Show 1 7 t tl r. t 0 t a. a r She She's 1 5 Sweetheart rt of The Merchant Marine By MARGUERITE YOUNG Sweetheart of practically the whole U. U S. S merchant marine inthis in inthis inthis this port is Dagny Fudske-a Fudske Fudske Fudske- a spectacular ash blonde with a soft swarm Norse accent and an understanding sm smile Ie These rhese characteristics characteristics characteristics char char- have made her a a. nightly toast among hundreds of men who sail supplies s through the ocean war zones They cluster around Dagny in ina ina ina a mid-Manhattan mid club run by bythe the United Seamen's service under under under un un- un- un der the wing of the war shipping shipping shipping ship ship- ping administration Here every evening several hundred officers and men relax during their brief shore leave between dangerous voyages The club is one of five now going in the United States and it will be duplicated in every domestic and foreign port touched by in war service But She Serves Two Each of the clubs club's volunteer hostesses usually serves one night a week but Dagny such uch is the demand for her and the club officials' officials opinion of her as a morale builder is on duty almost every evening Her infectious gaiety and ability to swing it usually bring several tables up around hers and draw into her circle both the beau of the evening evening evening eve eve- ning and the gloomy sailor who sits Bits alone until Dagny catches I his eye Tete-a Tete Tete a are not encouraged encouraged encouraged aged in the club but Dagny has plenty of them with officials' officials approval But none that sweethearts sweethearts sweethearts sweet sweet- hearts and wives at home could I object to For the truth is Dagny Dagny Dagny Dag Dag- ny is in love with the outfit and the memory of one of its heroes not with individuals Most of these men have been in fn action she explains Many whom Ive I've talked to have been wounded I try to switch conversation conversation conversation conver conver- politely away from such things But when a mans man's got something on his chest well chest well I Ican Ican can listen because I know what he means and know he needs to talk to somebody who understands understands understands under under- stands him Romantic Ones Some get romantic and then comes Dagny's understanding smile and Im sorry but I cannot cannot cannot can can- not look at anybody that way Few o of the confiders learn why but sometimes Dagny tells her story briefly and that is the end of sad talk for the evening On a gold chain at her throat is a locket containing two pictures pictures pic pic- tures of a laughing Viking- Viking like young man man Hawkins Fud- Fud He had been her husband He He was a Norwegian Ameri can 31 who got his captains captain's papers at 28 but shipped hipped as chief mate because of his youth He sailed up and down North and South Americas America's sub in coast many times during the nine months Dagny was married to him Then ju just t be be- fore Christmas his shin shin- Ships Ship's e l neer called Dagny and sold sail f husband had b been en lost when whey vessel was torpedoed l M Letter and Medal 1 gold A little merchant later Dagny rot got marine service medal and ter The President and t a k Of b United for heroism States above takes take Jn pea Pleasure and the call of duty bey n inspiration to sea an ender seamen U U. S S. S merchant of etch tb where marino e Soon aft afterward Dagny Dam I about the new club for sailors She wrote and merci l offer d wash dishes or ordo do for the club anything et T 1 |