The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1890-12-28
SOCIETY CHAT.

ance. The tree stood in the southwest corner
OF the pretty oval room up stairs which is
called the library. 1t was resplendent with
light from many waXen taper, reflected from
silver and gold ornaments on the tree. The
tree was cedar, nearly ten feet high, and
gracefully proportoned The wonderful fruit
it bore was enough to make any little one
speechless with wonder and delight, as these
children were. There were lovely talking dolls
and all the toy furniture for housekeep-
ing, to delight little Mary's heart
and, true to feminine nature, she found
her voice first as she clutched "pretty
baby in her arms. Benjamin does not talk
half as much as his sister, or so much as he
used to. He just looks and thinks. A train of
cars with locomotive attached-such train
as hal the boys of his age in humber homes
rejoice IL, is his favorite toy. And he at once
ignored many finer things to play 'go to New
York" with the steam cars on the tree. He
acts the jolly little engineer, conductor, and
trainmaster in one. The family, grouped about
these little toddlers, found their sweetest
Christmas cheer in seeing these babies enjoy
themselves Mrs. Mckee did not prolong the
evening hours for the little ones. By 0 o'clock
they were tucked in bed and sound asleep. On
Friday morning Mrs. Mckee began to put
away some of the finer toys for future use.
child can get only limited amount
OF happiness into playtime, and too many toys
cloy even upon baby appreciation. As those
toys in use go to pieces those in reserve are
brought out by Mrs. Mckee and liked all the
better for their novelty. The HERALD reporter
dren at play with some of their new toys. Belt
lamin has put on boyjsh ways since this time
last year He now wears Scotch plaid "llilts,n
with loose, white shirt showing between his
Jacket front. He was on the floor making the
New York express up for a trial trip, with To-
comotve at each end of the train to push''fro' de
sno'." Little Mary was tending new doll, put
ting her to bed in a bed almost big enough for
herself While she made Dolly's night toilet
she sat on the bed. Both these little ones are
as plump partridges, but Mrs. Mckee SAYS
'wil persistin catching cold with every change
of the weather" Both Benjamin and Mary
have German nurse, and they can already roll
the gutterals under their baby tongues in a
most astonishing manner. Benjamin, with a
little coaXing from nurse, stood up and recited
nursery rhyme in German, with comical
little bow at the close that was quite taking.
The other nurse, who is Kindergarten, amuses
the children with symbols and instruction in
childish things. The nursery is on the south
west side of the buildng-a very modest sized
under one window, and the other windows have
baby play-houses in their deep recesses A
wardrobe, bureau, and chiffonier of cherry
with low chairs completes the appointment of
this home-like nursery Of the Presidents grand
children. Criticism seems almost captious, yet
why give empty purses as gifts to those who
have nothing to put in them.
At Strathmore Arms on Christmas night it
was not the traditional wedding bells that
changed out joyously at P. NJ, but the more
OF boarders and their friends to feast that
began with turtle soup and included all the
Christmas dishes from roast turkey and game
to plum pudding, and ended with all the
toothsome dainties imaginable. The tables
were set in the folm of an "Ln in the dining
hall, and it was a very pretty sight when the
guests gathered about them. After the dinner
was served the room was cleared, chairs
brought in, and Mrs. Lockwood Prudence pro-
ceded TO open her sd. L. Academy" which,
translated into English, means the developed
late school, as each ''miss'' in school had
reached the mature age of anywhere from
posed of such dear little dimpled dar-
lirgs as ''bud' between the ages of
sixteen and twenty. The ''get-up" of
these children of this ancient and modern
academy was wonderful, and would have graced
professionals in some extravaganza on the theat-
rical boards There were three selectmen
present TO add dignity to the occasion. They
also presented the diplomas, tied with blue rib
bons, TO the graduates. These selectmen being
all OF the Quaker persuasion, the spirit did not
move them to speak while performing that i'm
portant ceremony, and the diplomas were given
out in solemn silence. This academical COM
mencement was unique performance in every
way more diversified and sde-splitting
programme it would be hard to find. The
pupils all came off with high honors-from Con-
gresham Van Shack, who belonged to the
infant class and sang "Baby Mine" with unc-
tion, 70 the class in composition, which was led
by Miss Snow. Miss Stowe followed on that
schoolgirl theme, "Spring," and Mrs. g. Gran
dell on Headache" Then came the recita-
tions, in which Mrs. Thompson and Mrs. Hort
distinguished themselves. Mrs. Leggett sang |
pathetic ballad, while Mrs Stowe, as graduate
of the academy thirty years ago, sang a song
for which she was at the time almost expelled |
from school. Now it is considered a most |
fetching aria, and the rendition covered the |
prima donna with glory. The secret society |
connected with the academy, the "hy beaters," |
quite took the palm. The bagpipe duet be- |
tween Mrs. Prudence and Bridget Mahoney |
was followed by the Highland Fling by Mrs. |
Rixford, whose dancing was exceedingly grace |
ful, considering she had not practiced for five |
years. The infant class evoluted after the most |
approved kindergarten methods under Miss |
Snow as teacher. Congressman Kerr preferred |
gramme, hence he gave recitation on ''Ambi' |
ton Mr.. Pickett, of the National Guard,
acted the part of drum major in full uniform, |
and the school orchestra, consisting of mouth |
organs, whistles, and such stringed or wind |
instruments, were kept in admirable time and |
tune by his handling of the baton. After |
school was out the floor was cleared for dancing |
by the bellies and beauX of the infant class, |
while the graduates sat down to a late supper |
in the private rooms of the teacher, Mrs. NJ. S. |
Lockwood,
Mrs. and Miss Breckenridge entertained a /
large number of friends at a o'clock tea on |
Friday evening at their home on Connecticut |
avenue.
Mrs. Porter has arrived from Fort Niobrara
and will spend the winter with her pareats,
Colonel and Mrs j. d. Wilkins, of 1928 G |
street.
Mr.. and Mrs c.. Augustus Williams and Miss
Williams, of New London, Conn, are estab