New Britain herald., 1929-08-26
DIPLOMATS ENDURE DULL NIGHT LIFE
Swimming and Dancing Parties
 on Washington Schedule

Washington, Aug. 26.-On those hot nights in Washington. officials and diplomats who must stay in town through the summer are often to be seen in white flannels, darc- ing and dining outdoors at what appears to be the only bright spot in the capitals night life.
 In the absence of any formal so- cial functions, swimming and dancing parties have become popn- lar. There are several poois and dance floors scattered about Wash ington, but the place the folks out of the Social Register and the Con- gressional Directory favor is the so-oalled Page Deauville, alongside the Wardman Park swimming pool.
 The plage, which someone says means beach, is of cement and is dotted with large beach umbrellas which are handy enough in the daytime. A raised dancing floor overlooks the layout and between dances the diners watch the bah. CTS swim and dive.
 On an evening recently your cor respondent observed an ambassa dor and two ministers tangoing grace fully there, with smaller dlplomatic fry on every hand. So many of the Latin n-American diplomats gu in for this sort of thing that the Dcau- vile orchestra plays many tangoes. The dancers who can't tango seem to get along just the same. Senor Don Eduardo Diez de Medina, >he Bolivian minister, is one of the most enthusiastic tangoists. One can also recommend other senors, including First Secretary Oscar Blanco Viel of the Chilean embassy, First Secretary George de Ia Barra of the Bolivian legation, and Jose Ortego of the Pan-American Union. Among other addicts are Colombian Minister Enrique Olaya and Per" sian Minister Mrza Khan Meftah.
 Among the diplomatic women Gne likes to watch are Mime. De Ia Barra, Mime. samy Pasna--who o comes with her husband, the Egyp. tan minister-and Mime. Popovlc, the ,Rumanian legation secretary.
 The home folks also make a good showing, however. George w. Wickersham, head of the Hooy CT law enforcement commission, ire uuently entertains on the banks of the pool on evenings when he Is here, although he doesn't dance. Senator Sam Shortridge of Cali fornia also prefers to look on. 'iu, Senator Royal S. Copeland of New York does a mean fox-trot and other nationally known figures nre to be seen from time to time.
 Turning from expensive amuse- ment to cheap amusement, one con- .sders the Japanese at the other side of the world. Consul Leo D. Sturgeon at Tokio reports to the Department of Commerce on the operation of new Japanese depart ment stores.
 Instead of organizing theater parties. groups of Japanese often organize department store parties. The atmosphere of modernity and luxury of the big new stores fas- cinates the public, and hordes Of people come in for sightse aiEg tours with no intention of buying anything, Tourist parties from the country. family groups and bodies of school students are to be seen in the more attractive stores at almost any time. The store owners like that. In summer they all throw open large roof gardens to their visitors. Visitors to one Tokio store have numbered as high as 100000 a day, with 6o,oOO as a minimum for any one day.
 Three years ago somebody built a s6,000,000 office building on what is considered the most valuable piece of business property in Wash ington. The site is bounded on Eff teenth street, New York avenue and G street and the building faces the Treasury grounds with the White House just beyond. High-priced ma terials were used, With first. floor exterior finish in brass, mar ble and bronze, public corridors pan N II ' N.