The Washington times., 1936-11-12

Morgenstierne, I met the Ameri
can Minister to Norway and Mrs
Anthony j. Drexel Biddle, jr.
TONY" Biddle and his charm
ing wife, Margaret, have an en-
thusiaSm not stereotyped, but
"quite special" for their diplo
matte post at Oslo. TONY" loves
to talk about Norway. He is
studying its language and is al
ready at home with its customs,
"The NOrwegians are such
intelligent, natural people," he
says. "By the way, did you
know that there are three mil
lion Americans of Norwegian
descent in this cOuntry?"
With his wife, who is the daugh-
ter of Mrs. William Boyce Thomp'
son Cher superb yacht, Alder, was
tied up in the Potomac this sum.
mer, Mr.. Biddle entertainS gor'
geously at Oslo.
Among his happiest enterprises
there was the organization of 70
Norwegian-American families who
had never before met, into a sue,
cessful club.
Before we left the table the
other night, Minister Biddle made
a gay little speech of congratula-
ton in Norwegian to his host and
hostess.
Other guests "quite special" at
the legation dinner were DR.. and
Mrs. Wilhelm Munthe.
DR.. Munthe, chief librarian OF
the Royal University of Norway
at Oslo, is making survey OF
libraries in the United States at
the invitation of the Carnegie Cor
poration of New York.
A big handsome fellow with a
hearty laugh, he is one of the
most famous librarians of Europe.
The Carnegie has asked him to
criticize American libraries be-
cause they feel that a person OF
his ability and international ac-
uuaintance will have a fresh point
of view.
DR.. and Mrs. Munthe have been
in most of the big cities of the
West, Northwest and the South
west. Mrs. Munthe especially en-
joyed Sante Fe.
DR.. Munthe is giving his report
on American libraries, which he
tells me are highly praised abroad,
in a speech on November "a be-
fore the American Association OF
College Libraries. The following
day he sails for Norway.
knowledge of books and book
making is characteristic of the
Munthe family. DR.. Munthe'S
brother. Axel Munthe, wrote the
much-discussed best seller, "The
Story of San Michele"
AS I have been suggesting, the
gathering at the Norwegian Lega-
tion brought together personalities
remarkable even in jaded Wash
ington.
NV dinner partner was Jonas
Lie, of New York-pronounce 1t
Lee. Mr.. Lie is a Norwegian dis.
tinguished in both his own and
his adopted country.
He is the president of the Ma
tional Academy of Design in New
York. One of his canvases is on
a wall in the White House, pres
ent to his friend, Mr.. Roosevelt.
A view of York Harbor, Maine,
done by the artist, hangs over the
fireplace of the Norwegian Lega-
ton.
who's Who" gives half col.
umn to Mr.. Lies triumphS as an
artist. But he is a carefree, anus
ing person.
I liked the way he talked about
his motherless daughter, Sonia,
whom he calls "Mimsie." MIN
sic" is the information" at the
Waldorf Astoria Hotel. She has
to know at a seconds notice
such bits as where to buy the. best
pearl earrings on Fifth Avenue.
how to get to Grants Tomb, which
shop on Madison Avenue sells
mems shorts with double seams.
how to find the prehistoric ami
} mails at the Metropolitan Museum
what night clubs are genteel, ex,
Continued on Page 81, Col. A.