Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-10
ay MARGARET Is. DOWNING.

eY MARGARET Il. DOWNING.
It is characteristic of the Vice Presi
debit and Mrs. Charles Gates Dawes
that their selection of a home il
Washington was chat of a residence
occupied for several years by charm
ing young family, that of the late
Capt. Guy I. Scott and mis- wife. who
Is now Mrs. James +. Hall, wife OF
Lieut.. Col. Hall, and her several chill
dren. There are mansions Known as
show places where the presiding Off
Ger OF the Senate and the second gen
teman Of the land would have secured
more spacious quarters, but for d
honey atmosphere and at the same
time ample room for the fetes which
are additionally a part of his new
duties, he has. in the opinion of know
ing WaShingtOnians, chosen wisely
The Vice President as the heir APP.
parent OF the President must act as
that heavily burdened officials SoCia
proxy, especially in accepting the pran
Gial attentions of the foreign corps
But it is evident that Mr.. and Mrs
Dawes must exercise a privilege Of Sc
lection, since to accept all the invita-
tions from the heads of the % different
embassies and legations established ir
Washington would be beyond his en-
durance and would besides. seriously
interfere with the acceptance OF sim
liar COurteSieS from the official world
IN other divisions, COnspicuOuSly the
Congress, the supreme Court and
from the large resident set who re-
gard the Vice President and his lady
as the most desired Of guests. Prun-
ING and selecting to the last possible
moment of time as he may. the Vice
Presidents social obligations as de-
creed 10y the first holders of the office
are rather overwhelming, and those
Of Mrs. Dawes are even heavier. But
both have buoyant and determined
"hara cterS. and they will do all that
can be reasonably required without
actually wrecking their health.
Mrs. Coolidge very wisely permits
the floral decoration of the White
House Tor the state functions like the
reception on New Year day and the
evening leVee in which the Judiciary
was the honored branch Of the Gov
eminent. to professionals who use the
Movers raised for this purpose in the
prupa eating gardens But the mis-
treSS of the mansion makes her own
choice of flowers and OF colors, with
the result that not in recent years has
there been such a home-like aspect
impaired to formal embellishments
Pink in the deep hues found in car
nations and in some roses, with the
tender green of ferns, is a faVorite
method Of Mrs. Coolidge and she uses
this scheme with. marvellous effec'
when she has small companies TO tea
a low basket effect Of Killarney buds
and soft greens of asparagus vines
MED the massive table in the
state dining room on New Yeal
day as the multitude of guests passed
!,
President and his lady. and balancing
his center piece on side tables were
tail silver baskets of deep red roses
with only the natural foliage to bring
out their brilliant hue. 4 touch oil
Mrs. Coolidge's excellent taste IS al
ways shown in the clusters of white
or yellow roses which adorn the blue
room. The pink and red roses and
carnations which she uses so profusely
IN other parts of the mansion would
look tawdry against the deep blue of
The room. which is termed the audi
ence chamber" but yellow and white
1T we'll into the scheme. The gener-
Gus supply of greens always found in
the marble receptacles of the corridors
and lobby are most acceptable in the
holiday season, but they are to be seen
varying with the season from holly
and laurel to Towering dogwood and
azalea and Autumn leaves and bar
berry, all through the year.
Col. Clarence o. Sheriff. left a
charming reminder of his devotion tc
flowers in that bed of pansies recently
placed in the formal Italian garden
which reaches from the circular win
down and veranda of the blue room
down to the east entrance of the
White House For some wears past
the recently retired superintendent OF
public buildings and public parks has
had pansies placed along about Thanks
giving time in the spaces where they
are 10 bloom in the Spring. So soft
and generally mild and sunny has
Washington proved this Autumn
despite murmurs and hits TO the con
trary. that the little flower which
signifies thought has not awaited the
usual time but has been blooming
gayly all these weeks.
DR.. William Lyons Phelps. cele-
brated literateur of Columbia Uni
versity and one of the most esteemed
literary critics Of his era. has ruffled
no end of feathers in New York by
saying that the Metropolitan Opera
90. is the first of the big city's
manifold attractions Naturally, the
trustees of the metropolitan Museum
Of Art take issue on that question and
there are murmurs from other notable
attractions like Wall Street. Ii would
he Il brave molder Of public opinion
who would become dogmatic about
Washington's main attraction, though
II straw vote would indicate d close
rivalry between the President and all
in the White House and Congress and
its myriad heroes. Policemen and
guides at the Capital say that out
OF every 1000 visitors to the Federal
City 200 make a quick move toward
the presidential mansion and nearly
the total of this number are successful
in gaining admittance during the
stipulated hours. Many inquire into
he presidential habits and are seen
lettering about when he goes for his
walk. Every hotel clerk will tell you
that their guests increase on Sundays
and that many OF these casual stran-
gers inquire for the CONGREGATIONAL
Church and at what hour they are
most likely 10 see the Coolidges