Evening star., 1932-02-28
PEN PORTRAITS
Sonora Dona Crystal Abelli.
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.

THE Bolivian temperament is entire
~ different from that Of the United
States
This candid observation was made re-
Gently by Sonora Dona Crystal Abelli,
young hostess Of the Bolivian legation.
And as Sonora AbelI went on to ex-
plain her statement there seemed to
be an atmosphere of sunshine every
where.
Outside, warm rays of the sun were
spilling through the trees into bright
splotcheS on the immaculate lawn and
driveway. And inside the legation
everything seemed sunny. 90. The
step-down living room of the intriguing
English structure, with its light stucco
walls and raftered ceiling, was a choice
place at the opposite end of the room
huge basket of Fall flowers threw out
a gay and fragrant greeting. In the
bay window to the left stood graceful
table with lamps of Chinese jade at
either end, the background for an eX-
quisite bowl of pink roses. Here and
there luxurious chairs and sofas of rich
hues were placed invitingly.
But it was Sonora Abelli herself who
added the final touch of radiance. She
Is vivacious and beautiful with brown
hair and blue eyes. Youth and grace
are embodied in the tall, slender figure
which at our interview was becomngly
attired in a simple white frock en-
broidered in brown with a small white
scarfcollar. Her engaging manner of
speaking suggested deep emotional quail
tiles
In Bolivia life is lacadaisical," Sonora
Abeli explained. The high altitude in
rtc IF ha o,,I ha
temperature in other parts make you
feel that tomorrow will do if you don't
accomplish some things today. But in
the United States the atmosphere is
charged with such a wealth Of activity.
Even to keep up with the newspapers
and periodicals is quite a task.
When I came to the United States,
some months ago." she continued, Il
was determined not to be caught in this
constant rush. But it seems as If one
doesn't have much to say about it, for
one is carried on as by tide. I find
that day in Washington is much too
short, whereas in Bolivia "a hours often
seemed too long In the United States
an idle minute seems wasted one"
And when a statement like this
comes from Sonora Abelli it is on good
authority, for she has known both
American and Bolivian life intimately
'I was born in Portland Ore" she
said, confirming the immediate impress
sion that her native city was in the
United States. 1t was at St. Helen's
Hall, in that city, also, that she re-
ceived her education.
How an American girl born in the
northwestern corner of the United
SfofpS could hnnnrna iY1tprocfnd in for
off Bolivia. was the next question
Sonora Abelli was called upon to
answer.
There was a worlds fair in San
Francisco in 1915" she began with
gay little laugh. MY father was in
charge of the official participation of
Oregon on that occasion"
But it seems that fate had hand
IN the fair. too. At any rate far-off
Bolivia sent a brilliant young country
man, Senor Luis Abeli, who had just
been graduated from the London School
of Mines. to have charge of its ex-
hibit. And this young Bolivian was not
long in discovering that the executive
commissioner for the State of Oregon
had a lovely daughter.
Whether the fair itself still held any
interest for either after this discovery
was not divulged by Sonora Abeln. But
the fact remains that little more than
a year later Senor Abelli went to Port
land to claim the young Oregon lass as
his bride
And so many of our friends termed
the fair an exposition of romance,
Sonora Abeli concluded with happy
smile.
For IS years this diplomats Amer
L.. TO~1T anrz
ing with these people, speaking their
language and learning their ways. The
Spanish class makes up the cultured,
refined section of the population, but
it was to the poor Indian groups who
often live in a primitive state that
Sonora Abellis sympathy turned.
The home of the Abellis was great
Spanish manor house, located nearly so
miles from any post of civilization. 1t
was at that location that Senor Abeni
and his father owned tin mine named
Aricaya. Although the home was far
from other Spanish or American settle
ments, the owners had taken to 1t the
finest improvements that the United
States and European countries had to
offer.
Many visitors stopped to see us.
Sonora Abelli said, because they al
a little piece of the United States" But
one can imagine that another reason
for the visits was that gracious host
and hostess were always extending a
cordial welcome.
Instead of feeling isolated and un-
happy in her new surroundings-for she
was often the only white woman in the
locality-Senora Abelli saw an oppor
tunity to be Of real service to the In
dams. She knew efficient American
home making, and these she gradually
impaired to the Indians about her,
gently inducing them to exchange their
crude ways for the more advanced ways
Of her native land.
"The first thing I did in order to
accomplish the results I desired"
Sonora Abelli continued, was 10 learn
the language I knew that the real
key to my happiness with these people
lay in possessing 1t"
And that is just what Sonora Abelll
has done. She speaks Spanish as
fluently and reads 1t as quickly as a
native.
st am especially glad to be in the
United States at this time" she said
when asked about her family, so that
nv children may take advantage of
the educational opportunities afforded
here"
Luis Dante is 7 and Crystal Eloisa is
IT sent Luis to private school upon
coming to Washington" Sonora AbellI
explained but now he Is attending