The Washington times., 1932-11-24


I watched him as he danced
last night. For a middle-aged
man his antics we're amazing.
I mentioned the fact to my
companion.
THAT man must have an
income from a wealthy family"
I said. Probably lives for
nothing but pleasure. What a
fool he isl"
Playing Hooky
at so happens" he replied.
"that he is one Of the braini-
est men in Italy. His position
in 'i;ie government is very close
to the top. He is cold and
hard - and sometimes very
cruel. AS soon as we reach
italy his smile will disappear.
He is on his vacation now
and his idea of a vacation Is
to act like a schoolboy."
We never know. ..
2.-The barber. He finds 1t
very difficult to understand
American customs. AS soon as
the boat sailed, I made ar
rangements with him to shave
me every night at 6:15. The
first night, at that set hour,
there were two men ahead Of
me. The second night there
were three. He had told them
nothing about my appointment
and I grew peeved.
Look here, Joe," I cried,
when I made an appointment
for 6:15, don't mean eight
O'Clock. Why don't you keep
your appointments"
He shrugged his shoulders
helplessly.
"How can ~" he returned.
Look at all the men who
came in ahead of you'll"
3-The opera star, Madam j.,
let us say. The night before
last she consented to sing for
the passengers. She Is about
40-or perhaps a year or two
more. She sang beautifully.
The applause was polite. When
she finished, she returned to
her table and sat down. Her
escort kissed her hand. He
seemed bored. So did she
Last night, few. Of the boys
found q young girl among the
second-claSS passengers. She,
too, could sing. The purser
gave his permission and the
girl was brought up to sing for
the first-class passengers.
Another Singer
Her name was Maria, and
that is the way she was intro
duced. Maria could not sing
nearly so well as Madame J.
On the high notes, her voice
cracked just a little. The years
OF training were lacking in this
girl. .........
But she was beautiful. About
seventeen, her eyes were soft
and large. She used no make.
up whatsoever. Her smile was
the laugh Of youth. She was
perfectly at ease in her $40
gown. When she smiled, you
smiled, too. Unconsciously.
When she was finished, the
applause was tremendous. Not
Tor the voice-but for the child
herself. At least seven men
1eaped to their feet to guide
Maria back to her table. Among
the seven was Madame J.'s es-
cort. He was no longer bored.
Madame j. went to bed. =.
4.-Mr. P. An American mil
honaire. I was looking for
someone to play backgammon
with me. Mr.. P. was one of
the few people on the boat who
understood the game. It was
only natural that we should sit
down to play together.
! wanted to play for small
Stakes-or for nothing. But
Mr. P. wanted to play for a
dollar a point. told him I
was nothing but a columnist.
But the millionaire insisted. SO
we played for the dollar a
point.
Mr.. P. plays what is known
as the gloating game. Every
time he fell into a good move
he told me he had learned the
game in the Racquet Club-and
that nobody had ever been
known to beat a member Of that
club. Not to be outdone, I told
him I had learned the game
while sitting on the social reg
lister. Mr.. P. didn't get the
point.
At the end Of the first session
the millionaire had won $124. I