Evening star., 1942-05-23

Henry McLemore. Earlier h had
used it as an answer to questions
which he thought had best be kept
secret.
From his use of it, Shangri-la has
come to mean several very definite
things. For one thing, it means,
None of your business" For an
other thing, it means, wouldn't
you like to know" For still another
thing, it means, That's all. Please
don't press me any further" -
Up until now the President has
been the only one to use the word
when asked questions he did not
care or see fit to answer. But be
will not have exclusive privileges
very long. The American male
particularly the American male Of
the AmericanuS Husbandus types
too sharp, too appreciative Of some
thing new and helpful, not to pick
up the word and make it his own.
The possibilities of Shangri-la In
the home are innumerable. To start
with. the user has the advantage
of knowing that it was first en-
ployed by the President, and, there
fore, must be good enough for the
average citizen. Too. Shangri-la is
polite answer. 1t is a word with
out sharp edges. 1t Is a word that
lends itself to soft voice. 1t is
not calculated TO ruffle the feelings.
No one could ever really get mad
at one who did nothing worse than
say, "Shangri-la." The word is
smooth and round and liquid and
figures to soothe, not disturb.
So, nv guess is that before long
Shangri-la will be household word
in this country. Consider a few
examples Of its use.
A husband comes home late, hav-
ing been led against his will into a
poker game. He is met at the head
of the stairs by bit of Feminine
Fluff, an angry. cold, demanding bit
of Feminine Fluff, with the look in
her eyes that so many husbands
have had to brave.
The bit Of Feminine Fluff wants
to know where the husband has
been
"Shangri-la," he answers.
That stops Feminine Fluff. She
realizes she must not press further
for an answer. She knows that her
President has okayed that answer
as one beyond which there must be
no probing.
So she changes her tack. Femin-
inc Fluff wants to know how the
husband Jared. Did he win or did
he lose? She gets the same answer.
"Shangri-la."
This time 1t means, None of your
business"
Again she Is stymied. To continue
the quiz would be TO violate the un-
written rules laid down by the ref
cree in the White House. So, Fem
mime Fluff, regretting, perhaps, that
she did not vote for Landon and
Willkie. retreats silently and goes
back to bed. The husband triumph
antly follows her and goes to sleep,
dreaming Of chance to vote for a
fourth term.
1t would not be surprising II
Shangri-ls clubs, composed of hus-
bands, sprang up all over this coun-
try. There is only one danger in
such a development. and that is that
the women will retaliate by forming
Shangri-laette clubs. The women
of this country have a habit Of
matching any male organization
with a female auxiliary. They Will
not be outdone. For every Rotarian,
there is a Rotary Ann. For every
Elk, there is an Elkette or something
like that. For every Moose. there IS
a Moosette. For every Woodman Of
the World, there is a Woodwoman Of
the World. And so on, down the
line of all clubs and lodges.
Before you know it, the husbands
Of this country, when they ask for
an accounting Of the household
budget, will get this answer:
"Shangri-la."
And apparently there Is nothing
that can be done about it. Women
are here to stay. -.
distributed by McNausht Syndicate, Inc)
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