Monday, Feb. 13, 1939
Born. To Wendy Hiller, 26, British stage and screen star (Love on the Dole, Pygmalion) ; and her playwright-husband, Ronald Gow: a girl, their first child; in London.
Born. To Evelyn Walker Robinson ("Evie") Robert, 29, beauteous Washington hostess, columnist (Eve's Rib) in the Washington Times (see p. 34); and Lawrence Wood ("Chip") Robert Jr., 51, secretary of the National Democratic Committee; a daughter, their first child; in Manhattan.
Engaged. The Hon. Cecilia Bowes-Lyon, 26, niece of Queen Elizabeth of England; to Kenneth Harington, 27-year-old British socialite; for the second time; in London. Because "love in a cottage" would not be good enough for the Hon. Cecilia, Harington, then a junior assistant in the diplomatic corps, suddenly broke off their first engagement in 1937. Then he went to work for a metal corporation.
Died. Charles C. ("Cash & Carry") Pyle, 56, famed sports promoter; of cerebral thrombosis; in Los Angeles. Promoter Pyle made a fortune managing the professional career of Footballer Harold ("Red") Grange and sponsoring the first U. S. professional tennis tours. He lost it in 1929 in his second transcontinental "bunion derby" (marathon), tried to recoup with his "Believe It or Not" concession at Chicago's Century of Progress Fair.
Died. His Highness, Maharaja Sayaji Rao, Gaekwar of Baroda, 75, one of the richest men in the world (annual income reputed to be $10,000,000). one of five native princes entitled to a salute of 21 guns; in Bombay, India. A progressive Indian potentate, first (33 years ago) to make primary eduation compulsory and lately to permit divorce, the Gaekwar amazed his Hindus by building a mosque for Mohammedans, amazed both sects by sitting down with untouchables.
Died. Henri Anatole ("Papa") Deibler, 76, wealthy perfumer, who as "Monsieur de Paris" (traditional name for France's executioner) pressed the button at more than 400 guillotinings in his 40-year career; of a cold; in Paris. As well-known to French newspaper readers as Edouard Daladier, "Papa" Deibler was latest of a 68-year-long line of Deibler-executioners. He rarely appeared in public except in his official capacity, traveled incognito in a private compartment. Few days after his death, his 80-year-old uncle, Leopold Desfourneaux, was appointed his temporary successor, to execute one Maurice Pelorge, murderer, who had refused the traditional pardon (always offered to the first victim of a new executioner). Connoisseurs complained that Desfourneaux took ten or 15 seconds to Deibler's customary three or four, lacked his nephew's finesse.
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