National Republican., 1883-12-01
SCENES In SOCIETY.
The Gay and Giddy Season in Washington in
Full Blast
The Beauties Of the RenQvated Execu-
tive Mansion.
Small Talk and Household Notes Especially for
Women.
Purely PersonnI AI,out the aIIona ~ The
Purely Personal About tho "IIons.," the
"Gcns.," the "Cols.," and "AIajahss'
TIE SEASON OPENS.


Ash Wednesday lifts its warning finger and
tells tho world to remember tho ancestral dust
heaps.
The forecast of the society prophet is very
favorable. Mars of course will be in the
ascendant and Neptune in conjunction, for
they always are in Washington, and
Bellies and buttons,
Ribbons aud lace,
dance hand and hand from December to
March. But to return to the horoscope. Sagit-
tarius will polish up his darts and fire tan
CENTRALLY and promiscu0usly, but he is no
longer an archer grim and old, but tiny boy,
clad principally in wings and bow and
quiver-some call him Cupid.
Jupiter will be in conjunction with Plutus,
for the rich from all parts Of the country are
flocking to the city for tho season; and
Taurus and Ursa from Wall street, will
"ring in" matrimonialy with Virgo.
But TO drop metaphor the winter is going
to bo the most brilliant we havo had for
years, and, although several of the cabinet
houses are closed by mourning, and but half
of the ladies of the supreme court will
receive, there are so many Of the strangers
and residents who will entertain, that every
night from January to March is three deep
with projected parties. Not even Sunday is
exempted from the rush. for the week days
are so full of social duties that number of
people have taken it for home evening, to
is to be filled with music and u "high tea"
The white house will see much entertain
ing this year dinners of state and social din
ners levees to the diplomatic corps the army,
the navy, and tho citizens. The decora-
tions have been added to vastly, and Tiff
fany and John Laiarge do their work.
if such decorations can be called mere work.
so thoroughly and with such exquisite taste
that no criticism is needed. Lafarges opales-
cent glass always reminds me of the4 on
chanted garden into which Aladdin was car
ried by tho Geni, for IL is blown into such
fantastic shapes, such cunning simuations of
fruits and gems, and is tinted in such an ex-
traordinary and varied manner, that the smile
isnot fanciful. The method of setting the glass
is unique, and is the artists invention. When
first met him he was engaged on the since
famous Vanderbilt windows, in which his
peculiarity is strkingly set forth, Tho one
in hand was pair of peaiowls one mounted
in Mexican rose tree, the other trailing the
iridescenee of his fan along the ground at its
roots. These were set in border of gems" of
various colors, cut in Us many facets MS o rose
diamond, and the whole was surrounded by
border of arabesques rs convoluted as
clematis vine. The petals of the roses were
of separate films and bits of glass and one,
leemember, looked as if it had forgot to shake
the moonshine from its heart Every "eye"
in the fans of tho peafowls was q separate
bit of glass, and the changeful light on their
sale medium. He told me that in one he had
just finished he had set some figures, the faces
of which were about the size of a silver quar-
ter, and that in one he had put fifteen pieces
of glass, some SO small he had to handle them
with pincers.
Mrs. Hodges, of Baltimore, is at the Ma
tional but only temporarily, as she is hunt
ing Tor quarters further up town. She is like
80 many non-residents, attracted to Washing
ton by the report of its winter charm. And,
apropos to this last, it is really fact that tho
society of Washington is unlike that of any
city west of Europe. Its code of etiquette is diff
forent, and its elements SAVIOR more of the old
world than our republican form of government
would seem to warrant; it is the focus to-
ward which all the famous-and infamous
people of the country center during the sea-
son; it is the Mecca toward which talent and
ambition push, and is the great political
arena in which the congressional gladators
fight their fight, with the country ut large
waiting TO thumb" them down or exalt
them into an Office.
Nine. de Sibourg has taken the house so
long occupied by ex-senator Carpenter and
has fitted it up delightfully."-. Tho hnngings
IN her parlors arc of peacock plush heavily
banded with gold broidered sheaf and the
only manifest evidence of her rank as vis-
countess Is the coat of arms, embroidered
in contrasting colors, furniture. por-
there's, and window hangings. This is
in accordance with the counts wish
rather than her own, for she is an American,
and belonged to the old colonial aOblesso that
won for Virginia the name of "the proudest
state in the federal league"
Miss Foote will spend the winter with
Senator and Mrs. Hawley, who are again set
tied in their apartments on G street. The
senator is said to have the largest circle
OF acquaintances in the country, excepting
Gen. Grant and Gen. Sherman, for when
he was orator of the Centennial almost every
visitor sought him out and asked for an in
PRODUCTION, and shaking hands with his ad-
mirers became as mouotonous. and almost as
exhaustive as Davy Crocketts wolves
Among the strangers grated on our resi-
dent life one of those who will entertain most
extensively is Mrs Munro, of / street. Her
reception two weeks ago was the first party of
the season and was a very pretty affair She
is q sister of Madame de Sibourg, who also
intends to entertain frequently during tho
winter.
Mrs Sheridan has arrived and will begin
her receptions on Tuesday next. The people
OF Chicago purchased for her husband and
herself the residence formerly occupied by
Judge Adds and presented il as a token of
their affection for Little Phil" and Of ad-
miration for the soldier and friend they were
going to lose from among them.
The Hon, Perry Belmont has purchased
Admiral Stanleys house. and tho rumor is
that his "gentlemen's dinners" are to be a
feature Of the season. There is also rumor
TO the eject that when he wants to pay his
social debts with kettledrum or a dancing
party that his aunt, Mrs. Raymond Rogers,
will receive with and for him.
Ex-senator Yulee has taken a house on
Nineteenth street, the one formerly occupied
by Lieut.. Dyer, U. s. N. Io will not occupy
his new house until about the same time Con.
Beckwith makes his fitting Miss Nettie
Yulee made her debut at the club ball. and
was one of. the most striking figures in the
room.
Gen. Beckwith, U. s. A., has purchased
property on N street. and ia building, bat the
winter weather interleres with the work of
mason and plasterer, and he docs not expect
to move in until spring.
Tho prettiest and coziest room in tho new
house purchased by the Hon. $. S. Cox Is the
library. 1t is upholstered in stamped leather
and has a fireplace as bright as the member
and his clever wife.
Gen, q. w. Clark aud family have moved
into their beautiful now homo on Vermont
avenue. 1t is ono of the handsomest of the
many handsome new houses erected this
season.
Mrs. Myers has not yet chosen her day for
receiving, but it will DO either Thursday or
Saturday.