The Washington times., 1936-02-13
NOW
Sends Sheaf of
Valentines
HEREABOUTS
BY HELEN ESSARY

Eliminated messages of remem-
hrance-our own Valentines with
cut benefit of protocol-to:
Ambassador Troyanovsky, who
dispenses caviar with magnificent
largess to the bewildered bourgeois
Of Washington.
Jouett Shouse, who sits up
nights thinking of how to keep US
free.
Senator Alben w. Barkley, Of
Kentucky, whose little speeches
to the woman at his side at din
ner are the perfect verbal hors
d'oevreS.
Secretary Corden Hull, who in
Q city where too much is said too
loudly knows the virtues and the
strength Of underStatement,
Madame Saito, who in japanese
costume is a lovely study in fragile
grace.
Senator Arthur Vandenberg, Of
Michigan, the first presidential
candidate in history who has ever
publicly admitted that he is not
On authority on everything from
art to zebraS.
Postmaster General James A.
Farley, the Medici Of the Cabinet,
who proceeds on the basis of "let
me dictate the appointments and
] care not who makes the laws"
Homer s. Cummings, the Attor-
ney General of the United States
who practiseS disappointment be-
fore the Supreme Court.
Senator Gerald P. Nye, Of North
Dakota. who caused the knuckle
rapping that was heard round the
world, when he was moved by in.
spiration to World War exhuma-
tion.
George Allen, District Commits
eioner. who goes native and charm.
ingly unintelligible whenever he
meets another Mississippian.
Representative Patman, of
Texas, who in an age of diSillusion
firmly clings to his belief in the
power of the (printing) press.
Secretary Of the Treasury Nor
genthau, q successful gentleman
farmer, who wears the hair shirt
Of his office meekly.
Representative Florence Kahn,
who preserves her health and a
sense Of humor despite the windy
draughts of words that blow about
her in the House.
Assistant Secretary Of State
Francis B. Sayre, the AdminiStra-
tion's foreign shopper. who swaps
edible dry beans and cash regis
ters for sesame seed, ivory, apes
and peacocks.
Ambassador de Laboulaye; Of
France, whose new embassy re-
fleets the grace and charm Of his
country which Is blessed with the
two essential componentS Of high
civilization: a cuisine and code Of
etiquette.
Senator Hattie Caraway, Of Ar
kansas, who talks not, neither is
she seen.
Senator Millard Tydings, #
Maryland, whom oratory drove to
matrimony.
At the last morning musicale Of
Mrs. Lawrence Townsend, Lotte
Lehman and Emmanuel List, so
prano and baritone of the Metro
politan Opera, gave q program
composed largely Of German mu-
sic, Mr.. List also sang "Old Man
River" from jerome Kern'S SHOW
boat"-a song which seems well
on its way to becoming part Of
American folklore.
The odd thing about "Old Man
River is that it is definitely false
in its psychology. 1t is a white
mans idea of how the simple un-
tutored Negro thinks and feels.
In it q rouStabout on a Mississippi
River boat contrasts the fleeting
existence of man with the in1mor-
tality Of the great stream.
"He just keeps rOllin', he just
keeps rolling along"
The truth is that for the primi-
tive, lusty, life-loving river Negro,
tomorrow simply does not exist.
He lives joyfully and hugely in the
present, and does not concern him.
self about next week or even with
life beyond the grave. The one en-
during certainty of his life is that
he will surely go to heaven when
he dies. It Is only the white man
who is tortured by uncertainties
shout Immortality.
It Is only he whose wellspringS
Of Joy are poisoned at their source
by forebodings Of the morrow.
After all, it was the white man
who invented life insurance and
, old-age pensions, and has deep
dread Of alimony.
When Mr.. List sang two lovely
songs of old Vienna, homesick-
ness moved across the sensitive
face of Mr.. Prochnik, the Minister
Of Austria. Whatever fortunes
vienna may suffer, to whatever
ends it may be brought by the
insanities Of wars, it remains for.
ever enshrined in the minds Of
men, as the home of impossible
gallantries and deathless loves.
Wistfully hopeful, irrepressibly
gay, dreaming by its river, talking
Ia its coffee houses, skiing in the
Semmering on Sundays, listening