Evening star., 1943-03-01
Panhellenic Told
Of Duty to Halt
Rumor Spread
Leslie Ford Cites
Variety Of Stories
On Rationing
Bv Frances Lide.

AS detective story writer, Leslie
Ford is fascinated by the rumol
concerning the New York woman
who allegedly lost her sugar book
wrote to Washington and received
by mistake. a ration book for
clothes limiting annual purchases
to $50, the author told members OF
the Washington Panhellenic Alum
nae Association yesterday.
"It almost has the turns Of a
plot" she remarked as she traced
her own experiences with the rumor
and its implication that clothes
rationing is to be launched at once
Incidentally, she pointed out, the
rumor is false on the face of it
because an out-of town person who
lost a sugar book wouldn't write
to Washington but would consult
her local ration board.
Having read the story first in a
newspaper column which later pub
lished a denial, Miss Ford said she
soon began to hear variations from
her own circle of acquaintances.
Climax came Saturday about noon
when her young daughter tele-
phoned from her school in Balti-
more with a variation of the report
and an appeal that she be per-
mitted to buy some camping clothes
Immediately.
Emphasizing that to pass along
such a rumor is just about the
surest way to make clothes ration
ing necessary. Miss Ford urged that
college-trained women accept a spe-
cial obligation TO combat stories Of
Its kind.
IF we refuse to believe everything
that Is whispered to U.S." she said,
I'VE would be performing one Of the
greatest individual services possible
at the moment.
TITS comparatively simple to 60
out on bus, do a war Job and 60
on home again." she continued
But it is much more difficult to
realize that everything you say has
some influence on somebody else"
Pointing out that women repre-
sented in the Greek letter fraterni-
ties have enjoyed above the average
opportunities, Miss Ford urged that
they accept special challenge to
think as effectively as possible.
I'VE must think of ourselves as
people who act upon society rather
than as being merely molecules in
society,"" she suggested.
The speaker, who in private life
Is Mrs. Ford K. Brown, makes her
home in Annapolis, where her hus-
band is head Of the English depart
ment at st. Johns College. She
uses both Leslie Ford and David
Frome as pen names for her myste-
ries, several of which have a Wash
tngton background.
More than 600 alumnae members
Of the Greek letter fraternities in
the Washington Panhellenic at
tended the brunch" which was
held at the Statler Hotel. The or
ganization's largest social meeting
Of the year, it paid special tribute
to an honor guest from each Of the
member sororities.
Mrs. James S. Hathcock, Pan
hellenic president, made all the
introductions. Arrangements were
under the general Craftsmanship Of
Mrs. Edgar Withrow.
A feature of the program was a
sort of buddy musical act staged
by NARROW S. Cowan, accordian-
list, and Richard c. Rupp, guitar
tst and singer. from Fort BeIvoir.
The entertainment was offered in
appreciation for the service Panhel-
lenic members have rendered to the
men in uniform here by providing a
number Of chaperones each Satur-
day night for the USO dances at
the YWCA at Seventeenth and K
streets NV.