WASHINGTON TAPESTRY

The widow of the well-known correspondent, Raymond Clapper, records vivid memories of 26 years in Washington, memories in which her feminine and fertile stock of anecdotes of the great and near -- great take precedence over her selection from her husband's notes, of Washington while history was making. From Wilson to Truman, the Clappers were on the groundfloor, as it were, -- on presidential campaigns, off-the-record press conferences, embassy socio-political functions, White House dinners and parties. Mrs. Clapper makes no secret of her political leanings, but each Washington personality is presented as human and interesting. A warm book, written with a casual awareness of the very special milieu in which people of the newspaper world lived. One could wish for more of Raymond Clapper -- but not less of Olive Ewing Clapper. It is pleasant reading, and should have a substantial sale, particularly in metropolitan centers.