The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-05-03
PLEASANT HOURS.
Events of Society at the National
Capital.
The Musicale at the White House-Mrs. Gar
fields Visit-Photography at the
Depar.
Special Correspondence of THE MORNING CALL.

WASHlNGIONt AUTH ~ uo NtW EuRlduu
excurslonist Is now quite as sure to briug a
camera with him as his handbag and the other
day six excursiouists and six Kodaks entered a
street. car al once. Any day one may see we'll
dressed men and women setting the tripod and
focusing on some OF the public buildings or
statues, or pressing the buttons OF their Kodaks.
The summer tourist Is also certain to take a
camera with him. and from Alaska to Florida
the country is fun of photographers, who make a
pastime OF IL. There is not department OF the
Government In which photography Is not en-
ployed in some way even to the Department Of
Justice, where Photographic copies OF legal
papers, deeds, ETC., are almost as common as
typewriter papers. There Is fully equipped
Photographic gallery attached TO the Treasury
Department. and II occupies a little house by
Itself In the park south Of the department
Bonds notes and counter feits are photographed
aud enlarged for the Treasurer's office, and the
Architects Office has much work In the
way of plans for the many public build
ings designed there. AT the National Museum
there is a spleudidly equipped Photographic
studio, aud Professor Smiley photographs more
queer things than any one else in the city and
instructs the members of the field parties Of the
Geographical Survey and The younger officers OF
the navy, who are detailed from time to time for
a course OF scientific studies at the museum.
Small negatives of Western scenery, that have
been packed over many miles OF mountain trails
on muleback, are enlarged TO magnificent trans
parencies, and the windows along one side OF
the lectnre-room of the museum are set with
these large pictured panes. One young woman
here made guile profitable business for herself
III furnishing photographs OF buildings, interiors
and portraits for illustrated periodicals. Begin
Mug as an amateur she Is now well-eslab-
lisned professional, anu in the posing and ar
Tangement OF her subjects for portraits she is
particularly .succesStui. Instead OF the photog-
raphePs dreadful chairs aud painted back
ground she takes her people III their daily sur
roundings, at their oifce-desks, In their arm
chairs, or by an instantaneous shot gets them
when they nave forgotten that the lens Is on
them. The best portrait OF Mr.. George Ban
croft ever taken was made by an amateur, Mrs.
Henry Adams. She photographed him in his
library. sitting at The desk where he has SAT for
part OF SO many days for so many years, and 1t
is most natural and pleasing portrait and tue
only one that Mr.. Bancroft has given 10 his
friends since the negative was made.
MUSICALE AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
Mrs. Harrison gave small musicale at the
White House on Friday evening that was a
purely social affair and as informal as anything
could be III that mansion. There were not two
hundred present, and the guests sat in wide
semlcrcle In The east room MIR. hubbard Smith,
author OF Listen 10 My Tale of Woe" managed
the affair. and male quartet, Mrs. Correll, the
eontialto. and The three little Ferrers OF San
francisco furnished The programme Two string
ITlos by The FeTIers, guitar solo by Miss Adele
Ferrer aud a violin solo by Mr.. Richard Ferrer
evoked eN much applause; me fIesldent ana MIS-.
rison and Miss Louise SHEPPARD of New York
with them TO receive their guests. Mrs. Harri-
Mrs. Mckee heavy white SILK with full en-
brodered front, Mrs. Russell Harrison simple
little blue Grape gown and Miss Shephard yell
low satin ana Grape gown trimmed with gold.
This daughter OF Colonel Elliott SHEPPARD and
grand daughter OF the Nanderbilts wore not a
single jewel or an ornament with her per-
feet Paris gown, and is tall, grace
full young brunette with small head we'll
carried. For graceful greatness and the perfect
straight line OF her back and neck Miss Sheppard
is a model to all tie STOPPING and crooked young
women OF the day. 1t was not The court nor an
official company that was welcomed by The Pres
ident and bis wife, but simply gathering OF the
nearest acqualntances, and officials aud private
citizens numbered nearly the same. Mrs. Nor
ton was, OF course, the GENITAL figure after The
house parry, and. was radiant In heavy white
satin brocdded with leaves and flowers combined
with dark green velvet. Mrs. Morton is beau
gowns, ana In evening dress she is superb, her
white and perfect shoulders and arms setting of
neI ~eIi-iofmeo lead ana nhe features, ana al
ways eiliterlng with diamonds Mrs. Eugene
Hale, Mrs. Squire, Mrs Dolph, Mrs. Erust, Hlrs.
ingalls, were others hands omely dressed, and the
pretty girls In dresses were past counting. Tue
blonde Miss Ups0n Of San Francisco. in a simple
accordion gown of pale blue Grape, was rival in
that order OF delicate beauty to- Hiss Briggs O.
ST. Louis, whose gown was an artistic affair OF
pale yellow Grape.
TIE MUSIC.
The programme was printed on strips OF wide
Satin Fii666if, stamped viii tie eoat>of-
arms of the Presidents House, which Is a differ
ent coat-of-arms from the national one Even
The music was Informal IN way much OF ii be.
Hubbard Smith, who sang one Of his own songs,
was appalled, to learn after the music was over
that the interested woman iu the front row to
whom he had sung so directly was Mrs. jean
nette Thurber, patron aud encourager Of all that
is highest and most classic in the musical way.
delicate supper was served III the private
di1lng-r0om, the President leading the way with
Mrs. Morton. The ladies were seated 10 chairs
ranged round The rooms and In chairs III the broad
corridor outside, and the supper scene was as
pretty and stilkng one as could be desired by
an artist in society sketches. large cushion of
pansies In The center of the round table In the
middle OF the room was the only ornament Of the
table beside the trays Of boulllon and coffee
cups surrounding tile tall silver urns. the fancl-
fully nodded and coloTed dishes and ices. BY
haif-pdst 10 tbe company lad taken leave of
their host and stood here and there, as II hap
pened, along the main corridor. II was a model
OF simple and delightful entertainment and its
early hours recommend II as an example for So
ciety 10 closely follow.
Tie Postmaster u eneral and Mrs. Wanamaker
gave large dinner party, followed by a fecep-
ton, the same night and nearly all the guests of
the musicale drove there from the " bite House.
Miss Hauanaker and one OF her young friends
were at the White House, and all the Cabinet
families, save Secretary Blaiue's ana Secretary
Tracy's were represented. Mrs. Proctor, who
has been absent so much OF the winter, appeared
with the Secretary and her daughter, and Is
yeiy sweet-faced woman, with plainly dressed
hair, quiet manner and quiet dress
MRS. GARFIELD.
Mrs. Garfield is now visiting Washington for
the first time since her thrilling experience of
nine summers ago. She has changed very little,
but still wears her Widows weeds. Her daugh-
ter, Mrs. j. Stanley Brown, lives here, and Mrs.
Garfield will also make 1t her home in short
time. One Of her sons has married and lives In
Cleveland. second one is soon 10 marry, and
the third and youngest boy goes TO college.
Ex-senator Warner Miller has been another
visitor of the week and has talked enthusiasts tic
ally OF the Nicaragua Canal. AS President OF
The company lie promises an early completion OF
the great waterway and short water tip 10 San
Francisco In few years. Chief Engineer
Menocal has been at his home here and IN New
York for the past three week on business trip
norIhwaId, but Is now sailing back 10 the works
at Greytown.
Mrs. W. f. Darge Joined her husband at the
Sboreham last week. after trying overland
journey. Mr. and Mrs. Dargie will remain in
Washington for some weeks longer before re-
turning 10 the Pacific Coast. RUHAMAH