The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-02
TIT TOWN CRTER

AAME xVWN CAsAEk
 Alexander Woollcott went out in character Ills last public speech was q crack at Chicago paper, which always had his contempt |. Tho remark was heard in his last mike appearance, c few minutes be- fore the stroke that killed him five hour1 later The discussion was whether the Germans could be cured of their war mania |. Woollcott didn't think SO unless tifn9 did the curing {. The con- Tab got around to the mistake of blnining Hitler for everything, an error, thought Woollcott .. It was partly the fault of the Germans, he argued, that Hitler was the top rat
 "Just as," he pointed out logi- cally enough, Chicago is responsi- bio for that Chicago rag" The chairman of the meeting took issue and insisted that Chicago didn't deaeTve to be talked about like tliat.
 Ik probably would have tickled The Town Crier to know he would make his last exit pickering .. He was that sort of fellow He figured the best way to die was in harness You probably do not recall his comments on Eleanora Dlse. the great actress She panBed away in a Pittsburgh hotel, during a tour which had brought her out of retirement "Boo-hoo," ," nloaued the obitters, "how very sad! What a place for c great lady to die. 60 far away from her sunny Italy and the scenes she loved" {. TO which he dissented: Rubbish Duse was 0 trouper. Show business was in her blood. It was the best place of all to die, in hotel room, on a tour, with tLe sound of her last applause ringing in her beauti- tul earsl" .
 shouts and Muirmurs: With near ~ everybody breaking their back trying to become dramatic critic, ne suddenly quit that job, saying: NOh, I'm just tired of fighting my way through Times Scuare crowds mt il D. Hn." Most of his pieces about the first World War Cup front, Aoo) dealt with the gayer aspects Df soldering. Even the way he wrote 1t up, it sounded like a lark Once c lady asked him: "Where Eere you when the Armistice came?"
 Probably" interrupted @ col. league, ''in some corner crying his heart oatl" His counsel to writers and critics: Always be sure and put enough salt in an ar- ticle even if [ Is about g friend. Renders will then believe the sugar n 1t. Don't worry about the friends complaining. The very fact that you write about Q man Is compH- ment enough"
 Aa a drama critic he rated the most expert of the hide-removers .. Lots Oe players still smart where nc hit them, and 1t used to be said &laaE ag he were mysteriously mur- neged--the GODS could easily hold at least aOOO New Workers on Sus- nicicn But most of the show hlks Segretted his retirement :. :. |. They had often bled from his stabs' Nut they realized he was good for the llasateg He had enthusiasm Rnr aA something not many of his nigln eronies had, then or now [. @sGasA up to the end his quote on a @n0w vas money in the bank. "SkIn
 g Cur Teeth" wears one. v < nc xadso was ideal for his story esllinRg talents He had the big 1egR Store oS anecdotes, all dillies, many Os which are revived daily and credited to others =. Some kf his pieces were softieS, valentines 40 these he admired, but the best Mad thorns in them l. Some or xhN tastsest lacings the America VlrsteeT suffered were penned and vocaIed by Woollcott |. He had ( voice that dripped scorn, and he Ind c talent for insult that was Aevastating The best part Of 1t TT that his insults made sense.
 There are people who are still digging some of his 1886 barbs out Gf their hide Only recently. ne nhed foo pounds being Ill. when \ victim of his drama criticism said 4n another victim: "I see where Moollcott has dropped over 100 lbs" me other asked: "On whom?"
 one e the victims was his best love the New York Times No matter where he worked, the Times, hig first sheet, was his darling {. |. But when 1t jumped the Democratic Party ln 1904 and took up with the Willikie button wearers, Alec grabbed the Times by the throat in the last EDR rally, the night before election. MT. w. stood on the Car negie Hau stage and called that newspaper things that must have made it's editors wTithe and groan
 Gs you need So