The Washington times., 1936-03-24
NOW
Diplomacy Still
Holds SWay
DESPITE UNREST
BY HELEN ESSARY

BY HELEN ESSARY
One of the two national political
publicity chairmen-I won't say
which-remarked wistfully yester
day:
81 could win the campaign If
e weren't for the candidate"
Harry Hopkins, WPA admins
traitor, has been to only one official
dinner in Washington SIM e
Thanksgiving. He ought to frollc
more. He's looking very tired and
he's losing that springy step which
led him blithely into the New Deal
Mrs. Millard F. Tydings is going
to be the hest vote getter Maryland
has had In years.
The international Band plays
Nghtheartedly on in washington.
The drawing rooms OF emoas.
Sies and legations seem untouched
by European discord.
Particularly is the Italian EN-
bassy serene and glowing. Augusta
RUSSO. the Italian Ambassador,
who has great personal popularity
in Washington, has in his EN-
baSsy the poetic and beautiful
setting that italy often creates:
In this American reproduction OF
an old Roman palace, furnished
with treasures of ancient and
medieval Rome, and hung in
crimson and gold brocade, each
guest become unconSciouSly q 70
mantle personality.
The Dutch Legation too, is
vivid. More so now than before
perhaps because of the eager
beauty of Madame de With, wife
Of the Dutch Minister.
In both the italian Embassy and
the Dutch Legation during the
past week, delightful musicales
have been given. Music has no
nationality.
One of the reasons that Wash
ington is such an enchanting place
in which to live is that in official
groups, such as I have been de.
scribing, one may see, for instance,
the French Ambassador, M. de La
boulaye, unselfconsciously friendly
with DR.. Rudolph Leitner, Coun'
selor Of the German Embassy.
At the very moment these two
important diplomats are discussing
the Dutch pianist, Egor Petris'
interpretation of LiSzt, Herr Hitler
may be shouting his determination
tesstay in t. Rhineland.
m the italian Embassy Madame
Peter, wife of the Minister Of
Switzerland (SwitZerland. so they
tell me, would be in the line OF
march between Germany and
France should there be, heaven
forbid, line Of march), is gay
and amusing and apparently IN
troubled by anything, as she
applauds the Italian trio's rendi.
tion Of Brahms.
Into this elegant and suave at
moSphere of Washington diplo-
macy, Ambassador Rosso's pet
Persian cat wandered Sunday
night. Arching her back and wav.
ing her plumed tail, she purred
against the feet of Senators and
diplomats and their pretty ladies,
fingered to be patted and wan
defed out again.
-o.u AFa ito p,1covioh of
Rome, and lately of London, who
is going to exhibit his marvellous
photographs in WASHINGTON the
last Of this week, says the quality
he most likes in America is its
faith. He told me at dinner at
the Italian Embassy:
'YOu believe in yourselves.
You believe in other people.
You believe you can do any
thing. You can, if YOU feel
this way. You see, you have
not been touched by the dis
enchantment that is making
the old countries so unhappy.
''YOu think you have much
to learn from Europe in this
country, madame? All no, that
Is not 50. Why is it that Amer
leans feel they must try to be
like the nations from which
they have sprung? 1t must be
that some day you will realize
your individual greatness and
be new and powerful race Of
people"
Baron Bucovich does not like
New York. He thinks its beauty
is exaggerated and unreal. Even
the feeling that New Yorkers
have for their own city is unreal.
1t is not the affection dwellers in
other cities have for their towns.
He thinks, in fact, that in the
passion Of the lew Yorker for
New York is the hysteria that is
part Of the amazing city.
I am glad that Lew Eiriksson
the romantic viking who discov'
cred America in the year 1000,
came into his own in Statuary
Hall yesterday when his picture
was so grandly presented to the
United States.
Years ago. in school, I had a
passion for Mr.. Eiriksson. Why ]
don't know. He was barely a
paragraph in the first chapter in
American. history.
But he was mysterious and dra-
matte. pictured him sailing out
Of, the deep fjords on across the
endless ocean until he discovered
q beautiful new country. In my
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