The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1934-09-26


Deal. Helen Essary
at most anybody's house you
are likely to see half a dozen
eager faces you don't know
about. Frequently, you don't
care particularly if you don't
ever know. But then again,
you do. And even if you don't,
1t is well to know why you don't
.(you know what I meanO
Sometimes your hostess in
PRODUCES you to the strange
people. Often she doesn't know
them herself. Somebody just
brought them along. Or she
may be the sort of hostess who
doesn't think it is smart to in
troduce guests under the same
roof. She feels, as do the Eng
lish, that the Right People
naturally know the RICH t
People. If they don't, it's their
bad luck. So why worry?
However, if you still have the
strength to be curious, life be-
ing what it is, you can't go
about kissing into familiar ears,
"Who is that woman on your
right, with the long face and
the hennaed hair and the
wrong earrings" Or, do you
know that squatty man with
the bushy eyebrows? There,
my dear, just behind you. No,
don't LOOKOUT who is he?"
It takes time to ask questions
like that. Besides, somebody
might overhear you.
I have a cure for this predica-
ment.
Every person about to step
into society-official, residen-
tial, or the best available at the
moment-should wear badge
bearing his or her neatly printed
name, Like those badges adorn-
ing the chests of the clerks in
the chain drug stores. The
names must be done in bold
type-with no rosebud, trimming
or nonsense like that. The
badges must be worn 50 tho
can easily be seen by people
whose spectacles are unbecom-
ing or who have mislaid their
1orgnettes.
AS a tribute to the new state
Of American society and gov
eminent, each name plate should
contain the initials of the gov
eminent affiliation of its owner
and the name of his home
town. For instance-W. Everett
Simpkins, Wamsutt, Idaho, and
below, Hole. Vergil Prettyman,
New Haven, FERA. E. Asbury
Lyon, Chicago, PWA. Edith
L. Withers, Nashville, iva. Or
even-Vladimir Iwosky, Mos
COW, third Sec, U.S.S.R.
The sisters and cousins and
aunts or the husbands (if the
gender of the leading character
is feminine) should have badges
in pale gray, signifying the
whipped-down attitude of the
celebrity's family. The "exes,"
those shadowy creatures who
were somebody important dur.
ing somebody's administration,
should wear pale green badges.
I have barely touched on the
idea. It could be worked out
magnificently in colors. Dull
black for Old Residents. Bright
red for Left Wingers. Dark
blue for Conservatives. A per.
son who knew her name badge
color-card could place" easily
any stranger and talk to him in
o way that would make his
world temporarily a brighter
and better place.
The people without badges
would naturally be Republicans
and Of no present Importance.
You seldom see them around
town now.
Ivor Brown, essayist, play
wright and the best dramatic
critic in England, is coming to
the United States shortly to see
what sort of people we are.
Several years ago in London
I knew him and his clever wife,
who was then managing one of
Lena AShwell's repertoire com.
panies. The Ivor Browns were
hoping then to cross the At
lantiC and were keen about
Americans. They entertained
almost every visiting American
with any flair for art or letters
at one Of their famous parties.
1von Brown not only writes
with imagination, nice choice of
words and fine craftsmanship,
but he has the courage to say
what he thinks. Unlike most
English critics who have a
stabilized form of criticism, he
is both distinguished and dis
tinguiShing. Ivor is on the
staff of the Manchester Guar
dian, writes for the New States
man and other publications,
and every so often publishes an
engaging little volume of essays.
His reflections on the Amer
lean drama, that which has not
already travelled to London, will
be enlivening.
Phyllis says ones own criti-
HlSInS of nther nennla ore ALWAYS