The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-09

Edson of Columbia's best residential district has been the playground of capital society 10, these many years.
 Here foregathered on exclusive in- vitation only the socially conscious and in this case that good New Deal phrase has double meaning, for it includes not only the social reformers, the people who want to do something about the underprivi- legged poor, but also the social climbers, the people who want to do something about the underprivileged rich.
 Mrs. Mclean, best known to the world as the owner of the supposed ly unlucky Hope diamond, has throughout the years been broad minded about her guest list. Mrs. Mclean even entertained the Hard ing gang. First requisite has been to get elected to high office or ap- pointed to fairly high office. The brand of politics made no difference. JUST SMALL
 | SNACKS
 During the defense period Mrs. Mclean has been most famous for her Sunday night suppers-intimate little affairs of 90 or a couple of hundred guests. Good food and drink. an oasis in Washington otherwise dry Sabbaths. To Friend ship have flocked the chosen sen- ators and congressman and under secretaries and administrators and -ordinators-the people of inf1u- ence - the Honorable Joe Govern ments themselves and their wives, checking their hats and coats at the entrance. being assigned to chtaty little tables of four or so for sup per, and here the company was mixed up as only a skillful hostess can do. SourpuSs old Senator Iso- lation might have as his dinner partner the wife of dynamic young Congressman Intervention, and the other couple at the table might be MT. Big Corporation, dollar-a- year boy whose company was being persecuted by iriunctions and war orders, struggling to make talky- talk with the wife of MT. Chief As sistant Trust Buster.
 But talking politics and lobbying and buttonholing have been barred at Friendship. That has been house rule No. l. All has been badinage, haute monde and uppity-do. ..
 What do the great and the near great in Washington talk about when they don't talk politics and issues? Mrs. Mclean figured it out long ago. She didn't let 'em talk. She showed 'em movies, first run and hot from Hollywood.
 After every one of these Sunday .soirees, the Washington newspaper society gals could be counted on to break forth in gush "The cream of Washington official so- ciety was gathered last night. Here were all the characters for great play Ambassadors, states men, admirals, generals, and the leaders in the world Of business as sembled The hundred most charming and brilliant women of the United States :" And so on for columns. The conversational gems, the state secrets and the words of the great which might be picked up and jotted down on the cuff at one of these affairs would undoubtedly include such nifties as Wasn't the supper delicious, dear!" or Swell picture, Charlie, wasn't it!" Exclamation marks after both of those, you'll note. Statesmen never ask questions, they give out.
 SET FOR
 STENOGS
 All this bonne vivante and high jinks is to end. Friendship, going the way of all things, has been taken over by the gov'ment and will be site for a housing project for Uncle Sam'S nieces-the typewriter and adding machine punchers who will win the war with carbon copies and comptometer.
 Now this is worthy cause, but the question arises as to what on earth is the upper crust of official Washington society going to do on Sunday nights, after Friendship has been turned over to the woikin' goils? This is problem of first magnitude.
 A man on the inside of this charmed and charming Friendship set could probably not speak thus frankly on the subject, but if they'll take a tip from a punk standing on the outside of Friendships high and massive spiked iron fence, there is way out. The government social planners should make a recreation al project director out of Mrs. Me- Lean, WPA should build her a new Friendship, the USO should provide entertainment, the stamp plan should provide food and the school lunch program should set aside a fund for champagne.
 How else can the morale of our Washington leaders De maintained for the hard, long fight ahead?