Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-04-10
BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.

ID AA[AhOAnGA DON
The Secretary of Labor and Mrs
James j. Davis were among the mem
bers of President Harding's executive
family who sought refuge at Ward
man Park Hotel in March, 1921, and
they remained there continuously
until their removal a short time ago
TO their new home on Massachusetts
avenue. Washington was suffering
acutely from the housing problem, and
tie servant question was even more
perpleXing at that time than at the
present. Secretary and Mrs. Davis
had three children-Jimmie. aged
z; Jane, 3 years old, and little Jean,
who made her debut in Washing
ton political circles at the tender
age of months-and they were
glad enough to avail themselves of a
ready-made and comfortable home.
Their family was augmented by two
other little girls, Joan and June, and
the need of a house and spacious
grounds became imperative. When
the Secretary of Labor and Mrs. Davis
established their household possessions
at the Wardman Park Hotel, four 9TH
err presidential councillors and their
families were in residence there and
making cabinet calls was an easy
matter in those days. The Secretary
oc the Interior, who, as Assistant
Postmaster General, had with Mrs.
Work taken home there, also con-
flnued the residence after he be-
came Postmaster General and later
Secretary of the Interior. DIR. Work
is the sole member of the Harding
cabinet who now calls this hosiery
home and he has maintained the same
quarters which he leased in the begin
ming, a record in these changing times.
Secretary and Mrs. Davis will, as
usual, pass the Summer in their home
in the West, and though they have
moved into their new house on Massa-
chusetts avenue, they do not antici-
pate ''eing regularly established there
until the Autumn.
The Secretary of the Treasury and
the Secretary of the Interior are now
, the only members of the cabinet who
remain in apartments, and it seems
improbable they will change into
mansion, as has been so often reported.
Mr.. Mellon, say his friends, selected
his present abode because of the large,
well lighted dining room, which, per-
haps, now contains the most valuable
mural space in Washington, in that he
has placed under expert supervision
the splendid collection Of portraits by
English masters. hTe renowned f1nan-
partaking of his food where he can
feast his eyes on his favorite canvases.
The MELONS maintain a wonderful
home in suburban Pittsburgh and they
have all the family feaSts there, but
the pictures and other intimate belong
ings in the Massa chusettS avenue
home were taken from the apartment
and Office which Mr.. Mellon had used
for many years. For some years, Mr..
Mellon had ceased collecting pictures,
for the reason that he has scarcely an
inch Of wall space in his Washington
home and he dislikes to purchase new
canvases until he again becomes a
permanent dweller in Pittsburgh. Hav-
ing entered his seventy-third year on
March "a, past, rumorS circulate that
he contemplates such a move. But
for wiry, rugged health, few OF the
septuagenarians in public life have
the record of the Secretary OF the
Treasury. Mr.. Mellon, who has en-
tered his seventh year in the office. is
apparently more robust now than
when he began his gigantic labors.
The Spanish government has never
before owned a diplomatic establish.
ment in Washington, and the purchase
of the spacious white stone mansion
on Sixteenth and Fuller streets is in
line with the present policy or King
Alfonzo's counselors in foreign poll.
cies. Traditionally the Latins. who
are SO preponderant in the foreign
corps, have inclined toward Sixteenth
street to the north, whereas the British
and the Teutonic ENJOYS and others
have shown a decided preference to-
ward the west. Spanish ENJOYS have
lived for the past half century in
homes on Massachusetts, avenue. near
or beyond Dupont Circle, and the
Rianos during their eighteen years OF
residence in Washington lived on
upper Sixteenth street and for four
teen of these years in the stately
Spanish domicile just beyond Euclid
street on the famous diplomatic thor
oughfare. 1t seems assured that the
French government will continue to
lease the mansion SO long familiar as
the French embassy and perhaps later
it may become French property. This
purchase of the spacious mansion
known as the Vice Presidents house
by Spain adds another to the fine
group of embassies owned by Latin