Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
PRECEDENT SET
BY FIRST LADY,
Mrs. Hoover Makes Speech
In White House to Geo.
!. logical Delegates. |
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Mrs. Herbert Hoover has just estab-
iished White House precedent, be-
lieved to be unique in the history Of
the Executive Mansion. She has de-
livered an address there to a great
gathering Of biologists, assembled In
Washington for the fiftieth anniversary
OF the establishment of the United
States Geological Survey.
The First Lady OF the Land spoke
as q geologist to biologists. An alumna
of Stanford University. where she
majored In geology, Mrs. Hoover studied
under the celebrated Californian geolo-
gist, DR.. John Casper Branner, Branner
also was President Hoover'S teacher.
both in geology and paleontology, the
twin branches which were the founda-
ton of his engineering career.
Friends say that the President con-
siders Branner the principal influence
in shaping his future destinies.
It was on Thursday noon, March 81.
that the men and women who came to
Washington for the golden jubilee of
the east room of the White House.
They had expected a more or less
formal reception at Mrs. Hoover's
hands To their surprise and delight,
she took occasion to substitute some
impromptu remarks. The following is
not q full verbatim account of what
Mrs. Hoover said. but 1t is an accurate
summary of it. She spoke for some
thing like four or five minutes. Her
visitors, who numbered 400 or 500,
were told that the First Lady felt her
self entirely at home in the company
of biologists, because, in way. she
could claim to belong to the fraternity.
She referred in terms of great affection
to her work at Stanford under DR..
Branner and to the esteem in which
both she and President Hoover hold his
memory.
Experience Is Related.
As an indication of her acknowledge
naent that the study Of geology today is
radically different from what 1t was in
the COS, when she was at Stanford.
Mrs. Hoover narrated an experience OF
which DR.. Branner spoke a few years
ago. A girl student had applied for
doubt having been expressed as to her
ability to make the grade" the fair
coed adduced as plea for her admis-
sion the fact that Lou Henry" (Mrs.
Hoover'S maiden name) had once upon
q time not only studied with Bran
ner, but acquitted herself famously in
geology. well" the professor rejoined,
Lou Henry might have been able to
pass an examination, but very much
doubt whether the Mrs. Herbert Hoover
of today could do sol" The First Lady
assured her east room audience that she
fully realizes her knowledge Of their
science is hardly up to present-day
standards.
Thereupon, while disclaiming any
right to be considered as possessing
any expert acquaintance with geology
of today, Mrs. Hoover declared that she
nevertheless retains the liveliest inter-
est In her one-tine college speciality, and
always would do so. The Presidents
wife expressed q desire to greet per-
sonally her brother and sister geolog-
ists," but luncheon engagement, then
impending, prevented. So standing on
an improvised platform in the east
room, where she could be seen by every
body, Mrs. Hoover said she would ex-
tend Chinese handshake," which
consists of wringing ones hands in q
fervent clasp. This the First Lady pro-
ceeded to do amid enthusiastic applause
and mingled laughter.
With Husband in Ventures.
As nearly everybody knows. Mrs
Hoover was the companion Of her dis
tinguished husband In all OF his early
mining ventures at home and abroad,
following their marriage in California
soon after their graduation from STAN
ford University. Mrs. Hoover was the