Evening star., 1923-12-23
Tales of Well known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Christmas Will Be Celebrated IN Embassies and
Legations According to Customs of Their
Countries

disdain court costumes and the -frill-
lngS of the past 1t may be that
their rulers have been too busy with
more serious problems to select a
diplomatic uniform for their repre-
sentatives, bus no longer is the
american envoy and his staff con-
spicuous In somber evening clothes at
international evening gatherings. He
mas lots or company nowadays. The
Latin American republics about f1f-
Teen years ago adopted similar
gold braided evening suit for their
diplomatic representatives, that of
an ambassador differing somewhat
from that of a minister and the staff,
after the way military authorities
designate the higher grades by
stripes and chevrons. But these
diplomats noting the trend of events
adhering to their embroidered and
be-frilled uniforms. and another five
years may see all of the western
world discard court paraphernalia in
its most remote form.
One Of the pet ideas OF NJ. Jusse-
rand, the French ambassador, when
no Is soon to erect is in readiness,
possibly year distant, Is to line the
Corridors with fine portraits of all
the ENJOYS France has sent to this
nation since Chevalier de la Lucerne
presented his credentials to the Con-
tinental Congress In 1879. If he Sc
lectS portraits of these diplomats in
state garb it will present an excel
lent idea of how the nations are slow
~. ~ ,rsn gong 1i,, toward simplicity and
dor wears on ceremonial occasions
garments which look gorgeous and
stately in the present diplomatic pa
geant, but contrasted with the gran
deur of M. de Ia Lucerne. from the
court of Louis XVI. he would be sub
merged. The many Napoleonic ENJOYS
IN Washington were more ornate even
than those from the Bourbon kings
and the ministers whom France sent
under the Third Empire believed in
gold embroidery and lace. 1t Will be
a most interesting collection, If NJ.
Jusserand Is able to collect 1t in en-
tlrety. A similar exhibit adorns the
American embassy in London, where
the portrait of every minister and
latterly of every ambassador from
Thomas Pinckney to Col. George Har-
vey may be admired by visitors, who
are left in the corridors awaiting
their reception.
A popular young diplomat who
VIII spend few days OF his leave of
absence in Washington is Mr.. Foster
Stearns. son of Mr. Frank w. Stearns
or Boston. President Coolidge's inti-
mate friend. Mr.. Stearns, jr., is now
third secretary of the American en-
bassy in Paris. He has held that
position less than year, but has
been in the foreign service of this
government for about three years and
was for a time stationed in the Bal
kans. Mr.. Stearns studied at Amherst
with the idea of devoting himself to
teaching, but he accepted the posi-
tion as state librarian of Massachu-
sets and was holding that post when
President Coolidge was governor of
the state. He was naturally very
helpful to the chief executive of the
old Bay state and indeed to every
other person who sought to use the
archives, so that his departure into
the field of diplomacy was deeply re-
GREETED. The staff of Mr.. Herrfck in
Paris has been very materially re-
duced in the past year and some more
looping Off of honorary attaches and
special observers Is anticipated But
the third secretary, who is a linguis st
and a diligent student, need not. fear
removal even if he were not so firmly
entrenched IN the affections of the
President. He came to this country
early in the month and will remain
until January Is. As Mr.. and Mrs
Stea1ns are expected in the city for
the New Year festivities, their son
will accompany them.
Count Andre de Limur, who is a
secretary of the French embassy in
Madrid, is with the countess. who was
Miss Mary Crocker daughter of Mrs
William Crocker of San Francisco, at