Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-04
Tales Of Well Known Folk
In Social and Official Life
Mr.. Norman Armour Competently Managing
Embassy in Paris While Awaiting Arrival of
Ambassador Herrick's Successor

responsible for the comfort and well be-
ing of the members of the foreign serv-
ice of the country, are doing their val.
liant best to follow in the footsteps OF
Senator Lodge and Representative John
Jacob Rogers and to provide suitable
homes for diplomats abroad. But those
who visit Europe cannot fail to note
how slow progress is and what rev re-
suits are apparent. In fact, the poncy
of Congress is not easily understood
when it is remembered that willingly,
almost enthusiastically, its members
passed the Lodge Rogers bill. In Lon
don the embassy was gift from John
Pierpont Morgan, and the only money
expended was for some minor changes
i'll joining embassy and of1iceS ana LOT
household equipment. The very beauta-
full embassy in Paris was purchased by
the late Mr.. Herrick at such a ridicu-
lously low price that the word bargain
does not express it; and, at that, the
late Ambassador had to threaten twice
to place the property again upon the
market before Congress repaid him.
Many will recall that when Mr.. Alanson
Houghton was Ambassador in Berlin he
had the opportunity to buy a splendid
mansion. furnished, in the best residen-
tial section. But he received no en-
enlargement to begin negotiations and
the dwelling was sold. Some months
later two tapestries in the grand salon
we're auctioned for larger sum than
had been asked for the entire property.
Strong objection is often expressed to
raising the Stars and Stripes over a
palace, but in such Old World capitals
as Rome, Madrid, Berlin or Brussels,
palaces are merely fine mansions. with
no more association with royalty than
the fine shops. Besides, they are the
only houses available for a diplomatic
establishment. and building prices in
Europe have scared upward, like those
in the Western World.
X X
Dame Nellie Melba. who has recently
concluded a professional tour of the
Americas, Is passing several weeks in
the environs of Paris and likening its
peace and secluSion to her Australian
home. Being a lifetime visitor to the
French capital, she knows where to find
quiet, but to the average soiourner it
offers less than Forty-second and
Broadway in New York or, in a lesser
way. Seventh and Pennsylvania avenue
inSWashington on market days and dur
ing rush hours. Wiring for rooms at
familiar hotels brings no results. and
1t has not been an unusual experience
to drive around to six or eight before
securing what accommodations may be
had. A group of irate Californians
stood in the lobby of hotel where they
expected to find a haven, and threat
ened a round robin to the Secretary of
State that he refuse to issue any more
passports to France until ParisianS
learned to appreciate Americans more.
But. as a rule. the traveller accepts the
inconvenience quietly, vet it is openly
limited that now is the time to begin a
crusade of presenting the ease and ben
eflt OF passing vacations at home, and,
judging from prices quoted this year
and the multiplicity of French taxes, it
will also prove cheaper.
+ 4
DR.. Max HeniuS. an eminent Danish
savant, and frequently the guest of M
ConStantin Brun, Danish Minister In
Washington has been visiting his ma
tive town. Alborg. and mas received dis
tinguiShed attention from the King end
from the Chemical Society of Copen-
hagen. Alborg is the most ancient CEN
ter OF the manufacture of malt drink
ableS. and 1t was his experiments in
this line which in the 1880S and 1905
contributed greatly to making Milwau-
kee famous. However, long before the
passing OF the eighteenth amendment
he had turned his interests in another
direction. In the early 1905, after
making visit to the national parks
and realizing the significance Cf this
policy for future generations and the
general worthineSs of the Nation, he be-
gan quietly to interest Danes in his idea
Of placing the splendid woods Of Ribald,
Denmark. as it were, under the protec-
torate of the American Forestry De-
partment, and as a token Of affection
from naturaliZed Danes to their native
land. In 1912 DR. Henius had collected
a sufficient amount, greatly enhanced
by his lectures and pamphlets on rhe
subject. and he presented to the Fling
a binding sum on the domain Of Ribald.
On July he presided over an enthu-
siaStic meeting in this american ma
tional park in the heart Of Hamlet land,
the only one on foreign sell, and heard
the lusty singing of 1.-THE Star Spangled
Banner" and other patriotic airs and
eloquent speeches in praise of the
strong young republic overseas, where
all ScandinavianS had been so cordially
welcomed and where they had pros
pered so greatly He was later eEter-
tanned at the Summer palace Of the
King, and after his annual visit 10
Paris he sailed for Chicag) late in
July.
Mr.. T. st. John Gaffney, many years
consul to Dresden and quite social
figure there during the Taft admin
istration. has been advising his country
people encountered at any point to try
paths in the French republic,
and to visit Perigord. Many Of those
coming up from Spain had followed
this route without the advice, as If in
anticipation. and they really came
upon an unknown land, for in all d.
rections from the channel ports, every
thing seems to have been standardized
by the artists. All the horses appear
done" by Rosa Bonheur. all peasants
posed by Millet and to visit one of the
ancient hospitals Is like seeing q fif-
tenth century picture gone into action,
patients looking older than mummies
in square little beds. with stif1ly starch
ed and be-capped nurses and every
where curious little dogs looking on.
But in Perigoux, the visitor may see
the statue of Daumesnil, with his wood
en- leg actually set into the bronze, the
only one of the sort in the world, and
he may eat the goose liver and truff1es
after the most ancient manner of their
preparation and like those served in
the days when the troubadours sang