Evening star., 1951-10-07

The Lebanese Minister and Mrs.
Charles A. Malik are having a
month or more to become familiar
with their lovely new legation
before he may have to attend
more United Nations conferences.
The house at 2841 McGill terrace
WAS purchased by the Lebanese
government about a year and a
half ago after the Minister and
Mrs. Malik had been searching for
a suitable house-not only for
their own comfort but in keeping
with their budget-for more than
| four years.
There was considerable work to
be done on the house, which was
built by the late Mrs. James Girls
void WentZ when she came to
make her winter home in Wash
ington. Following her death, the
property was leased and occupied
by members of a mission from
Bulgaria, all of whom went home
early last year.
The house is said to have been
patterned after the home of Mrs.
Wentz overlooking the Mediter-
ranean and the architecture is not
unlike the country homes in the
mountains of Lebanon which over
look that same sea. The wide
glass and iron entrance doors
open into the wide hall where a
small fountain held by marble
figures plays on state occasions
There are two stone chairs which
with the fountain were treasures
of Mrs. Wentz and were sold with
the house.
Budget Limited
| The budget for the furnishing
of the Legation, like Lebanon it
self, was small and the bringing
of furniture. rugs and draperies
from that country of the Middle
East too difficult and unnecessarily
costly. So with the help of Mr.
E. j. Audi of New York, who was
born in the same part of Lebanon
as DR.. Malik, the furniture was
procured.
The large drawing room is
French following the handsome
Aubisson rug, which covers the
floor. The center Of the rug is a
cluster Of flowers in shades of
rose and the border has a back
ground of soft pale green with a
narrower band of maroon which
harmonizes with the roses in the
center. From these colors Mrs
Malik chose the neutral sand
color satin brocade for the wall
covering. two long sofas uphol-
stored in gold color velour and
chairs covered in the beige and
pale greens of the rug. The wood
Of the tables. chairs and sofas is
American walnut. There are four
beautiful crystal chandeliers, one
in each corner of the ceiling,
which hang from silver fixtures
These Mrs. Wentz had installed
when she built the house.
The house is particularly well
suited to a diplomatic mission
where large receptions are a part
Iof their social schedule. Not only
lis the hall wide but there is the
large drawing room with a smaller
one adjoining and having a wide
doorway between. The second
room the Minister and Mrs. Malik
, have made into a music room with
! baby grand piano in one corner
and mahogany furniture. The
, hangings match the Persian rug
:, in deep shades of red. Both the
, drawing room and the music room
, have workable fireplaces. in fact
, the house boasts numerous fire.
Iplaces, all in excellent condition
for fires in the early autumn and
late spring. The woodwork in the
music room is dark oak while the
; drawing room is ivory and over
; the mantel in each room is a
large mirror in narrow gold frame
making each room seem larger.
Native Country Stressed
/ The Lebanese room is of the
music room and here both the
i Minister and Mrs. Malik have
/ tried to stress their own land and
its historic background biz sAding