Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-15
n Women of Diplomacy
Interesting interviews With Interesting Person,
ages Now in Washington. .
BY PAULINE n. FREDERICK.
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.

Little Panama, forged into a link
hat Joins two western continents as
yell as the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans,
one O. the most strategically located
ountries in all the world.
Sonora bona Rosario q. de Arias,
wife of the Panama Minister to the
1pited States, pointed out this fact as
he sat talking in the drawing room
f the legation. Such IN observation
eads one to reflect on the influence
hat the 1sthmus must thereby have
international affairs.
This being the case, it is little Won
Ter that outstanding men are selected
fill Panama's diplomatic posts. Tne
resent Chief Executive OF the 4SthmuS
vas former Minister to the United
States, and Minister Arias, in addition
to holding many, other important posi-
tons. was at one time provisional
President.
It seems strange that, although chic
Spanish senorita might, be destined to
marry such an important political ana
diplomafic figure, fate should have oil.
iculty in arranging the match. But
such has been the caSe,' for Sonora de
Arias confesses with q delightful laugh
that, although she and her husband
were born only IL miles apart on the
marrow Isthmus, they met for the nrSt
time in London.
It is not: the least disconcerting for
Sonora de AriaS to find herself thrust
suddenly into the role OF an ENJOYS
wife. Wide experience and native
ability have given her a savoir faire
which EXAMPLES her to meet readily the
exigencies of such position.
She was sitting, as she talked, on q
luxurious window seat strewn with Pill
blows of gay patchwork, made by the
of Panama. From the moment
fof meeting Sonora de AriaS, one became
Navarro that her manner and attire re-
isNealed considerable personal charm:
kHer dark bobbed hair was combed
lAback severely from an attractive Cas-
lillian face. The gown she wore was
'sof black satin. smaftly made with 9
stouch of white at the throat ana
NwristS. To complete an ensemble IN
black, she had selected this color also
tsfor pumps and hose.
+ This ENJOYS wife had been asked,
FIRST of all, about herself. She was re-
luctantly disposed to dwell on SUD
iect which she modestly claimed was
uninteresting, but replied, however, that
there was q time when she panied
Landscapes and studied art in Belgium.
But the artistic interlude OF her
career has long since been superseded
{ by another interest. Now, instead OF
Landscapes to do there are i've sturdy;
restless children to make plans for and
keen out of mischief - for they are
vigorously normal Little Rosario Is IL
and her brothers range in age from
with this active little group coming
on to take its place with today'S
youth, Sonora de Arias was asked the
inevitable question, what she thought
of the younger generation.
IL
sympathetically. They're just differ
ent. instead of trying to make them
go back 80 years to live according to
the ideals of those days, we should
come up to the present to meet youth
in its present-day life"
x X x
Descended from family whose ac-
tiyities have been linked for many years
with the destinieS of Panama, Sonora
de Arias has been able to acquire an
Intimate knowledge of her country.
She knows the Isthmus not only as a
homeland where she was born and
bred. but also as a state which is fill-
ing a place in the great world-family
% " i5sIl1: is often called q bridge"
she said with feeling-"and so it Is"
She spoke Of this narrow strip OF
land, only twice the size of Vermont
ana rev hampshire IOBeG11cEs do DC4AlS
of vast Importance because it has al
ways served as a highway, between two
hemispheres. More than four cen
turtles ago, Balboa viewed the Pacific
from its slopes, and through the in
tervening decides it has, witnessed
a panoramic change Of civilizations.
1ncas and AZtecS have borne their
treasures across it.; European explorers
and exploiters have seized its vantage
points,; and gold-seekers from both
western continents have trekked its
length and breadth in search Of the
glittering dust.
Thus, you see," continued Sonora
de Arias, "the people of Panama are
of many races. Each civilization COM
! ing in contact with it has left q ra-
! cial deposit until today the Isthmus Is
truly cosmopolitan.
X X II
IT suppose one should start with
the weather, In speaking of Panama
itself" she remarked gaily. 1.-THE days
are very hot, but at night sea breezes
that play across the Isthmus from the
Atlantic and Pacific bring delightful
relief"
From this point, Sonora de Arias
=