Evening star., 1926-09-26
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Washins stons Inner Circle Interested in Gossip
of Royal Ensasement-Miss Butler Buys
- Southampton Estate
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.

tefoGe in the rumored engagement of
the Crown Prince of Belgium, Leo
pcld Charles Philippe. with some half
dozen other names. who as Duke of
-Brabant accompanied King Alhert
and Queen Elizabeth on their visit t6
Washington in October. 1919. He was
a shy youth Of 1s then. taking small
pleasure In the presence of the Capt.
tails prettiest girls. even da ancing with
them with evident reluctance The
Crown Prince will be 25 on November
and there are rumors that this may
also be his wedding day. Princess
Astrid. the royal fiancee. will he 21
Just a few days later and the court
journals are busy with the signifi-
cance OF these anniversaries. The
Swedish princess. who also boasts a
number Of other names, including
Sophie Louise Thyrsa, is the daugh-
ter of Prince Oscar Charles Gull
liaume. Duke Of the Visigoths and
the younger of the two brothers of
King Gustavus Adolphus V. The
elder brother. Oscar Charles Au-
Eustus, renounced his succession to
the throne to marry one Of his moth
ers- ladies and is now known as
Count de Wisbors. Princess Ingrid
IS the first cousin of the Swedish
Crown Prince, who recently visited
this country. Her mother is a Prin-
cess of Denmark. Ingebore, daughter
Of the late King Frederick VIII and
sister of the present King, Charles
x. Already related b. many reign
ing nonarchs. by this marriage the
Belgian royal house becomes allied
closely to the Scandinavian countries
and to Great Britain.
The late John Pierpont Morgans
gift of an embass for the represent
ative of the United States In Lon
don, No. IA Princess Gate, is now in
the last stages of it's remodeling, en-
larging and general furnishing and
the ambassador. Mr.. Houghton. was
recently summoned to oversee the
important detail of selecting a. posi-
ton for the Flagstaff. The mansion
is rather lofty and the erection of
pole over the building seemed mar
ttstfc, so that a, compromise has been
made in having a staff over the main
entrance and projecting upward
little. 1t has required almost two
years to complete the work, the ap-
preparation for the purpose coming
In as it were, in dribbles and causing
much delay. The embassy Is really
two mansions subjoined SO as to
make q. perfectly equipped private
mansion and a chancelry ample in
proportions and yet aloof from the
living quarters. Victorian in archi-
lecture and general appearance and
resembling some dozens of other
mansions in this kensington Park
section, the American embassy is a
bit distinctive. The basement has
Esen eliminated in the mansion and
$ue culinary apartments are on the
street level, with several ingresses for
domestic purposes. What was the
basement is now devoted to cold cleo
trio storage rooms and ample for the
central heating plant, which is one of
the most massive London has seen in
any save a hotel. The chancelry
uses the basement space for the stor
age Of papers. with fireproof book
racks covering the walls and with
similar heating plant OF enormous
proportions.
Senator Jose del Carmen Aria,
until recently the minister from the
Dominican Republic, often expressed
surprise that so few Americans visit
ed the ancient city Of Santo Do
mingo, where In to be found the old
est dwelling built in the New World
by European hands, the walls of
which are still standing. Besides this
distinction this fine old mansion was
built by the son Of the great discov-
srer Diego Columbus after his mar
risge to Maria Of Toledo, niece of
King Ferdinand, and his appoint
ment as governor OF the colony
founded by his father on the island
of Santo Domingo. This same view
has recently been entertainingly/ ex-
pressed by Prof. J. w. Gilmore or
the University of California In the
bulletin of the PanAmerican Union.
Santo Domingo boasts the oldest
Christian church built on the soil Of
the western world, its crumbling
cornersto bearing the date Of 1909.
The fine Cathedral was begun in 16l4
and completed in 1540 and though
weather beaten and SCARED on the
interior, it is fresh and attractive
within and in daily service. Those
of p military trend can examine the
oldest fortress erected by the Span
ish in the empire given by Columbus,
Tore del Homemade, and in the
grim tower. the discoverer was i'm
prisoned by Bobadilla. This also
still serves the old city though in
more peaceful role than in the past.
Santo Domingo. as the island was
called. had as its first town Neuva
Isabella. the headquarters of the col
ony, and the old walls of this forgot
ten center Of population are marvels
Of strength and endurance and make
reason for visiting this part of the
adjacent islands in the Caribbean.
Now that the Washington home of
the late John Hay has passed out of
his family and will henceforth be
part of the headquarters of the Ma
tional Republican Committee. the
major portion of the books, pictures
and historical documents which once
adorned it's library occupying the en-
tire half of the second floor looking
toward Lafayette Square have been
removed to the Fells at Lake Sun
apee. in New Hampshire. now the
property OF the only son. Clarence l..
Hay. The Fells was at one time
quite a social center for the younger
Mckinley administration, for the
HAYS had two younger daughters. 1
Helen and Alice. now Mrs. Payne
whitney and Mrs. James w. Wads-
worth. .ir.. and quite near their doml-
ctle was that of Mr.. and Mrs. Ethan
Allen Hitchcock with two daughters.
Anne and Margaret. the former the
wife Of Rear AdmiIai William S.
Sims Mr.. Hitchcock was Secretary
Of the Interior. The Fels was
Very dear to Mr.. Hay and he spent
avery moment he could snatch from
his very busy life in its quiet rooms.
Across the lake his closest neighbors
rere Mr. and Mrs. Rudyard kipling
and the former made many visits to
consult the Secretary Of State on lit
Nrary matters Mr.. and Mrs. Clar-
ence Hay have kept the house just !
rs It was when the itlustrious states
man. diplomatist and scholar passed
Awav in the Summer of 1906. But be-
enE ardent lovers of horses. they
have given more space to pasture
and stables.
Gov. r. Q. Brewster Of Maine. has
proved TO be an energetic executive
of the State and one of the promoters
pf the project which is engaging the
n attention of the ant horiIieS of al the |