Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
SIR ESME PRAISES
CAPITAL BEAUTY
Retiring British Envoy and
Wife Express Regret at
Leaving City.
BY CORINNE FRAZIER.

BY CORINNE FRAZIER.
Sir Esme Howard, for the past six
wears British Ambassador to Washing
ton. paused yesterday in his prepara-
tions for the journey back to England
which will terminate a life spent in
the diplomatic service Of his country, to
nav tribute to the National Capital, the
birthplace of hts third son and his
second home"
Sir Esme and Lady Isabella will start
washington is something more to
us than an official post; 1t Is another
home" smiled Sir Esme, commenting
regretfully upon his imminent depart
ure.
Rock Creek Park Is Praised.
And even though there we're not hosts
Of other pleasant memories to carry
away with us-which there are-we
should never forget the city for its
beauty and its nearneSs to the open
country" added Lady Isabella. For us,
that is one OF Washington's greatest
charms-the imminence of the open
woods and countryside. Rock Creek
PARK itself is a delightful spot, and
within a very few minutes one can be
whisked' away from the heart of the
or Maryland's beautiful shores
Their acquaintance with Washington
dates back far beyond the date OF their
arrival, exactly six years ago this
month, to occupy the embassy on Con-
necticut avenue that housed the ENJOYS
from Great Britain for the past half
century. Twenty-three years ago, on
November is, 1905, Sir Esme came to
the Capital to fill the post Of counsellor
at the embassy. They made their home
then on Massachusetts, avenue often re-
ferred to by them as "our little red
brick house." It was here that Hubert,
their third son, was born. Sir Esme
served as counsellor until 1908, at which
time he was transferred to Vienna.
After their return to washington in
1924. their two youngest boys, Edmund
and Henry, attended the Friends
School on street, adding another link
to the ties that bind the family to their
home in "the States"
Popularity Has Increased.
washington took the British repre-
sentative and his charming wife to its
heart when they first came here to live
those twenty-odd years ago, and their
popularity has increased with the pass
ing time, attested to elouuently in the
universal expressions Of regret at their
departure and the round Of festivities
which has kept them buster during the
past two months than the most popular
debutante at the height OF the season
these festivities crowned by a dinner
given in their honor by the President
and Mrs. Hoover Friday night at the
White House. 80 many courtesies have
been extended that 1t was impossible
for them to accept, and there Is no indi-
cation that there will be any leisure
hours on their hands during the few
remaining days of their stay.
Despite the regret OF leaving, Sir
EsTne and Lady Isabella are anticipat-
ing with pleasure the return to their
| own country, from which they have
been wanderers for many years. They
expect to spend their winters in Eng
land and their Summers IN Rome with
relatives Of Lady Isabella. Sir Esme
Is looking forward eagerly to substitute
ing his arduous duties and the many
responsibilities Of an ambasSadorship
| for the fascinating trade" OF bookbind-
ing. He plans to spend many pleasant
hours OF his leisure time at this occu-
patton which has always intrigued his
! fancy, though he does not plan to &c
into 1t too seriously.
Want to he with Son.
Both he and Lady Isabella are glad
they will be back in England in time to
be with their son, Francis, q recently
| graduated barriSter, when he Is called
! formally before the bar. He is now in
| the midst OF eating his dinners" q
custom familiar to all English members
Of the bar, which is an important fea-
ture Of the probationary" period In the
career OF embryo barristers. In order
to become q member OF the bar in Eng
F, land, one must FIRST become q member
of one of the Inns OF Court" To
show that he has become o member in
earnest. the young aspirant must attend
at least two dinners Of his Inn" over
q period Of two or three years. Sir
Esme hopes soon to be able to congrat-
ulate his son upon having completed
this dinner-eating period and received
his call to the bar.
There are three other big reasons for
anticipating the return to England
They are the Ambassadors other three
| boys-all grown young men now, and
each completing his education for his
] chosen work. Hubert, 81, will take his
examinations soon for the diplomatic
corps. Edmund. l9, is at Oxford and
plans to take q law course as q part of
his university training. Henry, l6, who
was in school in this country until re-
Gently, now is In England preparing to
enter the army.
Few members of the British diplo-
matte corps have q record that matches
that Of Sir ESEne's in distinction or in
length of service. His career also Is
one of the most colorful in the service
! Appointed to his first post in February
9, 1885, at ~, he has served continu-
ously for IS years, with the exception
of one break-between the years 1892
and 1908, when he resigned to stand
| for Parliament as a Liberal. In this
| he was defeated, but he subsequently
served as private secretary to the Earl
Of Kimberley, at that time secretary of
state for foreign affairs. Sir Esme S
next venture was in the West Indies,
where he spent two years in the Island
Of Tobago as q planter. from whence
he went to Africa and joined the I'm
perial Yeomanry for active service in
| the South African War.
| The retiring Ambassadors first APP
| pointment as an envoy came In 1911,
when he was assigned to Bern in the
capacity Of minister plenipotentiary.
Later he went to Stockholm, and in
| 1919 was appointed Ambassador at Ma
drid. From Spain he came to Wash
ington in 1924.