Many seem to have enjoyed the article "Gone With The Wind, An Autobiography?" (Oct. 3) I not only enjoyed it, I was there.
It was quite an elaborate affair. I presume that there were about 100 people present, and all were treated to a gourmet dinner and a brilliant and humorous lecture by Dr. Elliot Engel. The tables were elaborately laid out with clear, sparkling crystal; bright, shiny silverware; and delicate pink napkins standing erect and creased in the shape of a fan.
My friend and dinner partner, Kay Michael, and I both enjoyed the distinguished guests at our table. They were all very sociable, and a delight to chat with.
Dr. Engel was a joy to listen to, so amusing and full of humor. His knowledge regarding "Gone With The Wind" and the author, Margaret Mitchell, is amazing, but at the risk of sounding vain, there was very little Dr. Engel spoke about that I'm not already aware of.
I expect, by now, that everybody in Kosciusko County and his dog knows what a "Gone With The Wind" buff I am. I am nearly 88 years old, and have lived through it all, from the time the book was first published on June 30, 1936, and the movie, which had its initial premiere on Dec. 15, 1939, in Atlanta, Ga.
In his speech, Dr. Engel made a faux pas, a misstatement, and after the lecture, I approached him, introduced myself and politely informed him of his error in revealing certain information regarding "Gone With The Wind." He was very nice about it, and with a smile, he nodded in agreement that he had made the mistake. After we had chatted for awhile, Dr. Engel seemed to come to the conclusion that where "Gone With The Wind" is concerned, I possess quite a bit of knowledge. He was a little bowled over, when I told him that I had seen "Gone With The Wind" 425 times!
In closing, I just want to say that Cynthia Cates, of Kosciusko Literary Services, did a wonderful job getting everything together. Furthermore, she is a pleasure to talk to, and a lovely person to do business with.
