Evening star., 1937-06-06
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS

ollly dlUtT d lOIIllIlS SESllI Win LII
tie Borah," as Mrs. Borah has beel
affectionately dubbed by her init
mates, that one realizes the hom
which she has created for that dyna
mic personality is no mere accident
Rather, she has deliberately, with
true home makers blending OF charm
beauty and utility, created an abod
from which her husband may strid
forth to the days challenge, refreshed
in mind and spirit.
There, against background O
exquisitely combined Chinese an,
Japanese treasures, such as are t.
be found perhaps in no other hom
In the Capital, is that restfulnes
which has about it something of al
oriental philosophers calm
Undoubtedly, Mrs. Borah's favorit
animal is the elephant, for there ar
elephants of all kinds every where
sent by friends from all over tn
world. Graduated sizes of the beast
lead a sort of procession over tn
entrance hall ledge, especially de
signed to hold them, and she fondl,
describes as her parrot fever" ele
plants those sent her as symbols O
good luck to aid her in her desperate
fight back to health, from that Otter
fatal malady.
One Of her choicest bronze ele
plants, Mrs. Borah admits, was sen
on to her from the last Democrati
Convention by one of its 'impuden
members, whose sense OF humor," sh,
said II didn't wholly appreciate a
the time" The newest one, a larg
fellow, OF gray porcelain in soft tones
was on the sun porch, as were Mrs
Borah's canaries, in what she termed
our apartment garden setting" Evi
dently once treasured garden orna
ment, Mrs. Borah had flttingly mad
the pachyderm burden bearer Of
great cluster OF peonies.
Fine Sense of Color Noted.
Had Mrs. Borah's sense of fitnes
and OF color blending been less deli
cately haromnized, their home a
3l0l Connecticut avenue might have
been merely an exhibit OF well-nigl
priceless Chinese and Japanese treas
ures,' many of which rate museum
recognition. Each has a history, dis
tinctly its own, with often a threa,
OF friendship interviewer with its &C
qulsltion to add immeasurably to it
interest and its associations.
Like many another collector, Mrs
Borah has followed the lure Of
find" from coast to coast. Tn
choice coppery red Chinese brocad
on the drawing room couch wa
tracked down" in Oregon one Sum
mer long ago
Rare old chests, some of them Ko
rean, with inlaid brass butterflies
others with inset patterns OF mothe
OF pearl, telling fascinating stories O
Oriental life and customs. Their bras
handles, fascinating sliding inne1
drawers and intricate locks are mos
intriguing.
There also are rare old Chimes
paintings done on scrolls and on woot
whose colors have aged with a melloy
charm that is exquisitely lovely.
OF tremendous interest, too, ar
the Borah's screens, some Of then
almost ceiling high, many inlaid will
Chinese figures, depicting custom
whose origins 80 back to the mists O
antiquity.
Heavy Temple Chairs.
Temple chairs, so heavy that 1t /
beyond ones strength to lift them
have stability and permanency, a.
we'll as great comfort and beauty O
lines, as has a teakwood table, O,
which sits covered bowl Of robin,
egg blue, with Chinese figures en-
circling it as If they were comm,
alive from some magic potters wheel
A tear bottle of soft colors, glow fortt
like imprisoned jewels.
A grand piano with a violin on I,
brings one back from the lure O,
objects of art to ask DO you play
Mrs. Borah?"
Yes, you would say so suppose y
she replied" In the words Of Shakes.
peare. I do many things indifferently
we'll. For a long time my dea,
mother fondly supposed that she wa.
going to make an artist Of me-" II
there needed to be an answer as te
how Mrs. Borah has managed te
blend the furnishings Of today with
those from the dim marches of time
in China and Japan, it Is in Mrs
Borah's own artistic soul. With thu
artistic, too, is genius for order
and routine, for not a neck of dus,
challenges the perfection OF her house.
keeping.
The violin was made for Mrs
Borah by a shell-shocked war veteran
IN st. Elizabeth's Hospital, to ale.
Walton of whose problems she devoted
many hours. During a visit the tele.
phone rings not once but severa,
times with queries from "her boys
wanting this small favor or that. Al
ways there IS sweetness and calm and
interest, even when the answer mus,
sometimes necessarily be II am sorry,
Joe, that want be possible this time
perhaps we can find way anothe,
day.
Perhaps 1t Is the complete ab.
sorption Of her own life and Gift,
In those of others that is the rea
reason Mrs, Borah's book of Wash.
ington "reminiscences, which she ad.
mit several publishing houses ar,
urging her to write, doesn't get O,
its way.
Display Of Old Porcelains.
The dining room contains q breath
taking display Of old Chinese silve
and porcelain, much Of it enscribe.
with ancient hieroglyphics. Mrs
Borah says her favorite piece Is
quaint silver dish in the shape Of
turtle, whose eyes are inset Will
emeralds and whose handles are fash,
ioned Of jade.