The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-10-04
Observations
Souvenir Snatchers
Prey on Buildings
of Government
BY Helen Essary

Careless pIt-Ndl udge VIC NS dA1l4OsS
forgotten. dined at the White
House. About a hundred other
people dined at the White House
that evening. The gathering was
in honor Of the Supreme Court.
II was a state occasion.
The very best china was being
used. | think il was the new china
Mrs. Roosevelt had selected for her
husbands regime at 1900 Pennsyl-
vania Ave. II is the custom of all
First Ladies, when they move into
the executive mansion, 10 buy new
china which thenceforth shall be
known officially as the Cleveland
china The Taft china and so
on.
Not only the best china but the
extra special gold plate was shin
ing that night on the rose-decorat-
ed dining tables. The extra special
gold plate was sitting about opu-
lently and elegantly. And, might
as well add, temptingly. Indeed,
several guests high placed in rank
and swank. spoke 10 Mr.. Roose-
welt as they filed out of the dining
room after dinner on the lure of
the White House gold plate to the
souvenir hunter
Il imagine, Mr.. President" said
one extremely be-ringed lady as
she studied a gold after-dinner cof-
fee spoon Il ina CINE you lose many
OF these lovely things"
IN say We do, replied the
Chief Executive.
"Oh. dear said the guest. How
very sad Dishonest servants, no
doubt
Servants? Not at ALL" replied
the Chief Executive and laughed.
Visiting fremen!"
This somewhat involved intro
duction brings me at last to the
subject OF. today's theme-why hon.
est people steal.
Statistics do prove that most OF
Us are given to petty thievery.
Most OF us have Pet Steals which
we Justify on the flimsiest Of
grounds. Tourists are terrible
stealers. They take the most alb
surd things from Washington pub.
lie buildings.
Reminders OF when was in
Washington" they call the odds
and ends OF junk which the remind
ers really are when they refuse TO
1T into the den back home.
The Capitol has suffered from
much sightseeing marauding Most
any day someone when looking at
the big gold and mahogany clock
in the Presidents Room is likely
10 discover the clock Is not keeping
time. This, towever. has no rela-
ton 10 that fourth term) The
answer is simpler. Some ACOUSTIC
connoisseur removed the hands
OF the clock when a guards back
was turned
A souvenir hr7ter once took the
ear off the bust Of Calvin Coolidge.
Frequently tassels are nipped of
draperies in the waiting rooms
where members OF Congress meet
their -constit' .nts and the some
what odd characters who dote on
calling on wmakers.
Art galleries are inspiring spots
for-shall we say--collectors. IL
is necessary, for example, to tack
down labels on canvases. Guards
are constantly on watch. The Cor
coran gallery has sometimes been
too tempting to visitors. II has
endured greatly from the charm OF
the Greek Slave.
This famous marble sculpted by
Hiram Powers stands with shack
cd hands-and. we'll that's all in
which she does stand. Tourists
have often coveted the links In
those shackles.
Guards in Washington public
buildings will tell you people will
snitch most anything that isn't
nailed down. You notice the Capt.
toll has even its cuspidors nailed
down" Personally. ! could bear up
II a few OF these pretty things dis
appeared.
An amusing story OF petty thiev-
cry was reported 10 me by con.
sui 70 a small and now unhappy
nation. While the United States
minister there was shaking hands
with smiling callers in the legation
drawing room. another guest, ma
tive son, was discovered passing
small pieces OF silver through the
iron grating supposed to protect
the dining room OF the legation, TO
a friend out on the sidewalk,
Undoubtedly, simple honesty IL
a rare virtue. Louisa G.. confessed
10 me yesterday that she always
selected the incest apple in the
green grocer's as soon as she emit
cred the store and gnawed on II
on her tour OF the food bins. She
said the fact that she always shined
the apple on the sleeve OF her coat
and ate 1t openly made her think
she was doing nothing wrong until
the checker-up said TO her, Mrs.
c., how much poundage in apples
do YOU think you have eaten here
during the last few years.
P. S.-Me? Oh. I steal No. lead
pencils.