ustxtxb_obs_1963_05_16_50_00011-00000_000.pdf

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The Great Day doves sat on smooth oak tree limbs, calling in their gentlest, late-afternoon way, and there would still be a few sheep by the water troughs who had not gone on to eat in the pastures. Everything we could see and hearthe peaceful doves, the sheep, the rocks scattered in the clearing, the trees themselves seemed to be marooned in a special stillness and quiet. The sun would nearly be down in the west and the yellow light of it was coming wildly through the trees, haloing their tops and scattering gold and red so harshly along the trunks that the bark actually seemed to be burning. We would sit there, our arms around our knees, until the power of the scene had passed and the sun had disappeared below the horizon. Then we would climb off the roof and start toward the house, walking silently with our heads lowered and our thoughts turned inward, looking down at our curiously loyal legs and feet that had kept moving all day long without ever knowing it. WHEN it got almost full dark we would load things into our car and turn around in the front clearing so that we could wave a last goodbye to Gram and Grandpa standing together at the gate. We would see them still looking at us long after we had started up the road until they finally accepted us as gone; then they would turn and start back up the walk together toward the house. Inside the car everyone would be full of that big special silence that always settled on us after a day at the ranch. We would all look straight ahead, staring into the glare of the headlights on the road as if we were looking into a mild .sun and trying to sear over the wound of our late Sunday emptiness and let down. We listened to the sound of the motor the way bone-chilled people would seek out the warmth of a fire, letting it draw us together and comfort us in a way we could not do ourselves. CLASSIFIED SINGER ZIG ZAG Does decorative stitching, blind hems, sews on buttons, with dial control. No attachments needed. Will sell for $76.66, or pick up payments, $7.22 per month. Also have several Zig Zags to choose from. Dealer. Call GL 2-8446 or 5120 Burnet Road. Marshall, Tex. Laser light contains a single color with consequent waves of equal length. Instead of diffusing, this light can travel thousands of miles without significant spread. With the waves reinforcing each other, the beam carries a terrific wallop, capable of burning a hole in a razorblade in a thousandth of a second, or streaking with the speed of light to destroy missiles or satellites. Inevitably, this ray was destined to be called the death ray, happily forecast for the kiddies for decades. Life Magazine first so dubbed it last Jan. 11 and went on to point out its beneficial potentialities for medicine, biology, radar, power transmission, and communications. As for the “death rays,” Life noted, “The U.S. government is spending millions of dollars studying such weapons.” The subject of the laser ray has illuminated the editorial framework of the Dallas News. A columnist for the News gave only a measly reference or so to the industrial possibilities of the device. Like mankind described by Shaw’s Don Juan, his heart was in his weapons. Wrote the News man : Peace marchers and ban-the-bombers may soon find the rug pulled out from under themor at least be forced to exchange their old slogans for new ones. The nuclear devices these bleeding hearts have been quaking about may soon turn out to be less potent that the “ultimate weapons” they have been called. With obvious relish and an almost perceptible chortle at the discomfort of peace-lovers, the News’ writer then opined that the H-bomb and the guided missiles may end up in the museum with the cross-bow and the battering ram, come the great day of the death ray. The editorial formula of the Dallas News would not be complete without the spectre of treachery in high places, and -sure enough, it was trotted out in the concluding paragraphs. Wagged the editorial finger: When this new “ultimate weapon” becomes a reality, we can be sure that the Soviet Union will make every effort to beg, borrow, or steal its secret. Let’s hope that those who have advocated a pooling or sharing of U.S. and Russian scientific discoveries in the past will get nowhere with such pleas to hand over the laser patent to the enemy. As far as the laser is concerned, government security requirements and procedures should be stiffened to the utmost. If kept out of Russian hands, the laser has fantastic potential for peaceful creativity. In their hands, it would be assured of maximum development for the purpose of destruction. . . . Assuming the Kremlin could raise 20 cents, by purchasing the Jan. 11 issue of Life it could avail itself of an explanation of how to produce the laser ray, with diagram and detail outlined on page 50. The pattern of political thought over Dallas way is thus made clear in the light of the laser ray: the United States should immediately attack Cuba and must war with Russia and China eventually ; any who disagree and demonstrate against war are “bleeding hearts,” and we all must refuse to read Life Magazine because it gives secrets to the enemy and supports integration. FRANKLIN JONES May 16, 1963 11 MARTIN ELFANT Sun Life of Canada Houston, Texas CA 4-0686