The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-12-18
NOW
Honor Is Paid
Helen Hayes
FUR COATS
BY HELEN ESSARY

BY HELEN ESSAh1
In the cloak room at Demo
cratic party the other day I saw
81 coats of Hudson seal (dyeo
muskrat) and one of last years
bunny rabbit.
At a Republican party I saw
one coat of dyed muskrat and 80
Of honest mink.
Such discrepancy is confusing
because the Republicans make
such a po' mouf" nowadays
Maybe though, their minks were
bred on relief rolls.
No-I've a better bunch.
The Republican slogan for 1886
probably will be "a mink coat on
every hanger"
The simplicity. and beauty of
Helen Hayes performance of
Victoria Regina" had caught a
blaSe first night Washington au-
dience audience by the throat.
Had held it Wet-eyed and breath
less in the presence of genius.
A few minutes later, when Miss
Hayes arrived at the brilliant sup
per party of Mrs. Charles H. Sa-
bin. she had returned to her own
personality. Victoria. Queen of
England and Empress of India,
was now a small pale, very sweet
person, with brown parted hair
drawn over her ears, and was
quietly dressed in a brown and
gold dotted taffeta frock.
Emerged from her royal role,
Miss Hayes sat in the big draw
ing room of Mrs. Sabin's George
town house under a portrait by
Raeburn. A small, Wistful figure,
she seemed lonely even as the
center of an admiring group. I'm
impressed by her own Importance,
shyly admitting her recent thrill
ing ovation at the National The
ater, she said in her low voice:
ooh, 1 am so glad you liked the
play. ] have always loved Vic
tOria. Long ago when started
reading about her / hoped that
some day l should be fortunate
enough to act in a play of her
life.
eyes, my last play, Mary of
Scotland, did have quite differ
ent sort of heroine from this
one. But though loved Mary
Stuart, / hoped then that 1
could do Victoria. Victoria
was such a wonderful person."
Some one then presented Mr..
Charles A. Davila, the Rumanian
Minister. Mr.. Davila wondered if
Miss Hayes would like to waltz.
Thank you, I'd love to-" said
Miss Hayes.
She smiled up into the face of
the tall Rumanian Minister.
Then turning to her old friend.
Mrs. Howard Ellis, of Chicago,
portrait painter now here studying
national celebrities, she said:
Here, darling, keep my bOu-
quet."
The bouquet was a small nose
gay of roses in a fluted paper
holder-the kind of nosegay that
Victoria Regina" liked.
After the dance waiter ap-
preached Miss Hayes with a tray
champagne, Madam"
"PleaSe, may have some
cOffee?" answered Miss Hayes.
"I'm afraid I'm a little tired.
I've had rather a busy day,
with the play and the broad
casting after the show tonight.
1t almost broke my heart not
to be able to stay and take
the curtain calls. But the
micrOphOne was waiting"
"Your beautiful characteri-
cation will set the world to
loving Victoria again." l said.
II think the world has always
loved the kind, domestic things
that Victoria stands for" an
swered Miss Hayes. Sometimes
it has only pretended to be
bored"
Miss Hayes house at Nyack-on-
the-HudSon is furnished in the
Victorian manner. It's sofas,
chairs, carpets and pictures are
much like those in the superb set
ting of Victoria Regina" at the
National. Instead, however, of the
deep crimson upholstery and
hangings of the play, Miss Hayes
has draped her windows and done
over her old mahogany with ice
blue taffeta and plush.
For years Miss Hayes has been
collecting Victoriana in New York
and New England. In Baltimore,
where Victoria Regina" opened on
Thursday, she found the sort of
mirror she has been searching
for and had it shipped to Nyack.
The Nyack house has a Vic.
torian garden, poisoning in the
summer with the same sort of
flowers that grew at Balmoral
Castle where Lord Beaconsfield
came to visit. The grape arbor
at ENyack is a pride of Miss
hayes.
Looking back on this meeting
with Miss Hayes I am convinced
that no personal quality is as re-
freshing as simplicity. Call it un-
affectedness if you prefer the
adjective.
Mrs. Sabin, who was Miss Hayes
hostess on Monday night, also has