The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-10
Walter WinchelI
 Or BrO0dw,0v
Esass HaFa RssassFsA cSpVMsAA lSsA DsHv H''sOs

money. She put 1t in l2 stacks of $l55.56, each representing a months rent. No matter now many ways she played the Rent Game, she always got the same answer, $1 ,866.67 is $466.67 more than $1,4O0. She thought maybe she wasn't look ing at the landlords figure in the right light.
 Of course, the landlord wrote, she didn't HAVE to buy the apartment He hinted that there were any nun. Der of patriotic fellows around who'd be glad to take it off her hands The fact that she wouldn't have any place for herself and her two chii- dren, houses being the scarce thing they are, was something the letter didn't mention. A landlord can't think of everything ,. The soldiers wife got worried and consulted a lawyer friend. It was all legit and legal and pulled through the cor rect loopholes, the attorney advised He said landlords like to be legal It saves trouble The harasSed wife said it wasn't decent. The lawyer told her not to be silly, that decency couldn't be fixed by law.
 It just happens that the soldiers wife can't afford the boost. She's worried sick someone who GAN af- ford it will take the roof from right over the heads of herself and hel two kids. She wrote to her hus- band in the German camp and con- graduated him on being a content ed prisoner of war, free of all that legal hanky-panky.
 The wife, while not questioning the legality of the girnmick, still thinks she's getting bum deal. She doesn't think much of a law which lets landlord ASSESS her n' HELP him outwit the OPA. She fig. ures the OPA is on her side With all her worries, she might con- slider an idea to fight the OPA if il profited HER, but why should she pick up the check for an operation. aimed right at her wallet? What frets her most is that it's all SO all-fired legal.
 Here's what she gets from the whole thing. With her husband off in the Army, the family income is all shot to pieces. She and her kids can't afford the things they'd be able to have if the husband and father were here, including the $46667 added rental On the other hand, family whose sup port isn't in the Army, and maybe enriched by war profits, can put up the dough that will make her and her children homeless Some times she gets to agreeing with that clear-thinker who once said: "The law is an ass"
 Then, too, she has some thoughts that frighten her. They strike her as almost Red. But she can't help thinking like that, poor woman, with so much on her mind Her first thought is that it's not fair to her husband, who was given every en- couragement when he enlisted that his family would have fair shake until his return. Her husband had fine faith in the Four Freedoms. He figured that since he was fight ing for the world to have them, his own family might cut in on them, too.
 The wife has another suspicion that she feels is even Redder. She's too bashful to put it into words, but a hint here, and hint there re- vealed what she was thinking |. Shes been thinking that her hus- band didn't carry gun in order that a landlord might hold another gun to her head.
 Other dwellers in the apartment are very sorry for the soldiers wife . They have had several meetings III her apartment to discuss means of opposing the landlords plan. One tenant suggested that they appeal to the big man himself. He had gone on record as deploring strikes as an affront to our armed forces . Obviously, it was suggested. he d be against anything else that looked like an affront to the men in the service ... The big shot said he was sorry - genuinely sorry but that was entirely in the hands of MT. Whamzabuff. And MT. Whalnza- buff was even sorrier. He said surely the tenants didn't expect the landlord to operate the building at a loss, did they? How much, the tenant committee inquired, did the building lose last year? :. MT. Whamzabuff was sorrv aoain. but he just didn't have the books handy.
 The soldiers wife isn't getting much comfort from her apartment. It seems she doesn't sleep well nights She wonders how her husband IS sleeping in the German prison . She wonders how the landlord is sleeping these nights.
 ABBOTT-COSTELLO TUNES
 Composers Ralph Blanc and Hugh Martin have completed work on the score for M-G-Ms forthcoming Ab- bolt and Costello starrer, Abbott and Costello in Hollywood"
 Songs include Shake Your Salt on the Bluebtd's Tail," and Cocoa Bola Tree"