Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-14
BY MARGARET B. DOWN. 8.

BY MARGARET b. DOWN.
Mr.. Richard Ford, United States con-
sui at Seville. Is the author OF that
charming article on the picturesque
Andalusian city which appeared IN the
azine. and in consequence ne Is the
object Of more attention from visitors
than he can afford to lose from the
routine of the day. Mr.. Ford once on
q time intended to pursue Journalism
as a career Completing, his studies In
Texas, he went to the University OF
Missouri, at Columbia, where an ex-
cellent school had been established.
But war was in the air, so he deserted
the Third Estate for the Boston Tech,
and when this country finally entered
the world conflict he became an aviator
and passed a thrilling two years. In
1922 he took the examination for the
consular service with brilliant success.
In seven years he has been promoted
from the foot Of the ladder as vice con-
sui to consul at the important CONNER
cial center of AndaluSia. Having the
literary instinct we'll developed, Mr..
Ford has made some interesting studies
of the vast tobacco factory Of Seville,
where some 5000 women work from
o'clock in the morning until 6 o'clock
In the evening. The cigarette factory
occupies a vast boroque building facing
on San Fernando street, erected by
famous Spanish architect, Wandenvilla,
In 1857. In tree-lined street behind
It In the middle 1S30's lived Prosper
Merinee, who made many visits to the
factory when he was writing THE Loves
of Carmen on which the libretto OF
Bizet's opera was founded. The mann
moth entrance on San Fernando street
and the great square adjacent were
presented in livid outline by Meri-
NEE and accurately produced by the
scenic artists for the opera. Many
gather as the workers leave, but they
are not treated to such exciting scenes
as they doubtless expect.
The vice consul at Seville and Mrs.
Gerald Keith in normal times dispense
the traditional hospitality to the hun
6red and more permanent residents OF
the city who retain their American citi-
zenship. Mr.. Ford and the junior vice
consul. Mr.. Raymond Richards, are
adjacent to the consulate. Mr.. and
Mrs. Keith live In a delightful villa
section facing the turbulent River
Quadalquiver and overlooking Seville
from an eminence. To the left Is the
Park Of Maria Louisa. where the expo
sition has been located. When all the
buildings and debris attending such n
activity have been cleared away the
beautiful United States consular dwell
ing will be in the center of other such
homes and the offices will be removed
from the noisiest part of the city. The
entire lower floor will be given over to
business, but the alto and cloisters
may be used jointly for social purposes
by the consul and vice consul, whose
living quarters are in two separate
suites on the second floor. This Nation
did not emulate the S-anish habit OF
immense buildings in its consulate.
There is abundant room for all pur-
poses but none to spare. Mr." Keith
owns Minnesota as her natal place, and
was Miss Helen woodward. Mr.: Keith
is of Brockton, Mass. and Mr.. Richards
is from Rockland. Mich.
+ \
Former Gov. Campbell Of Arizona,
who has been the resident commissioner
of the United States to the Seville ex-
position, and the various aides have dis
covered a thing or. two about gate
crashing" and autograph pilferers that
would make the most enterprising ex-
pert in the Western World open his
eyes. About gate crashing" all the
oficials of the Government who have
been in Seville say that they believe
that the forced entrance is caused by
consuming desire to know all about the
wonderful Western country. and as the
unlimited are most unobtrusive and
quiet and polite to degree, there seems
to be nothing that can be done. Gov.
Campbell has been asked by irritated
: American visitors why he has kept no
register, that a knowledge might be
cleaned Of those who have come previ-
ously, and his answer has been a merry
gust of laughter. On the opening day
an ornate guest book was placed in the
main hall by the consulate, and on its
virgin page wrote the King and Queen
Of Spain. four of their children, the
military dictator, Primo de Rivera. In
fact, four pages of the most important
signatures in the peninsula were in evil
dence. But. behold, when evening had
come and the rush ceased, Gov. Camp
bell called for the book and all the
written pages had been neatly clipped
out, and only blank sheets confronted
him. Disappointed, but undaunted, the
register was placed in the hall again
and a special guardian put over it.
Hundreds came and went, some celebri-
ties among them. and again the pages
were cut out. A third attempt was made
with the same result, so, not to have it