The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-12-21
Observations
No Armed Escort
For First Lady
While Shopping
Nv HELEN EssARY

MRS TRUMAN has finished her
Christmas shopping well before
most OF Us.
For quite a long time she had
been going downtown every mora
ing OF SO. Looking around At
the display. With a list in her
hand she has been checking or
names. Henry Margaret
Mamma. Mother, Mary
Mrs Truman. as wife OF the
President OF the United states,
might have had. maybe should
have had, a Secret Service escort
when she went shopping, yostled
about by the impatient crowds as
she must have been.
She went unattended by guards.
How in the world could you get 10
the counters II you had half
dozen military-looking men push
ing ahead Of you, and tagging after
you? q personally can think Of
no better way 10 clear a path
through the holiday mobs... But
never mind
Mrs Truman Just went out TO get
some presents for the family and
friends, as she has always done.
Her list was pretty long this Christ
mas. She made new friends and
taken on new responsibilities dur
ing the last few months. Mrs.
Truman has done not only her own
Christmas shopping: she has, like
most wives, shopped for her hus'
band Like most husbands, Mr..
Truman told her TO get what she
thought best for everybody.
However, she has taken things,
you might say, in the best Tru-
man manner, Wrapping up her
presents whenever she has a few
spare moments. And approaching
the holidays as nationally and hap
PLY as anybody can approach
Christmas in this insane world.
Most OF the family presents will
be taken home to Independence.
No, and placed around the family
Christmas tree. For Mr.. and Mrs.
Truman and Margaret are going
home for Christmas. The glamor
of a FIRST Christmas IN the White
House" evidently does not appeal
as much as a CHEEKY gathering
around the family fireplace.
And TO keep the domestic peace
the President will eat THREE
Christmas dinners! One in his own
Eabled home in independence. One
at Grandview. with his mother.
The same sprightly personality
who, looking at the crowd gathered
to watch her get OF the plane on
her first trip to see her son in the
White House, said, "Oh, Fiddle
sticks"
The third dinner Mr. Truman will
eat with Aunt Ella. Aunt Ella is
Mrs. holland. She has two daugh-
tiers, Ethel and Nellie Both I'M
wed. Both daughters will be pres
ent to welcome Cousin Harry.
Mrs. holland lives across the
street from the Truman home. Her
White House nephew dotes on her.
When he stopped in Independence
on his way across the continent
from the San Francisco conference
he went FIRST 10 see his mother.
Then hoped over to call on Aunt
Ella and listen to her freely-spokea
remarks about how he had better
watch out and work hard.
Mrs. holland is 90 years old. The
Presidents mother is SO. There
is no age limit TO this family Both
old ladies are spirited always. And
spicy when necessary. Mr.. Tru-
man may come back TO Washington
with some sharp advice on getting
people back TO work and minding
our own business at home.
The President and his immediate
family will leave Washington early
Christmas morning. The President
probably will spend the rest OF
Christmas week in Missouri. Mrs.
Truman and Margaret probably
will remain for a longer visit.
On Christmas Eve the President
will light the community Christmas
tree on the White House grounds.
He will also make a short speech
over the radio. Both these cere-
monies will be according 10 the ira.
dition OF Franklin Roosevelt and
other recent white House prede.
cessors