Verhovayak Lapja, 1941. január-június (24. évfolyam, 1-26. szám)

1941-01-09 / 2. szám

Sunkist Southern California By ALBERT STEINMETZ January 9,1941________________________ Verhovdyok Lapja Page S One of the better ways of entering sunny Southern Cali­fornia is via the Union Pacific Railroad from the east. This gives one a thrill and an unforgettable experience, no matter if one come in on the beautiful new streamliner “City of Los Angeles,” the luxurious “Los Angeles Limited” (extra fare trains), or the “Challenger” (an economical fare train). All these trains ar­rive in Los Angeles in the mor­ning. Of course, there are night arrival trains too, and other railways, such as the South Pacific and the Santa Fe Rail­way’s many trains. Yours truly took the “Chal­lenger” from 'Chicago. The one way fare is $39.50 on this economy train, but in coaches only. The round trip is $65.00.­I venture to say that the morn­ing arrival is more dramatic than the evening. You go to bed the night before somewhere on the plateaus of Nevada, and when you wake up in the morning you’re in the vicinity of San Bernardino, California. As you look out the window, you gasp at the sight of the strange new world about you. You see the waving of palm trees, tall, feathery eucalyptus trees, orange, lemon, walnut and avocado orchards in long straight rows, the amazing purple moun­tains in the background—O all so much more beautiful than you had ever pictured! Upon arrival, all trains termi­nate their run in Los Angeles’ brand-new huge $11,000,000 Union Terminal. The building embraces Spanish and Moorish architecture in an easy “Early California” manner. It took 5% years to build this magnificent depot cov­ering an area of forty acres. From a north end “throat” of 6 main line tracks 32 tracks fan out into the station grounds, and 16 tracks, reserved for passenger trains exclusively, accomodate up to 320 cars. Inside the high arched entrance is an information booth where courteous attendants take care of the traveling public. You may buy your ticket at a counter that is 115 feet long. Beyond is the Waiting room of gold-yellow Walls, red square brick floor, and leather-upholstered seats which eventually will be fitted With reading lamps. Telephone connections are installed at all bracks to plug into crack trains and give passengers local and k>ng distance communication. There are also coin-in-the-slot Shower baths for travelers, while outside huge palm trees and other tropical trees, shrubs and Bowers adorn, the station grounds. 1,000 automobiles, including buses and taxicabs, can be parked on the station grounds. As you leave the terminal, you face Olvera Street within a block, located just off the plaza, on the edge of the downtown business district. For exotic color, Biere within the shadow of the towering City Hall are native Mexican shops and cafes, with old world wares and entertain­ment. Olvera Street (Paseo de Los Angeles) is a quaint street in the heart of the Mexican quarter. The Paseo is typical of a Mexi­can market place where venders •ell their picturesque wares from Httle canopied booths (sidewalk jfoops). This street was restored about 6 years ago. At that time all merchandise had to be imported from Mexico, but today the local Mexican craftsmen on the street are making sandals right in front of your eyes, while a potter sits on a crude wooden wheel, near the Avila Adobe, moulding ollas­­jar-cazuelas and many other de­signs in clay. Another makes candles, using the oldest known method, while another Mexican models tiny miniature horses, and still another, this one an old blacksmith, hammers out the finest ironwork on his old forge and anvil. A Mexican woman takes old horns, and by hours and even days polishing and shaping, converts them into beautiful horn novelties. There are other craftsmen making wood­work, leather jackets, belts, purses, straw hats, baskets, etc. The street is paved with red tile, and while the strolling musicians play the Mexican chil­dren dance. The wild doves come to feed among the footsteps of the visitors that do not hurry. It’s only one short block but what a strange sight! Besides the above mentioned, you may buy Mexican games, sweets, jumping beans, etc. In the many genuine Mexican restaurants delicious enchiladas, tacos, tortillas and other native dishes are served. Leaving Olvera Street within 2 minutes, we reach the centex of historic plaza, where Los Angeles had its beginning. Here we see the statue of Felipe de Neve, third Spanish governor of California, and the founder of Los Angeles. On the west edge of the plaza is the “Church of the Angels,” oldest religious edi­fice in Los Angeles County (ex­cluding the missions), dedicated in 1822. On the south is the earliest three-story first-class hotel in Los Angeles. It is the Pico house -built in 1869 by Andres and Pio Pico, last Mexi­can governor of California; also the huge mansion, which was built in 1835, is located here. And we should not forget the Avila Adobe on Olvera, which is part of the plaza. Avila Adobe is the oldest build­ing (1818) in Los Angeles. During the Mexican War it was the headquarters for the Amer­ican forces. To date it still pre­serves the atmosphere of those days. Leaving the plaza, we look up at the magnificent white California granite building. It is the City Hall, located on nearly 20 acres, at 1st and Spring, Main and Temple Streets. It is the tallest structure in Southern Cali­fornia, being 464 feet high (32 stories). It was dedicated on April 26, 1928, and it cost nearly $10,000,000. Light elevators can take one to the top of the tower any week days between 9:30 a., m. and 4:00 p. m. (free), and the tower commands an unusual view of Los Angeles, the ocean, the harbor, the mountains, etc. Other magnificent new build­ings, such as the New Federal Building and Post Office, Hall of Justcie, Hall of Records, State Building, are located near-by, while within a short distance you find the busy downtown business section, with large department stores (that vie with the best in the world), hotels, restaurants, markets, movies... There are no buildings higher than 13 stories (due to an earthquake law?). In other words, there are no sky­scrapers here in Southern Cali­fornia (only the City Hall). New streamlined and many old type year-round open air (narrow gauge tracks) street cars carry you to anywhere in and about Los Angeles. Buses and rapid transit express street cars cover almost every section of Los Angeles County with frequent service. There is an unusually low cost travel service here in Los Ange­les. It is the Pacific Electric Rail­way “Sunday Pass.” You can ride all you like from 2 a. m. Sun­day to 2 a. m Monday. It costs only $1.10, all the trips you want and as many miles as you have time for. Countless interesting and beautiful places may be economically seen, and you may stop anywhere as long as you like. You can visit beaches, foot­hills, oil fields, harbors, missions, orange groves and scores of charming cities in Los Angeles. One adult and one child can ride for $1.40, or one adult and two children for $1.65. What a bargain! Shall I in the near future imaginatively take you readers on some of these trips, and save you the price? O. K. Then be sure to look for me next month for another pleasant Sunkist-land trip.--------------O-------------­TOPICS IN MUSIC By JOE VARGO Branch 248—Lorado, W. Va. With world events chang­ing every day and becoming darker and darker, we find in editorials of publications devoted to music the follow­ing message: “Music Must Fight, Too!” Today, in these days of turmoil, music must strive to serve a double pur­pose. The purpose of fur­nishing and keeping at a height the morale of the public, and at the same time holding down hysteria. Music is able, more than anything else, to bring out the clean­est and the finest in man, and it must not falter in producing a will to keep a nation singing. Only when people forget to sing are they lost. In music, all people are one. In music, there is no color nor racial line. In American orchestras and writing, American songs and music, are many nation­alities, many descendants of nations now opposed to the United States in thought and principle. But it is the governments of these nations and not their people that may have caused hostility and ill feeling; we should not for a moment become bitter against these people because of the spelling of their names or the fact that they or their parents saw in this America a land of free­dom and liberty not so pre­valent in their native soil. Americans, and musicians for the most part, are a unity of many languages and creeds and races. But under it all, we are all Americans. The finest way to be a real American and to preserve the beauty of music is to defend Amer­ican rights at any time or call, but never to shame American common sense by taking out your wrath on some foreign power against a shareholder in American democracy merely because his didn’t come over on the Mayflower. America is fast becoming a haven for all the cultural arts of today, and may we all be proud of that fact. Word has come that Ignace Jan Paderewski, eighty year old famous pianist and former premier of Poland, is awaiting permission to cross unoccupied France and Spain en route to the United States, where he said he hopes to spend the rest of his life. At this writing he may even be here, if nothing hindered his passage. God bless America! SOCIAL NIGHTS TO BE HELD FOR MEMBERS IN NEW YORK BY BRANCH 394 New York, New York We are very happy to in­form the members of New York that the officers and members of Branch 394 have worked out a plan whereby social nights will be held every 2nd and 4th Wednes­day of each month, starting in January, 1941. At these social affairs there will be all sorts of en­tertainment and dancing.­We are also very happy to state that we are now established in our new Ver­­hovay Home, located at 231 East 77th Street, New York City. • Not only the members of Branch 394 are invited but also all members in New York City, both young and old. Please pay us visits and bring as many of your friends as you can. Fraternally, Joseph Sharkozy, President. James Emody, Secretary-Treasurer, TRAD When a cough, due to a cold, drives you mad. Smith Brothers Cough Drops usually give soothing, pleasant relief. Black or Menthol—5 Smith Bros. Cough Drops are the oidy (hops containing VITAMIN A Vitamin A (Carotene) raises the resistance of mucous membranes of nose and throat to cold infections, when lack of resist* , ■■ce is due to Vitatnia A deficiency. #

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