Evening star., 1952-10-11
Just Another Man Around the House
By Gwen RobYns

LONDON.-Belng married to genius
for A long years requires in itself a
measure of genius, but Mrs. Winston
Churchill qualities. The late Lord Rid
dell described her as queen of wives" !"
Picture yourself in her position One
moment you are. pacifying a roaring
lion. The next you have a brooding
teddy bear on your hands, or are try
ing to keep pace with the liveliest fox
terrier
Almost hourly situations crop up that
require the most delicate handling on
her part. A swarm of hungry, lugu-
brious cabinet ministers arrive unex-
pectedly for lunch-hour conference;
or a visiting Hindu v. I. p, invited to
dinner, has special food requirements
which are not always easy to fulfill.
even with the resources of home farm.
Mr.. Churchill is perfectionist in
most things, and food is no exception.
He appreciates good food-with body
in it. Friends of the Churchills know
that the robust health and positively
amazing energy of the dynamic 78-
year-old is due not so much to his
rugged Marlborough ancestors as the
devotion of his wife. And her devotion
of the limelight which floods every scene
for her husband.
Mrs. Churchill is, indeed, shy and
retiring. She is at her best within the
cosineSs of her own home.
Suppose that you have been invited
to Chartwell lunch party. You go
past mellow. red-brick walls into a
brief, semicircular drive overlooked by
the shady side of the mansion. You
are shown into the drawing room with
it's high ceiling. long, spacious windows
and dominating Orpen portrait of the
great man.
Waiting to greet you is tall, ele-
CANT. White-haired woman, whose Sc
rene personality is set off by comfort
able, well-bred clothes. She has q
charming, unaffected voice.
There IS first glass of fine sherry
(your host has seen to that); the usual
small talk until the Prime Minister ar
rives in the nick of time to go in to
lunch. Following closely on his heels is
his poodle, who sits quietly at his feet
during the meal.
The Chartwell table offers straight
forward English food at its best. When
the meat ration runs out, game and
poultry are used. Mr.. Churchill Is not
a man for fish or "made-up" dishes.
During the entire meal you are always
conscious of your hostess. Under the
pretext of deafness Mr.. Churchill is
apt to fall into brown study" while
quietly applying himself to the job of
eating. His indifference to v. I. P's
particularly to the more pompous per-
ha cub ic
Mrs. Churchill who adroitly keeps the
conversation flowing.
It was back in the gas-lit London of
Edwardian days that the elegant Glenn
entine Hozier-ash-blond and with
an hourglass figure-f1rst met the fiery.
red checked, sandy haired Winston
Churchill.
Back from South Africa, hero Of in
credible adventures, he was considered
the catch of the season. Astute mammas
of eligible debutante daughters besieged
him with invitations. But, quietly and
firmly in the background, his redoubt-
able American mother, Lady Randolph
Churchill had made her own selection
for her son. She admired the grace
and tact of her friend Lady Blanche
Hozier'S daughter. It was an illuStriouS
Scottish family, the Airlies, and Clemen-
tine showed tolerance and a sweet dispo-
sition.
The wedding at st. Margaret's Church
was a highlight of the season. More So
am told, because the groom wore odd
shoes.
Though some people have suggested
that Mrs. Churchill has not taken Suf-
f1cient active public interest in politics
down through the years, she is in fact
her husbands first confidante and critic.
Hers is "backroom" job.
Every major speech-every majestic,
rolling phrase. every quiet telling pause.
every dramatic geSture-is rehearsed by
Mr.. Churchill before a mirror Then,
once more, to a recording machine.
The record is played back to Mrs:
Churchill while her husband watches
closely to see if his voice is holding her
attention, then listens to her comments
Often, when the prime minister makes
an important speech in the House, you
will see him look up. momentarily, to
catch his wife's quick wave from the
visitors gallery.
A tactful wife, Mrs. Churchill learned
early in her married life that her hus-
band has foible about old clothes. He
hates to throw them away. Nowadays a
valet keeps him trim from well-filled
wardrobes. But it is usually at Mrs.
Churchills suggestion that muffler is
tucked in his overcoat pocket on cold
days.
Both husband and wife are rarely in
bed before midnight. It is in the early
hours of the morning often after an ex-
hausting night of entertaining (when
everybody else is glad to go home to
bed) that Mr.. Churchill does much of
the work on his memoirs. Sometimes
after dinner, on rare evenings without
guests, husband and wife play Six-pack
Bezique or see film in their private
cinema at Chartwell. At the week ends
tenants are invited to join in. Just be-
fore the lights are lowered Mr.. and Mrs.
Churchill come in and sit on large cush-
ioned armchairs in the stalls" Mr..
Churchill loves news reels and when his