The Washington times., 1937-01-07
NOW
The President
In Action
SPIRIT HIGH
BY HELEN ESSARY

BY HELEN ESSARY
AS President Roosevelt delivered
his charge to Congress yesterday
afternoon, he reminded me of a
spirited horse that had taken the
last bars into a safe and familiar
pasture.
If, within the enclosure domi-
mated by this Roosevelt thorough
bred, there were hurdles-well he
was prepared to take them, water
jumps and all, at a gallop.
Besides, there was no run
ners-up anywhere to give
thought to-. He was so far ahead
Of the field that the second horse
wasn't likely to get across the line
until the next race was called.
Meanwhile, he'd do bit of
grazing and kick up his heels at
his trainers as they came along.
If rivals were by some wild
chance to appear inside the RooSe.
velt fence-there was the highest
stepping, fastest moving Chief
Executive this country has ever
known tossing his head defiantly
as he mentioned the Supreme
Court checkrein-let them come
into his territory if they dared
He'd outdistance them all, if it
suited him.
But the tone and manner Of
Mr.. Roosevelt's delivery was far
calmer than his characteristic
fighting style of the days before
last November 3.
He was at ease, sure Of himself.
So positive that most of the West
ern Hemisphere, Latin America
included, was his, that he thought
it unnecessary to raise his voice
above conversational pitch.
And to return to my Simle-the
pastures round about were very,
very green, and his to ride.
Washington is tickle town.
It protests that it grows tired OF
change. But this isn't true.
Washington is soon bored with
the same old faces and welcomes
with mountains of calling cards
and nd-delivered invitations the
newcomers of exciting reputation.
The restless town sees little
prospect of changes in the Cabl-
net. But to the Navy Department
has come a new Assistant Secre-
tary with an electrifying name
Charles S, Edison.
I met the new Secretary'S wife
at one of Mrs. Claude A. Swan
sons agreeable parties, and I
prophesy that Washington IS 60
ing to be delighted with her.
Mrs. Edison is good-looking,
with soft brown hair and very
fair skin. She wears S m a r t
clothes, is completely unaffected
and feminine and very friendly.
And best of all, she doesn't regard
herself as a person Of fearful i'm
portance.
Mrs. Edison protests that her
husband is not an inventor. Boats
are his passion. Her husbands
brother, Theodore, inheritS the
taste of his late father, Thomas
Alva Edison. He lives quietly,
goes out little and spends much
time in his, workshop.
Mrs. Edison has some delight
full memories of her father-in-law,
whom she calls Father" Father, !"
she said, often stayed with her
and her husband when his wife
was away.
He was a delightful guest except
that he believed sleep was prac-
tically unnecessary. Often Mrs.
Edison was awakened at 4 or S
a. m. to find the light burning
in the downstairs library. There
sat Father reading happily. She
would say: 49,.
"Father, you must go to bed!"
He would answer: .
"Shhhh, let me have little
fun. Mons away"
The next morning at breakfast
the household would find Father
still reading.
The Assistant Secretary and
Mrs. Edison are staying at the
Hay-AdamS House and are look
ing about meanwhile for house.
In the diplomatic group are
some refreshing new personalities.
Lady Marler, wife of the Minister