(5 of 6)
and news about themselves. It was lordly
Charles Alexander who, many years ago. prompted a secretary to
announce: "The gentleman from the Transcript, and four
reporters." Last winter Mr. Alexander yielded his duties to his
assistant. Anne L. Lawless, known to her colleagues as "Orchid
Annie." Manhattan's social writing dean is an elderly gentleman
with a walrus mustache—Frank Leslie Baker of the Times. His
department is supposed to admit to print all creeds providing they can
claim an ancestor who lived in the U. S. before the Civil War. More
colorful than their dean are Maury Henry Riddle Paul ("Cholly
Knickerbocker") and Baron George Wrangel ("Billy
Benedick") of Hearst's American and Journal, respectively. The
Baron, 30, is a nephew of famed "White Russian" General Peter
Nicholaievich Wrangel. Dapper, bubbling "Cholly
Knickerbocker" owns the copyright to his nom de plume, a valuable
asset. His breezy column is famed for "plugging" favorites.
Philadelphia society, according to Joseph Hergesheimer who likes
parties and lives near there, is as dull as what the society editors
write about it. Oldest and most reliable society editor is Olga Gel-
hause of the Bulletin. No socialite, she rarely goes to parties, rarely
even has to telephone. Submitted material from the Best Families floods
her desk. The presence of Judith Jennings, daughter of a prominent
Germantown minister, on the Record has brought that liberal, crusad-
ing, sometimes vulgar sheet into homes which never admitted it before.
Washington's elegant society editors include no dictator; all are
accustomed to having their hands kissed by Latin Ambassadors. The
city's social news is reported in the manner of a court gazette. The
President, members of the Cabinet, Supreme Court, Senate, sometimes of
the House of Representatives, get top-column position. The meticulous
Star's Mrs. Sally Pickett goes the whole hog, prints an entire column
of names of guests (down to the assistant solicitor of the Department
of Labor) at a tea given by the Minister of the Dominican Republic. The
Post's society editor is the most authoritative. She is blonde Evelyn
Peyton Gordon, daughter of the judge who sent Oilman Harry Sinclair
to jail. Her assistant is Sydney Sullivan, daughter of
arch-Republican Writer Mark Sullivan. On lively Eleanor
("Cissy") Patterson's Herald (Hearst-owned) is the
highest-paid society editor in town, svelte Ruth Jones. By turning
attention to the Capital's 'coon-hunting, cocktail-drinking younger set
she has been helping get the Herald into Washington's front doors
instead of through the back. Chicago's social press dean is Ervie
Ravenbyrne ("Chaperon") of Hearst's American, who weekends
with the elect. She and "Dowager" (Helen Young) of Hearst's
Herald & Examiner are assisted by able socialite reporters. Martha
Granger Blair and Betty Field. New Orleans, The Times-Picayune's Anna
Bolton Ellis, grey and gracious, has held her job for 32 years, is
nearly as potent in her sphere as Cincinnati's Devereux in hers,
assigning party dates and terrifying climbers. From January through
Mardi Gras, New Orleans social-writers lead a hectic life, covering
the highly organized festivities of their city. Seattle is a Democratic
town. On its society pages from time to time
