We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
On Their Account
(Continued from page 35) this is what Mr. Elliot would want you to do.' "
The Elliot house is the neighborhood playground. In addition to the Elliot children, an average day will find about sixteen other youngsters surging through their Connecticut home. And Win isn't the only attraction. Rita has taught many of the children to dance and swim.
"That makes me think," Win says. "I don't really teach them anything except how to peek when they're playing hideand-seek."
The case is that the neighbors' children have a case on Win and Rita . . . which brings us to a rather sad subject, for the Elliots are going to move — not out of Westport but to another part of town. It's going to be real tough on the kids.
"Not on our kids," Win says. "We plan on taking ours with us."
The house is still in the thinking stage, although the property is a fact. Win bought himself two-and-a-quarter acres of beautiful wooded land on the Saugatuck River. The land slopes gently up from the river and it is at the top of the rise that Win plans to build.
"You build a house to fit the family, not vice-versa," Win says. "We've had to reappraise ourselves to understand our needs. It's almost like taking a business inventory."
An inventory of the family, in ascending order, includes a month-old boy, then Sue Ann, a nearly three-year-old, pert redhead with motherly instincts who hovers over her brothers Peter, nearly five and nicknamed "Chucklehead" for his sunny disposition, and Rickey, just six, a handsome, blond, athletic boy. But tops on the inventory list is Rita: ash blond, blueeyed, medium height, outdoors type, expert swimmer and dancer, former expert private secretary, actress, presently Westport housewife and mother.
"If you have a few days to spare," Win begins, "I'll tell you just how wonderful Rita is."
"It's so nice," Rita says, grinning, "to have a husband who reads a commercial so well."
"No, honestly, Reet has it," Win continues. "For one thing, she is so wellbalanced — mentally as well as physically. She has equilibrium. Never loses her temper."
Win tells the story of Rita going into the local shoe store before the new baby came. She and the three kids had to wait a few minutes for a clerk. During these few minutes, the kids suddenly grew six arms apiece, but Rita kept them in check — unruffled as usual — until the clerk came over. He was impressed.
He asked, "Are you sure, Mrs. Elliot, that you don't want to go into the back of the store and blow your top?"
"No," she said.
"And is it true that you are planning on still another child?"
"Yes."
"Mrs. Elliot," he said in awe, "I should like to order you a very special halo."
Win not only admires Rita's disposition but notes how it works to her advantage. "She doesn't dissipate her energy needlessly."
For a woman like Rita who likes the outdoors, who likes informality, who enjoys playing with children, you don't build a formal house.
"In the beginning we had decided we didn't like modern houses, for they seemed so cold," Win says, "but, when we began to talk specifically about the things we
would like, we found we were talking about a modern house."
For one thing, the Elliots plan on using a lot of glass, so they can wholly enjoy their land and the river. That calls for a contemporary style. And because they will be living on the side of a slope, the house will be split-level. And because they live so casually, the house will be designed for living.
"For example, we won't have a conventional dining room," Win says. "The dining room will be both play room and dining room. It will be next to the kitchen so the children will be within watching distance."
Win figures that three-quarters of the room will be given over to the children's toys, bookcases, tables and chests. In one corner, he will have a built-in TV set so they can watch a show while eating, if they so wish. One unusual feature will be the dining table, which will slide through a trick panel from the kitchen to the dining room. Rita will be able to set the table in the kitchen and keep it out of the way if the children are playing in the dining room — or they can eat in the kitchen, for a change.
"We all eat together," Win says. "Just as soon as a child is old enough to sit up, he joins the family. We don't mind the mess."
At present, they are using a glasstopped table which cleans easily after a meal. The rug, however, is another matter.
"If memory serves me, the dining room rug is gray," Win says. "You can't tell by looking at it now. After what the kids and the cat and dog have done to it with food, the rug looks like a mountainous area on a Rand McNally map."
The living room will be on the terrace, with three walls of glass, and it will not be called a living room but "the family room." Here again conventional furniture will be forgotten and, instead, there will be builtin cabinets, seats, and other fixtures. Win plans on a permanent screen for his home movies and a special closet for his projector and home-recording equipment.
Win and Rita have been carefully preserving their records of the family in snapshots and movie films, but the choice Elliotana is on the tape recorder. Win has been imitating Ed Murrow's Hear It Now — on the family level.
Win started to keep this scrapbook-insound in 1952. He caught Susie's first cry, Rickey's first recitation, the children scrubbing teeth and performing other "firsts."
"At times, I felt a little like an investigator tapping private conversations," Win says.
He recorded the daily battle which occurs in the evening when he puts the two boys to bed. The tape reveals that he began as usual with a velvet glove and wound up shaking an iron fist. The boys quieted down and, on the recording, Win said good night and left the room. Then the recorder picked up Rickey whispering to his brother, "Go ahead, Peter, get out of bed." And, a moment later, at the top of his voice, Rickey shouted, "Daddy, Peter is out of bed!"
"I caught Rickey red-handed," Win says, "but Rita wouldn't allow me to use the evidence without a court order."
At the end of the year, Win and Rita went over their collection of tape recordings, edited them down and had them transcribed on records to send the grandparents as Christmas gifts.
"The kids sounded so cute," Win says, "that, two days after my mother got her record, she was on her way down from
UP $ TO
C. L EVANS, who has helped thousands succeed, says . . .
fOIHMimnm
fASrVKAftTOMAKE
AGAIN
AND
AGAIN
50 $75 $100
EXTRA MONEY
WITH H£W-H0¥U-WffmHT
CHRISTMAS and ALL OCCASION
GREETING CARD ASSORTMENTS,
HOME and GIFT ITEMS
New 3-Dimensional
Assortment of sparkling
'Stand-up' Christmas
Cards
Here's all you do — just take easy orders for amazing values. Friends, neighbors, co-workers, groups buy on sight.
Start A Greeting Cam & Gift Shop At Home
No experience needed. Sell evenings, lunch hours, any spare time. Profits to 120%, plus big extra cash bonus. New Party and Organization Plans. Raise money fast for yourself, club or church.
Sensational New 'Lifelike' Cards
-istmas Assortment enchanting ribbons, p, , ^, .
, movable features Show unusual Christmas
cards with matching
print-lined envelopes.
jrSE*** ^ -"¥?^ Religious, birthday, get
co^^^j^J^^nHr we" assortments. Gift
1 wrappings. Personal gold
stamped items. Scented
stationery. Sewing aids.
k Children's animated
, ^ J^^^HBmB*""*^' books, toycards.
VjBfc FREE Full Color
NThr',As5m0as''ca?drniC CatalOg 311(1
Money-Making Guide
^r*£ri»»JJ» ft Beautifully illustrated, j°Z&*'a*y ft new self-selling catalog 1 ■*"*1"?,„ ^L. \\ helpsyourbusinessgrow.
r"-lZ'r'nXeTy "I SOW $33
hcre-^ in Just c j _ „ 51/2 Hours"
r K E E ^7s?ys^rt,
Elaine Atchley, {
SAMPLES °fT^T—
NAME IMPRINTED Write for Samples CHRISTMAS CARDS Just rush name and Personal Stationery address today for free
_. . .. , ., , . TRIAL approval outfit.
Floral Notes, Napkins Act now!
NEW ENGLAND ART PUBLISHERS
North Abington 821, Mass. f mm SEND NO MONEY— MAIL COUPON NOW™ «|
' Mr. C. L. Evans /$&" "if" u7?»?J\ I
| New England Art Publishers MBSSgS ! ■ North Abington 821, Mass. ->i£gjw»im; ■<#£/ \
Please send me at once Feature assortments on ap I
Iproval, free samples Name Imprinted Christmas Cards, ■ Stationery, Notes, Napkins, free Catalog, Selling Guide ■ and details of your wonderful extra money plan. ■
I Name 8
. Address I
I City State .
fsa mm mm No Risk On Your Part ■ mm mm &
T V R
95