Evening star., 1921-06-19

The Vice President has not yet been
provided with a special chair at the big
mahogany table around which the cabi-
net officers sit at their bi-weekly meet
ings in the executive building. All the
other members of the Presidents family
have a large stiff-backed chair with
their names engraved on it. but hitherto
MIR. Coolidge has been content to draw
up an ordinary sort Of affair, which
habitually occupies a space against the
wall. However, the second official of
the government has been promised
seat Of his own suitably engraved, and
the order for 1t has already been sent in.
|, The Secretary Of the Interior. Albert
Bacon Fall. is using the chair of John
! Barton Payne. that official being the
Sole incumbent of the Wilson regime
! who was not impressed enough with the
souvenir idea to purchase his when the
administration changed. But the small
tablet giving Mr.. Falls name is attachr
ed to this Interior Department chair
| which is now entering on a prolonged
term Of service. A palmer room than
! the cabinet chamber does not exist in
! the various executive buildings centered
! in Washington.
F; But one picture adorns it, a steel en-
craving OF Lincoln in a dark wooden
! irame, and this is placed above the
Euilt-in mantel which covers the open
fireplace AS the present cabinet room
dates only from 1907 it has been sug =.
geSted, and ii is said that President
Harding cordially indorses the idea, that
| a group of picture of all the various
l tad nj
hung in the order of seniority. Such
photos or photographers are easily OBJ
tainable. and they would certainly en-
hanCe both the appearance and the sug-
gestiveness Of the presidential council
| chamber.
! Croquet has been revived with such
a sweep in Brooklyn and thereabout
that it seems en- -ely probable that
Washington will soon have its Gro
quet grounds in the Mall just as 1t
has golf courses and tennis courts
All Through the Fairgrounds OF Cali.
| fornia, croquet plots have been rolled
and tended as eagerly as the tennis
! grounds, and tournaments have been
\ announced for a score of years past
Croquet and its variant. known as
roquet, is enjoying great popularity
and down the sound and several
| country clubs have added this old
! time favorite to the list of attrac-
! tions. Several of the cabinet matrons
acknowledge a partiality for this less
strenuous game of past years; Mrs.
Wallace, for instance. who has Kept
! up a place for the game in her own
grounds in Des Moines and enjoys a
| trial with mallet and ball very much.
| indeed The Brooklyn champions
have recently challenged the cham
pions of Melbourne, Australia. another
spot where croquet is supreme
tavorite and the outcome lis among
for midsummer.
Senator Penrose is one Of the most
DISTINGUISHED bachelors in the upper
legislative chamber. and it is so sell
dom that any kind Of nuptial event
concerns him even remotely that much
interest is expressed in the Wedoing
rose, daughter of DR.. Charles Bingham
Penrose. we'll known here as the ply
sician who almost miraculously put
the stricken statesman into the active
ranks again. Miss Penrose will marry
Mr. Andrew Van Pelt. son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Charles Van Pelt OF Ph1ladelphla'
probably the early part Of September.
and the event will usher in the au-
tumn season in the Quaker city and
will call forth a large contingent OF
friends from Washington. Miss Pen
rose made her debut a year ago and
has been a favorite. She has large
circle of friends in New Orleans and
has spent much time there.
Mrs. Horatio Nelson Slater. who.
though not so well known in Wash
ington as Mrs. Hunt Slater. has many
friends and relatives here. who are
particularly gratified over her splen-
did patriotic gift to the United States
her Readville, Mass. estate of sew
eral acres and a spacious ma nsion. as
a rest home for disabled soldiers. The
property is to be under government
control for fifty years. when it Is
hoped these victims Of the world war
will no longer need earthly help. after
which it returns to the estate Of Mrs.
Slater and her family.
daughter of William Morris Hunt. the
artist. and the Readville mansion is
exquisitely embellished with many
souvenirs of the great artist and
relics OF his work. About one hum
dred soldiers can be made comfortable
in the house. where the large sleep.
ing chambers have been converted
into wards for from four to six pa
tients.- The porches are wide and well
shaded and command fine views of the
surrounding country.
Mrs. Slater is at present living in an
apartment in Lexington avenue. New
York city. She will personally su-
perintend the work OF remodeling
necessary for the purpose to which
her home is to be devoted and will
defray the cost A modern infirmary
and pharmacy will be among the ad-
|ditions needed; also sun parlors. which
will be southwestern porches on three
nj
aviary Is also to be added and some
of the grounds will be laid off into
nurseries. where horticulture will be
taught.
Mr.. James Montgomery Beck, who has
recently assumed the historic role Of
solicitor general Of the Department Of
Justice. won a unique nonor during the
war in receiving the order Of the Cheva-
French government for his eloquent
speeches in behalf of the French cause
Mr.. Beck is heralded as the orator par
excellence Of the administration set. and
he will undoubtedly be called to deliver
more than the usual quota Of public ad-
dresses, for eloQuence is rather on the
decline at the National Capital. Mr.
and Mrs. Beck are well remembered
from former. residence during the
Roosevelt administration, and will fit
Beck was Miss Lila Mitchell, daughter
of Mr., and Mrs. James Mitchell of Phil
adelphia, and is an accomplished hostess
Her daughter has been a frequent Wis
itor during the years her father resided
in New York and his home city, Phila-
deIphia. The Office Of solicitor general
is considered stepping-stone to higher
dignity, and Of recent incumbents Will
liam Howard Taft and Judge John ~Da-
Wis, former ambassador to Great Brit
am, are excellent examples Of its possi-
bilities. Judge and Mrs. Beck own
house in 21st street near r, and will
OCCUPY it next tutumn.