Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-04-15
Minister and Madame
Peter of Switzerland
Establish Home Here
Legation Flag Flies Over
Imposing and N OF a b lie
Structure on Heights Of
Sixteenth Street.

The Republic of Switzerland files
its flag on the heights of 10th street
and in the imposing domicile which
has served since its erection some
twenty years ago as a legation for
Sweden, and for Denmark, under
Count Molkts. Mr.. Marc Peter. who
was among the last diplomats re-
ceived by President Wilson, and Nine.
Peter. have come to Washington for
the first time. The minister, like the
great majority of his colleagues, was
selected for special qualifications for
the post and at the time of his APP
pointment, was a leading lawyer OF
Geneva.
Nine Peter. who is intensely
patriotic and proud of the fact that
Switzerland has a native daughter
as well as a native son in her lega-
ton. was before her marriage Miss
Jeanne Lachenal, daughter of NJ.
Andrew Lachenal of Geneva, who had
served brilliantly in the Swiss house
and senate, both before and after he
was elected president of the republic
in 1895. He died a few years ago.
but his widow survives and is one of
the stately matronS or Geneva, where
she has lived for many years.
Mr.. Peter was serving in the lower
chamber Of the Swiss Legislative body
when he married Senator Lachenars
daughter, but he gave up a political
career some years ago and had re-
turned to the legal profession, when,
In 1920, he took over diplomacy. Nine.
Peter has filled the legation with
many distinctive bits of home life In
the lovely city of Geneva, where she
was born, and there are many fasci-
mating old engravings and colored
photographers of her native country
along the corridors and up the state
ly stairway, and in her drawing rooms
and dining hall are to be admired
some rare pieces of old Swiss glass
pewter and porcelain. In Geneva
zurich and some of the smaller CEN
terS of Swiss industry, says Nine. Pc
ter, are to be found the only factories
which now manufacture pewter, and
the vogue of this once humble kitch-
en- ware Is so great that the pewter
makers are far buster than the silver
smiths or artisans in gold.
Nine. Peter names as the foremost
characteristic of the Swiss people
their love of home and all that their
ancestors had placed in these homes
and they cherish the least article of
furnishing simply because it belonged
TO their fathers and mothers and to
tneir parents before them and back
almost too remote to be traceable. Mr.
Peter brought his well beloved books
and they fill the entire office room OF
the English basement, and all his pic
lures and Office furniture, and this
same has been used for many genera
tions OF his family, who also had fol-
lowed the legal profession. Nearly
all of Nine. Peters silver and pewter
bears date of 100 at the latest, and
one fine old Swiss cabinet was made
In Geneva while yet the great Calvin
was a resident.
Something of which any woman
may well be proud are the two tapes
tried chairs in the sunny living room
upholstered on old frames which were
very dear to Nine. Peters great.
grandmother. She and her mother
Nine. Lachenal, did all the intricate
tapestry, after the sampler stitch, in
wreaths and bowknots In dain ty
blues, greens and pinks with scrolls
in browns and Erays.
NJ and Nine. Peter have two sons
George. who soon will be twenty-five
and will in June take his degree in
civil engineering at Harvard. and
Marc. Jr.. who is nineteen and study
ing in the University Of Virginia.
The minister placed both in college
soon after coming to this country.
and vacation days have always been
passed in travelling and especially in
visiting those portions of the states
where there are Swiss colonies. The
family passed a delightful summer
two years ago in the northwest,
where. after being the guest Of vari-
Gus Swiss counties in Washington
and Oregon. they spent some weeks
In the Yellowstone Park, at the
End Canyon and in California and
colorado. This summer, however. Mr.
Peter will take his family back to
after the Harvard commencement in
June and will return In October