The Brownsville Herald from Brownsville, Texas • Page 45

CHARRO DAYS 1949 THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD Charro Da Idea Hit During '37 Perhaps you have wondered when, how and where did the Charro Days idea start- That question has been answered many times and the story revealed never seems to grow old with each re-telling. Back in 1937, Kenneth Faxon, Brownsville attorney and former law instructor in Chicago, was given the green light by the local Chamber of Commerce to go ahead with an idea that Mr. Faxon had been turning over and over in his head since 1936. The idea was to stage a celebration in Brownsville that would emphasize the color, the pageantry and costumes of Mexico. It would be up to everyone to don native costumes and learn Spanish songs.

of Is Sold While Chamber of Commerce officials were not completely sold on the idea at the beginning, they fell into line quickly as Mr. Faxon unfolded his plan and described the possibilities of such a fiesta. The late J. M. Stein, at the time editor and publisher of the Herald, named the event "Charro Days" and it is now a byword throughout the United States.

It seemed too good to those connected with fiesta that the name was copyrighted. Everyone in Brownsville, aided by many from other sections of the Ixwer Rio Grande Valley, started to work on the fiesta. Each had an idea he or she would like to have put into the general program. Every new idea was discussed at length and the word went out that more were wanted. Soon the Charro Days committee was swamped with this plan and that one and the weeding-out process began in earnest.

One of the first concrete ideas was to have every man grow a beard. It was thought that these beards would blend with the colorful costumes. Big and little beards were the order of the day and from these chin adornments the idea of the Court of Brush was born. It soon became one of the features of the fiesta. Ceataaea Featured The idea of colorful costumes China for women, and Charro for men, was Mr.

Faxon's pet. He even went so far as to predict that 1,000 persons would don these costumes for the first Charro Days in 1938. Naturally he was laughed at but not for long. A few brave souls found their way into the open wearing costumes and then, in a twinkling of the eye hundreds appeared. Before the opening night was over more than 1,000 persons in costumes was the estimate of the officials.

The second night, more costumes appeared and before the 1938 fiesta was a matter of history, some 6,000 Valleyites had turned the fun-fest into a riot of color. Mr. Faxon's idea had clicked-and is still clicking. PAGE 25 Turkey Growers In Pennsylvania See Big Crop PHILADELPHIA Penn sylvania growers predict they will raise 1,441,00 turkeys in 1949. The state agriculture department reports that if the growers' plans are carried out, it means an autumn crop within 19.000 of the all time record raised in 1945.

Major factors fostering iacreas ed production include a plentiful supply of feed and the strong demand for turkey before and during the holiday season. A federal-state survey discloses there will be a 25 per cent increase in turkey growing nationally. Effort Made To De-Nazify Hitler Parrot MUNICH Munich'i celebrated pro-Nazi parrot which croaks Hitler" to all visitors has been subjected to a treatment of love and laughter in hopes of breaking its habit. Joachim Herzner, caretaker of he Munich zoo. a staunch Social Democrat, was mortified when the bird arrived froift Hamburg and embarked upon its career cheerleader for tKe fuehrer.

So Herzner obtained a mate parrot, Max, to help Laura LIKE SNAKES Certain African tribes believe house-hunting snakes to be spirits of the dead and often feed them milk, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. bottom, resembling a neat little birds' nest. High heeled sandals are worn with the Bahia costume. Natives frequently wear sandals with fantastically wedged heels. Jewelry is bright colored heads of the tinsel variety that remind one of miniature Christmas tree balls.

Bahia Suited Costume Particularly To The Younger Set Appropriate especially for the younger set during Charro Days is the Bahia costume, worn during carnival lime in Rio de Janeiro. I The costume has four pieces, and a very important good luck charm accessory. It consists of a skirt, blouse, "torco" (similar to a reboso), and a hat. The good luck charm, though not compulsory to is seldom absent The treatment seems to be ceeding, for every time the male is taken away, Laura cries "Where's my Max?" and on ing him cackles out a relieved "Here's your Laura." TARGET PRACTICE When aimed directly at tbt bull's-eye of a target 25 yards away, 38-caliber pistol actually is aimed 14 inches below the bull's- eye. Compensation is made in the sights of the gun at the time of manufacture to allow for the upward swing of the barrel at the time of discharge.

they won't haul you home from CHARRO Leitg Skirt The skirt is ankle length and to made of narrow striped cotton, gathered onto a one and one-half inch waistband. It is full, measuring about three to three and one- half yards around the bottom. Stripes run vertically. The hem is simple. The skirt opens at the side.

The blouse of the Bahia resembles and old-fashioned camisole. It is made entirely of lace. Shoulder straps are about one and one-half blouse is a narrow double lace yoke with a faintly scalloped edge. The rest Is single lace, measuring 15 inches from the bottom of the yoke to the hem. The lace features patterned The top row reasures four inches; the second about three inches; the third, a little more than two and one-half inches; the fourth, which is plain, two and self, it will not keep away evils.

Natives can it "figa." Basket Hat The hat for the Bahia costume is catted the "cesta de biaiana." I Actually it is a little basket that can be used to carry small amounts of fruit, but during carnival at Rio Janeiro it is filled with artificial flowers and and used as a headpiece. It to held place on the head with an inconspicuous elastic hand. The basket is four inches across, and is brightened with pink, white, red, and yellow flowers. Pour short feathers stick up over the flowers. Each is a different color bright green, dark red, canary yellow and bright cerise.

A duster of five long feathers about to 15 inches long curl from beside one of the short but they are the beat for HEAVY HAULING Wtmcfe A-Framet State Household Fvrnttwre Moving Service Aero Mayflower Representatives, Bonded Cooamercial Household Storage. --IIC, Tbt JONES The basket is rounded at the! Bill Offered To Jail Snoops Over 17 Years SPRINGFIELD A bill providing for imprisonment for not less than 30 days and fine of not less than $100 or more than $1,000 for snoopers and peekers over years, was introduced here by Rep. Shapiro (D) of Kankakee. three-fourths inches; and the bot- feathers. The long ones also are torn row about three and three- colorful in shades of white, scar- fourths inches.

The blouse flares let, green, pale blue, and purple. I slightly at the bottom. Cotton Torco The torco is made of cotton and I is about 1C inches wide and 0 inches long. It is double, and is! accentuated by stripes of bright yellow, red, Mack, white, and blue. It is worn diagonally from should-1 er waist and snapped or pinned) at the waist.

It is never knotted. The good luck charm has i interesting background. It is only about three and three-fourths inches long. It depicts a clinched fist with thumb between the first and second fingers. Three crosses are carved on the "arm" just above the wrist.

Simple charms are carved from small branches of native wood. The bark is not removed A small hook on the end of the charm allows it to be attached to a chain. It is worn around the neck with the charm hanging down the hack. The charm is supposed to bring i good luck to its wearer if it is a (gift, but if one buys it for him-j THEES HANDSOME CHARRO HE "For good time corns to Brownsville." He also sez "For good home to take siesta in after Charro WELCOME TO CHARRO DAYS FEBRUARY 24-25-26-27 GUERRA'S GROCERY MORES GUERRA, Prep. 1101 C.

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