Insouciance Abroad

Infallibly dapper, invariably chipper, insistently funny, Mayor James John Walker of New York City completed the legend of insouciance abroad (TIME, Aug. 29 et seq.) and sailed from France for the U. S., with Mrs. Walker. But before he left he-- P: Addressed the American Legion in Paris. "I am authorized by law and by chance," he said, "to bring you the felicitations of the people of New York and to carry across the Atlantic their heart throbs that they may mingle with you in spirit. I want you to feel that your purposes will be their purposes, and to know that they are still rooting for you to give another lesson to the world of what a real 100% American is--God's greatest gift to mankind." P: Was received by President Doumergue of France, whom he assured that New York City would keep on growing for generations. P: Was not, despite excited advance notices by his friends, decorated with the Legion of Honor. P: Announced in one breath: "I feel myself enormously benefited by the insight into foreign municipal processes which was afforded me by this trip. ... In each [city] I found much to admire and many things of profound interest. . . . Summing up my impressions, I am bound to say that New York City contrasts more than favorably with the cities I have seen over here." P: Shouted in another breath: "So long everybody. The Eiffel Tower is a fine eyeful, but I'll be mighty glad to get a look at the lady out on Bedloe's Island!" . . . P: Aboard the S. S. Ile de France, the indefatigable Mayor sent radio-grams by the dozen. A specimen message (to General Gouraud, military governor of Paris): "No feature of my wonderful reception by a marvelous city stands out so affectionately in my memory as my meeting with you dear general." Another radio the Mayor sent was to U. S. newsgatherers who asked him if he had indeed insisted upon the ejection of two Negroes from a night place in Rome, as reported by Il Progresso (Manhattan daily). "Silly report!" replied the Mayor. In Rome, one Anton Bragaglia, proprietor of the night place, explained: "Mayor Walker was my distinguished guest that evening, I asked the Brazilians in question not to dance. They were very indignant and explained they were not Negroes but Creoles, and, moreover, French citizens, although Brazilian born, and artists. They were members of a French troupe then residing in Rome, they said. "I told this to Mayor Walker and he accepted the explanation. I also asked a friend of mine to tell the Brazilians not to dance any more because I didn't want any fuss. They left off dancing." P: Among the Mayor's shipmates were Negress singer Florence Mills, conductor Walter Damrosch, cartoonist Rube Goldberg, conductor Sergi Koussevitzky. The Mayor was auctioneer for the ship's pool, won a bet on fighter Tunney, etc. P: In Manhattan, Mayor Walker's subordinates waited for a glimpse of the unprecedented "service" he last fortnight promised to give his city when he should return.