Evening star., 1936-09-27
About Well-KnOWn Folk
In Books, Art, Politics
Mrs. Roosevelt Contributes Personal Super
vision to White House Hospitality Euro
pean Rulers Peculiarly Superstitious.
BY ROBERT CRAWFORD.


vt Is reported that Mrs. Roosevelt
/ was immensely disappointed that
she was prevented by illness from
L attending the meeting of the
Mobilization for Human Needs, which
was held at the White House on the
seventeenth of the month. It was some
thing to which she had especially
looked forward, IS the program was
to be one of more than usual interest
to her. Notwithstanding q nasty cold
she came down from Hyde Park the
day before the meeting to get the
large east room Of the mansion in
order-a job she personally superin-
tends, exercising that care and
thoughtfulness which she customarily
does for the comfort Of visitors or
guests to the Presidents house. She
chooses the flowers and decorations
for both public and private entertain
ments, and If 1t Is q meeting sees to
the arrangement of the seating and
the comfort OF the speakers.
As chatelaine of the White House,
Mrs. Roosevelt has been unique in
giving a rare personal atmosphere to
even State entertainments. This at
mosphere seems to take away all per-
functoriness and puts in its stead the
certain charm and feeling Of private
home She seems to create the i'm
preston that while it is the onacial
residence Of the President Of the
United States, it Is in fact the peo-
pies house, and she has opened the
doors more widely to the people than
any former occupant. From her
Southern paternal grandmother, who
was a member Of the old aristocracy
Of Georgia, she must have inherited
much of her hospitable way Of want
ing always to offer some little refresh
ment to visitors. Those who have been
house guests at the mansion say she
Is a perfect wizard in finding out all
their foibles, likes and dislikes. Like
a perfect hostess she makes them
comfortable, has the program for the
day put in their rooms and goes about
her personal affairs.
The Taft Boys Belle
the Old Adage.
Charlie Taft, member of the Repub-
lican Strategy Committee for Gov.
Landon Of Kansas, came back to the
White House for the welfare meeting.
1t was all very familiar to him and
he doubtless recalled a few times
when he had to practice little per-
sonal strategy when father put his
foot down. The Taft boys are up
and coming and have belied the old
adage that the sons Of great men
never amount to anything, for both
Robert and Charles have made their
lives worthwhile and are an honor to
their distinguished father In their
service to the State.
Charles was always more fun-loving
than Robert, but when the time came
for him to do his part for the good
of his fellow man he stepped right
out. He must have a good deal Of the
fairness and judicial mind Of his
father. In the first chapter Of his
book published this year. "You and L
and Roosevelt" he says: Il shall
probably vote against Mr.. Roosevelt.
But when I was recently invited to
give q Lincoln's birthday address in q
neighboring city, and explained brief
ly my political views, the invitation
was withdrawn They wanted some
one who would damn F. D. r. and all
his works, ] can't and won't, and
some of the Republican orators and
candidates who do. give me an acute
pain in the neck. A school mate Of
Charles at the Force School in Wash
ington, on reading the above, said 1t
sounded just like him. He was always
fair and able to see the other side but
when he made up his mind-that was
that.
Spain's Tragic Queen
Now In America.
OF the three European queens to
visit the United States, Marie of Ru-
mania, Victoria Eugenia Of Spain and
Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, only the
latter was . reigning queen at the
time of her visit. The presence here
at this time of the dethroned queen
Of Spain, Is due to the serious illness
Of her son the Count Cavadonga, and
her desire to help nurse him. Spain's
former beautiful queen has been
treated with every consideration and
respect for her privacy since coming
to this country. by both the press and
the public. Those in her encourage
say she has been very much affected
by the kindness and sympathy that
have been shown her on all sides.
Born Princess Ena of Battenberg,
daughter Of Beatrice, the late Queen
Victoria's youngest daughter, and thus
a granddaughter of England's beloved
ruler, her life since ascending the
Spanish throne as consort of the for
mer King Alfonso. has been that Of
the deepest tragedy, beginning with