For the week ending May 16, 1934

NOT WHISKERS (Editorial)

The suggestion that the males of Bend grow beards in the next two months as an adjunct of the coming Fourth of July celebration leaves us cold. We cannot see that any useful purpose would be served by the undertaking, and it would certainly be a great annoyance.

This business of whisker growing in the weeks preceding some celebration had its origin, we believe, in some western town that was putting on a Frontier Days show. In such a connection, it had its advertising value and probably helped to develop the spirit of the occasion. There is no particular connection, however, between whiskers and a Fourth of July celebration. As we remember the painting depicting the event of signing the Declaration, there was not a whisker in the whole party. Just why should we go in for whiskers now?

If it is desired to dress in some way that will suggest colonial times or connect us with the first Independence Day, we might wear three-cornered hats or knee breeches. But whiskers with summer coming on — “No.” Let’s be original.

THREE BABY SWANS SWEPT OVER DAM

On their first extensive cruise of the power dam forebay, three fluffy cygnets, only a few days old, this morning went over the spillway and tumbled, like yellow balls of cotton, into the white, turbulent water which splashes over the rocks in the Deschutes just below the Newport avenue bridge.

The cygnets were uninjured, but scores of people, headed by police chief Kenneth McCormick, had to assist in their rescue — and as a result of their wild plunge, a parent swan stands indicted of conduct unbecoming a guardian father.

The parent swan, it appears, forgot his charges when another swan, from the lower river, appeared on the forebay. The parent swam out to give fight, and his tiny cygnets moved into the swift water that rushes over the spillway. They were caught in the torrent and swiftly carried into the white foam below, not in the least injured. The parent bird soon noticed the disappearance of his charges and went over the spillway after them. Vainly, he tried to herd the cygnets upstream, but they were carried along with the current. Two found refuge on an “island.” The third went down the channel.

Officer McCormick and Dr. Vandevert were called and rescued the three cygnets. They were returned to their mother at the nest near the Newport Avenue bridge where she remained on a newly hatched cygnet.

Early this afternoon, calm reigned on the power dam forebay, with cygnets, back from the greatest experience in their lives, safe under the wings of their mother.