Lesson in Transplanting

Amid strange surroundings, the Duke of Windsor, who is also the Governor of the Bahamas, called on 214 of his constituents last week. The place: a Farm Security Administration camp near Swedesboro, N.J. The constituents: some of the 2,000 Bahamian Negroes brought to the U.S. to help relieve the farm manpower shortage.

The visit was an eloquent demonstration of a fact which the War Manpower Commission is just now learning the hard way: men & women do not respond according to the slide rule. The Duke saw pleasant surroundings: red frame houses, a neat canvas mess tent, a medical clinic, shower baths, even a jukebox. ("What's that?" demanded Windsor, "a stove?")

He found that his constituents were well pleased with their pay: a guaranteed minimum of $3 a day (plus board, lodging and work clothes) for ten hours' work. One of them turned out to be a former gardener at the Governor's Palace in Nassau, who had quit to improve his station in life. Said the Duke: "Andrew, I want to congratulate you on getting better wages." Replied Andrew, grinning: "Thank you, m'lord."

But the Bahamians were not so pleased, as might have been expected. The Duke asked them about the weather; they shook their heads. The New Jersey spring was too chilly . . . most of them had caught colds . . . the climate did not compare with that of the Bahamas. Then what about the food? The Bahamians shook their heads again, sadly. The Duke explained to the camp manager: "You see, they're used to eating peas and rice covered with pork fat. It's a horrible mess, really, but they like it. . . ."

One boy was afraid he might be sent to an unknown land, Maryland, and he did not want to go. Embarrassed, the Duke explained that he could do nothing about it, added: "You have a great opportunity to help win the war."

He noted that the camp manager had provided mackinaws and extra blankets against the weather, was experimenting with the camp diet. He went away well pleased with the way the U.S. Government was taking care of his people. But his people were not so sure.

Next day, in Manhattan, the Duke and his Duchess saw another phase of the U.S. manpower problem. At the new Women's Military Services Club they were guests of honor at the first Saturday tea dance, attended by 850 WAACs, WAVES, Army nurses, and servicemen.

In the receiving line, an Army nurse became flustered, told him she was wearing a Navy nurse's uniform, had to be corrected by her companion. A WAVE ensign, Mary Elizabeth Birch, 23, asked him to dance. An unidentified WAAC tried to cut in, was shooed away by Secret Service men. In the midst of the party the Duke disappeared, was found in a corner talking to a group of he-soldiers.

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