Evening star., 1941-05-25

already published a pamphlet IN 1914
entitled Our First Frigates. Some In
published Facts About Their Construc-
ton"
DR.. Endicott Peabody, the venerable
headmaster of Groton, tells how he
visited his "old boy Franklin shortly
after paralysis had confined his former
student to wheel chair. The scene oc-
CURED in the Hyde Park library. The
schoolmaSter began to commiserate with
Mr.. Roosevelt, who replied with hearty
laugh:
See all these books around here"
He waved his arms to the high, we'll
stocked shelves.
I've never had the time to read them,
and now intend to Go it."
Friends Amazed.
The Presidents intimates are fire.
quently amazed at his specialized knowl-
edge. Besides stamps and American
naval history, he is an expert on
Dutchess County history, genealogy and
architecture; he has such a knowledge
of the history of the Democratic party
that the omniscient politico, James A.
Farley, observed many times in admira-
ton, "the fellow knows everything" and
the present writer was startled several
years ago when he gave a 15-minute
extemporaneous talk on the history of
the Fly Club at Harvard to a small
group of fraternity men.
The key to the Presidents reading and
his extraordinary memory seem to be in
his special interest in subjects that have
personally touched him, and in his ef-
ficient way Of reading and of saving ma
terial he thinks he may be able to use.
He is particularly interested in history
and biography. He has frequently said
that he is related to almost everybody in
New England, and he feels a warm COM
munity of interest with writer's. At
times he regards himself as a profess
sional writer who hasn't had the time
to put it on paper. He has at least one
book in mind, an account of his expert
ences overseas during the last war as
Assistant Secretary of the Navy. He
likes to have writer's around him and he
invites to stay at the White House such
colorful authors as Woolcott. Robert E.
Sherwood. Henrik Van Loon and Martha
Gellhorn of St. Louis.
He does not like newspaper commenta-
tors but he reads their columns. OF one
bitter political critic he once sale. Il trv
to read him every day. He 5 utterly sin
cere. He believes everything he writes"
He knows many of the White House
news reporters and delights to call them
by their first names. Unlike most news
paper readers, he notes the "bylines" Of
articles and on several occasions he has
recommended to his press conferences
articles in the Wall Street Journal. writ
ten by Bernard Kilgore, until recently
head Of its Washington bureau.
Writers Spotted.
He also is irritated by a few White
House correspondents and has them
spotted at his press conferences. Their
questions are given curt and sometimes
embarrassing replies. He seemingly
identifies their questions with what he
has read.
Most of his reading could be called
heavy" He marks books for phrases
of language and whenever anything
catches his eye, either in the mail. the
newspapers. magazines, memoranda or
books, which he thinks will be valuable
for speech, he has his private secretary.
Marguerite Missy lie Hand. who has
been with him for more than 20 years,
put 1t into a speech material file"
divided under special heads.
When he begins to write a speech he
has the special material brought to him
and he calls on persons in and out of
the Government to submit memos and
sometimes whole speeches. He reads
all these data and then starts debating
Some of his more important speeches
have gone through five and six drafts.
The notes in his published Collected
Papers" clearly indicate that he is an
noyed by persons who claim they have
written all or parts of his speeches.
Even his closest friends don't know all
the books he owns and has read. His
collectors instinct extends down to
miniature books, those thumbnail VOL
umes, which can be read only through a
powerful reading glass. This has been
4 boon to those who don't know what TO
give him for Christmas or on his birth.
lay. When In doubt they give Q r,inis.
ure book.