St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-02-14
NOT A SEASON OF JOY.
Washington Society Continues in Vale of
Gloom Because of the Visits of the
Grim Reaper,
But the Round of Receptions and Par
ties is Kept Up in a Perfunctory
Manner. --------
Local Option Being Discussed by the
Temperance Ladies--GeneraI
Social Notes.
Correspondence of the Globe.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11.-Man proposes
but God disposes. The plans for brilliant
social winter in Washington, which was
announced at the beginning of the season,
are still disarranged by the visit of that
grim and unwelcome guest, Death. The
season. which was to have beeh brilliant
one, had not fairly opened when the death
OF Vice President Hendricks occurred. A
short time later society was shocked by the
sudden death Of Mrs. Adams, lady very
prominent in the social world here. 1t was
quickly followed by the decease of the wife
of one Of the members Of congress from In
diana, then by Miss B2yard. then by Conc
gresham Rankin. then Mr.. ID. p. Morgan,
a wealthy New York banker who had come
here to enjoy few years in the social
world OF Washington, then Mrs. BaYard.
then Mrs. Craig Wadsworth. brilliant
woman, very prominent in social life here,
and in few days they were followed by
Mrs. Barbour, the wife of the Virginia
member Of congress of that name, while the
hOspitable mansion of Senator Miller OF
California is closed by his illness, which
may at any time result in death.
The result Of all this is that the season
which was to have been a most brilliant
one is quite the reverse. and the arrival of
Lent a month hence will be really welcomed
as an opportunity to drop the curtain on the
saddest social season Washington has seen
for years.
TEE WEEKS DOINGs.
The week has been a tolerably busy one.
The receptions at the supreme court resi-
dences Monday afternoon were largely at
tended. In spite of the bad walking. the
bright day tempted many to make calls
afOOt, and there was quite brisk air no
ticeable in visiting circles. The ladies at
home on Monday live in sections so entirely
remote from one another that wide territory
must be gone over by one who goes over
the entire circuit Mrs. and Miss Waite
were at home and had a large reception.
Mrs. and Miss Miller had several lady
friends receiving with them, among whom
were Mrs. Irving. Mrs. Mason, Mrs. Hillyer
and Mrs Lightner. Mrs. Field did not re-
eeive. anticipating the coming of Mrs. bud
! ley Field and other friends from New York
Mrs. Bradley and her daughter, Miss Brad
ley, were at home. and also Mrs. Blatchford
and her guest. Mrs. Cummings. Senator and
Mrs. John Sherman gave OH Monday one of
| the handSomest receptions OF the season.
The guests arrived early and the spacious
apartments were thronged the entire even
| ing. Mrs. Sherman received IN a becoming
robe OF black satin and jetted lace, and well
coined her guests with the gentle affability
| with which her manner is so marked.
| Her guest, Miss Parsons, in a gown of
white, soft ottoman silk, trimmed with
embroidered f1ounces and with bows of gold
velvet ribbons, looked unusually handsome.
In the supper room at an oblong table set
with cleaning tea and chocolate service,
Miss Julia Strong and Miss Carter pre-
sided, serving both delicious beverages. An
elaborate supper was served from a table
on which bloomed great punches of Gala
lilies. Senator and Mrs. Stanford gave an
elegant dinner on Monday night in honor
of the senators and members from the Pa
cifc slope, inviting other gentlemen to meet
them. Among those present were Senators
Dolph, Mitchell, Jones, Teller, Bowen and
EvartS and Representatives Symes, Nor
row, Woodbury., Lontitt and Herman. The
| table was taStefully decorated with cut
flowers, center oval basket of La France
roses; and at each end were large bouquets
of Jacquimenot roses, interspersed with
twelve crystal vases filled with lilies of the
valley. The decorations, designed by
| Small, were unusually handsome The
china and silver on the table were very
elaborate, the artistic china service being
one received from France and used for the
first time. The fruits for the dessert were
all from Senator Stanford's orchards and
groves in California, and the native
wines used the products of his own vine
| yards. On Tuesday Gen. and Mrs. Card
and Miss Card gave an afternoon tea from
TO at their home, 1917 l. street Mr.. and
Mrs. Richard Pairo gave an afternoon tea
| from 4 to Z in honor of Miss Nellie Pairo
and Miss Alice Smith. a large german was
given at Wormley's on Tuesday evening by
the Ladies' Cotillion club. Invitations to
| this were issued by the following commit
| tee: Mrs. David King. Mrs. Ferguson and
Mrs Gen. Emory. The german was given
| by subscription. each member of the club.
which is composed of matrons, being
assessed equally. They then had the priv
ilege of bringing with them to the german
any member of their family or any lady
who may be their guest. Invitations We're
| then only issued to gentlemen in order to
supply partners to those young ladies whose
lnatrons are members of the club.
Wednesday. cabinet day, was a pretty
| busy one. There were receptions at three
of the cabinet residences, Secretary Whit
ney's, Secretary Mannings and Secretary
| Endicott's- On the same afternoon the
| Misses Gouveneur gave their second after
noon tea from to z.
On Thursday Engineer in Chief and Miss
| Loring, 1884 Nineteenth street, gave an
afternoon tea from to z. In the evening
| the president gave a state dinner to the
justices OF the supreme court, and Secretary
and Mrs. Whitney held their first card re-
ceptiOn from to ~.
On Friday Col. and Mrs. WhitmOre gave
a second of their afternoon teas for which
| they have issued invitations for FRIDAYS i'm
/ February. In the evening the president
gave a reception to the diplomatic corps
| aud at md Mr. -
| Pennsylvania gave an evening party at
their home on Eighteenth street.
On Saturday Miss Billings, daughter of
DR.. John Billings, United States army,
gave an afternoon tea from to :. In the
evening Secretary and Mrs. Whitney ten
dered a dinner party to Speaker and Mrs.
| Carlisle.
MATRIMONIAL.
The marriage engagement is announced
| of Assistant Naval Constructor Francis
/ Tiffany Bowles. only son of the late Benia-
min F. Bowles of Springfield, and Miss
Adele Savage. daughter of Mr.. Samuel II.
/ Savage of Boston. Miss Lillian Coffee,
who will be married to Mr.. John Chew on
March 3, will have Miss Kate Beach. Miss
| Viola Meyer. Miss Camille Berghman and
Miss Emily Wallach as bridesmaids. The
marriage Of Miss frankie English. daugh-
ter of Rear Admiral Earl English. and Mr.
Russell Smith of Culpepper county, Va,
will be celebrated in this city on March 8.
LOCAL OPTION.
There is considerable stir here over the
question of ''local option" which has been
| proposed by Senators Brown and Colquitt
and others from the Southern states where
local option is so popular. Senator Colquftt
has offered bill in the senate looking 10 the
adoption of this system here