People: Derring-Do

In El Paso, on her way to Spokane, Mob-land’s pin-up moll Virginia Hill, whose Austrian ski-instructor husband Hans Hauser has been ordered to leave the country, turned her temper on some unarmed reporters, slapped one, slugged another with her spike heel, then gave a statement: “The happiest day of my life will be when I leave this damn country.” When her plane put down in Denver, she took a swing at the nearest stranger, apologized when she found the man was not another reporter, but merely an investigator from the District Attorney’s office who wanted to ask some questions. Said she later: “I’ve had a hell of a trying day.” Home at last in Spokane, Virginia found that the Government could dish out a few backhand slaps itself. The house was locked; Internal Revenue agents had seized it as part payment of a $161,000 back income tax bill. Where was the rest of the money coming from? Virginia had no idea. Said she, huffing off to spend the night in a tourist cabin, “I never worked in my life.”

On Governor’s Island in New York Harbor, Eleanor B. Roosevelt, widow of Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr., accepted a Bronze Star medal in recognition of her husband’s “heroic action” at Les Andalouses, Algeria, in 1942, when a patrol under his command fought off a superior enemy force. This award made the eldest son of T.R. the winner of every Army combat medal given by the U.S. Government, including a World War I Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star with clusters, the Purple Heart, and a World War II posthumous Medal of Honor for action at Normandy, where he died of a heart attack at 56.

On a Korean inspection tour, flying a few hundred yards behind the grasshopper plane of Lieut. General James Van Fleet, the light plane carrying Under Secretary of the Army Archibald S. Alexander crash-landed on a mountainside near the eastern front. He telephoned the U.S. to assure his wife that his injuries were slight (two black eyes, a bump on the head, one broken foot bone), then flew home to a big welcome in Washington (see cut).

Off the Chest

Taking his turn as a witness before the Senate subcommittee discussing ethics in government, Columnist Drew Pearson proposed that public officials be required to list their security holdings publicly. Senator Paul H. Douglas, presiding, promptly obliged: “I might say I have 70 shares of U.S. Steel, 20 shares of two public utilities, and about $4,000 worth of bonds in private industry.”

Boarding the Swedish liner Gripsholm in Manhattan, bound for Moscow, Russia’s U.N. Delegate Jacob Malik loftily vetoed newsreel and television requests for a parting statement. Apparently not yet accustomed to U.S. editors who cut superfluous words, he complained that his famous Korean cease-fire speech had been censored in part. Said the nettled delegate: “American newsreels and television cut out much of the things I said.” With a little coaxing, however, Malik managed a stiff smile and a few careful words: “Best luck and wishes to those in this country who fight for peace and friendship between our countries.”

The part-time pen-in-hand set was busy churning out autobiographies. Sculptor Jo Davidson promised a limited edition of 74 signed copies at $50 each. Violinist Yehudi Menuhin, 35, decided it was time to tell his life story; so did Louis Armstrong, Ezio Pinza and Jessica Dragonette. Even Bobo Rockefeller was giving the matter serious thought. Among those who have reached the working title stage: Choreographer Agnes de Mille (Dance to the Piper); Princess lleana of Rumania, great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria (I Live Again); Society-Columnist Cobina Wright (/ Never Grew Up); and Actress Charlotte Greenwood (Never Too Tall).

Tokens of Esteem

London ballet fans who argue happily over the relative merits of Sadler’s Wells’ ballerinas Margot Fonteyn and Moira (The Red Shoes) Shearer, had the rare chance last week to compare both dancers in the same ballet. Moira, ready to dance the lead in Symphonic Variations after a four-month layoff, switched plans just before opening, when one of the two other girl dancers fell ill. Since no one else knew both parts, Moira stepped down to take it; Margot was called in to dance the lead. Said the critics next day: “Moira is taller, more girlish, a dainty princess. Fonteyn is peerless, a queen of precision.” Said diplomatic Moira, “All things considered, it came off rather well.”

On vacation in Paris, Mary Pickford, 58, was invited to the Italian embassy for a little ceremony. For her work in helping orphans and sending relief packages to Italy, Ambassador Pietro Quaroni pinned the Order of the Republic on her lapel and gave her a diplomatic buss. Whereupon a member of the audience, honeymooning Sir Charles Mendl, 79, did the same. Said he: “I always kiss Mary every time I see her; been doing it for 25 years.”

In Hollywood, the marathon auction of Hedy Lamarr’s personal effects finally got down to the jewelry. Among the trinkets: four used wedding rings, knocked down for a total of $1,605.