Evening star., 1934-11-18
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The Grand Old Lady of the Capitol
Press Gallaries is gone-Mrs. Myra
George F) Richards-and members
of Congress returning from their cam
paigns for reelection are paying her
tributes. The toast of congressional
circles when she came here first as a
bride, for IS years she has known
the great men of the Nation on
intimate and confidential terms, and
for more than a quarter of CEN
tury she has been widely known for
her Washington correspondence, al
though few of those who read her
articles knew she was woman. Still
active as correspondent at the age
of 10, she died as she wished-"in
harness"
While meeting the Nations leaders
as man to man on important issues
Of the day, Mrs. Richards was at
heart a home body" and at her
best as a gracious hostess in the old
home town she loved best, Exeter,
N. H., where scores of men and
women prominent in national affairs
visited her.
Always an eager and Conscientious
worker, only a comparative few Of
those who knew Mrs. Richards in the
Capital had any idea Of her back
ground. Her ancestors were among
the earliest settlers Of New England.
Maternal forbears were the Jewels,
who came from England in 1887 and
settled at South Hampton. On her
fathers side she was a lineal descend
ant of Capt John Currier member
Of George Washington,s staff.
Mrs. Richards was an exceptionally
well-trained musician and in her girl
hood days took cultural courses in
Europe. Later she studied probate law
so that she could assist her husband
when he was register Of probate for
Rockingham County.
She set record not only for length
of service and excellence OF corre-
spondence, but for integrity, con-
scientiousness' and upholding the
ideals of her profession that will live
long as Press Gallery tradition.
~ x
Representative Edgar Howard OF
Nebraska-one of the good losers IN
the recent elections-intends to be on
hand when his colleagues foregather
here carly in January, so his flowing
silvery locks will still be in evidence
AS proof that he is living example
of good sportsmanship. witness TINS
extract from a recent signed editorial
in his own newspaper:
"Frisky as Colt.
II am receiving today a flood OF
telephone calls regarding report that
I am sick and in hospital. l have
had thousands of such calls and thou
sands of letters of inquiry regarding
such reports during the past year, al
though the fact is that never missed
one day from my duties IN congress
during the past session. The best reply
1 can make to al. inquirlng frlenos VII!
be to say, after Mark Twain, that all
reports of my illness have been glossy
exaggerated Indeed, I am feeling
fine as a fiddle this morning. This Is
nv first experience in political grave
ward, but it is not as bad as ! had
anticipated. 1 have splendid COM
pany. Old Senator Fess OF Ohio, Sen
ator Reed of Pennsylvania, Senator
Robinson of Indiana, Bob Simmons
! and Dwight Griswold of Nebraska, to-
! eether with other mighty ones, have
graves near me. and in the Language
of the dead I am told that Herbert
Hoover lies not far from my own
tomb.
II ask my friends near and far to
accept nv thanks for their kindly in
ouiries regarding my health, with as
surance that in any day when shall
be as sick as some influence insists
am-well, in that day my good wife
| has pledged me she will issue a special
invitation to every generous and in
quiring friend to get ready to attend
the wake"