Evening star., 1940-02-28
Press Group
Hears Talk
BY ySinger
Miss Macdonald
Guest of Women
At Luncheon
By GRETCHEN SMITH.

Declaring she was as "embar-
rassed and fused as a June bride"
at the prospect Of making a speech,
jeanette Macdonald, titian-haired
songstress Of stage and screen, nev-
ertheless provevd herself highly en-
tertaining as public speaker at the
Women's National Press Club
luncheon yesterday at the Willard
Hotel. Pretty as a picture" in a
russell bolero costume, with small
feather trimmed hat to match, she
also answered a multitude of uues-
tions Of particular interest to her
feminine audience.
Relating an amusing anecdote
which she declared was a favor
ite of her husband. Gene Raymond,
Miss Macdonald broke the ice of
formality by adding, after being
married a couple of years you get
to know your husbands stories"
Encouraged by the friendliness
and human personality of their
guest, the newspaperwomen started
a multi-voiced interview, asking
the why's" "hows" and whats
on a variety of phases of Holly
wood and the life of the actress.
Hollywood" Miss Macdonald
believes. "is no more Communistic
than any other part of the coun-
try" In any group of people, she
added. "one will always find a few
radicals-a few belligerents.
Sang in Sunday School
At Tender Age Of 3.
In answer to thousands Of queries,
Miss Macdonald wrote her book
let, mo Royal Road to Song" she
explained.
Thousands Of boys and girls
wrote asking how they might win
success" she said. There are
lot of youngsters who think that by
learning a few songs and being
pretty they should go straight
ahead. I believe in encouraging
ambitious young people, but only
if they are willing to work. So to
save my secretary, Miss Robb, from
having to answer so many letters,
! wrote No Royal Road to Song"
Sunday school in Philadelphia at
the age of was the scene of Miss
MacDonald's first public singing,
she said. Il am told" she remarked,
that I sang the GLORY Song and
that at the conclusion I applauded
myself loudly"
Those who had hoped for an easy
or sure answer to the weight prob
lem" did not benefit greatly by
Miss MacDonald's confession that
she had been obliged to take cod
liver oil and retired to a milk farm
at certain periods of her career,
because Mr.. Lubitsch, the film
producer, had declared she was "too
thin to be glamorous."
Strenuous Exercise
Excluded From Program.
II eat what I wish on all days
but the days I sing" Miss Mac
Donald said. Those are my fast
days, when I may only have one
meal. I am allowed steak broiled
without sauce and green vegetable.
I get very tired of steak"
Miss Macdonald also said that
strenuous exercise was not part of
her program. II do lot Of walking"
she said, land Gene and I ride horse
back together, but one does not
have much time for exercise when
working on a Hollywood SET"
Asked whether she were a Re-
publican or a Democrat. Miss Mac
Donald replied tactfully. "A few
minutes ago I was called diplo-
matt should like to live up to the
reputation"
Among guests attending the
luncheon were Charles Wagner,
Miss MacDonald's manager; Miss
Robb, Miss MacDonald's secretary;
Mrs. T. @. Donaldson, Mrs. Florence
Kerr, assistant commissioner of tho
Work Projects Administration; Mrs.
John Kee, Mrs. Frank w. Buck,
Mrs. Sol Bloom, Mrs. Lansdale G.
Sasscer, Mrs. William D. Byron and
Mrs. Ruth Faison Shay.
Miss Macdonald and other guests
were introduced by Ruby Black,
club president.