Arriving in Manhattan for his third U. S. exhibition, Surrealist Salvador Dali refused to admit that he understands his own paintings: "It is enough to do the painting, much less trying to understand it."

Slated to graduate last June from Princeton University, Prince Fumitaka ("Butch") Konoye, son of Japan's former Premier, failed to get enough passing marks to get his degree. Last week news came to the U. S. that Butch Konoye had been appointed Dean of Japanese-sponsored Tungwen College in Shanghai's French Concession.

When 56-year-old Pianist-Composer Percy Grainger stepped off a train in Wausau, Wis., he wore no hat or overcoat, sported white ducks and an old brown jacket, carried an umbrella, a knapsack on his back. Because it was -7DEGF., police promptly ran him in. Composer Grainger finally identified himself, explained that he dislikes heavy clothing, has not worn a hat in 20 years, carries the umbrella simply to keep snow out of his bushy hair.

To Washington, D. C. to map out the four-day U. S. itinerary of Great Britain's King & Queen next June, went Captain Alan Frederick Lascelles (rhymes with tassels), the King's assistant private secretary. Asked if he were related to Henry George Charles Lascelles, Lord Harewood (rhymes with Gar Wood), brother-in-law of the King, he answered yes. "How?" ''Quite legitimately."*

Alton, Ill.'s Robert Wadlow, tallest man in medical history (TIME, March 9, 1936), celebrated his 21st birthday by giving out interviews, going to a party some friends gave in his honor at Masonic Temple. He is still healthy, still putting on weight, still growing (three-fourths of an inch, eleven pounds in the last six months). Present height: 8 ft. 8 1/2 in. Weight: 491 Ib. When he quits growing, his family plans to build him a "dream house," with ceilings "at least twelve feet high."

In her syndicated column, My Day, Eleanor Roosevelt revealed that she sometimes takes voice lessons: "I have had a lesson this morning with Mrs. Elizabeth von Hesse, who tries in the brief opportunities I occasionally give her to improve my speaking voice. All I can say is that if she is successful I consider her a most extraordinary teacher, for I give her very little opportunity to teach."

Because he was tired of having people doubt that his name was really Yale Harvard Pinsker, Bronx Salesman Pinsker legally changed his name to Yale Harvard Perry. ,

No. 1 social event of Palm Beach's 1939 season** to date has been the swank Everglades Club's Circus Ball. Preceding it, socialites of various shades paraded down Worth Avenue. Mrs. Aksel C. P. Wichfeld (Fifi Widener), insufficiently disguised as Sabu, led a real elephant on a leash. Polo players Winston Guest and George J. Atwell Jr., in pigsticking regalia, chased pigs, pretending they were boars. Society Songstress Adelaide Moffett Brooks impersonated Miss Palm Beach of 1939, followed by a Seminole Indian representing 1539, a chimpanzee representing A.D. 39. Evalyn Walsh McLean, as usual, wore the Hope Diamond. Jimmie Donahue was supposed to ride a float and offer flowers to Ferdinand the Bull, but at the last moment his mother wouldn't let him.

:-They are first cousins.

No. 1 1939 pastime: Bingo.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.