the
national thesters in Europe will be
restored after the war-on United
States money! Sic semper Amer
lea!