Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-26


ally writes name in a book. The
same ceremony is observed at the
various cabinet homes and at ecclesi-
'astical homes also. Then the day is
given owe to merrymaking all in the
open and vocal in the extreme. Fire
works end the day and are as much a
part of New Year as they are on the
Fourth of July in this country.
Now in older countries in Europe
and the orient the first day of the
New Year is family affair, and the
executive, king or whatever his title,
receives only the closest friends or
councillors. If public affairs are urg-
ent. and all other callers must be
content to inscribe their name in the
visitors book. These books are con-
sidered precious part of the royal
arch;eves of London. and from the
standpoint of containing autographs
which the world coyets. they are not
TO be appraised in value. Those in
Queen Nfctoria's reign cover the walls
OF great room in the offices of Buck
ingham palace, and it is necessary to
unwind miles OF red tape to get per-
mission to inspect them. Queen Mary
conceived the idea of selling some of
these books to aid the war fund dur
ing the days Of an iety and want. but
her request was indignantly rejected
by the proper authorities. though.
doubtless. almost any amount Of
money coufu nave Dcen secured Tor
one volume alone The volumes are
bound in fooled calf. usually present.
ed by some of the various art schools
about London. and they have daintily
chased clasps of hammered brass with
the royal arms monogramed in the
center. =,
The Shidehara Home.
Baron Shidehara. who occupies the
mansion built by John Sherman dur
ing the Harrison administration ard
which became, SO notable a spot while
the Ohioan Was Secretary Of STATE
prior to the Spanish American war,
points about the history of this Ioca
ton. For time the Japanese am
bassado- thought himself rather out
Of the way. boih as to home and Office,
the first on X street between 13ln
and nth and the latter on stree;
JUST beyond 18th street, whore it sub
merSes with Vermont avenue. The
tide of fashion has left both neis-t,- :
borhoods rather stranded. yet the am
pdSsador VIII have to De content for
some years at length FOR Tiscoupt
Aoki. who purchased .he. dwelling
gave such an eioauent history Of the
illustr'ous men who had dwelt Their.
sell because II is not so IN fashionable as
II was. Besides this locality is pick
ing up and has several mod SIN hotels
and new houses. In the first house
which Mr.. Sherman erected on thu
large tract of property which he
bought In what he described as away
out on Franklin square" and which
was country then with mud paths AMI
picket fences by way of marking off
the premises. was the home in which
Edwin stanton lived for many years
and where he died in 1863
Modestly GOwned Promenade.
According TO many sena ;orial women.
who have travelled the earth to it's
length since Congress adjourned last
spring. the American capital shows
the most conservative and modestiy
gowned feminine promenade In the
cultured world. Walk down Connec icut
avenue any SUNDAY shortly after noon
"hen the many churcnes~ situate ed
nearby are discharging their con-
sregations. and so few Of the ultra
sort will be seen that they will not
make an appreciabie fraction of the
ole. Now. in Paris. one may see
HoSt extraordinary sights. such as sx-
ceedingly short and brief skirts OF clot h
edged with heavy fur. with loose coat
OF the same with very high collar. yet
the sleeves chopped off above the elbow
and trimmed with the same fur as the
collar ard the edge of the skirt. The
arms are left perfectly bare, not even
gloves temperjng the wind, but a multi :
tude OF bracelets. and always a jaunty
cane is carried. IL may be the blasts
OF winter do not chap and burn az they
would here. but certainly no belle OF
Washington is brave enough 10 risk her
beauty at the dinner and dance by fol-
lowing such a silly fashion in the day.
Yet these sleeveless coats are rage.
and all the queens Of fashion on the
continent are following the vogue. A
lovely photograph OF Lady. Irene Curzon
which has been received here shows her
In velvet suit Of this make with prac-
ticaiiy no sleeves at ALL but rather a
deep fur band. with the same deep fur
cut In scallops at the hem of the alb
breNated skirt Now. though some rather
startling creations are seen indoors
nothing 40 extraordinarily Ill adapted
for winter wear has appeared on the
Washington streets.