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Believe Him Or Not
By
HERBERT CRUIKSHANK
I
B u t
T YOU ask me the name of the most interesting man in America — if 3^ou ask me — the name won't be Lindbergh, Hoover, Capone, Byrd, Smith, Dempsey or Jones. It will be that of a sparse-haired young man, with sparkling eyes; alert, nervous manner; the light step of an athlete; a face that further impresses one as that of a ball-player or pugilist; a body sheathed in close-cut clothes that further accentuate the muscular appearance; dental equipment that forces a perpetual half-smile; a truly remarkable fellow.
He told me forty four-letter words for God. He told me about a real "father of his country" — a big-time daddy whom 888 children called "Pop" without fear of successful contradiction by their mothers. Of two mothers — one eight years old, the other ninety. And of the latter's husband, the Casanova of Czywuszyn at 105.
He told me the world's longest cuss-word — " Himmelherrgottkreuzmillionendonnerwetter" — which had no effect on the taxi-driver when I tried it. About Ed Ek, whose name is the shortest in America, and about a word of 1 84 letters meaning "hash." He convinced me that fish climb trees. That clams eat men — which is news. That birds bark and sands sing. That a man had been born with double eyes — and one with none at all. That
there was a woman with a forked tongue. That the ocean is dusty. That there was a one-armed paper-hanger with the hives. That Lindbergh was not the first, but the sixty-seventh to make an Atlantic non-stop flight.
Robert L. Ripley Says He Is
No Actor
But perhaps you have seen one of the fourteen editions of his book, in which case you'll know that my nomination for the most interesting man in America goes to Robert L. Ripley. Believe it or not! Robert L. Ripley, artist, author, actor, athlete, world-traveler, radio personality, millionaire, clubman and hard-working newspaper man.
This Young Man Went East
IP" might well — and easily — provide his two hundred and sixty newspapers with several pages of "Believe It or Not" about himself. For instance, he's one good thing that California overlooked: a native son. They let him get away, rather than increase the $22.50 salary he received as a sports artist on the San Francisco "Chronicle."
He boasts he has twenty million people working for him, for each day thousands of letters arrive from his readers, telling him of strange facts existing all over the world.
He could lock himself in his room at the New York Athletic Club for ten years and, completely cut off from the world, still supply it with a daily "Believe It or Not."
He has been called a liar more than any person in history. And upon each occasion has proved his contention.
He is the world's most widely imitated artist. I suggested Robert Edgren, beloved sports writer and artist of another day, was a minor offender in this regard. "That's okay," said "Rip," "I used to imitate him." There are others, however, of whom he is not so tolerant. He credits Harry Hershfeld with getting him the job that marked the beginning of "the breaks."
He's the highest-paid artist of the sort in the world. His gross income is over one million dollars a year — and {Continued on page 88)
Believe "Rip" or not, but Japanese actresses learned how to kiss from American movies (top). Above, how he does it.
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