Evening star., 1922-12-31

I
ing the special guests of honor on
New Year. it is noticeable that Wash
ington has not yet returned to pre-
war conditions in the diplomatic
corps. At the moment Washington
has not only the largest number OF
envoys Of first and second rank. am :
bassadors' and ministers, but, also the
longest list. Of lesser diplomats at
tached to their STATS. In fact. the
STATS of four nations. England,
France, Italy and Japan. contain
more members than was comprised
in the entire corps twenty-five years
ago. and they outnumber the present
corps in many important capitals OK
Europe. London, Paris and Rome,
the most important capitals OF Eu.
ministers than Washington and their
STATS are invariably confined to some
! six or eight aides. Great Britain has
perceptibly cut down the secretaries
and attaches necessary during the
war, but sixteen remain in Washing
ton in different assignments. Italy
; and Japan have more than thirty Sec
retaries and France has fourteen.
The diplomatic corps is now the most
numerous official body In Washington,
with the sole exception OF the House
of Representatives. and, like those
august legislators. it is experiencing
much difficulty in entertaining each
other as a whole.
| When the japanese empire about
| five years ago formally changed the
| New Year from the ancient date IN
early spring IL marked universal
! observance of January I. with the
| exception Of the soviet established in
I - ~ n1
world. even in Greece. where the old
| calendar was tenaciously kept until
recently, the New Year begins on
, January /. and the customs regard
! ing its celebration are almost as va
ried as those which mark Christmas.
! the most festal Of the year. and the
| entire nation is joy-naking for three
: days-the eve, the day and the day
following. In Rio every sort Of sport
at the theater and the most magnifl-
cent production of the season at the
opera. There are dinings and dane
ings and receptions and musicales
| throughout New Year day and in the
public squares fireworks of the most
; carnival on New Year in recent years
! rather than the Old carnival on Shrove
| Tuesday. which has become abso-
lutely neglected in European coun-
|
world will hold receptions and every
| capital of the civilized world will re-
| fleet the gayety seen on the streets of
Washington when brilliant diplo-
matte and military uniforms fash by
and richly decked ladies will bow
| from tho windows Of their limousines
to passing acquaintance. With the
Vice President and Mrs. Coolidge
keeping open house, the cabinet fam
lilies doing likewise and a general
l re Ggrff IN
sional Club. the streets of the Amer
! lean Capital will present a pagentry
vivid and colorful as any in the
world
The Roman Pontin. Plus xI. who
is celebrating his first Christmas as
chief shepherd of the Christian world.
has sent a Christmas card to GER
tain exalted dignitaries. ecclesiastics
and civil rulers. His greeting bears
the usual apostolic blessing. and in
colors the image of that Christ re-
Gently unearthed in the old baths
outside the walls of Rome, md now
on exhibition In the Terme Museum.
Antiquarians pronounce this statue to
be the earliest known figure of the
Savior carved in the western world
probably in the opening decade OF
the fourth century of the Christian
era. Like the famous mosaic of tine
Vatican. it shows the distinguish In <
! VI Jew ~ pc OK feature. 1UU
not the Roman. The figure is heavy
| and crude. according to the artistic
. ideals accepted now. but there is Il
maj esty about it which Is compelling
and the head crowned with thorns is
both regal and divine. The face is
ieentation of the bearded Christ 90
generally presented. end this is one
of the arguments by which the
tarchaeologists have reached their
statue. Plus xi has been deeply in
terested in the discovery. and has
| had several of the official photog-
! raphers Of the Vatican taking It from
| every viewpoint. His use Of this
statue on his official Christmas greet
! ing will enhance it's popularity in all
: parts of the world.
Washington children should surely
/ petition the civil authorities for j
statue set up in a. public place which
| would claim their affectionate at
, tention during the holiday season.
/ put holly and evergreens on the Hans
! Anderson group in Hyde Park, Little
! Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and
Hans and Gretel. Queen Alexandra
and Queen Mary never fail to leave
their cards and noral offering for
tales. Chicago little folks by the
| thousands have decked out Eugene
Fields "Rock-a-Bye, Lady" where the
| two children sleep so soundly in the
marble group on the Lake Shore
| drive and see the fantastic shapes of
| the poems. There are several Peter
! Pan statues in England and Canada
and they are literally covered with
| holly wreaths during Christmas and
| New Year. But not a single group
F, can be found among the statutes
j which multiply in Washington parks
! which the children can claim. and it
! looks like a real grievance for them