Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
Tales of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Baptismal Names of Americas First Ladies
Supple. Theme of Interest Widely Dis
cussed in Society Circles.
BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.

BY MARGARET B. DOWNING.
Baptismal names Of the first ladies
Of the Nation always form theme OF
wide interest and Mrs. Hoover's familiar
signature as Lou" invites attention
An abbreviation of the more dignifled
Louisa or Louise. although none of Mrs.
Hoover's kindred ever recall anything
but LOU" she is the third to bear this
name. Mrs. John Quincy Adams, whose
high obligations she assumes after the
lapse of q century, was the first. But
Mrs. Adams was Louisa Catherine and
she was more frequently known by her
second name than her first. The first
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson was Ellen Louise
and, after the manner of her native
Georgia, she was called Ellie Lou" by
her early friends and all her relatives,
Although authorizations figure in folk
1pre and in anecdote and "reminiscences,
the proper name of every wife of an
American President figures in White
House annals. Thus the sprightly Dolly
Madison is written as Dorothy" so
unfamiliar that at first it appears an
error. No doubt Mrs. Hoover will see
her full baptiSrnal name recorded in
The archives and not the we'll known
fLou." Mrs. Coolidge and her prede-
cessor, Mrs. Harding. each added new
name to those written for the FIRST
ladies'" Mrs Coolidge being the only
Grace and Mrs Harding the only Flor
ence. There have been two Marthas,
wives of Washington and jefferson: two
Abigails, wives of John Adams and of
Fillmore: two Elias, wives of Monroe
and of johnson; two Julias. wives of
Tyler and of Grant; two Marys, wife
Lincoln and second wife Of Benjamin
Harrison. two Carolines, first wife of
Ediths. second wives of Roosevelt and
Of wilson. Such names as Rachel,
Anna, Jane. Lucy, Frances, Dorothy,
Margaret, Alice and Sarah figure but
cnce In the names of first ladies.
! The Secretary of the Navy. Mr.
Charles Francis Adams, has raised high
hopes in the hearts of many Washing
tonians that he will stimulate aquatic
activity in the ideal environment about
the upper Potomac. Time was when
boating was of paramount interest and
regattas gay and colorful. But interest
has tagged in recent years and, except
for some adventurous canoeists up to-
ward Great Falls and some desultory
beautiful river is lfeless even in ideal
weather. The Secretary sailed his own
boat before he was IL, but in his Sec
tipn Of the country stiff breezes blow
and TO be aquatic Is in the very air.
He Is sportsman of the water and
Washington anticipates seeing the
inner Basin filled with visiting yachts
and some activities up the Eastern
Branch of the AnacoStia River in direc-
tion of the Navy Yard.
x Xxx
Lady Isabella Howard, wife of the
British Ambassador and dean of the
corps, emphasized the new custom of
in presenting q joint gift rather than
individual offerings, the occasion being
to bestow on Col. John Coolidge and
Miss Florence Trumbun a wedding
present to be delivered whenever they
are married 1t is only since the World
War that this custom has been estab-
lished, and the first occasion was in
1922, when the vice dean, Senior Juan
de Riano, presented the dean, M.
Jilsserand, French Ambassador, with
handsome gold and enameled clock to
mark his twentieth anniversary in serv-
ice in Washington. Since then many
occasions. have arisen when the cor >
desired to present joint gift-notalf
last Spring when the japanese Ambas-
sador, NJ. Matsudaira, departed with his
benny daughter, Setsu, who was soon
to marry the crown prince. The gift
was gold and enamel tea service of
Oriental manufacture, and hence serv-
ieeable even in the imperial abode.
Under Lady Isabella's able guidance the
gift selected for young Mr.. Coolidge and
Miss Trumbull is a large circular bowl
with four massive candlesticks of cor
responding chasing. marked with
Hoped CO. and ct" inscribed as a gift
from the diplomatic corps, March, 1929.
with the marriage date to be engraved
later. According to q veteran diplomat
after the catastrophe which depleted all
European treasures from 1914-l8, this
Joint gift has been universally adopted.
since many Of those now serving their
countries. especially of new sovereign
ties created by the war, have but a
scant fortune and receive only modest
salaries.
**
] Sir Gilbert Parker has been among
the visitors to New York City during
the past week. but he spent only a few
hours in Washington en- route to Holly
wood, where he has leased the rights
of his best novels, and intends TO super
intend their filming. Sir Gilbert Parker
has not been active with his pen In re-
cent years. although he has sometimes
turned out neat criticism of contem-
poraneous fiction. He IL Canadian
and achieved all his literary reputation
before he had departed from Montreal,
first to New York and then to London.
Lady Parker was Miss Van Tine, daugh-
ter Of Mr., Ashley Van Tine, and the
marriage took place more than a quar-
ter Of century ago. Making large
novels, all well invested, Sir Gilbert and
Lady Parker purchased O handsome
mansion in Portman Square and were
prominent in the amenities of the liter
airy and social worlds. OF rugged
frame and tremendous strength, the
Canadian carries his years lightly. He
will remain in Hollywood throughout
the Spring and perhaps through the
Summer, and will edit and dramatize
his novels, Of which the most popular
on this side Of the Atlantic was 1.-THE
Right of Way"
Mr.. Elihu Root, the S4-year-cl
ambassador of good will now in Europe
in the cause of world peace, has
touched national affairs at SO many
different angles that anything he un-
dertakes is of wide local interest. Mr.
Roots regime in Washington covered
more than as years. including his many
special assignments to conferences
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