The Washington times., 1920-04-25

Mrs. Shonts given her by her father General Drake
Daphne Alabama. This home was magnificent cottage
in the mdest of estate that had mile Of water front
the river, and depth Of another mile Mr. Shonts
spent 100000 adding to the cottage and andscapng the
grounds. This they always considered their Summer
home Here Mr. Shonts kept saddle horses for each
of the girls coach and four and riding instructors and
drivers and groos all for Mrs Shonts and the girls
President Roosevelt had for time had his eye on
Theodore Shonts Roosevelt recognized in Shonts
of great force Of character, who accomplished
things executive of whose
domestic life clean he believed Shonts would be the
ideal person dig the great Panama Canal And Theo
dore Roosevelt appointed Theodore Shons be Goevrnor
of the Panama Canal Zone.
This in 1905-and before Shons would accept the
honor and appointment he exacted promise from Mrs
Shonts that she would 60 with him to Panama But the
health authorities upset his plans by telling him that
and children could not be brought to the zone
which then full of malarial fever
Mr.. Shonts took cottage at Belle Haven Connecticut,
for six weeks prior to his going to Panama. he might
have little time with his family. When he left for Pan
he arranged for Mrs Shonts take the children to
Paris and put them in school there so they could study
French. lie wanted his wife to live in Paris with the
children while he at the Zone promising that as soon
he could he would either bring the family to Panama or
establish his headquarters in Washington.
The next year Mr. Shonts rented large residence in
Washington a1526 New Hampshire avenue, one OF the
handsomest houses in Washington and had the house
decorated This to be the Shons home and when he
made his trips from Panama to the States here the
family gathered to be with him. Many servants were
necessary this house. and these duty the
year around Mr. Shonts ordered special automobiles
made for each of his daughters in Paris and upon their
first visit the Washington home they found these
cars each with its livered chauffeur awaiting them in the
garage Besides the saddle horses had been brought up
from Daphne and trap had been bought foreach daugh
ter, with its pair of prancing trotters
When the family arrived in Washington from the so
ourn in Paris they found letter telling Mrs Shonts to
take the girls and all the friends they wanted to invite in
a private car to New Orleans for the Mardi Gras Mr.
Shonts came up from Panama the family at New
Orleans and romped and played about the streets in
mask with his two daughters and their girl friends Just
if he were boy of their own age
In 1907 Mr. Shonts took the family, with the Due de
Chaunes who was then counting Theodora in his private
car to the jamestown Exposition. He first became really
the trip that he told Theodore that she might marry the
Due with his full consent and with no fear that he would
take Of him in business after the honey
This a happy excursion, and Mr. Shonts and
the Due became fast friends The Due taught Mr. Shonts
to play whist game which he loved to play as long as the
children were about him.
Next Mr.. Shonts sent Theodore then the Duchess de
Chaunes with the Due the Baron Condc the Baron de la
Bouvie and Mrs Shonts and Marguerite to Palm Beach
in the Sbonts private After stay at Palm Beach
the party went in the Niagara Falls the Duchess
Dues having joined the party at Palm Beach. Mr..
Shopts told the Duchess to entertain much and esbo
ratey she wished and to have thought OF economy