Evening star., 1925-05-24
BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.
The White House, which boasts 125
years of service, discountinE periods
IN which the executive family, for
various reasons, have sought other
shelter, needs much more repairing
or remodeling than new roof to
make 1t measure up to much less pre-
tentlouS mansions in the matter of
comfort. One feature which will de-
mand attention is that despite the
numerous open flreplaces in the State
suites of drawing rooms and. in the
living rooms on the second floor not
one draws sufficiently to make the ex-
pertinent of lighting logs or coal en-
tirely comfortable. All those who go
to the White House habitually re-
mark how seldom an open fire is seen.
There is a fairly good CRATE in the
library where the President and Mrs.
Coolidge spend their few leisure mo-
ments together, but even this is sub
1ect to tantrums and Is Just as liable
to cause Il dense smoke as il is to
break into bright fame. These fire.
places are among the things TO be
overhauled, and perhaps, next Winter
the teas in the blue room will be en-
livened by logs burning and some Of
the four fireplaCes in the east room
may be called into service after va
cation lasting now almost 20 years.
Clothes closet rooms in the bed cham
bers is another pressing need. When
James Hoban planned the White
House in 1872 great WardrobeS We're
used for clothing and no President or
his lady boasted more than five or
six changes of raiment. These mon
strous, unwieldly pieces of furniture
have been banished and now some
space must be provided for the presi-
Dental wardrobe.
Sir Adrian Baillie. who is the latest
recruit to the list of British bachelors,
and who is second secretary of en-
baSsy on the staff of Sir Esme How
ard, is a veteran of the World War
and is the son OF a notable military
commander of the British forces
against the Beers in South Africa. He
is the sixth baronet of his line and
succeeds his brother. Sir Gwaine
Baillie, an officer of the crack Scotch
cavalry regiment, the Grays, who was
killed in France during the first weeks
of the war. Sir Adrian was also an
officer of the Grays and served
throughout the bitter fighting to save
the channel ports and about Ypres.
The new British secretary has a
splendid estate in Linlithgowshire near
the quaint little town of Polkemmet.
where his ancestors before becoming
peers of the realm were known as
the Lairds of Polkemmet. Sir Adrian
is an intrepid polo player and is ac-
cepted as a keen judge Of good horse
flesh.
Miss Mary Chester, daughter of
Mrs. Colby Mitchell Chester, jr., and
granddaughter of the admiral, wore
her presentation robes with much
grace last week, when, with two other
Americans, she made her bow to their
British majestieS at the first drawing
room of the season. Miss Chester,
a debutante of last season and sew
eral times a visitor to Washington
during the Winter, was educated
abroad and has been carefully pre-
pared for the social career on which
she is entering. Mrs. Chester, jr.,
makes her home at Glenville Cottage
in Greenwich, Conn. and II was in
the Round Hill Club there that her
daughter Mary was, in December
last. presented to society. Both ladies
spent most of the Winter in New
York, where Miss Chester is prom
inent in the Junior League. Her aunt,
Mrs. Edward Hutton, gave her bril-
liant dinner dance at the Ritz-Carl-
ton Just before her departure for Eu-
rope about a month ago. There is a
younger sister, Virginia Colby, who
accompanied her relatives to London
and will remain there throughout, the
Summer. Miss Jane Hamilton Brady
OF New York was another pretty
American maid presented by Ambas-
sador and Mrs Houghton. Miss Brady
is the daughter of Mr.. James Cox
Brady, the traction magnate of AL
bany, and her mother was famous
belle of the New York capital, Mira
Elizabeth Hamilton. A third Ameri-
can presented, Mrs. Archibald h
Rowan, was formerly Miss Louise
McLaren Ayres of Cirtinnati, and she
has lived in London since her mar
riage FIVE years ago, in that ven
Grated old mansion, the Half Moon
House, for several years the home OF
the poet Percy Byssche Shelley. Sew
eraI other Americans Will be presented
at later drawing rooms, but the honor
of figuring at the first Is always
eagerly sought. Contrary TO custom,
this drawing room was held in Buck
ingham instead of st. James Palace
washington parks, so glorious in the
early Spring and all the Summer.
never fail to inspire the rhapsodies or
all visitors, and many, especially those
from the New England and Middle
States are amazed how seldom they
are used except as show places to be
walked through and gaZed upon, Dut
not really used. Ihat charming
pageant of youngsters frolicking on
May day in behalf of the health
crusade showed many possibilities.
Now in Philadelphia the parks play
a large part in the gathering of funds
for municipal charities. All through
Nav. on certain days when the weather
is fair, certain boards of ladies hold
flower show in Rittenhouse Square.
which is the most centrally situated
and can attract the largest number OF
patrons. They sell the blossoms from
their own lovely gardens. the seed or
roots, and there are printed directions
TO 20 with each sale. On another day
amateur truck gardeners offer their