Evening star., 1938-01-20
BY PAULINE FREDERICK.


In friendly house on a sunny
knoll in Northwest Washington there
lives . woman who has watched
much Of Washington's official life of
tho last three decades flow through
her drawing room.
She Is Mrs. Daniel c. Roper, wife
Of the Secretary of Commerce, an
-old-fashioned, friendly person." as
she would put it, and one whose
brown eyes smile a lot while she talks
to you.
Sitting among the warm colors of
her living room opposite a lazy fire,
Mrs. Roper was asked what she meant
by "old-fashioned" in these days.
I'm not a severe critic of today"
she started. But I recognize that
the personality to the day is not the
same as that in which I was brought
up. happen to like that better.
But I recognize changes that are 60
ing on and appreciate values of the
present day. I am not pessimistic
about the outcome"
And when you know that much
about the philosophy OF this official
hostess, who candidly admits that
maybe her hair dress doesn't con-
form to these modern times" and
that she IS short on lipsticks," you
are able to construct in general out
limo the type of career which she has
marked out for herself.
Naturally her first interest has been
IN her husband and his career. But
IN sharing his work she hews closely
to the distaff side, leaving politics
and its ramif1cations to Others Then
there has been her family of seven,
her household cares and her garden
1t Is easy to read in Mrs. Roper's
comments what her chief delight is
today. 1t Is to bring one fine, old
tradition OF yesterday to the fore
the attempt Of this daughter of the
old South to bring the hospitality for
which 1t is famous to the dinners,
teas and receptions which she plans
Is a cabinet wife
Her reputation in this field, per-
haps, Is what Mrs. Roper cherishes
most.
Some people think I am behind
the times in my Interpretation of
careers for women" Mrs. Roper de-
elared, "but think that women who
marry have careers as much as those
who don't marry.
Il think it is a worthy cause to
nave contributed to the preparation
Tor life, as have done, of the seven
men and women who honor me by
calling me mother Are not these
good citizens fully as useful living
books as seven novels? Is it not as
much an art to have produced these
good citizens as to have spent my
time in painting seven pictures of
individuals or scenes?"
Among the children is a. daughter
who apparently does not share her
mothers views on careers. She is
an expert with the United States
Tariff Commission.
Here IS bit of information which
she conf1ded, and which takes on
added interest in view of her ideas
about careers: If she were forced to,
she would be prepared to go out into
the world and make a living for her
self. And this is how she would
do it:
Il would first seek some educational
connection" she said, where I could
teach mathematics or instruct in
home making or interior decorating.
Failing to make these connections,
I would take up real estate and land
ecape and flower-garden supervision"
But such a necessity appears to be
In the realm of the highly unlikely.
More immediate is the social season,
and that is where Mrs. Ropers real
talent is evident. If you consult one
OF Washington's expert caterers, he
will tell you that dinner planned by
Mrs. Roper is "symphony"-she
knows foods and wines and plans her
menus with skill.
Mrs. Roper was born on the North