The Washington herald., 1909-04-04

The Minister from Belgium Baron
Moncheur. who Is soon TO leave for his
new post at Constantinople. is an inde-
fatigable collector Of antiques. Eeelesias-
teal embroideries, fans and old church
silver are the Baron's pet hobbies. and
some OF the most wonderful old specti-
mems to be found IN the country are
among the treasures at the legation in
Washington.
Baron Moncheur is too discriminating
a lover Of rare old things 10 be content
TO have them duly tagged and ticketed
and slowed away Working his speci-
mems into service is one OF his charac-
teristic achievements. The legation is
quaint. old-time house, with square
rooms and high ceIiings-just the sort OF
room the average woman despairs OF
ever making habitable. Baron Moncheur
uses the walls to exploit his treasured
wares. In the great drawing-rOom. half
way 20 the ceiling. the walls are COW
cred with series OF church embroideries
which one time graced the old Spanish
churches Of Mexico.
Time has blended in an indescribably
fascinating fashion the ecclesiastical yell
lows and red and puppies. and here and
there a CLINT Of duh gold shows up. The
embrOideries in many cases depict scenes
In the lives Of the saints or the holy fam
ily. the work being marvel or the
needleworker's skill Covering one OF the
doOrways IN the living room, Baron Mon
cheur has a magnificent lamberQuin Of
In, 4
on a ground Of red. In his ofice the
baron has a collection OF old Spanish and
old Mexican fans, some dating from the
fifteenth century. and also some fetching
old altar pieces Of silver-vases OF quaint
design elabOrately hand-wrcught. In ad-
dition 10 his fancy for embroideries Baron
Moncheur is a lover OF cats. and several
Of the finest Angoras find the legation
near approach 10 cat heaven"
Baron and Baroness Moncheur and
their attractive family win leave IN June
for Turkey. where the baron hopes 20
enlarge his collection OF Oriental laces
and fans and embroideries.
Mrs. Taft has. been busily setting about
the White House some OF the fine old
pieces Of bric-a-brac and silver she has
/ picked UP IN the course OF her worldwide
travels. In her private suite are to be
found some finely carved chairs and
tables OF teakwood. many OF the articles
/ being gifts from foreign notables- The
quaint old colonial cabinet in the Red
Room. IN which Mrs. Roosevelt used 70
display the collection of japanese dolls
presented 20 her several years ago by
the japanese Ambassador. IS now filed
with silver trophies OF one sort and an
other which have come to the present
Presidential family through their long
years In public life. Loving cups and
silver toys and some fine examples Of
1 Chinese and japanese netsukis make an
interesting exhibit
On Mrs. Tafts 5-o'clock tea table. which
Is The principal innovation OF the new
administration, are 90 be found some at
tractive examples OF Oriental pottery,
tea and toast being served IN distract
I ingly fascinating dishes. while the table
I Is covered with magnificent Oriental en-
broideries.
Mrs. Guggenheim. wife OF the Senator
from Colorado, IS one Of the most pic
turesque women in Washington. Tall and
slender. with a fine. oval face framed IN
ripping. dark hair. worn parted at the
center and drawn softly back 10 a
coil ar the nape OF the neck, Mrs. Gug-
genheim Is good % look az. clad in any
style Of gown. However. she has a
shrewd sense OF the value Of clothes. Most
of the time she wears soft satlns, and as
she is just emerging from a period OF
mourning. Washington knows her best in
her stunning black frOcks. An at home
gown Of dun black satin. made on Sc
verely simple lines. unbroken from the