The Washington times., 1937-02-13

print this
amazing biogra-
ply reading like
the legend Of
Cinderella"
N a tura lily, I'D
Mrs. Roosevelt
being the extra
ordinary, intel
roent woman Mrs. Roosevelt
she is, and the successful com
bination of simplicity and effec
tiveness, the tale will be interest
ing reading.
But what I want to know is
When-oh, when-has she had
time to write book?
I've been brooding over this
problem since I read the an.
nouncement of the serials publica.
ton.
One of Mrs. Roosevelt's days is
buster than a year in the life OF
an average and indolent woman.
Hundreds, literally hundreds of
exacting duties and interests jam
her calendar.
Trips by airplane, by automo.
bile, in mine buckets; state and
informal entertaining with thou
sands to feed and smile at and
shake by the hand; children,
grandchildren, m t h er- in-law;
press conferences; a fearful cor
respondence to anSWer-and an
Swer she does, promptly; the job
of running the most important
house in the United States; a
daily newspaper column to do
it takes me hours to finish mine
speeches to make, meetings to
preside at; a husband with a
few little chores of his own who
likes a cheerful word and a bit
of looking after-theSe are few
of her activities.
When, I ask again, has this
incredible woman found time to
write a book?
Maybe she sits up in bed about
3 in the morning when the White
House is quiet and jots down III
tie notes.
Maybe she writes as she rides
In taxis-She uses them often
they're so much less trouble than
q White House car and an escort.
Or maybe she thinks out her
sentences 'hile she's eating break
fast or saying her prayers.
Famous remarks of famous
people:
come clean, come clean, Pug.
meyer!" shouted Senator La Fol
lette to the Pinkerton detective
reluctantly testifying to spying on
labor union workers. Pugmeyer
is THE perfect name for a de-
tee e-tifO
"What don't like about writ
ing" said Alice Longworth, politi'
cal commentator and wit, sis that
when you write you simply have
to finish a sentence and when
you talk you-"
The long cigarette holder is
the lorgnette of the public man.
In the skillful hands of a Dis
tinguiShed Citizen holding press
conference it is more nonchalant
than Spats or a cane Slung over
the arm.
It has an air of "I have the
world by the tail" It's something
to do with the hands-it keeps a
man from biting the nails or
doubling up his fists when the
questions come too fast.
Mr.. Roosevelt's cigarette holder
is part of the revamping of a
continent.
Secretary of the 1nterior-Public
Works Administrator Ickes also
know how to use a cigarette
holder as stage setting at press
conferences.
Correspondents flock to his con
ferences even when they know
II1GTS II DG I1O DAS A4C"o VA
They want to be entertained by
Mr.. Ickes' retorts courteous anc
Squelching.
Somebody in one of the front
row chairs, placed facing the sec
retarial desk for the press lnqulSl
ton, asked Mr.. ICkes the other day
if he was having any trouble with
the Fine Arts Commission about
the selection of draperieS for III!
suite of offices in the new interior
Building.
Mr.. Roosevelt wanted red hang
ings for the East Room Of the
White House and the Commission
was saying a firm no"
I'm too far down the line fol
the Fine Arts Commission tt
bother with" answered Mr.. IcEes
fitting a new cigarette into a six
inch holder. Anyhow, I've made
up my mind. the draperies in m!
office are going to be blue"