Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-05-17

own homes.
She's a home economist, too. By
name, Mary Burnham.
Otherwise known as assistant
director of women's activities at
WMAL. Or Ruth Cranes stand
in. They're the only such team
in town.
There are home economists
whose job it is to create new food
products and recipes and improve
on old ones. There are home
economists who teach nutrition to
others-children in schools or
housewives in special classes. And
there are home economists. like
Mary, whose job 1t is to report to
the public in general on new prod
ucts dixie mixes or frozen orange
juice. familiarize them with the
essentials of balanced menu
planning and with new ideas. such
as the theories about saving time
and motion-acquaint them with
all these things and show them
how to adapt them to their own
pattern of homemaking.
Mary describes her Job as do
ing everything Ruth does, only
she does 1t better"
And as every one in Washing
ton who listens to daytime radio
knows what Ruth Crane does.
that should be the end Of this
story.
Except that there are lots OF
other things about Mary that
should be told.
For instance-she loves people
and is one Of those interesting
individuals who thinks there is
some good in everybody. She loves
people so much that the thought
of leaving her Midwestern small
town life and coming East to live
in q big city just teeming with
them filled her with delight and
not a single qualm.
Since leaving Iowa. she's been
to Washington and New York and
Boston. And hasn't seen. nearly
enough people yet. Her biggest
ambition is to travel all over
south and west and every which
way. She thinks that pat phrase
about people being the same every
where is true, but can't issue
definite statement until she has
been everywhere herself to check
on it.
Mary was born in South Dakota.
went to Iowa State College. Her
major was economic history, with
journalism and lot OF other
things on the side. She got into
radio out there, doing farm pro-
grams, woman's programs-getting
all wrapped up in different kind
of economics.
But. as stated. she wanted to
travel and the road led east. She
worked at CHS doing an early
Sunday am. farm show for the
network. But she felt she was
lust a voice in the Sunday morn
ing air-there was no personal
contact with her audience.
She has no such complaint to-
day. Ruth Crane listeners are an
outspoken lot. When they hear
you they let you know they have
and how they liked you. Mary
thinks it's wonderful.
Naturally, a home economist
knows all about cooking and en-
Joys so doing. Mary combines her
two loves, Of people and for cul-
mary craft, right in the kitchen.
She's always having folks IN for
dinner. Hates to cook just for
herself or to eat alone.
Since the Ruth Crane program
. Is also on television (Tuesday
nights 4 Mary's all mixed UP in
that, too. She came to WMAL-TV
Just as it was getting started,
about a year ago, and it, she and
Ruth have pioneered together.
It's hard work, fascinating,
challenge. fun.
Fun to watch, too. Her own
set at home gets plenty OF use.
She has the biggest conglomera-
ton of records you ever saw" all
kinds of music; collects demi-tasse
cups, loves all kinds Of sports i'm
partially, each In its season. ex-
cept football. which she adores all
year round: was a seady Olney
patron last year. reads constantly,
the newspapers and the classics,
making up for the years she was
too busy with other studies to be-
come acquainted with them.