The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1937-06-29
NOW
'Alger Hero
In Real Life
CAMP DAYS
BY HELEN ESSARY


had a sit-down striker in her own
home. She still has him.
A season or two ago in Damaris-
Gotta, Maine, Nine. Perkins needed
an extra man to help around the
garden of her summer place. She
called in the father of a large
and needy family. The man
worked well and long.
So long that the next spring,
when Miss Perkins moved back to
Maine, the extra helper had set
tied himself unlimited into her
Toulouse and general all-around
storeroom. His large family was
with him.
He told Miss Perkins he saw no
reason why he or they should
leave. Nor have they. Fortunately
the uninviteds have worked more
than they have sat down. '..
DR.. James E. West, chief Scout
executive of the Boy Scouts Of
America, is Horatio Alger hero.
He was raised in a founding
home in Washington. AS a child
he was terribly anxious to be a
big man. When he grew up, he
told himself, and had a fine job.
he would help other boys who
needed boost.
He has done just that. He has
worked brilliantly with the Boy
Scouts since he was old enough
to look after himself.
I always enjoy tales about the
late Vice President Marshall.
Mark Thistleth W ate, now
Washington correspondent of the
Indianapolis News, who was Sec
rotary to Mr.. Marshall, remem-
bers once when he and his chief
and his chiefs wife were travel
ing from New York to Buffalo,
he inadvertently started con-
troversy by showing Mrs. Mar
shall q newspaper article that
referred to her husband as "the
last of the tobacco-chewin' states
men,"
Mrs. Marshall promptly made
the v. P. promise that he would
never chew any more. But the
v. P. cheated a little. He would
hide his plug in an envelope IN
his coat pocket.
One night Mrs. Marshall
dreamed that he had 1t so
hidden. Waking, she went to his
clothes hanging on q chair.
Found the plug just where she
had dreamed it was. Well, after
that, the v. P. really did quit.
The noble halls Of Congress
once had it's snuff takers. Now
the last of these sensitive fellows
has passed from the Washington
political landscape. But the two
wooden Snuff-boxeS, one on each
side of the Vice Presidents dals'
in the Senate, are relig1ously
kept filled. This custom began
in the early days Of the republic.
An occasional employe is the
only present day snuff-taker. .
Senator Lee S. Overman, OF
North Carolina, was the final
senatorial snuff-pincher.
Tomorrow marks the end Of that
period known in so per cent OF our
American homes as Get-Tne-Oear-
Chjld-Ready-For -Camp-Week.
A season Of confusion ana
anguish, it is the result OF our ma
fional desire to do the best we can
for our young them fresh ar
strong, extra-territorial discipline
a chance to learn to ride, swim.
eat the proper food, make beds. go
to bed early and come when called,
PLUS a desire to get the dear little
things to get out OF the house as
soon as possible after Scnooi
closes,
For weeks now the mothers I
know have been saying to each
other:
ooh no, darling, couldn't pos
sibIy 90 to lunch" and Thanks
awfully but I can't make q fourth
at bridge. Just wait until I get
the children off to camp. You
know what sewing name-tapeS on
is"
Name-tapes, am convinced, are
the curse of motherhood. They are
much worse than warming up ooC-
ties for the 2 a. m. feeding, or
straining spinach, or even getting
ready for the dancing-class!
You sew and you sew and you
sew Name-tapes and more name
tapes. Your forehead is tied in a
knot. Your fingers are full OF CORY
holes. And there are still IT
socks, 4 boomers, 2 pillow-caseS, 3
wash.cloths, and a heavy bathrobe
untaped.
OF course you can get sewing
woman in to help you. We always
do. But it doesn't help, not with
us. Other people in the family say:
ooh is Ida here? I want her to
shorten some of my skirts. They
are positively dowdy."
And How about a button or two
on d shirt this summer"
And: 1.-THE kitchen curtains are
long. Do you S'poSe they could get
fixed today?".
Sometimes, if the camper Is a
girl, you can get her to sew on
tapes herself. But that means she
must have two or three friends in
to assist. And the friends stay to
lunch and Annie the cook says:
'Tndeed I haven't got enough
bread for lunch for all them chill