Evening star., 1943-04-30

at the end of the Mall and whose
gardens run along Constitution Hill
ard whose vaStness houses the
King and Queen.
| The telephone number is White
hall 1882 and as dialed it couldn't
help but remember the first time I
ever used telephone. That was
too many years ago in little shack
deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Quite a telephone, that one. 1t was
| about the size of a suitcase and
was fastened to the wall and to get
central you had to crank it as you
did a model T Ford and after you
got central you had to crank it
some more to get your number.
But today 1 picked up an ivory
contrivance that just fits the ear
and mouth, turned a little dial, and,
10 and behold! a McLemore was
talking to the Palace.
Seeks Typical Menu.
In case you are wondering what
I was doing calling the home of
Their Majesties, I'll tell you. A few
days ago I got request from Don
Thompson of the st. Louis Post
Dispatch. He wanted typical
British menu for week. Breakfast.
lunch and dinner. He wanted to
compare the way the English eat
under ratloning with how Americans
eat under the point system.
I told an English friend of the
request and asked him to help me
get such menu. He thought
bit, then suggested I call Bucking-
ham Palace and get the menu of the
Royal Family.
The King and Queen are on
rations, you know" he said. They
buy just as the rest of us do. Their
fare probably is the most typical
that you could find. Give Bucking-
ham a ring and ask for what you
want"
Are you kidding" I asked.
NO liOt- d U1I, lie SdlQ.
How will I find the nunber7"
why not take look in the
directory he suggested.
Answer Comes Quickly.
So did and there it was. Buck
ingham Palace, Whitehall 4832' So
I called. 1t was the simplest number
to get that I have tried in England.
A couple of buzzs and a voice said,
Buckingham Palace" I tried not
to let nervousness show in my voice
as I told the man what 1 wanted.
He was very nice and connected me
with secretary. The secretary
couldn't have been more helpful.
She said she thought such a menu
would make very good story and
that she would give it to me right
away if She. could get through to
the kitchens, and would I wait a
minute.
Unfortunately the kitchen or the
chef or whoever does the cooking
for the King and Queen was busy.
You know" the secretary said,
you could get the information You
want by telephoning Mrs. Roosevelt.
She'd know what the meals are like
In the palace"
Promises Information.
But she promised to let me have
the information tomorrow and she
asked me to call back then. You
know before know it I'll be calling
the palace as casually as I would
the corner drugstore. I never will
forget the palace number, but lust
in case any one ever looks in my
address book when I get home hs
will find under "P" along with
pressing shop and all the Phillips 1
know, the number of Buckingham
Palace. That is bound to give a
man a little more standing.
Aside to Thompson: You'll get
your menu tomorrow or the next day
and while I have never eaten at
the Palace I'll bet you that SPAN.
Brussels sprouts, potatoes, cabbage,
rhubarb and some more Brussels
sprouts will be on the menu six
times week because the King and
Queen eat like their subjects. They
happen to be that sort of people.
distributed by McNaught Syndicate, Incl