davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-02-05
Wary Forecaster Sees
Chance for Snow
Aqain Tomorrow

|
second surprise" snow in "a
hours today and a wary weather
forecaster said there was a
chance" that more of the same
would fall tomorrow.
The problem of moving over the
shallow coating still was very real
for motorists this morning, but gen.
eral traffic conditions were improved
over yesterdays rush-hour snow
that caught almost everyone unpre-
pared.
In. all, % inches fell during the
matinee and night performances.
Had it not been for the rain sand
wiched between, the fall would have
amounted to inches, the Weather
Bureau said.
More than 100 traffic accidents
directly attributed to the slippery
streets sent 16 persons to hospitals,
two of whom were seriously injured.
Another score or more pedestrians
went to hospitals with injuries suf-
fered in falls.
Capital Transit Co. streetcars had
! more trouble than buses this morn
ing. In less than two hours, six
of them lost power plows in slots.
This caused delays averaging half
an hour at Seventh and M streets
NV, Eleventh street and New York
avenue NV, Thirty-fourth and P
streets NV, Fourteenth and Penn
sylvania avenue NV, Fifth and E
streets NV, and Thirty-third and
o streets NV.
Because of the temperatures how
ering around freezing, permitting
snow to melt and causing contrac-
tion of the slot from which the cars
get their power, Capital Transit has
been crippled more than usual this
winter by pulled plows, spokesman
said.
| Sanitation Supt. William A. Kan
ten, in charge of snow clearance
forces, said the streets were not as
slippery today as yesterday.
After 3 am, when the snow
ended, IL sanding trucks were dis
patched to throw sand in the down.
town area, in addition to salt placed
on some hills.
Today there were IS sanding
trucks and about 300 men at work
on the main streets and hills, Mr.
Xanten said.
Capital Transit ordered out 1S
sanding trucks during the night and
put 10 sweepers to keeping the
streetcar lines clear.
The American Automobile Asso-
ciation reported humming ousi-
ness today. Some automobiles had
skidded into bitches, but most mo-
torists reported frozen wheels, locks
and brakes. The volume of calls
was heavier than that received yes
terday.
One of the by-products of the
weather was series of manhole
explosions, three at Twenty fourth
and H streets NV. and another in
the 500 block of Third street NE.
The Fire Department blamed the
snow, which clogged up vents
through when gases usually escape,
and caused them to accumulate.
Considerable melting of snow was
indicated today from temperature
expected to reach "a degrees. To-
nights low should be about %, and
there is a possibility that snow will
fall again tomorrow afternoon or
night, the forecaster said The low
temperature today was 20 degrees
at am.
The District was the borderline
between heavy SHOWS to the north
and rain to the south, thus causing
the f1uctuation between the two yes
terday, the Weather Bureau ex-
planned.
At Frederick, Md, AZ miles to the
northwest, seven inches OF snow fell,
Baltimore received six inches and
| PHILADELPHIA eight inches.
Evening star., 1948-02-05
Trumuns to Christen Boot

Mrs. Truman and her daughter
Margaret were en- route today by
train for New Orleans, where on
Saturday they will christen a tow
boat, the Harry Truman" in honor
of the President. They will return
to Washington by Monday.
Evening star., 1948-04-04

didn't know just what she was going to do -
if you'd told her she was going to be poet
she would have laughed. Her only opus to
date had been composed in fifth grade and
had started, Il am an English sparrow, and
live way up in tree"
All she wanted was job. She soon got one,
with an agency that contracted to raise
money for charities. All day long she pecked
out letters to wealthy old ladies' exhorting
them to forward check for some worthy
cause
Her First Inspixation
ONE sunny day in late March. she scurried
out for lunch and passed pushcart full of
potted plants. A oouplet popped into her
head. When she got back to the Office she
typed this out:
HoU do I ks,oW that sUt,,ter 7eients?
ArbntnS is d0Wn to serenity cents.
These lines might not be mistaken for
Keats, but at least they were in the spirit of
the season. Margaret sent them to Franklin
P. Adams, who at that time ran his Coming
Tower" column in the New York World"
Mr. Adams presumably was also in the grip
of spring fever, for he published the oouplet.
Hmm" said Margaret when she received
the letter of acceptance, this poetry busi-
ness is pipe" She Immediately tossed off a
few more verses The pride that is supposed
to 90 before fall didn't work out in Mar
garets case The verses sold quite readily -
one of them even hit "The New Yorker"
With a few such laurels in her scrap
book, Margaret decided she was ready to
graduate from writing letters to rich old
ladies. She Jared forth in search of livelier
job, and she got one: Macy's advertising
department agreed to take her on.
Evening star., 1948-04-04

Until the impudent Fishback
girl arrived; Macy's ads had
followed the conventionally SOL
emn pattern of department.
store advertising in general.
Margaret changed all that. After
a brief apprenticeship she sud-
denly began to confound the
management by inserting flip
pant rhymes, comic cartoons and
Evening star., 1948-04-04

wlsecracks into her copy. She even insulted
the merchandise. Once she rummaged around
in the kitcten-utensils department and dis
covered metal cake tester two feet long. She
decided this was ridiculous length, and wrote
an ad to the effect that this cake tester will
come in handy the next time you bake cake
two feet high"
Bang! Is, 900 Sales
l HE management shuddered @but orders
for the tester came avalanching in. There
were 2,2OO mail orders. LOO telephone or
ders, and total of $4,000 sales. There were
even orders from Alaska Macys had only
few hundred testers in stock, at six cents
each. They had to have thousands made up
specially, at much more than the sales price.
But they were glad to lose the money.
They were learning the valuable lesson that
touch of humor can sell more goods than any
Continued on page II
Evening star., 1948-04-04

three or four article assignments at one time.
When we first visited Miss Fishback, she
was in typical state of violent activity.
She'd just finished wrapping 400 toys for a
charity grab bag at Tony's school, She was
worried about well that had been dug on
her farm in Maine. ''They had to go down a
hundred and seventy two feet water
will cost more than Scotch!' She had
received fan letter from dentist in Connec-
ticut who offered to swap few filings for
an autographed copy of her latest book. "The
trouble is, she said, there's nothing wrong
with my teeth. Do you think it would hurt his
feelings if sent him the book anyway"
Margaret Fishback arrived in New York
back in 1926 At that time she was starry
eyed young blonde fresh out of Goucher COL
lege in Baltimore. Shed been brought up in
Washington, D. c., but Washington was too
unruffled for Margaret. She wanted to tackle
New York and get into real confusion. She
Evening star., 1948-04-04

Poetess Margaret Fishback made
customers laugh and opened
new doors to fame and fortune
MI ARGAREr FIsHBACKs stationery bears
Nl the motto, Poems Made Up To Take
Out" and it isn't entirely joke.
Frequently, an editor will phone Miss
Fishback and say. Margaret. we need a
Valentines Day poem for our next issue. Can
you get it in by ten o'clock tomorrow" She
will say, well, I've got to get my husband
off to Europe today, and there's parent
teachers meeting at Tony's school, and I'm
having eight people in to dinner and just
fell off stepladder and sprained my wrist
Can you give me till noon tomorrow"
In her waking hours (Which apparently
number 24), the blonde, energetic Miss Fish
back is merry-go- round of cheerful confu-
sion. In the past Is years she has sold
some 5000 humorous poems to practi-
cally every magazine printed in English.
This would be notable if only for the fact that
she is the worlds worst typist. A line of her
typescript makes etaoin shrdtu look like a gem
of lucidity; more than once editors have had
to call her up to ask. What the he'll does the
second line in the third stanza say?"
Strictly . Sideline
HE 5000 poems have been strictly side
line with Margaret. Until little Tony" was
born, she was an extraordinarily successful
advertising copywriter at Macy's department
store in New York
Since taking ON the duties of housewife and
mother. Marine" (as she's known throughout
the popular magazine world) has retired"
Evening star., 1948-04-04

Little Tony is her main interest
at present. She has written a bale
of poetry and articles about him,
some of which are collected in
her seventh book of verse, called
Look Who's a Mother!" Nova
days she works only part-time
writing copy for Macy's, writes
a mere half dozen poems a week
and seldom takes on more than
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
COMEGYS IN
AUTO MISHAP
Clayton Physician CoIIides
With Taxi Driver on
Smyrna Clayton Blvd.
SUFFERED CUTS

Following his wife to Pleasan-
tons Garage to return car loan
ed to him by the garage while his
own was being serviced, DR.. Rich
ard Comegys, Clayton, crashed
into another vehicle operated by
Earl Timmons, a taxi driver, also
of Clayton. The accident occurred
about 7:20 Saturday evening,
March 6, on the Smyrna-Clayton
boulevard near the home of Henry
Ennis now occupied by Mr.. and
Mrs. James Vaughn.
Taken To Hospital
DR.. Comegys was driven to the
Kent General Hospital by his wife.
He was cut on the forehead and
knees which required several
stitches but was released immedi-
ately afterwards. Timmons was
unhurt. According to Mrs. Come
gys, she was driving ahead of her
husband in her own car. Upon
reaching Pleasanton's Garage,
where DR.. Comegys was to join
her, she waited a few minutes for
him to show up and then drove
back. She found her husband try
ing to reach her by telephone. Be
sides his injuries he was suffering
from shock and she got permission
from State Trooper Orvis, who
was investigating the accident, to
drive her husband to the hospital.
DR.. Comegys has recovered suffici-
emily to resume his practice.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
CONTINUE Al
FOOD PROGRAM
Frozen Food Program To Be
Continued i'm Delaware
in 194S
MEDALS AWARDED

Announcement has 5een made
that the National All Frozen
Foods awards program is being
continued in Delaware this year
It is conducted under the direction
of the Extension Service. The pro-
gram encourages All Club MEM
bers to learn the local foods best
adapted to freezing and to develop
skill in preparing and packaging
them for placement in the home
freezer or community locker plant
to lend variety to the family diet.
Awards for highest rating records
of achievement in freezing foods
include honor medals to county
winners and a $4,000 U. S. Savings
Bond to the state champion. Inter-
national Harvester Company also
will provide educational trips to
the 1948 National All Club Con-
gress in Chicago and $4,000 Fow-
Ter Mccormick scholarships to four
section-national winners selected
from the state champions. Mem
bers winning county medals in
Delaware last year were: Eliza
beth Webb, Kent; Doris David,
New Castle, and Ida Elizabeth Mil
bourn, Sussex.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
SCHOLARSHIP
ANNOUNCED
Van Gasken Scholarship Made
Available By Late Franc
eS Van Gasken
PREFERENCE TO GIRLS

Mr.. George w. Wright, Superin-
tendent of Schools, announces the
VanGasken Scholarship award CIV
en- annually by the Board of Edu-
cation on May 1. Graduates of
the John Bassett Moore High
School interested in such scholar
ship are requested and directed to
apply by letter to the Superin-
tendent for this scholarship. The
VanGasken Scholarship is made
available by the will of the late
Frances VanGasken in memory of
her father John VanGasken. Ac-
cording to the will of DR.. VanGas-
ken, preference in awarding this
scholarship is to be given to girls
interested in the study of medicine,
others interested in at
tending an institution of higher
learning may be considered.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11

Clayton, Mrs. Charles Stewart
and Mrs. Thomas Attix; Kenton,
DR.. E. F. Smith and Mrs. S. A.
Knots; Downs Chapel, Frank At
Tx; a chairman for Woodland
Beach will be named. The Clay
ton Motor Corps is giving valuable
help in the drive by delivering ma
terials throughout the area, and
also by aiding in the soliciting. An
enthusiastic meeting of the Smyr-
ma solicitors was held last week at
area headquarters at the Denney
Office with Mr.. Hynson presiding.
Solicitors for Smyrna are: Mrs.
Joseph Ennis, Mrs. Henry Price,
Mrs. Robert Sarde, Miss Anna B.
Beckett, Mrs. Fletcher Truax, Mrs.
Cooper Walker, Mrs. Francis Geb-
hart, Mrs. Harvey Wright, Mrs.
Lee Gooden, Mrs. Vernon Ford
Mrs. Allan Mofitt, Mrs. Richard
Price, Miss Ruth Collins, Mrs. ].
Chester Ranta, Mrs. James Bailey,
Miss Marian Barnes, Miss Janet
Pyle, Mrs. William Doughten, Mrs.
James Rodney, Mrs. Elmer Pratt,
Mrs. w. Smithers Snow, Mrs.
Howard Slaughter, Mrs. William
Kenworthey. Mrs. Delaney Jones
has charge of soliciting the negro
citizens. Any country people not
reached who wish to make a dona-
ton may leave it at Denney's
Office, East Commerce Street,
with Miss Henrietta Denney, area
secretary. Miss Denney and Mrs.
Pusey will place jars for
contributions in various places of
business.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
BAND
TO BROADCAST
Smyrna School Band and YO-
cal Chorus Featured on
WDEL Broadcast
B. P. OSBON DIRECTOR

The Smyrna School Band and
the Senior High School Chorus will
be featured in a broadcast from
Radio Station WDEL on Wednes-
day, March II, at 1.15 p. m. to 1.30
p. m. The Broadcast, sponsored
by the State Department of Public
Instruction and Radio Station
WDEL is for the purpose of bring
ing to the public the fine work be-
ing done in the Public School Sys-
tenn in Delaware. Superintendent
of Schools, Mr.. George w. Wright,
when requested to have the local
school make some contribution to
the series of programs Immediate
ly suggested the participation of
the Band and Senior High School
Chorus. Both groups, the Band
and the Chorus, will be under the
direction of Mr.. B. P. Osbon, and
the accompanist for the Chorus
will be Mrs. Evelyn Webb. At the
present time plans are being form
ulated for a public recital of the
Band and Chorus during the
month of May. Further details
will be published at a later date.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
NAMES
OF DONATORS
Kent General Hospital Dona-
tiOns To Be Published
in Appreciation
COMMITTEE HOSTS

At a meeting of the Executive
Committee of the campaign for
100000. for the Kent General
Hospital it was voted to recon-
mend to the Directors of the Hos
pital that in order to show their
appreciation to those who have so
generously given, the names of
these public spirited citizens and
the amounts subscribed in both
drives should be published The
who made this recon-
did so after due deliber-
alton and consideration for all con-
cerned and it was believed by all,
that the hospital could not in any
other way publicly acknowledge
the generosity of those who at this
time have donated to the cause of
mercy in our midst. 1t is believed
that this action will receive hearty
acclaim by all members of the
huge organization that is conduct
ing the campaign. For many of
these solicitors all over the county
have said at meetings "How can
we thank these generous people ?"
1t is planned that as the names
are published the caption for the
list will read: ITO The Following
Generous Citizens of Kent County
We Wish To Publicly Acknowledge
and Appreciate Their Subscrip-
tions and Recognize in This Man
ner Their Unselfshness."
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
LADIES NIGHT
BANQUET HELD
Smyrna Clayton Chamber of
Commerce Host at Ban
quet at Wayside Inn
E. ROBT. ROSSE SPEAKER

The Smyrna-Clayton Cnamper of
Commerce held their annual Lad
les Night Banquet at the Wayside
Inn, Tuesday evening, March 9, at
$50. DR.. c. ]. Prickett and Glenn
S. King were in charge of the pro-
gram. The principal speaker, Ern-
est Robert Rosse, was introduced
by the POSTMASTER, George w.
Wright, Superintendent of Smyrna
Schools. Mr.. Rosse's topic was
''The Safety Valve of Sanity. Mr..
Rosse is a nationally known hum
orous-philosopher. In his address
he stated that humor is a prime
factor in promoting better human
relations and said that people
shouldn't take life too seriously.
He further stated that the men
who framed the Constitution of
the United States were "far-sight-
ed statesmen and diplomats" who
were looking ahead to the next
several generations and not "to-
ward the next election. He
brought forth the point that a gov
ernmental dictatorship cannot sue
ceed for long but that a govern
ment that sponsors freedom of re-
Iigion cannot fail. He informing
led humor with serious philosoph-
les concerning national and inter-
national politics. George w
Wright responded to Mr.. Rosse's
address. ]. Wells FAIRIES, President,
of the Chamber of Commerce, pre-
sided. The invocation was said by
Rev. Robert E. Green, pastor of
the Asbury Methodist Church and
music was furnished by the Benson
Quartette. Several
guests were present at the ban
quet.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
HORNETS BACK
IN THIRD PLACE
Smyrna Edges Out Dover For
Position i'm Mar-DeI
League
IN YMCA SEMI-FINALS

The Smyrna Hornets, back on a
winning streak and back in the
third place berth of the Mar-Del
League, will meet the powerful
Milford basketball team on the
home court tonight, the game
scheduled to get under way at
$50. Smyrna's Victory Five will
tussel with the Milford second
stringers in the prelim. Both
games promise to give the spectat-
ors plenty of excitement. Milford,
plagued by injuries and withdraw
ais all season, seem to have finally
hit their stride and managed to
exc out victory last week over
the mighty, league-leading Ches-
tertown club, 1892. The Hornets,
playing some very fine ball, had an
easy time against Cecilton beating
the Marylanders 53-40. In a game
played at Denton last Wednesday,
March 8, the Smyrna club emerg-
ed victorious by a one-point mar
gin, 41.40. Smyrna placed in the
money in the Dover YMCA Invi-
tation Basketball Tournament oy
defeating Delaware City, 50-34 last
Saturday night. They will meet
Laurel on Saturday, March 13, in
the semi-final windup at the Dover
Armory. The game starts at 7:30.
With three tough games coming
up, two against Milford and one
against Dover, Smyrna is not yet
assured of a third place position in
the Mar-Del race but it is a safe
bet to say that the Hornets will be
in the play-offs.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
SMYRNA MAN IN EXERCISES
Lieut.. Geo. A. Hamilton, on Sub
marine Spinax in Caribbean Area

Lieut.. Geo. A. Hamilton, on Sub
marine Spinax in Caribbean Area
Serving aboard the submarine
u. S. S. Spinax which recently par
ticipated in exercises in the Carib-
bean area with units of the At
lantic Fleet, is Lieutenant Gg)
George A. Hamilton, formerly of
Smyrna. Lieutenant Hamilton is
a graduate of Smyrna High School
class of 1889, and of the United
States Naval Academy, class of
1915. Due to the wartime accei-
Grated program the Naval Acad-
emy class of 1945 was graduated
in June, 1914. He was aboard the
aircraft carrier Franklin when it
was bombed off the coast of Japan
during the war with nearly fatal
damage. Afterwards he received
assignment to the United States
Submarine Officers School, New
London, Conn.,, and since gradua-
tion has been on submarine duty.
Lieutenant Hamilton married the
former Ellen Louise Cullen in
June, 1914, and they have one son,
George, Jr.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
Lions sponsor Auction sale

In order to raise money for their
Boy Scout Building Fund, the
Lions Club of Smyrna will hold an
auction sale on Market Street
Plaza, April II, and submit for
auction a latest model, four-door,
super deluxe Ford automobile. 1t
will be sold to the highest bidder.
William Krushen, Chairman for
the sale, would like those who
have anything saleable that they
don't particularly need or want,
to donate the article to the Sale
Committee and they will put it up
for auction. All proceeds will go
to the Boy Scout Building Fund to
help pay for the Boy Scout Home
soon to be built by the Smyrna
Lions Club
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
GIRL SCOUT RALLY SATURDAY
SMYRNA CLAYTON PARTICIPA ATE

The Girl Scout Friendship Rally
March 13 in the Dover High
School Cafeteria will start prompt
ly at 10 a. m. The hostesses, con-
sisting of Dover Girl Scouts and
advised by Miss Doris Mae Faulk-
ner, Mrs. Max Feller and Mrs.
James Krygier will greet the var
ious troops and direct them to
their places. Pictures will be made
by professional and amateur pho
tographers. The Dover Girl Scouts
will then present a movie. This
will be followed by the lineup for
lunch. The afternoon program
which follows will start at 1890.
The accompanist for the program
will be Miss Adele Knepley. Pre-
sentation of colors; Color Guard,
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
TO SPEAK AT CLUB MEETING
George Spinner, Manager of Wild
Life Refuge to Address Club

Life Refuge to Address Club
George Spinner, manager of the
Bombay Hook Wild Life Refuge,
will be the speaker at the meeting
of the Twentieth Century Club on
Friday at 23O p. m. on program
arranged by Mrs. Thomas Russell,
state chairman of Conservation.
Mr.. Spinner, who has been for
three years at the refuge east of
Smyrna, has a B. S. degree from
the University of Connecticut in
wild life management and a mas
ter's degree from the University of
Michigan. Previously he has taken
part in research on pheasant eul-
ture in Connecticut, and was also
at the Missiquoi National Refuge
at Swanton, VT. He is at present
attending the National Wild Life
conference at st. Louis and will
bring echoes of that meeting. Mrs.
Russell will outline the conserva-
tion project of the State Fedora
tion. Group singing will be led
by Mrs. Kennard Price with Mrs.
Marion Coverdale at the piano.
The president, Mrs. Robert Den
ney, will preside. 1t was also an
nounced that the Century Club
will hold a harvest bingo party >on
Friday evening, March II, at 8 p.
m. in the club house. This party
is for the benefit of the directors
of the club. Mrs. Elmer P. Corrie
is chairman.
Smyrna times., 1948-03-11
ROTARY HEARS
NORRIS COTTON
Congressman Addresses Local
Club on agriculture; Cal
vim BOggs, Chairman
LOCAL FARMERS GUESTS

Speaking on the subject, "Agri-
culture, United States Represent
ative in Congress, Norris Cotton
of New Hampshire addressed the
Smyrna Rotary Club at their
meeting last Thursday evening.
Congressman Cotton is member
of the Lebanon, N. H. Rotary Club.
Congressman Cotton told the
Rotarians that the policy in WASH
ington concerning agriculture was
centered around a long range poll
cy in price controls, economy and
other fundamental issues. He cited
the imitation period Immediately
following World War I and the
crisis of 1929. He stated that
farmers were urged to produce
to feed the armies of the United
Nations as well as the populace
under the direction of the Sea Gull
Law" This law, he explained, is
due to expire December 81, 1948.
Congress is now busy trying to
form laws to protect the farmer
after the expiration of this law"
he went on to say. "The farmer,
is the greatest consumer of manu-
factured goods in the United
States and Scarcity and abundance
are one of the great questions of
our present Congress. Cotton
said that it is the belief that the
policy of the government is to pro-
tect the farmer when he has sur
plus crop and urged proper nutri-
tion for every man, woman and
child in the United States. Calvin
Boggs was chairman for the even
ing "rural-urban" program. DR..
Ralph B. Jones, president, presided
and c. Leland Harmonson respond
ed to Cotton's address on behalf of
the club. Guests present were
William Joyce, Dudley Crossley,
Delbert Wright, Lloyd Jones, Cliff
ford Clark, William Anthony, JOS
eph Ennis, William George, Charl-
'es Pryor, Arthur Short and John
Dukes.