Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-20
WASHINGTON'S GAYETY.
A BRIGHT OUTLOOK FOR THE
VOTARIES OF SOCIETY.

Right of Precedence of Cabinet Ladies'
Over the Wives of Senstors-The AR
FuII of Rumors over the hopkins Dt-
vorce Suit-Andy Jackson's Feasts.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-Society people
seem to be the only ones who are favored
with the prospect of moderately brilliant
winter. This is explained by the fact
that this will be the first winter in Wash
ington of the bride of the White House.
Mrs. Cleveland, by her gracious dignity
and winning ways, no less than by her
beauty, has, from the very first, captivated
society. She will therefore, doubtless,
gather about her the beauty, culture and
youth of the capital and form circle as
replete with all of the elements of Ameri-
can refinement as can be gathered to-
gether in the country. Already Mrs.
Whitney, Mrs. Endicott and Mrs. Fair
child have set the social ball in motion
with a reception and tea. others
will soon follow in rapid succession.
There will be an unusually large number
of 6ebutantes this winter. The Cabinet
will furnish three in the daughters of
Secretaries Manning, Lamar, and Villas.
The Misses Ledyard OF New York have
already been presented In society by Mrs.
Fairchld. and have made most a2reea-
BILE impression. Other notable incidents
iof the opening season are the approach
ling debut of Miss Louise Corcoran Eustis
and the return of Miss Matte Mitchell,
daughter OF Senator Mitchell of Oregon,
from a wear spent in Paris, She is blessed
with unusual beauty and good talents,
and her parents have given her the best
continental opportunities tor education
1t is needless TO say that she will be wei
coined back by society with open arms.
I Marion u hf, has in O
turned to New York after weeks stay
at the capital, confirmed The previous ru-
NOR Of the Duke de la ROchetoucauld's
devoted attachment to Miss Mitchell.
This young Duke has a comfortable es-
tate for a bachelor, and three hereditary
establishments he won d have TO keep up
if he married. He is described as young
man of fine personal advantages and IT.
reproachable character, and. of course.
OF the most exclusive Faubourg st.
German set. He has gone to Persia for
the winter, while Miss Mitchell has re-
turned to her Washington bellehoOd. The
on dit is, Though it does not emanate
from the young lady or ner family, that
he would follow her here tomorrow il
permitted.
RIVALS FOR PRECEDENT.
Each new season revives the social
enigma as to who takes rank or prece-
dence-Cabinet ladies or wives of Sena-
tors, 1t is said the Cabinet officers wives
met recently to decide the matter tor
themselves and say who should call first
on each other-Cabinet or Senate. The
Cabinet claims that since the Presidential
succession bill passed the Cabinet ladies
are first in the social scale. The question,
however. is not settled, tor some of the
Senator'S wives claim that their position
is still above that OF the Cabinet and that
the Cabinet ladies should call first on
them. Others, however, have given 10 to
the Cabinet and have called. 1t is under
stood that one OF the Cabinet ladies con-
suited the Secretary OF State on the SUBJ
ject and went to the conference referred
to armed with his arguments. The ladies
were unanimous upon the point before
separating. AS to the practice involved,
IL would seem the proper thing for the
seventy-six Senatorial families to call
upon the Cabinet ladies, because 1t is the
more eXpedient. Last year the ladies of
the Cabinet did not call upon the wives
of Senators. The observance Of the order
of precedence differs in different houses
some giving first place TO the Cabinet,
some to the Senate, but in the majority OF
cases the former are given preference. AT
present it looks as though the ladies of
the Cabinet would carry their point.
THE PRESIDENT NOT JEALOUS.
President Cleveland is apparently not
the least bit jealous of his handsome
wife. In fact he is quite the reverse. He
knows that she is handsome and is
pleased that other people admire her.
She is great favorite with number OF
statesmen and prominent men and many
pleasant evenings are spent in the White
House parlors with Mrs. Cleveland doing
the greater part of the entertaining. She
is fluent and witty talker, two gifts
which in her case are backed
by liberal education, and lends
additional charm to her good nature by
conversing On topics which are of inter-
est to even the most learned OF her callers.
None OF the gush current among most OF
the young women in society Is inflicted
on her hearers by Mrs, Cleveland, and the
result is a most happy one. One OF the
George delegation was one OF two callers
at the White House a few evenings ago,
and during the course of the conversation
remarked Unat he had seen Mrs. Cleveland
out riding in the afternoon. Mrs. Cleve-
land replied that she had seen the gentle
man and bowed to him, whereupOn the
President remarked that he had also par
tlcipaIed in the exchange of c0urtesies.
Georgia representative was surprised to
learn that the President was in the car
Iiage, but the latter raised laugh at his
expense by saying that he noticed that he
had not observed his presence aud that it
was not surprising when man only had
eyes Tor pretty girls. AT tnls point the
President emphasized his remark by look
ing al his wife with such a twinkle in hie
eye that the whole company joined in the
laugh raised at the expense Of the sly old
Georgian.
THE HOPKINS DIVORCE SUIT.
Washington is watching for the begin
ming of the Hopkins divorce suit in court
with fully as much interest as is New
York. There is no doubt that it will be
one Of The most celebrated divorce cases
ever tried in this cOuntry-provided, of
course, it is allowed to come to trial, as
now seems probable, as both parties boast
that they Will not offer TO make a settle
ment without going TO court The past
friendship of the wife of the Secre-
tary of Navy and Mrs. Hopkins
is OF course the principal
feature in the case to excite such eager
interest in his city. Whether tue friend
ship between the two ladies Will continue
is uncertain. All sorts OF reports are in
circulation here. Among them is one
connecting the name Of Secretary Whit
ney most unpleasantly with that OF Mrs.
Hopkins, IL being boldly asserted that the
lady's husband will call the latter as Il
witness, when the case comes to trial. In
the expectation that he will be compelled
20 give some very damaging
testimony when pressed under