The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-04-14
Mrs. Douglas Bolsters Supreme
 Court ''Liberal'' Bloc Qn Wives
InfOrnality
 Keynote of Newcomers
By GERRY DICK


 NEA Service Stan Correspondent
 Washington = Since rejuvenation of the mine old men" by means of youngblood transfusion, it is only right to revisce ones idea of Su- preme Court wives to fit small slender, very much-alive young wo- man of 30-odd who likes set of bad- hinton or tennis, a swim, or a brisk walk every day.
 She is Mrs. William O. Douglas, whose husband, 40, is on his way to confirmation as the newest asso- ciate justice, one of the youngest ever to hold the august position.
 Mrs. Douglas, whose taffy-blond hair is cut in long bob, has an avid enthusiasm for new interests. She looks oddly young to be help ing her 9-year-old daughter Mildred with Latin lesson, and is quite at home teaching 6-year-old "Bub" to ride bicycle or sitting down with him to 8 game of Chinese checkers.
 TEA TABLE
 GOING OUT
 Only yesterday the popular idea of a Supreme Court wife was a grandmotherly woman, presiding over a tea table with scarcely less dignity than her husband was show ing on the bench-a woman shelter ed from the world except when em- erging for occasional state dinners.
 The wives of Chief Justice Hugh eS, and of Justices Butler, Stone, and Roberts have always operated along this line. They are "at home" on Monday afternoons to invited guests only, and not even the bold- est crasher would dare to intrude.
 But recent New Deal appoint ments have changed this picture. At least, two new Supreme Court wives have brought to their position the traditional hospitality and charm of the south. And Mrs. Douglas epitomizes the informal and genuine friendliness of which the west is famous.
 Her feet tucked under her in an oversize armchair, her direct blue eye appraising her questioner, she shows her intelligent interest in politics and economics. She has been very close to her husbands career since they were married while he was a student at Columbia and she was teaching high school Latin.
 MRS. REED, HISTORIAN; MRS. BLACK, GOLFER
 Mrs. Stanley Reed, wife of the most recent court appointee before Douglas, is tall, slender, and has very black hair and brown eyes. She dresses smartly in 8 way that dramatizes dignity, always present. ing a distinctly handsome appear ance.
 Her hobby is research in colonial history. The French government once decorated her for her work in tracking down records of French volunteers in the American Revolu- tionary War. She is direct descen- dant of two of the original IS owners of the District of Columbia.
 Mrs. Reed likes to ride, and is an enthusiastic golfer. Neither her distinguished ancestry nor the dig nifty of her position, however, pre- vent her from enjoying people as people.
 Mrs. Hugo Black is one of the real beauties of official Washingon. She has prematurely white hair and brown eyes. Utterly feminine, she nevertheless takes pride in her golf, and plays 18 holes with her hus- band every morning after break fast.
 Often she goes out for another round in the afternoon. She drives her two children to and from school, and spends most of her time with them when they are free.
 Mrs. Frankfurter has the poise of the true intellectual; her high brow and her disposition are equally smooth. Her white hair is carefully groomed in short bob.
 She dresses simply, and has the reserve of a native New Englander and Phi Beta Kappa from Smith. A gracious. distinguished . looking woman, she is most pleased with intellectually stimulating company.