Evening star., 1953-07-19
By IsobeIIe Shelton

BY ISobeIIe Shelton
She spent her early childhood
in South Africa, and the past
two years in Italy on a dream
assignment" which included fire.
quent side trips to Paris, Ankara,
Istanbul and Athens and con-
cluded with attendance at the
British coronation as a guest of
the British Admiralty. In the
years between she has set up
housekeeping "in more places
than I can remember" as she
followed her sea dog husband
from one post to another.
She is Mrs. Robert B. Carney,
amusing, striking-looki wife of
Admiral C'Mick'') Carney, the
newly-named Chief of Naval OPP
erations. The Carneys arrived in
Washington early last week. He
will take over his new duties in
mid-August.
The dream assignment" was
the AdmiraPs, of course. as
Commander in Chief of Allied
Forces in Southern Europe. Their
headquarters was in Naples,
where they lived high on a hill
overlooking the beautiful Bay of
Naples and the Storied Isle Of
Capri.
Theirs was a recently built
house. although Mrs. Carney
says she had difficulty resisting
a wonderful old castle that was
available.
IT was terribly tempted" she
declares. But it could be
reached only by a long, winding
road that was hardly wide
enough for an automobile. I
guess it's just as well anyhow.
1t was warm when we were
house hunting, and everything
looks so fascinating in new
place. I didn't stop to think how
hard it would be to heat the
castle in the cold months"
Housing Problem
The Carneys' Washington
housing plans are a little uncer-
tain. Temporarily they are oc-
cupying a house in Georgetown
belonging TO friends. When the
Admiral becomes Chief of Naval
Operations next month he will
be entitled to Navy quarters.
Traditionally, the CNO lives at
beautiful old "Admirals House"
on the grounds of the Naval OBJ |
Eervatory.
But a problem has arisen. For
the first time in history, a Navy
man-Admiral Arthur w. Rad |
ford-has been named Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That |
makes Admiral Radford top
ranking among all the military
men, and raises the question
whether he shouldn't be given
the Navy's most elegant quarters.
So far, no decision has been
reached.
I'm sure the Navy will find
suitable quarters for all of u.s."
Mrs. Carney says automatically.
In Naples she pursued an ems
thusiasm for archaeology which
she picked up from the Admiral.
You couldn't imagine a better
place for it than that part of
the Mediterranean world" she
says. Il took all our visitors to
see the excavations around
Pompeii and Herculaneus. And
I was in Italy when the Etruscan
tombs were opened"
Really, we had the most
fascinating duty anybody could
have she said. Il just loved
Italy. The people are simply
wonderful. I used to say it was
because they are so responsive.
But it isn't that. They make
you responsive. Yeu say much
more demohstrative things to
them, and mean them, than you
would dream of saying to other
Americans.
mo matter how little they
have, they can always find a
gracious way to say thank you"
She recalled one Christmas when
some United States Navy men
gave a shipboard party for a
group of Italian orphans. Even
their orphans don't seem like
other orhpans," she. said. They
are gay. not sad. When the
Christmas party was over they
ESQ.,