The Washington times., 1920-07-04
PRESIDENT
Is HOST.

Is HOST.
The little luncheon party which the
President and Mrs. Wilson had at
the White House on THURSDAY for the
Fro nch Ambassador AID Mmo- JUS
serand was far and away tho mos' s'%-
nificnt festivty OF the week In Wash
ington. No, THAI II was much OF
function. for Mrs. j. N. Helm. who
was staying al the White House.
was the only other guest But IT was
TIE first time the President has been
host &c one OF the diplomats since he
was taken III, many months ago.
Moreover. IL WIS farewell hos
pitaiIty. as the Jusscnards left town
next day and sailed yesterday to
spend tho summer abroad.
Mrs. Helm has hecn staying al the
White House all wcck IL the absence
or Rear Admiral Helm. who Is on
business Jip In the South: ana X
would seem m,'o haVo been great
pleasure to MIS- WI,-onsto have her
former social secretary with her. The
two ladies' have been DRIVING together
occasionally. and moro often they
have panied President Wilson
on the long drives lpto the country
which afford him MS chief diversion
One afternoon close upon O'Clock
drawn up at the Commercial National
Bank. 1t is known that the White
House banks there--the head of the
institution. Rolfe Boiling. is a brother
of Mrs. Wilson--and the fact that the
motor was at the curb spread the
rumor that the President was within
and attracted such crowd that the
street was completely blocked and the
casual passer-by wondered If there
was a run on the bank. AS matter
of fact the President was not with
in.
II was Mrs. Wilson who had stopped
10 attend to little business
Another place where the White
House motor might have been OBJ
served one day last week was outside
oc the Corcoian Gallery, where Mrs.
Wilson spent half an hour or -s re-
viewing the little collection - Sey-
mour Stones portraits of which | told
you---.a dozen or more that he had
painted abroad--scveral OF them. how
ever, of distinguished Americans who
were abroad in their country's serv-
,ce--the two of the Secretary of War.
and his family, and charming slen-
der grey cloaked figure of Mrs.
Charles :. Patterson. wife of Colonel
Patterson. and known to literary
lame By her maiden name of Jean
Rushmore.
Mrs. wilson was much interested
and Impressed with the artists work.
and she took the trouble to stop and
express to Powell Minngerode, di-
rector of the gallery, her pleasure.
asking him TO be sure and tell Mr.
stone how greatly she had enjoyed
mis- work One rather " onders wheth-
or that IS preliminary to a commits
sion cor MIN from the White House.
There have been several portraits Of
the presiden' painted since he came
to Washington. but one does not re.
call that Mrs. Wilson has sat for any
one.
And really it begins 60 look as IL
this young American who began his
career as painter Of wagons, and
,ater as a sign painter. in Chicago,
and returned TO this country less than
three months ago after fifteen years
Of travel and study abroad. was de.
veloping into something like the
court painter OF this Democratic Ad.
ministration.
He tells me he came home largely
to see his brother married, lnndlug
in America e-~ly in April, and going
directly to Chicago for the wedding.
Five days later he was In Washing
ton ready to begin on the paintings
OF the Baker family, for which he had
received commission through mu
tuHl friend In New York. by the time
those were well under way he had re-
ceived an order from Secretary Colby.
and from Benedict CrUwell Assistant
secretary OF War. Tor purtrai' group
uF Mrs CroWell and tnv two children
Meanwhile be was at wCrN on Mrs
Pattcrson's portrait.
IThe CInAell rrnnn nrnNed 40 ant.