"Names make news." Last week the following names made the following news:

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was sitting in his garden near Southampton, England, with his family (wife, two sons, a daughter), when flames suddenly burst from the roof of his house. For an hour, local firemen, 100 villagers and the Doyles labored to save books and manuscripts. An old part of the house was consumed, a new addition saved. No Sherlock Holmes was needed to detect the cause: a spark on the old dry roof.

Harry Ford Sinclair, oilman, spending six months in a Washington jail for contempt of court and the U. S. Senate, petitioned President Hoover, through the Department of Justice, for commutation of sentence. His reason: ill health.

William Fox, cinemagnate, was on his way to play golf last month when his automobile smashed up, injuring him, killing his chauffeur (TIME, July 29). Last week, fully recovered, Film-man Fox played his first game of golf since emerging from the hospital. At the 17th hole, 150 yards across water, he cocked his eye, waggled his club, swung with precision and, for the third time in his career, holed his tee shot. Said he, modest: "Of course, I know that all three have been a matter of luck."*

Louis Bamberger, 74, founder of L. Bamberger & Co., Newark department store lately bought out by Manhattan's R. H. Macy & Co. (TIME, July 8), last week announced he would retire and made a "personal gift" of $1,000,000 to be divided among 300 of his oldest, most faithful employes. Said he: "Youth counts in business today. I may appear young, but I know better."

Owen McMahon Johnson, novelist (The Tennessee Shad, The Varmint, Stover at Yale, Children of Divorce), announced last week (apropos his latest novel, Sacrifice): "Second marriages are happier than first marriages. The new form of divorce--I call it 'amicable divorce'--is on a friendlier basis and much easier on the children."*

James Joseph ("Gene") Tunney, in Paris with his wife, announced: "I have no longer the slightest desire to appear in print."

John Gilbert, cinemactor, honeymooning in Paris with his actress-wife, Ina Claire, said: "If I cannot get privacy in France, I will have to grow a beard and wear plus fours" [baggy knickerbockers].

Fortnight ago Capt. Rene Pugnet was appointed to succeed Capt. Yves Thomas as Captain of the French Liner Paris. Last week, as New-Capt. Pugnet was preparing to make his first westward voyage as her Captain, the Paris mysteriously caught fire at her berth at Havre. Rugs were spoiled, handsomely furnished first-class cabins charred, the grand staircase almost demolished. One thousand U. S. tourists were forced to search frantically for other passage. The accident was the Paris's third in the last 18 months.

Edward West ("Daddy") Browning, middle-aged Manhattan realty operator, settled dowry rights in one-third of his (estimated) $2,000,000 estate on his estranged child-wife, Frances Heenan ("Peaches") Browning. Mr. Browning no longer discusses his marital affairs. Last week he entertained an interviewer with an account of his diet and exercises. In his red Rolls-Royce he carries a 20-lb. dumbbell, a finger exerciser. Said he: "I haven't been in a dining room for four years. Cooked food is no fit provender for a healthy animal. Eat grass, that's the stuff, and corn and oats and sometimes fruit. . . . Look at that chest expansion!"

John Peter ("Honus") Wagner, old-time (retired 1917) Pittsburgh National League baseball shortstop, for 21 years a National League player (2,785 games), league-leading batter for seven successive seasons, announced himself a candidate for Sheriff of Pittsburgh.

U. S. Ambassador to Mexico Dwight Whitney Morrow and Mrs. Morrow returned to the U. S. from Mexico City for a "good holiday," planned to spend some time at their Englewood, N. J. estate, some at North Haven, Me.

*Film-man Fox plays golf with but one hand, his right. He was injured in his youth by jagged glass which severely cut his left hand, partially paralyzing it.

*Novelist Johnson has been married five times, most recently in January 1026.