Thompson 340726

Cliffside, July 25 — With L trains rumbling incessantly, cabs darting here and there and with all the varied noises of Chicago, John Dillinger was “put on the spot” within hello distance of some of the scenes of his crimes. It must be just, or I wonder, to shoot down a man much in the same manner as he had shot down others— people about their business who little suspected the hot lead that was to rain within a moment. Dillinger, reports say, had just seen the picture “Manhattan Melodrama” at the Biograph theatre on the north side. Strangely, the story of the picture had to do with the gambler big shot of New York. And we feel lucky that our visit in uptown Chicago was made two Sundays ago instead of the past week-end. I never cared for machine guns, not even with whipped cream.

In this column of July 3 appeared our contentions relative the swimming “beaches” and the accompanying conveniences around this county. We have been told of the excellent swimming facilities at the Chestnut Hill Colony in Henderson county. Many say that this pool is the most acceptable anywhere in this section of the state. We have heard favorable comment regarding this swimming spot over in Charlotte and that speaks well for this mountain resort of the swimmer. We surely intend to visit the colony of summer swimmers at Chestnut Hill as early as possible, and hope to write our impressions of the summer spot there.

About the home folk: Mr. and Mrs. O. K. Padgett, Helen, Ramona and “Buddy”, have returned to the village after a mountain vacation in Chimney Rock village. Mr. and Mrs. Myles Haynes “hit” the shopping spots in Charlotte Saturday. Dr. John C. Mills fished along the coast with friends from Charlotte including gen??? J??? ???man. Mrs. Mills and John Edward stopped for the week-end in Charlotte with Mrs. Brown on Asheville Avenue. And this scribbler had the privilege of being driven over to the Queen City by the Mills. We saw Mrs. Sara H. Love in the village last week, Mrs. Love is from the Chestnut Hill summer colony.

P. S.: Charlie Carpenter and Andy Love were week-enders at Myrtle Beach.

Recently we were happy to meet that fellow about whom you have heard much, Wake Bridges. Here is a fellow who is showing you how to “go after it”, from the small town, as we are trying it. It is our belief that Bridges will meet continued success in the writing business—or the movies! You should see the handsome lad!

Under the softly glowing chandeliers of the Blackhawk Restaurant in Wabash Avenue in Chicago, your scribbler sat at the bar (ours was orange juice) and talked with the experienced bartender. The old fellow talked in lamenting tones of the good old days of “good likker.” His foremost contention is that within three months none of the better liquors will remain. With a dramatic sweep of his hand he said: “Why, my friend, they are making it in bath tubs and are putting it on the market with aged cork, seals and everything. And: “one company is shipping this ‘late model’ liquor (with murder in his eye) to Kentucky in barrels. In a few months it is shipped back as ‘aged Kentucky whiskies.’ Furthermore, this beer and whiskey business is falling far short of the expectations of the business world. We are not making any money here. This place is ‘eaten up’ by overhead expenses.” So, Junior, do not acquire the idea that Chicago has all the glamour which the World’s Fair advertising would have you believe. The veteran should know, you and you and you might ask him if you are in Chicago for the Century Exposition.