The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-01
WASHINGTON
SOCIETY NOTES.
Ruhamah'S Chat About Events in the Cap
itdl Of the Nation.
Fine Weather and Calling Days-The New
Japanese Minister-senor Mendonca
From Brazil-Alaska Notes.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 23, 1S91.-Never did
social season have such admirable weather
for its January weeks. Clean streets and
clear skies have made the four hundred, the
hackmen and the four-footed ministers to
such pleasures equally happy and that I'M
welcome visitor to any city, the beautiful
snow, has mercifully stayed away. In con-
sequence the afternoon calling, which is such
a visible feature of Washington winter life,
has gone briSkly on. and then there is such
dashing of carriages to and fro on the up
town streets on six aftern oons of the week
as to make the residence portion of the city
more animated than any other part. Every
woman calls on every other woman she
knows and ought to or wants to know,
and to this considerable throng is
added that class of idle, well-dressed
who in all other cities have to haunt the
shops, promenade the shopping streets and
patroniZe theater matinees to kill time and
show their fine clothes. Here the wide
open door of official homes give them an
opportunity and an ElySian field in which
to roam. While their visits carry no weight
and bestow no positive pleasure upon the
patient hOstesses, they still do noble duty,
as richly and well dressed background
against which celebrities may shine, ana
thronged room is always a pleasant evil
dence of popularity. From house to house
they go the rounds. well received and hos
pltably entertained at each one, leaving
their cards and receiving the cards of the
official hoStesseS by messenger in return.
This all stimulates the plate-engravers' and
card-prlnters' business, and the stationers
do rushing trade In visiting cards during
the mldwinter months, thousands a day GO
ing
OVER THEIR COUNTERS.
The annual charity ball for the Children's
Hospital was one great event of this week,
and the affair itself was the most crowded
and brilliant of many seasons. All the
most eminent social names were arrayed
in the list OF managers, patroueSses and
Floor Committee, aud there was rivalry of
new and handsome gowns. The President
and Mrs. Harrison came with the group of
Cabinet families from dinner at Secretary
RuSk's, and making the tour of the ball
room spent q Soclable half-hour with the
company. Mrs. Mckee and Mrs. Russell
Harrison were detained at home by the ill
ness of their children, who have kept these
young mothers prisoners to the White House
for some days back. Little Marthena Har-
rison is recovering from an attack OF pneu-
monia that caused the greatest alarm in the
household. Mrs. Harrison was close at
tendant in the sck-room, going upstairs
from an official dinner or reception to ex-
change her rich gown for warm wrapper;
and sit by the little ones bedside until
morning, ana III that way only insur;nS that
her daughter-Il-law took any rest at all dur
ing the twenty-four hours. Then young
Benjamin Mckee came down with an attack
| of tonsilitis and could only be comiorted py
| his grandfatnerS visits.
The alterations and contrasts of life
| have been well presented during this week
| in the White House. The whole family life
has conferred about the little people whose
| illnesses We're alarming, but three large en-
| tertainments were on--the state dinner to
the diplomatic corps, the state reception to
| Congress and an afternoon reception by
| Mrs Harrison. The brilliant companies
came and went, there We're lights, flowers
and gay scenes below, with the Marine Band
! playing bravely just under the darkened
room, where the little girl lay so ill; but
| only the illness of the President himself can
| defer these state events, in which so many
officials figure, and private life gives way to
| public duties.
| The new japanese Minister and Nine. Ia
| teno met their diplomatic colleagues for the
| first time at the state dinner at the White
! House on Tuesday evening.
! MINISTER TATENo
| Arrived last week in time TO present his
Credentials and 60 through the necessary