Evening star., 1962-09-04

The Place Where
Marshall DweIIs
BY MORRIS slEcn

THIS HAD TO BE ONE OF the strangest recovery
rooms in the history of anybodys convaescepce On one
wall opposite the bed, tattered Confederate flag
Above the bed was portrait of George Washington The
furniture was early American but real early American
The only concession to the goth century telephone
In this antediluvian setting George Marshall is recov-
er1ng from his recent operation He doing well that
ne is issuing his own bulletins. There had been mild
cen over the status Of his progress, but he himself
moved all doubt Sunday Ten hours after his Redskins
had finally exhibition game and eight days after
his own decision over the surgeons knife Marshall
: his old self.
He name-dropping, suggestion giving and deci-
making in midseaSon FORM The medical profession
take whatever credit it deems proper for his
back but the real healer the Saturday night
on the Chicago Bears in Norfolk Va achieved without
his presence but not without his interest
To Marshall the teams first successful dress rehear
sal since 1859, gap covering 18 games was as glory
drenched Green Bays slaughter of the Giants last year
for the big spot And Marshall made sure the world,
pecay that segment housing his ticket holders
would not soon forget the epochal milestone.
HE PHoNED THE OWNER of the hotel in Norfolk
which quartered his warriors and congratulated the inn
keeper doing fine job 1t little trait he
doubt picked up from his long and unamented associa
ton with Harry Wsmer HE told me- Marshall reported
"that he glad to the team leave. They
happy they about to wreck his hotel and he
happy for them he was going to join them"
One of his staff of around -the-cock attendant
tered the to tell Squire Marshall certain party
was the phone saying he had been away and hadn't
heard about the game and wanted to talk with Marshall
about it. "Te him I'm sick something I've got time
for anybody who doesn't know we won Can you imagine
somebody not knowing about the game?"
Having kissed off this would-be intruder, Marshals
soloquy the greatness of Norman Snead g. Co.
interrupted again. Its Hollywood, Hollywood. Call
forna calling" he told by excited voice who must
have thought this the first coasttocoast telephone
call ever.
HELLO, BEN, HOW ARE you my boy2" Marshall
asked his caller did you hear about the game last night?
Mop Well won my boy yeah beat those big bad Bears
1t televson Hows that Zanuck situation out here2
YEAH feeling much better Ben Put the wife the phone
Ben want to talk to her Say that husband Of yours
he's got to put telephones in those cabanas next Who
ever heard Of cabana without telephone2 That you
again, Ben? okay, my boy tell em all we won out there,
he concluded
"Bens helluva guy he owns the Beverly Hills Hotel out
there Fine place like told him. he's got to put tele
phones in those cabanas."
A NEwSPAPER-TYPE FELLOW, who had witnessed
In the defeat Of the Bears the previous evening"
sauntered into the with greeting that made Mar
shall droo "The team looked good George, didn't you
think Had he been given hot foot Marshall couldn't
have jumped into quicker agreement
Gen. Quesadas immodest suggestion that he be placed
In charge of D. c. Stadium the next topic at the
mar Marshall said it wouldn't make any difference to
him Gen. Quesada, the Armory Board or Howard john
operated the place. $50 long as they don't disturb the
Redskins lease He was wondering he wondered out LOUD
how anybody could effect much of at the place.
"It wasn't built with the idea Of being a money
maker he answered "Upkeep and maintenance are what's
driving the costs up, but you gotta have those It's silly
to think otherwise 1t would be like spending lot OF
money to build the Lincoln Memorial and then not main
tanning It, incidentally, does anybody here know what
It did cost to build the Lincoln Memoral?"
On that fiscal stumper the visiting researchers ad
journed