The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1941-12-12

Eleanor Roosevelt
DINNER WITH PRESIDENT

Eleanor Roosevelt
DINNER WITH PRESIDENT
We had a very pleasant dinner
party one night, consisting of my
husband and myself He ate milk
toast and ! ate one poached egg,
which was good for our figures and
permitted much conversation, since
neither of us had to pay attention
to our food.
I spent the evening wrapping
Christmas presents and was joined
by one Of my friends, who arrived
from the train. She remarked that
she had not found me in such a
carefree mood for a long time.
There was no mail in sight and no
interviews scheduled, just deluge
of Christmas wrapping paper, rib
bons and cards.
PRIORITY PROBLEM
One noon, I met a very charming
young woman who, with her sister,
has taken over her late husbands
business, the making of wire screen
ing. Priorities affect this industry,
especially where they use copper.
1t is not very large industry and
the amount of materials needed in
it are not very great, but Mrs. John
Ralston is here not only in the inter-
ests of her own plant or the indus
try, but because of the danger she
feels shortage of screen wire will
mean to the health of the nation.
She points out that screens are
of vital importance in our camps,
and in all our defense industry
buildings. Without them, we lay
ourselves open to epidemics of all
kinds which are spread by flies and
mosquitoes.
HEALTH GROUP
Talking of health, most inter
esting health cooperative came to
my attention the other day. It is
called the New York Volunteer
Health cooperative. You have a
certain freedom in the choice of doc
tors. You pay $18 year without
disqualification. You cannot belong
if you earn more than $4,000 year
while single, or $4,000 a year when
married. There are already over
1000 members.
There is much I should like to
find out about this organization. For
instance, just what are the services
rendered if disqualification is not in
cluded? suppose if there is only
limited choice of doctors, there
will be the same complaint about
the doctor-patient relationship. Peo-
pie in this salary range do need
more access to good and inexpen-
sive medical care.
FULL SCHEDULE
Here was my schedule ON one
busy day:
Beginning with meeting in the
morning at nine o'clock at the Of
flee of civilian defense, I had no
free minutes until I was back at
the White House at 1915 to meet
and be photographed with Miss
Margaret HANNA, the worlds
champion typist. Then went to the
Women's National Press club lunch
con.
In spite of my membership in this
club, / rarely manage to get there
for lunch. Tuesdays come and go
and there always seems to be some
thing desperately necessary to be
done at home.
At 2:30 I went to the sale for
United China relief, received group
of 10 people at the White House a
little after three, and made four
o'clock plane for New York city.
This was followed by a speech
that night at Hunter college.
WAR NEWS
I find it increasingly difficult to
feel either elated or depressed by
the news which comes to us from
the actual theaters of war. When /
read one dispatch, the Nazis claim
continuing victories. When ] read
another, the other side has moved
forward without any setbacks. /
now just pray that I can believe the
things which / want to believe, and
try to forget the rest.
MUSIC AND DEFENSE
One morning there came to my Of
fee in Civilian Defense headquar-
tiers, three women representing the
National Federation of Music Clubs.
They told me of the work they are
doing for defense, and what they
have accomplished is really astound-
ing. Through their state and ma
tional organizations, they have al
ready given monographs to every
camp. They provide records and
their members volunteer to teach
choral singing, to play for entertain-
ments and to give concerts in vari-
Gus camps and nearby places where
the boys congregate on leave.
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