Evening star., 1936-07-26


dent society begin to perk up
bit when the word goes
l. around that the Attorney Gen.
eral and Mrs. Cummings are expected
back in town, because 1t is known
that the weather is never too hot Tor
them to send out a hurry call to a
few congenial souls for high tea
or late supper. They have come to be
known in Washington as those delgnt-
full, merry. hospitable Cummingses,
who give ideal alfresco parties, when
delicious iced, jellied chicken with
riouant cold sauce, iced bouillon and
other beverages are served. As for
the latter, there is the kind that is
served in thick, squatty glasses, where
a muddler is needed; and, best Of all,
there are those tall, slender glasses
or silver cups, all frosted, decorated
with that pungent green garden stuff
that tickles ones nose and makes one
feel that life is just one grand, sweet
song!
The Attorney General, with his
keen wit and quick humor, is known
to have made even the auStere,
funereal-garbed justices of the Su-
preme Court smile. 1t was at the
dedication of the new Department of
Justice Building that he drew from
the Sedate judges almost an audible
laugh when he referred to the first
Attorney General, Edmund Jennings
Randolph, as the forgotten man. -
He directed his remarks to President
Roosevelt, who sat at his right in the
front row and who burst into one Of
his merry. contagious laughs when
Mr.. Cummings told how Mr.. Ran
dolph drew the princely salary Of
81, 500 a year with no perquisites and
from which at times he paid for cler-
ical assistance A good deal of water
has flowed under the bridge since Mr..
Randolphs day, for now the Attorney
General gets $4,000 a year.
The Government Has
Become Patio Minded"
The court of the Department of
Justice Building, where the dedica-
tion was held some time ago, is by
the way one of the loveliest of all
the courts or patios which make de-
lightful breathing spaces in many of
the new executive department
buildings. In this court the fountain
plays merrily away on hot days and
the green shrubbery and paintings,
with the brilliantly colored foliage
plants, are an artistic background for
the great arched entrances to the
court. There is Turkish or Eastern
effect about these lofty arches, which
are decorated in lustrouS, colored mo-
saics like the rick-rack edging around
the top of the building overlooking
the court. Blessings be upon the late
Mr.. Cass Gilbert and the Commits
sion of Fine Arts for making the Gov
eminent patio-minded.
Even Omar, the old Persian aStrono-
mer and tent maker, would have found
pleasure and comfort wandering about
in some of these courts at the moon
light hour or doing away at the noon
day in one of the shady corners.
"I'hey say the Lion and the Lizard
keep
The courts where Jamshyd gloried and
drank deep"
Over in the Administration Building
OF the Department of Agriculture,
where Secretary Wallace holds forth,
when in town, there is grande-dame
gorgeous patio. It's really thing OF
beauty and a joy to the tired sight
seer bent on doing the town these hot
days. Lovely, with its softly colored
brick walls with medallions in bas-
relief, emblematic of the seasons and
harvests of the earth, and other grow
ing things, about which Secretary Wal
lace is somewhat agitated just now.
The grouping of palm and date trees,
graceful, waving feathery fonds, min
gle with the brilliantly hued tropical
foliage plants bordering the basin of
the fountain, where few choice lily
pads float on the water.
Leading from the second floor of the
Administration Building and over
hanging the tiled patio are Moorish
looking balconies-most romantic and
1ntriguing-anda arches with panels of
Moorish design, the whole picture
one of freshening beauty. Quite so,
accustomed to the drab Office build
ings of even a few years ago, must
look with some astonishment on all
this artistic beauty.
Where the Secretary of State
Gives Diplomatic Breakfast.
But the jewel of all the Government
patios in Washington, however, Is in
the Pan-American Building, where the
Secretary of State usually gives his
New Year day diplomatic breakfast.
This is an honest-to-go goodness Mexican
or South American variety. Simply
dream, all-inclusive with everything
that patio should have, from gor-
geously plumaged tropical birds to
fussy parrots and bubbling fountains.
The Aztec fountain, which is unique
OF its kind in Washington, was de-
signed by Mrs. Gertrude Vanderbilt
Whitney. She has followed accurately
the Aztec motifs in the design of the
patio. How fine it would be if some
struggling sculptor without means had
some of Mrs. Whitney's creative genius
and the ability to follow it up.
The Pan-American patio and gar
den seem particularly refreshing these
sultry July days. They are never
lovelier, however, than when softly
. lighted for one of DR.. Rowe's delight
full musicales Of South American music,
to which he treats society sometimes
on lovely moon-lit nights. 1t Is then
that the garden to the west of the
building adds its charm. In the gar
n LUNcHEoNs-DINNERs-TEAs a