Evening star., 1920-02-29

She has been vice president of the
New Jersey Suffrage Club for several
years and has performed work in it's
| behalf which would do credit to one
| but half her age. In the civic way
| she is tireless. and heads some of the
city organization. Mrs. James School
craft Sherman. widow of President
Taft's running partner. resides in her
old home in Utica. but she seemingly
! has found newer interest, and. except
once or twice on imperative business.
Mrs. Sherman has not come to Wash
| ington since her husbands death.
just before the election of 1872. Just
a few years ago the widows OF wee
! Presidents formed an important and
! fair-sized group. but recently death
has cut off Mrs. Adlai Stevenson. Mrs.
Fairbanks and Mrs. Levi p. Morton.
Mrs William Graves Sharpe and Miss
Sharpe wife and daughter of the former
| ambassador to France. are renewing
ties in their old home and passing an
exceedingly pleasant and busy period.
When MIR. Sharpe was in Congress from
Ohio the home in 18th street, formely
occupied by Mr.. and Mrs. William r.
Merriam, was a much frequented spot
| both by grown-ups and the friends OF
the large circle of children. Miss Sharpe
made her debut in Paris, but 1t was
shorn Of all the expected brilliancy. for
events were not so important as during
normal times. Mrs. Sharpe was active
in all the war movements, and she took
a special interest in the renovation of
the ruined cities of Lorraine, for the
pretty Ohio city in which she was born
was founded by Alsastan exiles of a
classical turn of mind, and they named
TIE county Lorraine. but somehow an
| "r" has been dropped from it, as it goes
as Lorraine, and the township is also mis-
| Snelle6 if n have heen that
land of Grecian fame and loveliness.
Ilyria, but is Elyria. Nevertheless, Mrs.
Sharpe finds it delectable village even
after her travels, and with it's green
lanes three-fourths OF the year and its
winding canals and the backgrounds of
Horticultural countr" it comma nds re-
spect a lovely spot even in compari-
son with more illustrious urban seats.
Mrs. Sharpe, though one of the most do
nestle Of women, and having reared a
good sized family 70 her own and several
iyoung sisters and brothers, is "A fervent
advocate OF equal suffrage and led the
cohorts of her section of the country for
many years before the least hope of sue
cess was visible on the political horizon.
One Of the genuine troubles of her So
journ in foreign lands was trying to
lexplain American aspirations and ideals
to French ladies with such different
views. and then with limited voca-
Ibulary on both sides. Another amusing
incident was the interest in her first
name, which shows the rage Of that
Isweet American song. Listen to the
knocking Bird" for she was called for
it's heroine, Halle. Mrs. Sharpe sent
home for numerous copies Of that old
song in order to illustrate her story,
and for few months that quaint lyric
in all it's variations was often heard in
Paris salons.
An important consideration is in
volved in the demolishing of the Cor
coran house to make room for the
National Chamber of Commerce. 1t
means the eventual abandonment of
three other houses to which as much
historic and literary interest attaches.
Directly next is the fine old southern
mansion where Slidell made history
when he was senator from Louisiana,
and from which he stepped out to
join Mason and the Confederacy.
Next to Slidells stately home is the
low brick mansion which Henry
Adams. the historian, erected to be
near his friend and constant COM
panion. John Hay. There existed at
one time secret passage from the
Adams home into the Hay library
and a buZzer. which would signal
very gently to inform the Secretary
OF State that he might expect call.
If this we're not proptious time a
slight pressure proclaimed the fact