Evening star., 1934-09-23
BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.

hoDLRA SAEh - OAhDs
When a visitor enters the hand
some doors of the Soviet Embassy, in
Sixteenth street, all thoughts OF
secret diplomacy vanish into mld-alr,
for there are mirrors to right OF him,
mirrors to left of him, mirrors IN
front OF him, which reflect every
movement, every change of counte-
nance, and even the street outside.
A sea of looking glasses partition
of private Offices where once were
elegant reception rooms, and cloak
rooms where lveried lackeyS and
maids dressed in tight double
breasted uniforms, with two rows of
shining buttons-a la RuSSe-waited
on guests. Honestly, it makes one
feel like Alice in Wonderland, to see
rows of ones self in profile, full face,
back and front. advancing and re-
tiring, and then there are myriads
of hands extended saying howdy do.
Foreign Minister Litvinofs state
craft and tireless diplomacy have at
last borne fruit and the long hours
and days of planning, negotiating
trade agreements and cultivating
world friendships have had a we'll
defined result, and the Soviet Re-
public enters triumphantly into the
League of Nations.
There was a small crowd at the
Union Station last Fall when the
Soviet's first representative to be
received by the President Of the
United States, arrived to talk things
over with Uncle Sam. Some expected
to see a be-whiskered gentleman with
q red scarf floating to the breeze,
instead of the stockily-built, f1orid
face, somberly- dressed, jolly-looklng
man with his black slouch hat of
felt Looked more like a college
professor-of the old school. Then,
when he radioed from the oval room
in the White House to Madame
Iitvinoff, in far-away Russia and
said, Hello darling like that;
Its lovely-fne, so hospitable-
harming"-doubtlesS all meant for
his reception by the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt.
Then there was another surprise
coming to the man on the street
he does not often meet diplomats
when Mr. Troyanovsky, the first
Soviet Ambassador, arrived. He was
a revelation. Looked like he might
have just stepped out of Bond street.
A shining topper that reflected the
eager faces of the reporters who
crowded around; a bunch of roses
was handed to him-a little touch
of sentiment-another to Madame,
the AmbaSsadress. and then the ice
was broken. No Russian blouses, no
workman's cap or fancy boots in
evidence.
During the II years the Russian
Embassy remained closed delightful
ghost stories were told from time to
time about the strange noises and
happenings in the great rooms. A
droshky with gayly capariSoned horses,
such as we're seen under the empire,
would clatter up TO the door, and
heavily booted footsteps and clanking
sabers sounded on the grand stair
way. Cobwebs were everywhere. but
Mr.. Eugene Schoen, the architect
who renovated the imperial Embassy
and adapted it to its present occu-
pants, has seen to it that no ghostly
visitors could possibly enter without
being reflected at all angles in the
hundreds of mirrors with which he
has adorned the rooms and Railways.
On bright sunny afternoon red
brocaded walls, gorgeous crystal
chandeliers and sidelights, Sevres
80 honoNea
they cost thousands and some of them
we're given by kings, were everywhere.
Wonderful clocks. Oriental rugs of a
past century, and gold reflected on
all sides. Nations may go off the
gold standard if they will. but the
Russian Embassy never, There are
gold medallions, gold leaf and plaster
Cupids, gold cornices and even the
shield of the Soviets with its red star,
sickle and hammer is framed in a
F!orentine gold frame and occupies
o place on the lovely stairway leading
to the private suite of Ambassador
and Madame Troyanovsky.
Have you ever seen a chromium
kitchen? The fine new-fashioned
one at Ambassador Troyanovskys
home is marvel One can but
wonder how the housewife can get
on with any other. Its silver shining
everywhere-no gold there-even on
the cooking range. The kitchen is
shown with pride as model kitchen
although it is used only for the
larger dinners and entertainments.
as Mr.. and Mrs Troyanovsky have
a small kitchen in their suite. and
members of the staff on the upper
floors of the Embassy have their own.
A 1Y