Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-02
Ten Downing st.
Comes Into Own
With Fresh Head

London. June Is "a. p. by MaiD-
Just as the White House got back
INTO the social whirl of Washington
whcn the. sick and weary Mr.. Wilson,
turned 1t over to the vigorous Mr..
Harding, SO number Ten Downing
street is expected to take on o. new
lie now that the younger, Mr.. Bald
win has replaced the quieter aud suf-
fering Mr.. Bonar Law. Ten Downing
street socially, however. is no White
House. London's lords and ladies
look to Buckingham Palace as the
center of that phase of life. But Ten
Downing Street is a spoke in the So
Gal wheel, and because of peculiar
circumstances, that spoke has not
been bearing its share of the social
burden these many months.
Ton Downing Street is the official
nome OF Britain's prime minister and
as such it has part to play, and a
prominent one, in those offshoots of
political life that go by the name of
oniclal receptions. Over the tea-cups
on the tables Of Number Ten" world
problems are sometimes settled, as
Mr.. MarSot Asquith long ago inform
ed those who read. Mr.. Bonar Law.
be!Hg widower, and his short term
or Office having found him in almost
constant i'll health. there was little
social life at Number Ten" during
the days Of his residence there. But
with the Baldwin regime it is bound
to be different, for now the tea-cup.
are presided over by a new mistress.
Mrs. Baldwin always has enter
tanned considerably. Also she always
has taken interest in the political ac-
INVITES OF women, attending their
meetings and sometimes entering the
discussions by way of a speech. Since
October. as wife of the chancellor of
the exchecquer and mistress of the
mouse next door. which is No. II
Downing Street, Mrs. Baldwin has
been hostess at several receptions
and parties. Always the guests were
pleased with the easy arrangements
and the comfortable charm her hand
gave the cramped quarters. Her town
mousse, in Eaton Square Is regarded as
one OF the most perfectly equipped
homes in London. Chequers Court,
the country home of British prime
ministers. which the Baldwins occu-
pied through an agreement with Mr..
Bcnar Law long before the highest
honor in the kingdom came to them,
IL their third home, and their own
private residence IN the country, Asst
ley Hall. in Worcestershire. is the
fourth and the favorite of the family.
As the. hostess of Number Ten. Mrs.
Baldwin will have the constant as
sistance of her youngest and only I'M
married daughter, Betty, who has
Just reached Fl, and is "out" in socie-
ty this season. There are three other
daughters and two sons, the younger
Cambridge student. the elder, DIV
er, lieutenant in the Irish Guardr,
who has had his share of getting cap
tured and then getting away. Once
the Bolsheviks caught him and ne es-
capped. and afterwards he fell-into the
clutches of the Kemalists, but he also
lett them unexpectedly.
Ju1 as pigs and pipes down at
Astiey Hall. and politics in London
are three Of the big elements in the
NE OF the new prime minister. SO
china ami childi ~ have been, prom
inent in the work and pleasure of his
wife. All Of her homes contain fine
COLLECTIONS, Of china, which she loves
and selects with the care and the de-
votion that her husband gives to
building up and using his libra ries.
Her children, though two Of them
nave children of their own nowadays.