Evening star., 1932-02-07

ness standing out there on sixteenth
street. It was only S O'Clock in the
afternoon, but already fog and darkness
had wrapped their misty veil about the
outside world, And the thought OF
brief visit at the embassy was most
pleasant.
A broad wedge of light plunged across
the driveway as the butler opened the
door. Yes, Sonora Maria de Puig de
Casauranc, new Chatelalpe OF the en-
bassy was at home and would receive
her caller, he aVoWed. The door closed
against the night and fog and the way
was pointed up a broad carpeted stair
way above which hung Mexican tapes
tries in bright colors and designs.
In the roomy library spirited game
OF ping-pOng was in progress among
several members Of the younger dlplo-
mats. Tea was being served in the
drawing room to a number of guests
who had called to pay their respects to
Mexico'S envoy and his wife
So there was conveyed the immediate
impression that hospitality holds deh-
mite sway over the affairs of this diplo-
matte household. And it is not difn-
cult to conclude that no small amount
of the responsibility for this happy
state of affairs rests upon the Shoul-
ders of the tall young hostess.
*
A romance that began in her fathers
newspaper Office many years ago Is
responsible for Sonora de Puig's present
status as Mexican Ambassadors In
Washington. Although, judging from a
youthful appearance, one is inclined to
doubt bit that 1t was many years
ago" that she first met the Ambassador
Her excellency's quiet little laugh and
shrug of the shoulders have charm
ing way of convincing one of anything.
my father owned newspaper in
Mexico City, where 1 was born" Sonora
de Puig pointed out. And then, as
though fearing to create any false i'm
pressions. she haStened on to say, But
/ haven't inherited any Of his talents"
Ambassador de Puig was feature
writer for this particular newspaper Tor
a time Some years later, when his
Journalistic and political accomplish
mentS had gained him the position OF
minister Of education, he married the
editors daughter.
There is a little mistress and little
master of the embassy nursery. Dark
haired. dark-eyed Maria Elena is 4,
and Jose Manuel boasts three months
of life.
This is not the FIRST acquaintance
Sonora de Puig has had with Washing
ton life Two years ago she spent
some time as visitor in the Capital
City.
1T was then I had my first chance
to learn how nice 1t would be to live
here in Washington" she said, al
though 1 didn't realize that that oppor-
tunity was going to come so soon. !
like your American customs, and your
people so much"
The latter remark is not a hasty
generalization drawn from her brief
stay here in Washington thus far. Sc
nora de Puig as girl attended school
in New Orleans. It, no doubt, was this
youthful sojourn which helped her to
learn the English language
But. my English is very bad" she
will differ modestly. In short time
/ hope 1 shall speak better. When I
went to school in New Orleans
learned much of the language. But
when returned to my home there was
only Spanish spoken there. When l
didn't have a chance to practice Eng
Iish. I forgot much Of It, But shall
do better soon" she reiterated.
And with the apparent strides she
has made thus far in this accomplish |
ment as an indication 1t would seem |
safe to predict that 1t will not be long |
before she can acquit herself even more |
commercially.
This rs the first diplomatic post that
Ambassador de Puig has been called |
upon to serve And his affable wife |
has found herself thrust into an en- |
tarely new role from any she has hith- |
erto eSsayed. His excellency was min
lister of education before coming to |
Washington. In addition to his diplo- |
matte duties he still maintains an in
vtntRh
were large part Of his career IN Mex
ico City. /
mo doubt your duties as the wife Of
q Journalist. cabinet officer and dip !
lOmat all differ somewhat" it was sug-
gested to her excellency. ,
Again there was the quiet little
smile
Yes they are different" she ad-
mitted When your husband IS a |
writer he often likes you to read the |
things he writes before they are pub |
liShed In that way you have chance |
to be somewhat of critic, although not |
a professional one necessarily, but one !
who looks at his work from an average |
readers point of view and gives her |
impressions of it.
when your husband is cabinet |
officer life Is rather public, because
you have certain definite social obli-
cations to fill in such a capacity. Then,
too. you are often invited to appear
with him at public functions.
of CouSe, when your husband a
diplomat. you go to foreign country
TO help him keep relations friendly be
tween that country and yours. You
meet there many delightful people
from all parts Of the world who are
trying to do the same thing. You
learn new languages and customs, and
have an opportunity to learn how peo-
pie in other parts of the world live
and what they think about certain
problems"
When asked which role she really
preferred, Sonora de Puig responded
that she liked them all. and from her
short experience as the first lady of
an embassy is thoroughly delighted
with the prospects of this new type of
life.
Diplomatic life here in Washington
Is much the same as that in Mexico
CITY," her excellency pointed out.
when a new Minister or Ambassador
arrives in my country he formally pre-
sents his credentials to the Foreign Of
fee and the President of the Republic,
much as he would do here in Wash
ington There are also the usual So
cial funCtionS-teaS, receptions, din
nerS, dances"
Sonora de Puig has come too recent
B to Washington to have fully COM
pleted her social program for the sea-
son In addition little Jose Manuel
and Maria Elena have been monopo
1iZing much of her time But when
she has a chance to become thorough
ly settled" she plans to throw open the
embassy for the usual social life that
to such an establishment
Meanwhile, this dark-eyed daughter
of Mexico is looking forward also to
resuming her hobby-riding. She was an
ardent horse woman In Mexico, and
hopes to follow such recreation here in
in the not very distant
future Then will Rock Greek Park