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Newspaper
Decatur Daily
Location
Decatur, Alabama, United States of America
Date
Jan 16, 1940
Page
4
A devotional line echoes Malachi 3 17, affirming divine selection and protection for those who serve. The passage contrasts sparing a son with a covenantal promise to treasure righteous followers as treasured jewels.
The Senate faces action on a Gavagan Schmitz anti lynching bill amid party and regional tensions while Montgomery prepares for the 1940 Blue Gray football contest. Letters from Champ Pickens and Tom Pickens praise the Blue Gray Cradle Association and outline plans for bigger promotion and interstate publicity.
In a Washington dispatch dated January 16 a four foot red sign in Louis Johnson's office signals tensions as southern leaders reportedly plot to control state delegations to the national convention. The piece notes Johnson defends unity and mentions ongoing war updates, Atlantic air deliveries to Britain, planned trade talks, and speculation on Congress and Balkan diplomacy.
Civic groups see the Blue-Gray contest becoming a notable holiday feature and a tourism magnet. The game on the eve of the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans could draw visitors traveling south through Alabama, benefiting Montgomery and local enterprises.
Acute inflammatory rheumatism tops prevalence and disability rankings in the United States with about 6.85 million patients from a 127 million population. The condition frequently harms the heart, prompting bed rest for six weeks to prevent valvular disease and related complications.
The six somatic senses are temperature equilibrium hunger thirst muscle sense and pain. Temperature is detected by skin nerve terminals with about 80 000 warmth sensitive spots and 250 000 cold sensitive spots. Heating stimulates warm spots on the skin.
Greater Decatur is one beat as the board of revenue adopts redistricting plans for property. About 100 people visit Kershaw Construction at the burned courthouse site but rebuilding has not begun. Measles cases rise. measles illnesses noted citywide. Theatre manager Stewart hunts a brick thrower who damaged a Princess Theatre window. Grant Street station closing rumors from L N A R Co. unconfirmed. Chrystine Almon to wed William G Ward of Mobile Alabama in February. Mrs C Q Dowdy and Peggy Corona Ala arrive to visit Mrs M E Woodard. Harriett and Rebecca Lide, twin daughters of Mr and Mrs Frank Lide, are ill at home on Grant Street. Bryan McAfee ill at home. Jack Goidel ill with measles. Spring weather in Decatur with 69 high and 52 low. J W McCall, police department member, underwent appendectomy.
Dupuytren's contraction is the formation of scar tissue in the palm. The finger tendons are not affected, only the palm connective tissue. It occurs in people whose occupations irritate the inside of the hand, such as tennis golf or gardening. Fingers are drawn toward the palm and relief requires an operation.
The editor notes Dr Logan Clendening offers seven pamphlets at 10 cents each. Readers may request any title by sending 10 cents in coin and a self addressed stamped envelope to Dr Clendening c/o this paper. Pamphlets cover topics from diet and weight management to infant feeding and diabetes.
A historical quiz item explains that the flag should be hoisted rapidly and lowered slowly and ceremoniously. The pledge of allegiance is quoted and described as recited with the right hand over the heart. At “to The Flag” the right hand is extended palm upward toward the flag and held there to the end.
A collection of humorous exchanges and one liners featuring characters named Frances and Ethel, a Madison Messenger item, and quick quips about cooperation, weather, love, modesty, and a revolving door misadventure. The cadence resembles a late 19th or early 20th century humor column.
A column of social flutter and scandal notes various stars and events. Alice Faye and Tony Martin in Chicago dateline. Ina Ray Hutton seeks an annulment. Garson Kanin linked to Margot Stevenson. Judith Anderson’s engagement, Roosevelt rumors, and Zangara's Miami prison interview noted.
The item bundles gossip about a French figure dubbed the Amelia Earhart of France executed as a spy in week three of the war, plus various celebrity salacious items and industry scoops. It notes film, labor, and citizenship chatter with sharp, tongue-in-cheek asides.
Annie Laurine Dodge, widow of a dead groom, inherits a million and a quarter from an auto tune share. She flirts with Miami reporters at a hotel bar, buying drinks and dodging questions with coy laughter. She hints at unexpected plans as Nazi funding ideas are briefly noted and a Grace Line reference appears at the end.
A light exchange unfolds as a wife jokes about kissing the cook, a customer questions the talking parrot, and a dealer recalls buying the bird from a jealous women’s club, framing a humorous domestic scene.
A reflective column argues most people do right by habit and conscience while those who stray are spotlighted to highlight public virtue and critique. The piece frames moral behavior as a social advertisement affecting perception and standards.
A quoted debate on wartime norms discusses the proper placement of a flag as the body is laid to rest. The fragment mentions positioning the flag over the left shoulder of the deceased and contrasts citizen action with national duties.
Customer asks about colors for window blinds and the clerk responds that blinds are all shades. The brief exchange highlights available color variety in shop stock without specifying exact hues.
A collage of backstage gossip, bets, and scandal erupts from 1930s show business. Mentions include John Greenhut an heir, Eileen West at Folies Bergere, Teddy Powell Betty Hutton betrothal chatter, Florine Cal Lah an leaving Too Many Girls for Chicago, Lovey Warren in Miami, Grover Whalen on a lamp post, and talk of a rival fast fax service. Also noted are a State witness deal, a paroled Severin Winter scheidt, black paper ciggies sold for 5 1 2 cents, and a Cuban sugar plantation owner Jorge Sanchez winning 3000 at Hialeah. The piece closes with a patriotic jab at forgotten Americans and counterfeiters.
Senate considers Frank Murphy to the Supreme Court Robert H Jackson for attorney general and Francis Biddle for solicitor general while Senator Sheppard pays tribute to the eighteenth amendment. House debates independent offices appropriation bill as committees resume trade renewal hearings and labor policy reviews.
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