Evening star., 1939-02-19
South African Legation Marked
By Personality of Nine. Close
Homeland Flowers
In Vases and Bowls
Add to Charm

| ." WV 0uS OVWuS
| Add to Charm
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.
No one obeys the statement of
Ruth of the Bible, whittier thou
goest I will go, where thy lodgest
will lodge and thy people shall
be my people," more faithfully than
the wife of Minister or Ambas-
sador to foreign land. This So
journ may be mere temporary
official domicile in the capital of
another nation. Or, it may have to
do with the establishment of a true
home, rejecting not only the chate-
LANES tastes and personality, but
mirroring as well certain inalienable
characteristics Of the home land.
1t Is this latter phase which Nine.
Ralph w. Close, wife of the Min
lister OF the Union of South Africa
to the United States, has so notably
emphasized here in Washington.
At the new Legation of the Union
OF South Africa, which is located at
31Ol Massachusetts, avenue NV,
almost diagonally across the street
from the British Embassy, whose
numerical designation is 800, one
gets the impression of England as
world power, influencing the des-
tiny OF nations But there is also
the intangible aura of a young and
virile colonial entity, one with the
mother empire, yet having its own
characteristic development.
Individualistic Flowers.
Scattered about everywhere are
attractive bowls and vases of the
individualistic South African flowers
which Nine. Close loves so well,
Almost invariably she features
the colorful South African daisies,
which are now being successfully
cultivated by American growers. In
addition to them are charming and
colorful arrangements of other
South African flowers, berries,
grasses and plants, which have
every appearance of being real and
aren't. They are sent to her from
South Africa after being very care
FULLY preserved by unique process.
10 some extent reminiscent of Mrs
Herbert Hoover's original featuring
OF Callfornia's flowers and vines,
particularly those that resemble the
magenta berries of the pepper trees,
they are not only highly decorative
but OF very great interest to those
who are strangers to them. The
artistic arrangement of flowers is a
strong point with Nine. Close.
Matched Building Details.
Unlike the domiciles of manv
representatives in our midst this
Joint Legation headquarters and
residence of its Minister, was not
fine old Washington residence
taken over and utilized for its pres
ent purposes.
instead, its site was especially
selected and its building erected
Tor its dual usage, and from the
Time the construction work began,
the Minister and Madanme Close
folloWered up every important de-
tail, even to the final choice of the
hangings. the rugs and the furniture.
The result is a harmoniously ideal
one, not only from the standpoint
OF utility and adaptation to the
functions Of a legation which neces-
sarily include much entertainment
formal and informal, but also from
that of pleasing architecture and
interior decorating.
Madame Close carries her head
proudly, has pink and white school
girl complexion. lovely blue eyes
and a touch of British reticence
until you have won her friendship.
She Is. however, one Of the most
truly hospitable and gracious of
Washington's diplomatic hostesses.
Her memory for both names and
faces is an extraordinary one, and
she seldom fails to address a new
acquaintance by her correct name.
Almost invariably the genial Min
lister OF the Union of South Africa
Is present during his wife's after
moons at home during the social
season, their cordiality and interest
in their callers always winning
either a new or continuing interest
in the far away domain which they
represent in the Nations Capital.
Know South Africa.
Both Madame Close and her hus-
band are delightful encyclopedias
OF information about South Africa,
its people and their progress.
Equally great is their interest in
America and its institutions. Amer
lcan inventions and Inexpensive
household gadgets and appliances
in particular claim their attention.
So do dime stores.
The Minister tells an amusing
story of their chauffeur who feels
that their interest in them is not
according to the shopping decorum
that he thinks fitting in persons of
their position. So he stresses the
prevalence of congested traffic
conditions in the localities where
they are located, as an excuse for
not drawing up in front of them
here in Washington.
Not infrequently Madame Close
serves tea in the upper end of the
drawing room near its fireplace,
with Mrs. Willem Naude, wife of
the Attache assisting her, and Mrs.
Naude's husband and Robert Web
ster, popular bachelor Secretary of