The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-05-14
GOSSIP FROM THE CAPITAL.
Mrs. Blaine and Some OF the Lovely
Younger Women.


Mrs. Elaine ana some or the Lovely
Younger Women.
From the Hetc York Sun.
WASHINGTON, May 10.-The national cap
ital is ike a garden in the full bloom of
spring beauty. And it is just now, when
,strolling about the fiower-scented parks.
that one may see how many beautiful
Young women there are in Washington.
In the artificial atmosphere of the seasons
whirl the prettiest young women are fire.
uuently at some disadvantage. They are
supposed to owe much to their toilets, and
TO be set off by fine gowns. If they are
clever few people know it, for there is
neither time nor opportunity to determine
whether they possess more than pretty
face or Thought above a pretty gown.
Some of them, too, are overshadowed by
money, and occasionally great name pre-
vents young woman from being estimated
for herself.
Now, however, in these witching spring
days the same young women are seen in the
simplest of outdoor gowns and the freshest
Of outdoor compilations. They prove con-
cusively that beauty unadorned is
adorned the most" Gay butterflies as they
seemed two months ago, they now show
themselves as clever, well informed young
women.
Miss Harriet Blaine. the youngest daugh-
ter of the Secretary Of State, is a beautiful
Young woman. She owes nothing to her
severely plain, black gown and the simplest
Of round, black hats. Her tall, slender
figure has an easy grace that is striking,
even as she walks along the street. Her
face is oval, and she has a faultless COM
plexion, with lovely changing pink in her
cheeks. One can only liken this coloring TO
the blush rose, old-fashioned, but delicate
and purely genuine. Her eyes are large,
sometimes very dark, sometimes
blue-gray, and always express
i've. Her hair is soft brown, her
mouth handsome and her teeth fine
She is not pretty, for her nose is too large
for mere prettiness. IL gives strength to
what would otherwise be pretty face, and
makes a strong, fine, beautiful face. AS a
whole, with the roundness and freshness of
youth, she is beautiful young woman, and
pleasure to the eye But Miss Harriet
Blaine is more She is an attractive young
woman, whom it is q pleasure to meet. Per-
haps some one might sum up her attractions
in the single sentence-Harriet Blaine is her
fathers daughter. Her inheritance is clev-
erness Of mind, magnetism and tact. Added
to these are a gentleness. sweetness, aud
simplicity of manner, and unvarying polite
ness on all occasions.
Within a week Miss Harriet Blaine will
be miss Blaine, and her sister will be Mrs.
Damrosch. 1t is to be day wedding, at
o'clock, at Secretary Blaine's home in La
fayette square The mourning of the fam
lily will make it a quiet wedding, but the
company must necessarily be large, even to
include the wide circle of personal friends.
Secretary Blaine's relations with the diplo-
matte corps and prominent officials must
needs add many more guests to the CON-
pany. The bridal pair are to spend the first
week of their honeymoon at Emmons
in po1tf ND ii
sail for Europe, where they will pass the
summer
1t was the other day that a lady gave the
following little picture of Mrs. Blaine. As
an expression from one woman about an
other it is worth something: II presume
her gown was black, but l have not the
least recollection whether it was or not.
remember only that her strong face and
gentle manner fascinated me. 1t was all
very informal, and there were less than a
dozen visitors 1t was after o'clock, when
one is sure of finding Mrs. Blaine in. There
was little wood fire on the hearth, and the
big mastiff was stretched out before it.
Margaret Blaine made the tea, and served
it with home made cakes. We all sat
about and talked without ceremony, and
Mrs. Blaine was the central figure, stately
but genial. 1t was altogether delightful
and homelike. think if the world could
have looked in just then the general i'm
preston that Mrs. Blaine is an austere and
cold woman would have melted away. She
is not demonstrative out of her own family,
and when, therefore, she unbends to her
friends it means a great deal. had al
ways thought her a fine-lookiDg woman,
who would impress by her dignity and
strength. But l thought her hand
some the other day, though
| cannot even remember her gown. 1t
was her face and manner, as l said
before. Her hair is very gray, a silver
white, and it softens the lines Of her face.
Her complexion is fair and smooth as a
child's, and her dark eyes are bright as a
young woman's. The effect of her smile is
indescribable. am sure no other womans
face in Washington is made so sunny and
fascinating by a smile as Mrs. Blaine's face
Sorrow has given it sadness that is tender,
and gentlenesS to her manner that is very
winning and sympathetic. She has a
healthy contempt for pretense aud sham.
and is averse to personal notoriety. But
there is no hostess more thoughtful and
delicate in her kindnesses to people in whose
honesty and sincerity she believes.
II know of one instance that has not been
to my knowledge initiated by other hos
tesses it was an evening reception given
by Secretary Blaine while he was member
of President Garfield's cabinet. Among
the guests was a young woman who had
pu0 lcCoubIy 6uLeTeu Uue newspaper pIOA0S-
sion and who was a stranger in official
circles, not knowing even by sight the
prominent people she was expected to write
about. 1t need hardly be said that Mr..
Blaine received her as if she was the one
guest he most desired to see, and then pre-
sented her to Mrs. Blaine. At the moment
there was only time for few words. But
shortly after, during a lull in the arrivals,
Mrs. Blaine crossed the room, and, taking
Miss Blank hy the hand saidA Il am sure
you would like to know some of the DIS
tinguished people we ali read about. Come
over and stand near me and will tell you
about than 1rhnnauar. there is q Ertla I1arsa