Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18

Smacks Of
Bond Street
EngIis hmen InfiIfrafse
Capital on Missions
BY EDWIN C. HILL


WE RISK at least one bold
" and definite prediction
about what will happen after
this war. Capitalism may crum.
bic. free enterprise may pass
with the SHOWS of yesteryear.
the chains of some new abso-
lutiSm may bind us. but the
British accent will prevail in
Washington
With the gentle infltration Of
thousands of Englishmen. here
with the British purchasing
agencies, the intelligence serv-
ice, the shipping, food and eco
nomlc missions. Washington is
feeling Oxonion almost her.
aldrlc and you begin 10 note
new ellsionS of speech, more
peat-bog tweed Jackets and
lounging suits. more English
pipes and a decidedly smarter
touch of Bond street in formal
dress.
Paul Revere would call off the
ride They're already here.
They have entire floors at the
Raleigh and Willard hotels.
| AN PERMITTED 10 relate
L here an incident involving The
experience OF certain New
York lady Of some social dis
tinction. with Sir John Whoozis,
of the flower of British chivalry.
This lady arriving in Washing
ton telcphoned to the house OF
Mrs. Blank, her intimate friend &
An uppCr-cruSt British VOICE
answered. Mrs. Blank is no
longer here
II am sorry To have troubled
you." said the New York lady,
hui I am extremely anxious To
get in touch with Mrs. Blank.
Could you tell me where I
might reach her."
II quite distinctly said that
Mrs Blank il not here" replied
the voice You NAV reach her
by communicating with her sec
retarN."
The Now York lady told her
Washington hostess about the
conversation.
Sn0Utd haVP tnfd you That
Sir John NhOOIiS. who has
something 10 do with ships. has
taken Mary Blanks house" SAID
the latter 1t was unquestion-
ably Sir Nh0ozis who answered
the phone"
I'VE New York lady had
miSchieVous idea She vas
sure II vas SIR WhooziS who had
answered. because she had lived
IN England for many years and
know all tie subtle class dis
tinctlonS of British speech But
>ho couldu resist suhlectlng
SIR WhooIls 10 bit of gentle
rlhbing She wrote hin, a let
tor She didn't keep a carbon
OF u bat rs She repeated II to
me u was about as follows.
MY dear Sir John:
II am one Of those who he
lieNes and ferNentlN prays that
there will always be an Eng
land, and I am doing what
can to make sure of this. All
my spare time. money and
effort are now going To British
relief am writing this nste to
suggest that YOU give US moro
helpful cooperation, particularly
in tutoring Your servants in tad
and courtesy in their contact
With Americans.
II mistakenly telephoned your
house. Supposlng my friend was
still there am sure II was YOUR
servant who answered, because
the voice was Enthusiastically
that of a mental. He was singu-
larry and persistently insulting
and discouTteous. ! know YOU
are here to further goodwill and
fU-blfffhtihH UtANtFU NOuT fOun-
try and ours, and we. on our
part, are quite as eager TO bring
this about
Fortunately, I knew II was a
servant who answered the phone,
and ! am person of no impor-
lance, ~ far - your missions IL
concerned. But ii some one Of
importance does call YOU, and
he is 50 wantonly insulted. there
will be an alienation which
know YOU would wish TO avoid"
TIVE lady signed her correct
Il name and address to the lot
ter Two evenings later, She
mot Sir John at a party lie
came clean SAID II was he who
answered the telephone. apollo
C1zcd proiuSely and explained
that he had spoken thought
leSsly with the traditional Brit
ish aloofnesS with regard to
strangers
f.,,,,,. RIGHT 1osf Kfng rsatu-es svnd To-,