The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-02-26
Observations
Washington Life
Characterized by
Too Many Parties
BY Helen Essery

nous vintage. that Of lS4S', wrote
Fitz-James O'Buen. a year when
war and wine throve together
1t was Of a famous vintage, that
Of 1944'. might write, paraphras.
ing Fitz,James oBrien, "a year
when war aud wine and Washins-
ton thro,e together
Add to Washington the word
parties. Then you have com
plete the hilarious mood OF tho
capital OF the world this year when
more men are fighting and dying
than ever fought and died together
in the history Of civilization what
ever civilization is.
In this capital Of the world, you
and l. typical Wsshingtonians have
indeed gone mad with party CIV,
ing. And | am ashamed OF al
Of US as write this.
Within the last few months
have participated IN more LAVISH
entertaining than at any time dur
ing my years OF living IN Wash'rs-
ton
This is not season when peo-
pie decline the manager OF
country club told me the other
day when /, myself was planning
A luncheon You had better count
on acceptances from every body you
invite.
This is wartime? he added, and
people 20 mad for fun and food
and drink during war. remem-
Der how they behaved during the
last war. They gave parties on
some excuse or another all over
the place. This is a bigger war.
So the parties are bigger
The club manager vas right.
The other day Washington saw the
most stupendous party It has ever
seen since the days Mrs. Adams
moved into that inconyenient exc
cutive mansion and hung her wash
ing John red flannel BND's and
everything in the drafty east room
10 dry.
When Paul V. McNUtt vas sort
. Of in transit from the Philippines,
where he ran the show, 10 Wash
ington. where he was TO help IN
the running OF a much bigger show.
he gave the biggest party that had
ever been given in Washington up
to that moment
remember the tables OF food
the bars OF drink and the way the
hundreds or so guests wandered
about saying, Isn't this the most
e1trayagaut performance you We
eveT seen But for heavens sake
don't miss those exquisite crab
patues, or the pate de fois gras,
Or that beautiful champagne.
Come on. let's get some OF every
thing before the crowd closes in
Washington CORES ondent Bas-
com Timmons' reception at the
Statler. in honor Of Gridlron Cmn
President Charles Gridley and Ma
,ional Press Club President Sam
O'Neal had the exotic qualities OF
Governor McNutts reception, plus
wartime tinge. The very. very
BEST people were there. And they
stayed and laughed and drank and
ate and felt that the world belong
I'd TO them. had a grand time.
AsIsaid in the beginning OF this
column that it is meant TO reflect
he mood OF wartime Washington
all the parties in Washington OF
his thriving vintage year are ter.
-ific. The charming reception the
minister OF Egypt and Madame
Iassan gave recently included ey-
ary guest invited, plus some who
1ad crashed the hos pitable gates
All other capital entertainments
are the same this year OF the hoip-
aust
Take me as an example Of the
Washington mood accept inri-
atoms and ! give them. yet all The
while m a little ashamed OF my
elf and OF all the rest Of US who
ire thus proving We have forgot
en- the war
For We HAVE forgotten the war,
Il a+-S.-l4+ea-R -enleEed VIII
ofty talk has become routine bust.
less
We have lost that sense OF urg-
,ncy, OF immediate danger. We
cad the reports Of what is hap
)ening on lonely beachheads in
places that We know nothing about.
News Of disaster means little more
han thicker printers ink on white
PAPER.
We hear The radio reports of bat
les and battle plans Of the loss OF
hundreds OF men. We have a mo.
nentary sense OF fear. But We
llso have a momentary sense Of
ear when we listen in on mystery
tories.
Yesterday did shiyer with hor
or when heard the lit IN one
lnnouncer's voice as he shouted
The Greatest war in all time
The words and the tone had the
ound OF a barker in nine-ring
ircus.
1T was OF famous vintage
.94i.' repeat the words. ~
year when war and wine anc
Washington throve together