The Washington times., 1920-05-03

DSN "hat a chanSe since thsn-
racial social. conyiviA! - crowded
streets. clubs. hotels--and constant
e1traVagant entertaining a. the
houses or millionsires and at tEe
different embassies.
Although the British have been
represented by several amba ,saiors
during the past twenty years, /
doubt IL any has been more popular
than Lord Pauncefote, who was in
Washington when first came. Am
bassador Bryce. Of course, stands
out prominently. and so does Lord
Reading. Among other diplomats
who have remained for a number of
years and are much liked are .he
French, II. T.. Monsieur Jusserand:
the Spanish, IL. Il. Monsieur Riano:
the Danish, Monsieur Brun: and the
Portuguese, Viscount d'Alte. The
Austrian ambassador. Baron won
Hengelmuller. was also here long
time, and Count Won Bernstorff, whom
people liked as cordially before the
war as they despised him after IL.
The embassy functions were al
ways sure, OF course, TO be differ
ent from any others. There was,
for instance, a stin dinner at the
British embassy, where we entered
the big drawing room to find peo-
pie standing about in a circle, all
dead silent. and not one familiar
face. After shaking hands with the
hostess we Joined this impenetrable
group and watched the next arrivals
go through the ordeal which we
had just survived. At last a friend
ly face appeared and the spell-for
us at least--was broken. / went in
with the minister of Justice from
Canada, gray-haired, quite deaf,
and with a legal mind IL there ever
was one. 1 met "a South African
millionaire and some Congressmen.
but the guests were principally
South Americans with their plump
and pretty wives.
Beside me sat the Swedish min
lister, who really was very interest
ing. Perhaps the wealthiest man
of his day in Sweden-he owned
factories over there which supplied
America with elevator ropes and
piano strings-he was an extra
ordinary character. At Twenty
five he had been a gay lieu
tenant in the army, but he and his
wife became interested in General
Booth. SO they Joined the Salvation
Army and wore it's uniform for ele-
ven years, working among the poor
and giving them the interest of
their money. His excellency almost
converted me to the cause, for his
enthusiasm still glowed. Apparently
his interest in social and industrial
problems had never tagged. He
told me that when the people in his
factories became old. they were
transferred to lighter work. But
even so there must have been diff
culties, for he said that our laboS
troubles Cor what we called labor
troubles them did not compare with
those of Sweden, and that the dis
content generally began in comnuni-
ties where there was no church,
the people becoming irreligious and
socialistic. We dined very pleasantly
with him later at the Sweden lega-
tion, where his maids, in their ma
tive costume of gay striped skirts
and black bodices, were a pictur-
esque feature.
Interesting Diplomatic Folk.
Another fascinatingiy foreign
household helped to make Washing
ton cosmopolitan-that of the de
Buisserets, the Belgian minister and
his wife. He hoped about like a
charming little bird, with his white
spats and pipe. The German nurse
brought the new baby down for us
to sect was in swaddling clothes
such as l had never seen before. all
tied up with bows of pink ribbon.
Hardly had she taken the tot away
again when the French butler in
formed madame-now at luncheon
l.. II Nl,A 20,
was hungry. One of their servants
was n superbly costumed Moor who
waited on table; they had brought
him from Tangiers. an earlier post,
and both spoke to him in Arabic.
Dining at the Japanese embassy
was not so unusual an experience
as might have been expected, for
the establishment was, quite Eu-
ropeanized. The ambassadress had
been educated at Bryn Mawr and
spoke excellent English; clad in
formal evening dress and wearing
a diamond tiara in her hair. she re-
ceived us most charmingly. The
secretary's wife also spoke our
language. Before that / had seen
very few Japanese women who
spoke any English at all. The
Italian ambassador was there, and
the Dutch minister, both magnifi-
cent in their uniforms. for they
were dressed TO go on TO recep-
tion at the White House.
One night we went to dinner
party to meet T. /. II. Prince and
Pincess Fushimi. ] was taken In
by n most delightful japanese gem
tleman who spoke nothing but Jap
anese and Chinese, but he had so
laughing a face and looked so jolly
that you couldn't help liking him.
His imperial highness made a very
striking appearance-tall and with
the high-caste features of his long
descent. He had had an interest
ing life, Travelled widely and seen
much-in short, a kind of Japanese
Abruzzi; he spoke French. so / was
able TO talk with him. The princess
was very sweet, with the same
hirh-bred look OF distinction. She
was accompanied by her ladyin-
waiting, rather plain but very nice.
and companion--a diminutive,
serious looking person with glasses
and an American education behind
them. The men of the suite con-
sisted of an aide and two naval
attaches who were quick and clever