The Washington herald., 1921-06-26
HAPPIEST GIRL
IN AMERICA
IS MISSLAKE
Maid of Is, Writer of
Late Novel, Visits
White House.

Il really do believe that I am
the happiest girl in Washington
today" declared Miss Natalee
Talbutt Lake, Washington's Is
year-old novelist, when inter-
viewed by a reporter from The
Herald And why shouldn't she
be? During the past week Miss
Lake and a few of her friends
were presented to the President
and Mrs. Harding at the White
House. where the Chief E9ecu-
tive and the First Lady OF the
Land with the Presidents private
were the recipients of auto
Sraphed copies of the young
authoress's novelette,. AS Strong
as the Hills" Owing to the num-
bers waiting to see the Presi-
dent, only a few minutes were
accorded to Miss Lake. After
making the presentation to Mr..
Harding, the party called on Mrs.
Harding. Miss Lake and her
friends facing the battery of
movie men and photographers
from the newspapers together.
The young authoress was con-
graduated by President and Mrs.
Harding on her work, especially
o. on her noble and generous
thought in donating the entire
first edition of the book to the
benefit of the Near East Relief,
since the money derived from the
sale of the book, which has been
placed on sale at Pearlman's
Bookstore, 933 G street north
west. will be devoted to the re-
construction of devastated Eu-
rope. Former President Wood
row Wilson has also been pre-
sented with a copy of the book.
Visits White House.
1T was the most inspiring mo-
ment of my young life" Miss
Lake told the reporter. in talk
ing of the visit to the White
House.
Il have often wished to meet
Mr.. and Mrs. Harding. but never
believed that l would be received
at the White House as an au-
thoress."
The young lady was seated on
the veranda of her home at 2S0O
Wisconsin avenue northwest
when visited. He had rather ex-
pected to meet a young lady of
the world, sophisticated and
womanish in her way. When he
mounted the steps of the house
and asked for Miss Lake, he was
quite surprised at meeting a
modest lady. appealing in a
sweet. childish simplicity. 1t is,
indeed, hard to believe that this
school girl could write such a
book as she did. Well. indeed.
might her novelette, be cIassed
with the best fiction of the year
Still a child, yet possessing a
cool and clear insight into hu-
man life. she stands today on
the threshold of being hailed as
one Of the leading literary per-
sonages of the National Capital
At the last meeting of the
Writers League of the District,
held in the Public Library. Miss
Lake was an honored guest of
the meeting. When called upon
for a few remarks. she told the
penwomen and their priends
present of her first attempt at
story writing. At the close of
her remarks, she was roundly
applauded The mail daily
brings invitations for other af-
fairs of similar nature, showing
that she is on the way to recog-
milton as a real woman of letters.
Born In Virginia.
Born at Tazwell. Va, fifteen
years ago she was left mother
less seventeen days later. En-
tering school at the age of s, she
skipped the third and fifth
grades From the Emery School
she went to the John Eaton
School. from whence she gradu-
ated to the Western High School,
this being her first year in high
school. She makes her home
with her father, Felix Lake,
prominent in local real estate
circles. and two aunts, Misses
NJ A and n. J. Talbutt.
Miss Lake is the first Washing
ton girl, at such an early age, to
write and have published a nov
elette of her works. She is the
first young girl to be received at
the White House as an authoress.
1t is predicted that within a few
years. her masterpiece will be
hailed as the American novel.