The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-06-26
Observations
Dark Moment Met
With Courage as
Well as Tact
BY Helen Essary

hN I AANtN 1N@hNN $500
ing a superb job of conveying and
hghting in this war. But ii once
had dark moment. A very small
dark moment, refreshingly gay and
inconsquential, when recalled in
these tragic days.
Admiral David F.. Sellers. once
commandant of the United States
Naval Academy. and one Of tho
most popular officers in the Navy,
told me about the dark moment.
He explained that IL had been
planned as moment Of sweetness
and light However-well, here's
the story. The famous Admiral
George Dewey, who directed the
United States fleet during the Span
ish-American War. was being given
a party. a special party complete
with reception committee, music,
handsome little speeches and the
presentation of small tokens OF es-
TEEN and affection.
one OF the captains OF his COM
mand came forward at a pre-ar-
ranged moment. bowed, paused and
as an aide handed him large ele-
gant.looking bag, said:
Sir. when you dined with US
on our ship recently you were good
enough to praise the cocoanut CAKE
we served with the dessert. The
ships cook. having been told Of
your pleasure. asked permission
10 make you a similar cake Here
it is, sir. And | have the honor
to present 1t to you
The captain opened the box.
Turned back its lid. And there the
cocoanut cake was: Shining with
its beautiful white icing covering.
On the beautiful white icing was
something big and that moved
slightly. A plump, black cock
roach. That's what 1t was.
With a slight wiggie the animal
waved its antennae and scurried to
cover down the side of the box
where the cocoanut was thickest.
Admiral Dewey did not blink an
uneasy eye. Nor hesitate for a
nice Thank you" ITS a splendid
cake. captain" he said. 81 hope
you will convey my deep apprecia-
ton TO your cook"
Thank you. sir. I'm glad you
like it said the captain. 81 shall
take the cake away until you are
ready TO leave, sir"
And that was all, The dark mo-
ment had been met with courage
and exquisite tact.
OF COURSE 1T ISN'T TRUE
that the baby which the stork will
soon place on the doorstep OF the
Minister OF Finland and Nine. Pro-
cope will be named Joseph Stain
Procope as a peace-making ges-
ture between Finlapd and Russia.
Nor will the little one be called
Josephine Stain Procope. This
is merely a silly rumor that got
started somehow.
THE NEWSPAPERS AND THE
RADIO are again echoing the name
Of DE Gaulle". It's DE Gaulle be-
ing recognized by Poland. Belgium.
Luxembourg and Czechoslovakia".
And DE Gaulle coming to the Unit
ed States. And DE Gaulle APP
proving Cor not approving) the
new French money to be issued to
the troops OF invasion in France"
1t occurred to me that so active
and busy a fellow as the French
general must have a wife some
where. 1t is the French custom,
you know for a Frenchman to get
himself a wife before he gets him
self a career.
Frequently It Is the French wife
who is really responsible for the
French husbands success. you've
seen those sharp-eyed French wives
sitting at the cashiers desk In
French restaurants while Monsieur
smiles at the patrons and recon,
mends a goose with special
dressing.)
General De Gaulle has a wife. A
sound. provincial woman who stavs
at home in the country and rarely
meets the outside world, Would
there be any chance Of Nine. De
Gaulle coming 10 Washington il
her husband did arrive on that
visit TO Mr.. Roosevelt? inquired
OF the Right Authority. Could she
be persuaded 10 be a world travel
err in the Eleanor Roosevelt? mime.
Chang Kai-shek-Mrs Winston
Churchill manner
"Ah non" I was told quickly.
THAT would be impossible. Nine.
De Gaulle lives very quietly. She
has raised a charming family
two sons. in the war. and daugh-
ter But she could not ever hold a
press conference as so many OF
your distinguished American ladies
do.
ITO be sure she has opinions
but she does not speak them out
loud for the world TO hear"