Evening star., 1928-06-17
HOOVER IS HAPPY
IN FAMILY LIFE
Secretary Enjoys Average
American Home When
Days Work Ends.
BY REX COLLIER.

Herbert Hoover may be a machine
like colossus of efficiency to the body
polite, but he Is just an intensely
human. home flowing husband and father
to those who complete the Hoover
household UP on S street hill.
Much is heard and said Of Hoover's
long hours at the Office, of his penchant
for statistics and reports. OF his close
attention to departmental routine.
But few persons have been privileged
to glimpse the other side of the picture
1t Is picture of average family life In
happy American home; OF devoted
husband and a faithful wife and ex-
uberant children and laughing grand
children; OF pampered police dog and
other backyard pets: of an overworked
radio-in short of everything that goes
to make up the typical cozy home circle
OF modern day life.
Enjoys Garden.
The most inviting feature of the
Hoover residence at 2300 s street is
the forest-fringed garden in the rear,
stretching almost to Decatur place. In
this secluded spot Mr.. and Mrs. Hoover
and their children spend much OF their
leisure. Overlooking the yard Is
broad porch opening into the drawing
room.
II Is this garden and porch that
beckon to the Secretary of Commerce.
each evening as he clears his desk and
heads for home about 6 O'Clock, The
lure OF ome-cooked meal In the tall
ceilinged dining room, to the right as
one enters the reception hall, also plays
quiet important part in the homeward
movement
Hoover likes 10 eat. He enjoys a
heavy meal OF heefSteak or chops or
fowl with all the trimmings. as much
as he enjoys his work. His health js
OF the best and his appetite Is excellent
almost too excellent, he says for any
reducing ideas he may entertain. or
battle with. That girth has troubled
him from time TO time. End every now
and then he goes in for a spell OF set
ting up exercises.
The Hoover dining room IS Lot 100
large to detract from its comfortable
atmosphere It's walls are light-colored
and relieved with large nodded panels.
Tall silver candlesticks bedeck the
mantelpiece and buffet and occasional
tables about the room. The table Is OF
heavy mahogany and the dining chairs
have comfortable arms and high backs
An Oriental flavor is given the room by
numerous pieces of bric-a-hrac and
bronze work from Far Eastern coun-
tries, and rare tapestry hangs above
the r1antel.
Study Is Favorite.
The dining room Is separated from
the study or drawing room to the rear
only by broad archway The Stuoy
Is one of Hoovers favorite naunts on
Winter evenings. He sat within its cak-
paneled. beamed-~s.iing confines when
he heard by radio his nomination Tor
the presidency last week.
The rear portico has It's SPECIAL ap-
peal in the Spring and Summer, how
ever. and in Its cool atmosphere Hoo
yer will scan the newspapers, when
supper is over Newspapers and period
icais are always kept close at hand
and here is dark secret--he mas
decided liking for detective tales and
mystery stories
His reading OF evenings often Is In
terrupted by the friendly "nosiness' OF
Tut. the family police dog. gift sew
erai wears ago of friend. Tut is ex-
tremely fond of his master, and he al
lows his friendship to interfere with
newspaper reading. 1t is said that Tut
has learned. however, 10 keep the papers
from blowing away by obeying his
masters command 10 act as paper
weight
Tut Is equally fond OF Mrs. Hoover,
although he does not share her SYM
pathy for the wild birds which fiock
about the garden and among the tall
trees at the back Mrs. Hoover Ii q
devoted lover of wild life. and she often
wanders beneath the trees and watches
the antics of the birds and squirrels
which abound there. She has placed
several bird baths about the yard. and
sometimes she feeds them crumbs from
the pantry.
Fish Pool In Garden.
A novel attraction In the garden is a
fish pool, built by the Hoover boys,
Herbert, ir, and Allan.
Just now both the boys are staying
with their parents-Allan being sched-
ulcd to arrive here today from Kansas
City. He Us a student at Stanford Uni
versity. Herbert. jr., lives at Cambridge
Mass. but he and his attractive young
wife are at the Hoover home here for
an indefinite visit. They have two
young children, Of whom their grand
parents are rapturously proud. Another
member Of the household Is Miss Janet
Large. niece OF Mrs. Hoover. who Is
attending Holton Arms School here.
Mr. and Mrs. Hoover enjoy an auto
mobile ride OF evenings through the
Capitals parks. and Mrs Hoover Is an
ardent hiker Her inclinations In this
direction are reflected In her active In
terest In the Girl Scouts, OF which she
4.