Evening star., 1939-05-07

V1Ull Il1D OOpPCA, AAAiA6 NodS
walking stick and spats put up fol
the present on the shelf, the new
chairman of the Red Cross with
his ruddy face and white hair
closely-knit figure, remind one OF
an English hunting squire. Still
just past the prime of life, Mr.. Davis
who has been for years a familiar
figure in the foreign Offices, embas-
sizes and chancelleries of Europe, has
kept his Tennessee drawl, his
straightforward way Of expressing
himself and that natural charm of
manner so much more pleasing than
what is known as the air diplo-
matique. When it has come to
serving his country abroad, Mr..
Davis has known no politics. Presi-
dent Hoover appointed him a dele
gate to the Disarmament Confer
ence in Geneva and when President
Roosevelt came in he appointed him
chairman of the American dis
armament delegation with the rank
of ambassador at large held by him
for the past six years.
Walked and Talked
With Kings.
We know that he knows that we
know that he knows that he is SIM
ply delighted over the prospective
visit of King George and Queen Eliz-
abeth. but Mr.. Davis thought it not
compatible with his present position
to express himself at length on the
subject. That the present King as
well as his father, George ", had
deep regard for Mr.. Davis. Is well
known. When he represented his
Government as special Ambassador
at the ceremonies attending the
funeral of the late King George, he
was signally honored by Edward
VIII, his brother, the Duke of York
now George Wand the two
younger brothers, the Dukes of Glou-
cester and Kent.
When the distinguished statesmen
of the different nations and what is
left Of the crowned heads of Europe,
who were special representatives at
the funeral, were assembled in audi
ence at the palace to be received by
Edward and his brothers. in quickly
making the rounds of the audience
chamber, not only Edward, but his
three brothers, as well, stopped
shook hands with Mr.. Davis, and
each one exchanged a few words
with him.
Mr.. Davis thinks the Red Cross
will have as much to do with draw
ing the nations of the earth together
in peace and amity as the most pow
erful and potent peace conference
For years he has gone to so many in
ternational conferences that he has
almost met himself coming back
We do not know the inner workings
Of the Red Cross, but peace seems to
reign supreme in the building and in
the Office of the chairman with its
desk piled with work one must be
able to forget at least, momentarily
the troubled world outside.
We missed the Sir Joshua Rey-
nolds, the lovely portrait of Lady
Doubleday of Devonshire done by
the great artist and friend of DR.
Samuel johnson, which in the time
of the Craftsmanship of the late
Judge John Barton Payne, hung Wis
avis to his desk. Richmond Mu-
scum now has that bewitching face
but when one enters the Office the
romance of the fair lady and Sir
Joshua, comes to mind, and DR..
Johnson's visit with the painter to
the charmer down in Devonshire.
Many Other Decorations
Have Been Replaced.
The many cartoons, etchings,
paintings and engravings which
adorned the walls of the chairman's s
office during the regime of Judge
Payne, were replaced by Admiral
Cary Grayson, his successor as
chairman, with pictures of the
famous race horses of the world,
for the admiral was a horse lover
of the rarest vintage and raced his
own stable. The walls of Mr.. Davis
Office are now austere in their sim
plicity and he has given the place
of honor over his mantle to the
flag with its three stars sent to
him from the Children's Red Cross
of Memphis, Tenn. So its come on
Tennessee, you are almost as fine
as Kentucky.
With the United States becoming
rapidly royalized, with crown princes
and princesses, ladies in waiting,
gentlemen of the bedchamber and
Scotland Yard men at every turn
hobnobbing in the most democratic
manner, even to eating hot dogs
with lucious yellow Hyde Park but
ter dripping down the royal fingers
which some day will hold orbs and
scepters, we must greet the special
Ambassador to Canada and Mrs
Roper, who are totdo the honors for
the States when King George and
Queen Elizabeth arrive at Ottawa.
Mrs. Roper met Queen Elizabeth
at garden party at Buckingham
Palace last summer. She said she
found the Queen most charming
and seemingly taking great pleas
ure in meeting the guests. She
found the Queen mother beautiful
and gracious and the two princesses
Elizabeth and Margaret Rose in
their gray frocks, white hats, white
shoes and socks curtsying as If
they enjoyed it all. She had met
Edward VIII. during his short reign
AS Mrs. Roper saw the British royal
family on several occasions, it would
be very difficult for her to think OF
the royal guests as other than de-
lightful, wellbred. charming visi-
tors.
! Mrs. Roper has much Scottish