davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
CONVENTIONS
TODAY

The Maryland Industrial
Union Council OF the ALL
CIO assemblies in the Will
lard Hotel for a four-day
meeting.
The National Biscuit Co.
carries on in the Hotel Stat
Ter.
The American Automobile
Association goes into its
third day in the Hotel Stat
Ter.
The Treasury Depart
ments Savings Bond Divi-
sion meets again in the
Shoreham Hotel.
The Metropolitan Life In
surance Co. continues It's
sessions in the Shoreham
Hotel.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
The
Rambler
About Stories
Thut Got Awoy
By JACK JONAS

There ought to be some
way, with this column begin
ming its second year today, to
thank all the fine people
who've been helpful with
their telephone calls, letters
and suggestions.
We'd thought of thanking
everybody in print, but the
list is too long, and the space
is too short.
We'd thought, next, CT
thanking in print the AS and
the BIS and taking care of the
rest of The alphabet in en-
suing years. But even for that,
there isn't room.
And, too, that system
brought to mind the eighth
grade, where the teacher held
Rotations by going down the
list of her pupils names
alphabetically. Just to be
fair, she would sometimes
start with Z-there was a
zabronSki in that claSs-and
work up, so those at the bot
tom wouldn't be missed.
That, of course, left those
at the middle of the alphabet
with very few times to recite,
so that people with initials
like -" never learned much,
while the Andrews and Ia
bronskis ran neck and neck
for class honors.
And so, like the fisherman,
we'll just talk about the
stories that got away.
YOU'D THINK a fellow
tramping the streets of Wash
ington for a year would be
able to find the things he was
after. But the city is a big
place, and too many things
clamor for attention. The
min d becomes sidetracked
from one interesting thing by
the sudden appearance of
another.
The 6-foot-wide house in
Georgetown has been, for the
past year, elusive. We'd been
filling this space only a few
days when Ruth Blackburn
wrote to ask about that house
= said she'd heard of it
somewhere and would we
please look 1t up and write
about it.
The search for that house
was abandoned the day an
irate Georgetown resident
posed a vigorous objection to
a 6-foot columnist lying on
the sidewalk in front of his
home. The explanation that
this pose was purely for the
purpose of measurement did
little to abate his wrath and
suspicion.
Elusive, too, has been the
old Lookup" somewhere off
Macarthur boulevard. A man
here in the Office said he'd
once read about such an old
lookup in that rather extern
sive neighborhood. 1t was
some distance off the road.
he said, and once was used to
house prisoners temporarily
while the agents of the law
went to seek a justice of the
peace to pronounce sentence.
But a man poking around
back yards, even of Mac
Arthur boulevard, is bound to
arouse suspicion. Such actions
could lead him to a lookup,
all right, but probably not the
one he sought.
n
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
LEARNING TO LAUGH
Even Santa Claus
Must Go to School

who hopes to retire next year.
Counting from the time when
he started playing Santa
Claus for his own children,
Mr. Bobbitt figures he has
been in the business for 80
years.
ITO me there'll always be
a Santa Claus" Mr.. Bobbitt
says. 1T isn't real. but it's
a thought that will never die"
Like the other store Santas,
he enjoys his work. This year
ne spent days training the
eight other Hecht Co. Santas.
There are two at the Silver
Spring store, two in Arlington
and four downtown. The
downtown Santas have a de-
partment of their own on the
fifth floor. Toys are on the
third floor.
Keep Up Spirits
Mr.. Bobbitt feels an i'm
portant part of his job is keep
ing UP the spirits of all his
assistants. 1T takes a lot
out of a man, maintaining the
smile" he says" while the kids
keep coming at you, one every
10 or 20 seconds"
But the biggest thing in q
Santa is common sense" he
says. HE must govern every
thing by sizing up the child'S
temperament before he gets to
his knee. Sometimes Santa
Claus dare not move his arm
for fear of frightening some
child who is nearing him.
Sometimes they come up trem-
bling.
And he can't be boisterous
or loud" Mr.. Bobbitt says.
This old hee-haW stuff
never did believe in it."
Suits Cost $500
A Santa Claus spends about
an hour on duty before he has
to take a break and get out of
his sweltering costume. Ex-
pensive as we'll as heavy, the
red wool suits cost 5000 each,
while the boards and long
white wigs made of Tibetan
yak hair cost $50 each.
1t takes Is minutes for an
experienced Santa to put on
all his regalia, including the
red coat and pants with rabbit
fur collars and cuffs and satin
Innings and zippers. the foam
rubber stomach pillows, the
black leather leggings. the A.
inch belt with an 8-inch buckle
and the red nose makeup and
white eyebrow paint.
But Mr.. Bobbitt wasn't re-
ferring to the equipment when
he said that Santa carries a
lot Of weight, a tremendous
lot of weight" He was think
ing of the calls he has made
to a child's hospital bed and
seen a pair of eyes light up
with a glow that only the sight
OF Santa Claus could set off.
Brings Tears
This job gives a lot of pleas
ure and a lot Of heartaches."
he said. Sometimes, a big
grown man like me, I've gone
right home and cried, after
seeing the people"
Mr.. Bobbitt likes them young
and old. He has had them
from eight months to 80
years." he says. There is a diff
flcult age, however.
From 7 to is, they're at the
know-it-all stage" he says.
You know, they say, I don't
want to see that man-he's a
fake But at 16, they start
coming back to the joy and
fun of it. and they stay till
they're go"
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
PurIey Hears
Ideas on Area
Development
By GEORGE o. BEVERIDGE

~ ~NN8AN W LII ANANA0AG
A proposal that the District
be made part of Maryland
and that an area-wide fedora
ton be established to solve
Washington's metropolitan de-
velopment problems was made
today by Carl Feiss, president of
the District Chapter, American
Institute of Planners.
His talk highlighted an all
day session on Washington PLAN
ming and coming, sponsored by
the District League of Women
Voters at the Continental Hotel,
Key argument of Mr.. Feiss'
proposal was that the Federal
control OF Washington makes it
unable to deal with Maryland
and Virginia in the kind Of
regional organizations toward
which other metropolitan areas
are turning.
Sees Federal LaXIty
He said he recognized the
Federal interest in the Capital.
But he denied it is or need be a
paramount interest" and said
the Federal Government has
shown little real responsibility
for the area it occupies"
Il challenge the validity Of
the Federal city concept. 1t no
longer exists in fact, but re-
mains bad fiction which serves
a bad habit" he said.
MI. Feiss proposed a fedora
ton which would be empowered
eventually to carry out public
works of all kinds through COM
pacts without disturbing the
sovereignty of Maryland or Vir-
ginia. The District would be-
come part of Maryland and the
federation would take in the en-
tire Metropolitan Area.
Mr.. Feiss, a private planning
consultant, suggested Congress
set up a commission to study
such an approach and make GER
tain the interests of Congress
and the States were protected.
Differ on ZOning Role
In panel discussion on WASH
ingtons downtown business dis
-trict. speakers differed sharply
on the role coming should play
in directing its growth:
There was little direct algu-
ment on the latest coming pro-
posals Of consultant Harold M.
Lewis, whose latest levisions
have not been widely distributed
to the public.
Most controversial of the pro-
posals are new controls on the
size of downtown Office buildings
and requirements that the de-
VeloperS provide OIL street park
ing facilities.
James c. Wilkes. attorney and
leading critic of the Lewis re-
ports. commended that compared
with other cities Washington is
a beautiful. healthful, success
full city. with a fine. profitable,
serviceable central business dis
trict."
Il respectfully submit, "he de-
clared." that we can not afford
to experiment with radical and
untried parking and density re-
quirementS while making
plans at our leisure for easing
traffic and parking problems"
He especially hit Mr.. Lewis
parking ideas and also criticized
the Federal Government for fall
ing to meet parking demands it
creates.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28

Inaugural Committee Executive
lay the official cele- c. Albany who
,raton will be held January 19 sstant campaign
81 three prob the republican National
l.1uf rrn. He Lfnn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
BY HARRY BACAs

10y AlARNA DANAO
The men in red suits and
false whiskers are back on the
job this week, letting children
come to them with their young
visions of the good things of
Christmas.
The department store Santa
Clauses these days are mostly
graduates of a professional
Santa Claus school, but their
work is still something more
than organized make-believe.
This job gives a lot of
pleasure and a lot of heart
aches too" according to the
dean of Washington SantaS.
The Hecht Co.. Woodward
& Lothrop. Lansburgh's and
S. Kann Sons have all sent
their chief Santa Clauses to be
trained at an institution called
the Santa Claus School" at
Albion, N. Y. The man at
Kann's. Frank Kirby, went five
years in a row.
Seven-Day Course
The seven-day course teaches
the men how to make them
selves up. how to dress, what
to say, ways to arrange a
Christmas setting and in gem
eral how to behave so that they
contribute something of value
to the thousands of children
who journey each year into the
stores with their hearts in their
hands.
Lansburgh's r. C. Cornell,
81, has been head Santa Claus
for seven years. He operates
in the fifth-floor toy depart
ment. This year he trained
another Santa Claus for the
new Lansburgh's store in
Langley Park. The rest of the
year, Mr.. Cornell is a floor
manager at the store.
Frank Kirby at Kann's has
been on the job for six years.
The youngest of the depart
ment store Santas at "a, he
operates in the window at
Eight street and Market place
NV. He is the only store
Santa who works on Sundays.
doing shows at 2 pm. and 3
pm. that day.
Mr.. Kirby has trained two
other SantaS, one for the
fourth-floor toy department
and one for the Arlington
store. Mr.. Kirby is a regular
employe of Kann'S display de-
partment and takes leave of
his other duties each year to
play OdIltd Linus.
Political Santa
AT Woodward g. Lothrop,
there are five Santas. The head
man. a graduate of the New
York school like the other
head Santas, has been there
five years. His job the rest
Of the year is kept q secret
by the store, but it is one that
would surprise parents even
more than their children. It's
a political one.
He has trained an assistant
at the downtown store and one
for each of the three main
branch Woodward a. Lothrbp
stores in Alexandria, Chevy
Chase and Seven Corners. The
downtown Santa shop is in the
eighth-hoor toy department.
The dean of the store Santa
Clauses is Percy j. Bobbitt.
VINO has been at the Heeht
Co. every Christmas since 1947,
the year he attended the New
York Santa school.
Mr.. Bobbitt, a 54-year-old
grandfather, is a Navay Gun
Factory instrument maker
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28

JUST THE OTHER day, the
president of the International
Match Book Cover Collectors
was IN town after a flying
trip from Amsterdam. He
slipped away from us, how
ever, before we could get to
him, because our free time
did not coincide with his. But
what a story he must have
had to tell!
There was the man, too.
who'd been in business here
some SO years in one spot and
had made few changes in his
merchandising methods. That
intrigued us, and we went up
to see MIN a couple of weeks
after we'd heard about him. -
But we were too late-in
those two weeks, he'd gone
out Of business, retired and
moved to Florida.
The ones that get away are
more difficult than the ones
that are caught, but we hope
we'll keep on hearing about
such things, anyway, because
they're interesting to chase
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
Rambling

A crudely lettered sign in a
taxicab advises: Don't al
ways pass a church; try to
pay a visit, so when they have
to carry you in, the Lord
won't say Who is itP'"
A fellow We know says he's
been carrying around a letter
bearing the return address
Center OF the World" and is
a little afraid to open it. l..
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-11-28
Butch Now Has z Arms
To Replace Those He Lost

further to say of Butch's prog
resS. In a cork gun match at
home recently. Butch was win
ner in a family tournament.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07

lican of California, last night
hailed President Eisenhower
a great constitutional Presi-
dent"
The Senate Minority Leader
spoke at the banquet of the
fourth annual Republican
Women's National Conference
at the Statler Hotel. He went
on to say that the President
had made Congress a Co
ordinate and not a subordinate
part of the Government"
Senator Knowland said we
are challenged with "the most
Goddess tyranny the world has
ever known international
communism
I'VE must not permit carp
ing critics to undermine the
defense of our Nation" he
said on the subject of the
Democrats criticizing this adj
ministration's foreign policy.
mo one can deny the right of
constructive criticism but that
is far different from smoking
in a powder magazine" added
the Senator.
II hope no one in the OPP
position will do anything to
embarrass the administration
or cause anyone in the Krem-
lin to feel the American peo-
Pile are so divided and so i'm
modified that during this
campaign they (the Russians
could embark on fresh agrees
sions endangering the world"
concluded Senator Knowland.
Mr.. Martin Speaks
The first speaker at the
dinner was Representative
Martin, Republican of Massa-
chusetts, who was introduced
by Representative Edith
Nourse Rogers. AS the latter
got up to make her introduc-
ton, she looked over the room
Continued on Page BIS, Col.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
BY FRANCES LIDE and
DAISY CLELAND

Pinch-hitting for his dad,
Reed Benson. Sson of the
Secretary of Agriculture; re-
ceived cheers and a standing
ovation today from the fourth
annual Republican Women's
National Conference at the
Hotel Statler.
Midwest Blizzard
The Secretary, whose re-
turn from a speaking tour of
the Midwest was delayed by
blizzards, was expected mo-
mentarily for his scheduled II
O'Clock address, and his son
frankly said he tried to fill
buster to get Dad here"
The 28-year-old former
missionary and former chap
lain in the Air Force kept his
audience applauding enthusi-
astically, however, as he paid
tribute to his father and
called for support of the adj
ministration's farm program.
Using anecdotes freely. young
Benson set the keynot for his
folksy references to his father
when he started out by saying,
ct kind of like him: 1 guess
I'm prejudiced." And the
Republican women chuckled
with appreciation when he said.
I'm not much of a POLITICIAN
some say my Dad isn't either"
In a more serious vein, how
ever. he won loud applause
when he declared: I'm old
fashioned enough to believe
that in politics you should do
what you think is right and
then take it out to the coun-
try"
Defends Program
Defending the Secretary's
farm program he said, "A re-
turn to rigid support would be
a backward step. Every Secre-
rotary of Agriculture in the
past 20 years has espoused
flexible price supports in
peacetime," he asserted.
1T was not rigid price sup
ports that brought high prices
tfor farm products) it was
war;" he declared. "And any,
one who wants to take credit
for the high prices had better
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07

porarily gave up his studies
last spring to work for his
fathers farm program. and is
now an assistant to the Re-
publican Congressional Cam
paign Committee.
Earlier, Secretary of Com
merce Sinclair Weeks pre-
dicted the campaigning will
be bitter because, he said. the
Democrats don't have any real
issues.
Lacking these they will cry
havoc, twist history, smear
the regulations of honorable
men, Weeks said.
They cannot brush aside
the truth that during this
Republican administration we
have peace with prosperity"
Weeks went on. They will
try to frighten the public with
talk about war and depression.
Senator Knowland, Repub-
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07

which Campaign Director Rob-
ert Humphreys of the Repub-
lican National Committee was
asked. why do we sidestep
the Vice President issue?"
Mr.. Humphreys answered
that he didn't see any side
stepping.
Huge photographs of both
President Eisenhower and Vice
President Nixon are behind
the speakers platform in the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
Why Nixon
Not Listed
Explained

The absence of Vice Presi-
dent Nixon's name from the
program of the fourth annual
Republican Women's National
Conference was due to one cir
cumstance only the Vice
President expected to be away
from Washington at the time
the program was arranged.
This was explained yester-
day afternoon by Miss Bertha
Adkins, assistant to the chair
man of the Republican Ma
tional Committee and the con-
ferences presiding officer.
I'VE at the Republican Ma
tional Committee believe the
team of Eisenhower and Nixon
has done a superb job for the
Nation" Miss Adkins told the
delegates.
She said the question had
been raised as to why there
was no mention of the Presi-
dent or the Vice President on
the program.
Sometimes you don't al
ways know what's going to
happen" she said.
President Eisenhower made
a surprise appearance yester-
day morning.
Miss Adkins said she didn't
know, as of yesterday after
noon, whether the Vice Presi-
dent would be able to attend
today.
Telegram From Nixon
He originally was invited to
be the speaker at today's con-
GLIDING luncheon. she said, but
couldn't make a commitment
because his plans were too in
definite. (Actress Helen Hayes
later was given the luncheon
spot.) II am informed that
Mrs. Nixon win be there" she
added.
At this point Miss Adkins
read a telegram from the Vice
President extending 'heartiest
greetings" to the conference.
you have it in your power
to tell the Republican story at
home so forcefully and so we'll
that you will guarantee to the
point of absolute certainty the
reelection of Dwight D. Eisen-
hover and a Republican Con-
gress," Mr.. Nixon said in part.
Miss Adkins comments" on
the program arrangements
were made following a question
and answer period during
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
WHITE HOUSE
TEA FOR G. o. P.
BY the Associated Press

Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower
will entertain several hun
bred Republican women
leaders at a tea tomorrow
at the White House. The
women are here for the
fourth Republican Women's
National Conference which
winds up today
Invitations to the tea went
to national committeewom-
en-, women's State vice chair
men, national officers and
State presidents of the Ma
, tional Federation of Repun-
lican Women, officers of the
League of Republican Wom-
en- and State finance COM
mittee, top women at the
national committee, Repub-
lican women members of
Congress and women APP
pointees.
Mrs. Sherman Adams.
wife of the Assistant to the
President, will entertain at
a reception at her home this
afternoon in honor of the
New Hampshire edelegates
attending the conference.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
At c.. O. P. MEETING
Reed Benson Speaks
In Place of Futher

take credit for the war also"
The speaker called on the
Republican women to exert
their influence to see that
farmers are informed of the
administrations program so
that I'VE won't go back to the
bankrupt program of the past"
I'VE don't stand in terror
of the informed farmer. but
we do if they don't have the
facts" he said.
The Secretary's son, who has
been studying law at George
Washington University, tenn
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
&C.. O. P. THEME SONG
/ ANKLES AWAY

Men who watch feminine
ankles in the coming months
may get politically propa-
gandized.
Miss Jane Todd, vice
chairman of the New York
Republican Committee. and
Mrs. Judy Weis, New York
Republican National Com
mitteewoman, appeared to-
day with stockings embroid-
cred with Il Like Ike"
They are attending the
fourth Republican Women's
National Conference here.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07

Presidential Room of the Hotel
Statler where the conference
is being held.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07
Public to See Old Homes

Historic homes in Howard
County will be opened to the
public May 8. Nine houses will
be included on the tour. which
is to benefit the Glenelg Coun-
try School, Glenelg, Md.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-03-07

FIT FOR KlNGAnd prince Players" Edwin
troyol Of Richard ILL., which
Sherman Adams
looking
to the Washington the
be Playhouse
Fund Mrs Eisenhower will be will Sir
ond Of the In Photo
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-24

Daughter
.MarrieS

Senator George Malone of
Nevada gave his daughter,
Mrs. Michael James O'Connor,
in marriage to Mr.. Arthur La
Verne Lintner of Tucson, Ariz.,
at s o'clock yesterday after
noon.
Mrs. Malone, mother of the
bride, and members of the fam
lily were present at the cere-
mony which took place in
st. Mary's Chapel, Washington
Cathedral. The Rev. Luther D.
Miller. canon of the Cathedral,
officiated.
After a reception at the F
Street Club following the cere-
mony, the couple left on an
extended wedding trip which
will include three weeks in
Honolulu.
They expect to maintain a
home here as well as the homes
Mr.. Lintner has in Tucson, in
California and in Kansas.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-05-24
Scouts Join
Forces in


Consolidation Of the Alex
andria and Fairfax Girl Scout
Councils was approved by an
overwhelming vote of the two
groups yesterday.
Alexandria members, meet
ing at the First Christian
Church, Endorsed the proposal
by a vote of 81 to IL. At the
same time, Fairfax members
voted 174 to 10 for the plan at
a meeting in the Annandale
Methodist Church.
The New Development Com
mittee, made up of board rep
resentatives of both groups,
was to work out details today
in the new councils head
quarters in the Payne Building
near BaileyS Crossroads, which
was formerly headquarters OF
the Fairfax organization.
One of the advantages of the
consolidation for Alexandria
Girl Scouts will be the oppor-
tunity to share facilities Of
Camp Coles Trip, established
by the Fairfax Council in Stat
ford, Va. as well as six camp
sites for troop camping.
Fairfax leaders expect to
benefit from the "know-how"
of the Alexandria Council, an
older group.
Other expected benefits in
clude the elimination of over
tapping in the annual cookie
and calendar sales. more eff
Gent office service with a
larger staff and greater buying
power, and a more interesting
program both for the Scouts
and the adult leaders.
Staff members who have
been employed by the two
councils will be given the OPP
portunity to remain with the
new organization.
Affected will be 400 Girl
Scout troops in Fairfax County
with a membership Of $500,
and 145 troops in Alexandria
with 2,137 members.