Evening star., 1936-12-20

In1oIrnAIlVe, IL Is supposed u Cdhc oh'
the tone of a drawing room CONVEX
sazone instead Of the lecture type.
The Ladies Of the League
Are Up and Coming.
II any one should hint that the
League OF Republican Women in
Washington has sung its swan song
since the defeat in November, just
let him happen in at one of their
afternoon teas or luncheons and he
will be inoculated-if not with their
political doctrine-with their enthusi-
asm and craftsmanship in their hour
Of defeat. Preparedness for 1910 is
their slogan, and their watch word.
I'VE can take it"-but Just wait. In
the meantime that charming president
of the league. Mrs. William Fitch
Kelley, assisted by Mrs. S. Wallace
Dempsey, Baroness Won Below. Miss
Daisy Prentice and the lovely-looking
Mrs. Frank Mondell-who is some
times taken for her own daughter. are
arranging study hours and all sorts
of interesting parties. Representa-
tive Ham Fish, Senator Vandenberg.
Senator Charles McNary-one of the
Beau Brummels of the Upper HOUSE
and others should drop in oftener
for bit Of cheer.
Mr.. Close Compares Oxcart
To Pioneer Schooners.
Mr.. Close has a very happy way Of
making apt comparisons, therefore IN
speaking of the opening up of the
provence of Cape Good Hope, in which
is located his native city. Cape Town,
one of the two capitals of the Union,
he compared the trek-which seems
to be a South African word-of the
oxcarts in the pioneer days Of the
cape, to the prairie schooners here In
their trek across the great Western
plains. He spoke of the direct in
fuence and part the oxcart played
Life of South Africa. and called atten-
ton to its quartering on the shield
or arms of his country. He described
In an amusing way the picturesque
trains of thousands Of these carts
winding in and out through almost
Inaccessible mountain passes, and the
unique scene in towns and villages OF
the colony, when hundreds of them
bring their owners and their families
to some religious or social meeting.
No streamline cars with luxurious
trailers, but the big six-wheel carts
are used as travelling hotels for the
entire family. The Minister said there
were q hundred thousand oxcarts in
the Union and that each one was
drawn by 8 to Is to "a oxen, and to
illustrate the indomitable spirit of his
people, he said, when that number
Of oxen was not suficient to negotiate
an almost tnsurmountable rocky pas
sage the men and women got out and
helped by pushing. When asked about
the trafic problem and parking nuis-
ance in South Africa. with merry
laugh the Minister said each individ-
ual managed his own difficulty. The
number of airplanes there is small
when compared to the carts. The
railroads are narrow-gauge roads.
President Roosevelt Always Reads
Dickens "Christmas Carol"
President Roosevelt has been much
saddened by the death of his faithful
guard and attendant, the late Gus
Gennerich, but both he and Mrs.
Roosevelt seem to have put personal
feelings aside and are going to make
q jolly Christmas for the younger
members of the family. So next
Thursday, Christmas eve, the Presi-
dents grandchildren, Anna Eleanor
and Curtis Dali, children of Mrs. John
Soetteger; little Sarah and baby Kate
she is making her debut at the
party-children Of the James Roose-
velts, and the children OF Mr.. and
Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt will gather in
the family sitting room on the second
moor of the mansion to listen to
Grandfather Roosevelt read Dickens
christmas Carol" Owing to the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt having to at
tend the lighting ceremony of the
municipal Christmas tree, the reading