Evening star., 1937-11-10


Capital and beyond its midst
Mrs. Harlan Fiske Stone is
= known as the wife of one of
the most erudite of the nine
justices of the United States Supreme
Court, and one of the most gracious
and charming of its off1cial hostesses.
There are those, too, less fortunate
than herself, who have cause to call
her blessed for the constructive and
unselfish leadership which she gives
to the amelioration Of human suffer-
ing and want.
Until recently only a small group
of her intimate friends has been
aware of the fact that for a number
of years an innate love of beauty and
color has been expressing itself in
an increasingly skillful and artistic
way through the medium Of her
water-color paintings. Twenty-four
Of them, all sketches from nature of
Maine scenes or Mexican vistas, have
been selected for exhibition at the
Corcoran Gallery of Art from Novem-
ber 13 through December S.
Painting with Mrs. Stone is an
avocation to which, without previous
training except for a schoolgirls in
terest in the subject, she turned for
absorption after the Stones younger
son Lauson went away to college.
Feared Too Much Leisure.
Modestly she tells you: I'VE were
fIn,, Itt,;,, ,,,
not SO occupied with civic interests
as am here. and I turned to it be-
cause I thought I was going to have
too much leisure"
With an amused twinkle in her
eyes she adds: "As if that were really
possible any more"
Mrs. Stone is very modest about her
work, just as she is about all Of her
other endeavors, conflning comment
about her painting simply to the re-
mark, Il like doing it, just for the
doing's sake"
A morning glimpse of the drawing
room in the Washington residence Of
Justice and Mrs. Stone, where her
famous Monday or Judiciary day at
homes are held. gives you the answer
as to why her water coIors are so
satisfying. She is only expressing,
through them, the sure color sense
which has guided her home making.
Through southern windows the fall
sunlight streams in upon soft, cream
colored walls hung with oil paintings
and etchings whose warm tones give
out their own richness and beauty
Its CLEANS illumine, too. in a sort of
ecstasy of color, the shining facets
of antique blue and white vases on
either side of a grand piano with q
portfolio of music upon it, opened at
favorite selection.
Mrs. Stone has always continued
with her music, although as she re-
marks with characteristic humor,
Perhaps no one enjoys my playing
but myself" Her intimate friends say
Mrs. Stones playing has that satis-
faction which comes from hearing
some one sit down at piano and
render much-loved selection with
discriminating understanding, just as
you and I might choose to read aloud
paragraph of verse here and there
from favorite authors"
Quite apart from their individual
attainments, the Stones have long
been famous as one of the Capitals
most companionable couples.
Justice and Mrs. Stone are both
fond of music and the theater, just
as they share an appreciation of GER
tain forms Of art and a love Of read
ing. Mrs. Stone is fond Of reading
aloud, and often does so for her hus-
bands benefit, their choice of subject
matter covering q wide and catholic
range
Sons Named for Forebears.
The photographs on view in their
home, are chiefly those of their two
sons and five grandchildren. Both
sons have as their surnames, family
names on Justice Stones side of the
| family. Marshall H., the older son, Is
professor of mathematics at Harvard
| University. Lauson H. has followed in
his fathers footsteps, and is a men,
ber of the legal profession in New
York City.
From the very beginning water
color has been Mrs. Stones favorite
medium. There was time, though,
when she experimental with series
and black and white sketches, largely,
perhaps, because of the joint inter-
est which she and her husband have
in etching. These they have COL
loptad from tir,on tn TINA with poro
and discrimination. In their home
today at 2340 Wyoming avenue NV
dignified old grandfather clock
looks benignly down upon the fasci-
mating display of these etchings
which grace the wall of the stairway
leading to the upper floor.
Paints During Vacations.
The only time that Mrs. Stone now
| indulges her love of painting is dur