Evening star., 1928-03-25

IN the NaIi0nal CApItals tHOuSH
4 part OF il is the old home of the
famous Samuel n. 6ma!lwood.
who. as mayor of Washington, built on
ballroom that he might properly en-.
tertain LAFAYETTE in 1910. Smallwood
House, over 100 years old. has been COM
bined with the house next to 1t TO form
Friendship House, social and educa-
tional settlement.
AS we enter the house pleasing rooms
greet us There are great windows,
shining in spotless cleanliness, with at
tractiVe curtains adorning but not COW
ering them so completely that the
beauty Of the window Is lost. window
boxes, Windsor chairs and waxed floors
give a smiling welcome even on cloudy
day There are lovely old hrepiaces'
With adorable brasSes in every room.
Candiesticks and brass bowls. Greens
and flowers everywhere.
The large room 10 the left as We enter
is the ballroom which Mr. Smallwood
added in honor of Lafayette's visit, And
into this room not so long ago came an
other who Is very dear 10 American
hearts, Mrs. Calvin Coolidge. II was on
the occasion OF the presentation OF the
beautiful baby grand piano which we
observe in one corner OF the room. rms
piano has the distinction OF having been
one OF the firat two pianos In history TO
travel By airplsne--brought In that
manner from New York. That this
precedent might be marked and pre-
served as historic event, one OF the
pianos was sent 10 the museum The
other, Mr. DToop Of Washington oeleV-
ed. should serve the people In more
direct way. SO 10 the First Lady OF the
Land was given the privilege of pre-
senting II 10 any house devoted 10 sefV-
ing humanity she might choose. She
chose Friendship House.
The happiness that was made possl~
BILE when. with the golden key, she un"
locked the piano IN the presence OF tne
children, residents. board Of directors
end volunteer workers. and HANDED IL
10 Mr.. Blair. the president of Friend
ship House Association. cannot pe meas"
ured II Ia 'be-iorgotten
event 10 all who were present and the
beautiful gift is certain TO bc power"
ful influence la maintaining the spiflt
81 the song America the Beautiful,
which Mrs. Coolidge, when requested, 50
grsclousiy PLAYED as the children sang
As we are shown over the remainder
Of the house We ind IL interesting In
every detaii from the boys and thf
girls ciubrooma In the basement oi
the two Eeu3es 10 the nursery on me
second floor In the once we find Miss
Juliet Saunders, who directs the rec"
Teati0nsl work, busy at The desk
mime0grephing hundreds of cardh 10
send 10 club members
We zee kiddies cleaning themselves
up for lunch, older children setting
tables and helping generally. IL II
strangely refreshing 10 be In the midst
Of It,
II seems o happy home with chill
dren ali ages and temperamenis They
are seldom all made to do the same
| things there Is no crushing of indis
/ yiduality here. one Ia not reminded oi
/ an institution
/ In the dining room, which Is really
/ two roenfs made into one, there afe
cunning little tables and chairs f0t
| tho little people Then there Rfa
/ tables and ehalrA to accommodate chill
drsn little larger, and 81 the grown
] lips table We Eee s1ms NJ the older
| children Miss HlrkIin IL h0siesa a.
! The large lellls, Mrs. Grace H0sdnes9
who II IA ehatas Of the day home. IA