Evening star., 1926-05-16
BY MRS. MARGARET B. DOWNING.

Mr.. and Mrs Robert Woods Bliss,
the former United States Minister TO
Stockholm, who Will sail with the
Crown Prince and Princess of Sweden
Tuesday next, had placed their beauti-
full home. the Oaks. on Georgetown
Heights, at the disposal of the royal
guests and had fully anticipated the
honor of entertaining them. But
Crown Prince Gustaf Adolphus is com
ing in his official role as next King
OF Sweden. TO represent his country
when this Nation pays tribute TO the
zeal and patriotism of one of the
greatest SWedeS who became an Amer
lean citizen, John Ericsson. the in
Nentor of the ironClad Monitor. For
thiS reason it is the custom for royal
ENJOYS to remain in the diplomatic
establishment of their country. and
much as Prince Gustav would enjoy
he hospitality OF Mr. Woods. he has
heen compelled to decline his invita-
ton. lie will. however. with the
princess and his suite. he entertained
at the Oaks. and will thus have the
opportunity of seeing one OF the most
beautiful and consistently fufnlSned
colonial homes in the Capital. MI.
Wood purcha Sed this property about
five years ago. and he spent almost
two wears repairing and restoring the
exterior. and this without any trespaSs
on its perfect style. The Oaks has long
social history to which the fetes IN
honor of Swedish royalty VIII add a
pleasant chapter Under the late COL
and Mrs Henry F. Blunt it was noted
for its numerous and colorful garden
parties and many al fresco amenltles
Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt, I'd, who
was Miss Virginia Fair has made an
innovation in purchasing two fioofs OF
an apartment house in Park avenue
rouard the central part of the city
Mrs NanderbiIt's two daughters are
married and have their own homes.
and her son, like his father and grand
father both William nissan Nanoer-
bilts-spends much time on his yacht
So She sold her home on flfth avenue
and the adjoining business once when
she had maintained for the past 10
wears and 90 one floor of the apart
ruent she viii reside and in the other
establish her staff OF clerks ana
StenographerS and manage her mutl'
,lIdinouS affairs. Mrs. Vanderbilt mas
had the plea aSure of seeing the WINDOW
hox fashion followed in block after
block. where commercial houses nave
taken the place of the former hoheS
of Gotham's = aristoCraCy. She mace
specialty OF window boxes IN hef
former residence and in her. snug III
1Ie business place adjoining. flowers IN
bloon for. about nine months. accord
inc. 10 season. the dubious blossoms
giving way 10 petunlas, 6efahlulIlo'
asters and cannaS and then the gay
lttle straw flowers and hardy chyrs,
anthemumS rounding out the nora1
year Mrs. Vanderbilt induced her
reighhorS 10 start window gardens.
'rd in many instances she secured
lenders for them when the owners Oh
he houses departed for summer
homes Being a business section now
his portion of Fifth avenue IS lof
many weeks as gay as a Dutch gar
den. ~.
AIavor Walker of Greater New
York constantly asks ms aluel men
and other municipal couEseiors, MHH
yhe fence around Central Park: Inc
answer has always been TO protect
lis many beauties from vandalism
and To give the grass "A chance 10
assert itself when conditions are au'
verse enough without trampllng feet-
Nayor Walker however. believes that
tha Deoule who find this marNelous
breathing space their Only Soidce
durinc The wear will not deface 1t.
and he argues how much more az.
tractive the park would be II the SUN
IRON ratings were taken away. lie
has many sympathiZers and he VIII
no doubt in time win his cause. The
MAYOR of the worlds biggest clN.
and certainly is most restless anu
noisy. has recently visited some or
the renowned parks of Europe, ana
he sustains his arguments by sno"
ing that the splendid BolS du bou-
logne, west of Paris. is innocent OF
fence or gates. SO. too. the many
If those in Berlin and Vienna. Paris.
however. closes the Garden of the
Tuillerics at II pm. and locks me
gates London city fathers do the
same in regard to Hyde Park, but
Kensington Is without fences or gates
and 50 also the smaller parks in the
,itv Many the hue and cry mas
heen raised from time TO time about
the iron ratings about the Nhite
House ana the guarding policemen
al the gates. Tradition has sanctioned
his in the Capital, as it has decreed
in New York City that Central Park
should be fenced But if public
opinion demand change, unuoupt-
edly ratings and gates VIII go. line
presidential mansion is too far back
In its own grounds TO suifer from
vandalS or from increased noise, ana
since the flowers grow unharmed IN
hundreds Of parks and reservations
there is no need to fear for them IN
The White House grounds.
Lord Ashburton's son and heir,
Hon. Alexander Barring. who has re-
Gently entered famous international
banking house OF New York City is
The great grandson OF the statesman,
one.time Minister from Great Britain
10 Washington, whose treaty with
Daniel Webster became a synonym
for lavish hospitality in the term
that it foated TO ratification by the
senate on sea of champagne. This
ord Ashburton lived in one of the
mansions now included in the site
of the Veterans Bureau. and he was
A prince of hosts to the official world
of his day. Webster mentions many
Of his banquets in his memoirs. Mr..
Barring. now a New York banker. re-
> Gently married the Hon. Doris Har-
court grandnieCe of the late Pier
pont Morgan. and the young couple
are living very unoStentatiously on
East Eighty-third street and are par
ticipating but little in the gayeties.
There are two other members of the
Barring family in business in New
York, besides several members of the
Cunards, some connected with the
liners, others in brokerage firms. Few
Of these betitled young men make
use of their distinctions. and in many