The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-01-14
HE SPEAKS EXCELLENT KINGS ENGLISH" BUT LOOKS
 TO HIS ENGLSH-BORN WIFE FOR "AMERICANESE" PHRASES
By ELEANOR RAGSDALS NEA Service Stan Correspondent

NEA Service Stan Correspondent
 Washington, Jan. i4-The Soviet Embassy's new First Lady, Madame Maxim Litvinoff, is frank, informal, and chockful Of interests. An Erg- lishwoman, the former Ivy Low she's the one who's responsible for her ambassador husbands punchy English that has caused newsmen to marvel. Not only is her casual con- versation full of crisp, humorous phrases which he picks up-but she is chief translator Of his important English speeches.
 Maxim speaks topnotch English, himself" Madame LitvinoH explains with a knowing look But he's far too smart to trust himself when it comes to those special little phrases and idioms that only native can handle surely
 For her first exclusive interview since she became chatelaine of the gilded rococco Soviet Embassy, Mme. Litvinon hustled in, red-cheeked and unceremonious, calling hoSpitably:
 Come along with me. I'll be changed In a iiffy. Photographers never like black" And in less time than 1t takes to say "Tovarich,' she had bundled everyone into the embassy elevator. left for her apart ment, and return ed to the music reception room robed in a soft grey and white chiffon, She was definite ly ready for action, lights camera and questions. Though I may not answer them all she warned. MARRIED LITVINOFF
 DURING HIS EXILE
 This black-eyed, forceful woman, who can chatter fluent Russian, never saw Russia till she was thirty. Her husband and she met when he was exiled in London before and during the last war.
 Maxim was the first Russian I'd ever known" admits Ivy Low Lit vinof T think that's probably why married him-a sort of instant sympathy" She never expected to be able to live in Russia, and was tremendously excited when, after the Revolution, her husband was called back to his country-the new U. $. s. Rand she went with him
 She then started to learn Russian and one can imagine she learned 1t in record time to judge by the dispatch with which she does every tn ng else. She's not content to pose with just any old book that happens to be lying around, for instance Tt might just as well be one I like, " she says, and goes cnergetically into her bedroom to find one.
 She finds a manual on teaching handwriting to pre-school and primary children. And that starts her talking about her greatest in- er@St--the education of very young children.
 Most people think of me as from a journalistic family - because my unclo, Sir Sydney Low, was a we'll known publisher. But I'm an in- cura,le pedagogue at heart-alWays have been"
 For many years, it seems, Mime. LiCvnoff taught harmony and com position to five ard six-year odds in a northern Russian town. She has some striking photos of her pupils one little Tartar girl who, she says, has great musical talent. AL though the two Litvinof children "a son, 25, and a daughter, 23- were both educated in the U. s. s. R., Mime. Litvinoff confeSses she didn't become absorbed in experi- mental education techniques till they were Well-grown.
 Now I have a darling grandson to watch develop" she smiles, pro- ducing a snap of one -year-old Pavel Litvinoff, at present in Kuibyshev with his aviator father. "We had to stop giving him cod-liver oil, he be- came so plump-as you can see.' TEACHING METHODS
 INTEREST HER
 Madame Litvir of has her sharp eyes ever on the alert for interesting new teaching methods, wherever she can ferret them out. In the United States she expects to learn a great many valuable things and is already planning to visit American schools. The handwriting book she is cur Tently engrosSed in was published by an English woman and advo- cateS introducing kindergarten chil- dren to writing by letting them make designs from the basic letter forms.
 Aren't the patterns perfectly IoVel y?" comments Mme Litvinoff, leaning forward in her boudoir chair, her voice high pitched with enthusiasm. And look at the beau- tful penmanship they develop later!"
 Does she disapprove of the type- writer, then? you ask. But definite ly no, is the reply. Everything in it's place.
 T nearly always type my own letters" she explains. And quick as a flash she is at her portable to prove it.
 While you children play around with your lights and lenses" she losses over her shoulder, T may as well get real letter out of the way" And on go her horn-rimmed spec in earnest.
 Although it is quite evident that clever, cultured Mme. Litvinof can cope with diplomatic receptions and dinners like veteran, it is plain that a receiving line is not her fav- orite post. Neither is the fashion salon. No best dressed" oueers need tremble for their crowns. for the Soviet ambassadors wife simply isn't interested. Her Washington so- jOurn will be devoted to sturdier duties.
 Teaching English to members of the Embassy staff is one self-ap- pointed task. Answering correspond ence, keeping informed on the double-quick march of international events, another.
 Then there is the vital job of peech-translating for her Maxim. Not above letting slip an occasional