The Washington times., 1916-02-06

had been examining for this very posi-
tion for more than a year. Not that he
had il in his mind that he would some
day be at the State Department; far
from il, 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
a most careful reading of newspapers,
magazines, and official diplomatic
documents OF the war and its problems.
As he had 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
Government. 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
nffied and suave, both firm willed and
genial. Mrs. Polk was formerly Miss
| Elisabeth Potter. of Philadelphia.
=
So we're going intO relief work il
Italy in a whole-hearted fashion, JUS
as we have in France and Belgium. ~
least we have that to our credit In
these days that everybody on the othel
side ahas a hard word to say of us. A
, the Palazzo del Drago, the American
ambassadors residence in Rome. a hos,
pital. the "Ouvroir," has been estab
lished by Mrs. Thomas Nelson Page, the
ambassa doris wife, and it is" conducted
exclusively by American women. Nor /!
this all that Americans have done FOL
the relief OF the sick and wounded II
Italy. An American hospital has beer
set up at the Italian front and foul
others were opened some time ago II
leading Italian cities. The one at tn,
front is being suppued from the Ouv
roir. Regimental orderlies travel daily
between Rome and the front handling
| supplies for the hospital.
Il
Guess what, Susan: The marriage o.
John James Higgens and Claire Lip
scomb, which we were anticipating will
so much pleasure, expecting a rounC
of iolllhcation. has already taken place
They suddenly took it into their head
yesterday not to wait until preparation
! for an elaborate wedding could be got
| ten under way, so motored over t
| Baltimore about o'clock and wer
quietly married by Cardinal Gibbons a
the chancery. Thereupon they took tn
Congressional Limited for New York
where they will be at the McAlpin 70
about a week. after which they will g,
to Atlantic City for another week or so
Upon their return they will live at tn
| Biltmore apartments until the weathe
breaks. when they will take possession
Of their new house at Bethesda, Md.
Il.
The announcement of Mamie Nc
Cle!land's engagement to Mcclellan,
! Barclay surprised us veFy little, for /
had fong been rumored, Indeed, Nanni
tells me they have been engaged 10
nearly three years. Mac" is a dear
and quite good-looking, He spent sew
eral years in Washington, but for tn
past FIVE years has lived in New York
where he has been very successful a
an artist and illustrator. lust re
Gently he was offered a splenSOd posi-
! ton with large corporation in Dt
troit. so there he is now, and there n