The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-09-19
Observations
Role of Hero's
Wife Takes Tact,
Patience
By HELEN EssARY

Whenever meet or hear about a
hero, wonder II being the wife or
a hero isn't harder than being the
hero.
In order TO be a successful wife OF
a hero. a woman must see the fine
fellow as the greatest man alive.
She must sit at his feet and at
the same time protect him as II
he were an infant and not yet out
OF swaddling clothes. She must
remember only his most admirable
qualities and his more magnificent
moments. And while the multi
tudes cheer her husbands triumphs,
she must forget those occasions
upon which he happened to leave
the ignition switch on and thus
ran the family automobile battery
down for three days in a row; or
when he loses his temper when
matches fail to light. These-plus
a thousand little eccentricites.
In addition TO other qualifications
for the role OF a Hero's wife, the
Happy Little Woman must wear
Just the right clothes when on view
IN public. She must have the
right kind of profile for the cam
eras. Manager to keep fresh the
welcome home" orchids, present
ed by some reception committee.
despite torrid heat or drizzle. And,
worst OF all, manage TO look pretty
for the picture page and its larger
than-life-size shot bearing some
such caption as: Greeted by Wife
With Loving Kiss"
Mrs. Jonathan Wainwright, Kitty
for short, is a most satisfactory
hero's. wife. She really was q
darling at her husbands press
meetings. She's very pretty. She
did wear the right clothes-though
! could have wished for hat small
er than her black straw sailor. II
dropped and hid her attractive face.
Her black and blue silk frock was
smarty cut. Her pearl earrings
were good. And her orchid hadn't
as much as one brown spot on its
velvet leaves. She looked com
pletely a lady and yet not too
Rloof for cheerful companionship.
When Mrs. Wainwright took her
place at the right of her husband
and faced several hundred curious
reporters, taking notes violently,
she was modest and composed.
When her husband spoke affection
stely OF her. her manner was
charming.
my first great happiness on ar
irving home was seeing my be-
loved wife from whom have been
separated for four and a half
years" said the man who had lived
through horror and torture in
Japanese prison camp. Kitty
Wainwright dropped her head. Per
haps she wore that large hat on
purpose. But you could see the
muscles OF her neck twist as she
gulped down her emotion. Then
she reached into her purse. For a
handkerchief, probably, to wipe
= the tears from her eyes. Then
/ thought better OF making a display
OF emotion. Closed the purse
! quickly. Swallowed hard and sat
with hands clenched while the hero
of Corregidor related a few of his
experiences.
The general talks with both hum
fifty and pride OF his share in
the war. II he did feel any bitter
ness over his experience neither
HIS manner nor tone showed re-
sentiment.
The Young AeneAs had an une.
ventful trek on his way back from
Troy when compared with the
World War II adventures OF iona
than Wainwright. wonder II
the Young Aeneas got himself a
new suit as quickly as the general
acquired that snappy bright uni
form he has been wearing. The
generals uniform seems a trifle
large. But then the general IS more
than a trifle thin now. Thinner by
many pounds than he was when he
won the nickname skinny" The
last one OF his four stars drops
down over the edge OF his narrow
shoulders. But his voice Is strong
and he holds his head high
He Is a nice change from some
OF the more bumptious heroes we
have met lately. Heroes shouldn't
look too well fed and too pleased
with themselves. Not battle heroes
whose triumphs have been made
possible by the death and general
torment Of thousands OF less lucky
fighting men.
Skinny Wainwright IS lust my
kind of war hero No wonder Kitty
was glad 10 have him come home.