The Washington critic., 1888-02-20
THE LENTEN SEASON.
Social lt.Chat Appropriate to the
Times.
STORIES THAT ARE TOLD.
Plenty of Gayety in q Subdued
Form to be Pound.


The Lenten season will not be entirely
devoid of entertainment. So far its days
and nights have been almost as busy rs
the ordinary run OF the season, excepting
there have been no afternoon teas. Din
ners and luncheons have followed one
another in quick succession, and the
Chinese secretaries dance on Wednesday
evening at the legation, the social even
ing given by the Secretary of War and
Mrs. Endicott, the first Of Justice and
Mrs. Millers evenings at home which be-
gan ON Saturday night, with the continu-
alton pS Mr.. and Mrs. Loring's converse
ziones rave given the votaries of fashion
and society an agreeable round of pleas
ant events. Lent has rarely been ushered
in with greater glee.
THE OFFICIAL GAY SEASON
was short dull enough at times, but ended
up in a whirl of gayety. A good many
hostesses are said TO have postponed in
tended entertainments until Lent, and
these affairs may be looked forward to
shortly. For this week there are numbers
oflunchcH"" and dinners, especially those
to which youngpeople mainly are bidden,
on the tapis. The average young ladies'
luncheon is generally productive of dys-
pepsia, but 1t is fashionable and will not
so just yet.
SENSATIONS OR SCANDALS
have been few and far between the past
winter, IL is pleasant to record. There
have not been many new people on the
surface and the few are serving the usual
apprenticeship. Some of the ambitious
cminently successful. Some Others have
found their level and will soon pass out
of existence, Socially speaking.
One thing yet shows that with the
mixed condition of Washington
society, it is rather easy yet for
impertinent people to thrust them
selves into gatherings where they are
neither expected nor wanted. The de
lightfnlly informal fashion of going to
card receptions without Invitations is yet
in vogue. A, lady who gave q party
lately, exclusively to her young girl
friends, was startled to see married
woman, mere bowling acquaintance,
enter her parlor The countenances of
hostess and guest were interesting studies.
There was no scene, but the would-be
guest quickly understood that her venture
was rash one and quickly left. Despite
all the published warnings, quite
a SMALL MOB OF THE sELF-INviTep
managed to get to the Chinese ball. To
give them due credit for their boldness
theif company was almost as agreeable to
the Minister as the crowds of others who
persistently begged for their Invitations.
One party of four were met on en-
tering by$one of the secretaries, who
briefly infoNned them that they were not
expected, and the quartet filed out rather
crestiallen. Other groups had walked
half the distance across the drawing-room
before the keen eye of the same Secretary
lsoA Ill rnfh hon thaVN
draw public attention to them they were
allowed to remain. These are few of
recent incidents, but they are not worse
than those which occur in other cities
: when large entertainments arein progress.
y MRS. HicKs-LoRp's DIAMONDS,
Mrs. Hicks-Lord, who was so envied
Monday and Tuesday evenings for her
display of diamonds, has recently been
left legacy of 100000 by friend of her
first husband. The diamonds worn by
her at Mrs. Dahlgren's dinner are estf-
mated to be worth 100000. That even
ing she wore necklace after necklace of
pearls and diamonds, band of solitaires
headed lace flounce across the hem of
her dress, they blazed in her hair, on her
arms and even her point lace fan was al
mqst encrusted with gems. But perhaps
allfthat glitterand display. did not give
Ash Wednesday in signing o liberal
check to be distributed here among the
worthy poor.
THE' coREANs MADE THEIR FORMAL
entree into society at Secretary Bayard's
on Monday evening. Their odd dress
and shrewd comments on our ways and
fashions have already created stir.
Their stiff hats attract peculiar attention
to them. They were calling somewhere
the other day and the servant at the door
insisted that they lay aside their hats be-
fore entering the parlor. They were a
long time convincing him that they could
not do so. One of the reasons given for
always wearing the hat is that in their
early history, to prevent number of con-
spirators getting together in one room, the
royal command went forth that each man
should wear broad-brimmed hat. The
regulation size permitted only four men
to get together In one room, sirNr'~
cause the width Of the four
""b NJ ait space. They shake.
gleefully when presented to Amen.
ut on entering the drawing-room al
,inese ball the other night the
salutation was peculiar. Each man
doubled up his fists and rubbed them as
close to the Minister and his secretaries
faces as possible. This is the highest
form of social greeting with them. l
CURRENT SOCIETY NEWS.
Justice and Mrs. Miller were at home
Saturday evening to an invited company,
the first of the series for which their cards
are out Mrs, Miller wore superb gown
of ashes of roses silk combined with
cream and blue brocade and point lace
Miss Corkhill wore white Yalenciennes
lace with pointed bodice of white satin
Among those present were Justice and
Mrs. Field, Mrs. David Dudley Field, Miss
= Condit Smith, Marshal Wright Senoi
and Nine. Guzman, Mrs. Bartlett, Mrs
and the Misses Patten, Mr., Mrs. anC
Miss Williams, Justice and Mrs. Mat
thews, Mr. and Mrs. Paige, Mr.. and Miss
Murphy, Mr.. and Mrs. Darlington, Mis-
Mrs. Brodhead and the Misses Rozet
There were many handsome toilets worr
and the evening was spent most agree
ably. Down stairs an elaborate collation.
I with lemonade and punch, was served
Ex-Governor and Mrs. Carroll gave {
dinner party on Saturday evening il
honor of Mr.. Joseph Chamberlain
Among the guests were the Swedish Min
lister and Nine. de Reuterskiold, Repre-
sentative and Mrs. Hit and Miss Endi
colt.
The engagement of DIR. William May o
this city and Miss Amy Draper of New
York is announced.
Colonel and Mrs. Anderson, and Mrs
Trevor gave dinner parties Saturday night
Senator Gray and wife have rented {
house and will so to housekeeping earl!
in March.
Miss Riley of Philadelphia Is guest a
the Livingstone for few weeks.
Miss Flynn is the guest of Mrs. Thoma
G. Allan FOR a few days.
The Misses Black of GAINESVILLE, 0hiu
are visiting Miss Ellis, at her home, 1852
4 Massachusetts avenue.
Mrs benjamin r. Grafton, who ha
& been quite i'll for some time, is now con
~ palnpnapf