Flight from Manhattan

Last week, 750 miles west of its former Manhattan office, Scribner's Commentator, bellwether of isolationist theoreticians, was busy getting settled in its headquarters in Lake Geneva, Wis.(pop. 3,258). Founded four years ago by Charles Shipman Payson, rich redheaded brother-in-law of Sportsman Jack Whitney. Scribner's Commentator has had as contributors Charles Lindbergh, Senators Wheeler and Nye, General Hugh Johnson, the Chicago Tribune's Publisher R. R. McCormick.

Official reason for the move was reported to Lake Genevans by Scribner's Commentator Editor George Teeple Egleston, sleek ex-editor of the old Life. Manhattan, said he, produced editorial frustration largely because of "Mayor LaGuardia's yells that the German bombers are coming. . . ."

Commentator offices, on east Main Street overlooking the lake, are a two-story frame building with green shutters. Natives call it the old Sawyer's Blacksmith shop. From Editor Eggleston's office he might easily fish in a babbling brook that flows out of the lake past the building. The Commentator has taken a five-year lease. With wives and families the Commentator migration numbered about 20; they live in six houses overlooking the lake. Editor Eggleston took along his cruising sloop. Publisher Payson remained in Manhattan, will go to Lake Geneva once a month for editorial conference.

One isolationist theory--expressed privately rather than publicly--is that civil war is brewing in the U.S., that it will be led (and won) by Midwest farmers against warmongers in the effete parts of the nation. Editor Eggleston, settled in Lake Geneva, denies that he anticipates civil war. "But," says he meaningfully, "others do."

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