Evening star., 1943-04-10
Capitals Beauty and Hurrying
People Intrigue Oscar Tschirky
Noted Host Visits
Raleigh Hotel Suite
Named in His Honor

The most famous "chef" In
America-who insists heo ne,~.
been a chef-fnds surcease from
New York crowds by watching
Washingtonians hustle to work at
$50 am.
1T is music to me, it is pleasure, !"
said Oscar Tschirky, Swiss native
whose reign as "host to the world"
at the Waldorf Astoria has perhaps
been exceeded in length only by the
reign of Queen Victoria. Oscar be-
came maitre d'hotel at the Waldorf
on the day it opened, March IS,
1893.
He came here Wednesday to be
guest of the Raleigh Hotel in a
suite named in his honor, and left
last night. But Thursday and Fri
day mornings Oscar seated himself
by window overlooking Pennsyl-
vania avenue and enjoyed the
symphony of scurrying feet below.
The man who has known world
celebrities, the friend of every
President for so years, was soothed
by the sight of war workers leaping
from buses and walking rapidly
through traffic signals.
Likes Busy Humanity.
Oscar, it seems, not only knows
the carriage trade, but also has a
love for humanity in general.
He likes to see people busy, yet he
doesn't know the meaning of hard
work.
MY work has never been hard, it
has been pleasant"
To appreciate this American figure
one must go back to the 8Os. Amer
lea longed for the elegance and
splendor Of Europe; Oscar had the
vision to see nice future for him
self if he catered to a growing de-
mand. He worked at Hoffman House
and at Delmonicos before going with
the Waldorf Astoria. He would give
the rich and famous flve-hour course
dinners with all the trimmings. He
wasn't chef, but chefs will tell you
Oscar always was coming up with
suggestions for making meal more
delectable.
Oscar put out a cook book in 1898
designed to be helpful to the carriage
trade. which was beginning to emu
late European custom by enlargine
kitchens and employing five or six
cooks. It labeled Oscar with the title
chef" Nevertheless he reiterates he
is not a chef, but host.
Near II years of age, Oscar has
met royalty and other celebrities for
so years. He would greet them at the
Waldorf and escort them to suite or
banquet hall.
Nine. Chang Most Fascinating.
oscar Is nothing If not diplomatic
Asked who was the most glamorous
woman he had ever met, he replied
Lillian Russell was a great beauty
There have been beauties In every
decade. If you will ask me who is
the most fascinating woman I've
known. I'd say Nine. Chang Kai-
shek."
This prompted a woman inter.
viewer to ask: What male person
ality stands out most in your recol-
lection?"
Oscar shied away from that one
too. .-,
There are so many, for instance
all the Presidents have been great
personalities; I don't like to single
out one"
About food rationing. he was
asked. Would chefs improvise as OF
yore?
1--WE can get used to meatless days.
The chefs-and I'm not one-are
going to do the best they can with
what they have. But the American
people are good sportsmen. They
know, no matter what happens in
rationing, we are better OF than
people in Europe"
He wouldn't talk about Presidents
except to say that Franklin D.
Roosevelt calls him my neighbor
across the Hudson" Oscar has
given his home, New Paltz, near
Poughkeepsie, to the Culinary So
ciety Of America Is q permanent
home for aged cooks.
Likes Washingten's Beauty.
Oscar met Prince Henry Of Prus-
sia, King Albert Of Belgium. Queen
Marie Of Rumania, the then Prince
Of Wales, Edward Windsor: KING
Peter OF Yugo-Slavia, and famous
European and Asiattc generals and
statesmen.
Waiting WashinGtoa toe the Ara