Clouds and Cliffs

Goddess of the Night

(Continued from Page Twenty-seven) thread that connected me with commerce, a crinkly-haired, laughing Italian boy married to an Indian-I can't help how unlikely it sounds, that's the way it was. He pulled back the sack and his black eyes sparkled.

"He'em a big one," he said, "he'em make dead sticks bloom in the night."

It takes character and concentration of purpose to do that and, following my cue, I found that my desert Night Blooming cereus (Peniocereus greggii) had both; that my lonely bulb held in its heart sublime determination to produce the perfect flower, to make dead sticks perfume the desert. In time I also learned that to Indians and Mexicans it was merely a vegetable to be sliced and fried, or a remedy to be macerated and poulticed on congested chests. So I paid Tony another fifty cents and watched him replant it in the safe desert earth.

There are several varieties of the night blooming cereus native to the lower deserts of Arizona, all with huge bulbs, at home from one to three feet underground on the mesas or along the sandy-loam swales of broad arroyos. Here they love best to send up their fantastic, angular, blackish-green sticks into the branches of brushy neighbors, seeking their protection from the winds and from the direct burn of the sun, as well as other injury from passing animals. It takes a practiced eye to find them and to see that each slender stem consists of a central woody core, one-fourth inch in diameter, encased in shallow pulp furrows covered with fine hairs and dotted with minutely barbed spines, an eighth of an inch long, growing in insect-like clusters. But more, it takes a practiced faith in the vegetable spirit of the desert to believe that here beauty grows toward a single night of glory.

Tony's Indian wife knew when and where to witness the miracle. You must go deep into the dusk of San Juan's Eve (June 24th, or within or week or so of that date) and, according to the man you are, your soul will grow in wing-spread. For it is then the dead sticks come alive and hold aloft blossoms seven to ten inches long and about six inches across, of wonderous tint and hue. In the moonlight they seem pearly white but really shade to a rich, creamy yellow with a hint of pale lavender diffused with touches of tan and pink on recurving sepals and petals the perfect flower of all the world. As the night shadows deepen the buds loosen and expand to receive the kiss of the desert dew, then the petals tremble, lift and spread, in an ecstacy of fragrant beauty you see the actual movement, the miracle takes place before your eyes. It is the Goddess of the Night turned wanton; no year is wasted can she but know this one unfettered release.

Love her swiftly and with abandon but slip away before the dawn. This night she gives all, tomorrow the bloom will curl and harden to grow into large scaly, egg-shaped fruit, sought greedily by both birds and Indians for its sweet flavor.

Floating almost to the surface of my memory comes a legend of the Ancients. When it was time for the Ugly One to die she lifted her deformed arms to the Elder Brother saying that all her life she had craved beauty, not for vanity but for itself alone; that she had hidden away from her kind to imagine the bliss of being utterly lovely if only for a secret moment could heaven give her that? So when her body was in the earth her twisted fingers were allowed for one night each year, to hold up to the stars that most beautiful flower in all the world, the blossom of the desert Night Blooming Cereus.

From under a sack in an old Indian's wagon something lastingly important was revealed to me. I know in a world where war still rages among men there yet can triumph the ideal of making the dead sticks of life bloom under the stars and perfume the desert night.

Western Horses on Parade In Phoenix Show

of March in 1940. The Thunderbirds of the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce decided to hold the annual Fiesta del Sol in the Spring instead of the customary fall, and to make the charity horseshow a part of the four-day celebration. There were more than 90 classes in which more than 500 horses were entered, to be judged by Welch Greenwell of Shelbina, Missouri. The gods looked favorably upon the show, and sent golden sunshine and warm balmy nights for the four-day event. There were smiling señoritas, gay caballeros, laughter and lilting Spanish and Mexican music everywhere to give more color to the already colorful event.

Robinson Locke of Tucson was president that year, with Mr. Thompson serving as vicepresident and manager of the show, Mr. Goodnight treasurer, and Scotty Donnell secretary.

One of the remarkable wins of the show was that of Sun King, the five-gaited Arizona owned belonging to Mrs. Glass and W. Roy Wayland. Sun King seemingly had passed his show days. Ill, out of condition, the really beautiful horse was taken in hand by Mrs. Glass and through careful handling and patient care was brought back to the glories of his former self.

Arizona Sport again came to the fore for his owner, Judge LaPrade, capturing the ribbon in the Arizona bred-and-owned, five-gaited. The five-gaited stake, $500 this year, was carried off by the Scripps-Meanley entry, Deanna D. The three-gaited stake, also $500, went to Parade of Fashion owned by Ella Mae Shofner of Los Angeles.

Mahme won the hunter stake and Wings took the jumper stake with the incomparable Cream of Wheat taking the Palomina under saddle award. Mr. Thompson's Fox won the cow horse stake.

In the '41 show, held at the state fair grounds March 27, 28, 29 and 30, there were three matinees and three night performances, theshow closing one of its most successful seasons on Sunday afternoon with the largest crowd yet attending.

Interest in fine horses was definitely growing, and association members, (the cream of the horse lovers of the state) were more than gratified with the results.

For the 1941 season, Mr. Wayland had been chosen president with Judge LaPrade vice-president, Mr. Campbell treasurer and M. O. Best the association's secretary. Mrs. Isabelle F. Brown acted as executive secretary for the second consecutive season.

Mr. Thompson, who had done so much to contribute to the growth of the horseshow, was show manager, and the judges were Arville Moody for all but the stock horse classes and Captain Walter A. Bauer.

The one and only Abe Lefton, known to show people all up and down the Pacific coast as well as in Arizona, was ringmaster and announcer.

As usual, the weather in Phoenix was superb. Warm, almost balmy evenings, sparklingly bright sunshiny afternoons, put the horses on their best behavior as they were put through their paces.

The animals, all in their best bib and tucker, were shown against a sky blue background, painted canvas hung as a backdrop for the huge ring. It was an inspiring sight as class after class was brought forward, and shown around the ring both for the judge and for the spectators.

A new feature of the show, was the showing for the first time in Arizona of the Tennessee walking horses. These were brought here especially for the show by their owner, L. B. Manning of Chicago and Santa Barbara, at the special invitation of Mr. Thompson. Mr. Manning brought four of his famous horses to the show, Allen's Step A Long, George Taylor, You'll Remember and Silver Dawn. At each performance the lovely creatures, with the fast but easy walk, were put through their paces and evoked untold interest. Famous in their own country, and only in the last few years recognized outside their native habitat, the Tennessee walking horses have become popular because of their characteristic gait which they can maintain for hours tiring neither themselves nor their riders. They are especially liked, their fanciers say, for long cross-country rides, their generally sweet and tractable dispositions, and their easy gait.

Another feature of the show which delighted everyone, youngsters and oldsters alike, was the Anheuser-Busch international champion Clydesdales. The eight huge animals, so sleek and shiny and well groomed, entertained at each performance. They wheeled and turned and made figure eights, their huge hoofs clopclopping around the ring in merry rhythm, as they pulled the great red wagon to which they were hitched, two abreast.

There were 98 classes in the show and as many horses or more than the previous year with a far larger representation of breeders and owners from the Pacific coast, and from Arizona points outside the Valley of the Sun than in any previous show.

In the hunter stake, Pumpkin Seed, belonging to Mrs. H. C. Morton of Los Angeles carried off the blue, with Mahme coming in a close second. Saint Nick, Mrs. J. A. Smith's entry from Hollywood, won over the Jay Teater entry, Roadmaster. Georgie Wood, the classy little hackney pony owned by Dick Ohlandt of Napa, California, took top honors.

In the five-gaited stake, Ella Mae Shofner's Wahoo was first over the Scripps-Meanley entry. Thelma Aldrich. Sun King placed fourth, the only Arizona horse to win a ribbon in the event.

The Albert Lee Casey entry, Wings, carried off the jumper stake; Symphony, fancy stepping little Shetland of the Scripps-Meanley stables, took that stake.

Parade of Fashion, the Shofner entry, took the three-gaited stake and Asbury Schell's Cuter took the stock horse stake.

In the Arizona owned, junior fine harness, the Bethany Farm entry, Rhett Butler, took the coveted blue from Cecil May's Summer Wine which took the second ribbon. In the Arizona owned, road hacks, Mrs. Kemper Marley's Brown Lady, ridden by Joyce Marley came off first with Mrs. C. R. Pennington's Gila Boy second.

Tom Goodnight's Penelope Surprise took the three-gaited, Arizona owned, and Sun King again took the five-gaited class. In the five-gaited novice, Arizona owned, Alice Blue, belonging to Ruth and Joan Obear was judged the best. In the open fine harness, Arizona owned, Alice Blue again took the blue.

There were entries from many points in California, Van Nuys, Napa, Arcadia, Los Angeles, Palisades, Santa Monica, Long Beach, Santa Barbara, Pasadena, La Cavada, Miramar, Fresno, Hollywood. Texas and Oklahoma stables were also represented.

From Arizona, there were exhibitors not only from Phoenix but Tucson, Winkelman, Scottsdale, Mesa, Sonoita, Safford, Nogales, Springerville, Glendale, Chandler, Buckeye and Tempe.

Children's classes were especially featured and Frankie Lou Brown, daughter of the Bud Browns, was given the highly prized Jot Travis cup for her superb performances.

Clarence Budington Kelland, well-known author who has recently become an enthusiastic Arizona rancher, was not only an exhibitor showing his two Palomino geldings, Old Sleuth and Sunday, but contributed to the trophy list.

For the 1942 show, the outlook is bright. Kemper Marley is president of the association, with Maurice Obear his vice-president. Archie Campbell is treasurer and Joseph Cuddihy has been elected secretary. Mrs. Brown is again executive secretary. Hugh McDonald will manage the show and act as arena director.

There is much new stock in the state, purchased since the show of '41. There is increased interest among all types of owners and breeders because of the activity of the army remount service. Under Lt. Col. Fred L. Hamilton and Lt. Col. Joseph Dornblaser, the south-western area remount activities have been greatly increased in the last twelve months.

The Remount Service now has standing in Arizona some 15 stallions. All pure bred, of suitable military type and breeding and they are being bred to the finest mares in the state according to the prescribed plan of the Remount Service. Whether any of this stock will be shown is not known just now.

The Anacacho stock from the R. W. Morrison Anacacho ranch in Texas has been important in the new animals imported. Anacacho Denmark, great Anacacho horse, has sired a number of colts already arrived and a number which are on the way.

W. N. Sangster has purchased Anacacho Breeze, well known walk-trot horse for Mrs. Sangster. Joe E. Haldiman now owns Anacacho Bear which he acquired for his son, Joe, jr., and Mr. Marley has Naona Pand Silver Princess both with colts at side by Anacacho Denmark, and Marjorie Jones, belonging to Frank H. Donaldson, has an Anacacho mare with colt at side by Anacacho Denmark.

E. H. Neece recently bought the five-gaited mare, Sue Kirby, from Revel English and two young brood mares, Claud's Lady and Anacacho Showers, from the Morrison ranch.

Mr. Wayland now has a brood mare, Anacacho It, a new mare from Kentucky, Baldy Peavine, and two mares from Missouri, Knob Creek Sue and Knob Creek Princess.

Wayland and Goodnight together own Country Fashion, which is by Country Gentleman. The mare is now in foal to The Harvester, a son of Cream of Wheat.

Among the Anacacho horses which Mr. Goodnight has in his stables are Anacacho Jonquil and Molly Dhu, both having colts by Anacacho Denmark, and Anacacho Evening which he will show in the junior fine harness class this year. He also has a stallion, Anacacho Apache. Another fine mare which he purchased at the B. B. Tucker sale in Pomona is Flame's Pride.

Cooper-Cuddihy of Bethany Farms have three brood mares, Anacacho Pride, a full sister to Anacacho Denmark, Issie D., and Lois Kirby. They also have five yearlings from the Anacacho ranch, Anacacho Wink, Anacacho Ebony, Connie's Flame, Cloud's Andy, and Quelita's Melody.

L. B. Hamilton now has two Herion Chief fillies which he bought at the Belbrook sale in Pomona and will show in hand this year. Marjorie Mathis now owns Quanah Parker, a walk-trot mare, which was purchased just after the last show.

Another addition to fine horses in Arizona is Jack McCue, jr., a Quarter-horse stallion owned by Glenn Chipperfield. Mr. Donaldson now has Jaqueline Logan, which he purchased from the Maples Stables in Woodland, Calif. This three-gaited mare was shown previously under the name of Maple Margaret, although her registered name was Jaqueline Logan under which she will now be shown.

Jack Procter of Tucson has joined the Anacacho fanciers and now has two brood mares, Anacacho Hagan and Anacacho Sunbeam.

H. L. Pratt of Arcadia has recently purchased the Palomino stallion Golden Clipper, which he will show this year.

Some fine Morgan stock has also been brought into the state and classes for them will be added to the already long premium list.

Another class which will be added, officials have announced, will be a woman's working cow horse class. This will be extremely interesting to watch the women actually working their horses as the men do in their class and should evoke much favorable comment.

Breeding classes will be featured even to a greater extent than in previous years, and so will the children's classes, officials feeling as in other years that the young riders just coming up should be given every encouragement.

Proceeds this year, as in previous years, will be given to charity. In other years, "less chance" children all over the state have been sent to summer camps as a result of the show. This year, it is likely that one of the war charities will be favored.

Even at this early date, success of the show is assured because not only are Arizona breeders and owners preparing to compete for the trophies and premiums, but a number of outof-state stables have already let it be known that they will be on hand with their strings to offer stiff competition in all events.

So, the Arizona Horsemen's Association feels that it is in a small way doing its share toward total victory by fostering and promoting the owning and breeding of fine horses for Uncle Sam may need them all before that total victory is a reality.

TOVREA'S

The Story Of An Adventure In Beef.

(Continued from Page Twenty-five) in over 200 minor highway accidents, where they have rendered first aid and emergency treatment. There is on file a large number of letters of appreciation from persons who have received this service from their trained men. Undoubtedly, Tovrea's Red Cross emergency service has been a big asset in their public relations wherever the equipment operates. Tovrea's was the first meat processing company in the United States to receive this official Red Cross recognition. As a matter of fact, the truck fleet really acts as a voluntary safety highway patrol, both night and day, over most all of Arizona's highways. Tovrea drivers have thus developed an unusual safety record.

There are in excess of 500 people employed by Tovrea's at the present time. Approximately 425 are employed in the packing plant, 50 on the various ranches, 15 in the Agricultural Supply Division and 25 by the Agricultural Production Company. The total payroll figure for 1941 amounted to $820,711.92.

The turn-over of employees in the Tovrea plant is unusually small. Most of the persons who work there become, what might almost be considered, permanent employees. Many persons on the Tovrea payroll have been with the firm since the new plant was completed in 1920. Some of the men even aided in the construction of the plant itself and then continued on as employees of the Company. This is usually considered to be one of the best recommendations concerning pleasant working conditions and satisfied workers. It has always been Mr. Tovrea's policy to advance his employees as rapidly as possible and to make all advancements from within the current group of employees. Most of the department heads and executives in the company at the present time started in minor positions in their respective departments.