Evening star., 1928-12-23
BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.

It is a matter of interested Specula-
ton in Washington whether the schol-
arly envoy, DR.. Falk Konitza of Albania
will continue in his role since his
country has elected Mohommedan
ruler in lieu of the Prince Of the House
of Weld, William Frederic, who had
retired from the tiny throne to which
he had been called. DR.. Konitza has
served as minister from Albania since
october, 1926, but he had long pre-
vious residence in the United States.
beginning in 1910, when he lectured
under the auspices OF several learned
societies in Boston, New York and
along the Eastern coast. He is a
carofound student of the troubled his
tory of his native land and has pub
lished many essays dealing with the
subject. Although it is customary Tor
new rulers to select their own dlplo-
matte officials, as each new President
does in this Republic, there have been
cases of monarchies passing to the
popular form of government and re-
tanning the established diplomatic
corps Of the previous regime. Viscount
d'Alte, minister from Portugal, is an
example. He arrived in Washington
in May, 1902, when King Carlos l Of
Portugal sat on the throne. The Wis
count held his post during the brief
tenure of the aSSaSSinated rulers son
Manuel on the tottering throne, ana
was reappointed after the republic had
been declared. DR.. Konitza LETT Wash
ington the middle of last June, and has
been in Albania ever since. AS no news
has come to the State Department OF
his recall. it is anticipated that he will
ultimately return to his post. He is
among the popular and hospitable
bachelors of the corps of ministers.
x x
Mrs. Thomas Hitchcock, granddaugh-
ter of the philanthropist of Washington,
William w. Corcoran, and who spent her
girlhood in the fine old mansion on
Connecticut avenue and H street, now
the site of the Chamber of Commerce,
has been selected M. F. H. Of the Aiken
Hunting Club, and she has revised rules
and set q pace which are stimulating
to adjacent country activities. AS mas
ter in the designation as easily stands
for mistress of the foxhoundS, Mrs.
Hitchcock has taken over the insignia
of Office with due regard to the con-
ventions. Aiken'S hunt club has ia
nous pack of beagles, selected with the
utmost care some 20 years ago and re-
neWed and kept in perfect form by
canine experts of the South. The Deep
Run Drag of Richmond, Va, recently
made the run through Columbia and
Camden, S. c., to Aiken and joined the
beagles under Mrs. Hitchcock for one
of the most spirited events OF the VIM
ter Among those who will spend few
weeks in Aiken for the fox hunting are
the Hungarian Minister and Countess
Szechenyi. Their young daughters,
Szechenyi are at school in Aiken and
prominent in the junior sporting &C
tivities.
Mr.. and Mrs. Irwin B. Laughlin have
spent the Autumn in Venice, and the
splendid beach at the Lido being COM
paratively deserted, they with numer-
Gus company of other residents OF
Washington fingered almost until time
to sail home for Christmas. The Lido
is EuropeS most popular bathing beach,
preferred by many despite the counter
attractions on the Atlantic side and on
the North Sea. The reason assigned by
the younger set is that the waters OF
the Adriatic are so gentle that the ia
nous pajama parties are possible,
whereas rude waves at Dinard or at
Ostend, it is claimed, would utterly
spoil those soft, clinging garments, which
are distinctly not created for bathing.
Mr.. Laughlin's beautiful home on
Crescent place, adjoining that OF Mr..
John Campbell White. soon viii be
opened for the Winter Like all who
have lived abroad for many years, Mr..
and Mrs. Laughlin, the latter formerly
Miss Therese E. Eselin, feel the urge to-
renew old ties and live in old scenes,
and they were both always fond OF
Venice, especially in off seasons. Hotels
of the magic city are now prepared Tor
guests who prefer to pass quiet days on
the canals and visit the old shops and
museums. They are heated by steam
and have every indoor convenience for
passing the time when the fogs becloud
the waterways and the wind blows too
strong for boat excursions. Among well
known WaShingtonians who spent the
Autumn in Venice were Gen. and Mrs.
Robert c. Davis and Mrs. Tracy G.
Dows.
MIR. Cornelius Crane, son of Richard
r. Crane of Chicago and cousin OF that
Richard Crane, a popular member OF
the diplomatic service, now retired and
living in the lovely old Byrd estate on
the James River, Westover, sailed last
week from Boston on his massive
brigantine, Illyria, bound for unknown
scenes. AS junior member of the Field
Museums scientific staff, young Crane
holds a commission from that active
center of exploration, and from Leland
Stanford as we'll, to search up and
down the waters of the universe for
such rare exhibits as sea serpents, giant
lizards, Shiny ant-eaters and other rep
tiles known only theoretically. Approx
imately 10000 miles will be secured by
land and sea, and the expedition ex-
is lat feet long, and has an all-steel
deck and a 300-horsepower BeSsemer-
Diesel engine, which is, of course, de-
signed to help out when the wind does
not fill the many and mighty sails. Mr.
Crane viii have with him a competent
staff of scientists from both institutions