Evening star., 1923-02-18
Tales of We'll Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Changes in Diplomat Circle Have Been Rapid
During President Hardngs Term-More
Than One-third of Corps Is New:

Though not quite half of President
Harding's tenure Of his exalted office
has passed. it is significant of the
new order that more than one-third
Of the present diplomatic circle dates
from bis administration. In fact.
during these revolutionary days.
diplomats term is comparable to that
Of member of Congress. To take
Great Britain as a basis of reckoning.
1t is less than congressional term in
the Lower House, for Sir Arthur, Cecil
Spring Rice was transferred from his
post here in the spring of 1917 and
three other ambassadors have since
filled the role. Four ambassadors
have come from Italy in the same
length of time and only France. Spain.
Portugal and the Scandinavian coun-
tries have shown the stability of past
years. The ambassador from Chile.
Senior Don Beltram Matthew, the pres
cnt dean of the Latin American corps.
marks off an interesting juncture in
the second Wilson term. for he was
received on November %. 1918, but a
short time before the President de-
narted on his first visit TO the Paris
conference. After him came the great
ipterregnunI, when the diplomats ac-
cumulated TO an unprecedented degree
awaiting the stricken Executives
ability to receive them, during the
interval between his illness. in Sep
tember of 1918 and his partial recoN-
cry in May, 1920. The first diplomat
received by President Harding was
Mr. Sao-Kc Alfred Sze. who presented
his credertia on March TO- 1921. as
minister from China. Mr.. SEE resigned
this Office during the past summer
when nominated to hn secretary OF
A,nA n
however, the Chinese Senate failed TO
confirm him.
Claremont Manor ont he james is
the last of the Old colonial estates to
pass from It's original owners into
alien hands. tlaremont is the oldest
Of the ma norial grants on James River
ald tneroabout and its land warrant
dates from l6i9 when Col. Arthur Al
len was given Il crown grant. IN
memory of the ancient home OF his
family in Surrey, he called his man
son Claremont and tae county III
"hich it was located has always been
known az Surry. tiaremont IN Ola
Surry was afterwards inherited by
the Duke of Kent. father OF Queen
Victoria and the late venerated ruler
OF Britain spent much OF her chilli
hood there. C!aremont-on the James
was built In 1860 and 1t is typical OF
Ing mansions in whca Thackery
placed Henry Esmond and OF the So
cal life of that era. 1t remained IN
the hands Of the Aliens in direct de
scent until 1850, when collateral
branch inherited it and d few months
ago sold it to MIR. Meredith Armistead
Johnson Of New York ard Kentucky
.Nmerica's greatest poet, Edgar Allen
Poe came from the same family as
tho Aliens of Claremont and he was
frequently the guest Of his kinsmen.
Tradition tells Of long illness III
which the unfortunate poet was ten
bod tr-.Al n
As President V'ashington's chamber.
and that here was written the out
lines Of The Raven" Washington
passed weeks at Claremont during the
last campaign Of the revolution
So many OF the notables of Wash
ington are bound for the PAN -Ameri.
can Congress that Chile and its chief
cities will be centers of attraction Tor
the next two months. Many OF those
who go as delegates from this coun-
try, will see the southern hemisphere
for the first time. and among these
are nearly all OF the large contingent
chosen from he expiring Congress-
Senator and Mrs. Pomerene. though
considerable travellers. Will penetrate
the west coast of South America for
the first time. Valparaiso, the vast
Chilean seaport. and santiago, where
the congress will assemble, are among
the eldest and most substantial on the
Pacific coast and where the ancient
ways of Spain have been most scrupu,
iously preserved. Chile was settled
from the north of Spain. where indus
try, frugalIty and spirit of progress
sion is more marked than in the
southern provinces and its first imml-
grants include some. of the renowned
mobiles of the Pyrenees and of the
plains about Madrid. Consequently,
il will be picture of Old Span modi-
fied by contact with the active meth
ods OF the new world. Santiago is
r.li icyI,t ft,j mol rI
public squares filled with fine trees
and an abundance Of Towering plants.
It's hotels are models of spacious ele-
Gancs and good management anu as
the, American party headed by the
Secretary Of State will arrive in the
middle OF March, ii will be the begin
ming of autumn in the south temperate
zone and the most enjoyable season OF
the year.
II the hopes and aspirations of some
winter loving denizens of the Capt.
tai reach fuliillment. next season will
see rink founded partially. on the
splendid civic enterprise of Toronto,
But in the case of this city, the indoor
rink will be private enterprise and
the ice must be of the artificial va
riety and it will undoubtedly be an
offspring of some well-estabiished
club. which patronizes winter sports.
In toronto, for at least half the year,
after the ice has been properly con-
gealed through an artificial. process,
to leave the windows open and to per-
NIT the heated air to escape through
apertures in the roof is all that Is re-
uured. This would not be effectual
in Washington, where very often an
entire winter will not produce ice
thick enough for skating in the open
still less under cover. The Canadian
cities all have ice rinlls enclosed and
usually run in connection with fine
cafe, which affords a view. of the
skaters. while protected from the icy
blasts. Several thousand skaters can
enjoy the exercise in the new Toronto
venture and the admittance fee Is SO
small that II is aimed only to pay the
attendants and for the lighting. The
excellent cafe offers food at nominal
price and the city furnishes the music.
With the coming of so many foreign
ers to whom winter sports are as
necessary as the air they breathe, 1t
has been felt that some assured means
should be provided in Washington,
since nature IS so tickle and so<unre-
liable here and strong ice to skate on,
not to be promised with any certainty.
The former assistant secretary of
the Navy and Mrs Franklin d. Roose-
welt have Joined the, yaching colony
off Miami. Fla, and propose tore
main in those waters. until the sea-
son is ended. Mr.. Roosevelt feels the
lure Of the sea every year about this
time, but until recently his affairs
nave not been in shape to leave for an
extended visit. He has chartered a
high-power houseboat, The Weona,
but he has his sailing yacht in at
tendance. too: Mr.: William K: Van
IN.