When the Princeton University catalogue gave Thomas Mann the superfluous middle name of "Schriftst," eagle-eyed Princeton scholars pounced upon its editors, learned they had taken the information from Who's Who in America, whose editors in turn had it from Thomas Mann himself. He had filled out a form: "Mann, Thomas. Schriftst. [abbreviation of Schriftsteller, German for 'author']."

Manhattan members of the Russian Nobility Association were outraged to discover their president, Prince Alexis Obolensky, playing the part of a Soviet Commissar in the musical hit Leave It to Me, under the stage name of Alexis Bolan. Given the choice of quitting office or his job, the Prince said: "I am a professional actor," resigned from the Nobility Association. Said his wife: "It is too bad that some members . . . failed to understand that my husband really is serving the interests of loyal Tsarists ... by making a fool of the character he plays."

Musing on fighting words that could be and had been legally sent through the mails. General Hugh Samuel Johnson, himself no tyro at invective and abuse, suggested a few more: '"asymptote" ("a daisy of a word"), "parasang," "Cush-ping Dishpit." ("an evil sound and no meaning"), "yellow-bellied sap-sucker," "boat-bottomed grackel." "bottle-nosed puffin."

Sued for divorce was Frederick John Perry, 29, famed British tennist, by his cinemactress wife, 31-year-old Helen Vinson (real name: Helen Rulfs Vickerman Perry). Her complaints: he not only used rough language but forced her to attend his tennis matches.

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