First Lady Of Ivory Coast Visits Europe

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29851, 18 June 1962, Page 2

First Lady Of Ivory Coast Visits Europe

IBy SUSAN VAUGHANJ

LONDON. The newly-independ-ent Ivory Coast has been described as * kind of equator!*. United States. The country's most elegant advertisement is its first lady, petite 31-year-old Madame MarieTherese HouphouetBoigny. With her husband. President Felix HouphouetBo.gny, she has been visiting Europe. -

“Madame H-B,” as she is known, was one of the six children of an African customs official. There is white, as well as African blood in her veins and the combination has produced a woman of outstanding beauty. She went to France to complete her education and met her husband there during the days when he was in the French Cabinet. She is his second wife and they have a six-year-old adopted daughter. Helene, who goes to school in Switzerland. The rich life fits in well with her personality She drives a fast Italian car has a ta«‘e for expensive clothes Received By Queen In London recently she to ked very lovely in h-r Dtor atvle outfit as she wen' to Buckingham Palaee to see the Q'ieen

In/be Ivory Coast, Madame H-B's home is no less magnificent The President's Palace, known as the Versailles of Africa, is a riot of Italian marble, air-condition-ed throughout, and complete with fountains. abstract sculptor* and gold cutlerv and plate for 3000 guetrs ’ Unlike some splendid buildings put up by African rulers, this palace reflects the

true wealth of the Ivory Coast. It is built out of the revenues from the country’s booming capitalism. Her husband. one of Africa’s more subtle politicians, looks like keeping it that way. The first lady has that rare combination of circumstances in Africa: wealth and security.