Evening star., 1935-05-26
About Well-KnOWn Folk
In Books, Art, Politics
Gifts of Communion Plate From England
Since 1694-Mrs. James Roosevelt's
Memoirs Guide Book.
In speaking of his financial affairs

he said: II did that translation of
the Odyssey for the United States
of America 1t sold fast, very fast
at first. 1000 copies in few weeks.
And the dollar stood high" Then as
the dollar dropped he lost on the sale.
In what Mai. Shaw, is pleased to
call his translator's note to his
Odyssey" and which is more of
foreword or preface-that would do
honor to that other Shaw, who revels
in delightful prefaces-he says: THE
Odyssey by its ease and interest re-
mains the oldest book worth reading
for its story and the first novel of
Europe. Gay. fine and vivid 1t is,
never huge or terrible" While Shaw's
translation Of the great epic has not
always met with favor with those
devoted to the older and more classic
renderings. 1t is refreshing in bring
ing the characters and scenes right
into the life of the reader of this as
we'll as the centuries past.
DR.. M. Therese Bonney. that very
interesting person who delighted and
amused Washington. several years ago,
with her collection of daguerreotypes,
which she exhibited over in the Ma
tional Gallery. has been made the
director Of the new French gallery
recently opened in the Rockefeller
Center New York. 1t is called the
Gallery for French Art. Inc, and is
located in the MaiSon Francaise. For
the opening DR. Bonney. chose the
Famous Women of French History"
and in making this choice she selected
the most fascinating array of por-
traits, books. photographs. souvenirs
of famous French women given by
the crowned and former crowned
heads Of Europe.
through a series Of years collected the
daguerreotypes shown here and drew
from many a forgotten drawer or
trunk lovely old types of portraiture
which were the rage in the nine
teenth century. With the same pains
she has collected intimate souvenirs
of women who were the adored Of
some monarch or great statesman.
and has assembled the things that
were apart of their daily lives and
that have become a part of history.
A story from London correspond
ent. recently published in the New
York Times, gives new and interest
ing information relative to the sets
of communion plate given to churches
in the American Colonies by the
English sovereigns. 1t seems docu-
ments in the public record Office in
London hitherto unpublished relate
in detail these gifts from the crown
heads to the Episcopal Church, in
this country.
Trinity Church, New York-first
built in l669-in l710 received "a
noble set of plate for our communion
Gus set sent by William and Mary is
recorded as being in the possession Of
Trinity Parish. Parts of the 1884
and 1894 William and Mary sets were
long kept in st. Johns Church, New
York, but there are no documents in
London archives relative to these two
latter sets.
In Charleston. S. c., is a service
Of the year 1880. presented by
George I. through Gov. Robert john
son to St. Philips Church at cost
of III los I'd: George II presented to
Christ Church. Boston. the famous
North Church" of Paul Revere
where he hung a lantern, service
of silver vessels in 1888. Christ Church,
Williamsburg, and other churches in
the Southern Colonies were the recipi-
from the kings of the seventeenth and
eighteenth centuries.
Many admirers of Mrs. James
Roosevelt are looking forward to her
memoirs or autobiography which is
advertised for issue this Fall. Few
American women have had fuller
or more varied life than the mother
of the President, who, to use slang
expression, has always gone along with
him in his public life, saying and
doing the things she should do just
at the right moment and neither seek
ing nor avoiding publicity when it was
part Of her days program. A
lovely type Of grande dame.
"a Brief and True Report for the
Traveller Concerning Williamsburg,
Va" is a delightful little book for
those journeying to that historic
place-many well-known facts and
some fancies all put in a charming
way. The advertisement for this
little book sets forth that, being an
account of the most important occur
rences in this place from its beginning
to the present time" 1t also relates
that it is for sale by merchants,
apothecaries, innkepers and others,
or sent by post to persons of good
reputation and credibility."