davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-01-08
|450 Graduates Attend
Reunion and Banquet
Al Bliss School

About $50 Of the approximately
5000 graduates Of the Bliss Elec-
trical School. Takoma Park. for
got mathematical equations and
other problems last night to at
tend the schools first alumni re-
union and banquet since 1941.
The occasion was the Goth meet
ing Of the Washington section CT
the Bliss Alumni Association at
the schools campus, Takoma and
Chicago avenues. just over the
District line in Maryland.
Members Of 81 different classes,
representing IS school years, at
tended the reunion, to share notes
and old memories and to hear a
few brief remarks from "the Pro-
fessor"-Louis D. Bliss, 79-year-
old founder of the school. =.
Mr.. Bliss, some of the oldtimers
recalled, started the school in
Washington back in 1893 after
prompting by a group of Census
Bureau employees who said they
wanted to learn about electricity
during their off-duty hours.
1896 Graduate Attends.
A chair, used m the first classes
when the school opened at 219
G street NV, was used again
last night by Mr.. Bliss, who ap-
peared for only few minutes
due to illness. Alumni members
noted that the school functioned
in the District until 1908 when
the campus" moved to Takoma
Park.
Oldest graduate in attendance
was Willis B. Robinson, of the
Class of 1896. Mr.. Robinson, a
retired Government employe, lives
at 3039 Albemarle street NV.
Other oldtimers who were intro
duced included Francis G. Bos-
well. class of 1900, who now lives
at AL West Masonic, View, Alex
andria. Mr.. Boswell, a patent at
torney. was the composer of the
Bliss Electrical School March, q
familiar number at graduation
time.
Among others were G. Chester
Collision, '01, of 1871 Rittenhouse
street NV, who currently is en-
gagged In writing mathematical ar
ticles; Clayton c. Warner. 'O9, CT
1904 South Monroe street, Arling-
ton, superintendent Of station con-
struction for the Potomac Electric
Power Co.: Milton M. Flanders,
10, dean Of faculty at the school,
and Edward j. Wilson, IA, oldest
employee at the school who now is
in charge Of its mechanical labora-
tory.
Bittner Heads Alumni.
Illness prevented the appear
ance of the only living alumnus
OF the first class in this area. He
was Thomas E. Robertson, former
United States Commissioner of
Patents.
About $50 Of those who attended
currently are employed by the
Chesapeake and Potomac Tele-
phone Co., including Samuel A.
Moss. '23. general plant supervisor
Other large delegations repre-
sented Pepco, the Virginia Electric
Power Co. and the International
Business Machines Corp.
In the only business before ad-
journing to inspect classrooms
and latest electrical devices, Rob-
ert J. Bittner. of 1898 Pinecrest
Circle, Silver Spring, a member
OF the class Of 1888, was elected
president to succeed Frank R.
Mueller of 8007 Eastern avenue,
Silver Spring. a 1921 graduate.
Robert P. Hiltner, '36, of 100
Northwood avenue, Silver Spring
was named as vice president
while Charles E. Carpenter. '33,
OF 7700 Blair road, Takoma Park,
also a faculty member, was re-
elected Secretary-treasure
Evening star., 1950-01-08
Brady

NCOnGlnueQ from F1rSC PageD
Mr.. Brady, then seriously Ill, had
told him:
Whatever happens, I don't
want anything to interfere with
her playing"
A solemn requiem mass will be
heard at II am. Monday at St.
Malachy's Church.
1t will be conducted by a long
time friend of Mr.. Brady. Msgr
J. B. O'Reilly. pastor of the church.
He will be buried Monday at
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. North
Tarrytown, N. Y.
Mr.. Brady produced stream
OF popular plays since 1888, with
$50 in New York.
He managed such stars as
Douglas Fairbanks, Laurette Tay-
lor, Tallulah Bankhead, his daugh-
ter Alice Brady, and Mrs. George,
his second wife.
Managed Corbett and Jeffries.
The impresario also managed
such sport champions as James j.
Corbett and James J. Jeffries.
He built two theaters in New
York. and leased and managed
many other theaters here and in
Chicago.
His granddaughter, Barbara
Brady, also is in "The Velvet
Glove" in which Mr.. Brady's
widow shares top billing with WAL
Ter Hampden.
Mr., Brady confessed that he
was born gambler-said he made
and lost so fortunes in as many
years in show business.
He told of cutting cards at $15,-
900 a cut with Arnold Rothstein,
Broadway gambling prince.
During tempestuous life he
was actor sports promoter, play
wright and producer.
-e...s Born in San Francisco.
Z He was born in San Francisco,
June 10, 1868.
His father, rlewSpaperman, be-
came estranged from Mr.. Brady's
mother and took the child to New
York at the age of three.
His father was killed in a fall
under the Bowery eel" and young
Brady. in his teens, got a job as
a steward in the New York Press
Club.
In 1882 he returned to his ma
tive city and began a stage career
as an actor.
President Wilson named Mr..
Brady in 1917 as chairman of a
committee to organize the motion
picture industry to cooperate
with the World War I Committee
on Public Information.
Mr.. Brady was president of the
National Association Of the Mo-
ton Picture Industry from 1915
to 1920.
Headed Film Company.
He also was executive head of
the World Film Co.
He built William A. Brady's
playhouse here in 1910 and the
Firty-Eighth Street Theater in
1912.
Mr.. Brady first was married to
Marie Rene. now dead. Their
daughter Alice. died in 1899.
Brady married Grace George In
1899. Their son, William A. Brady,
tr, also is dead. His sons widow,
Katherine Alexander, now is ap-
pearing in the London production
of Death of Salesman" with
Paul NUM-.
Mr.. Brady also managed such
stars as Robert Mantell. Holbrook
Blinn, Wilton Lackaye, and Flor
ence Reed.
He managed Jim Corbett when
Gentleman Jim" dethroned John
L. Sullivan as heavyweight cham
pion at New Orleans September 7.
1892.
Seven years later he was man
aging Jeffries when the latter won
the heavyweight title at Coney
Island from the conqueror of Cor
bett-Bob Fitzsimmons.
Was Candy Butcher.
Before he reached San Fran
cisco in 1882 Mr.. Brady worked as
Evening star., 1950-01-08
Furniture Store TO Open
In Blair Lee Mansion

The P. J. Nee CO. plans to open
q furniture store in the historic
Blair Lee mansion in Silver Spring
within a few weeks.
The mansion, once the home
OF the late Senator Lee, Democrat,
Of Maryland, is at 8081 Eastern
avenue,
Robert Craig, Silver Spring, will
be manager of the new store,
which will display only traditional
furniture. A large model kitchen
will be set up in the basement.
Evening star., 1950-01-08
Regular Air Mail

First regular rans-continental
mail service by air began between
New York and San Francisco in
1920.
Evening star., 1950-01-08

Weeds can cause up to IL times
the annual crop loss that insects
cause.
Evening star., 1950-08-14

Texas, said the girl suffered a
broken neck about five years ago
diving into swimming pool, and
had since complained of head
aches.
But one of Miss Connevey's
friends, Miss Caralee Crosslin,
4519 North Nineteenth street, Ar
lington, said the girl had seemed
very happy, though complaining
that her neck had been hurting
her a lot lately"
Miss Connevey visited Washing
ton with her mother, Mrs. F,ischel,
early in July. She had first plan
ned to return to her studies at
the University of Washington,
then decided to apply for a job.
She stayed with the Atkinsons
because Mrs. Atkinson was a close
friend of the family and had
known Miss Connevey since she
was 18 months old. i.
Miss Connevey had only one
date here, and that with a mice
young man we had at our home
for dinner" Mrs. Atkinson said.
She had received one letter from
a boy friend in Texas.
Funeral services tentatively
have been scheduled for next Fri
day at San Antonio. Texas.
Evening star., 1950-08-14
Sesqui Events
Where to Go,
What to Do

This year marks the 150th
anniversary of establishment Of
the permanent seat of the United
States Government in the Dis
trict of Columbia. The National
Capital Sesquicentennial Commits
sion has scheduled the following
events in observance of the city'S
150th birthday Gree of charge
unless otherwise noted:
Faith of Our Fathers" Paul Green's
pageant honoring George Washington,
every night except Monday at $50 pm.
at the Sesouicentennial amphitheater, Six
Tickets, at 90 cents to So 40, are available
at trailer in front of the District Build
ing; Fourteenth and streets NV; at
at Super Music City stores, 1850 F street
NV; and ITO Seventh street NV, and
at the amphitheater box office.
Continuing.
The American Professional" paintings
and drawings recording four centuries Of
American history, at the Corcoran Gallery
OF Art, Seventeenth street and New York
avenue NV.
"washingtonia." exhibit of pictures,
pamphlets and rare books from the col
lection Of the District Public Library at
the Corcoran Gallery.
Also. plan of Washington" architec-
tural exhibit. Gallery hours: Noon to
4:30 pm.
Makers of History of Washington
sme the Nsona assry and Of ar
Sixth street and Constitution avenue NV.
Picture of the week: WALT Whitman"
BY Thomas, Ekins. Picture-of-the-week
hours: 10 am. to pm.
"Milestones in American Achievement"
an exhibit marking the sesquicentennial
Of the District, at the Library First and
East Capitol streets NV, am. to 10
pm.
An exhibit of old pictures. prints and
portraits of early WaShingtonians, at the
Central Public Library, Eighth and K
streets NV, 8 am. to 8 pm.
The Freedom Train exhibit at the Ma
tional Archives exhibition hall, Constitu-
tion avenue between Seventh and Ninth
streets NV, 8 am. to 5 pm. Il
Evening star., 1950-08-14
Free Star Movies
Playground Film
Program for Tonight
Washington, $3.50 pm.


Murch, Thirty-Sixth and Ellicott
streets NV.
Rudolph, Second and Hamilton
streets NV.
Bunker Hill, Fourteenth street
and Michigan avenue NE.
Lily Ponds, Kenilworth avenue
and Quarles street NE.
Virginia Avenue, Ninth street and
Virginia avenue Sc.
Highland Dwelling, 656-7 Yuma
street Sc.
Monroe, Georgia and Sherman
avenues NV.
Francis, Twenty-Fourth and N
streets NV.
Blow, Nineteenth street and Ben
ming road NE.
SyphaX, los S street S.W.
Arlington, $3.50 pm.
Four Mile Run, Four Mile Run
drive and Vermont street.
Montgomery County, 9 pm.
Kensington, Everett street and
KenSington parkway.
Prince Georges County, 8 pm.
North Brentwood Elementary
School, Wallace road and Ban
ner street.
Evening star., 1950-08-14
DC. Air Guard Begin,
Gunnery Practice TO
Repel Mock Attack

The Districts Air National
Guard pilots sharpened their gum
merry today in early stages Of
active training duty. preparing
for interception of a surprise"
attack on Andrews Air Force
Base.
Two weeks of training for the
121st Fighter Squadron, the 121st
Utility Flight and Detachment A
of the 18th Maintenance Squad
ron began in earnest yesterday at
Andrews.
The interception mission, based
on the assumption that bases at
Andrews and at New Castle, Del,
will not be protected by radar
warning equipment, may come at
any time next week and will cli-
max the two-week training.
From Byrd Field, Va. Mary
lands 104th and Virginia's 149th
Squadrons are to launch the aerial
attack. Very little advance warn
ing will be given the District Air
Guards F-84 jet pilots and those
of the Delaware 142d Squadron.
1t. Col. w. w. Millikan, 4346
Martha Custis drive, Alexandria,
commanding officer of the fighter
squadron. and 1t. John E. Kester,
1912 Irving street NV, gunnery
officer, had high praise for the
gunnery results yesterday.
These pilots are relatively new
to gunnery in F-84s," said Col.
Millikan, "but the Thunderjet is
wonderful gunnery ship and the
scores are already showing it,"
Air-to-air gunnery, in which
the pilots fire on sleeve targets
towed by other planes, is sched-
uled for most of this week. Be-
ginning Friday, pilots will turn to
navigation and instrument flight.
exercises in cross-country flying.
interception, escort flights, bomb
ing and rocket firing.
Today's schedule also included
a lecture on the principles of
War" to be given by three Air
Force Officers from the Air Com
mend and Staff School at Max
well Air Force Base, Ala.
Evening star., 1950-08-14

from day to day and the number
of actual cases will be reported
through the newspapers at regular
intervals"
MIR. Williams realized that the
situation was changing too fast
for j newspaper appearing twice
a week. So he shopped up and
down Main street until he found
the biggest blackboard In town.
He purchased it and nailed 1t to
the front of the Enterprise
building. Official Polio Report"
was lettered across the top of
the board and below chalked
in Health Department figures,
changing them every time the de-
partment made a change in its
totals.
Everyone in Wytheville agreed
that Mr.. Williams blackboard
did a great deal to allay the wave
of fear that swept the communi-
ty. Everyone agreed there had
been a wave of fear. The writer
of these articles arrived in
Wytheville after it had subSided.
He asked about it. Everyone he
talked to had difficulty in de-
scribing the experience.
It wasn't anything you could
put your finger on. There was no
departure from the daily routine
Of going to work. Mr.. Williams
checked Wytheville's three manu-
Evening star., 1950-08-14

featuring establishments - two
hosiery mills and a shirt factory.
He found that absenteeism was
almost negligible. 1t wasn't the
performance of any individuals,
the milkman who refused to leave
milk at houses where polio had
struck, the truckman who refused
to carry a crib into a house for
a child returned from the hospi-
tai. 1t was a realization that
everyone you met was afraid of
something and that you were
afraid too. Everyone agreed that
it was a very unpleasant.
Cases Still Mounting.
It Subsided although the num-
ber of polio cases and the num-
ber of deaths constantly were
mounting and are still mounting.
People simply got used to living
in a polio epidemic.
The age-pattern of the disease
was about the usual one. The
youngest individual to get the
disease, according to the Health
Department records, was a three
month-old infant and the oldest
Evening star., 1950-08-14

tribution of buying power, he con-
tended, Is essential.
Robert M. Segal, counsel for the
Massachusetts, State Federation of
Labor (AFL), declared insurance
companies are factor in prevent
ing employment of persons of ad-
vanced years. He said that the
insurance firms bring pressure to
bear on employers in the form of
higher rates for workmen's COM
IpenSation and insurance of older
people.
Carroll w. Boyce of the Nc
Graw-Hill Publishing Co., said
that the younger generation,
which will have to pay the pension
bill, agrees there is room for ex-
panded social security.
The conference, which broke up
into separate sessions today, de-
voted its attention to employment,
rehabilitation and income main
tenance of persons of advanced
years.
Oscar R. Ewing, Federal Sc
curity Administrator, in opening
the conference yesterday, sounded
hopeful keynote. He declared
America, long known as the land
of opportunity for youth, must
also be made attractive for old
age.
DR.. Wilma Donahue, clinical
psychologist of Ann Arbor, Mich,
advocated that younger persons
prepare now for old age.
DR.. Edwin E. White, Madison
(WiS) economist, stressed that
financial security is one of the
greatest requirements of those
growing old.
DR.. Edward j. Stieglitz, geron-
tologiSt of Washington and New
York. declared everything must
be earned" and said the plight
of the old people often can be
blamed on these old people them
selves. ~ ,.,,''.,.
Evan Clague, labor statistics
commissioner for the Labor De-
partment, pointed out two courses
are open in present thinking. One
is to provide a sufficient income
for old people so they will not
have to work. The other is to
give them a chance to earn their
living, if they are capable, de-
spite advancing years.
Evening star., 1950-08-14
Girl, 27, Loses To-Day Fight
To Survive After Poison Dose
Navy EmpIoye
Took Blue Pills
For Headache

Friends of a Navy typist who
died from poisoning were mysti-
fed today as to why the attrac-
tive 21-year-old girl swa1loed the
lethal dose.
Miss Madge Connevey died in
Georgetown Hospital early yester-
day, 10 days after she rushed to
a neighbor's home, crying that
she had taken some "blue tab
let's"
In the kitchen sink of the home
where Miss Connevey had lived
the six weeks she has been here
were found egg shells and a mix
ture Of flour and water, indicat-
ing the girl had quickly prepared
an antidote.
Deputy Coroner Richard M.
Rosenberg said he was told the
girl had taken poison.
Mrs. j. E. Murphy, 4519 North
Nineteenth street, to whose home
the girl ran on the evening of
August 8, said she was crying that
she had taken the poison because
her head ached so badly.
Mrs. Murphy called boarder,
Clarence Lawson, a former Army
medical corpsman, who forced
glass after glass of water and
mustard down the girl. She then
was removed first to Arlington
Hospital and later to Georgetown.
Miss Connevey had sung happily
before going to work that day, had
been cheerful throughout the day
and complained of nothing up to
about 6 pm. At that time Mrs.
Atkinson left her alone in the
home while she drove to town.
During the next half hour Miss
Connevey apparently removed the
bottle Of blue pills from the med
icine closet. This partly empty
bottle and another of rat poison,
still unopened, were found near
the sink.
Miss Connevey'S stepfather,
David Fischel OF San Antonio,
Evening star., 1950-08-14

was 81 years. But the majority Of
the stricken was under 10. years
Of age and almost all of them
were under 20.
1t was possible to allay fear
but little could be done to con-
vince people that the way the
disease is transmitted is unknown
and that their simple explana-
tions of it had no value. The
house fly was Immediately blamed
by many.
The town council hired a DDT
spraying truck from Roanoke, one
of the most modern types of such
equipment. On one day the spray
gun atomized 5000 gallens of a
DOT emulsion-about gallon
for every inhabitant of the town.
This brought a mixed blessing.
You could eat in Wytheville res
taurants without a single house
fly calling at your table. But
walking through the DDT cloud
outside almost called for gas
mask. AS for the polio-it kept
increasing.
The house fly is a suspect but
Evening star., 1950-08-14

were taken to the hospital at
Roanoke.
BY the end Of the second week
in July there had been Is cases
and three deaths in the county,
a rather alarming situation for a
little community. The three IA
talities were a young man of 20,
a boy of 8 and a 5-month-old
baby girl.
The town recreation board
closed the swimming pool. The
town council asked DR.. Pope If
public places, particularly the
two motion picture theaters should
be closed. He replied that it was
not necessary. The theaters
closed voluntarily in a few days.
There was no business anyway.
Fear began to grip the COM
munity and rumors began to fly
that multiplied the current figures.
Every call a doctor made became
polio case in local gossip. 1t
was then that James A. Williams,
jr.. editor of the Southwest Vir-
ginia Enterprise, Wytheville's
semiweekly paper, decided to do
something about it. In an edito-
rial of July IA entitled Get the
Facts About the Polio Picture, +"
he said:
I'm the past week when several
new cases or suspects have been
reported there has resulted grave
concern and a constant fear and
worry, like an angry thunder
cloud, has hung over the COM
munity. Rumors and mistaken
ideas and reports have naturally
been prevalent and the overall re-
suit is that doubts and fears that
would naturally exist have been
multiplied many times.
Asked to See the Facts.
"Our appeal to everyone during
this period of time when the dread
of contracting the disease is pre-
valent, and everyone is looking
for a source Of comfort is to ask
that you seek the facts before
making any statements. Disre-
gard completely rumors which
will be heard. for there will be
reports daily such as-'Mary, Tom
or Jack have the disease and Jim
is not expected to live
"The Health Department will
have an accurate and true picture
Evening star., 1950-08-14
Quick Thinking Saves
Boy, 4, From Drowning

The 4-year-old son of an Air
Force colonel yesterday was saved
from drowning in the officers pool
at Boiling Air Base by quick
thinking personnel.
There's a little boy under
water" Col. j. c. Robertson's
daughter told him.
A few minutes later Col. Robert
son and Corpl. John Tyler were
giving artificial respiration to
Jimmy Loughry, whom they pulled
unconscious from the pool.
Jimmie, the son of 1t. Col. and
Mrs. r. j. Loughry Of Andrews Air
Base, had strayed from the chill
dren's pool into the one for adults.
His condition today was reported
satisfactory.
Evening star., 1950-08-14
Six New Polio Cases
Bring Total TO 146;
Incidence 8 Per 1000

Four new polio cases in the
District, one In Fairfax County
and one in Arlington were re-
ported over the weekend, bring
ing the Washington area total
for this year to 146.
The additional District cases
raised the total here to SO as
against "a at the same time last
year.
An 8-year-old colored boy,
of the first block of N street Sc,
and a 12-year-old colored girl
of the 400 block of Elm street
NV, both of whom were ad-
mitted to Gallinger Hospital
earlier in the month, were dag
nosed as polio cases yesterday. A
31-year- old colored woman of the
600 block of Morton place N. E.,
also admitted to Gallinger earlier
this month, was being treated for
polio today. A 20-month-old COL
ored boy Of 4700 block of Wash
ington place NE, admitted to
Children's Hospital on Friday,
was listed as the Districts fourth
new case.
Fairfax County health officials
reported one new case this MORN
ing. A 23-year-old woman of the
1900 block of Richmond highway,
who viii! be sent to Gallinger
Hospital for treatment. The total
in Fairfax County now is %.
A Six-year-old girl of the 1700
block of North Troy street, Ar
lington, admitted to Children's
Hospital Friday, is the IL case of
polio reported in Arlington.
In this weekly summary of polio,
DR.. Carl C. Dauer. director of the
Bureau of Preventable Diseases,
of the Health Department, said
that IL District polio cases had
been reported during the week, %
nonresident cases had been hos
'pitalized here and four cases whose
resident status was not known.
There were SO cases reported
so far this year as against "a for
the same 80 week period last year.
Evening star., 1950-08-14

he leaves no mark. There were
many parents who were sure
their children got the disease be-
cause they had been bitten by
spiders. They remembered the
spider bite showing up just be-
fore the sickness began.
One woman wrote DR.. Pope
that she frequently dreamed and
her dreams always were true.
Since the polio epidemic hit
Wytheville, she said, she saw 6
dog in q dream. Every hair OF
the dog was standing on end. A
vapor was rising from the dog
and q crying child was sitting
nearby. If Wytheville would get
rid of its dogs, 1t would get rid
Of the polio.
Man Copies Records.
And on one Sunday when the
Health Department workers en-
tered the Office they found a maa
in there copying the records. He
introduced himself as a physi-
clan from a Tennessee Veterans
Administration hospital and
everyone realized he had been
hanging around the place for sew
eral days.
If he were a bona f1de physi-
clan he could have introduced
himself during Office hours and
obtained almost any information
he wanted. The Health Depart
ment people decided he was a
salesman making up a mailing
list or a calling list of families
where polio had occurred.
One letter writer to the Enter
prise seriously advanced the idea
that the one way to detect the
carrier of the disease was to as
sign the FBI to the job. They
have an excellent laboratory" he
wrote.
The town Recreation Board de-
cided that something would have
to be done to keep children in
doors. They devised a radio game
called "Recko" that was some
thing of a combination of Bingo
and stop the Music" Children
who identify such children's ia
vorites as "The Teddy Bears
Picnic" and THE Woodpecker
Song" when called on the tele-
phone were given prizes. Wythe-
ville's radio station, WYVE,
played the Recko game again and
again every morning and after
noon.
Editor Williams also wanted to
contribute to keeping the chill
dren indoors so he started a SIM
pie puzzle game - also called
"Recko" and offered prizes for
all children who came up with
the right answer.
TOMORROW: HotD the county
mobilized against polioJ