Evening star., 1940-04-07

WiO AAOW A1ohCo lICI AOAlC ~ tilC -
AS the daughter of an America
the Civil War. Mrs. Preston lived
picturesque and historical periods Of
its history-high lighted by the ILL
fated French attempt to build q
canal across the Isthmus under the
direction of Count de Lesseps, who
had successfully built the Suez
Canal. 1t was dangerous period,
too. when the deadly yellow-jack
still little understood by scientists,
periodically caused fatal epidemics
Of fever.
Although many years have passed,
Mrs. Preston vividly recalls what
she now terms her days under the
nag" in South America.
MY father. James Thorington,
she said, was American Consul to
the United States of Colombia, ap-
pointed to the position by President
Grant"
Il was a little girl when my
mother, my three sisters and joined
my father In Colon, where we lived
for nine years, and where, of course,
I grew up.
Did we have fun? That was
all we did do," she chuckled REM
iniscently. 1T was delightful with
so many exciting things. My
father was great investigator. He
was also a botanist and an astron-
omer and one Of our greatest pleas
ures was to accompany him into
the jungles, which practically grew
up to our doors.
Rare Orchid Brought
To U. s. BY Father.
orchids and passion flowers were
abundant" she explained, but my
father was interested in a rare
species, the 'Espiritu santo,' a lovely
white orchid given its name be-
cause Of a waxy center which looks
like a little white dove. My father
brought the first of its kind to the
United States"
During her fathers tour of duty,
Mrs. Preston said the French engi-
neers arrived in Colon to draw up
plans for the canal across the 18TH
mus.
'I will never forget my excite
ment over the banquet given in
honor Of Count de Lesseps," she re-
called. He was a fine-looking man
of about 10, with white mustache
and a mop of white hair. I was
little girl Of about 13 or IA, with
golden braids, and very much any,
noyed that my mother would not
lengthen my skirts. As soon as De
Lesseps arrived in Colon. banquet
and dance were planned for him.
MY father always permitted us
to go to the large affairs. When
the music started after the dinner,
remember that the ladies were
quite excited over who would be
first to dance with the count. You
can imagine my surprise" she
smiled when he asked me, little
girl, to dance the first waltz. I
was the only one he danced with
that night.
my father greatly admired De
Lessps," she added, "and he was
indignant when, later, the count
was criticized for extravaganza and
mismanagement in Panama. My
father believed the French failure
was because of extravaganza on the
part of De Lessps' assistants"
Oldest Sister Died
From Yellow Fever.
Mrs. Preston, whose oldest sister
died from yellow fever during one
of the fatal epidemics of that time,
declared that while she was fortu-
nate to escape that fatal disease,
neither she nor any of her family
were free from the discomforts of
Chagres fever.
I'VE knew nothing of yellow fever
then" she said, land merely looked
upon it as an epidemic that was
bound to break out at certain times
But every one suffered from
Chagres, and every year my mother
would take me back to the States
to recover from its effects. Quinine
was on the breakfast table Just
like sugar"
! After many years in the southern
country, Mrs. Preston said she and
her family returned to their home
in Des Moines, Iowa, where she later
met the young attorney whom she
married and accompanied to New
Mexico.
Many years later, as a widow, Mrs
Preston. with her only daughter
came to Washington to make her
home. Happy memories of early
years were great source of COM
fort and strength at this time, for
due to an illness Mrs. Preston be-
came blind It was then, she de-
clares, that the resourcefulness in
herited from her father, and the
courage of her maternal grand
father, a native of Vermont and
one of the Minute Men of Revolu-
tionary days, came to her assistance
IT had to find something to do
she explained. II could not permi,
myself to sit in idleness and intro.
spect."
Mrs. Preston told how she learned
to use the typewriter and how soor