Evening star., 1922-05-07
Tales Of Well Known ok
In Social and Official Life
Washington Discusses Possible Retirement Of
). Ambassador Jusserand, Dean Of Diplomatic 4
Corps Interesting Incidents of Lord
and Lady Astor's Visit Here.

/ Washington has just passed through
another rumor of the retirement OF
the dean OF the diplomatic corps
here, M. Jean Jules Jusserand, only
to have 1t denied from Paris Like
all men who have rounded out al,
most quarter OF q century In for
eign lands, M Jusserand's private
affairs must call loudly for more at
tention than he has been able to give
them, and this. it Is said, will ultimate
lly lead, to his resignation. He has,
perhaps. become closer to Americans
| than any diplomat who has served In
recent years in this capital He has
written two delightful books on his
impressions and on historical themes,
| Great Americans Whom Have
Known" and it's enlarged revision,
dealing with American participation
n, the great war as the ally Of - france;
! ise the third diplomat sent by the re.
public of France to hold the rank OF
ambassador, his predecessors being
M. Patenotre. who. like him, had
married an American. Miss Elverson'
| daughter of the Philadelphia pub
Usher. The second ambassador was
the much M. Jules Cambon.
who acted as mediator between the
United States and Spain and was the
signer of the protocol which began
| the peace negotiations. This ven
erable statesman, now in his eighty
| second year. has just been invited
into the circle of the French tmmor-
tails, the Academy of Letters. because
| of the stirring and yirile quality OF
his state papers from Berlin, where
he was holding the post Of French
ambassador when the war began.
By one Of those curious historic in
stances, France had held the deanshfp
| Of the corps in Washington in M. JUS
ing Of the last century, France was the
first nation to send regular minister,
Chevalier de La Lucerne being the dip
| lomatist who presented his credentials
| to the President Of the Continental Con-
gresB. then the head Of the nation.
For the first twelve years the minister
from France was the only envoy of
first rank in this country, and he was
not always here. there being an interim
during the sparrings and half wars OF
the John Adams administration.
The other nations which opened
diplomatic intercourse sent q charge
d'affaires or mere agent.
The French ambassador has been in
Washington almost twenty years. His
| predecessor as dean. Baron Won Hengel-
years, but he was ambassador less than
| ten. Lord Pauncefote Of Preston served
in Washington nearly twenty-five
years, but fifteen Of them were as min
| sador ever since he came In 1908. and
| his ts the longest service in this
| capital Of a foreign envoy Of the first
rank. It equals the record Of any Of
the veterans in European diplomacy
and far surpasses any ever made by an
l Am a Tfr
Egan was almost thirteen years in
Copenhag gen, and that is Considered
| remarkably long term.
! With that. famous old mansion
disappearing. it is a matter of con-
graduation to the sentimental that
the fine old box tree, which was SO
| conspicuous feature of the garden
has been safely moved and now lends
| dignity to the sward west of the Lin
| coin Memorial. Tradition makes this
box tree the oldest now in Washing
ton proper. and states that 1t came
| from the Maryland estate of the
| original owner. Gov. Swami of Mary
| land, who lived in Charles county,
| and that It was one of stately line
\ street. 1t has grown to enormous
size. and that It could be successfully
transplanted and already looks as
l though it's first home was near the
beautiful classic temple to Lincoln Is
| modern horticulturists. Another HIS
i toric plant. which every one hopes
will be spared and placed in some
worthy spot Is the splendid wistaria
vine over the house adjoining the
| used for some years past as the head
quarters Of the Collegiate Alumnae.
This veteran vine, so glorious few
days ago, was among the many rare
plants which Commodore Perry.
brought from his first expedition to
| many handsome wistaria vines in
Washington. and possibly in the
United States. Wistaria did not
figure in the Oldest gardens prior to
proof that Perry's contribution was
the initial one in this country. He
gave many cuttings to- friends, one
to Bancroft. but. though many of the
roses and shrubs tended by that ven
erable flower lover still survive, a
Washington parks were never love-
lier, despite the lethargy of spring.
but in Dupont Circle and sometimes
parks at nabs
can be imagined than little Betty
the Chinese minister. She has the
darkest and most sparkling eyes and
her bobbed hair. is Invariably tied
with a bow OF scarlet ribbon. As
she fits gracefully through the trees
and shrubs one could fancy following
the fight of q cardinal or tanager.
Betty was born in London and speaks
the language with not q trace Of ac-
cent. She is quite voluble ta1ker,
too, and most friendly with other
youngsters and with the park police
man She will ioip any sort Of game.
whether conducted by boys or grown
ups, and she certainly seems destined
to lead a new woman movement in
her native land. She has two broth
ers, one six and the other eight.
They are at school near Canton, but
may come to Washington for the va
cation. Betty's attendant fsSa gov
efness as we'll as nurse, and the little
girl takes many Of her lessons out in
the parks. The minister and Nine.
See, going by to attend some function,
sometimes stop to talk to the little
girl, and she invariably has q number
Of 9playmateS to present.
In the recent death Of the Earl Of
Gossford another American peeress,
wife Of the new earl, takes high rank in
the London world. This is the former
Iy9Sl