The Courier-News from Bridgewater, New Jersey • Page 9

Ann Landers Produce children's booios Nose goes with rest of face Author, artist-wife make a happy team i.i mwkm F71I iy 1 I i. i at. v. I "4 4. air Author John Anderson and his wife, illustrator Adrienne Adams, combine their talents to get children to love books.

Courier-News photo by Ed Schuetz. The Day We Saw the Sun Come Up 1962) were runners up for the Caldecott MedaL In 1964, she received the alumnae award from her alma mater, Stephens College in Missouri. Anderson said that his wife majored in music after Stephen College at the University of Missouri. "One day she happened to walk past a room where an art class was in session. She decided to be an artist on the spot." In New York, while he was working at various writing jobs, Miss Adams was doing displays, murals, decorative textiles and illustrations for books.

In the last decade the couple collaborated on five books, four of which are for children, while the fifth is a 15th century cookbook written in old English: I asked whether there were any techniques in writing children's books and got the impression that he did not write specifically for children, but simply told a story he enjoyed himself. It usually turned out that the children did, too. down to a child," he said, "because he won't be interested. A child is very clever and eager to learn. He can tell if you haven't challenged him and he'll- be bored." He said that writers should "use words that you think a child will like the sound of, whether he knows them or not" Miss Adams said that her aim in life is "to get the kids to love books." She said she wanted "to capture their attention" with her pictures.

She showed the dummy for her next book, "A Woggle of to be released in time for Halloween. The illustrations capture the essence of the occasion with dark, brooding browns and brilliant harvest oranges. In addition to her use of color, her angle of vision captures one's attention. One does not have to be a child to be enchanted by her merry witches. The most striking feature of the Andersons as a couple was what Miss Adams called, "our love of life." Their hospitality and charm was one could tell a direct result of an inner benignity.

Their refusal to feel unhappiness any longer than necessary was apparent as they described their lives. And to this day, if you travel to the birch wood, you may still see the enchanting, enchanted couple living happily ever after. from New York City in 1933 and pitched a tent in the birch forest on what is now Little Brook Road. They had bought about ZVz acres by giving the owner a small down payment. "For years we came out from New York on weekends and lived in the tent," Miss Adams recalled.

"We cooked our meals and washed the dishes over there in Spruce Run," she added, motioning through the window to the fast moving brook 100 yards away. "We had more fun during the depression. Those were the happiestyears of our lives," she said. The couple built a log cabin after a few years, and then added a separate kitchen and bathroom. It was not until the mid-50s when they came here permanently, the gap was bridged between the two structures and the house was completed.

Last winter was the first in some time that the couple has not spent in their house on St. John, one of the Virgin Islands. When they first started going there, Anderson became fascinated with the island's history as a former Danish possession. He traveled to Copenhagen where the dusty archives revealed the history of the island written in old' Danish. John said he was so interested with a certain story that he learned to read the Danish script and soon gleaned enough to write a historical novel.

The novel is a history" according to Anderson, and is called "Spider in the Horn." It will be published "sometime this winter," the author said. Miss Adams said she loved the island, but work on Mr. Biddle precluded their going down this year. After the publication of "Bag of Smoke," Anderson said he developed a block about writing. "The second book's the hardest one," he said.

So he kept working in New York, then became a real estate broker when they moved here because he loved "selling farms and country homes." After that period, he recalled, "I met the human race, found the block gone and could write agaia" Miss Adams, meanwhile, had achieved recognition for illustrating books for other authors. Two of her books -Houses From the Sea (1960) and By CHIP STAPLETON LEBANON TOWNSHIP Once upon a time, in a beautiful birch forest high in the Hunterdon Hills, lived an enchanting couple who liked to make children happy. The man was a craftsman words and enjoyed stringing even difficult ones together so that little children could play with their sounds without having to know their meanings. His wife produced wispy washings of color, light and form to illustrate perfectly her husband's craft. Together, amid the birches, they created imaginary adventures of lands far and near and blended their skills to make books.

The couple, author John Lonzo Anderson and illustrator Adrienne Adams, sat in front of a crackling fire recently as a spring rain soaked into the ground around their house. They said they wrote stories for children "not to entertain" but "to get them to love books." Their most recent effort, "Mr. Biddle and the Birds," was published on April 7. The idea for Mr. Biddle came from an illustration in "Bag of Smoke," a book about early French balloonists written by Anderson and illustrated by Miss Adams in.

1941. The illustration shows a man being carried in a sedan chair using birds to lift the poles. "We both were intrigued with the idea of birds carrying the chair," he said. Slowly, the idea grew until it became the subject of the new book. Derek Williamson, a writer for the Hunterdon Review, wrote about the book a week after its publication.

Among other things, he said, "How the birds work out the flying problem through teamwork is the moral of the story, but it's quite possible that children will be too busy studying the colorful pictures to notice The Message." The author says he often gets his ideas by enlarging and embellishing a flicker of his imagination. "If I have a particular problem with a story, such as an appropriate ending, I plant it in my mind and go to sleep. When I wake up, the problem has usually resolved itself." The Andersons ventured out DEAR ANN: I am a 15-year-old high school boy Who lives in Dubuque, Iowa. Dubuque isn't exactly New York City so high school kids here don't know a lot of sophisticated stuff. I have never kissed a girl but I am planning on doing it soon.

In fact I have the girl picked out already. Don't laugh, Ann, I really need help. Please tell me when a guy kisses a girl where does his nose belong? I don't want anything to go wrong. Thanks a lot. Planning Ahead DEAR HEAD: The nose goes right along with the rest of the face and it belongs wherever it lands.

Please let me know how you did. I worry about kids like you. DEAR ANN: I am 48 years of age and feel foolish writing to a paper for help, but I am terribly confused. My husband died when our son was raised the boy myself and he is very close to me. Jerry is now 14.

Last year I met a widower who brought real happiness into my life. After 10 years of loneliness it was like a miracle. I am sure we could have been very content together. Financial security was no problem. We are both comfortable.

When I told my son I was considering marrying again he became angry at first and later sullen. Finally he told me I had to choose between him and the man. So stopped seeing my friend. I am very depressed. I feel that perhaps I have made the wrong choice.

Yet the mother in me says my first responsibility is to my son. Please give me your views. Mrs. Shelby DEAR SHELBY: And how long has this kid been dictating to you? My guess is from the time he learned to talk. Run, don't walk, to the nearest phone.

Get the man back, if you can. It would be a healthy move for both you and your son unless, of course, the kid plans to spend the rest of his life bossing you around instead of marrying some girl he can tyranize. In which case, my condolences to you both. DEAR ANN: I am a married man and a father who needs help with a problem. My wife was spending money like it grew on trees and we had many arguments about it.

Finally I became so desperate that I ran an ad in the newspaper saying I would not be responsible for her debts. I live in Indiana and work in Chicago so I get home only on weekends. The Saturday after I ran the ad in the newspaper I went home and discovered that my wife had taken all the furniture and left with our two children. I'm sure she went to her mother's. I don't care about the furniture but my children mean the world to me.

Please tell me what to do. Troubled Man DEAR MAN: You-should have written to me BEFORE you ran that ad, Bub, but what's done is done, so let's go from here. Contact your wife and ask her to sit down with you and a counselor or a clergyman and settle your differences. Each of you has a legitimate beef. It might be that your wife spends money like crazy to get even with you for leaving her alone five days a week.

The solution might be for you to work in Indiana or move your family to Chicago. DEAR ANN: Our daughter is planning a May wedding. She is marrying a man in the service. They will be living overseas for the next three years. Possibly longer.

They would prefer not to take too many personal belongings. Rather than gifts of silver, china, linen and the standard wedding presents, they would prefer money. Would it be proper to enclose a card along with the invitations stating this Please phrase the request so it doesn't sound too commercial. Thank you. Mother Of The Bride.

DEAR MOTHER: Sorry but there are no words that could make this request sound noncommercial. A pitch for money is bad manners no matter how delicately phrased. Forget it. ilM 4S NEWS FEATURES FASHIONS SOCIAL Illustrated by Pa HIE COUBIEG Friday, May 7, 1971 goodies he arranges. Next on the schedule is a trip to the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Besides the 350 Reservists who are required to train at the battalion headquarters, the Cub Scouts and the CYO members, there is another regular visitor to the Mountain Avenue Marines. He is Sgt. Emil Schneider of South Bound Brook LONZO ANDERSON i Mr. Biddle, is ecstatic as he flies along with the help of Charlie in the latest joint effort by Adrienne Adams and Lebanon Township. Illustration is on the cover of Adso, Badso, Crown and John Lonzo Anderson of the new book.

-3 9 ADRIENNE ADAMS first occupied the government owned property in 1969 when the facilities they had been using in Port Newark were closed down. It is administered by the First Marine Corps District headquarters in Garden City, Long Island, N. and Is the Marine activity between Picatinny Arsenal In Dover another in Trenton. M0 -'w Many were in Erma Bombeck Give credit to credit 1 4 Marines find a home in Middlesex Vietnam around and the people certainly needed them." Civic action has been modified in Middlesex. Here when a fire truck had to leave the macadam road to reach a field fire last week and got bogged down, it was the Marine Corps tractor from the transport headquarters that hauled it out.

When the highway depart-mentwas having difficulty after a bad snowstorm getting Middlesex roads dug out in a hurry, the Marines manned their snow plough and lent a hand. Major Claude Brauer of Willingboro is in charge ot the Middlesex headquarters as inspector-instructor of the Marine Reservists. Twelve enlisted men are stationed there permanently. Four assist with administrative and personnel records for the Reserves in the area. Four more help train the Reservists in motor transport mechanics.

Two are supply sergeants. One is a construction man who can "do anything from installing a boiler to wiring a building," according to Captain Ransom. There is a lone Navy chief corpsman in the group. The Marines traditionally use Navy medical personnel. "This is the first independent duty I've ever had," Captain Ransom remarked.

"I spent 29 years in the Marines, mostly climbing up and down hills in Okinawa in the second World War, then in Korea sand later in Vietnam. I've always liked the adventure in the Marine Corps, but there are satisfactions in this duty, too." One of the captain's duties has been "casualty work" wit! families of Marines in the are? who served as a Marine from 1911 to 1921. A Marine bugler, the 75-year-old veteran has volunteered his services to the battalion in this capacity and is frequently requested to take part in ceremonies. The Middlesex base is located on a former Atomic Energy Sampling plant which had been unused since 1946. The Marines only the and The whole mess started when my husband found a charge from the dime store for $63.31.

He said if the Good Lord had meant for me to carry all those credit cards, He'd have given me a pouch. I contended EVERYONE uses credit cards and that it's only a matter of weeks before money is obsolete. To prove my point I challenged him to go through just one day using cash for everything. The results were pretty much what I expected. His first encounter was at a service station.

"That'll be $6.15," said the attendant. My husband reached into his pocket and extracted $6.25. The attendant scrutinized the bill carefully. "You trying to tell me your name is Ivy Baker Priest?" he asked. "No," said my husband, "That's the signature from the Treasury Department." "Whatever it is," he said handing it back, "The date on it is expired." "You don't understand," persisted my husband.

"This isn't a credit card. It's U.S. currency. All you do is take it and give me ten cents change." "Look, Mac," said the attendant, "I work here alone on Mondays until three. If you think I'm gonna carry that kind of cash around to make change, you're crazy." The next stop was a restaurant.

When my husband handed the cashier a $10 bill she snapped it and examined it closely. "Do you have any identification?" she asked brusquely. "No," he said, "Only cash." "I see," she said, "What about a driver's license? Social Security? A letter from your mother?" My husband fumbled around in his pockets. "Look," she said, "Why don't you step out of line and wait for our manager, Mr. He'll check you out." When my husband returned home, he slumped in his chair.

"My money couldn't buy anything," he sulked, "The pay phone ate my dime and the operator suggested a credit card, the drugstore was annoyed because they had to write out a receipt for cash and merchants looked at me like I was a poor risk." "It sounds humiliating," I said softly. "You don't know the half of it," he said. "A mugger came out of the alley, stuck a gun in my ribs and took my billfold. He gave me my money back and took my library card." "Why didn't you write him a check?" I asked. "I tried," he said, "But he wouldn't take a counter check without a credit card for now mercifully lighter than in previous years, he noted.

"We help the families of Marines all we can with paper work, with arrangements for Social Security or Veterans Administration authorities that sort of thing. There's a lot we can do for these families and we are here to help them," he said. Two of the Sixth Battalion sergeants are natives of New Jersey and both are happy to be in New Jersey after tours 'of combat duty in Vietnam. Sgt Loren VanGorden, a 24-year-old veteran of six years in the Marine Corps is from a rural area near Newton. He said he had mixed feelings at first about duty in Middlesex.

"I was glad in a way, after 13 months as an artilleryman in the DMZ area, mostly," he said. "But I'd joined the Marines to get away and see the world! However, I got married before I went to Vietnam so I was glad I could be with my wife here." It's another story with Sgt George Hahn, a 27-year-old motor transport mechanic. After eight years in the Marines, the sergeant is considering joining the Middlesex Police Department at the end of his current enlistment. "Of course, I'd join the Marine Reserve here, right away, if I do that;" he added hastily. Hahn, a native of South Jersey, already is a part of the Middlesex community.

He is a volunteer fireman and although his only child is an infant daughter, he is assistant Cubmaster of a Middlesex pack of some 30 boys who meet, of course, at the Marine base. In addition to working for their badges under the- sergeant's eye, they get a few extra By MILDRED CARSON MIDDLESEX Fourteen Marines are stationed in Middlesex which is not exactly the geographic area they envisioned when they enlisted in the corps. But most of them Vietnam veterans have discovered they like Middlesex and Middlesex seems to like them. The Marines report to the nine-acre area that encloses the Sixth Motor Transport Battalion headquarters at 239 Mountain Avenue. The battalion's mission, in addition to providing convoy transportation where required in the military district, is the training of Marine Reservists.

Almost 350 such Marine Reserves report there one week a month to fulfill the obligations of their military enlistments -and to keep the trucks and jeeps top condition for the convoy duties. The battalion also has opened its doors to the Cub Scouts in Middlesex. It makes its facilities available for meetings of the Catholic Youth Organization. Its Marines gather 70,000 to toys there each Christmas for distribution to children through local organizations in a Toys for Tots program. "Somehow we seem to have a real civic action program going here in Middlesex," Capt.

Morris Ransom, the tall, graying veteran Marine who is second in command at the battalion headquarterrs, grinned. "I guess it sort of comes naturally to Marines, especially after, being in Vietnam. I must have built five or six houses when I was there I had the time and the stuff to build them with was lying if 1 tir -v "i y'-- (if- yv I -m k- i llinmnMHIrlnni- ii tr ftTrrmilllOi WW iiiil.i.iii.fn nil, Middlesex Marines provide convus for the corps in this area and Sgt. George Hahn, left, under the direction of Capt. Morris Ransom also teaches motor me- 1 chanic to Marine Reservists who train monthly ot the Mountain Avenue installation.

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