The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current, December 25, 1921, SECTION SIX, Image 52

The Sunday Oregonian., December 25, 1921, SECTION SIX, Page 4, Image 52

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 25, 1921)

Prev Page of 64 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (4.6 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 64 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page Textr 4 TITE SUyPAOREGOXIAy. PORTLAND, DECEMBER 25, 1921 INTIMATE PICTURE OF COSY HOME LIFE AT WHITE HOUSE GIVEN BY OLD FAMILY FRIEND Kate Marcia Forbes Describes Delightful Visit to President and Mrs. Harding During Dinner Party First . Lady of Land Declared to Be Brilliant Conversationalist. r-i I'M,' :rr- l it l ! j r..-;t u.sft a" k f ? - ; : .,, (ts . ... A . -?.J r mi iiiiit i.i ii i in i n. .hi H ii inn . " ' IViite Hou.se (?jee.n. JZoom JLhs!jfjjc?j22ys J&-y-o2i2e p V ft;., . ' J i -i"- ; lift ? V " i.l What sort of life do yoa suppose they really live at the White House? Cold, formal and inhumanly dignified? Absolutely nothing of the sort. President and Mrs. Harding delight being called "just home folks" and today in this intimate first-hand picture of their family circle Mrs. Kate Marcia Forbes, a close friend of the "first lady of the land," reveals such human traits as: The "White House mistress" giving their dog "Laddie Boy" a taste of food now and then on the sly under the table. The nation's chief executive rolling a ball and romping around with a six-year-old youngster. Mrs. Harding's needle work and skill at swapping cooking recipes. Never before has the home life of the White House been revealed in such a delight fully intimate fashion. Mrs. Forbes who was an old friend of Mrs. Harding back in the days when the Hardings were visiting Hawaii and who is still intimate with her gives such a complete picture of the presidential home life that it's just as if yoa were Mrs. Hard ing's own guest.. She has written this fascinating close-up especially for readers of this newspaper. Other exclusive articles will follow from week to week. BY KATE MARCIA FORBES. f-TO DIX12 Informally at the White 1 House! How exciting, . even though la your particular case. It tut takes you again to the dinner table of old friends. What does one do? What does one talk about? What doea cne wear? What eee, and hear? The pleasure Ls given to compara tively few. The etlquetta of the oc casion is most simple. Guests enter the White House through the pillared portico of the north entrance. Leaving wraps down stairs, they are escorted upstairs to the private drawing room. Such a comfortable, cheerful, cosy, homey room. Not ostentatious, not cold, se vere, planned or decorated In "period" atyle, bui reflecting the personalities of those two who Intimately use it. i Red velvet upholstery on chairs, divans, davenports. Perhaps the president and Mrs. Harding are already seated there when you are announced. If not, they greet you In a moment or so, Just as you meet and greet an old friend, with the same unaffected cor diality. Except that you know you are in the White House,' there ls no affectation, no hint of anything dif ferent from "home" elsewhere, be It theirs or yours. 1nddie Boy Rushes In. Dinner is announced. If there are children present (and there frequently are), they probably go down stairs clinging to tie president's hands. To please them, ho sends for Laddie Boy, who rushes in, boisterous and happy. Laddie Boy begs for surreptitious helpings and gobbles your fingers just like your own pet dog does at home. Across the table, the only person who can address the president with perfect Impunity says, "Warren, leave that dog alone. Laddie, come here." Such rueful countenances! Mr. President's expresses "there, caught at it again." and Laddie subsides by Mrs. Harding's chair. In about five minutes Laddie barks gratefully, having received a tid-bit under cover, from a, feminine band! Then every body laughs, it's Just a "horse of an other color." The prlv.tae dining room is on the first floor. A high ceilinged room from whose long windows hang to the floor drawn curtains of rich, deep red velvet. The room Is flanked with buffets and side tables, upon whose polished tops one glimpsed shining silver. A red velvet rug covers the floor. The base carvings on tables, buffets and cabinets all through the White House, whether used for private or state purposes, are of the American Eagle, often life size, with spread wings. The center of the dining room is occupied by a large, round table. Gen erally the only decoration is a silver basket containing roses, shaded can dles in silver holders gracing each side. Old Diahea Are Kept. It had been the custom for many administrations that the ' incoming "first lady" should order a new set of dishes. It was expected Mrs. Harding would follow precedent in this mat ter. "Nonsense," she is reported to have said, "these aishes are good enough for anyone." And they are. Wonderful In quality, plain in design. Pure white china edged in gold, with the American eagle coat of arms on each piece. The same design marks each piece of table silver, also. Dinner Is simple, and simply served. The menu is usually confined to five or six courses. There are no wines or liquors. If It's a birthday party, or a little private gala occasion, sometimes the service plates of silver are used. Ordinarily they are not. The president Is served first, then Mrs. Harding, then the lady seated at the president's right, according to the usual custom. The conversation is apt to turn on personal reminiscences, or how deli cious the fresh vegetables were, just pulled from the home garden. Right here is a good chance to say that both the president and Mrs. Harding pos sess moral courage in the nth degree. With a fine disregard of conse quences, they have openly stated they "Just adore green onions," which is lnderivood 9 a fine old American habit, like baked beans and corn on the cob. The president likes strawberry shortcake, too. My insistence that he one time be served with it almost lost me my cook. "Thereby hangs a tale," as you must surmise. Some years ago while then Senator-elect Har ding, accompanied by Mrs. Harding, Dr. and Mrs. Sawyer, were visiting in Honolulu, I ordered this delectable American dessert. Knowing that Mr Harding like It the old-fashioned way, made of a rich biscuit dough and heavy with thick 'cream, I so in structed the cook. I shall .never for get his expression, nor my loss of prestige in his estimation. "More better I make feather cake, Missie." he said to me. "No, Kiyo. you make all same like Missie tell you." He boWed: and I left the kitchen. In about half an hour he appeared before me again. "Missie, I speak you." he deprecatingly said. He squirmed and fidgeted, and at last said. "Missie, me no make your kind cake. Me make my kind. Me shamed make your kind. That cheap cake, me make rich man's cake." And he had done it. too. Well, we had it of biscuit dough, and I made it myself, but it left me in a half apologetic condition with that oriental, as he never could quite get the idea that we preferred it that way. On the other hand, table talk may turn on state affairs of great mo ment. This little time of compara tive freedom and privacy oft gets the president close to a topic of vital na tional interest, depending on who may be the guests. Naturally, both President and Mrs Harding receive many gifts of eat ables. Such gifts are usually the "last word" In culinary skill. The biggest, yellowest, most wonderful and delicious pound cake I ever saw or tasted, was one night served at dinner there, accompanied by baked custard for desser.CXhe cake came from an admiring friend, "down in Virginny." Following dinner, everyone returns upstairs. Conversation Is the enter tainment of the evening. Mrs. Harding is a charming hos tess. She has that happy faculty of putting everyone at ease. She is an 1 able talker. She Is a wonderful 11s- tener, which is said to be a still more : rare gift. It was related of Caesar that he could dictate to ten persons at once. Sometimes I am Impressed with the I idea that Mrs. Harding can listen to ten persons at once. She ls so keen j that without being in the least in i attentive she yet seemB to never miss ( a thing that Is being said, some times with an "I beg your pardon, she will interject a remark or ask a question that covers every salient point in a conversation among guests almost out of earshot. In an instant again, she is the animated speaker or the attentive listener in the group with herself. Some accomprishment, this. Try it once, when you are out spending the evening. Variety of Topics Dlseuaaed. What does one talk about? Mrs. Harding is qualified to discuss every question that Interests feminine hearts. She has had too busy, full and active a life to be especially taken up with "mile-a-mlnute ' tat- i ting, or the like. But she knows and i enjoys "fancy work," fine needle work. She can trade recipes with ' vou. She can talk to you on how to raise a youngster, the latest or best plays, art. She has had a splendid musical education. Like the president, Mrs. Harding claims she is not a good raconteur; but the two of them can relate and heartily enjoy a good story. Nat urally, they have many peculiar expe riences, humorous as well as serious. No one is going to "impose" on Irs. Harding. That Is. not more than once, anj'way. Which is quite In keeping with our good American spirit. What does one wear? Mrs. Harding Is simply, but beautifully gowned, generally in a semi-decollete dress. She wears colors well. Whether in a simple white satin, embroidered with a sprig of wheat heads is gold thread, with white hose and slippers, or in black lace, arms and throat partially covered with tulle, she appears to advantage. She has lovely eyes, so animated, so ex pressive, which can be one moment dancing with laughter, and the neit, coo!, quiet, gray-blue; the kind that can look clear through and beyond one. Hair la Beautiful. Her hair is a luxuriant, beautiful even gray. It has been said of Queen Mother Alexandra of England that she had the most beautiful coiffed head in Europe. Mrs. Harding surely has that distinction in the United States. Waving hair, looking always as if just from the hands of a colf feuse. but lacking even a suggestion of studied elfect. Neither does she have to lay it away In the dressing tae on retiring. Except on occasions, she wears not a single jewel, neither ring, bracelet. earring or even a string of pearls. Informally, for dinner, the president . dresses either in plain tuxedo, with olaited front shirt and pearl, studs. or during the warm months, in tux edo, with white flannel trousers and white shoes. What do you wear? Anything you are lucky enough to have that you think will properly grace the occa sion. What do you see? Sometimes that large and dignified gentleman, the president, rolls bail with a young American, of six, or up. And he pos sibly takes that same child for a personally conducted tour down the private stairs, out through the con servatories, to the kennels. There is a pathetic feature in such an incident. "Mother, u are asked, "why did two men follow us every where we went?" Koom la Ileacribed. What else does one see? The most striking feature of tne room is the newly finished painting of the presi dent, recently hun?. On a table across the roon?. a mir.liitiire of him, the best likeness ever made of him. What else? The usual decorations of a "living room." A grandfather's clock. A grand piano. A huge French vase, filled with pussy willows. Soft toned rugs. Mrs. Harding's pet canary. A large bowl . of goldfish. Just like home. What do I hear? Suddenly, a tick, tick, tick, alarmingly regular, coming from goodness knows where. Heav- ens, have the bolshevlki penetrated even here, and could that be a bomb? Guess again! The prettiest little pink gowned little kewpie about a foot high, winks the naughtiest little eye at you from atop a cabinet, and shakes her diminutive pink skirt in the funniest little "shimmy" you ever saw. She works by vibration, but of the air, not the muscles, like her hu man protoype. Guests are leaving. Each lady Is personally told to "wait a minute." Mrs. Harding goes to her bedroom and returns with a bunch of- tissue paper. She empties each vase of its fragrant contents. You carry them home. And along with them you carry also memories of the sweetness of thought, found In those whom suc cess and greatness docs not spoil. Next week I'll tell you pome more about Jlrs. Harding's likes ami dislikes: what she has nicknamed her husband, and mine thing about their private rooms into which th public in nflver allowed. Airplane Travel Reaches Luxurious Standards. Convenience Comfort, Safety 'ow AsKured. With Speed of 125 Mile an Hour. PARIS. Dec. 21. Ample proof that travel by air has now reached the same luxurious standards as travel by land was given in the seventh an nual "aero salon" held here. " No longer need prospective air travelers hesitate for lack of con venience, comfort and, experts say, also safety. Danger from fire and engine trouble has been reduced to a minimum by the latest inventions It; aviation. Promoters of continental air transportation guarantee smooth er travel through the air at speed of 125 miles an hour than is possible to experience on even the slowest of trains. ' The airplane will play a most im portant part in the Red Cross work of future wars. Air operating rooms with full equipment and air ambu lances for less urgent cases are a practical reality. Several unusual machines were shown to prove this, one a complete aero hospital, accom modating two patients on stretchers, a doctor and an assistant with com plete operating necessities, including a table. The newest stabilizing ap pliances permit the surgeon to oper ate while the machine goes through space at. 100 miles an hour. There were several air ambulances with space for two or four wounded sol diers. The last word in de luxe air travel is a tremendous machine built to carry 24 passengers at a speed of 130 miles an hour. It is a veritable "air limited" with all the features of an American transcontinental express ex cept the observation platform. It con. tains a bathroom, a smoking-room with card tables, comfortable lounge chair which are made into beds for night travel, card tables, a kitchen ette, ice box and stove. Room is also provided for, a crew of three. Increased size in wings is provided or. all late machines as means of In creasing stability. Some of the pas senger machines have lookout cabins for observers and one machine has two tail seats for experienced air travelers. MRS. HENRIETTA MARY ADA WARD STILL ACTIVE AS ARTIST THOUGH 90 YEARS OLD Career Begun With Picture Accented by Royal Academy When She AVas 17 Charming New York Girl Is Photographed With Famous Civil War Relic. 1' . J! - i i : sr i w . ''l.'ft'r s f Xs ... i - t f , j j I I T: . . V k f s III hv "-x v 4 v . till . " 4 VI ' C 'j Underwood a J ' 0y I ) UnderwoodM 1 I t 1 V 3 I ; - ... - ; f.--:. "v 1 it: , v 1 . , . " f , f aNj ' " x l : '. ' ; I t ' ' A v v " , 9 ' ' '-. .' ... "--mniiM. - J' Jl 11 W .a ; '"":; , ? - A!.. ..... .,M..-.,a.i..:J i m II Ill vV." if !... . sail i. . .- II If x Vw.' 1 WW J ' III I - ii . j t r ' . , S , Cndrrrivood S k . $ ' ' s i Underwood a . j . :" -- : : " I : Underwoodry I . Mi RS. HENRIETTA MART ADA WARD, noted English painter, still an active artist at tha age of 90 years. She began her art career with a picture accepted by the Royal Academy at the age of 17. From that date, 1849 until 1879, she naa pictures on aispiay at tne acaoemy. each year and has contributed fre-I quently since that date. She is the ' WOMEN WITH DONNER PARTY HEROIC IN FACE OF PERILS Only Half-dozen Survivors Now Remain to Tell Story of Most Dis astrous of All Migrations of Argonauts. SAN FRANCISCO. Dec 24. The re cent death at Byron, Cal., of Mrs. Frances E. Wilder, a daughter of Captain George Donner, has recalled the tragic story of the Donner party. 42 of whom perished in deserts and mountains in the winter of 1846-47, while en route to California. Only a half dozen survivors remain today to tell the tale of that most disastrous of all migrations of the Argonauts, in which they participated as children. Among these half dozen are three sisters of Mrs. Wilder, children of the captain from whom the party took Its name. They are Mrs. Eliza V. Hough ton of Los Angeles, 78; Mrs. Deana App of Jamestown, Cal.. 6. and Mrs. Elitha C. Wilder-of Brucevilie, Cal., 89. A daughter 'f James F. Reed, a member of the party, who forced his way over the snow-capped S'erra mountaina ttnd then returned with, re v -ail daughter of a famous English painter and the mother of Sir Leslie Ward, noted portrait artist. Mrs. Ward did a great deal of work for Queen Vic toria. Miss Mildred Gavin, charming New York girl, ls shown with a famous civii war relIc which was recently sold at public auction. The relic was a shell clock which belonged to the lief for his dying companions, i liv ing at Capitola, Cal. Her name is Mrs. Mattle Lewis and she ls a bright eyed woman, 77 years young. Of all the companies that made their way by ox -wagons on the Over land trail aoross desert and mountain to California before the railroad linked east with west, the experiences of the Donner party were the worst. Theirs was the greatest loss of life, and it was attended by a slow starvation during the six months they were held in the high Sierras that finally drove the stronger members of the party to that last expedient of man feeding upon his own kind. Of the 88 men, women and children that started with or joined the Don tier party, 42 perished. Six died In the deserts of Utah and Nevada, and 3ti. succumbed . to the horrors of the mountain camps. , ' All the. eiLtfertlTB, audi in-jyoX, life late General Horace I'ortur, formerly of Grant's headquarters staff. Tho clock was made by Union soldiers from an eight-inch l'arrot shell fired on Charleston. S. C, front the "Swamp Angel." a long-range gun which created something like the furor that the German "Big llertha" did ill the world war. A campaign slogan to allow spoon ing in the public parks and let women regulate the length of their skirts to please their own fancy won for Georgo Lawrence Oles In the race for Mayor of Youngstown, O. Mrs. Oles and two small daughters, Georgia. 8, and Gayle. 6. shared in the general notoriety which the eccentric Colonel Oles gained for himself. The Viscountess Boyne will become sister-in-law of Princess Mary of England when the English princess marries Viscount Lascelles. Refore her marriage Viscountess Boyne was Lady Margaret Lascelles. She Is a daughter of the Earl of Harewood and a sister of Viscount Lascelles, who was recently betrothed to Prin cess Mary. may be ascribed to the primary mis take In taking a southerly course around the Great Salt lake from Fort Bridger, Wyo., instead of the usual course around the northern end. The rocky passes In the Wasatch moun tains of Utah delayed them one month; the sands of the Great Ameri can desert and the Humboldt sink stalled their wagons and starved their cattle. The party was in starving condition when It reached Truckee MeadJkvs, site of the present city of Reno, Nev., October 19, 1846. The emigrants were met there by Charles T. Stanton, who had preceded them to California, and returned with two Indians, Luis and Salvador, bringing five mule loads of provisions. After some delay the party pushed on, but October 23 found themselves stalled In snow at the foot of precipices at an elevation of 6000 feet from which the trail rose In one mile and a half 1200 feet to the sum mit, where two to five feet of snow lay. They were In a pocket of the mountains. A snowfall began that in a week placed ten feet of snow about them. Some were at Prosser creek, some at Alder creek and some at Donner lake. They erected tents and brush wood huts, about which they wrapped rubber coats and quits. There were at this time SI persons In the camps. 2i men, 13 women and 43 children, in the subsequent happenings the women showed the greater courage , and endurance. Of the 15 only five died, and four of those gave their lives to aid or comfort tlic:r children i or companions. On Dcombor IS the "forlorn hope" started over the snow on foot. It consisted of nine nun. five women and a hoy. Six days Liter, Stanton, the rescuer, K.ive out and was aban doned. A s:orm that be;;an Christ mas d.iy halted them a week. Three men died and were eaten January 4. another in. in tuiccumbed and Mas eaten. William IVMer pursued and phot the Indians. Luis and Salvador. who were eaten. The party ciuiie out of the enow January 11. were aided by Indians, who gave them acorn bread and helped them to Johnson's rancho. They had been 3- days coin ing from Donner's lake and eight hud died. Two men survtv.d and all tin- five women. The experiene, of the four reli-.f parties, from the first that left Sut ter's fort. February e, to tu,. las-. April 1,1. were similar to thosv of the" "forlorn hope" , party. (Jo lug in on snow shoes, the resellers cached provisions to be used on their return trips. Jn peveral instances these leaches wer. destroyed by wild ani mals, so that the return trips wim the emaciated, weakened Ioneer people became struggles with death in which many died and were eawn by their starving comnanior.s. The fourth and last relief party started from Johnson's rancho April 13. They had beeti promised by the alcalde half of the fortune of sev eral thousand dollars in money and goods which George Dormer was sup posed to possess. The seven me nof tho party, under William O. l'allon, reached Donner lake In four days. Lewis Keseberg I was the only one alive of the many I who had not been able to accompany tho relief parties who hail preceeded them. Of Keseberff, tho relief men de manded money, accusing him of hav ing robbed, killed and eaten George Donner and his wife, Tamsen. Keso berg finally gave them $500. which he eald Mrs. Donner had requested him to give to her children should he reach California. The fourth relief started back next I day, Keseherg following- thorn as well as he could with an Injured leg. Each night he managed to make camp. and finally reached civilization. To tho'end of his life he was an object of accusation and aversion, although most survivors and historians agree that he was innocent. The brightest part of the story wu the heroism of the women. Of the five who died, Mrs. George Donner gave her life to h with her husband at his death; Mrs. Jacob Donnor re mained with her four children: Mrt. Graves stayed for the flake of four little ones and Mrs. Murphy cared for her son and three grandchildren un til too 111 to accompany the rescuers To the zeal of Mrs. Patrick llrnon was mainly duo the rescue of her husband and 11 children who had been left In the snow while tho re lief party went forward for help when they discovered a cache had been destroyed. Mrs. Hreen kept fires burnincr, nursed children with a little sugar and water and kept them alive until rescue came. She would not feed upon the bodies of some who had died, nor did tho chil dren with her knowledge. The efforts of James K. Reed un doubtedly saved many lives. Ranished to the desert In Nevada for having fatally stabbed Janus rinyder when Snyder struck Mrs. Reed with a whip while, the two men were fighting. ed made his way by horseback over tho mountains to California ahead of the donner partq. Although he did not fullv realize the serious ness of their condition, ho caused the first relief party to be dispatched and himself Jed the second expedition. Who Will Pay Ex-Emperor Charles Board BUI? A II U'tl .itrriiinentM l'.in I'rohlrm to itilo. PARIS, Dec. 24. "Who Is going to pay ex-Kmperor Charles' board bill'.' is the problem the allied fnv- jeinments are trying to solve. So far no country lias conic forward and ot-fei.-d to pay the bills left behind In S 1 1 .erla n d or tho expensej which will follow the ex,le of the former monarch to Madeira. The former king has expensive tast'.v This Is evidenced by the fact that the Swi.'.s retreat roft nearly .uiHi.MiiO francs a year to keep going. In a hurry to reach his old throne, Charles forgot several substantial ob ligations. These and the cost of ma i n i a i n in - (" ,:iirin and b's large family at(Madi-lra are occupying tho all ...i a n; I).. -a ii"i s' council. The totnl Swiss bill Will exceed several III ill Inn I Sw iss francs apart from tho estab- ::siiin.iit set up at .Maileira tor mo former ruler of Austria-1 1 u ngary. It Is bulieved that tho Hungarian government will pay most of the bills and the members of the lit t lo entente, to whose existence the suppression of monarchial adventures Is essential, may bear a part of the burden. The annual expense at Madeira probably will be provided through a pension, wholly or partly paid by Hungary. In this the little tutcnto may also have a share. The fact that Charles and his fam ily still have firm friends In Hungary ls evidenced by the purchase of a 2,000,0U0-cro wn bed and bedroom Buite for the ex-queen by liudapest royal ists. The bed was made of satlnwood with brocade and gilt decorations. The money was raised by popular subscription. The authorities have re fused to permit its display in public, fearing royalist riots, so the bed will be sent immediately to Madeira. SILENT TRIBUTE TOUCHING New i:ngliind Monument li Soldiers Illuminated at Night. jl, jr. Windsor In Popular Mechanics. I was deeply touched by a silent tribute observed recently while motor ing through the state of Connecticut. It was late at night, and the In habitants of the little village had long since retired; not a suggestion of life anywhere; the only sound the murmur of the motor, when my at tention was arrested by the brilliant Illumination of one of t he .customary "rolls of honor" erected throughout New England toO.onor the men who fert In the great conflict. The light was arranged to throw- its rays direct'y upon tb names of the heroes from that village. All through the long hours of the night, until relieved by the light of the rising sun, this illuminated tribute, as silent as tho. It commemorates, sheds its warm, friendly rays upon their honored names, keeping them ever bright :u memory. It was a simple thing b. I fore which 1 reverently paused a few- moments, yet like so many simp., things It was beautiful. None of lb. names was known to me, yet some, how they seemed not fir away. In rain and snow the light shines nigl:' ly like a lighthouse, as if to guide th. beholder to the high Ideals whic. prompted these young men to give their all. Other cities and towns m well follow the example of this Con necticut hamlet, as an expression o never-dying gratitude from the uid-r. and a patriotic inspiration to the younger generation.