Evening star., 1924-06-08
BY MARGARET II. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET II. DOWNING.
President and Mrs Coolidge are
committed to Washington as a warm
weather resort. and their presence,
with that of the members of the cab
met and no doubt of members OF
Congress during the greater part Of
the summer. insures brisk al fresco
life. Dining on the terraces when
stretch from the state dining room
to the west and from the east room
toward the Treasury are among the
glorious prospects of the summer
when that tardy goddess does arrive.
1t is an environment which adds Zest
TO food and inspires real companion
ship. and now that Jupiter Pluvius
has been so exceedingly generous the
city fathers need have no fear in
turning on the pretty fountains
which alternate with the Sower boxes
and the classic benches. President
Taft was a devotee of dining on the
terraces, and he had the festive board
set forth according as the wind blew,
sometimes on the west and as often
on the east side. The genial twenty
seventh President was II firm believer
of informality during the relaxing
evenings, ana he liktu 10
stroll about between courses and
have his guests do the same. Sub
urban life will quicken considerably
after the interim caused by the ma
uonal convention at Cleveland, and
those who cannot find a suitable sum-
mer home have the comforts of the
.several country clubs at command.
Mrs. Coolidge and the boys have
plans, matured during the winter,
which take in picnicS TO spots hith-
CrtO unNISitpl and long motor trims
10 the mountains nearby when the
President can leave his desk for the
week end.
Abraham Lincolns memory is so
reverently cherished, and seemingly by
all the nations of the world. and all that
is associated with him the object of such
Keen interest that quite naturally the
home of his only surviving son. Robert
Todd Lincoln, in .30th street northwest.
Georgetown is frequently the scene of
quiet pilgrimages. Mr.. Lincoln. who has
reached a venerable age and has always
possessed retiring nature, which is
, emphasized by the passing years, was
among the pioneers in converting one of
the fine old mansions of WaShingtons
mother city into modern home. From
the street it presents an exceedingly
signified and conservative appearance
plain substantial brick. guiltless of bay
windows or galleries and with deep
doorway and shining brass knobs and
and the fragrance of the roses which
climb the wall to the side and rear con-
vey something of tho beauty of the
grounds and the charm of the old gar
den. Mr.. and Mrs. Lincoln have long
since ceased to take active part in
social frivols and they see only their
friends at times and such of the visiting
throngs as have an imperative claim.
Mrs. Lincoln was Miss Mary Harlan be-
fore her marriage, more than fifty years
ago. and she has a large circle of kim
dred in Illinois, Kentucky and Virginia.
Mr.. Llncoln's daughter Jessie, now Mrs.
Frank Edward Johnson, has pleasant
home nearby in Prospect avenue. which
is a part of the old estate of Benjamin
Stoddert. first Secretary of the Navy.
Prospect Hill. Mrs. Johnsons two chill
dren by her former marriage. Mary Lin
coin Beckwith and Robert Lincoln Beck
with, are now in Chicago. but they
make lengthy visits TO her in Wash
ington during the winter.
Mrs Harriet A. McClennan= Of At
lanta, Ga, who was all odds the most
venerable guest whom the President
and Mrs. Coolidge welcomed at the
last garden party, has seen the in
mates of the White House of each
administration without exception from
the days of James Buchanan. For this
aged lady has turned into her eight
ieth year, and has made frequent Wis
it's to the Capital City since the re-
Mrs. Mcclellan, who is the guest of
granddaughter. Mrs. Harold Walker,
was often here during the life of her
daughter. Mrs. Theodore Birney, Mrs.
Walkers mother. Mrs. Birney, ii will
he remembered, was the first crusader
in that now internationally accepted
Capitalization of maternal interests,
and her mother. Mrs. Mcclellan, was
her helpful and sympathetic aide. The
= idea gathered nome mum and fnally
the first Mothers Congress met here
in the winter of 1897. with Mrs. Bir-
uey president. and delegates from
almost every state in the Union. 1t
would be difficult to estimate the
number of useful movements which |
are the direct result of this crusade |
of Mrs. Birney's to teach certain funda- |
mental truths to mothers and to ed |
ucate those whose opportunities have
been limited for their supremely i'm /
portant work. The complete success |
of this Mothers Congress, now a ma |
tional society, with practical branches |
in the most insignificant villages, as |
we'll as in the great cities, may be |
deemed a monument to Mrs. Birney, |
which is a matter of pride to her
4 <mother and daughters.
The Robert Ingersoll home in
Gramercy Park. New York. is. like
many others of its fame and genera
ton. soon to be leveled in the name
of progress. Col. Ingersoll, SO long
resident of Washington, purchased |
the Gramercy Park place some thirty
five years ago, and his home has been
ever since the gathering place of
celebrities. 1t is at present, owned |
by his daughter. Mrs. Wallston Hill |
Brown, and with her is her talented |
young son. Robert Ingersoll Brown,
n budding lawyer and orator, who has |
just married Miss Grace Helen Tall
ihot, a sCulptress, who won all honors |
abroad and who is attaining fame |
rapidly in New York. Mrs. Brown. sr.,
loves to invite the lions of the hour, |
and her Sunday evening levee was |
the last function which Sothern and /
Marlowe attended in New York be- |
fore sailing recently for England. |
Edwin Markham is at the house so |
frequently that his favorite chair and |
nook are called the poets corner" |
and the divas from the Metropolitan |
Opcra House many times winter |
night make the old drawing room |
ring with melody. Nearly all the old |
residences in Gramercy have been |
sold to firms proposing to erect sky |
scraping apartment houses. Mrs. |
Brown will retain an apartment in |