The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-03-04
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
Questions OF Etiquette that yex Washinr-
ton Life-Luuche ons In Ceiors-Oiher En-
ertainmeuts OF the Last Week.

ton L,fe-Luuchee ns In Csiors-Olher En-
tertainments OF the Last Week.
WASHINGTON. March 3.-Lenten gayety
has held its way. mild but firm, all the
week. There has even been a little dancing.
and tho remark, Lent is more lively than OK
pected," has been frequently heard. 1t IL not.
80 far, a solemn season. A great deal 10 In
preparation for charity. but the work goes on
with a spirit that would be called festive at
any other season. Bible readings alternate
with tho late afternoon visiting. Few host
esses are at homo before s o'clock. The read
ings are earlier and many visits are made AZ
terward. Among the hostesses in the Sena-
torial circle receiving informally are Mrs. J. +.
Jones. Mrs. Call. Mrs. Farwell, Mrs. Dolph.
Mrs. Hanley, Mrs. Morrill,, Mrs. Spooner. Mrs.
Gle, Mrs. and Miss Endicott receive after 5
O'Clock. Miss Dresser is now their guest
There is always time to talk over things in
Lent. First calls between the families Of dip
lomats and families Of Senators mako one ofthe
absorbing topics OF conversation. Who shall
call first, the wife Of the Senators or the wife OF
the diplomat, is a question that may yet have
to be settled by arbitration. The foreign Min
lister calls first on Cabinet officers. There is
no dispute about that. But the wife OF q Cabt-
net officer is expected to call first on the wife
of a diplomat. Why nobody eau tell. unless 1t
be simply the courtesy extended to . stranger.
1t is not long ago that the wife OF a foreign
Minister was making calls with q friend. They
drove up to n Senator's house and the friend
went in. leaving the foreign lady out in tho car
riags. Naturally. she did not feel TINT she
could make much OF o visit, and apoloGizinR
for the haste. said: Mrs. Blank is waiting In
the carriage. She was very sorry not to come
in, but you know you haven't called on her yet,
and she must wait until you do" The Sena-
tors wife expressed great surprise. and said:
'On the contrary, Mrs. Blank must Gull on me
first" But there was no time then for further
argument. and the visitor departed. Calls
have not been exchanged between the sena-
tors wife and Mrs. Blank. and it looks very
much as If both would stand out to the end.
Probably every woman coming to Washing
ton. who expects to move In official circles.
buys rs her first purchase, a book on etiquette.
Men buy as many as women. And yet contro-
versies go on from season to season, and are as
much unsettled as II there were no books Of
advice. The book maker who will adjust all
the vexed questions OF etiquette now bringing
discord into official circles will prove q bene-
factor indeed.
The great number OF dinners and luncheons
given this week is evidence Of more feasting
than fasting In the Lenten season. The lunch
cons have been very elaborate. and the fashion
OF colors is carried to extremes. There are
yellow. pink, blue. red, and even green lunch
cons. pronounced by the flowers and table dec
o%rations. Tulips have boon the ~favorite flower,
but are giving way to the primrose.
Mrs. Edward Halliday gave a handsome
luncheon. decorating her table with pots Of
primroses set In wicker baskets. The handles
were tied with pink and green ribbons to match
the colors OF the blossoms and leaves. and a
green crepe scarf was laid along the centre of
the table. Wax lights were pink. finger bowls
were green, and the ices were in the form and
color OF primroses. The effect was very pretty.
mers wife, Mrs. Field, Mrs. Mclean, Countess
EsterhaHy, Miss Florence Bayard, Miss Katie.
Dahlgren, Miss Smith. Miss Dssrlng, Miss Jo-
sephine Patten, Miss Corkhill, Miss Mullen,
and the Misses Rozot. who are guests OF Mr..
On the next day, Judge Shellaberger's daueh-
ters gave II luncheon to young, women. The
flowers were yellow tulips. and the table deco
In The evening. dinners were given by Senior
93useda; the ArGsn'ips Minister Senator and
dd5sE < Br'sss sc1 asRFs's sns Mfs. a 'Fai4 MEfil P" aiss
and sSS hrs. H t@a n Rae ssU 81 Mii snssE;s'n Wis. 1T #
dinner on Wednesday evening", The table
in a jar Of rough blue porcelain. Aliter The,
dinner the host and hostess asked their guests
10 IN the T Dbera,a ev,nine Mr.. and Mrs. John
Mclean nna saSe q e dinnerS party r. on" There arsS was Soa am
after-dinner company and dancing.
ho eS!i 81 sn .be M1 sas sshp Miss aa Sa FsSs a dinner in
.Mr. and Mrs. Theodore King and Judge and
M r., Strong Ga " card Enn parties sova n d,nror 70
the COUNTY CUB House. Ne: Won Aiyspsiebisn
p s%,,s a asf B rasHhs IN His i irisnas t Ssrs are aS ri sir n !
Ing he NV was went sn,or'Hined BY ths Bri, dsmn Minis;or
cluded the Swedish Minister and -lrs. dc Keut-
erskiold, eX-Gov. and Mrs. Carroll. Senator
and Ms IeseR Rns csH% aray' n,. Mr.; I hda|IsSsh' ME- AZ;
Grant. Mr.. BerGns, Mrs Bakhnietih, Col Frey,
the SWISS Minlsfsri MISS Lucy Frellnehuysen''
Other Tuesday dinners We're given by Mr.:
and Mrs. John Davis. Gardner Hubbard, and
KsPressnpIt sn M, fl9yer Gave n luncheon. ost,n.
guests to I" meet the Misses McLsne Of BaltlE.
more. There were green and white effects in
piece. The ribbons on the bouquets were green
and white, and, also tine china service.
Mrs; 4; { Tyler gHEs q dinner nS entertsi hhgs
F Ffasalsy; G KIM saa and atISM rNl fsuFbi ds. A 4 sm mail
company was asked to join the guests after
Miss Sherman, daughter Of Senator sher-
man. gave o dinner to Young people. receiving
them In u white gown OF silk md Spanish lace.
with q cluster OF violets or the waist. The
table bouquets were carnations.
Senator Palmer gave a dinner party on Fri
day evening TO gentlemen. Other dinner par
ties were given by Mr.. Sam Ward, Gen. and
Mrs. Andrews. and Mr.. Walter A. Wood.
DIR. and Mrs. Loring entertained ut dinner on
Thursday evening. Representative and Mrs.
Hit, Representatlye and Mrs. Lloyd Bryce,
Mr.. and Mrs. Is. II. Warder. Col and Mrs. John
Solely.
0n tho same evening Col. Francis coltSn gave
and other guests, making a company OF twelve.
Florida for u iortpight's visit. They were &C.
companied by Mrs. Ulysses s. Grant. Others
tempted by orange groves and. summer days
were Mrs, Bench Grant and Miss Gritnt, who
ieit on Thursday for Florida Justice and Mrs.
Blatrhfurd have gone to New York 10 Visit their
Tho British Minis,,er and Miss West will spend
lhe Danish Legation is no Longer IN the
Count Spenneck. Just arrived, brings his wife.
Countess Spenneck, with him. NJ. dc L%ovenorn.
tne ex.Minister. sails for home to-day. Two
teIy attractiye young married women In tho
iWnfsign circle are wives Of Secretaries-Mrs
EaWards OF, the British Legation and Mrs.