Imperial Valley press., 1944-12-17

FlOttO. lie was many years spo'ts
editor of the Denver Post and knew
everybody i'm the show business who
was ANYBODY at all. They had win
Rogers TO dinner that night, too,
and that was all, and that was
enough. Rogers was whole dinner
party by himself and was utterly
charming.
We went TO see Miss Barrymore
i'm her show which was, If memory
serves correctly. THE Constant
Wife. The most beautiful play, by
the way, in which this writer ever
saw her. The friendship grew
through the years. We never failed
TO go to her performances and to
60 backstage and usually to dine
together whenever she came our
way. One time something told this
writer that Miss Barrymore was in
trouble; so, with some hesitation, ne
sent up his name at her hotel TO
talk with her alone. That cemented
the friendship for we discussed at
great length her sons and her
daughter whom afterwards we met
and had with her to dinner at our
home. Just a fifteen year old girl
at that time, but trOuper at that,
she has lately married and, as every
BODY knows, is going TO the top.
There was a boy at our house at
that time, just high school KID,
who heard the family conversation,
and, to our astOnishment, spoke up,
Dad. l wonder if Miss Barrymore 1
would like to take drive over the
city with me?" He had little Ford
coupe and at first the idea seemed
preposterOus, then, naturally, one
thought of her as the proud, per-
picked and troubled mother; SO dad
replied, Just call her up and ask
her, son, and see what she will say
With the quick action of youth, he
had her on the wire in two minutes
and she replied without much of
any hesitation, Yes, boy. I'll be
happy to 60" They appointed the
hour and he drove up to the hotel. 4
Then the queen of the drama, be-
yond all women for dignity, came
down the steps, telescOped her tall
stateliness into a half length pac-
kage and slipped ii into the little
fliyyer side by side with that thir-
teen year old kid. Her knees nearly
touched her chin but somehow she
managed to get in and they made
an afternoon of it, which, 1T is
certain, neither of them could ever
forget.
Then ne had the audacity TO say
to her, as he bade gOOdby, Il should
love TO take you to church tomorrow
morning, Miss Barrymore" Her re-
ply was, well, you know, Logan, ]
am a Roman Catholic and would
have to go to early mass first"
That's all right" said he, "Tl. take
you to early mass and then over t3
our church, too" So he did. Ana
there he sat well forward and we'll
in the middle, side by side with the
queen. And there he sat again every
Sunday of his bOyhOOd that Miss
Barrymore came to. town. She al
, ways dined once with us and that
boy was undoubtedly the member OF
the family that she was most eager
| to know. He afterwards came out
here to California, went into the
newspaper business, joined up with
the Navy, and is still with them.
One story that she told at our
dinner table concerned a dinner at
the White House when Mr.. and
Mrs. Coolidge were host and hostess.
She said maid interrupted Mrs.
Coolidge in the middle of dinner
and said, Telephone call, Mrs.
Coolidge" But / can't answer now
with all my guests here" But the
maid whispered even more loudly
But it's Alice-Alice Longworth.
and she has important news" Mrs.
Coolidge said, "I'll have to co. She
came back smiling and all her
guests looking up receptive, got her
report, "Alice wanted to tell me
she's going to have baby" OF
course, everybody shouted. When"
Oh, said Mrs. Coolidge, stupid OF
me, forgot to ask" Then came a
quiet voice from the host at the
other end of the table saying. Mid
die of March"
When Miss Barrymore finished
telling that story this writer went
to her privately and said, "Oh, Miss
Barrymore, will you let me have
that little yarn for my column.
She barely hesitated moment ant
then said, why, yes, why not, 81
ahead and tell it," which was cone
Time magazine copied it, and vii
liam Allen White, bless mis- soul il