European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - June 16, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Daily Magazine drawing try Hoory in Tom from by Thompson 32 Yean 00a Eloise free spirit in an enchanted world by Mary Anne o Callagham associated Pressi ama.otse.lam6." Boise of a matter of fact is 32 this year. Boise the Book that is. Boise herself always will be 6. And yes she still he at the Plaza Hole near Central a in Manhattan where the people Are Happy to have her. In the three decades since Boise was first published a a picture Book for precocious  the Lille girl has become something of a phenomenon three stories in lie Magazine an Etoise doll and doll repair kit an Eloise record con Eloise clothes. Etc a at the same time has become a permanent fixture at the Plaza. At one Lime the hotel even had a room set up where people could visit her. Eloise of course was never there but a real life Nanny hired by the hotel would Greel visitors. A spokeswoman for the hotel. Jane Martin says not a Day goes by thai someone does t Call about Eloise which is her room do yen give Eloise Tours no they Don to where can i get an original doll Tom Flet ional Chw Kef. Martin says has become a a part of the mosaic and history of the  sometime after publication of Eloise the character originally intended for a grown up audience became More popular with children. Her exploits have now entertained More than a generation of Young people with 380,000 books sold. This Christmas one fifth Avenue Bookstore again ranked Etoise the no. 1 children s Book of the season. Eloise has always been More popular in the big cities for an obvious reason. She is a City Girt. Fao Schwirz. The world famous toy seller and a neighbor of the Plaza decorated a window in Honor of tuesday june in 1987 literature s poor Little Rich girl. The firs Book published in 1955, led to three others Eloise in Paris published in 1957 Etoise at christmastime in 1958 and Eloise in Moscow in 1959, today Only the original la still in print. Personality says the author Kay Thompson when asked to explain he Lille girl s enduring popularity. She is a free spirit living in an enchanted world she has so much to do and never enough Lime people read to her rebellion and identify Wilh her the author says. Eloise was Bomol Thompson s own playfulness a Singer end vocal Arranger Thompson used to entertain friends by taking the Persona of a Little girl when asked who she was Thompson would reply in a High pitched voice i am Etoise. I am 6." As she travelled the country in the 1950s, bringing her nightclub act to hotels members of her band got in on the Eloisa act portraying cd Duke companions. Thompson met he had been thinking at the time of writing a Book thai she planned to can Beds i have slept  in it she intended to resale her experiences As an entertainer living in different hotels. She says she hit upon Eloise As the perfect narrator. A Mutual Friend. Dee Dee Ryan who worked at Harper s Bazaar Magazine brought Thompson and Illustrator Hilary Knight together for the project. Knight who had been working As an Illustrator for several magazines including gourmet and Good housekeeping collaborated with Thompson to create the image of Eloise. Thompson says she had her own idea of How Eloise should look. I saw her As thin Quirky wiry filled with Energy with Ash Blond  she remembers. Knight says he based her distinctive appearance on his notion of what Etoise Davidson a food writer for the new  pm Gnu have baked Haas a child and on Ronald sea Rte s chs Osl Trinen a a cartoon set in a British boarding school. He says he might also have been influenced by a painting done by his Mother Katherine slug a. Which Hung in the Lanty Home it shows a Lilette a holding a bouquet looking Over her shoulder. Their joint creation with her dog Weenie and her Turtle skipper Dee endlessly roams the hotel h Anarch of adventure which frequently Means Rob chef. She attends wed Ohga invited or not. She spies on debutantes Tarhay dance in the Terrace room. Part of each morning routine is helping the meld change the sheets even if she does t ask tar help. Thompson s trip to pan to 1956 for the Effim fury face in which she played the tank for editor Ted to Etoise s own visit to the Chy of Light. White in Paris Thompson arranged for Art interview with the fashion designer Christian Drof. They discussed Eloise having an original dior outfit and the designer turned to a Tatt lanky Young Asai Taru who sketched his idea of a Yew appropriate to a Fryear old. The Assis it was Yves St. Laurent. Though she never wore the dress who but Boise would have such Luck later Thompson and Knight spent several weeks in Moscow and Leningrad gathering background for their next Book. Swaraj Yew ago Knight presented Thompson with a Waler color portrait of Boise for her birthday. Sos donated it to tha Plaza which had a Frame made sir ii and placed it in the lobby. One night of painting vanished. Knight replaced it with a fun length Oil portrait of the famous guest. Today the painting overlooks the Palm court restaurant off the main lobby. Despite the youngster s mischievous nature the Plaza s Martin says she remains a Welcome guest Eloise keeps me staff from taking these Tea too seriously she says and brings a Blytle humor and  into their  both Thompson now working on an audio version of Eloise and Knight Are protective of their charge and How she is presented. Knight says he did not approve of a satirical piece done in the 703 called Eloise at 17. He says Eloisa is eternally 6 and should be left that Way. People identify with her As 6. She is 6," Thompson concurs. Knight say Alt is her sweetness her naughtiness and the underlying feeling of sadness that Appeal to a following that has continued to build Over the years. To have hit a Mark Wilh the Public Thompson says to have something which has Given so much enjoyment it s wonderful. Thai s the reason you do  the stars and stripes Page 13