Evening star., 1915-11-28

an He only woman TO represent any
department of the federal gov
ernment at the Panama-P Pacific
exposition is Mrs Alice NJ.
Blandford of the Department of State
She has just returned to Washington
from six-month sojourn in San
Francisco. where she has been acting
representative Of the State Department,
in charge of it's exhibit in the liberal
arts building at the exposition.
Mrs. Blandford. who is on duty in the
ONCE of the chief clerk of the depart
neut. col!aborated with Mr.. Davis, the
chief clerk In selecting the material
which should comprise this exhibit Her
work in this connection received sin
gular distraction from both the judges
and tne general public at the exposi-
tIoF- The exhibit Itself received gold
medal Of honor. While she, Mr.. Davis
and MI e. y. Whitney. the third col
laborator. received SILVER medals
while in san Francisco. Mrs. Bland
ford and a number of other exhibitors
in the liberal arts building formed
ciub-the Liberal Arts Progress Club
ito promote attendance at their build
ing. Mrs. Biandford was chosen hostess
and did much through the social ac
ti.ities which she assisted in planning
TO popularize the liberal arts display
Since her arrival home she has received
a SET of resolutions from the club mem
bers, hand lettered and illuminated on
parchment. expressing gratitude and
appreciation for her successful Co
operation.
SPECIAL social honors were bestowed
Jpon Mrs Biaudford in San Francisco
and At n luncheon, given by the ladies'
board of the exposition. she was one Of
the honoS guests and read Il teleg ram
from william Jennings Bryan, who was
Secretary Of State at that time, In
which he expressed his pleasure at the
way the woman exhibitors were carry
Ing on their work.
Mrs RIauifgrd'S work ~ state
Department brings her in close contact
with the principal activities With which
u deals. on this account she was well
equipped TO give Interesting talks on
The material which the exhibit con
tanned She sent an invitation 10 the
San Francisco school children to visit
her and on numerous occasions gave in
formal lectures explaining the conneC-
fion between the material displayed
and the work Of the department
II found" said Mrs. Blandford, gazing
reminiscently out OF the window of her
Office and resting her eyes on the au-
turun tints Of the shrubbery IN the park
which lies between the State War and
Navy building and the Monument that
three classes of people were especially
Interested in our exhibit These were
the school children, who were eager to
actually see many OF the things which
they had studied about in the history
OF their country's government the for
eign visitors. and the people of higher
educational attainments who under
stood the Significance OF our various
papers and documents.
Not to say, OF course" she protested,
that the general public was not in
ferested. but l noticed that these other
people fingered longest over our ases
and ! formed the opinion that they re-
ceived the most benefit from the ex-
hibit
Almost every one is acquainted more
or less with the matters with which
this department deals-how IL conducts
foreign correspondence: acts as the
medium of official correspondence be-
tween the President and the chief
executives of the states: affixes the
great seal of the United States. which