The Press: Elsa at War

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. . . and Philosophy. But all is not laughter with Elsa, who claims she is really two people. Her other self is intensely "interested in profound philosophy " and feels that through her column she can bring an understanding of authors like Rousseau, Freud, Lao-Tse, and Tolstoy to many people who might never otherwise get to know them. In the same way, she declares, her parties are really organized to bring intellects together in an informal atmosphere. She is proud of having invented such games as Treasure Hunt and Scavenger Hunt, because of their psychological importance. Not unmindful of science (she once devoted most of a column to the fact that she has never had to blow her nose), she says: "Let's break them down scientifically. In the Treasure Hunt . . . intellectual men were paired off with great beauties, glamor with talent. In the course of the nights escapades anything could happen."

Elsa, who admits she is not a great writer, was rather pleased that Publisher Knight had called her column "fluffy." "I try hard to be fluffy," she says, "but it isn't easy, you know." Being friends with the famous of two continents has proved a weighty and sobering responsibility for her. She prides herself on her political insight. Said she last week, slapping her dictaphone: "Politically I have been right. I have called the turn on everything."

Of the war she says, "I have done as much as any woman my age [63*] could do." With her column to produce daily (she is assisted by a ghostwriter), a heavy schedule of voluntary entertainment for servicemen, a movie (Weekend at the Waldorf) in the making, Author-Actress Maxwell commutes frequently between her Waldorf apartment and Hollywood, where she lives with Evalyn Walsh McLean and the Hope diamond. Having been at one time or other in her career a pianist, composer, vaudevillian, singer, music critic, impresario and hotel keeper, she now describes herself as homeless, without a possession in the world, and terribly busy. Fortnight hence, after the Dec. 7 premiere of her "beloved crony" Cole Porter's new musical Seven Lively Arts, she plans to give a party for the cast. "They've got to have supper somewhere. They might as well have it with me."

But the party will not begin until 12:15 a.m., Dec. 8, "so people like Mr. Knight won't be able to accuse me of celebrating Pearl Harbor."