Evening star., 1936-01-05
About Well-KnOWn Folk
In Books, Art, Politics
Solons Discussed Sartorial Elegance-Repre
sentative Rogers Wore Working Clothes
at Brilliant Night Session.
BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.

BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.
To dress or not to dress, that was
the momentous question that seemed
to eclipse everything else, even affairs
OF state, in the minds of the gentle
men I'D on the HILL before the opening
of the second session of the Seventy
fourth Congress, last Friday night
when President Roosevelt delivered
his message on the state of the Union
to one of the most brilliant and inter-
esting audiences Washington has seen
In some years.
1t was not the ladies of the Con-
gress, who were all a-twitter over what
they should wear on such an unusual
and auspicious occasion, but the Staid
statesmen, the Representatives of the
people. makers Of the Nations laws
who we're the Flora MacFlimsey's who
discussed with all seriousness whether
it would be CONNIE il faut to wear
business suits, cutawayS or evening
clothes. Some of them who had at
tended a night session Of the British
Parliament thought it would be Spiffy
to wear tails and white waiStcoatS
but Senator Capper of Kansas, is re-
ported to have said, when asked about
it. II don't know, but, by golly, we're
going to be there"
The Representatives, and the lone
woman member Of the Upper House
announced without a quiver Of the
eyelid, that it was no full dress affair
to them. and Mrs. Edith NourSe Rogers
of aSSachuSettS-whoSe clothes are
always chic and who wears her sport
togs with some distinction. without
hesitating said she would just wear
her working clothes, because she had
to much to do to worry about dress
Senator Hattie Caraway, whose con-
duct in both private and public LIE
has always been guided by good old
fashioned common sense, wore her
usually somber black, relieved only by
white accessories of collar and cuffs
Every one knows that it is red-let-
ter day when the Vice President, Mr.
John Nance Garner, is wheedled into
putting on a Swallow-tail coat and
stiff bosom shirt, and as to the Speak
er of the House. Mr. Joseph wellington
Byrns of Tennessee. he was too rushed
to thing about Sartorial elegance. His
message of hope delivered via radio
last Monday night, had heartening
effect throughout the States regard
less of politics, according to financial,
industrial and general reflex comment
He spoke in 40 conservative. rather
cautious manner, reviewing past legis-
lation and analyZing the WORK
which lies before the present session.
He evidently thinks there will be some
legislation passed for the payment OF
the adjusted compensation certificates,
known as the bonus bill. Quote: 1T
is very certain" the Speaker said,
"that the payment of the bonus bill
will be an issue and more or less
disturbing factor in legislation until
it is paid AS one who has un-
hesitatingly followed the President on
the subject hope it may be possible
to agree upon some bill, which will
at least in a measure reconcile the diff
ferent lines of thought" Cheer up
boys; do your stuff. Your country
needs your help right now at home
Just as they did your magnificent help
during the war.
Mr.. Baruch
Advocates Preparedness.
Mr.. Bernard M. Baruch, chairman
of the War Industries Board during
the World War, has very Illuminating
article, We won't Have to Fight If"
In the current number of the Amer
lean Legion Monthly. The whole
trend of this article and the crux OF
the situation in the present as well
as the past is expressed in the last
paragraph by Mr.. Baruch when he
says: LAS I see it, our duty is plain.
We should think peace, talk peace and
act peace, but If war comes We should
be prepared to fight it, win it and sur
vive it."
How many have experienced life
with father just as Clarence Day did
In his delightful book with that title?
Not an everyday book in its con-
ception, but worked out in such
natural, human way that the reader
Just lives along with father" and
recalls that he, too, has had similar
experiences with his paterfamilias and
that when they were happening they
did not seem so amusing, but, like Mr..
Day, in retrospection they were awfully
funny.
The death Of the author of "Life
With Father" which occurred within
the past two weeks, was most dis
tressing to his intimates who had wit
messed daily his brave struggles with
invalidism and to those thousands of
his readers In this country and abroad
to.whom he had brought so much of
the Joy of life. its lights and its
shadows. Some Of his books he IL
lustrated in whimsical, humorous
way until the ravages of arthritis made
1t impossible. A friend in writing of
his illness gives painful picture
OF his suffering and wonderful cour-
age. He said: He has lost the use
Of most of his muscles and can't even
scratch his ear save with the aid of
little wooden wand that he waves
stifiy. He is not touchy about his
invalidism-he simply never mentions
1t. One dimes at his bedside and de-
parts at the end Of the evening with