Mrs. Gunn's Diary: Feb. 17, 1942

She has a delicious luncheon -- with plenty of sherry -- in her last week of writing

Dear Readers,

For reasons unknown, Mrs. Gunn stopped keeping her diary on Feb. 20, 1942. I hate this as much as you probably do, but there’s nothing I can do about it, so let’s enjoy her final observations on life in Washington, D.C. during the first year of the war before we turn to the 1930 diary of Newnan, Georgia Police Chief Walter Askew.

Mrs. Gunn, who does not drive, went to get her hair done today but could not get a taxi ride home, though she waited half an hour. She doesn’t say how she finally got home, but observed, “This shows that they really are taking them [taxis] off the streets.”

That afternoon she went to a luncheon given by a Navy commander’s wife at the Army and Navy Club. “It has been newly decorated and is very attractive,” she wrote. “We had a delicious luncheon — plenty of sherry for those who like it!”

In the social notes of today’s Washington Evening Star, there was news of an unusual fund-raiser for the Navy Relief Fund. Paid subscribers can read on about the ball with no guests.

The matchbook from the Army and Navy Club is being offered by a dealer on eBay.