The Washington times., 1924-09-05
NEW WRITER IS
CONTRIBUTED
BY SOCIETY
Winant Johnston Adds
Novel Writing to List
of Accomplishments

wv ASHINGTON society is on
" the verge of contributing an
Wv other author to the world.
This time it is that tall, lythe,
extremely good-looking Winant
Johnston, one of the most eligible
young bachelors current in the
reaches of the upper social ether
He is using the novel as his
medium of written eXpression-and
his novel, which IS receiving the
finishing polish, is, / am told by a
reliable critic, suggestive of classic
French prose in its simplicity and
charm of words and the vivid
beauty of its descriptive scenes.
Mr.. Johnston should be able to
write an interesting volume. He
has a comprehension and sense of
the artistic that find expression in
the many things that he does-in
his sculpture, his poems, the
furnishing of his home and-oh,
well, that's enough to give an idea
of the unity of his versatility.
This novel, which we will prob
ably be reading within the year,
details many of the happenings in
Mr.. Johnston's own experience and
the experience of some of his an
cestral family, members of which
lived in New York when it was
Little Old New York" On his
mothers side he is of one of those
aristocratic Dutch families, about
which even Mrs. John Van keEs.
selaer would have nothing to say
that would be socially adverse.
Poems, Novels, Sculpture Show
Versatility of Young Writer
This novel writing is new field
for Mr.. Johnston-and yet not exact
" a new field either for he, like many
others, has attempted chapter or
two in various wouldbe novels
but this one is the first that he has
really kept at until completion. In
it, if l am informed correctly, there
are interspersed few of the poems
eof child life which Mr.. Johnston
has not been able to keep from
writing from time to time. He is
particularly responsive to the ap-
peal of children and finds their
thoughts and ways of manifold in
terest In short, he adcres them
Much of the novel takes place in
France, a country which the author
knows intimately and loves with de.
votion. AS child he went to
school near an old chateau town in
southern France. AS a man he
fought in the trenches of France.
having served with the British
forces before our country cast its
lot with the allies.
Many will recall-certainly those
interested in art-the exhibition
here about two years ago of some
of the sculpture of Mr.. Johnston.
His figures have much strength
and originality combining to make
models of great beauty.
He and his mother and grand
mother have quaint little house
in Georgetown-not much to look
at on the outside, but on the inside
one sees many rare and lovely
things-old portraits, pictures, bro
cades, linen, tapestries, pieces OF
antique furniture with a history.
When Mr.. Johnston and his
mother came to live in Washington
a few years ago Mr.. Johnston was
Captain Johnston, U. S. "A hang
over from the war-but after a
year or two of peacetime military
service he put aside his uniform and
became again a citizen.
His uncle was the late Elliott
Woods, architect of the Capitol, 8
brother of Mrs. Johnston. AnC
there was man, who certainly
hid his candle-or candles-under. E
bushel! In almost every field O
art he found beautiful expression
AS musician perhaps there wa!
no one in Washington who sur
passed him. He had piano made
especially for his use, which |.
now in the possession of the Wash
ington Club-having been presented
by Mrs. Woods after her husband:
death less than year ago.
TO ACCOMPANY PRESIDENT
ON BALTIMORE TRIP.
Mrs. Coolidge and her son, Johr
Coolidge, will accompany Presiden
Coolidge to Baltimore tomorrow
when he will deliver an address a
the Lafayette-Marne celebration.
The Duke and Duchess of Alba
who are in this country to attend
the international polo matches, will
spend the week end with Mrs. Johl
Nicholas Brown at Newport. Thei
hostess will give dinner for then