The Washington times., 1937-04-23
NOW
IckeS KinfOlk
Everywhere
GUFFEY LEARNS
By HELEN ESSARY

for some time that many Pennsyl-
vania visitors say when calling on
him at the Capitol:
"YOu see, Senator, Pm not
only interested in you. I've got
kin folks in Washington at the
top of the Administration. Why,
I'm a cousin of Secretary IckeS.
THAT so? Fine man, Gckes,
Senator Joe answers politely
over and over again.
Finally the other day, Senator
Guffey mentioned this deluge OF
1ckes kinfolks to the Secretary
Of the Interior himself.
II tell you, Mr.. Secretary"
he said, "they keep coming in
from four counties and they
all say they're your cousin"
maybe they are" said Mr..
Ickes, 81 was born in Franks
town, Pennsylvania. My grand.
father had ~ children, IL by
the first wife and IL by the Sec
Ond. I'm likely to be related to
the whole State 18th a family
like that"
George Washington and DR..
Cloyd Heck Marvin, President OF
George Washington University,
are going to be honored on the
same day. April 80 is the ami
versary of George WaShington'S
first inaugural as the President
of the United States. On that
day the trustees, faculty, alum
nj and friends Of the University
named for him are giving din
ner honorinc Dr.. Marvin'S tenth
year as University head.
DR.. Marvin has been an up-ano-
coming professor. He has bead
titled old grounds of the Univer-
sity. Turned famous nearby
mansions into class rooms. And
acquired shiny, modern buildings
that still harmonic" with the
University traditions. G. W.,
whose charter goes back to 1921,
received many contribution
from President John Quincy
Adams. -.
Mrs, Nellie Tayloe Ross, Direc-
tor of the Mint, pretends she Is
cross because wrote that she
spent 1-or WeekendS in overals
painting the outside . her about
to-be-restored Southern Mary
land manor. Mrs. Ross says she
doesn't wear overallS and she
doesn't paint houses 4 DON'T
know about the overalls but I do
know she is fibbing about the
house,, She says she'd rather
I had spoken Of her pleasure IN
sewing a fine seam. When her
husband was Governor OF Wyo-
ming and her children were
young she won prizes for rolling
and whipping hens, for tlne
demonstrating and other mGri-
cate needle work.
I have discovered. however, one
legitimate lady house-pa1nter IN
official life. Mrs. Joseph T. Rob
inson, wife of the Democratic
Floor Leader, often paints the
ratings and trim Of the porch OF
their house down in Arkansas.
The chic becomingness Of Mrs.
Cordell Hull's hats Git turns other
women rusty brown with envy) Is
usually the result of that final
touch Mrs. Hull gives to her
clothes, Nine. De Laboulaye, wife
of the former French Ambassador,
said it was this trick Of making
clothes ones own,' that won 1or
French women their reputation
for smart dressing.
A little off the main highways
In Maryland and Virginia are
some choice estates. Montpelier,
the old Snowden homestead near
Laurel, is a joy to those who ap-
preciate beauty and antiquity.
The former Ambassador to Italy
and Mrs. Breckenridge Long have
revived the old houses charms
and added beautiful details OF
their own planning.
The Italian Ambassador and
Donna Mathilde Suvich, who were
at Montpelier for lunch recently,
were enchanted with the sculpture
and paintings brought from Rome
and fitted adroitly into the Geor-
gian setting. Mrs. Long is pas
Sionate collector. Her glassware Is
about the finest in any house in
this country. She is also genius
of a housekeeper, and her crystal
and mahogany sparkle and glow.
The gardens at Montpelier are
very lovely. DaffodilS are now
popping up under old oaks and in
golden sheets of color along the
driveways. The lockwood hedges
when I saw them were pungent
with that spicy, elusive scent.
Former Ambassador and Mrs.
Long will open their house early
in May for the restoration fund Of
Stratford. the Lee mansion in
Westmoreland county, Virginia.
This Government is a sweet,
grandmotherly old soul after all.
It sharply whackS the taxpayer
behind the ear every other Thurs
day. But between times it strives
to please and keeps the old family
cookie jar full of sweet surprises.
Particularly is the Agricultural
Department trying to do the best
it can. Just now its experts are
working like slaves trying to pro-
duce q watermelon that will fit
the average icebox.
Enormous melons are nice at
county fairs but they are "un-
suited for consumers who can't
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