Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-24
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Snecial Notes Relating to Men and Women of
Prominence in Public View-lnci-
dents of Interest.

! centers. Many regard her as a great
artist, and her monologues have a di-
| rect place III the opinion of her coun-
| try people. Miss Draper has several
times entertained the King and Queen,
| and they delight especially in her
negro dialect sketches and seem never
to tire of her repertory.
| Lord Reading, who was ambassador
/ to Washington during the association
of this country with the allies during
the World War. has proved to be one
of the most versatile public men of
Britain and in many ways reminds
Londoners of the Earl Beaconsfield,
Recently the former ambassador, who
before coming to Washington was
lord chief justice Of the realm and
after his service in the Western Repub-
lie, viceroy to India, has recently taken
over the Craftsmanship of the Palestine
Electric & improvement Corp Lord
Reading proposes to make the Land of
Promise as modern and progressive as
though tons of letters have piled up
against Harvesting the sacred waters
of the Jordan to feed an electric plant,
this innovation has been made The
same chorus of protests was heard
against replacing the wornout roads
and streets in and about Jerusalem
and the erection of modern brick
houses is bitterly opposed. Lord Read
ing proposes TO spare as much of the
Holy City as possible and to encourage
the building of new city out toward
the sea. Already comfortable hotels
have been placed at the disposal of
the thousands OF pilgrims and an ade-
Quats water supply has been dis
trihuted through Jerusalem and into
the neighboring outskirts. But the
wells followed by tradition have been
preserved, and that picturesque fea-
ture of seeing sad-eyed maidens draw
ing water at the well in earthen jars
to be carried on the head has not en-
tirely disappeared. Lord Reading and
his only son. who married the daughter
of Sir Alfred Mond. have homes in
Jerusalem and spend as much time as
possible In their field Of labor.
Miss Elizabeth Chew williams. presi-
dent of the Colonial Danes, who re-
Gently closed negotiations to purchase
Bellevue, on the corner of Twenty
eighth and Q streets. GEORGETOWN. as
the national headquarters of her So
ciety. has another feather in her cap,
in that she heartily espoused the
acquisition of Hospitality Hall at
Wethersield Conn. This famous estate
had reached a mellow age before that
momentous conference In its stately
drawing room between Washington and
Rochambeau when the Virginia CAM
paign which ended In the surrender of
CORVALLIS was planned. Hospitality
Hall is the ancestral home of the
Webbs. prominent In the social world
of New York and Connecticut, and in
the present generation represented By
that Dr. W. Seward webb who mar
ried daughter of the late william H.
Vanderbilt. Miss Electra webb is a
dehutante OF the coming Winter and
represents three eminent families dorni-
nant In New York-the Havemeyers-
for her mother was Electra Havemeyer,
Webbs and Vanderbilt5. Miss Electra
is daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James
Watson Webb. The founder of the
Webb fortune landed in Connecticut
about so years before the Revolutionary
War. He brought comfortable COM
potency and bought the vast tract,
which now Is the pretty resort of weth-
ersfield, and many acres lower down on
the sound DR.. Webb sold Hospitality
Hail In the late lSs0's, for he was
devoted to his medical practice. and
New York was his favorite field. while
IN Summer his wife preferred home
closer to other members of the Van
derbilt family. Under the Colonial
Danes the mansion has been COM
pletely restored to It's aspect of Revo-
occupied by Gen. Washington and
Comte Rochambeau during the days of
their deliberations are scientifically the
same, even to the pattern of wall paper.
Lord Francis Hope. who recently sue
ceeded TO the title of his brother, the
Duke of Newcastle, seventh of the line,
was well known in this country and In
Washington some 20 years ago, when
he was disposing Of the famous Hope
diamond and of several canvasses, and
incidentally trying TO dissolve the con-
nubial bonds which bound him to the
actress, May Yohe. daughter of Uncle
Sam. The duke inherits but a nleager
income 70 keep up his exalted estate,
but seemingly he always has been In
financial straits. The sixth duke was
the ward of william z. Gladstone and
was reared and educated In his house.
hold. His parents had troubles and
the court placed all OF the children
with different guardians. Lord Francis
was the favorite of his mother, and 10
him she left the famous diamond which
once cleaned on the fair brow of Marie
Antoinnette, but soon after attaining
his majority he disposed of it. 1t will
be remembered that he likewise tried
TO sell in Washington Van Dyck's won
derfui canvas. "Rinaldi and Armida"
Failing in this city. he met with better
success in Baltimore, where this ro-
mantle picture may be admired by Wis
ltors TO the Walters Gallery.