What? No Jane?

On: By: Romeyn


Maureen O’Sullivan, sparkling MGM star, truly is Ireland’s gift to Hollywood. Her winsome Irish beauty, laughing eyes, dark brown hair and impulsive giggle have made her a favorite with patrons of motion pictures everywhere. Although she has appeared in many productions, she is best remembered, perhaps, for her work in two Tarzan pictures. Here, this 24-year-old daughter of Old Ireland is shown with some of the gowns she wears in “Westpoint of The Air,” new MGM production. (Apr 21, 1935)<!-more–>

Maureen O’Sullivan promo shot for Tarzan and His Mate, 1934

Brought a Knife to a Gun Fight

On: By: Romeyn

 

The danger zone encirclin a gaucho (cowboy of the Argentine) with his knife in his hand is by no means limited to the circle he sweeps with his extended arm. I am not sure just how far it does go, nor have I the least desire to find out. I heard, however, a crack revolver shot, a man who could blot out the spots on a ten of spades at a dozen paces, say that he would be extremely reluctant to take his chance at a draw-and-let-go with a gaucho at any distance under 20 yards.

An illuminative case In point came to my attention in Buenos Aires. As a class the American agricultural machinery experts sent to Argentina are as handy with sixshooters as any I have ever met. They are mostly westerners, have used revolvers from their childhood, and their arms, from which they never separate themselves for a moment while in campo, are always of the best and latest pattern.

Not once or twice, but on dozens of occasions, have I seen one or another of these men with his Colt’s or Mauser “automatic,” after a preliminary shot or two to get the range blow over a rabbit running at full speed across the pampa. This is good shooting, as will be appreciated by anyone who has had experience with the revolver. Yet the case I have In mind is that of a thrashing machine expert from Texas — a crack shot — who had trouble with his Argentine maquinista, had an even break on a draw at 25 or 30 feet, and was retired from action with a knife through his shoulder before his revolver was clear of its holster.

Lewis R. Freeman in the Cornhill Magazine.
The Aberdeen Weekly. Aberdeen, Miss, March 11, 1921

Earthlings are Lunatics

On: By: Romeyn


I was not long In Mars before l could see that the Martians have ‘the advantage over us In every way. To begin with, the wholesome maxim that you shouldn’t speak with your mouth full does not concern the Martians at all. While they are eating with their mouths they are talking with the second mouth that they have on their thumbs. A large, stout Martian kept up a running fire of questions at me while he was taking a long drink from a pewter pot, while I, of course, had to put my glass down before I could reply. My helplessness seemed to cause them a great deal of amusement. Continue reading “Earthlings are Lunatics” →

Temple of Hittites Discovered, 1930

On: By: Romeyn

From the Evening Star, Washington DC, May 29, 1930

Ancient Temple of Hittites Is Found in Turkey KHIAVOURKALE, Turkey, May 29.–The University of Chicago Anatolian expedition has brought to Iight what is believed to have been an ancient temple of the stone worshiping Hittites, the race which peopled this desolate area 5,000 years ago. The excavation, made at the suggestion of  Ghazi Mustapha Kemal, constitutes one of the expedition’s most important Hittlte discoveries in its six years in Anatolia. The Ghazi asked the expedition to try Ghiavourkale before beginning its regular work at Aleshar on  June 1. Hence the Chicagoans went to Ghiavourkale May 23 and drew a test line east and west. By luck they bared a Cyclopean wall and path leading to what probably is a temple, as enormous reliefs of a Hittite king, priest and goddess were engraved on the exterior rock face.