Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-08
Missions Housed i'm Beautiful Washington Homes
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- eHEN the first of the foreign
NAV missions came to Washing
WV ton the average person won
" dered Immediately where 1t
would be entertained. The Wnite
House is inadequate when the nation
entertains guests. for the bedrooms
be it whispered. are mighty few IN
number, and a public hotel was as
suredly not "the thing" at ALL
The nation wanted to show special
hospitality to the distinguished guests
The idea settled upon-to house them IN
beautiful private residences of the cap
ital-has been commended since as
satisfactory solution. AS mission fol-
lowed mission, the government has
commandeered large number Of these
ry Belmont has turned his home over
to the government for the use OF the
japanese mission, which is to arrive in
August.
To one privileged to make a tour Of
the mission headquarters it is difficult
to find sufficient adjectives to describe
them. The range in architectural types
and the variety of interior furnishings
tax a layman's knowledge of these mat
ters, and the observation of such be-
wildering beauty and perfection in hui
man abodes battles definite expression.
Photographs of these houses will be
found in the planogravure section of
this issue of The Sunday Star.
The Franklin MacVeagh house, 18th
street. which was placed at the dis
posal of the Balfour party: the Henry
the honor of sheltering Joffre and
his compatriots: the Letter mansion,
Dupont circle, given to the Italian mis-
sion during its visit: the Iarz Ander
son house. Massachusetts avenue.
where stays the Belgian mission; the
Hennen Jennings house. at Sheridan
circle, where the guests from Russia
are making their home, and the Bel
mont house. to be given to the Japa-
nese mission-these are collection of
residences which an old-world art cen
ter might point to with pride. Wash
ington is fortunate in being able to
provide tho nations guests with such
impeccable quarters.
The Belmont house. where Viscount
Ishi and the six other members of the
Japanese mission will reside. is an
artistic gem. To say that it is a per-
feet artistic creation is to pay tribute
to the highest artistic ideals of civiliza-
ton. Standing on a detached triangle
at the intersection of New HAMPSHIRE
avenue and 18th street, it occupies a
triking position. No site Is ever as
wonderful as that which allows a beau
tiful building erected upon it to be
period of Louis XIV, when the influence
of the De Medicis was SO strong, it
embodies features prominent in the
architecture Of France and Italy.
Built by Samson. of Paris. at a cost of
100000. and the. only house which
this great architect has built In Amer
lea. it is perfect in it's French detail.
All of the decorations and carvings
were especially executed in France.
The first floor, where one enters a
circular white marble hall and proceeds
to the graceful double stairway, is oc-
cupied by the library and private apart
ments Of the owner. The second floor,
according 70 the novel plan. is given
is circular reception room situated at
the point of the building. two passage
ways lined with marble statuary and
leading to the art gallery, and the dining
assist In providing two exceptional
vistas on either side of the house from
front to back. The dining room is a
reproduction of a room in the Grimani
ceiling. Priceless old paintings, many
of which formed the collection owned by
August Belmont and which were in
herited by Perry Belmont. line the walls
y. lily 90 y, WHICH, DeCduSe OIL 1IS
size. serves also as the ballroom. The
walls of the salon are paneled with
paintings of rare birds and flowers, by
Pillement. after the style of his time.
In such description Of a house. which
is exceptionally beautiful in line and
atmosphere and fitted with soft tapes
tries elegant hangings and perfect
furniture. one gives little expression to
its true charm. Behind all of It's external
beauty lies the historic tie of the Perry
family-Mr. Belmont's maternal great
grandfather, for instance-with the
Japanese nation. which gives an added
element of appropriateness to the selec-
ton of this house as headquarters for
the guests
Commodore Matthew Calbraith Perry,
whose picture, with that of Commodore
Oliver Hazard Perry. adorns the wall of
Mr.. Belmont's private apartment. opened
the ports of Japan. A bust Of him,
executed from life by Powers at Rome.
rests in one of the halls. A statue OF
the naval hero stands in the harbor at