Evening star., 1943-08-28
Bv FRANK 1. WELLER,

By FRANK 1. WELLER,
Associated Press stan Writer.
Mrs. Roosevelt is powerful
presence in the presidential picture.
But, the insiders say, F. D. r.
slsps down a lot of her ideas.
This sometimes gives Eleanor
quite a kick, she being a humor-
loving person who has at hand
several odds and ends that funsters
make up and tell about her.
For instance, H. L. Mencken is
supposed to have told this one: r
Il don't like him!" howled a very
ginned-up guy when Mr.. Roosevelt
rose to speak.
Our President is guided bv
higher power" the chairman called
out.
Il don't like her either!" howled
the very ginned-up guy.
One BY Will Rogers.
Will Rogers is credited with this
one:
do you," pal fighting off
snake bite asked pal fighting of
snake bite, know who is the wife
of the President of Brazil or Buffalo
or Somewhere?"
Never heard of her"
See, that's the way it ought to
be in this country, too"
Mrs. Roosevelt takes the ribbing
in good fun, but she told the news
paper girls she really was hurt
when the public misunderstood"
when she said she wanted to be
"eyes and ears" for the President.
She was trying to explain why
she gallivanted around the country
so much, and to answer questions
about what she considered her
biggest job as the Chief Executives
wife. 1t seems she thought she
could go among people he'd
never see, and hear what they were
saying about this and that.
The newspaper gals who cover
Mrs. Roosevelt's doings figure she
has done just that. :
Reads Selected Comments.
There's a special basket beside
the Presidents bed where she puts
jokes, cartoons and one woman's
opinion on the hopes, fears, jeers,
cheers and tears of the Nation.
The President reads everything in
the basket before going to sleep, no
matter how busy the day nor how
big the hatbands of White House
guests.
He puts replies in the basket in
his own handwriting. One was a
cartoon showing a hard-boiled SER
geant dressing down recruit.
Now" said the sergeant, don't
go writing letters to Mrs. Roosevelt"
The President discusses national
problems with Mrs. Roosevelt at the
dinner table. That's about the only
place she lights long enough for him
to talk to her. They may differ,
One wins about as often as the
other.
This goes on with guests at table.
The Roosevelts have lived goldfish
lives so long they don't care.
STILES Gardening Urge.
F. D. r. is always trying to put |
over a fast one.
For instance:
In depression days, Mrs, Roose-
velt wanted to rip, up the White |
House lawn for a farm garden.
F. D. r., they say, told soil scien-
lists to declare White House ground |
too sorry even to raise an umbrella.
Mrs. Roosevelt gave up until she
wanted Victory garden. The Pres
ident is said to have called in the
soil scientists again, saying some
what as follows:
Tell her the yard If full of rocks
or something. The people own this
place, and don't want it busted up
just SO she can plant beans"
They did. She didn't. F. D. r.
snickered down his cigaret holder.
Mrs. Roosevelt may never know,
unless she sees this, that White
House soil, by Government test, per-
haps is more fertile than any other
in the District of Columbia, which
abounds in Victory gardens.
Mrs. Roosevelt keeps too busy to
pay much attention to the horse
play at her expense. She feels
criticism very deeply, but wouldn't
miss q word of it. When she speaks. |
she plants Malvina Thompson, her
private secretary, in the crowd with |
to pick up adverse
comment.
Self Improvement Devotee.
She once hired a diction expert
to coach her in speaking manner
isms pleasing to the public. She is
restless, never satisfied with herself
ibis leads to all kinds of self
Improvement, reading, exercising.
diets and the study Of just about |
every foreign language invented.
The family circle frequently speaks
French.
Mrs. Roosevelt gives away most,
but not all, of the money she makes
writing and speaking. Her favorite
charity is the Quaker Friends Sery-