Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-07-25
Ios Storted Q Book
Hos Started O Book
Mrs. Leslie Stevens Life
Exciting and Eventful One
Bv Harriet French

By Harriet French
why don't you write book?"
friends ask Mrs. Stevens. Her
husband, Vice Admiral Leslie G.
Stevens, wrote the book, Russian
Assignment, and her son, Leslie
Clark Stevens III. is the author
of the current Broadway play.
Bullfight.
Gas q matter of fact, I've
started q book" admitted the
vivacious Mrs. Stevens. But,
before we begin talking, wouldn't
you like something cool to drink?
Just a chute-chute?" she smiled.
'The Russians" she explained.
''have q word for Just a bit,' or
q 'soupcon' that sounds like
chute chute" For example: A
chute -chute Of rum in cocoa
cola.
This conversation was taking
place in Admiral and Mrs. Ste
venS home on King street. An
napolis, Md. I'VE always wanted
to settle in Annapolis when we
retired, and live In the old his
torical part of town. as near as
possible to the Naval Academy
and Carvel Hall. where we had
so much fun"
But, retired" is not exactly
the word for Admiral and Mrs,
Stevens. The Admiral, who is
also an artist and engineer, as
well as an author. is the presi-
dent of the American Commit
tee for Liberation from Bolshev-
ism, with Offices in New York.
He commutes to his home in
Annapolis for week ends. Mrs,
Stevens has been giving talks
before women's clubs and will
begin a lecture tour in October.
She will be well remembered
here, in Washington, by those
who knew her during the years
she lived at the Westchester
During the war, she was chair
man Of the Red Cross Speakers
Bureau and often made two or
three talks a day. She was also
chairman Of the Radio Com
mittee for the District Red Cross
and head of the Army-Navy
Wonen's Auxiliary.
Surrounded by treasures, gath
cred from England, France,
Bagdad. Egypt. Belgium and
Russia, Mrs. Stevens told some
thing Of her exciting and event.
full life: AS Nellie Milliken, she
grew up in Danville. Ind. Dur
ing the first World War. she
came to Annapolis to visit her
brother, Mai. Gen. John Mil
1iken when he was commandant
of st. Johns College. During her
stay with her brother, Nellie met
Midshipman Stevens. On his
graduation day, in 1918, they
were married.
Coronado was their first post.
While there they were told that
they would be sent to Rome. So
they began to study Italian
That was in 1884. Next, they
were told they would go to Rus
STA with Ambassador Bullitt, Sc
they started studying Russian
They also began to buy the
many things they would need In
Russia. However, for some rea-
son, their orders were changed
and they were sent to London
The Admiral, then Captain. was
Assistant Naval Attache.
No one could have chosen 9
more Disappointing period tc
be In England. During their toul
of duty Of only three year;
(1934-193D. Mrs. Stevens was
presented at the Court Of st
James three different times anC
to three different sovereigns. The
first time was at the Silver Jubi.
lee when she was presented Il
King George v and Queen Mary
She was in London at the time
of the Kings death and wit.
messed the pomp of a royal fun.
leral; she heard the new King
Edward VIII, acclaimed and
later. was presented to him Will,
the Court was in half mourning
she was there at the time o.
King Edwards abdication anc
heard the new King, George v.
heralded in. She was presented
to King George VI and Queer
Elizabeth before leaving Eng
land.
While in London. Admiral anG
Mrs. Stevens desired to have
their young son attend West.
minister Abbey School. But
when they first made applica.
ton, he was not accepted be-
cause he had not had latin
French or algebra. He was II
years old. He was sent to the
Gladstone School to have this
inadequancy corrected, and al
the age of IL he entered West.