The Washington herald., 1907-01-13
HERE AND THERE IN WASHINGTON.

Sir Aston Webb. the guest of honor Of
the American Institute OF Architects, last
week, viii long be remembered In Wash
ington, where he made many friends by
his genial and sympathetic manner. and
by his keen appreciation of all that was
done for him.
His speech Of thanks for the medal
presented him at the reception on Tues
day night was masterpiece Of taste
and style, and so frank and friendly, $50
intime" as the French happily express il.
that Il seemed as though ne were speak
ing to old friends; gratitude at the honor
done him was seriously and delicately ex-
pressed, but there was just enough humOr
interspersed to keep his audience in q
constant good humor His manner Of
speaking, too, Is most pleasant, and the
accent, characteristic Of our cousins
across the water. barely noticeable.
1t Is not often that a standing crowd
hnds that the end Of a speech comes too
soon. but this is what happened on Tues
day night when Sir Aston made hts grace
ful bow and retired.
Mr. Esme Howard, the recently ap-
pointed British charge d'affaires. whose
first public appearance was on Tuesday
evening. when he delivered 10 the Amer
lean Institute Of Architects a message
from King Edward. made n distinctly
agreeable impression on those who heard
hin. He is very tall. several inches more
suggests in appearance Count Won Arnim.
who was attache 20 the German Embassy
a few years back His voice IS clear
and well modulated, his accent agreeable.
and what he said was very clearly and
pleasantly put. SO pleasantly that IL is
hoped he win frequently be called upon
10 address d Washington audience.
An interesting feature Of the reception
on Tuesday night when the ceremony Of
decorating Sir Aston Webb took place,
was the visit Of the members Of the in
stltute and their friends to the Clark
collection Of paintings, which the Senator
from Montana has generously loaned 20
the Corcoran Gallery Of Art. pending the
completion Of his home in New York,
which Is a museum rather than a house,
If truth be told. aud will probably be con-
verted into one some day.
Later in the evening the Senator and
Mrs. Clark held an informal reception IN
the salon, where the paintings are dis
played and very amiably pointed out the
chefs oeuvre of the collection. Mrs.
Clark, who looked particularly well IN a
beautiful net gown entirely covered with
paiIlettes Of jet, wore her celebrated dia-
mond necklace with its immense solitaire
pendant. The wife Of the junior Senator
from Montana has some Of the hands0m-
est jewels in Washington, the beautiful
pearls she wore at the diplomatic recep
ton being especially notable.
Prof. Minton Warren, who, with his
wife and daughter, We're guests Of the
Attorney General and Mrs Bonaparte
during the holidays. is a member of the
faculty at Harvard. and has an inter
national reputation as an archaeoloFist
and philologist. He was connected for
many years with the American College
at Rome. which parted with him regret
fully when he accepted a chair in the
classical department at Johns Hopkins,
whence he went TO Harvard some eight
years ago. His sabbatical year, 1906.
was passed abroad, mainly in Italy. In
Rome he had a delightful visit. renew
ing old friendships, making new ones and
visiting the scenes that had become famil-
lar to him through long association. As
an evidence Of their esteem and appre-
citation the college there held Prof. War
ren's former post open for number OF
years hoping ne would return and take
up his duties again, but. as much as he
/ loved Rome he loves America more. and
the atmosphere and society OF Cambridge
are especially congenial TO this distin-
guished savant.
A cosmopolitan Of broad culture and
great wealth came to Washington TO at
tend the reception at the White House
and the musicale which followed it. Her
! escort was a high official of the govern
ment. whose position entitled him Il
every privilege, hence she had more than
| ordinary opportunity TO observe and note
and since she has participated in similar
/ functions in Europe. and is woman OF
unusual intelligence, her comments Were
interesting, and it would be well If they
were needed. They were about as fol-
/ lows:
] Yes, ! enjoyed 1t. 1 enjoyed it very
much. I had never been before, you know
and it was a brilliant sight the diplomatic
corps and the army and the navy all ir
uniforms and the handsome gowns of the
4 women; but fancy how l felt-I.i ar
American citizen-to realize that those
/ poor men had put on ell that regalia fol
I the purpose OF doing honor to our govern
ment as represented by our President
/ and after standing up for hours were t
/ be sent home without a mouthful to eat
and nothing but cold water to drink
Think Of an ambassador of a foreign
power RECALLING himself In the house Of
\ the President of the greatest nation or
earth with a cup of cold water, Yol
know how Europeans disapprove OF anC
dislike ice water.
Yes. l know the President only gets
| hundred thousand a year salary-what