NEW YORK REPORTERS SUBDUED

Southland Times, Issue 24353, 6 February 1941, Page 4

NEW YORK REPORTERS SUBDUED

ENGLISH CHILDREN’S APLOMB NEW YORK, January 16. The coming of so many English children to New York has been a distinct shock to people here. They had never seen such well-behaved, courageous, self-reliant young people before. In fact, the Press reporters, who go down to the boats to interview them, are quite cowed now, since the little Duff Cooper boy rose up to answer a question as to present conditions in England, and replied, “Unquestionably, sir, England will win this war!” They all use the longest words, and are terrifyingly polite by American standards!

Lord Louis Mountbatten’s two girls— Patricia and Pamela—are at the Hewitt school and also Lord Queensborough’s children—the two Pagets. The English children have raised the standard of class manners and “spoken English” wherever they go. Except in English and history they are a little below the American school standards for their age, especially in science, and social studies, just as some of the French girls have turned out to be below New York girls in—of all things— French grammar!

Probably this is because the “society” schools in England are more lenient in lessons than American high schools. But these girls are infinitely more mature in their general behaviour and conversation. They seem to find the gaiety and “pep” of the American girls very amusing.

The problem of the evacuee is becoming very acute now that income sources are restricted from England. There are lots of charming English women and their children at their wits’ end to know how to live—having come here a few months ago and now being stranded. The wife of the art director at Wellington College, England, is here with two tiny children. She is a most gifted actress, but is now living in great poverty on a little income paid temporarily by some friends. She was found living in one room with her children without sheets, pillows, blankets and other necessities—worn but with looking after the two terribly active baby boys.