Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 29

I 4 i I il Last Niqht ii i I i i Q- i By EARL WILSON .4 i'Vy i ii 1 1. lit if I i 4- I Henpecked Husband's Wife Says: 'He Can't Say That to TFV (IKK due of rr.v ie. 1 1 Hy Gardner. re ently icferred to me a "henpecked Kai I WiNon Well did that laise hell heie at Hillbilly Hall? I didn't want to mention it straight out, to my barefoot baroness, but 1 slipped MONDAY, JAM AKV 8, 1962 Piiisburqhesque i i 4 the clipping in my apron f. bafts', faHUW! By CHABLES F.

Danver po krt serv in, be, I. I And when I vas her breakfast nl the clipping on fff 14 ft lis, i I I It '-s! The author of this, and fnlliiu ina articles, ii at on the ilomrlic slafj of the White limine for more than 21 years, lie scried as but-Icr, thief hutlrr and maitrr d'hotel under four Presidents llooier, Rooeielt, Trn-10 an, Eisenhmi cr. During those yean fields kept a daily diary of eienls around him and recently rnle "My 21 Years in the White llousr." This, and the articles In follow, are ccerpts from the hook. By ALONZO FIELDS FOR MORE THAN twenty-one years I served the White, House as butler, chief butler and maitre d'hotel. Beginning in October, 1931, through February, 1953, I planned and directed all the family, state, and social functions of four Presidents and kept the inventories of china, glassware, table linens, and silverware.

The famous gold service 1 the It av. "What does lie mean by this?" my wife roaied. 'You demand a redaction and punch him in the nose if he doesn't give you one!" suie," I trembled. "He ought to watch his lan What Won't rriVO FELLOWS drove up to the testing A field beside Machinery President George lieckwith's new plant on 'Route 22 East last week to settle an argument. One had donated lied seen a bulldozer working there "with nobody on and the other refused to believe him.

"You must be drunk," the skeptic said as they got out of the car. And he focused his attention on a huge bulldozer which, with its blade down, was pushing dirt, turning, backing, etc, just like any bulldozer. "There HAS to be somebody on it," he said. Mr. Berkwilh heard him and lauehed.

Because thio nnr. ii Mr. Danver titular which was hei nff tested was new an experimental job guage." Mr. WiNon "Yes! thundered the wife. "Who's he calling 'hens'? He might have said 'chicken And that, reminds me.

you seem to be back on that kick of writing about young dames in their-20s. How about some older giils like Joan Crawford and Bette Davis?" "Y-yes, darling, I murmured. "And don't you worry about all the buttons Muff off niv jacket and overcoat. I'll get one of the hntcheck girls (You see, these one button jackets are nothing; new to me; I've been wearin? one button for YEARS!) "Where's that sewing kit I gave you, so you can take care of it yourself when you lose your buttons?" she demanded. "I'm a a afraid I lost the thimble." I con fessed.

I was in for a lot of trouble when my mother-in-law appealed. "You need a new tuxedo so I ordeipd you one." she announced. "What do vou do with vour handkerchiefs thiow them away? It's strange how all vour suits looks alike. Hugh O'Brian's suits don't all look alike. Here, drink vour orange juice while it's cold and your coffee while it's hot!" Trundling off to my office, I encountered my secretary, Mary Dickson, who huh busy chancing what I call my decor.

"By the way. Mary," I said, "you know you moved my furniture around In here and I don't want to be nosey, but where is my desk?" "Why!" she was terribly surprised- "I moved vou in this inner office because you are The Boss!" "Who? Me?" I exclaimed. "Little ME is the boss?" Oh, well. I think most men are henpecked and I suspect they like it. Carol banning, first smash hit of 'fill, has added a Bardot and a wig; routine to her act (at the Waldorf Empire Room).

But I still break up when she's doing Iji Dietrich and gels her gam and foot caught in the chair Carol Ijiwrence and romantic Robert Goulet cheered from the ringside F. Sinatra took the Romanoffs, Axelrods, et. out in his own plane over Palm Springs and Las Yegas and celebrated New Year's Eve In the air! iTT-r-n in -r irnni iiimiii i i nn iiiim was in my trust; and believe me, no one left the pantry until each piece was accounted for after a dinner party. As the maitre d'hotel, I was further required to plan all the menus and direct the activities of the butlers and the kitchen. In these years I came in contact with kings, queens, prime ministers, princes, princesses, generals, admirals; labor, political, race, and church leaders; and some of the rabble rousers.

I believed that in a small way I was a part of history; 1 felt that I was playing some role for the man who holds the greatest job in the world. I constantly kept this thought before myself during the whole time I worked in the White House until it became almost a sense of dedication. As I always told the Negro servants and dining room help that worked for me, "Boys, remember that we are helping to make history. We have a small part, perhaps a menial part, but they can't do much here without us. They've got to eat, you know." Some, of course, thought that this was a joke.

Perhaps the most Important advantage of working in the White House was that I felt more attached to my country, got to know it and love it better, and acquired a sense of its destinv. HOW Dill I get this position? Did I prepare and plan for such a career? No, I did not plan, nor had I ever entertained the least thought of being so close to the great Alonzo Fields, on duty at the White House for 21 years. different dential china of flatware in my life and said. "Did you have a party last Connie replied "No, just a daily routine." AFTER I HAD mv lunch Important In Ian. me the job at the White House was Lieutenant Frederic Buf-ler, long since a general.

He made several trips to M.I.T. in studies of Army engineering and, being a friend of Mr. Parris, always stopppd at the house. When Dr. Stratton dropped dead while talking to a re- (not on the market) operated electronically by a radio control 100 yards awav.

And there WASN'T anybody on it. In Step ANOTHER scientific wonder on the window of Gene Arm. Iiruster's lloral shop in Penn Avenue. East Liberty two dancing mechanical bears. 'The passers by stop, look and SO on their way with a happy smile," 31 r.

Armhnisfer happily reports. The me-clianical bears do what everyone seems to be doing the Twist. Switch HKiRV, of Rockwell Manufacturing, one time newspaper reporter, was reminded of it by Student Pilot Richard Rice's forced landing the other day. Grant covered the first i he believes i such incident in the Pittsburgh district. It was during World War I and the occupants of the plane were two Army officers, who were treated at Columbia Hospital.

But here's the pitch: young Rice, who livpr-m-Wilkinsbiirg. camp down in the Allegheny Cemetery, and the Army boys came down in the Woodland Cemetery, in Wilkinsburg. Kick Him, Dobbin DI KING the holidays Suzanne Owens Vankin, travel agent in a Downtown store, was In the New York area visiting old friends. Al one home a man said he'd he traveling this way son to Sewick-ley. Suzanne, anxious to get in a Chamber of Commerce type plug, said: "You'll love it there.

They have horses." At this the New Yorker cracked, "Rather antiquated, eh?" Triangle Tittle-Tattle ESTHER KOEMG, of Bellevue, is getting married February 3 to Jack Lehman, of Ava-Inn. She's maternity buyer for a Fifth Avenue store and he's an aspirin salesman, which gives them a head start. The Jack J. niaks (optician i returned from Miami Beach with a windburn instead of a sunburn. She's the former dancer, Renee Allen.

Newspaperman Wilson (Pete) Botsford, a patient at John J. Kane Hospital and editor of Kane Vues, got just what he wanted for Christmas a year's subscription to his favorite daily. Johnny and Maxine Starr, dance team, were surprised to rcarf here Friday that they'd left for Florida. They haven't not yet. Thespian to go, but for the present they're still hete working in the clubs.

Mr. Neal approached Mr. Rodriguez and said, "Since I Fields has his uniform, you I might as well take him into I the dining room tonight for i dinner. As you know, Mrs. I Hoover doesn't like men as periods is exhibited.

Serving breakfast in a jacket during the cool spring and fall mornings wasn't too pleasant, especially when just about as I started to pour a cup of coffee the weeping leaves of the magnolia would drip cold tears on the back of my neck. I had to anticipate those tears or else jump out of mv skin. THEKE WOt I be ir, or 20 minutes of discussion of the happenings on The Hill, advice from the Attorney General as to the legality of certain moves, and the feel of the public by Mi Sullivan and members of the Cabinet, as well as Justice Stone. The President seldom led in these discussions but listened and asked questions. Then he would leave after the second cup of coffee had been poured.

Dinner always consisted of porter about the death of I Thomas Kdison, Lieutenant Butler proved to be a real I friend to me. At the time of Dr. St rat-j ton's death I had an agree- ment with Arthur Wilson of I Boston, a voice teacher of wide reputation, to prepare me for my concert debut. For one year after that he was to receive 10 per cent of my I earnings and for the next two I years 15 per cent. Tentative arrangements were made for within four feet of the walls on the outside of the horseshoe.

Butlers serving on the far side of the table had to cross through the Rod Room. Men serving the inside curve of the table had to enter the room first, with others following in rotation. The pantry, at that time a long narrow room with an old fashioned manual dumbwaiter, was useless for a party. Platters of food had to be passed up a spiral stairway by a chain line of pantry cicw, and some of the butlers also went down to the kitchen by the back stairs for their service. It is a wonder that the food could be kept hot.

Well, the dinner stalled off with a crab meat cocktail, oup julienne, Melba toast, curled celery and olives, broiled fillet of sole with tar-tare sauce, sliced tomatoes and whole-wheat-bread cucumber sandwiches, roast boned turkey, string beans and potatoes au gratin, green salad with Camembertchee.se. For dessert there were replica ice-cream mollis of the White House, with the Bel-gian( grapes served with the minfs. Then the ladies retired to tlu" Gieen Room lor demitas-ses and the gentlemen to the On Broadway By DOROTHY KILGALLEN tall as he is. You might as well get it over with so he can be on his way back to Boston tomorrow." I kept my poker face and went about my assignments. At last the hour approached and I was assigned to Mrs.

Hoov er's side of- the table. could feel the tension and I imagined that they were anticipating Mrs. Hoover's sayin, "Get that big galoot out of here." The dining-room doors were open. Candles on the table were lit and the heavy drapes at the windows were drawn. Soon the President and the First Lady would enter through the open door.

We stood in our positions near the table. My back was toward the door and, of course, I was ordered not to turn to see who was entering seven courses an entree, I soup, fish, a meat course, men and women of this era. How I got my job in the While House is a long and involved story -and one that led not through the front but the hack door of the great building in which I spent the best part of my life. I was born in Lyles, In Gibson County, Indiana, which is about five miles from Princeton, the county seat, and about one hundred and twenty miles east of St. Louis.

My father kept the general store and ran an agency for the flour mills at Princeton. Father was the organizer and director of the only military-trained, colored brass i saiati uesseri aim a serving Broadway Grapevine AeW YORK Bob Fuller, Keely Smith's big moment lor at least one of her top three I caused quite a furor a couple of nights ago when he showed up at a Las Vegas lounge with another lady and shed his shirt while of fruit. After each service I took my position and stood at attention. Above all, I could show no interest in the conversation. To smile at some joking remark, overheard by This'ii emva when the signal was received I that the President was ap twisting.

He was wearing nothing but his trousers when the management stepped in and told him he'd gone a bit too far even for that relaxed town Woody Herman has scrapped his big band again. He's going back to work with a small combo Orson Welles just keeps thinking up those quips like a gagwriter. When a reporter in P.ome asked him why he'd had din Red Room for demitasses and smokes. The only glasses on I the table were for mineral I water. i chance, would mean the last time I would go into the din-, ing room.

I THE FIRST STATE dinner I I served was given hy the President in honor of the Ita-j lian Minister of Foreign Af-! fairs, Grandi. Many people were excited over II Duce Mussolini, Pre FIRST ENTRY for the "worst gag of the year" contest comes from Weill-stein, well known theater violinist, who tells one about Jean Sibelius, Finnish composer of the symphonic poem. Fin-landia. Izzy says that Sibelius went fishing one day and two trout approached his hook. One said to the other, "Be careful now don't let this Flnlandia." THESE WEKI-; the days of 11 Miss Kilgallen i prohibition, and though some of the President's friends proaching.

Suddenly the quietness of the silence was broken by Mrs. Hoover's voice: "Fields, I heard that you were here. I'm so glad to see you." Mrs. Hoover went on, "Father, you remember my telling you about Fields, Dr. Stratton's man?" It was the family custom of the Hoovers to address each other as "Father" and "Mother." The President, nodding, said, "Hello, Fields." There was an expression of amazement on the facps of the other butlers.

No one said a word when we returned to the pantry for a change of service for the next course. Words Wisdom By WILLIAM MORRIS the concert in Jordan Hall in April of 1932. A FATK WOt I.I) have it, a telephone call came for me from the White House. I was startled until I heard the voice of Lieutenant Butler. He was an aide to President Hoover, and Mrs.

Butler was Mrs. Hoover's secretary. I had served tea to Mrs. Hoover and her son, Mr. Allan, at Stratton's when she had visited Mr.

Allan while he was at Harvard. That fleeting moment was the only time I had ev er seen the First Lady. However, the lieutenant said that Mrs. Hoover felt it would be best for me to come to work at the White House, as it was likely to be a hard winter. It turned out that they could not have been more correct.

I am sure thpre are still a few people around who remember the winter of 1931. This was the best land onlyi offer I had. So, with a wife and child depending on me, an ambitious pride to be a concert singer faded into the background. I UK NT BY Bl from Boston to Washington in order to save money. Lieutenant Frederic Butler had told me to arrive at 10:30 at the east entrance of the White House and to ask the officer on duty for him.

So at the appointed time I arrived and gave my name to the guard. I had a suitcase packed with a tuxedo and full dress, ready to go to work. There were four or five men at work in the pantry. Lieutenant Butler inquired for Ellis. I was told that Ellis mier of Italy, and Grandi was making a state visit.

The huge horseshoe table was set with the famous Monroe gold-mirrored plaque in seven sec tions, about 20 feet long and two and a half feet wide, with howls of flowers reflected in the mirror. The tall gold candelabra each held a cluster of 44 can-Idles, and tall gold epergnes were rilled with fruit, with luscious Belgian grapes in I bunches draping over the might have had some home-bifvv at home, it was not so with this Quaker gentleman, lie disapproved of women smoking, so no smokes were served the ladies at any functions. Mrs. Hoover would politely tell ladies that the Pies-ident didn't approve of women smoking. The President was a cigar smoker.

This reminds me of an incident during the serving of tea in the Green Parlor for Lady Astor and His Lordship. The President seldom attended teas. In fact, lie didn't drink tea. So when we were alerted that he would bo present we always prepared orangeade for him. He arrived after the tea had been in progress for a few minutes.

He greeted Lady Astor and His Lordship and apologized for being tardy. 1 served the orangeade to the President as usual. When he had finished he placed the glass on a little sides. The gold table flatware was laid out on the finest white damask linen. Two high -backed chairs stood at the center of the table for the President and First Lady, across from each other.

Small gold chairs were placed around the inside and outside of the table, with a cluster of palms forming a background in the open space of the horseshoe. This was the While House Well, the next day the rumors had it that I had been brought there to take over as head man. "So this is the White House," 1 thought. "The -help gossips here just like any other place." THIS HITE HOI SE was one busy place. Three days after my arrival 1 was assigned to the President's medicine-ball table, which sounds like a big promotion.

It did not inflate my ego, for it meant that I had to he at work at 6:30 a. m. The Presi- Twisting In Clodhoppers A ERHAPS, up there in your ivory tower, you haven't noticed, but there's a new vogue among teen-aged boys for heavy, thick-soled high shoes. They look like the kind of boots day laborers wear but they seem as fashionable for all occasions this year as the "white bucks" or "float boats" were for ten years or so before. When our son showed up in a pair (bright yellow, they were!) my husband said: "Good Lord, now they're wearing "clodhoppers to dance in.

At last I've seen everything!" Later I asked him where "clodhopper" came from. He replipd: "Search me. All I know is that that's what we called those shoes when I was a Can you tell us the source? M. Washington, D. C.

The "clods" in the clodhoppers are, of course, lumps of earth. Thus a "clodhopper" originally (about 1600) was a name for a farm workman, a ploughman who naturally wore heavy boots because his work required him to walk through freshly ploughed earth. One authority says that tthe "hopper" part comes from "grasshopper," which is posri-hie but not very likely the movempnls of a grasshopper being most unlike those of a clodhopper. More likely the word was formed by hand in the southern part of Indiana. Brass bands were popular in those days for Sunday-afternoon concerts, picnics, and parades.

Because brass bands were so popular in our parts and because of my father's role in Lyles' band I had planned a musical career from as far back as I can remember. After we moved to Indianapolis Dad and I played in the YMCA military brass band. In my early twenties I was teaching all the brass instruments. I had trained choirs, studied voice, and sat on panels as a judge of choir contests. No matter how popular and respected the musical field, however, I still had to earn my living in another way.

So I ran a grocery store and meat market just as my father had done. My store was in Indianapolis. AROUND 19W, following a business panic in that community, my store unfortunately began to fail. Returns got to be less and less, so I gave up the business completely and went to the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston to take a graduate course in public-school music. While I was there I must have impressed the faculty, because they soon suggested that I take the artist's course a group of studies directed toward concert work.

But soon my funds ran low. A new friend, Postello Jones, said that he would speak to his boss, Dr. Samuel W. Stratton, president, of Massachusetts 'Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, about me. Despite the fact that, other than grocery clerking and music, there was little I was qualified forT Dr.

Stratton and Morris Parris, his secretary, offered to help me. If I wanted to try being a butler, Mr. Parris said he would train me. This gentleman from an old Georgetown family of high standing knew etiquette and society backward and forward as wpII as I knew my chromatic scales. ner with ex-wife Rita Hav worth, he answered: "Well, I'll tell vou.

We were hungry." The film version of the life of Abbott and Costello is being delayed because the Liu Costello estate has issued an injunction against the production. Shooting was supposed to have started in September. it Ous Grissom, popular astronaut, has promotion coining up Audrey Hepburn is being talked of as the newest movie "Peter Pan," which sounds like a marvelous Idea "Something Wild," tlie new Carroll Baker flicker, is proving a disappointment at the box office, which Is a financial blow to the star and her husband. Frances Langford is discussing a comeback with one of the major talent agencies. rememher "The Little Foxes," Tallulah Bankhead's best starring vehicle? Well, Simone Signoret plans to do it on the Paris stage and she's writing the translation herself a source, usually reliable, says the St.

James Theater has been "secretly" offered to the producers of the forthcoming musical, "I Can Get It For You Wholesale." Which raises the question of where they're going to put "Subways Are For Sleeping" Peron-ists are making a big comeback in Argentina. They may try to take over the government within the next six months. Leading members of Congress are preparing "dynamite" charges against our foreign policy especially against our position In the t'nlted Nations and our "giveway" policy toward nations that aren't really on our side. Many Congressmen ItHieve we should get tough in our dealings with foreign countries, and they're sure to set off fireworks In Washington. I am a great fan of Mike Nichols and Elaine May in the flesh, but their new "medical" album is spectacularly unfunny John Corigliano emphatically denies the rumors that he plans to quit his job as concert master of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.

Benny Goodman was asked to open the Freednmland season in the spring, hut declined. He thought it would be too chilly, and he might catch cold, so he settled for the July 4 date, hen there's less chance of catching the sniffles. dining room in all its glory There were dinner. Ten guests lor the serving table and asked per-services were re- mission to smoke, hich nat- dent played medicine ball in quired to serve the party, nine guests to a service and two butlers at each service. urally was granted.

He pulled out a cigar, took off the wrapper and tossed it into the The While House was then empty glass, although an ash analogy with the earlier word the south grounds of the White House with several members of his Cabinet and one member of the Supreme Court, Justice Stone. The Cabinet members were Secretary of Interior Wilbur, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Jahncke, Secretary of War Hurley, Secretary of Commerce Chapin, Attorney General Mitchell. There were also Dr. later- Admiral -Boone, the President's personal doctor, and Secretaries Richey and Newton. Breakfast was always served under the magnolia tree said to have been planted by President Jackson in memory of his wife, Rachel descriptive or inose insnmen wno liven in or wandered through the peat bogs of Ireland.

I well remember the first time I heard the word "bogtrolter." A new and very snooty arrival at a party asked whether the Mor-risps were ''shanty Irish" or "lace-curtain tray was nearby. Encarnacion did not see the wrapper In the glass. He approached the President and inquired if he cared ir another glass of orangeade. Before I could signal, Connie had filled the glass. The President lifted it to drink and saw the wrapper.

Without hesitating, he took the wrapper out with his lingers and drank the orangeade, then placed the wrapper in thp ash tray. Poor Connie nearly had a stroke. He was Sampson was the head man, but he wasn't in. Then Lieutenant Butler inquired for Connie. He said, "Encarnacion is the second man in charge." Encarnacion Rodriguez was a Puerto Rican, very polite and soft-spoken.

He took me back into the pantry and introduced me to the other men. I could see a puzzled expression on1 his face. He turned to one of the men, Robert Neal, and said, "Neal, will you show this new man the locker room?" I was assigned a locker and I changed clothes and reported back to the pantry. When I arrived the men were all in a huddle. I could feel the conversation was about me, because upon my appearance the huddle broke up.

Connie assigned me to a big tray of flat silverware and a rouge pad. I had never seen so much Irish." Before 1 had a chance to reply, a and still is inadequate for serving a large party because of the size of the pantry. It is so designed that there isn't much that can be done about this situation. THE HORSESHOE lype of table was built, by carpenters of different -sized tables according to the requirements of the dinner party. The smallest type of table seated guests and the largest size seated 101.

I understand that the Eisenhowers used an K-shaped table on state occasions. We talked of such a table during the Roosevelt Administration, but that was as far as it went. The largest tabla went I afraid Mrs. Hoover had seen liiend interjected: "Neither. The Morrises 'et bogtrotting Irish." It was an amusing and well-timed rebuff to my oaflish questioner and I was grateful to my friend for making it.

Later, after looking at the Oxford Dictionary, though, I began to wonder. There, you see, "bogtrotter" is defined as "one of the wild Irish of the 17th centdry." Of the three choices, though, I would still prefer "wild Irish" to either "shanty" or "lace curtain." I unless it rained or after the incident, for there was litile she missed in a breach of service. -hi Tomorrow I become hief butler. a heavy snowfall. In such cases breakfast would be in the China Room on 1he ground floor where the presi-.