Evening star., 1940-04-19

amuse-before a sound translation
is achieved. None too kindly, 1t Is
the custom Of the casual caller at
the Laughtons to translate the item
as horse meat pie. Hot mince pie is
usually the second thought, not un-
reasonable until it is pointed out
that the dish represents the entree,
not the dessert. Eventually the dish
SINNERS down to hot meat pie, but
not before it has provided q healthy
workout for the Imagination, espe-
cially that Of males.
"Katap fruit" is an entry in the
book that you might not guess
between here and the Bronx. What
ever that meant to Alice and
Martin, it is likely to mean precisely
nothing to the would-be translator
of the Laughton daybook. Especially
Is that true Of the Fastener whose
experience with the new and exotic
vegetables and fruits Of this strange
Paradise is part of his general be-
wilderment.
A few inches this side of madness
on the part of the baffled analyst
of Alice's handwriting and spelling,
the Laughtons identify "katap fruit"
as fruit salad, dish composed Of
cut up fruit. Had you guessed it?)
There Is more than mystery in
the writings of Alice and Martin.
It Is not quite certain what the
more" represents. In the case of
"painapple," it might mean wishful
thinking, a criticism Of American
taste in fruits, or just bad spelling.
1t is less satisfying to accept the
latter as the explanation, but only
the sturdiest characters are able to
resist the temptation. The evidence
that it Is just that is supported by
string beans in the guise of "strin
peanes," strawberry mousse as
"strawber mouse" and q dozen
others just as phonetic. Phonetic,
we said.
Whatever they failed to absorb of
American, or English spelling, Alice
and Martin did manage to capture
something of the spirit of true
democracy in listing the guests who
dined on the hasse NIT pie, katap
fruit, and other confusing dishes.
Instead of asking the names of
the guests, they chose to keep an
alert ear on the conversation while
serving the meal. In climate not
too debilitating to justify address,
Ing guest as Mr.. Smith or Mrs.
Smith, a family name and its logi-
cal prefix, it might have been a
good system. In other words, the
Laughtons might have emerged
from the reign Of Alice and Mar
tin with record Of who ate what |
and when. But Hollywood's CHI
mate is opposed to such formality.
Guests are called by their first
names. That is the way they ap-
pear. for the most part, in the
day book.
Tommy is there as Tommy. And
Frank as Frank Neither of those
is difficult to identify, being part
Of the regular entourage. But who
and girl" was, after Ralph's name.
they will never know without ask
Ing Ralph. Nor who were Mr.. and
Mrs. Blur, an obvious attack of
which might, bv the
nerest accident, imply an estimate
of the guests condition. Might,
you know!
But who was "Mr Camera?" And
who all those others?
In time the Laughtons will re-
member.
Alice and Martin, hasse NIT pie.
katap fruit, ETC., are not the only
aspects OF the servant problem one
an learn about if one gets far
enough behind the scenes in Holly
wood.
- One discovers, too, that the local
whites are indisposed toward domes-
ic service. Whatever 1t Is, the full
lowering Of the democratic spirit in
Iotusland, the universal inclination
% take life easy, or some more OBJ
;cure reason, the field is left open to
esldents Of the colored or foreign
colonies. Even members of these
groups are afflicted with a chronic
which takes them from
OBJ to job in an almost unbroken
inc.
Employers refuse to look upon
themselves as unfair to domestic
abor even though they have as
many as four changes of kitchen
taf1s IN year. Correlatively, they
10 not look upon domestic labor as
lnfair to them. Rather the whole
Is accepted philosophi-
ally by the parties of both parts.
To every one concerned, and to the
who Is not concerned, the
condition Is explained by the phrase
which explains everything out here:
That's HOLLYWOOD"