The Daily Alaska empire., 1945-07-19
THOSE NEW POOL TABLES

THOSE NEW POOL TABLES
 When we (editorlaIly speaking) were II years old we experienced Christmas thrill like no other before or since. Up to that day we'd been playing pool on table hardly half regulation size, equip ped with wire cushions and with balls made from wood. On that magic morning we literally couldn't believe our eyes when we saw be- side the Christmas tree REAL POOL TABLE with REAL RUB PER CUSHIONS and REAL POOL BALLS, their many brilliant colors positively resplendent against the unbelievable emerald green of that table. We had never seen such a table, hadn't supposed we'd ever get to play on anything so wonder ful-and there it was our very own Christmas giftl
 You'll pardon this personal re- nembrance of one of the very few moments in life of which it may be recorded accurately: My heart stood still. Only by reference to that momentous occasion can we approximate for you our elation over our initial view of two other pool tables, as recently as early this week.
 It wasn't Christmas. There wasn't any tree. But two beautiful pool tables were standing there and if they weren't our very own, at least they belonged to our USO. And the old tables they had sup planted in it's game room, by com- parison with that boyhood table with the wire cushions, had been almost as pathetic for any good pool player. So if you thought you noticed something like the real fes- tive spirit of Christmas lowering over those tables on Monday of this third week in July, you now understand why.
 This time there isn't any one Santa Claus to say thank you to. Or, at least, if our July, 1945 Santa Claus has any identity, it's as a sort of cooperative goodwill as- sociation with very sizeable mern- bership roll
 A big share of the credit goes to Miss Isabel Peard, former Di- rector of the Skagway USO, who sent the tables down to us when her club closed Then too we needed (and generously goD the cooperation of the officers of the local Port Company, and it's first sergeant, George Brabaw.
 And it was the Clubs good friend, Joe Stocker, an expert in this field, who superintended the job of set ting up the tables, ably assisted particularly by Frank Romani, Port Company member from Chicago. To each of them, and to Franks associates in that Company-So1- diers John Frasher, Ken Hansen, Bob Sievert. George Tomsky and Frank Ventrelli, all from Chicago; Enrico Grolla, of St. Louis, Mis- souri: Harley Hood, of Newbury, Vermont; and Jesse Russell, from Lenoir City, Tennessee-for the as- sistance that all of them gave us, the USO is deeply grateful.
 Now that we have such excellent tables we are ready to stage two pool tournaments, one for the ser vicemen and the other for the GSO girls. They will be started the first week in August.
 TRIP TO TAKU GLACIER
 Sunday, August 5, is still quite some time away. Nevertheless, we're asking you to mark it on your calendar right now. For it's to be the occasion of the first USO-sponsored excursion to Taku Glacier.
 The Club has chartered the Don jac for the day. We'll be leaving here at 10 o'clock a. m., returning that evening sometime after g o'clock, so it'll be an all-day affair. There'll be beautiful scenery to see, comfortable boat to see it from, and congenial company to see it with-plus a picnic for sure) and some swimming tmaybe-you'll have to check up with the Weather Man about that)