People, May 15, 1939

When Francisco Franco restored his private property, Spain’s ex-King Alfonso, exiled in Rome, donned the ecclesiastical-looking robes of the Spanish Military Order, meekly said: “I am a simple soldier, obedient to the orders of Generalissimo Franco.”

For more than 50 years New York’s Roosevelt ladies, Republican and Democrat alike, have bought their clothes at Manhattan’s Arnold Constable. (Onetime Department Manager William Kramer once paddywhacked fractious young Teddy Roosevelt, who tagged along with his mother.) Since 1929, all Anna Eleanor Roosevelt’s ceremonial clothes have been designed by strapping, golden-blonde Lucille Mahoney, Arnold Constable’s designer-buyer. Last week Miss Mahoney completed her most exacting assignment: nine ensembles to be worn during the visit of King George and Queen Elizabeth. They include: an ermine stole made of 250 Alaskan pelts; a chiffon dress in mauve, lime green, petal pink shades; an evening dress of Alenqon lace. Twittered proud Designer Mahoney: “Mrs. Roosevelt is usually very quick about deciding on her clothes, but last time she spent two hours here. She’s wonderfully easy to work with, understands tailoring and has impeccable taste.”

In Quincy, Mass., not far from the starting-point of his ancestor’s famed midnight ride, Paul Revere, 22, handyman, passed his auto driving test.

Looking over its 44,000,000 old-age-insurance accounts, the Social Security Board named its “First 50 Families.” First: Smith (418,000). Next in order: Johnson (350,530); Brown (254,750);

Williams (250,312); Miller (240,180); Jones (235,540). Forty-ninth, 50th: Owen, Nichols.

When he died insane in 1918, Cesar Ritz, onetime Swiss goatherd was the most famed hotelman in Europe, had given his name to 19 farflung hotels. In Manhattan last week arrived his widow, Madame Cesar Ritz, 72, who still helps run the Ritz in Paris. Mme Ritz had come to see the World’s Fair, survey the latest American hotel methods, master the art of preparing ice cream sodas, which “we do so badly in Paris.” She stayed a few days at the Waldorf, then moved on to the Ritz-Carlton.

Adither over the approaching visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth (see p. 24), Elzire Dionne, after many a false start, finally selected a gown for her presentation. Color: “japonica” (a rust shade). Jittered Papa Oliva Dionne: “Me, I’m just a farmer and don’t know what to wear.”

In Leftist and Liberal weeklies appeared an ad: “CLOTHES? ANY NEW CLOTHES, OLD CLOTHES? … for

SPANISH REFUGEES Gypsy Rose

Lee is chairman of the Clothing Division of the SPANISH REFUGEE RELIEF CAMPAIGN. , . .”

At Rockefeller-founded University of Chicago, a student who wanted to play tennis on the university courts could not produce either his tuition card or the 15¢ fee. Finally, after he signed the register, the attendant doubtfully admitted him. The dimeless tennist: John D.’s grandson, David Rockefeller.

Visitors to the New York World’s Fair last week: Leland Whitman Cutler, president of San Francisco’s Golden Gate Fair (Said he: “You have me, gentlemen.”); Alexis Carrel (to inspect the Carrel-Lindbergh mechanical heart in the Medicine and Public Health Building). Dedicating their nations’ pavilions were Norway’s Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha; Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid; Sweden’s Count Folke Bernadotte; Finland’s Minister to the U. S. Hjalmar J. Procope; Rumania’s Minister to the U. S. Radu Irimescu. At the opening of Turkey’s two buildings Turkish Ambassador Mehmet Munir Ertegun fidgeted: “Turkey has spent more than it can afford on its exhibits.”

At San Francisco’s Golden Gate Fair: ex-Governor Alfred E. Smith was proclaimed Mayor of Treasure Island. Cracked he: “What we need in this country is good old-fashioned ‘come-outside-and-put-me-out’ Americanism.” Others: Congressman Martin Dies (to harangue a patriotic meeting), Diva Grace Moore, Shirley Temple and parents.