Evening star., 1931-11-29
Women of Diplomacy
Interesting Interviews With Interesting Person
ages Now in Washington.
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.


perSonaI-contact method Of diplomacy
Sonora Dona Marie Louise de Ferrara
wife Of the Cuban Ambassador to the
United States, recently returned with
her husband TO Washington from trip
around the world.
II enjoyed meeting so many people
and seeing SO many things" she de.
the trip she displayed albums of in
triguing pictures, all labeled meticu-
lcusly with reminders" of interesting
events Throughout the journey.
Sonora de Felraras enthusiasm on
this occasion was q JOY to behold. The
story of her travels assumed realistic
proportions for her hearer.
1t seemed that you we're scarcely
listening to a charming little lady
seated in the beautifully appointed
French salon of the Cuban embassy.
Rather, you were travelling with her
through the Kingdom of Japan and the
celestial republic; across Siberian wastes
to the capital OF the Soviets, northward
into the mountains of Scandinavia,
thence south through Germany, to
'chic-conscious" Paris and the inter
national city of Geneva, and back again
to the Cuban embassy.
And all the While you were aware of
the fact that Sonora de Ferrara had
the loveliest brown eyes and beautiful
hands-white, aristocratic, expressive.
MY husband and I left Washington
last April" she began. We went i'm
mediately to San Francisco, where we
boarded a Japanese boat called the
Asama Maru. 1t was fortunate we
could do this because we were in the
midst of japanese atmosphere and GUS
itomS from the minute We boarded the
boat. This prepared us for our first
long stop-Japan
Il shall never forget some of our ex-
periences on board ship" she said with
a laugh. especially our first attempt at
eating sukiyaki.
Now, sukiyaki, as Sonora de Ferrara
explained it, is a Japanese dish that
has found great favor among foreigners.
1t is eaten by means Of the conventional
chop-StickS.
Here is a picture OF my husband
and me eating it with some of the other
passengers on the Ship she pointed
out. THE captain took the picture.
Don't We look funny?"
Although it did not seem that sitting
in stocking feet on mat on the floor.
and eating with chop-sticks out of a
bowl, was exactly the Western idea OF
launching, this Cuban lady and her hus-
band appeared to be managing the diff
cult situation very well.
X X Il
Another thing that made a strong
impression on me aboard the boat were
the japanese dramas presented" Sonora
de Ferrara continued. "All the charac-
ters, men and women, were played by
men.
There was no curtain to the stage
and no scenery. Exits and entrances
were made in full view of the audience.
But the costumes were glorious affairs
of antique brocade. Indeed one was
glad that there was no elaborate back
ground to detract from the beauty of
these garments"
Sonora de Ferrara pointed to still an
other aspect OF these japanese perform
anceS which interested her exceedingly.
While the play was being acted" she
observed two men played native in
Btruments and sang. They sang of the
motives and feelings of the characters
who were perforning-and occupied a
place similar to that held by the
choruses in the old Greek dramas.
Another thing that interested me,
too she continued, was the great
emotion displayed by the audience. 1t
is said the Japanese are mindful not
to betray their feelings, but these be-
came SO wrought up that they often
Nrung their hands and wept."
Although the ultimate destination of
the steamer bearing the Ferraras was
Japan, short stop was made at Homo
lulu
II shall never forget the beauty of
'tnat city, Sonora de Ferrara declared.
1t was so much like section of my
country with its royal palms, white
sands, gorgeous hibiscus How strange it
is that two islands like Hawaii and
Cuba, although separated by thousands
OF miles Of land and water, should be
alike in so many respects!
When the steamer glided slowly
away from this Cuba of the Pacific,
and the Leis of beautiful flowers en-,
tW1ned had gone overheard, confided
10 the rlpples that should take them
again to those shores that one would
1aln revisit, it was with reluctance that
turned my face to more distant hori-
CONS"
But there was one fact of which
Senora de Ferrara was justly proud.
some OF the Hawaiian delights which
she had wanted to share with her
friends in the East and the West she
had carefully preserved with her
camera; for taking pictures both mo-
I on and still, was to be the real hobby
OF the entire trip.
Within the appointed time Sonora
de Ferrara and her husband reached
Japan. There she was destined to have
Two experiences which vividly called to
mind scenes Of the Occident.
We were being entertained by some
friends in Toxic" she related. "They
suggested one evening that we go to an
exclusive hotel, where some Japanese
society girls were dancing OF course,
my husband and I were delighted. We
were eager to see Japanese dancing.
We arrived at the hotel, and mount
ed the marble staircase to the ball
room. Suddenly stopped. The orches-
ira with sweeping modulations had
struck an air of familiar music that
evoked tropical scenes For a moment
i saw twilight as f1eeting as it was
melancholy, and then, flashing in the
chamber of imagery superb moon
above and a million glittering stars ir
the heaven
~~NNMN~