Evening star., 1935-10-27
;AbOut Well-KnOwn Folk
In Books, Art and Politics
Charleston Folk Thrill With Visit of Presi
!. dent-Capital Coming Art Center.
!. Harrison and c. c.. c.. Camps.
nv RoBERr CRAWFORD.

a BY ROBERT CRAWFOHD.
- The Democrats are taking it as a
good omen that the Houston, with
President Roosevelt aboard. rode in
ahead of the hurricane and landed
him safely in the Charleston Harbor.
They declare that he will bring the
ship of state into a safe harbor after
i'outriding the storms Of depression.
But great day in the mawnin', those
uaristocratic, blue -blooded, conserva-
tive Charlestonians must have thought
the Yankees were just outside the
, Battery last week when they heard
those 81 guns of the ship intoning a
: salute for the President of the United
States. It was almost enough to
bring forth the rebel yell, old Confed-
crate uniforms and flintlock shootin
irons. Yes, sub, there had not been
that much gunpowder burned there
since the wah between the States.
4. Charleston was all a-twitter to receive
the first gentleman of America and
the charming old town never looked
more interesting.
Word comes from down that way
b, In a delightful letter that it was a
grand sight when the superb ship
Houston swept into the harbor with
the distinguished skipper, all bronzed
by the salt and the sea air, aboard.
They recalled a visit made by Presi-
dent Taft to Charleston, and how he
charmed them with his merry smile
md cordial manner. How President
fchad off the is
lands near there, but seldom came into
the city-perhaps only once.
Mrs. Roosevelt had to do a little
pinch hitting for the President while
he was away and read his speech for
him before the annual Forum on
Current Problems, up in New York.
She put a great deal Of emphasis on
the sentence, when our economic
system fails to sustain an adequate
standard of life, it is the women who
face the most poignant privation.
The women all said amen to that.
The lady of the mansion must have
found it a sorry-looking place when
she returned there last week to have
1t furnished up a bit before the ar
rival of the President. In this in
stance there is no triteness in the
expression when one says it was con-
fusion worse confounded, for every
thing downstairs was at skies and
sevens. The one redeeming prospect
was the gorgeous pink, red, yellow,
white and purple dahlias nodding at
the windows in the glassed-in east
corridor. These plants are really
regal looking; 8 or 10 feet tall, sway
ing majestically in the breeze. Bor-
dering the beds where the dahllas
grow is blue, purple and lilac phlox,
making pretty contrast.
= The great crystal chandeliers in
the east room we're dingy and sorry
looking, and the monstrous gold
characterization imitation, or what
ever, it was-covered with dust. .
Dear Mrs. John Adams would never
have hung herr wash in such a dusty
place.
To those fortunate enough to have
gardens: Do not rake up the carpet
of soft green, brown, red, yellow and
varied colored leaves that cover the
old brick walks and the lawns. There
is an indescribable loveliness about
this carpeting in the Fall of the year;
a loveiness that canont be painted by
an artist because it would require
gigantic canvas to get the true effects
the sunlight sitting through the
branches of the trees, casting yellow
lights and making grotesque silhou-
cites, shimmering and dancing like
the wood nymphs in q Corot picture.
Lately the Indian Summer skies have
at times taken on heavenly blue
that is more of June than october. {.
Walk through Lafayette Square where
the gallant hero of New Orleans is
forever doffing his chapeau-just
now covered with yellow Autumn
leaves, giving it that air of gold lace
militaire-and look beyond to the
wonderful sunset across Potomac
Park, making the Lincoln Memorial
look like a dream in marble.
If Washington in time does not be-
come the art center of the world it will
not be because Of Mr.. Andrew w.
Mellon, Mr.. Freer and the late Sem
ator Clarke of Montana did not vision
1t as such when they gave their
superb collections to the Capital.
Every one wishes to do his bit, so the
Chicago Society of Etchers, not to
be outdone, has put in small enter
ing wedge and has presented to the
National Gallery of Art a collection
of something like $50 etchings-this
in celebration of the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the society which num-
bers among its members etchers from
all parts of the world.
About 400 of the etchings are now
on exhibition in the gallery, among
them some pretty flower prints by
Mrs. Bertha E. Jaques, one of the
founders of the society and for 25
years its treasurer and secretary.
Members of the Chicago society and
many other artists who have spoken
Of her, seem to have a personal affec-
fNr ~