The Washington herald., 1909-01-04
WASHINGTON CHAT.
BY THE SPECTATOR.

One Of the plesssntest homes in Wash
iHgton is that Of Miss Grace DEMO Litc'I-
field, author OF many successful novels,
the best-known OF which are The Moving
Finger Writes" and In the Crucibls
/ Il is a spacious house IN Massachusetts,
avenUe, near the mansion built By the
late James G. Blaine. bought By George
Westinghouse, and the scene Of Mrs.
Westinghouse generous hospitality. Miss
Iitchheld's home Is built Of red brick.
It's lines are plain and simple. with brown:
stone trimmings, and the whole exterior
gives the impression OF simplicity and
hospitality. Miss LitchfeId is an invalid,
and for years has been unable 20 leave
her own freside for the distractions So
cietv has 20 offer a noted novelist, but
she attracts about her al the best that
comes 20 the Capital II there is a noted
author. artist OF scientist IN town. he is
sure TO be found at Miss Litchheld's on
a Monday afternoon. where, beside
cracking FIRE and over cup Of tea. he
shows his best side
The salon Of the gentle hostess pro
vokes condolences and inspires wit with
D
dsrful pictures, and odds and ends picked
Up from al over The world. 70 say moth
I ing Of the presiding spirit, who eTnsnates
sympathy and coed viii No one who
I has been confined to g couch for years
could show a more optimistic spirit and
attitude. her admirers proclaim. due en-
/ tirely 20 the fact that she Is always st
work at her chosen profession for love
Of the work solely. FOR she inherited
/ handsome income from her parents. and
the yield fren her hooks is OF great
value
/ The letters Of Mrs. James c. Blaine.
edited by her daughter. Harriet BeaIe.
viii, Of course, De rsre addition 10 the
history Of the times they include. The
wife Of the Maine statesman-Senater and
Secretary Of State-was never notably
popular at the Capital Although she
was what might be called = handsome
woman. she had a repeIlent and unsym-
pathetic air which did not invite conf
dence- Her bitterness. when Mr.. Blaine
was defeated. toward those who had
hand in his defeat was unconeealsd and
VIII not soon De- forgotten
I Abigail Dodge. better known as Gail
/ Hamilton. distant cousin OF the Biaines.
I was the real Egeria OF the plumed
knight and from the time ne first came
20 Congress in the '5G's until bis death
sha was member OF his household. the
/ bright. particular star which attracted
/ the most cultured set AZ The Capital No
I woman vas ever So well versed IN poll
] q Nd rr-rHm al her
! fraukneSs. her incisiveness. her physical
! ugiiness. she was q most attractive per
+ son
/ or the SIX children born 10 Mr. Blaine
3 only three are HvirE-Jsrnes. who has
had a varied career; Margaret. VINO mar
/ RED Walter DamTOsch and VINO lives
I happily In New York. and Harriet the
divorced wife Of Truxtun Besle who =
] in Washington with he- son. a sober,
earnest boy. who. under his mother
! training. promises well EmmonS Blaine.
who was married 20 = Miss Mccormick
OF Chicago died many years ago. and
Walker Blainy's Sudden taking OF when
his father vas Secretary OF state q still
remembered by those who loved him and
they are many. for his vas charming
personality.
/ Speaking o. Walker Blaine his very
good friend and Chum. Charles Page
Bryan. is stiI Minister al Lisbon. where
. he hiss been a popular member OF the
( diplomatic corps for the past I've years
/ Before accepting his present post Mr..
+ Bryan vas Minister 20 China. where be
served only few months: 10 Brazil snd
( 20 Switzerland. 50 that he was already a
: seasoned diplomat when President RCOse-
/ welt transferred him 20 the capital u
/ Portugal He VIII % course. resign his
billet when MT. TAR becomes President,
I but such q resignation IS only e matter
/ Of form, as Mr. Taft viii follow oct the
policy lnsusursted by President Harrison
of retaining men who have made good
in the diplomatic service AT their posts
except. Of course. for the great appoint
ments. such as England and Germany,
I France and Russia, which Offices are gen
orally filed BY meu Of distinguished 1t
erary or professional note.
There is no mystery about the resigna-
ton Of Minister GrisCom. He is simply
following out the Vnwritten law OF offer
ing his resignation 70 the new President
which Is "A mere matter Of form
Mrs Tower. wife OF The former Amer
lean Ambassador to Germany. ran over
from Philadelphia last week TO attend
the marriage Of Mr. John Garrett. vyhc
was attached 90 tire embassy durins
her husbands regime. and Alice Warder
which took place the dag before Christ
mas This fascinating woman IS looking
a bit older than when she went 20 Be--
lin- some four years ago. but is just as
bright just as enthusiastic. and Just as
full OF life and gayety. and evidently
happy in the privilege If seeing her old
friends again That she gave M her Do
sitiOn as ambassadreSS reluctantly every
body knows. and she is frank in admit
ting it; but in discussing her diSap2osnt-
meHt AT being releCated 10 private life
she shows q hearty acceptance 81 the
condition. Il IS good. she saws. TO be AZ
home again. after so many years passed
abroad. and the best OF AL Is that she is
able 10 be near her sons. both % whom
VIII take the course Al Harvard. which
is her husbands alma mater or Mr.
Towers successor. Eir Fll. and his
wife she has nothing oJt agreeable
things to say. and the spirit she shows
10 her friends and acquaintance : quite
different from that she was accredited
with having by the busy Jenkinses Of the
press. who pictured her as waiii1g and
crashing her teeth because she had 70
4 leave so lovely an environment as the
Berlin court. where she WAS persona
graIiss.ma-
Canadian Aspirations.
F--,.r -l.~ ry--4T,ro N1-s