The guardian., 1951-11-10
By ALMIRA PARK

Claiming to be the exact age of
comedian Jack Benny, Mr.. Walter
]. Stevens, author and outstand-
ing lecturer, celebrated his BIRTH
day last Sunday by entertaining
a few friends at a dinner served
in the newly decorated dining
room of St. Mark Congregational
Church. The trustees of the
church had especially decorated
the table at which were seated
the following: Rev. and Mrs.
S. L. Laviscount, Mr.. and Mrs.
Roscoe Bowser of Cohasset, Mr..
and Mrs. j. Edward Gould of
Dedham, Mr.. Alfonzo baltimore,
retired railroad man, and, of
course, the host and his petite
and accomplished wife, Marian.
The center of the table was
adorned with beautiful birth
day cake, placed there by a
trustee of the church. Besides
the guests, others joined in sing
ing the traditional Happy Birth
day to You" A member Of st.
Marks, Mr.. Stevens has been
commended by the church and
Brotherhood for his regular ac-
tivities in the service of others
and his devotion to the policies
of the late founder of The
Guardian. After the dinner, Mr..
Stevens took his guests to his
home at 768 Columbus ave-,
where he had them view his COLI
lection of prize winning photo
graphs. (Mr. Stevens makes a
hobby Of Photography, you
know, and many books and
letters he has received from
noted people here and abroad. To
his other accomplishments, Mr..
Stevens adds that of master of
the cuisine and if he cooked the
birthday dinner himself, there is
no doubt of its excellence. Many
years ago, Mr.. Stevens left Cam
bridge and Boston to seek his
fortune" in other localities. He
returned about 1914 to live out
his retirement here, having held
high government post in SYRIA
cuse, N. Y, and where his wife
had been secretary to the presi-
dent of Syracuse University. He
purchased home on Harrishof
ST., where he resided till his re-
moval to the South End. Some
thought he might have had in
mind to enter politics, but this
thought has not been born out.
He wrote book instead, and got
on lecture bureau. Mrs.
Florence Heggie Taylor, well
known musician and music teach
er, entertained at her home on
st Botolph st. last Tuesday in
honor of Miss Amy Bailey of
Kingston, Jamaica, guest speaker
the previous Sunday at Union
Methodist Church for the Boston
C ommittee to Aid Under
privileged Girls of Jamaica. AS
founder of the Hostel and Train
ing Center, Miss Bailey made a
touching and fortnight appeal
at the public meeting for un-
trained girls of her home city,
whose plight has been made more
acute by the recent Jamaican
hurricane. A large number of
sponsors and friends had heard
Miss Bailey at the meeting and
had felicitated her later at pub
lie reception held at 55S Mass.
ave. The small group who feted
Miss Bailey at the Taylor resi-
dence were themselves treated
to a most delectable Spaghetti
dinner with the main course pre-
pared under the personal super
vision of Mr.. Pol Placon, noted
musician and vocal instructor.
Guests included, besides Miss
BaiIey. her brother and his wife,
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilfred Bailey of
Everett, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry
Stubbs and their daughters, Doris
and Wilhelmina, Mrs. Meta Dish
man. Miss Bera Loveless of New
York, Miss Alvira Hazard, Mr..
E 2. Roundtree, and Mr.. John
Warner, tenor "a pupil of Mr..
Placon), who sang for the guests
and presented his own pupil,
Miss Doris Warner. Miss Bailey
will continue her speaking en-
gaeements in Detroit and Chicago
and hopes to return to Boston be-
fore sailing home. NAACP
FORECAST = Gladys McAdoo,
entertainment chairman, and