The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-07-06
Observations
Wife of Finnish
Minister Liked
in ashington
BY Helen EsSary

ment's offer to withhold the reeent
Heres Your Passport-Go al
4 Once offer until the third Procope
. baby is born was dictated, an
sure. by Nine. Procope herself.
Nine. Procope is English, as you
know. when Finland joined Ger
many's side in the war, she found
herself in a dramatic and highly
difficult position. Her own country
was an enemy OF her husband 5
country.
"A most awkward situation Mar.
garet Prooope probably remarked
in her casual British way. But
we'll make the best OF the nasty
mess"
She did make the best Of the mas
ty mess. She behaved with dignity
and much sweetness. Washington
increased its respect for Hjalmar
Procope because OF his wife's loyal.
ty.
When il was evident that a new
Procope baby was soon 10 arrive in
this troubled world, Nine. Procope
appeared utterly undisturbed by the
prospect. She grew handsomer and
more serene than ever.
Her baby is expected within a
fortnight or so. But until the last
week she was going about 10 parties
as usual Entertaining at one OF the
many Legation dinners or lunch
cons.
Nine. Procope has not had an
easy row 10 hoe at any time since
ehe came 10 Washington from Eng
land, the sudden and unexpected
bride OF the then most-feted OF the
capitals corps OF diplomats. HAL
mar Procope has been and always
will be a complete Beau Brummell,
q cosmopolite more definitely than
4 Finn.
/, Many women In Washington-
widows, misunderstood wives and
Observation-Disclosures themselves in
love with this romantic fellow. He
had a sparkling personality and a
special way o: saying anything and
everything.
II for example he were to remark
with bright-eyed and provocative
simplicity, This Is indeed "lutfly
day" you'd believe II you weren I
mighty knowing that he was trying
20 tell you that IL was you who had
made the day so "lu.ily."
A light personal manner that few
suspected was impersonal was
Hjalmar Procopes great charm and
greatest asset While he was look
ing intently az you and talking OF
the "lutNy" day, he wasn't thinking
OF you a. all.
He gas turning over IN his alert
mind the very best way OF oeguil-
Ing you into helping his troubled
little country. And IL he spoke OF
that "lutfly" day in sort-ef we
understand each other" tone, that
vas part OF his business. Merely
routine. AS automatic as the polite
covering words used by any good
diplomat TO conceal thought and in
tentton.
As said at the beginning, each
one OF dozens OF women had sort
OF hoped az first that the fascinat-
ing Procope would offer his hand
and his heart 10 her and her alone.
Naturally when he produced a sur.
prise wife there was much resent
mert against the faithless fellow.
More against the successful wife.
Actually. Procope hadn't been faith
less at all. He nad merely been mis-
understood.
The surprise wife. the former
Margaret Ross, was stared at and
discussed thoroughly. Soon, howev-
er, Il was evident that she adored
her husband and that he adored her.
At the outbreak OF the war she was
one O, the richest women in Eng
land. Coal and great land holdings.
That sort OF thing
Slowly the strange wife became
one OF the most popular women in
Washington, Her devotion TO her
husband, and her pluck won the al
lection and the admiration OF this
town.
International marriages can be
tragic in time OF war IL the parties
concerned" are not made OF stout
stuff. Frances Bunker Rosso, the
American wife OF the former Italian
ambassador to the United States,
Augusta Rosso, has proved that she,
like Nine. Procope. has the quail
ties heroic wives are made OF.
Frances has followed her hus-
band about from one difficult spot
20 another. She was travelling
across most OF the harassed coun'
tries OF central Europe at just about
the moment those countries were
declaring war against her own coun'
try or her husbands country.
But she didn't run back 10 tho
United States for safety. She is in
Rome now. Delighted, OF course,
that Italy is at peace with the Unit.
ed States II she is living meagerly
and not without anxiety.