Evening star., 1934-03-11

It Is with a feeling of deep regret
that the Capital is to lose one OF
its most popular and charming hosts
with the departure of the Turkish
Ambassador.
During service of six and half
years. part of which time he has
served as dean of the diplomatic
corps. NJ. Ahmet Muhtar has made
a unique place for himself in Of
fetal and resident society. He has
been particularly gracious and
thoughtful of his guests. in combin-
ing Western customs with Eastern
courtliness His parties have been
locked forward to. They were not
just another party, but there was
bit of Oriental splendor about his
entertainments that gave touch OF
romance to the informality Of twen-
tieth century manners.
The knowledge that he returns to
serve his country in a legislative ca
pacity is some consolation. since he
will still be in touch with American
affairs.
Welcome the coming and speed the
parting guest gives some consolation
when one knows that the new dean
of the diplomatic corps is to be none
other than Sir Ronald Lindsay, King
Georges envoy to the United States
during the past four years, and prior
to that second secretary OF the British
embassy under Sir Mortimer Durand.
Sir Ronald is a brother of the
Earl of Scotland anH
a son of the late Earl of Crawford
and Balcarres Through his father,
the twenty-siXth Earl Of Crawford
and the thirty-third Lord Lindsay of
Crawford, the Ambassador is men,
Der of one of the oldest and most
historic of the great houses of the
Scotch nobility.
1t is claimed that the Lindsays are
of Scandinavian, rather than Gaelic
origin. and perhaps this accounts for
Sir Ronald havirg the ancient So
briquet of "the light Lindsays' ap-
piled to him. while his eldest brother
is known as the dark Lindsay" in
keeping with the traditions of his
family that there is always light
and a dark" Lindsay.
A number of the Lindsays. and
Lord Crawford among them, took
part in the American war OF indie
pendence. and one of them lies buried
in New Jersey, where the tombstone
marks his birth and lineage.
The story goes that when the Lord
Crawford of the war for independence
was introduced upon his return to
England by George III to Benedict
Arnold. he denounced him as a traitor,
declined to shake hands with MIN.
and while he accepted a challenge to
fight a duel with Arnold, allowed him
to fire, but refrained from dlscharg-
ing his own pistol and started to walk
from the field. When Arnold asked.
why don't you fire?' Lord Crawford
flung back over his shoulder. AT
you? No. sir. leave you to the hang
man" This is the Lord Crawford that
received l3 bullets through his coat
at the Battle of Ticondercga.
Mr.. Richard washburn Child
whose trenchant pen is familiar the
world over where people are interested
in public questions of the hour, has
been appointed adviser to the Secre-
tary of State. to make an economic
survey of Europe. 1t is gathered
from the appointment that Mr.. Child
is simply to report on what he finds
and being one well trained in the
diplomatic arts, it is expected that
his finds will be of tremendous value
to the administration.
American Ambassador to italy from
1921 to 1924 and founder of the
Council of Foreign Relations. Mr..
Child is one of the best known diplo-
mats in Europe. His book, "A Diplo-
mat Looks at Europe" written in
1925. is a thorough survey of the
state of affairs at that time, and his
editorial style is visible in the Auto
biography of Mussolini" with WhCm
he collaborated in the writing of that
interesting story of life of action.
Pardon the slang, but the truest de-
scription of Mr.. Child's style of writ
ing on public questions is, he hands
1t to them"
A recent rumor from Toxic that
the Japanese army is thinking OF dis
carding the tailor" sword for one
designed on the lines of the famous
two-handed sword of the Samurai, led
to a delightful tour through the New
National Museum. where there is a
wealth of japanese art, folklore and
collection of arms dating from the
earliest centuries of the empire.
In the collection are some of the
most fearsome-looking arms; but the
decorations on them are as beautiful
and exquisite as the blades are terri
fying-and that is saying a good deal
The present sword in use in the
Japanese army is for parade only, but
if the change is made the new ones
will be of tempered steel-and will
be a lethal weapon that would strike
terror to the heart of any foe in bat
tie. 1t is said that many of the
japanese officers now carry old
swords. frequently heirlooms, instead
of those issued by the army. These
swords, however, are mounted with
the regulation hand guard and in
cased in a white metal scabbard in
stead of the traditional sheath Of
lacquered wood.
The tsuba, or old style sword guard,
on some of the weapons in the mu-
scum are exquisite works of art, but
In the new army design the hilt will
be covered with khaki colored leather,
and knot suspended from the POM
mel will indicate the rank of the
wearer. In the opinion of experts the
old sword surpasses the best products
of Toledo and Damascus. And, by
the way, there are blades made in
Mexico-perhaps in the state of
L III l..