Evening star., 1944-09-05
Star War Writer Interviews
Gertrude Stein in South France
Nozis Quortered in !
Authors House Never
Recognized Her

Authors House Never
Recognized Her
BY NEWBOLD MOVES, Jr.,
star War CORRESPONDENT.
SOMEWHERE IN SOUTHERN
FRANCE, Sept. Delayed -
From the minute I'VE came into
the hall and saw that little
round black straw hat on the
table, / knew for certain that
this was the right house.
The maid said, "One moment,
messieurs. will call her"
We took Oh our hats and tried to
rub the dust from our faces. In q
few seconds the worlds most widely
discussed contemporary writer sailed
into the room.
Come In, soldiers" she beamed.
Come in, come In. You're just in
time for lunch"
Eric Sevareid Of the Columbia
Broadcasting System was the first
to find his tongue with q How do
you do?" But Golfers Frank
Gervasi, the man Of the minute,
stepped up to this lady who had
been incognito here since the start
of the war and asked May we hug
you?" A moment later, dirty and
unkempt as he was, three day beard
and all, Mrt Gervasi was swept to
Gertrude STEMS ample bosom.
We had come q long way to find
her. All morning we drove through
shady lanes and country so freshly
liberated the people looked at US
strangely, unsure as to whether or
not We were Germans. Miss Stein
was well on the beaten track. II
she had not been, we might never
have found her at all.
We had had breakdown on the
way. just as we had about given
up hope of ever getting the car
fixed on this deserted road, up drove
1t. Col. o. Perry OF Denver. Colo.
as surprised to see US as we were to
see him.
There's a great story down the
road" he said. "Gertie Stems
down there. We were Just walking
around this town and she pulled up
to us on the street. I'm Gertrude
Stein She took US to her house for
dinner and made US spend the
night"
We told Col. Perry we were look
ing for Miss Stein ourselves II only
we could get this car going. But Pfc.
John j. Schmaltz of Delta. Colo,
driver Of the colonels jeep, lent us
hand and a wrench and in a few
minutes the car coughed, sputtered
and started again.
Has Written New Book.
I mention Col. Perry and Pfc
Schmaltz so you will know who they
are when you read about them In
Miss Stems new book, which will be
called Wars l Remember" or "All
the Wars I Remember"-she is not
quite sure Of the title. The book on
her life in wartime France will close
with the incident OF their visit to
her house last night.
So now We had found the town
and Charles Murzy, the assistant
Mayor and great friend of Miss
Stein, took us to the house. Miss
Stein talked fast and happily. 1t
was obvious this was a big day for
her.
1T is so good to see Americans
again" she said. Can you get it
through your thick young head what
1t means to see you after all this
time? Sit down Sit down. we
were just having lunch. Pussy,
they're staying for lunch. Bring
some chairs for them"
L She introduced US in one whirl-
wind breath to the rather bewil-
Euered French couple that had been
her invited luncheon guests. sPussyn
Miss Alice B. Toklas,
Miss STEMS secretary and lifelong
companion-rustled up another table
and some chairs. The room was
sunny and bright, beautifully fur
nished. At one end hung Picasso's
portrait of Miss Stein painted long
agoein order to get money to live
she had to sell the other pictures
she brought from Paris including
Cezannes' portrait of his wife.
Never Recognized by Nazis.
This remarkable household seemed
not the least bit disconnected by the
fact that the luncheon party had
doubled in size in the twinkling Of
an eye. We were Immediately
served one of the most delicious
meals I have had in three years of
the war and while we ate Miss Stein
talked.
If the Germans had known her
whereabouts it would not have been
pleasant for her. AS an American
citizen and a Jewess whose books
were on the Nazi blacklist she would
have been PERSONA non grata to-
them, but the Germans never knew
where she was or, to state 1t more
correctly, they never knew who she
was Three times German troops
were quartered in her house. But
they did not even recognize her
American accent. The Italians she
said were not so stupid-they knew
right away that she was an Amer
lean, but they did not care.
The Germans don't notice things"
she said. This place is full of books
written in English. That means
nothing to them. They were always
very correct and unpleasant. The
only trouble I had with them was
that every time they left l had to
have an entirely new set OF keys
made for the house, for they took
them OF. They had key complex"
~ Miss Stein has been doing a good
deal of thinking about the war and
that thought has been incorporated
into her new book which opens with
the sentence. II do not know
whether to put down the things I
do not remember as well as those
do remember" Her thoughts about