The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-11-29

CHOWDER
BY RAYME z

THANKSGIVING was no COAS- IuA-
key" day although it didn't seem
like a holiday until shutdown when
/ went to the Eugene Gray's for
dinner. He's the man who looks
as if he might have modelled for
Esky, and who, I learned has been
wanting to meet the cooker-upper
of Conch Chowder for over year
since he and his wife Marty have
been fans of the column for long
time. Marty has FURNISHED red
gold cap of hair and wonderful
memory for all the songs popular
in late '2O's and '30's. She even
sang all of the words to Baby,
Won't You Please Come Homer"
a number that Duke Ellington
wrote 20 years ago. It ought to
have revival it has what
it takes for today's music, too.
Other guests we're moved by the
spirit, too, and everyone got into
the act, including Julie Melville,
the tall, willowy blonde who looks
like a Vogue model and Leila God
frey, who surprised us with a'cake-
walk. vi Veidt was wearing a
slim, black, toreador lounge suit,
but instead of lounging. she popped
into the kitchen and helped fix the
buffet table loaded with turkey,
of course; creamed onions, cram
berry jelly, juicy yams, stuffing
and other goodies. Artist Strong
used the strong arm to carry in
loads Of wood and started a fire
on the hearth. We all sat around
eating by freight, and there's
nothing like a fireplace and fine
food and good talk for stimulation
Of the holiday mood. 1t was one
Of the most delightful evenings
I've had. Even the Gray's Siamese
cat came in for a Thanksgiving
greeting. The Grays' said they were
so moved by the lonely dog story
that they wanted to 60 out and
get the poodle described but
| think Jeanne and Ski Skewis my
neighbors were already after the
sad homeless pup. Jeanne came
in while / was dressing for dinner
GREATNESS and wanted to know
how to get the dog. / hope all the
dogs have found owners by now.
Jaxon tells me that the festive
tradition of Turkey Day was on
her calendar, too, with Bob i'm
norman as co-host and Jimmy and
Joan Durrell as special guests.
Durrell is a British fiier and he
says when he and his wife get
back to England they are going
to start Thanksgiving customs over
there. Cathy, Bob's daughter and
Gail, Jaxon's daughter were the
youngest guests unless Reilly,
the Red Persian and Sheba, the
Alsatian dog can be counted as
member of the younger generation
present. The Durrells' liked the
Players production of ''JOhn Loves
Mary" which was part Of the
Thanksgiving program, but they
weren't exactly sure what accent
the Cockney" girl was using. That's
what they call putting a little
English on the shot.
Thanksgiving Eve ship's party
at Casa Cayo Hueso turned out to
be the nearest thing to a Cecil
B. DeMille mob scene anyone has
ever seen around here. Hundreds
of sailors milled out on the lawn
and through the interior. / must
say somebody had a sense of hui
NOR those black footmarks
going UP the side of a wall were
funny but the shattered mir
ros, the melee, and some Of the
other sher;.anigans were costly.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lastres, the Bob
Youmans, Bob Ellis, ct al, were
sitting quietly talking about MAZDA
Lazarovici's story of what th'
Crown Princess Martha Of Mar
way had eaten for dinner the night
before (they dined royalty, Of
course), when / was summoned
to the phone by Julian Volushin.
Said be. "Raymer. get down here
fast! There are about 500 sailors
here" don't know what he
thought was going on or what |
could do about il but that's
how We found about the USS Al
bert T. Harris celebration. The
shore patrol had a busy night get
ting everyone to 60 home At tho
proper time II. which Is an IN