Evening star., 1946-03-05

First D. {. War Bride
Arrivals Too Intrigued
For Homesickness
The first group of war brides-al
but one of whom are British-to ar.
rive here from overseas are having
a wonderful time.
To them, department stores here
even without stockings, are fairy.
lands. The still get thrill out o1
walking into grocery store an6
finding all they want on well-stockeo
shelves. With pride, they tell about
learning the money system, finding
their way around town and making
new friends.
Only at night do they dream o1
houses and apartment buildings
waiting for occupants. In daylight
they thank their stars the housing
problem isn't as bad as it is ir
bomb-shattered London. At least
their in-laws have room to share
with them.
Nineteen-year-old Pierrette, the
French bride of Walter J. Leckie
is having harder time than her
English counterparts. At first, she
and her husband had to sleep on
the floor of his brothers apartment
at 211 Delaware avenue S.W. Now
they have room to themselves, but
are getting discouraged in their
search for an apartment.
Plans to Go to School.
Walters sister-in-law, Mrs. HUI
bert Leckie, said newspaper pleas
brought only one tangible offer OF
an apartment and it was too ex-
pensive. Several "cranks" tele-
phoned, she said, just to ask: "Is
it true you don't speak English" One
woman kept Pierrette on the tele.
phone for an hour describing hel
own large home without ever get.
ting around to offering a room, she
said.
Because it's lonely staying in one
room and difficult to go out alone
when you don't speak the language
Pierrette is planning to go to school
as soon as she catches her breath.
Speaking English has made ii
much easier for the British brides
All of them agree that every one
has been completely delightful" to
them. The brides who came over
together on the Queen Mary have
been so busy meeting their hus-
bands friends since arriving Febru-
ary that they haven't found time
to get together.
Not one would confess to touch
of home sickness. Mrs. Harriet
Hansborough, from Liverpool, went
the farthest when she conceded
I've thought about home. You
know how it is. But I can't be
lonely. There are so many things
doing"
The wife of former Sergt. Fred
erick C. Hansborough, she is living
with his parents at 220 Eleventh
street S.W. Most of the first month
she has kept busy buying furniture
for an apartment they have yet to
find. The only argument that has
arisen since their reunion is over
whether Mrs. Hansborough should
work. Since her husband does not
want her to work, she has thought OF
compromising by buying a sewing
machine and establishing herself as
a dressmaker in her own home.
The first time Mrs. John K. Farms
worth of 1923 Kenyon street NV,
ventured down town alone she
learned about America friendliness.
Hearing her accent, a matronly
woman stopped Mrs. Farnsworth
and told her all about her son in
England. The only time the bride
became confused was when the
streetcar door failed to open. She
learned you have to step on the
freddie.
The variety of American food has
amazed and pleased all the brides.
The only thing Mrs. Farnsworth
misses is real bread" She thinks
the pure white American variety is
tasteless and will be improved when
the bakers carry out President Tru-
mans order to darken it.
Hungry "at Wrong Time"
The change in eating hours was
the most difficult adjustment re-
quired of Mrs. Freda Slagle, bride of
Stanley D. Slagle, 219 Varnum street
NV.
Il was always getting hungry at
the wrong time" she laughed. $50
1 raided the icebox in the after
noon and didn't want heavy dinner
at night. In England, we ate our
large meal at noon"
Marlene, her 13-month-old daugh-
ter, had no such difficulty: "She
drinks milk all the time. She will
take a glassful without coming up
for air." In England, Marlene was
limited to pint a day.
What has surprised the brides
most Is that there is so little diff
ference between the way of life here
and in England. They find their
new relatives so much like the ones
they left in England that they Won
der why they ever worried about
coming to a strange land.
Mrs. Margaret Gibson, who came
by plane to join her husband, Ste
phen Gibson of 4060 Nichols avenue
S.W.. and preceded the other brides
by about month, has only one bit
Of advice for the British brides still
arriving:
Bring warm coat and cool
dresses" Mrs. Gibson was not pre-
pared for central heating. She
found herself opening windows con-