Evening star., 1932-04-17
BY PAULINE A. FREDERICK.

stands NOtre Mid, air castle OF the
William N. Doaks. This stately white
structure-this home standing guard
above the historic Potomac-Suggest5
the handiwork of a dreamer ana
builder
A dreamer and builder did have
something to do with it, for Mrs. Emma
Maria Doak is always doing things
that give her an opportunity to plan
ano construct, be they homes or flower
beds. That is her nfe-to envision
something, then to transfer 1t to specl-
fications on paper and finally to work
su, ways and means Of making those
rians a reality.
To become acquainted with the wife
Of the Secretary of Labor, with her re-
freShing enthusiasm for everything With
which she comes in contact, is to know
one Of Natures great lovers. She ap-
preclates with all the energy OF her
being the planning and building"
which have gone into mountains and
rivers and trees. That is one reason
why this vivacious little woman with
tie brown bObbed hair and smiling blue
ewes chose with her husband, the pres
ent site of Notre Md. Up there, on a
crest of a bluff above the Potomac,
she could live in the midst Of Natures
handiwork and plan and build" to her
hearts content.
A serpentine- like roadway leads up
to the Doak home. Each new twist In
it brings to view a rock garden, peony
bed or a cluster Of rose bushes On the
very top Of the hill. even a little higher
than the house level, stretches a green
sward, the setting for a fountain and
shrubbery.
As Mrs. Doak piloted a guest about
the grounds recently she reminisced
bit. 1t was nearly five years ago that
she and her husband were attracted to
this spot as a choice location for
home.
Yielding to her natural desire to plan
the structure. she worked out the
dimensions of the building in detail,
arranging an attractive living room on
the southeast side that opened out onto
a stone terrace from which the eye
could sweep up the river toward the
Capital City. A cosy solarium was in
cluded in the plans, in addition to the
other sections which go to make up
house.
Mrs. Doak even estimated the amount
of material which was needed for the
building process, for that is as much
fun to her as the other phases of plan
ming, and, belying the frequent accusa-
ton that a woman is extravagant, her
estimates were found to be very accurate.
Curate.
But there is another way in which
this interesting woman has made a
contribution to her home. The flowers
and shrubs have been planted, and the
rock gardens arranged by her own
hands.
When I first came here / was not
especially robust Mrs. Doak explained
Il wanted to work out-of- doors, and
soon found that by spending much Of
my time in making flower gardens my
health would benefit. I set about to
do what I could with the landscape,
and today am perfectly we'll"
And today there is scarcely anything
she likes to do more than to don
knickers and start out to her flower
bets.
Not every flower will grow up here,
M. Dcak explained. The soil is
only about IS inches deep, SO that the
r. C5'-ccte flowers Go not seem to
Z = III il ; . curious thing th-t
. t--e C. yCL-1v, flower seems to b.
h = enough 10 grow wei here
rs 1--GCUlJurlst Was asked for
h eTo-ite flower.
Lh>.S CificUlt for me to say mas |
mucl IS 7 like all flowers" she re-
scon ed, But I suppose the white rose
dos have little edge on the others
for ne"
A little hamlet of Ohio-the second
oldest settlement in the State-called
1rontOn is the birthplace of this cabi-
net hostess. She received her educa-
ton in the public schools there.
As a quiet young girl Mrs. Doak went
to POanCke. Va, to visit with some
friends at 10+ r1oa
met the promising young labor Iead2r
who today is her husband, and who
holds the labor post in the Presidents
cabinet.
Radiating the happiness with which
her life has been filled since that time,
Mrs. Doak volunteered her attitude on
the subject Of divorce. She was sitting
in the living room that "she had
planned"
Divorce is so foolish" she said.
Married life is a give and take propo-
sltlOn. That is the important thing to
learn and TO practice If happiness is to
come and remain in a home and the
possibility Of divorce is TO disappear.
People who marry with the attitude
that the husband, or the wife, as the
case may be, should do all the giving
are not facing the proposition with
truth and courage
x =
In addition to gardening, Mrs Doak
has many other interests today In
fact, she claims an interest in every
thing, and in any subject. Judging
from the variety Of subjects toward
which her energy has been directed at
some time or other, one is ready TO
concede her point.
AS a girl, she had numbers Of hob
bies Painting china, glassware and
vases all came into her artistic ken for
q time Then she became very fond of
reading
I am often accused of keeping
books-science, current events, natural
hlstory-under ny pillow so that when
/ awake in the night and can't sleep. I
can pull out one Of them and read, she
laughed gocd-natureoly. And. l guess
the accusations are justified. for that
the very thing / do many nights"
Another hobby of this energetic lit
tie woman was much in evidence.
I adore anything that IS living
especially dogs" she excl inad ardentIy.
Four beautiful white collies had
romped over the terrace to greet her,
and we're begging for admittance TO
the nome and favor from the mistress,
which she affectionately granted
affirmed Sometimes they seem almost
human, for they are so companionable
and understanding
But to return once more to her hobby
for planning and building Mrs Doak
Is Just completing a project to which
she points with great interest. There
Is a small piece Of land al the foot of
the hl!l Just adjoining Chain Bridge
To this plot She mas turned her atten-
ton
I vented to build something there"
she eT3le'ned, so I decided upon a
small building Of cement blocks which
nigh, be used as / home gnd busine
Office combined. ! drew up the plans.
Knitting all |