Evening star., 1937-02-27
Bv CresfOn B. Mullins.


a statesmen Wrangle over
wv equality and non-aggres-
sion pacts, direct contri-
button to international peace is being
made in Washington, on the principle
that real peace will come from under
standing between peoples rather than
understanding between diplomats.
Washington's International Student
House is approaching its first BIRTH
day this Summer with record of dis
tinct achievement as the foundation
for future accomplishment in creating
greater fraternity and sympathy be-
tween the representatives of all the
worlds races who make Washington
their educational Mecca. And, appro-
priately, this work is being spon-
sored by the traditionally peace-loving
Quakers.
The scene of this great service is
1708 New Hampshire avenue, the for
mer residence of Mr.. and Mrs. Victor
Kaufman, on the avenue which,
with its canopy of elms was the favor
, lite street of former Chief Justice Will
familiar to hundreds of Washington's
society members.
The dominant note is distinctly cos
mopolitan. The Nations Capital has
more than so foreign embassies and
legations, besides numerous private
residences of the internationally IA
nous. but few of them blend the quail
tiles Of all peoples so thoroughly in an
international atmosphere as does this
Student House.
LEADERSHIP in the establishment
of the house as taken more than
two years ago by the local Society Of
Friends, whose secretary is Miss Mar
garet E. Jones. In November. 1884,
the Friends Peace Committee invited
foreign students OF all four UNIVERSE
ties Of the Capital-Georgetown
George Washington, Catholic and
American-to Sunday night supper
at the Friends Meeting House on Flor
Ida avenue and Twenty-frst street,
which was erected while President
Hoover was in office, and where he
worshiped. About 100 students
attended.
George Washington University long
has had an international club devoted
to the interests of foreign students
os,d +boca hp,erjcopc S+,Idvipp for work
abroad, either in governmental service
or commerce. The late DR.. w. F.. NotZ,
dean of the Foreirn Service School of
Georgetown University. also had long
agitated for an international student
house, along the lines of those at New
York, Berkeley, Calf, and Chicago,
until his death last year cut short
distinguished career in international
economics 1t was to be expected, then.
that at such meeting the idea of an
international student house should be
mentioned again, but without organi-
cation or resources little could be done
toward this end The students con-
tented themselves for the present with
organizing the Washington Interna-
tional Club and elected Earl SWisher
president, DR.. T. G. Ho vice president,
Miss Naomi Pekmezian recording Sec
retary. Minerva Guysaiko correspond
ing secretary and Katsuro Milo treas
urer
The idea for permanent organiZa-
ton met with ready response from
the Friends, and for the remainder of
the school year, from November, 1884,
through June, 1885. the newly formed
group met monthly at the Friends
Meeting House for Sunday night sup
pers. which the students prepared for
themselves. Mrs. Arthur Hummel, wife
of the director of Orientalia of the
Library of Congress, acted as liaison
between the Friends Peace Committee
and the student group, through her
membership in both groups.
THE success of the first partial year
of existence of the club convinced
its sponsors that it filled a vital need
in Washington student life, and it was
preserved under the auspices of the
Peace Committee. Supper meetings
continued during the school year
1856 at the Meeting House DR. Ho
had been elected president, Miss Pek-
mezian vice president, Miss Marian
Lee recording secretary, Miss Marian
Glaeser corresponding secretary and
Mr.. Milo treasurer, and a definite
program of cultural entertainment was
worked out, subjects varying between
art, music, literature, politics and
economics In January, 1886, the need
of more frequent meetings was felt,
and weekly Sunday informal teas were
instituted as regular part of the
clubs program.
The American Friends Service Com
mittee, whose activities cover a broad
social program here and abroad, is
national organization of Quakers, with
headquarters in Philadelphia. This
committee had been aware of the
work being done here among foreign
students by the Peace Committee and
a 4. ss