The Washington times., 1937-06-11
NOW
Mrs. Robbins
Writes Book
SILLY STORIES
BY HELEN EssARY

Anu A4OW INV 80 4A94s oAAASsA
Washington woman is writing q
book of "reminiscences. The stun
ming Mrs. Warren Delano Rob
bins, whose late husband, cousin
Of President Roosevelt, was U. S.
minister to Canada-the Mrs.
Robbins Of the helitrope hair is
telling in print the story Of her
years as the wife Of diplomat.
A gay and revealing book this
will be. Mrs: Robbins has literally
lived all over the world. ,
In the % years of her married
life, as her husband was sent to
various diplomatic posts, she
moved % times. Packed up the
furniture and the babies and set
up housekeeping in Guatemala,
Cuba, Berlin, Rome, Buenos Aires,
the Republic Of Salvador, Wash
ing and various intermediate
stops. -...-....
In all these places she has given
parties, met new people charm
ingly, trained new servants "a
versatile cook once stuffed a roast
turkey with newspapers and
meanwhile raised three children.
Mrs. Robbins is really one Of
the most engaging personalities IN
Washington. She was born Irene
de Bruyn in Buenos Aires, and
has a shadow of a Latin accent
in her entertaining English con-
versation. She is lovely to look
at and dresses charmingly.
Her present job is a commits
sion from the State Department
to- furnish the U. s. Embassies
and Legations abroad as they
should be furnished and almost
never are. In this role she will
probably travel to several more
countries, return to others she
has seen before and have thou
sand fresh experiences for a sec.
ond edition Of her memoirs.
I have two silly stories to flavor
your late afternoon Tom Collenses
or tighten your orange juice, for
that matter.
Both tales turn to the past. But
have a nice moral for the present.
One happened in Washington dur.
ing the World War when the town
was boiling with fermented propa-
ganda and was entertaining visit
ing foreigners of high rank who
wanted to borrow q, few million,
please, for their own big guns and
ammunition.
&. certain woman (you have
heard Of her often) gave her new
butler, Fernando, the menu for
Q not CELEBRATE party dinner.
~ Instead 0f the economical war
menu she had ordered. she was
astonished to be served that night
with luxurious food and vintage
wines. Later she spoke to Fer.
nando briskly: ,v II
'HOw do you explain tl11t +
dinner? Even if we Wertn't
forced to be economical it would
be extremely bad taste at this
time to be 50 extravagant."
'But II wasn't extravagant.
Not for you, Madame. You see
before this work for Mr.. LaFz
Anderson. So / go to the shops
that he use and say Give me.
thees and give me that They
think Madame that 1 buy for
Mr.. Anderson. I tell you truly,
Madame, the dinner was no
trouble and most economical. I
charge it to the reech Mr.. An
dersOn."
The second absurd story for the
high temperature days ahead
proves the uncertainties Of fame,
. theory well understood in the
Capital.
Once Mrs. Dwight Morrow was
, introduced by her. Washington
hostess to a visitor from the great
open spaces. Later the visitor
asked:
''What is her name? Who is
she?"
"Her husband used to be U.
8. Ambassador to Mexico"
''Never heard of him." was
the answer.
"He was also Senator from
New Jersey" "a
'It's all right with me-"
Gas q matter of fact she Is
Lindbergh's mOtherin-law."
"Oh my dear! How thrilling!
why didn't you say SO in the
first placer"
A great human document is yet
to be written on what to wear
when you go to the hairdresSer's."
Millions of women go to the hair.
!. irassar'e. hTncA a unaak Millions