Evening star., 1933-12-03
Tales of Well-KnOWn Folk
In Art, Letters, Politics
Minister Owen Sets American Stamp in Denmark
Edison Bradley Treasures on Sale in England.
u. S. Ambassador Honored in London.

A visitor to the American legation
in Copenhagen last month wrote back
home that as soon as he entered the
front door he had feeling that he
was literally treading on American soil
There from the walls of Minister Ruth
Bryan owens reception hall American
Presidents looked down. and when he
was shown into the drawing room
paintings of American scenes greeted
him from every side. In the suite of
reception rooms pieces Of furniture
brought from the Minister'S home in
the States were in evidence everywhere,
and there in her Office, piled high with
official documents was the desk used
by her late father, William Jennings
Bryan, as Secretary Of State.
When Uncle Sam selects an AM
bassador or Minister to a foreign court
the paramount question seems to be-
aside from policies affecting interna-
tional relations, shall he don knee
britches and expose his neither limbs
to the electric glare that beats upon
throne or shall he dress in somber
black with modest trousers, as a sop
to the screaming eagle of American
public opinion. When the time came
for Mrs. Owen to present her creden-
tials at a morning audience at the
Danish court, Whfrc men wore formal
morning dress. the vital question arose
as to what woman Minister SHOULD
wear. Certainly not decollete evening
irOck when ths sunlight was beanllng
full upon her; so remembering that a
Russian woman envoy had been sent to
Stockholm, a message was Immediately
dispatched asking wlat she wore The
r. r. 1l-- ffcrr
Mrs. Owen presented her credentials in
a beige satin afternoon gown, looking
ravish:ngly lovely and another chapter
in American diplomatic history was
written.
From the time Minister Owen be-
came Minister Plenipotentiary and
Envoy Extraordinary she has entered
into the life of the Danish people,
cherishng her love and admiration for
their Hans Christian Andersen's fairy
tales, while the younger members of
her family have enshrined his picture
with flowers. She has even entered into
one of their customs of china smashing
this might seem a rather unique way
OF stimulating trade. for Denmark is
famous for its ceramics. But the old
custom is carried out in a conservative
amusement park. where one may throw
balls at an elaborate dinner set and
thus thoroughly express one's self for
few cents.
Tentative plans which are being con-
sidered for tunnel connecting the
White House and the State Depart
ment. this passage to run beneath East
Executive Avenue, recalls an amusing
story told by Mr. Andrew Mellon, when
he first took office as Secretary OF the
Treasury. The Secretary said he wanted
to GO to the Internal Revenue Building
at Pennsylvania avenue and Madison
place. and rem mbering that he had
heard there was private tunnel leading
to that building under Pennsylvania
avenue, went down to the basement
ana began to explore bit. He finally
came to the mouth of a tunnel and
started to enter VINE na guard appeared
and halted him asking where he
thought he was going; replying in his
usual quiet manner, Mr. Mellon said he
was taking short cut to the Internal
Revenue Building. The guard asked
him who he thought he was. Mr. Mel
lon politely said, Il am Mr.. Mellon;
whereupon the guard said. Yes. you
are" and refused to allow him to enter.
Going back up stairs to his office the
Secretary laughingly told the story on
himself.
There has been speculation as to
whether Mr. Mellon would retain his
Avenue. or return to his permanent
home in Pittsburgh. In this apartment,
where he entertained in simple eiegan'e
the great of the world while Secretary
of Treasury, are some of his most
famous pictures and other art objects,
for he is one of the best-knoWn col
lectors in the world While taking the
advice of experts in the purchase of
rare convaSes he has at all times ex-
ercised his personal likings and appeal
for the pictures he has collected. In
other words, dealers have learned the
masterpiece must have an appeal Tor
him aside from its intrinsic worth, for
he lives with his favorite pictures. Al
though one Of the richest men in the
world it has often been related hcW
simple he is in his daily life and what
a problem he is to his fine coos Who
cannot understand why she canrot
tempt him with her culinary master
pieces instead of the simple diet he
selects and the rice pudding which ne
likes best for dessert.
Washingtonians will remember the
collection of rare Chinese porcelalns
which Mr.. Edison Bradley had in his
house on Dupont Circle, and collectors
and connoisseurs will be interested to
know that this collection will be sold
In London the middle of this month at
one of the well known galleries. Some
of the most beautiful Of these porce-
lains were on the first floor of the Du-
pont Circle residence, which has now
heen reDlaced bV a towering flatirOn
hotel. Almost priceless examples of the
Ming and K'ang Hsl periods, the lat
ter called the golden age of Chinese
history, civilization and prosperity, will
be in this sale. The Ming dynasty
founded in 1868 lasted until the Man.
chu conquest in 1914. the latter dynasty
continuing until 1t was ove-thrown in
1912
Members of the old resident society
In the National Capital we're a tTlfle
wrothy when Mr. Bradley replaced the
hospitable Gardner Hubbard house
with his small French palace. for they
remembered that the Hubbard drawing