The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1945-03-06
Observations
World War Two
Brings Too Many
Enoch Ardens
BY HELEN EsSARY .

Enoch Ardens are becoming
plentiful in this war. the War De
partment says unofiicially. MANY
stories OF husbands returning 10
households that had thought them
lost reach the ears q listening
Army investigators.
This war coye's such vast areas.
IL is being fought in tropical
swamps, above the clouds, under
the sea. and on polar glaciers.
There are hundreds OF reasons
! why men might be reported miss
ing in action" when actually they
are missing from sight.
Yesterday | heard of a woman
whose husband had been reported
missing" for two and a half years
down smoking. About six months
ago she found herself more than
casually interested in an Army Of
| ficer.
She had decided to marry the
Army officer when she got word
that her husband was still alive.
lie had mysteriously survived the
crash of his plane. had escaped
through enemy territory to a re-
mote Pacific island. There he had
been fighting guerilla warfare az
hourly risk of his life almost as
wild animal fights. And with no
way of communicating with the
outside world.
When the Americans advanced
through thu Philippines he identi-
fed himself as alive. And so word
got back to his wife Naturally,
now the plan for second marriage
is ended But what tragic ket-
tie Of FISH for each member Of the
triangle.
Such situations as this are no
longer exceptional They are the
truth that makes fiction pale. This
war makes all fiction pale, to me
at least. Cooked-up little plots and
personalities seem so trivial when
thousands OF romances and TRACE
dies are being lived more thrilling.
ly than any novelist can imagine.
The Death March on Bataan. the
fighting in the Philippines and the
rescue OF the prisoners from the
Japanese camp make any imitation
pieces of life too namby PANTY TO
waste the eyesight on.
Indeed, | find most modern read
ing proftless now. Books of the
moment are so completely of the
moment. This is no time for pro-
phecy. Nobody knows anything
about anything.
UNDERSTAND THE SMALL
NATIONS are mostly in a rage
with each other about the limita-
tons OF UNRRA. Each small ma
ton wants to get the most for her
self. And is grabbing hard.
1t is rather funny that in select
ing the titles for the United States.
British and Russian heads OF
UNRRA the Russian representative
was made chief Of the mission. the
American, the chief of supplies
dear old lend-lease). But there
is great difficulty in finding a suit
able office for the British represen-
tative.
SPRING MAY BE DILLY-DAL-
LY-DALLYING about in the north
and. northwest. but in Washington
it is popping out in faint green in
the willows along the tidal basin.
And several Korean" cherry trees
there are budding cautiously. won
dering. no doubt. il they will be
"Siamese". or Oriental" cherry
trees this year With peace in
sight. they might even be called
Japanese" once again.
THE SPRING BUYING SPREES
are starting with gallop This ia
especially true IN womens shops
always indicators or a general at
titude toward spending. One smart
shop manager said: II sold $500
worth OF merchandise this morn
ing. Looking back | cant seem
TO remember that any OF my Gus
toners got very much. One woman
paid SOS for little pongee blouse
, Most Of my customers forget to ask
the price Of anything. Young girls
buy half dozen dresses without
stopping. Poor old Dad they sigh.
And then buy two more dresses
I tell you the fashion experts
the garment industry IL you prefer
to be technical-are the shrewdest
outfit functioning in the United
States. I continue 10 think they
could sell peace as a commodity.