Evening star., 1935-09-01
Mrs. Ickes
Continued From First Page.)

time to her work in Chicago for bet
ter housing-she was pioneer in this
type Of endeavor-and for child wei
fare.
Active Social Worker.
Fortnight and direct in her polit-
ical life, she nevertheless was known
to have a great sympathy for the less
fortunate and constantly to be cam
paigning for the betterment of social
conditions.
| She always ran for Office as Re-
publican. The district she represented
in the State Legislature was the sew
enth and consists Of stretch Of ter
ritory on the north and northwest
edges of Chicago.
It was not until January, 1884, that
she decided not to seek fourth term.
BY that time she had set up house.
keeping here at 1880 Glenbrook road
in Spring Valley. For several months
there had been considerable discussion
whether she would continue as Re-
publican legislator while her husband
served in a Democratic cabinet. Mrs.
Ickes. however. denied there was any
conflict, saying, Il am tremendously
interested in the present Federal sit
uation"
Liked Social Life Here.
"It has been difficult for me to
arrive at this decision" she said at
the time of her retirement. Il have
been proud of my district. 1t is
considered the most complex legisla-
tive district in the State of Illinois
If not in the Nation" 1t included
vast mills and gardening areas as
we'll as fashionable residential sec
tions
From such a career, she turned to
the contrasting role of cabinet hostess
and liked it. When the New Deal
she was able to say:
Washington social life has many
gracious customs which seem to have
been more or less forgotten in other
parts of our country. One Of them
is that here we still gather around
the tea cups and have time for more
intimate personal conversation. The
first year was very lovely and exciting
as new acquaintance were made, but
in the second year these acquaint-
ances had grown rapidly into warm
and valued friendships"
After her family and her political
career, the anthropology Of the
Southwest Indians was her major en-
/ thusiasm. She had a home near Gal
lup. N. Mex, not far from the spot
where she was killed.
Left Here in August.
She left Washington early in Au-
gust for New Mexico in her annual
pilgrimage to see the Hopi Indian cere-
monial dances.
Calling herself an armchair arch
eologist," Mrs. Ickes was In the habit
of motoring over many miles of sand
every Summer on exploring trips
through the Navajo country. She
spoke the language Of the natives and
was considered an authority on their
customs and life.
The only Washington organization
with which she was associated was the
Newspaper Women's Club.
A recent book on Indian lore, Mesa
Land, the History and Romance of
the Southwest" was published after
Mrs. Ickes came to Washington and
aroused considerable interest here.
Arranged Adams Banquet.
/
She made many talks on her
Indian hobby before women groups
that gather here. When the women,s
international League for Peace and
Freedom held the biggest banquet the
Willard Hotel ever boasted last Spring,
! honoring Chicago's Jane Addams. Mrs.
Ickes was chairman of the whole cele-
bration for her famed fellow-towns-
woman. At that time, Miss Addams
made her last public address.
Just before leaving Washington for
her usual Summer in New Mexico,
Mrs. Ickes had superintended the NOV
ing of her household into Hayes
Manor, In nearby Maryland, q home
l ITS years old. set In stately trees.