People: May 31, 1963

For her birthday she received nearly 800 telegrams and, among other things, "some lovely roses" from Princess Grace. But best of all, declared Elsa Maxwell, "Yesterday my doctor gave me a clean bill of health. Life begins at 80, I say." Whatever she says, Octogenarian Elsa—tireless doyenne of international society—is seldom short of listeners, can proudly claim: "I have more friends than any living person." Nijinsky has danced atop her piano; De Gaulle awarded her the Legion of Honor ("I was a great Gaullist during the war. I always liked what he said—whatever it was, I forget now"); and years ago,...