The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-06-07
CONCH
CHOWDER
by RAINIER

Yesterday was a heartbreaker.
/ lost the set Of an antique family
ring, handwrought in France. The
gold band of fluer-de-lis held a
heavy old-fashioned topaz of the
rare, deep, deep brown-yellow
shade. It's been in the family for
over $50 years. We think it went
down the drain here at the office,
but just in case anyone finds the
stone, which is as big as a med
ium-sized fingernail and is al
most half an inch deep, please
return it to me and there will be
a reward. It's monetary value
isn't SO much 3. but il is an
heirloom which can't be replaced.
Les Rohde of the Olympia
Theater writes again from Miami
and says he can bring down a
five act show and will play for a
dance at the Navy. Any takers
may call him collect at Miami,
3-3593. His big band is one of
the best in the area and of course
the acts would be perfect for a
special entertainment for any
organization, civic or Navy spoE-
Sored.
AT Rotary Thursday. Chef Cold
flinched like slap-happy boxer
every time Joe Pearlman sounded
the official bell on the presidents
table and that was often due
to much fun at the "Aristocrat's
Table" Paul Sher finally tilted
(not a pinball machine) too far
and went over backward in a
neat jack-knife position much to
the delight of his fellow lunchers.
MOST COURTEOUS lads in
town were young Bill and Johnny
Truesdell at the party which
their parents, Capt. and Mrs.
w. H. Truesdell gave for Comdr,
George Dawson and his very
lovely wife. The boys circulated
through the crowd with snacks
and bowls of peanuts. Capt. Trues-
dell has a prodigious memory
!. =. he even recalls what indi-
vidual guests prefer to sip. Proud
angler, Capt. J. w, Davis. showed
me the proof of his candidacy for
an Isaac Walton Club badge.
Along with nice catch Of edible
fish, he snagged a sailfish which
was one inch over eight feet in
length. He says you don't gafi
then once they are brought along
side and that it took about half
an hour to get the big fellow on
deck. Smoked sailfish is excellent
for hors d'oeuvres, he added. The
Davis are leaving Key West for
another assignment. Also on the
outgoing list are Capt. and Mrs
Malen' Durski who head for
Hawaii. With Capt. E. H. Eldredge
and Rusty" and Ned leaving. too,
its going to be a week or two
of adios with regret. Betty
Buckley, daughter of Capt. and
Mrs. c. c. Adell and Caroline
Morrison. who were at the Daw-
son farewell, promised to con-
tribute some ideas for plays to
be given later at the Barn.
OLD LETTERS found by Alex
Lubinsky and turned over to
this column showed that back in
1910 Key West was very much in
the shipping business with orders
of tarred hemp rope and fittings
wanted along with ash and
spruce oars, English Crown
handmade chain, sisal, iute and
cotton rope and a product called
Russian bolt rope. Give the Rus
slams enough rope and hang
non-conformers. One letter to
William Curry's Sons Co, Key
West, dated 1909, quotes, AS
you undoubtedly know the price
of cotton is very high and the
price of manufactured cotton
goods advancing steadily" An
other letter in very finely done
script writing was from Chicago
:. and the office named was
Florida Keys Sponge and Fruit
Co" asking the price of man
hole covers, states and lumber
and all sizes of sails