Evening star., 1923-03-11
Newest Cabinet Lady
Is a Literary Woman
, OF Considerable Fame
Mrs. Harry S. New, as Cath
j, crime Mclean. Is Author
of "A Woman Reigns.
Best Seller.

Though Mrs Harry Stewart New,
wife of the Postmaster General, has
been a familiar figure in Washington
for the past six years, few of the
many who have grown to know and
admire her are aware that, as Cath
crime McLaen of Toronto, Ontario. she
was literary woman of considerable
fame and the author of at least one
novel which reached the proportions
OF best seller, a Woman Reigns."
Mrs. New is native of Toronto and
member of the great clan which In
heroic days had it's seat in the Isle
OF Iona, off the Scottish coast and
which is variously spelled McLaen,
McLane and McLain The oldest
branch and the one yielding supreme
power for many years was the Nc
I.aens, so numerously represented at
the present time in Nova Scotia and
other parts of the Dominion OF
Canada, and of which the latest ac-
cession to the group of cabinet host
tsses is a member. At the time of
her marriage, in August 1891, to
ihe former senator from Indiana and
now one of President Harding's Off
cIal advisers. Miss Catherine McLaen
as living in New York and had
achieved an acknowledged reputation
as a member of the world of letters.
Since her marriage she has, however,
permitted the extended and varied
interests of her husband to engage
her time and energy.
Mrs. New presents an unusual num-
Der of fascinating phases for consid-
Grafton. but to the feminine world
her close friendship with Mrs. Hard
ing is of prime Importance, and that
she is so skilled in the large and
yeNed question implied in how to
dress well that she was invited to
accompany the first lady-elect in the
autumn of 1920, when. after a few
days inspection, gowns and other
Saraphernalia for an entire Wash
ington social season were selected.
Mrs. News entrance into the cabinet
circle of women is of prime impor-
tance from the sartorial aspect alone,
for. though accepting all of the larger
responsibilities of life and taking her
full share in it's problems, she is
faultlessly gowned on every occasion,
and with that regard to detail and
appropriateness which is rarely ap-
parent in one so busy in the affairs
of the intellectual world. Mrs. Hard
ing is of this type, too; and while
she has from her youth given her
time to civic and philanthropic activi-
ties. she has always deemed it part
Of her routine to study the modes
and to choose her raiment.
Mrs New has naturally taken on
some of the traits of the women of
the middle west. but she has never
which her home city. indianapolis. is
so notable. Since coming to Wash
fngton she has not joined any clubs.
not even the Congressional, though
she takes warm interest in the
meetings of the senatorial women. If
the leisure is afforded, she will con-
tinue to attend their weekly gather
ingS. But these meetings do not take
on even a remote aspect OF clubdom,
but are just informal affairs like
the neighborhood parties in estab
lished community. In clubs. how
ever. which have a definite purpose
other than for social diversion Mrs.
New takes a part. She has since her
first residence in Indianapolis been
affiliated with the Boys Club and she
still continues one of it's vice presi-
dents and is always active in sup
porting it
Mrs. New is a graduate of the Ursu-
line Convent at Chatham, Ontario, a
branch of the famous foundation OF
quebec, which is the mother of all
converts in the new world and the
cate women. She is a member of the
Church of England and has become
affiliated with the Episcopal Church,
as it is called in this country. both
Postmaster General belongs to the
Christian Church and attends the
ediffce on Vermont avenue. and OF
which the late Champ Clark was
IhetlDeT MIS-. 4~e" HdS Hol SeieSlcu
special place of worship and goes,
rs convenience dictates. to St Johns.
81. Thomas or the new cathedral In
Wuodley lane. Both are fond of
walking and set out from their pleas
ant home on Wyoming avenue at any
hour when they can spare the time.
and. summer or winter. they prefer
such roads as lead into the woods.
They may often be seen jaunting
along in Rock Creek Park or on the
hills northwest of the city. Since
coming to Washington the News have
resided at 1869 Wyoming avenue, in
the same general situation of so
Of ho hipa homes