The Washington times., 1922-11-23

going into the real estate
~ business! The news, l think,
comes as a bit of surprise, for
the handsome Mrs. Hartman had
not taken many of her friends
into her confidence. And the
first inkling of her intention was
conveyed by a neat little ad in
serted I'm the morning papers to
the effect that "Story and Com
pany beg to announce that Mrs.
J. Borden Hartman will here
after be associated with them in
a general real estate capacity"
Now, the society woman is no
longer an anomoly in the bust
ness world of Washington-wit-
ness Mrs. Joseph Letters Francise
shop, the dressmaking business
of Miss Maud Converse, daughter
of the late Rear Admiral Con
verse, and "A grist of other es-
tablishments-but so far few
women of Mrs. Harriman's posi-.
ton have gone In for selling real
estate. However. il she is as
keen "a business woman as she Is
q politician, ] predict that she'll
soon have the men looking to
their laurels.
Long recognized power in
Democratic party politics, Mrs.
Hartman has recently made her
house rallying point for the
leaders OF her party and at the
Thursday evening supper parties.
which she gave during the sum-
mer months, one used to meet
most OF the deserving Demo-
Gratis" in Washington, as well as
visiting party leaders.
She's born organizer is Mrs.
Hartman. and she ought to be
an excellent business executive.
The firm she has entered, which
specializes in ornamental homes
for more or less ornamental
people. used to be Westcott and
Story, Horace Westcott and John
y. Story, jr. After Mrs. West
colt withdrew it was Story and
Cobb, with Murray Cobb az the
Junior partner. But Murray Cobb
went off TO the war, contracted
pneumonia somehow and his
lungs went back on him-perhaps
1t was touch of gas, ! can't
remember. At any rate, while he
was desperately i'll Mrs. Cobb
was allowed. after many vicissi-
tudes, to go out to him; and
after the armistice he spent two
or three years in Switzerland try
ing to get well. And some time
during this period his connection
with Story and Cobb was dis
solved. He seems to have sue
ceeded measurably in his search
for health, for he and Mrs. Cobb
are now back in Washington and
expect to spend the winter at
Wardman Park.
RUT this, after all is another
~ story. The Westcotts and the
Storys and the Cobbs are all in
of society which Mrs. Hartman
adorns; and the firm has a very
fashionable clientele. Mrs. Harri-
man maintains house in Wash
ington-a charming old house
with a garden in that section of
+ street.-the 1000 block, which is
enjoying a renaissance Of it's old
time glory as a fashionable resi-
dence district. However. she
spends a good deal of time in New
York-or more properly New Jerf-
sey-to be with her daughter,
Mrs. Henry Potter Russell.
The Francise Shop, which Mrs.
Letter financed and which Is
named for her younger sister,
Mrs. John Ballantine Pitney, who
was Miss Francise Williams, is
under the active direction Of two
women-Mrs. Charles O'Donnell
Lee and Mrs., Ormsby Mccain
mon, who are both well and
favorably known" in smart So
ciety. Mrs. Charlie Hume is as.
ISOLATED with them. too. and, as
I understand it, the lovely negli-
gees and other dainty garments
in which Nine. de Sibour spe-
cializes are sold through this shop.
Miss Converse has made a great
success as maker of smart
frocks and many a fashionable
bride has she dressed for her we'd
ding. Miss Susanna Chase. daugh-
ter of the late Capt. Volney o.
Chase, u. s. NJ, and Miss Eliza
beth Beach, daughter of the Nor
gan Beaches, have more recently
set up a dressmaking establish
ment, and, although they are
quite new at the game, they have
almost more work than they can
do and are turning out some
delectable frocks.
Elsie Cobb Wilson, a sister Of
Murray Cobb, is nationally known
rs an interior decorator: and Miss
Rose Greedy, daughter of Gen.
Adolphus Greedy, the Arctic ex-
plorer. has taken up landscape