The Washington times., 1916-02-06

had been cramming for this very posi-
hon for more than n year. Not that he
had it in his mind that he would some
day be AT tine State Department; far
from it, in fact He was just natural
ly Interested in the matters with which
the State Department had been dealing
since the outbreak of the war and had
followed them closely. This he did by
IA most careful reading Of newspapers,
magazines, and official diplomatic
documents of the war and its problems.
As he hal mastered the fundamentals
of the policies Of this country, It only
remained for him to learn some of the
details and methods at the State De-
partment upon taking office.
Another thing which few people know,
Susan. is that Mr.. Polk cut his income
in half when he gave up his New York
office to accept the position which he
holds now. and which pays only $500 a
year. such things are not so frequent
that they should pass unnoticed.
$
As recently as the Taft Administra-
ton the position of counselor of tho
State Department was regarded of so
little consequence that 1t WAS not even
=
Today the counselor is among the most
responsible Officers Of the National
Governments When DR.. John Bassett
Moore. the eminent authority on inter-
national law, was called to the position
OF counselor. Congress provided that
in the absence of the Secretary OF
state, the counselor. and not the rank
ing Assistant Secretary. should act as
Secretary. All of which gave the posi-
ton added dignity.
In appearance. Mr. POLK is both dig
nified and suave. both firm willed and
genial. Mrs. Polk was formerly Miss
Elisabeth Potter. Of Philadelphia.
=
So we're going in;o relief work in
Italy in whole hearted fashion. just
as We have in France and Belgium At
least we have that to our credit in
these days that everybody on the other
side snas d hard word to say of us. AT
the PalaZzO del Drago. the American
ambassadors residence in Rome. a hos
pitaI. the "Ouvroir." has been estab-
lished by Mrs. Thomas Nelson Page the
ambassadors wife. and il is" conducted
exclusively by American women. Nor is
lHIS an llldl HlIltl lCdHS nave uOllt LOT
the relief Of the sick and wounded In
Italy. An American hospital has been
set up at the Italian front and four
others were opened SOME time ago in
lea dim, Italian cities The one at the
front is being suppued from the Ouv-
roir. Regimental orderlies travel daily
between Rome and the front handling
supplies for the hospital.
II.
Guess what, Susan: The marriage of
John James lIigEenS and Claire lip
sComb which We were anticiput ting with
so much pleasure. expecting a round
OF iollihcauon, has already taken place.
They suddenly took il into their heads
yesterday not to wait until preparations
for an elaborate wedding could be got
ten under way. so motOred over to
Baltimore about o'clock and were
quietly married by Cardinal Gibbons at
the Chancery. Thereupon they took the
CongI essional Limited for New York
where they will be at the McAlpin for
about a week. after which they will go
to Atlantic CITY for another week or so
l'pon their return they will live at the
Biltmore apartments until the weather
breaks, when they will take possession
of their new house at Bethesda, Md.
i.
The announcement OF Eannie Nc
Clc!land'S engagement to McClelland
Barclay surprised us vct, little. for It
had iong been runored, Indeed Mamie
tells me they have been engaged tor
nearly three years. Mac" Is "A dear
and quite gOOd-looking. He spent sew.
eral years IN Washington, but for the
past five years has Iived in New York
where he has been very successful AS
am aIIIst and illustrator Just rr.
| Gently ne was offered a splrnN>d posi-
! IIon with large corporation IN IDe.
tIoit, so there he Is now, and there ne