Tastes

SEES MORE PIX THAN ANY PREZ

Thus did Variety, periodical of the show business, last week headline a new collection of basic statistics: In eleven months Franklin D. Roosevelt saw 83 feature cinemas, 73 "short subjects" and 500 reels of news. The total (1,327) was four times as many as seen by Herbert Hoover, five times as many as by Calvin Coolidge. 18% more than the estimated average mean consumption of "rabid type" cinemaddicts in a similar period. Two pictures President Roosevelt had exhibited twice at the White House: The Fighting President, a compilation of newsreel shots of himself, and Gabriel Over The White House, a melodramatic anticipation of the New Deal.

Other evidence adduced last week of Presidential tastes: 1) The President and Mrs. Roosevelt selected 32 paintings from the Public Works exhibit at the Corcoran Art Gallery to hang in the White House offices. His favorite was Winter Street by A. H. Pearson of Chicago. The President said none of the pictures shows despondency and anyone can tell at a glance what they represent. 2) At a convention of bandmasters in Toronto. Lieut. Charles Benter, conductor of the U. S. Navy Band, reported that the President's musical tastes were "pretty broad," that for relaxation he liked to hear "Home on the Range" and "My Wild Irish Rose" 3) At an auction at the Union Art Galleries, Manhattan, a clothbound first edition of Treasure Island, bearing the bookplate of Eugene Field, was knocked down to the President for $90, on a bid submitted by mail.

P: At a White House luncheon Secretary Hull and the President considered Japan's attempt to close the open door in China (TIME, April 30). At another luncheon, Mr. Hull and Ambassador-at-Large Norman Davis held a serious and none too hopeful discussion on the Disarmament Conference, to reassemble at Geneva May 29. The prospects of getting France and Germany to come to any sort of terms looked so remote that the President was doubtful whether it would be worthwhile to send Mr. Davis abroad to attend. Said Mr. Davis: "There must be a spirit of accommodation if they are going to get an agreement. It does not look terribly encouraging now. Sometimes you do not budge until you get a serious situation. I am hopeful Europe will find some way of solving this difficulty."

P: To three Army flyers who risked their lives pulling two injured companions from a wrecked and burning army plane, the President presented Cheney Air Heroism medals and awards of $200 apiece; to two marine corps colonels the President presented Congressional Medals of Honor for having led their companies into heavy gunfire to win an engagement in the Philippine insurrection. 33 years ago.

P: The President announced plans for $120,000 alterations to his executive offices: to extend a wing 60 ft. southward, providing a new office for himself, a new meeting room for the Cabinet and a new room for one of his secretaries; to convert his present office and the Cabinet room into offices for the overcrowded and overworked secretarial staff now working in the basement and in the Department of State across the street.

P: The President and Mrs. Roosevelt held a formal dinner for Congressmen, admirals, generals, Washington socialites. Special guests at the dinner were Governor and Mrs. Pinchot of Pennsylvania who flew to Washington for the occasion, stayed overnight at the White House.

P: For old time's sake the President had his onetime close adviser Bernard Baruch to lunch and took him to the postponed opening game of the baseball season between Washington and Boston. President Roosevelt threw out the first ball and soon after was almost struck by a high foul which fell on the seat next to him. Secret Service men fell over themselves trying in vain to catch it. The President grinned at "Barney" Baruch: "Another foot nearer and there might have been a national catastrophe." Soon threatening clouds filled the sky. Said the President: "We'll stay until it does rain." It did, after four innings, with the score 0-0. Well spattered before he was covered by an umbrella, the disappointed President was conducted to his car.

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