Evening star., 1924-01-13
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Many Proposals of Summer Homes Unlikely to
Bring Purchase Of One for President-Former
First Ladies to Be Honored.

W mite House may be regarded as
typical For compare the banquet
given recently to the diplomatic
corps by President and Mrs. Coolidge
to similar amenity in the opening
twentieth century when President
Mckinley asked the heads of foreign
dining room of the White House
lacks nothing in dignity and equip
ment with the home of any head of
state, and the food is prepared to
me last morsel in the presidential
Kitchen. In President Nick inley's
time tables were improvised in the
corridor which separates the drawing
rooms from the lobby. and the food
was sent In from a caterers and was
rarely ever served hot enough to be
palatable. Dreary affairs were state
dinners in those days and occa sions
| i'll which the ladies in their decollete
| gowns contracted heavy colds. Now
the artistic element enters into every
detail and sprightliness 1eavens the
most ceremonial affair. A delightful
musical program adds to the pleas
ure OF the evening when the Presi
dent and his lady are entertaining and
troduced by Mrs. Taft. Mrs. Roose-
Welt frequently had musicals in the
afternoon and in the evening. but as
interludes at state dinners Mrs. Taft
is the innoyator
Sir Auckland Geddes' return to
| make his courtesy visits and to re-
ceive his papers of recall from the
State Department turns attention
anew to the fact that the British
foreign service seems in recent years.
almost as precarious and dependent
United States. Sir Arthur Cecil
Spring-Rice was ambassador when
the world war began less than ten
years ago. Three other ambassadors
' y ;,, Ia; -,
Cecil Spring Rice was superseded by
Lord Reading and died almost trag
| ically month after leaving Wash
ington. fourth is now on his way,
the length Of an American congress-
mans tenure of Office. Lord Paunce-
fote of Preston was nineteen years in
Washington, ten years as minister
and nine as ambassador. and James
was here for almost ten years. Sir
Mortime Durand was recalled after
serving less than two years. Sir
Michael Herbert was ambassador less
than three years. but death caused
this instance as II did in Lord
Pauncefotes. Walter Hines Page was
ambassador when Sir Cecil Spring
Rice was appointed TO Washington,
I'll health caused his resignation and
then came Judge John Davis. Col.
George Harvey and Mr. Kellogg make
a total OF four ambassadors sent TO
London as against five sent to Wash
ington. In two OF the changes, those
Of Mr. Page and of Col. Harvey. the
resignation was entirely voluntary,
Mr.. Pages. like that of Sir Auckland
Geddes. being based on consideration
bassador. expected here the early
part of February, Sir William Esme
Howard, is a career" man in diplo-
! macy and has passed the usual term
OF five TO ten years at every capital
to which he has been assigned as
minister.
The Hon Stanley Bruce, prime min
| lister of Australia. who landed in New
York last week, Will soon pass
through Washington and remain for
Gallipoli. Mr.. Bruce is an outstand-
ing figure in his country and Is the
first native born Australian to achieve
his high post. 1t was nothing short
former premier, William Hughes.
Welshman, and as canny as Lloyd
George in judging political situa-
tion. The new prime minister is
direct from London. where. rumor has
il. he refused several titles. "Sirs"
and lords" are as much of handi-
cap to the man seeking public favor
in Australia as they are in Canada,
ana VT. bIuCe 10 JuSt tHtSi iiS MS
political life. He is in the early
forties and is unmarried. During his
schooldays in Melbourne he was a
noted athlete and accumulated a siz-
able fortune in gold medals and cups
in various contests. Over six feet
tall and proportiopately broad. the
prime minister in his own bailiwick
answers to no other appellation ex-
cept "Janey" Bruce, and under this
SISSY" name, as American would dub
it, made the most rousing campaign