The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-04-02
VISIONS OF BEAUTY.
Festive Events of the Lenten
Season at Washington.
The Sawyer Musicale : Art, Fashion and
Pleasure : Miss Rosenerans' Engage
ment-A Novel Event
Special Correspondence Of THE MORNING GAIL.

WASHINGTON, March %. - The Presi-
dents duck-hunting trip was suddenly
thought of and decided upon, and he packed
up his long boots and his old clothes and
was of for the little clubhouse on the
Chesapeake on the shortest notice. Even
/ there the omnipreSent reporter followed him
and in the blind, with the ducks flying past,
put questions to him. The President had
really thought of going to Florida with
Mrs. Harrison, as he felt the need of a lit
tla rest and change, but the prospect of
speech-making and receptions, and the
welcoming Mayors and delegations deferred
him, anda few days at the Bengier club
house promised more real rest. Mrs. Har-
rison lfas been so busy during her South
ern trip that she has had time to write only
one @rtw0 letters to the White House fam
lily, and daily kilograms take the place of
letters. Mrs. Harrison wrote back enthu-
siastcally about her Charleston visit, and
could not say enough of the warmth and
hospitality OF the greeting given her there,
and the entire absence Of sectionalism in
any way. The Charleston people too were
pleased with Mrs. Harrison's appearance
and manner, and grew enthusiastic over
the beauty of Mrs. Russell Harrison and
her sweet manner
/ The Vice-President and Mrs. Morton re-
turned this week much benefited by their
Southern trip, and have begun their din
ner-giving again. Allethe Cabinet families
are making ready for a gay Easter season,
aud if Lent had not been so eonspicuously
gay, it might be said that there would be a
social revival. Instead, there will only be
continuation anu Increase of gayeties.
% THE SAWYER MUSICALE
sThis week there was another dinner and
dance atthe British Legation and a must
Gale at Senator Sawyer's house that quite
'eclipsed all. other entertainments in that
line. Ihe Senator's daughter Mrs. White,
brought professionals down from New
ork for the occasion ard entertained 400
guests with long and choice programme
Miss Emily Minant,a Mrs. Gerrftt Smith.
Mr. Woodruff and Mr.. Powers were the yO-
caiists,- and the Beethoven String Quartet
and Mr.. Gerritt Smith the instrumentalists.
The house Is spacious new one and its in
terror the finest example Of decorative art
and effects in the city. Everything is rich,
htuaSs and harmonious, and as one artist
had charge of all the interior finish and
furnishings, it is all consistent. The musi-
clans stood in the large hall Of the house
and the guests seated the different rooms
I looking upon it, or all up the staircase
and It's landings, made wonderfully
pretty scene. 1t was picture to the eye in
grouping and arrangement and the pretty
women did honor TO the occasion by their
prettiest gowns. The hostess wore
riyiere of diamonds ON her neck, every
stone Of which was of unusual size, and
others IN the company spanked with rival
jewels. 80 CO %
Pretty Miss Mitchell, with a single dia-
mond star above her brow, wearing a SIM
pie little blue gown and carrying a great
BUNCH OF green roses, gave a treat not
down on the programme, as she entered
late from dinner and crossed the hall to
greet her hostess. Even the musicians for
| got themselves in looking at the vision of
beauty.
Mrs. Mckee in q CHI arming gown of white
satin sprayed over with g6ldenrod over a
petticoat0t golienrod yellow brocade and
bodice glistening with networkssof amber
beads, came from the Waite House.
/ OF the Cabinet families Secretaries Wins
dom. Noble and RuslS were there with their
| families and IL was a. representative four
hundred of all the rest OF official and resi-
dent society. The programme was not con-
Guided until midnight. when an elaborate
supper was served.
For muslcaes there is a perfect rage inst
now, and ut Mrs. 0UearstS and Mrs. Wanna
maker there were also musical companies
this week. Lectures and readings ars also
the go, and wlthsthe rush Of Lenten dissi-
patton there is also some thing of Lenten
tion to the regular literary society that has
been in existence for years, Mrs. Dahl
green has instituted series of authors
| readings, where resident writer's present
poems and papers Of interest. DR.. and
MIS- CaoelI nave given Il dinner to Charles
dudley Warner and one to Thomas Nelson
Page, followed by large evening companies,
which they addressed. There have been
numbers OF really literary lights here
within the past few weeks, and also heads
nt liz han -.
progress OF the Copyright Bill through the
dllatory committee Of the House,.
THE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES..
The scientific societies of the city support
course of lectures at the National Museum
each winter and spring and a wide range OF
subjects is covered. One lecture by Profess
sor William L. Harris was an exhaustive
study Of 1.-THE Madonnas of Raphael and
Holbein," in which the whole theoryf
motive and method of each master were an
alyZed. Il was illustrated by lantern slides,
as was the lecture of this week on 'The
Salmon OF Alaska" by Professor Tarleton
Dean Oh the Smithsonian Institution. Pro-
lesser Beans lecture was d most interesting
account of the seventeen species of salmon
known to Alaska and his summer among
the canneries, aud from such supreme
authority on lsh, and salmon in particular,
came many amusing and amazing fish sta-
rles. His lantern slides were from Mega
tlves that he made himself, 9and were the
clearest, shalpest most beautlful pictures
OF the scenery, the industrial establish
ihents ana processes around Kodiak Island.
The lecture-room at the museum is well
arranged for lantern lectures The gas is
turned down without u squeaky-b0oted ian
lt0r making the rounds; and by an electric
button, the lecturer signals for the change
OF slIles, instead of striking the floor with
the pointer, alter the manner of Miss Ed
wards ana sother lantern lecturers. A COM
Ing lecture at the Museum on yachts and
nnachtlhg VIII pc given by MIR. Edward
burgess, the great designer of racing
yachts. With lectures at the new Catholic
University ON scientific subjects, lectures
ln French and German at the Columbian
UnlVerSty,5lt will be strange if any one es-
capes some increased store of knowledge.
Alter Boston and New York, Washington
IS having its series of Ibsen readings, and
rhllaueipbla and Chicago are to have Mrs.
Winslow as an interpreter of the unfathom-
aOle Norwegian afterward.
ART, FASHION AND PLEASURE.
The Cosmos Club is to have spring ex-
Inhibition OF paintings in few weeks. The
mlliiners are beginning their spring exhibit
ions now, and such tiny top knots of solid
vloietS or roses, aud such Incorporating
Drlms and loads OF ribbons were never seen
before. An extra opportunity for displaying
THESE spring bonnets and the new gowns
is TO be given at q series of May evening
concerts now being arranged. A queer old
fashioned house, surrounded by terraced
garden, with graveled paths and drives and
OLD Dox hedges, that stands at the head of
COnnectlcuI avenue has been secured for
these concerts. A select set of the four
hundred are getting it up and they have
rented this country-house of few years
ago from William Walter Phelps and ara
fencing 1t in and putting the garden and
place III order The Marine Band is to
play for eight concerts, and that will estab-
llsh new diversion for the residents who
stay here until warm weather. The grounds
slope away in steep terraces from which
there are magnificent views of the whole
plain OIL the city and its many great build
ings and monuments, and the place itself
Will be pretty sight with its lantern
hung trees and electric lights. Washington
has long needed some such resort and gath
ering place for spring and summer evenings,
and now that it is certain thing the wonder
out it.