Evening star., 1927-11-13
BY MARGARET b. DOWNING.


Mrs. Robert Low Bacon, wife of
the member of Congress from West
bury, Long Island, is a skillful player
OF chess, and with the influence of see
Ing their parents frequently engage in
this intellectual game. the three girls
have already more than an average
knowledge of this ancient form of
amusement. In their Summer home
visitors frequently come upon Mrs.
Bacon and her daughters, Miss
Alexandra, Miss Virginia and Miss
Martha, SO intent on game of chess
that they turn deaf ear to induce
ments like tennis, swimming or a ride
on the shore. Mrs. Bacon was be-
fore her marriage Miss Virginia Muir
ray, a member of one of Gotham's :
honored in many ways in the
topography of the city. Murray Hill
marks the vicinity of the famiy's
earliest holdings-a vast farm when
the nineteenth century was in its
middle years-and in other ways, by
hotels, schools and public buildings.
the name is presented to those who
know little of the beginnings of the
metropolitan center. Representative
and Mrs. Bacon remain as long as
possible in Westbury. but the opening
to Washington. Their Winter resi-
dence in the Capital, at the corner %
Eighteenth and f streets, is an old
fashioned mansion, roomy. sunny, and
all things desirable save that it is in
the immediate vicinity of the largest
Government Offices and Mr.. Bacon has
a strenuous time all through the sea
son keeping the space in front of his
home clear enough to park his ma
chine or for Mrs. Bacon to get in the
needed household supplies.
Mrs. Harry Gordon Selfridge, for
merly of Chicago, whom this country
regards with deep admiration, in that
he was able to break down the trade
traditions of London and establish a
vast emporium conducted after the
accepted ways of his native city. has
three handsome and talented daugh-
ters, two Of whom have married into
the de Slbour family, we'll known in
Washington. This family emigrated
from France to England in the wake |
of the French Revolution, and now
in the sixth generation its members |
have become identified with the pro- !
fesSional and social life of London
Mr.. Selfridge, who has never grown
luke warm in devotion to his native
land and in particularly his native
city. brought his daughters on annual
visits to Chicago, and his mother, |
grand dame in every essential, uni !
versally known as Nine. Selfridge, |
maintained a home part of the year |
in Chicago to entertain her son and |
his family on their arrival. This |
habit was kept up until the infirmities |
of age prevented the sea voyage. |
Nine. Selfridge died about three years |
ago at an advanced age. and she rests |
in the old family burying ground in
Chicago. The viscountess, Louis de |
Sibour. who was Miss Beatrice Sci.
fridge, and her sisters, Viscountess
Jacques de Sibour, the former
Violette, and the Princess Serge
who was Rosalie, the
husband being a Czarist imperial
bers of the American colony in
London.
Mr.. Pierre S. du Pont entertained
the American Rose Society at it's
Autumn conference in his splendid
glass amphitheater on his estate, at
Longwood, an old estate which lies
partly in Delaware and partly in
about IS miles from
this place about 25 years ago, being
attracted to it mainly because of
the well grown planting of shrubs
and rare trees done by Josiah Pierce
more than a century and half ago.
Longwood contains the first collec-
ton toward a botanical garden to be
found in this country, and these
specimens have been carefully pre-
served by the present owner. Josiah
Pierce built a commodious brick
house, and in this Mr.. and Mrs. du
Pont make their home, the wing and
patio being given over for enter
{? ant purposes and for their
Gus guests. Since the Duke
vonshire had his miles of
halls and Conservatives dy-
!. some years ago because he
wa. able to bear the expense OF
rem ~ them, Mr.. du Points con-
serv1 .ries rate among the largest
in existence. Besides the vast
sIasse, patio which connects the
two wings of the house. there are
extending toward the sloping ter
races to the south literally miles OF
glassed arcades, where the rarest of
fruit and flowers furnish the table
Of Longwood and provide generous
share for the grills with which Mrs.
du Pont is connected. Immediately
after the American Rose Society met,
at Longgood, the exquisite sylvan
theater was dedicated, and fete in
honor of Miss Molly Laird, Mr.. du
Points niece, a debutante OF this
Autumn. was held. The sylvan play
house Is a tier Of grassed terraces
edged with flawers arranged In
~ers si-cirseie. The stage is a bower OF
hJaopna at all seasons of the year,