The Moving Picture Weekly (1919-1922)

36 THE MOVING PICTURE WEEKLY Belgian Ambassador Sends Condolences ^MONG the hundreds of letters received by Mr. Laemmle from friends and admirers of William Stowell and Dr. Armstrong, members of the Smithsonian-Universal African expedition who were killed in the Congo, there came several on the crested stationary of the State Department and the Belgian Embassy. They were transmitted by the Smithsonian Institute to Mr. Baker, manager of the Universal Film Manufacturing Company, for Mr.. Laemmle, who sent them to the stricken families. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTE \ Washington, D. C. December 12th, 1919. Dear Mr. Tarkington Baker: I beg leave to enclose herewith a copy of a letter received from the Belgian Ambassador to the United States, Baron de Cartier, in which he expresses his sympathy and conveys the heartfelt condolence of the Belgian Minister for Foreign Affairs in the unfortunate accident to the African Expedition, resulting in the death of Dr. Armstrong and Mr. Stowell. I am enclosing a copy of a communication from our own Secretary of State, Mr. Lansing, asking that his sympathy also be tendered to the bereaved families in their grief. Very sincerely yours, (Signed) Charles Walcott, Secretary. AMBASSADE de BELGIQUE Washington, D. C. December 6, 1919. Sir: I have the honour to advise you that I have just received a cablegram from M. Hymans, Belgian Minister for Foreign. Affairs, concerning the terrible railway accident which befell your mission in the Congo. Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Stowell Farr have been killed; Mr. Horn is seriously hurt; Mr. Kohler, Mr. Thierry and Mr. Porter have been bruised. The Minister for Foreign Affairs requested me to convey to the Smith sonian Institution on this sad occasion his most heartfelt condolences to which allow me to add the expression of my own deep sympathy. Believe me, Sir, Yours very truly, (Signed) T. de Cartier. To the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C. THE SECRETARY OF STATE Washington, D. C. December 8, 1919. Charles D. Walcott, Esquire, Sec, The Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D. C. Dear Mr. Secretary: Referring to the advice which I understand has been communicated to you by the Department of State of the death by accident in the Belgian Congo of certain members of an expedition sent out by the Smithsonian Institution, and the injury of other, may I extend to you and your associaties my deep sympathy in the loss the Institution has suffered? I should be grateful if, to the expressed sympathy of the Belgian Minister of Foreign Affairs for the bereaved families, my own could be added. Sincerely yours, (Signed) Robert Lansing. BRYSON'S MOTHER PASSES AWAY. 'J'HE many friends of James V. Bryson, executive manager of the Minneapolis office of the Universal will be soi'ry to learn of the death of his mother. Mrs. Helen Bryson, aged 70 years. Mrs. Bryson formerly lived at Warrensburg, Mo. and came to Minneapolis last year to be with her son. She died Friday, November 21st. after a short illness. Interment was in Lakewood Cemetary. FEB. 1— SH-SH-SH!— FEB. 1. Dig up a new 1920 calendar and turn to the second page — that's February. Take a red pencil and draw a circle around the FIRST. Then sit back and take a deep breath. Make it a "strong" breath if you have the where-with. FAVORED AMUSEMENTS. ^T a time when the industry was facing a serious curtailment due to the coal shortage, it is interesting to note that in many places the opinion of the daily press favored the continuance of amusements. The following comment in part, from the Tribune at Des Moines, la., indicated the attitude taken by most of the newspapers throughout the country. "The Evening Tribune believes it would be a serious mistake to close the places of amusements. The men who are in charge of the fuel situation are acting wisely in giving the people something to occupy their time while the trouble is with them. In times of stress, even more than in time of peace we need relaxation if wc are to keep an even keel. Recreation and amusements are the safety valve of modem society." Similar comment was made by the News which devoted a one-page layout with pictures of stars, to arguents for the keeping open of theatres. The Sunday Register also came forth with a one-page size argument. DO YOU KNOW. — That the Universal is making pictures many times better than it did a year or so ago? — That whereas an average feature a couple of years ago cost S25,000. the Universal to-dav is putting S75,d00. $100,000 and as" much as S150.000 into feature productions? — That is why the Universal is averaging better pictures than any other film company? — That if every Exhibitor in the United States and Canada doesn't know this, it is time his exchange let him in on it?