Evening star., 1942-08-12
ENJOYS in Exile
Belgian Count Is Experienced
Horsemon and Fisherman
Struten Ponthoz
Finds America q
Wartime Paradise
BY CATHERINE HAMBLEY.

pllmenJ pd1Q us py Smlllng, Dynamic
Comte Robert van der Straten Pom
thoz, Belgian Ambassador to the
United States
You have the tip-top in art, the
best of the Rembrandts and Van
Dykes!" Not only that but para
disc" to the Count, also includes
the view of the Hudson from West
Point, the wonderful orchards of
California, the curious, yellow,
burnt foliage in summer of that
State; Grand Canyon, and Wash
ington with its lush trees and broad
avenues which, to the Ambassador,
is like his native Brussels where he
was born on September H. 1879
and where he later graduated as
doctor in law from Brussels Uni
Versity.
A devout Catholic, he has an even
deeper appreciation for the remains
of the old Spanish civilization in
the West, Santa Barbara and the
ancient converts and churches.
As YOU see, the Ambassador has
missed nothing and he has a keen
appreciation for all the finer things
Of America, especially of the eX-
cellent cooking of New Orleans.
Speaking of Louisiana, the Count
chuckles and twinkles as he recalls
carnival time in that gay place.
Began Career in 1901.
He seems to be such lover OF
life that you wonder how he ever
has managed to restrain himself to
the point of being a dignified dip
lomat. You guess that at 80 he
must have been dashing and roman
tic and fatally charming. Mellowed
now by long and interesting career
which began in 1901, he has the in
tangible air of the European Latin,
and his warmth and enthusiasm
and lively intelligence make him a
delightful companion despite the
fact that the world situation presses
sorely opon him.
When with him, you don't think
so much of drawing rooms or cock
tail parties because he Is too real
and human for that. In truth he
is a sportsman and you rather con-
meet him with country homes and
dogs and action and color.
In fact he is fond of animals and
he has a farm back in his native
land in a wooded section far from
Nazi sentries. Shortly after the in
vasion. his house was invaded by
300 German soldiers. Fortunately
they could not stand their own COM
pany and moved to safer and less
lonely region, oddly enough, leaving
all intact.
He manages for his wife, the for
mer Henriette Devote of Argentina,
her vast estancia, returning there
whenever he gets the opportunity.
They have one son. Charles Albert,
who was wounded during the cam
paign of 1910 in Belgium and who
is now in the Argentine. The Count
rides over the great ranches, sur
veying with a knowing eye the cattle
and agricultural yield. Typically,
he loves the colorful garb Ut the
cowboys and is In his element when
watching a vigorous rpdeo or follow
ing the races as he used to do reg
ularly in a more peaceful era.
Racing Enthusiast.
He rode on the track in Denmark.
In Belgium and England he hunted.
Bv the time he was made Ambassa- =
dor to the United States in 1884,
after being charge d'af1aires in Bue-
nos Aires and holding posts in The
Hague, Copenhagen, Oslo, Bern,
Paris and Madrid, he found our
tracks a little too stiff, but he still
enjoys the rank OF spectator at the
Maryland Gold Cup and Virginia
Hunt Cup races.
In Scotland his sporting instincts
were satisfied by the grouse shoot
ing and salmon fishing. The many
streams of Belgium afforded him
good trout fishing but best OF all
he likes to knock off for three or
four DAYS and fish for king and
other deep-sea fish. His finest catch
on which he is determined to i'm
prove, was a 50-pound marlin. The
war, of course, has clouded all this
and he feels fortunate If he car
take a week end off to go to Middle
burg or Warrenton or to finish of
a few holes of golf at the Burning
Tree Club.
In regard to the future, he looks
philosophically and confidently to-
ward an Allied victory. He has tht
most fervent faith in American pro-
duction and waits patiently for 6
100. per cent transformation from
a peace footing to a war footing
He condemns none for the worlc
tragedy which to him was merely
caused by the earnest desire of de.
cent people to live constructively
rather than destructively. Aftel
the necessary harsh terms are i'm.
posed on the Axis, he eventual,
hopes to see League of Nations
establisherd, based on sounder prin
cipals than the last.