The Washington times., 1912-09-09
Washington Friends
Of Mclean Family
GrieVed at Death

All Washington received with grief
today the report coming from Bar
Harbor of the death there this morn
ing Of Mrs Mclean. who was one
of the city's best known and most
universally respected society lead
ers. Scores of kilograms transmitting
to John r. McLeanl and Edward Beall
Mclean by the Washington friends
and associates Of the family:
Arthur d. Marks, one Of Mr.: Nc
Leans representatives here, left for
Bar Harbor at 1890 o'clock this aft
ernoon, and will take charge of the
funeral: Mr.. Marks expects to reach
the Maine resort early tomorrow
bers of the family, he will complete
arrangements for bringing the body
to Washington, and will telegraph
Instructions as to what arrangements
shall be made here.
number of friends of the McLeans
today wired for Information concern
ing the time and place of the funeral,
but received no definite information,
as the present plans are merely ten
tative.
1t is likely that the services, fol-
lowing the arrival of the body, will
be brief and simple, carrying out the
that anything she was interested in
should not be spectacular.
The Washington residences of the
McLeans are closed for the summer,
at this time.
Leader in Society.
Mrs. John r. Mclean had been identl-
fed with exclusive circles of Washing
ton since her girlhood days, and during
her married life she had been a recog-
nized leader in they old residential set
the Gave Dwellers."
She was the daughter Of the late
Gen. Edward Fitzhugh Beale, of Free
mont expedition fame, and a grand
daughter of the late George Nancrede
Beale, paymaster, U. S. N. Prior to his
departure for California, where he
amassed his vast fortune, her father
was a lieutenant in the United States
Navy, an Annapolis graduate, who re-
signed his commission to seek his for
tune in the West. Her mother was a
Miss Mary Edwards, of Chester, Pa,
and until her fathers return from the
West a millionaire, the family made
their home in Chester.
Upon his return General Beale pur-
chased the old Decatur mansion, at
Jackson place and II street and brought
his family to Washington to live.
The family included 4drs. Mclean,
tHe.l hlSS Emily bedle, MISS mary
Beale and Truxton Beale. the only son.
Both Mrs. Mclean and her sister, now
Nine. Bakhmeteff. the wife of the Rus
sian ambassador, were married from
the old house. which is still standing.
and Is one Of the historic landmarks of
the National Capital.
Purchased Fish Home.
After her marriage to John R. Nc
Ia NIL a hi oh
themselves in the old Fish house on II
street between Fifteenth street and Yer
mont avenue, which John r. Mclean
purchased for his bride, who had
formed a sentimental regard for the
house in which she had had her first
tastes of Washington life as a girl
The house. which has recently been ex.
tensively remodeled, and is now one OF
the show places of the millionaire col
ony Of Washington, is still the Mclean
Washington home.
Friendship, their country estate on
the Tenleytown road, Is one of the
the vicinity of Washington and has
been the scene of as many elaborate
entertainments as the town house
1t is at Friendship that Mrs. Nc
day morning breakfasts that have
been such an important feature of the
spring season in Washington society
Edward Beale Mclean, the only
child, who will inherit his mothers
fortune, was married a few years age
to Miss Evalyn Walsh, daughter OF
the late Thomas f. Walsh, the Col
orado mining magnate. Their only
child is Vinson Walsh Mclean, one OF
the most celebrated babies in the
world. Young Mrs. Mclean, who
takes a more spectacular part in the
social activities of the capital thar
her husbands mother, is the prouc
possessor of the famous Hope dia
mond."
Noted for Philanthropy.
Mrs. Mclean was as famous for heI
philanthropic work as for her socia
position.
One of her pet hobbies was tn
guardianship OF motherless debutante
in Washington society, over many o
whom she maintained a gentle espion
age from the time Of their presentation
Last winter one of the most lavisl
entertainments of the season was tn
dinner and musicale which Mr.. an
Mrs. Mclean gave In honor of the Presi
dent and Mrs. Taft. This entertain
ment for which opera stars were i'm
ported from New York, was the firs
formal entertainment at a private hous
attended by the President and Mrs
Taft in washington since the Inaugural
ton. over three years before.