The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-10
"The Spirit Of the House"
Deals With Washington.

Novels about the Capital are few
enough for the publication of new
one to be an event of importance,
especially when it is a novel written
by a person who knows her Wash.
ington as does Anna Dorsey VIII
liams, whose "The Spirit Of the
House" Is just from the presses.
The author Is Mrs. Allyn Williams.
wife of the celebrated English
miniature painter. who is president
and founder Of the Royal Miniature
Society; but old Washingtonians-
the type with whom she deals in
her book-still think of her by her
maiden name, Anna Vernon Dorsey.
Since her marriage Mrs. Williams
has, Of course, lived much abroad,
but the tie that binds her to her
old home Is strong and she has been
a periodical visitor here, her hus-
band being almost as fond Of Wash
ington as she Is. They came over
last autumn, took a studio apart
ment in the "Old Mattingly House, "
1915 H street, and spent the win
ter here. Mr.. Williams sailed for
England recently. having certain
important commissions to execute,
but Mrs. Williams has fingered on
until after the publication Of her
book.
Those who have seen advance
copies Of the novel say that it pre-
sents an absorbing drama Of a sig
nificant period Of American life
against a firmly drawn background
Of social and political Washington
Of the last thirty Years.l Memories
and phases Of the society known
by the author as girl are con-
trasted with modern aspects of the
Capital. 1.-THE story ia told with
imaginative intensity" the critic
continues, (which carries complete
conviction. Psychic perceptions il
lumintae its beautifully written
pages and It eliminates in a dra-
matte scene in which for a moment
the veil which obscures the beyond
is torn aside"
Washington seems to the casual
but a stopping point Cbrief enoughD
for the political migrations which
come with each change Of admins.
tration, each election. A shifting
panorama, one might say of
changes which stir at any time in
any and every corner Of the ma.
ton. New influences back home
send brand new faces to deck the
Capital. Washington thus can be
thought Of as the mirror of chang.
ing customs and faiths and hopes.
Yet there is another side. There
Is the old Washington which wealth
ers shifting winds and, deep rooted
In what Is its long possessed home.
continues down the years with a
dignity that the city's varying popu.
lation but makes morer noteworthy.
These two 'contrasted elements are
the key to understanding of the 90.
cial life OF the Capital, and are in.
terest1ng, too, as representative. re-.
spect1vely, OF two elements that one
finds In every community Of the
nation. '0
1t Is surprising how little Wash.
mgton has figured in the work Of
our fiction writers, despite the fact
that 1t seems a field Of unrivaIled
opportunity for them. The fact
that 1t is so UNEMPLOYED a region
lends added interest to Mrs, Will
hams' novel. Mrs. Williams 10 ~
one OF the old Washington Families
and in writing a story which covars
the past thirty years of Wasb,nr'
SOn NE she is writing Of what she
has first hand knowledge.
LUNCHEON TODAY AT
BELGIAN EMBASSY: >
The Belgian Ambassador and
baroness de Cartier cntt rtained az
luncheon today at the embassy. hav.
ing as guests the Minister OF the
Netherlands and Nine. de Grasff
Mr. ana Mrs. William Il. Castle. jr..
MIS- MIS- Edward Townsend, Nine
oGorman. Pastor Hoyois, Belgian
representative at the HuRuenot.
Maloon tercentenary celebration