Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-15
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Ambassador and Mrs. Schurmann at German
Capital Winning Popularity Among the
Residents of the Republic.

Of the embassy, second vice president.
This club has pleasant apartments at
No. 5 BellevuestraSSe, just above the
offices OF the consul general, Mr.. Gabriel
Bic Ravndal and the officers keep open
house every afternoon In the season
when the visitors are abundant and
three times a week at other periods. A
hostess always is on hand after and
tea, cakes and other refreshments are
served. Often there Is a musicale. At
all times committed to promoting social
intercourse in the colony from Uncle
Sans domain, this American Women's
Club has the more serious objective of
furthering the aims and ambitions Of all
feminine citizens resident in Germany.
Mrs. Taft and her executive board CO.
operate cordially with the mems club
In celebrating Washington's birth
day. the Fourth of July, Thanks
giving and other national feasts
An active affiliation with the Amer
lean Benevolent Association, found
ed since the World War, has been
established and is powerful factor In
discovering and assisting needy citi-
Zer1S cut of from their friends and rel
ativeS through accident or misfortune
Several dances are given during the
season and proceeds are devoted to the
relief fund. On Thanksgiving evening
the ladies hold what is called in Berlin
a ''Tombola," which greatly resembles
bazaar. Donations are asked of Amer
leans engaged in business in Berlin
and adjacent cities and 80 generous is
their response that booths are laden
with attractive articles and sold for
good prices. In addition, there Is a
confectionery table and homemade cakes
after the formulas priced in the United
States are eagerly purchased by the
patrons. None but Americans are asked
to. aid this benevolent association, 1t
being apparent that the Germans are
heavily taxed in caring for their own
All the embassy families belong 10 This
association as well as the large staff in
the consular ONCE. Those with musical
talent aid in arranging the program
and those of artistic tendencies get up
inspiring posters which deck store WIN
dows for weeks in advance OF the event
Some of the members get offerings from
this side of the ocean, in the nature
of groceries unknown in Berlin. and
Indian and Eskimo curios which are in
great demand.
The consul-general Of the United
States in Berlin. Mr. Gabriel Bic Ravn-
dial, touches its life at many angles
and Is one of the interesting end most
versatile members of the foreign serv-
ice. He was born in Norway, but emf
grated to South Dakota soon after
graduating at the Royal University Of
Christiania, now OSLO Later he con-
tinued his studies at the University
OF Minnesota and began life as a news
paper correspondent. This work
brought him to Washington and EVEN
tually led to his selecting the consular
service as career. But he had served
two terms in the Legislature of his
State when he received the appointment
as consul to Beirut. He had, during
his college years in st. Paul, married
Miss Dorothea Magelssen of Rushford,
MINI, and this lady has shared his
useful life and numerous adventures
through these intervening IS years.
The consul general counts 1t one of
his most useful achievements that he
founded the Northwestern Scandinavian
Singers Association, and was its presi-
dent for three years. He and Mrs.
Ravndal are fine musicians and are
leading patrons at Berlin's various mus
ical features. After many periods Of
service in the Near East and connec-
ton with the Red Cross labors in
Europe during the World War. Mr.
Ravndal was serving in Zurich when
last Spring he was sent to Berlin to
succeed Mr.. Carlton Bailey Hurst who
is now stationed in Budapest.
Capt. Leopold Ziegenbein, commander
of the Bremen, has been enjoying q
few hours in the sun of official favor
In Berlin. after the first notable