Evening star., 1924-09-21
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Ancient Massachusetts Bay Town, Burial Place of
Coolidge Ancestors Comes Into Prominence
as Campaign Gathers Momentum.

descendants still remain among It's
prominent citizens. Senator TaSker
Lowndes Oddie of Nevada is a grand
son five times removed from Christie
pher Lowndes and is a cousin of the
bridegroom to be. Mrs. Bladen
Lowndes is frequent visitor to
Washington and once q year holds-a
reunion of the large family circle,
which includes members of the Addi-
son and Stoddert families, as well as
those of the two royal governors,
Bladen and Tasker, and of Christie
pher Lownes. Not a trace remains
of the splendid mansion of Lowndes,
in Bladensburg. nor of. the villas of
Bladen and Tasker.
Washington will always take
cordial interest in all that concerns
the family of the late WI Ting Fang,
for many years Minister from China
to this capital, and whose memory
survives after 20 years for courtesy,
wit and appreciation of American
ideals. During the arms conference
three years ago his oldest son, DR..
Chang Wu, was special delegate
and acquitted himself ably of his
rather circumscribed mission. He
was Minister of Foreign Affairs in
Peking until the civil war disrupted
the cabinet, and during his incum-
bency of this Office it was typical of
DIR. WI Ting Fang's son that he
should advocate with all his power
higher education for women and the
improvement of the graded schools
for masses of the people. Young
Chang Wu was the presiding officer at
the annual commencement of Canton
Christian College, held recently, when
degrees were conferred on several
Chinese girls, Miss Lui Fung Ling,
for two years student in Washing
ton, receiving the degree of NJ. A
The Foreign Secretary delivered a
splendid oration on education as the
best preparation for life and the col
lege authorities have printed this
address in pamphlet form. This emf
nent statesman of China came to
Washington as a lad of less than 10
when DR.. WI Ting Fang was assign
ed TO this capital for the first time in
the EARLY nineties. He attended the
Force School for a time with the
present Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, Col Theodore Roosevelt, and
his brother Kermit. and he later went
to the Central High. In those days
all the Chinese wore the piG-tail and
many the CORY battle did this eminent
son of the East wage with his West
ern brothers. DR.. WI Ting FanS
was sent to Washington again in 1901
to dispense-the Chinese Boxer fund
as well as to represent his country,
but his son was then studying at OK
ford and did not accompany him, but
he came briefly during the Summer
recess.
Col. Sheriff., superintendent of pub
JIG buildings and grounds, has under
consideration the planting of Lom-
hardy poDlars more numerously than
these tall, graceful trees have been
hitherto represented. OF quick, hardy
growth. they will soon take the place
of the many beautiful shade trees of
the capital which have died during
the present season because of the
united gas fumes from the omnipres-
ent auto truck and the pleasure car.
Canada has recently taken over the
replacing of Lombardy poplars all
along its historic highways in mem
ory of the intrepid settlers of the
earliest days. who had adopted the
policy of planting these trees in pairs
to Indicate the road to a friendly
shelter when isolated travellers were
attacked by Indians. These poplars
were exotic and had formed part of
the cargo of the pioneers of Canada.
Years ago no tree was more popular
in Washington for street shade, but
now only three or four of the older
boulevards in the Southwest section
can boast them as lining the pave
ment
Mrs. Rockefeller Mccormick has
recently denied with much emphasis
that she contemplated selling her
home in Lake Shore Drive and Belle
vue Place and retiring for summer
and winter to the splendid estate at
Lake Forest. Mrs. Mccormick AYERS
that she delights in noise and clamor
and that in no spot of the world does
she sleep so soundly as in a little
nook overhanging a corner of the
mansion where by day and night the
shrieks of passing motors rend the
ear. Just beneath, the mistress of
this vast establishment has a tiny
dining room, where she partakes of
all the meals which she eats at home
and at every hour she elects to watch
the world passing by. Mrs. McCor-
mick says it is more probable that
she will sell the immense estate at
Lake Forest, and this of course
thrills those who would enjoy pos
sessing it. For no country seat in
these United States has been planned
and decorated with more thought and
true artistic spirit.
Paul Manship designed 1.-The Family
of Thermes," which stands at the head
of the long lily pond, and he also
made the smaller statues which
adorn the little birdshouses dotted
about. But this year the birds had
things all to themselves, since the
mistress of this palatial abode did
not leave Chicago to visit it even for
an evening. The house and formal
garden, which were designed to be in
as complete harmony as the old
Italian castles, are the work of Mr..
Charles A. Plat the eminent archi-
tect, whose creations are the pride
of Palm Beach, Aiken and Long Is
land.
Mr.. and Mrs. John H. Hall, jr., of
New York, the latter formerly Miss
Katherine Morris. granddaughter of
former Senator William A. Clark, have
just returned from an adventurous
trip through Mongolia, every inch of
which was made in a sturdy motor of
Oriental make. Mr.. and Mrs. Hall
even Joined an antelope hunt in their
machine, following the example OF