anaheim-gazette 1961-12-21

SIDELIGHTS Tis the Season To Be Maudlin Never a Christmas goes by that somebody doesn't write a piece on the good old days when Christmas was really Christmas, complete with snow, sleighbells, plum pudding, holly and dozens of happy children (all under 10) clambering all over everything. It was a beautiful pageant. Mother always started her baking weeks in advance with fruit cakes, pies, cookies, the plum pudding. And the daughters were always there with her, her happy, helpful companions. Father and a son or two would jingle bell off to the woods in the sleigh to cut down the Christmas tree and saw the logs for the fireplace. Then the day before Christmas it would always snow—big, thick Christmas flakes that piled up decoratively on the door wreath, and everybody wore long, colorful snufflers that trailed behind. Father in Charge Tree-trimming was a festive occasion. Father was in command, and affixing the star to the top of the tree was this special charge. The children strung popcorn and made colorful paper chains to drape on the tree. Mother provided the refreshments, usually cookies and steaming cups of chocolate with cinnamon sticks for spoons. After the tree-trimming everybody sang carols. Christmas Day a 70-lb turkey old-fashioned Christmas just the same?" asked Charlie. "You mean the whole plum pudding and holly wreath bit?" "Sure, we've got a farm-style house to start with. Plus a fireplace. I'll get some logs." "Where are you going to cut down a tree?" I asked. "Where are you going to find a tree?" injected Linda. "You may have to settle for tumbleweed." We had to compromise and buy the tree from a lot. But it was an old-fashioned green one. We hung some sleighbells on the car when we carried it home. It was hard to find logs too, so we bought the pressed sawdust ener at the grocery store. The mother-daughter baking segment of the pageant fell apart too. In the first place, nobody likes fruit cake. (And I'd like to know who did back in the old days.) and when I mentioned plum pudding everybody shuddered. "What's the matter with cherry pie?" asked Chuck. "Cherry pie isn't Christmas," I snapped. "Cherry pie is for Washington's birthday." Gargoyle Cookies So I made fancy cookies. Linda helped me. She was a happy enough companion but she forgot to flour the board before rolling and the dough stuck. The Santa Clauses looked like garroves and Tree-trimming was a festive occasion. Father was in command, and affixing the star to the top of the tree was this special charge. The children strung popcorn and made colorful paper chains to drape on the tree. Mother provided the refreshments, usually cookies and steaming cups of chocolate with cinnamon sticks for spoons. After the tree-trimming everybody sang carols. Christmas Day a 70-lb turkey would be served to 80 relatives including 50 children (all under 10). Everyone would be joyous. (Any other time of year you can be happy, but on Christmas Day you're joyous.) Christmas isn't like that anymore, and it's difficult to recreate it. We tried it last year when I got to feeling nostalgic about the white Christmas back east. "The nearest thing to snow here is that white stuff they flock the trees with at the Christmas tree lots," I mourned. "We could flock the whole front yard," said Tony. "It wouldn't be the same. It isn't cold and wet like snow. And it's silky." I said. Try it Anyway "Well, we can't have snow but what's to stop us from having an unique Cr Of Anahe An Anaheim naval officer has been named commanding officer of an experimental Navy unit, according to a recent announcement made by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Information Office. The tree-trimming session was fairly festive. Father put the star on the top of the tree (It fell off later but Tony fixed it on more securely.), we strung popcorn and I served refreshments — coke and potato chips. They were pretty adamant about the hot chocolate and cinnamon stick idea. Later, we sang Christmas carols — along with Mitch. Christmas Day was even more authentic. We served a 20-pound turkey (There's no such thing as a 70-pound turkey) to 80 relatives including 50 children, many of them well over 10 with gigantic appetites. And everybody was joyous. Oh we gave it a little mudge in the right direction with alcoholic beverages, but I'll bet they did that in the old days too. Need a lift? Join Bank of America's Christmas Club! This time next year over 350,000 members of Bank of America's Christmas Club will receive a check in the mail. Why not you? Join the 1962 Christmas Club today! It's just one of a complete line of banking services available to you at any branch of Bank of America. BANK OF AMERICA FOR YOUR INFORMATION By VIRGIL PINKLEY Editor and Publisher SING THOSE CHRISTMAS CAROLS SUPPORT OUR CONSTITUTION OUR GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS DIVISION OF STATE AND RELIGION Fuzzy, unpatriotic and even dangerous thinking is responsible for much of the current rash of extremes. This type of thinking has gone so far that Superintendent of Schools F. E. Lucas, for the Laguna Salada Elementary District, has banned Christmas carols and Christmas trees in classrooms "out of respect for everyone's religion and respect for our own American beliefs." He is wrong. He apparently does not know his American history properly, and unfortunately this applies to too many of our educators. Some of them do not understand the Bill of Rights to our Constitution, and in particular the basic freedoms and rights given us by our Creator and guaranteed by and protected for us in our magnificent Constitution. The Constitution does not protect us "from" religion. It does not name religions or specify to which faith a loyal American must belong if he is to hold public office or become a good citizen. Can you conceive of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, or at a later date Abraham Lincoln, opposing the singing of Christmas carols in schools or the placing of Christmas trees there? All these men were God-fearing. They believed, and rightfully, that our children should have religion. They did not state which The Constitution today serves us as well or better than at any time in our long and glorious history. Constitutionalists We believe with all our strength that Americans should be constitutionalists — and dedicated ones — regardless of their politics, economics, religious faiths, color or creed. Personally, I think all children would benefit by more exposure to religion — and adults too. I would like to see every public (Please Turn to Page Four) Unique Crew Charge of Anaheim Officer Anaheim naval officer has named commanding officer experimental Navy unit, acceding to a recent announcement by the U.S. Pacific Fleet Information Office. Including 56 children, many well over 10 with gigan-petites. Everybody was joyous. Oh, love it a little nudge in the direction with alcoholic beverages, but I'll bet they did that old days too. Lt. Paul W. Smith, 3647 Bouquet Ave., is the new commanding officer of the "Blues", while another California man, Cmdr. Wallace Novak, Arcadia, was named skipper of the "Golds." Both crews serve on the same ship, USS Reedbird. Previously, the Polaris submarines were the only Navy ships to have Blue and Gold crews. The Long Beach-based minesweeper Reedbird is the first ship to join this unique category. Cmdr. Novak has commanded the Reedbird's single crew for the past 18 months. Lt. Smith has been his executive officer since November, 1960. Lt. Smith explained the reason for the second crew is "anticipation of additional reserve sweeps for this area in the future and more mine training warfare training immediately. This way we train two crews with only one ship." Lt. Paul W. Smith, 3647 Bouquet Ave., is the new commanding officer of the "Blues", while another California man, Cmdr. Wallace Novak, Arcadia, was named skipper of the "Golds." Both crews serve on the same ship, USS Reedbird. Previously, the Polaris submarines were the only Navy ships to have Blue and Gold crews. The Long Beach-based minesweeper Reedbird is the first ship to join this unique category. Cmdr. Novak has commanded the Reedbird's single crew for the past 18 months. Lt. Smith has been his executive officer since November, 1960. Lt. Smith explained the reason for the second crew is "anticipation of additional reserve sweeps for this area in the future and more mine training warfare training immediately. This way we train two crews with only one ship." Can you conceive of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, or at a later date Abraham Lincoln, opposing the singing of Christmas carols in schools or the placing of Christmas trees there? All these men were God-fearing. They believed, and rightfully, that our children should have religion. They did not state which religion or sect. But they believed in the Good Book and they felt it should be known and understood by youth. Afraid of Law Superintendent Lucas says he is afraid of the law which bans teaching of religion in public schools. He further claims that by "forbidding singing of sectarian songs," he is "showing respect for everyone's religion," and "all children are made to feel at ease." Ridiculous and utter rot! Does he actually think that Jingle bells is dangerous, or that it will upset children? I doubt if any child, except possibly the son or daughter of an atheist, would be ill at ease. The personal edict of Lucas is more of the radical extremism plaguing this nation today. It is an expression of small groups and minorities trying to rule us. Minority pressure groups are foisting all sorts of prohibitions and impediments on our American society. This is especially true of those who oppose our Constitution or try and make it appear worn out and no longer applicable. Quite the contrary. Crime ... (Continued from Page One) this year. The increase over last year's figures, however, have been consistent with the California overall average of 25 per cent. Numerically, the most frequent offenses have been burglary and check frauds. Checks lead the pack with 1,705 instances being reported for the year. There have been 1,165 burglaries of various classifications. The increase over last year, though, has been consistent with the overall California average of 25 percent. Narcotics violations have increased only 19 percent while murder showed a decrease of a minus 40 percent. Three murders have been reported and investigated in the city this year, two arrests were made. In the misdemeanor category, an increase of 17 percent over that of last year was recorded. Tops here was petty-theft-under-$50 with a total of 1,483 offenses, and increase of 23 percent. A total of 2,692 arrest warrants were issued, 1,432 in traffic violations. TWO COMMANDING OFFICERS AND ONE SHIP — A crew member of the minesweeper Reedbird's newly commissioned "Gold" crew reports aboard for weekend training duty. Receiving him is Cmdr. Wallace Novak (left), captain of "Gold" Crew and Lt. Paul W. Smith, Anaheim, (right) commanding officer of "Blue" crew. CD Editorial... (Continued from Page One) men and city officials from throughout the county. R. I. (Cuba) Morris, county director of communications, and William Walkup, acting director of county civil defense, presented the plan. It's a simple plan, patterned after one which worked well here in Orange County from 1950 to 1956, which was reactivated by resolution of the Orange County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 22. All it needs to make it go is the appointment of three city representatives and four alternates to work with county officials already appointed. When it gets going it promises to provide some much-needed answers for cities which have few civil defense answers and also some coordination of efforts among city entities and the county. Orange County — and Anaheim — always have been rock-like in their stand against state and federal control of anything the people on the local level can run for themselves. Back in 1950-56 the county and its cities stood firm in the face of state and federal attempts to change local civil defense policies. Many observers feel this is the reason that in the early 1950s this county was a "white spot" in the state's black civil defense picture. The Gazette thinks this position of leadership can be maintained and improved in the future and wishes the "new" planning board much success. ANAHEIM GAZETTE TELEPHONE: PR 2-1800 Published Thursday of each week at 259 East Center Street, Anaheim, California Legal Adjudication No. A 22441 VIRGIL PINKLEY, Editor and Publisher Entered as second class mail matter under the act of March 3, 1879. All rights herein are reserved. SUBSCRIPTION: $3.00 per year, payable in advance. Member, California Newspaper Publishers Association WHAT'S DOING EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR ORDER AFTER YOU HANG UP THE TELEPHONE? VICKI WILCOX IS PART OF A TEAM OF SERVICE ORDER TYPISTS WHO USE THE LATEST TELETYPEWRITER EQUIPMENT TO TRANSMIT A PRINTED COPY OF THAT ORDER TO SEVERAL POINTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS IS ALL PART OF AN EVER EXPANDING PROGRAM OF PROVIDING MORE AND BETTER TELEPHONE SERVICE WHEN YOU WANT IT. THE PACIFIC TELEPHONE COMPANY Tool chests on wheels— if you gave this name EVER WONDER WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR ORDER AFTER YOU HANG UP THE TELEPHONE? VICKI WILCOX IS PART OF A TEAM OF SERVICE ORDER TYPISTS WHO USE THE LATEST TELETYPEWRITER EQUIPMENT TO TRANSMIT A PRINTED COPY OF THAT ORDER TO SEVERAL POINTS SIMULTANEOUSLY. THIS IS ALL PART OF AN EVER EXPANDING PROGRAM OF PROVIDING MORE AND BETTER TELEPHONE SERVICE WHEN YOU WANT IT. THE PACIFIC TELEPHONE COMPANY Tool chests on wheels—if you gave this name to the familiar telephone installation trucks you see here in town, you'd hit the nail right on the head. When they roll out for a day's work, they carry everything from screwdrivers to shovels to color phones. Generally, there are about 400 tools and pieces of equipment aboard—all the things needed for both the expected and unexpected in taking care of your telephone service. Best wishes from all of us And now from all of us at the telephone company, here's wishing you a joyous Christmas. We don't want the year to pass without saying thanks for letting us serve you. We'll keep on trying to bring you the very best in telephone service. Pacific Telephone