Evening star., 1922-12-03
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Washington Eagerly Awaits Additions to Social
Set This Winter-Diplomatic Corps Has
Grown Rapidly In Recent Years.

OF protests against the Hon. John
Fortescues efforts to lecture in
American cities have reached Wash
ington, there is much interest in the
attempt Of his wife. the Hon. Wini-
fred. to rake jim the golden sheckles
through the much Travelled route Of
importing hats and gowns. Though
marvelously artistic circulars stamp
ed with heraldic devices have reached
many of Washington's fashionables.
the business route of the aristocratic
milliner and modiste does not appear
to be strewn with guineas any more
than her husbands was through the
medium of lectures. The royal Ii
brarian of Windsor had his fate
sealed when the Secretary Of War
ment to speak before the West Point
cadets, an act which won the uni
versal applause of all those who had
followed the spirited controversy. 1t
the Hon. Winifred Fortescue's scheme
| that she is the wife Of the offending
historian. who has been severely
scored by public men here and in
the American press. But the main
reason is that American women
and they have lOng-established af-
f1liations in Rue de la Paix. in Paris.
SO. like the we'll known Lucille"
she languishes for patronage. 1t
would be narrowing recital for all
these foreign notables were the list
buy imported hats and gowns to be
published. The number is now almost
negligible. as the visit of the famous
NJ. Paul POiret proved. So few Amer
leans were buying his creations that
he came over to see what this coun-
try had to offer. Mrs. Fortescue's
venture seems destined for failure.
In spite of storm of protest. the
Italian government has given the
order which will transform the IA
nous Villa d':ste into the National
Hall of Archives. Villa d'Este. which
lies on the rim of old Rome where it
joins the Campagna. has been for six
centuries regarded the eXamplar
of the elegant suburban mansion and
grounds. was built by that Yppolito of
the renowned elan of Lombardy and
Borgia. More than three centuries
ago it passed from the ownership of
the Dukes of Ferrar and Milan, who
still hold their ancient places in the
region about Lake Como, and has
undergone all the vicissitudes of the
estates gathered under the rule of the
Borsia popes. The Able List once
lived in the west wing and held his
wonderful salons on Sunday evenings.
when all of fashionable Rome came
ou, to hear him play; The gardens
perhaps the oldest ard best
kept about Rome. the lake in par
ticular having the largest and most
complete assortment Of lotus or blue
water lily to be admired outside of
the Nile country. Besides the long.
rambling villa. which has some fifty
rooms "I heroic size. thelc are other
dwellings close by and will be con-
necitd DE pereolaS and treliSeS with
the main hall. and in these the gov
ernment will house the most cherish
ed Of its manuscript treasures, politi-
be continued as a pleasure park,
where the municipal bands will play
on Sundays and holidays, and the lake
will be at the disposal of the young
sters, as the old water course about
the Tuilleries in Parts are Tor the lit
tie chaps who like to sail toy boats
Mrs. Morgan Hill. for some years Il
conspicuous social leader in Wash
ington. is among the Americans who
have recently acquired homes near St
Malo. in Brittany. and. though she
was never identified with the literary
wing here. she is in the midst of the
world of letters in this environment.
Nearby is the illustrious Chateau de
Chombourg. where the Count and
Countess de Durfort maintain a ira
ditfonal Breton hospitality The
countess was Sybille de Chateaubri-
and. grandniece and heiress of the
renowned author of The Genius of
Christianity" and accounted one of
the literary masters of France in the
golden days of letters. Chateau
BRAND was born in St. Malo. and his
rock bound tomb off the coast is the
scene of touching ceremonies several
times year--his name day. his birth
day and the day of his passing. The
old chateau. where SO much of his
writing was done, dates from 1856.
when the Bishop of Dol erected the
tower for defense by the sea. The de
Durforts entertain constantly through
the summer and late autumn and they
have special liking for the hordes
of American art students who tramp
Brittany during the long vacation
Another notable home near the one
which Mrs. Morgan Hill has pur-
chased Is that of Mrs. Henry Sturgis,