The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-29
GOSSIP OF THE GIRLS.
Alice Confdes to Dear Louise the
Goings On in Washington.


Of all sorts of weather, aud on Good Friday
morning we were treated to a regular mid
winter snow-storm of the old-fashioned vari-
ety. AS you heard nothing from your faithful
correspondent last week, / shall have to go
backward to tell you that visited the "Dog
Show,' the event of that week, and that Miss
May Huyck's beautiful little Pomeranian,
Monte Carlo, was an object of great admra-
tion and took special prize. You remember
Mrs. Hildrup's big dog Rover? He had cir
Gle Of admirers gazing at him by day and
night. To the uninitiated In dog points it was
subject of wonder that he did not take
prize.
On ST. Joseph Day, March 10, visited the
Home of the Little Sisters of the Poor. The
day was wet and clustering, as have observed
1t usually is on this annual feast day at
the Home. But it really makes no
difference to the aged inmates, for never
during the entire year does Washington So
cety appear in so amable guise as on
this annual feast. While everything seemed
dreary and comfortless outside, the interior
of this home for the aged and decrepit was
a picture of warmth and comfort There
was plenty of good cheer administered
by prominent society people. The dinner
the French Minister, and one of the secre-
tares of the French Legation donned long
white aprons and applied themselves to the
task of carving, which, | am bound to say,
was done with credit to themselves and salts
faction to those served. Other prominent
gentlemen of this city also assisted,
notably Mr. Macias, Of K street, who
is one of the most devoted friends Of
the institution. Mr.. Macias is wealthy
Cuban, who has come to be looked
upon as citizen of Washington from his
long residence here. He and his handsome
wife are owners of large sugar plantations In
Cuba, and they make frequent trips to the
'sEver-faithful Isle" Among the prominent
ladies waiting at table were Madame Romero,
the Misses Hunt Miss Carroll, daughter of
Governor Carroll; the Misses Del Monte the
Misses Alice and jamie Riggs, Miss Helena
Mccarthy, and Mrs. Henry May. Mrs. James
F. Barbour donated all the ice cream, Mrs.
Senator Stanford sent the cake and quantity
offruit, and General and Mrs. M Moore gave pipes
and tobacco, so the old men will offer incense
to their memory for many days to come. Mrs.
John F. Ellis, whose charitable works are
legion, was present and active in her services
to the aged AS she is frequent vsitor-not
an annual one-the old folks felt as though
thew had special claims on her attention.
If i am tightly informed, this order of
sisterhood is very young. In 1910, it
was founded by Abbe LIE Paillern, in Brit
fanny; his only assistants were two poor
girls The services rendered the most pitt
able of all human objects-the aged and home
less poor-commended the order to the recog-
milton of governments. To-day in France,
so hostile to many ssterhoods and religious
orders, ''Tbe Little Sisters of the Poor'' are
protected by government. Nearly thirty
years ago house was given them in London,
where Charles Dickens earnestly recon-
mended them to the assistance of the chari-
table. Now the Little Sisters have esta blish-
ments all over the world.
The attraction of this week was the Flower
Show at Small's and in point OF numbers it
drew as great crowds as did the dog show.
No one has done as much in w isbinl Ton to
develop the flower trade as Small, and to
practically abolish the seasons, as Visit - his
establishment at any time of the year will
demonstrate. Just now in the display he Is
treating Washing ton to a.eat punches of
white lilacs, violets of different hues, tulips,
daffodils, cinnerarias of many vaiieties, Mrs
of the valley, jonquils, and hyacinths are
blooming side by side with roses of nearly
every variety. The rose display is remarkably
fine. There are masses of slvery pink La
France beauties, rich dark-red Ullich Bi Iners,
Of which each one is practically bouquet in
itself, both in size and price, as | am
told these magnificent roses retail
for $3.50 apiece. Then there are fine
specimens of American Beauty roses.
You know these are also impressive in size,
but never could get up much admiration for
them, as the tint is not particularly pleasing
W Liy CyO. Dup llC aCduCiuiuObS lucy are
SO exquisisely rich and velyety, and their
fragrance brings to mind ''the rare day in
June" when these lovely flowers bloom lux
uriantly in our gardens here Jacks have
weathered the caprices of fashion, and for
more than dozen years have held their place
in the world Kate, who was with me at
Small's, told me that Miss Sallie Hargous, the
belle of New York and Newport, particularly
affects JacQueminot roses. Small has fine
specimens of the Catherine Mermet roses,
which are so delicate with their exquisite flesh
tint; pure white Bride roses--in fact, few from
the list were missing. The orchids displayed
were fine and rare specimens of this costly
and curious family All the beauties | have
enumerated were placed in deep masses of
feathery maidenhair reaching in terraces to
the ceiling. The large bay-window on Four :
teenth street was set to represent an Easter
Monday egg-rolling scene, such as is annually
witnessed at the Presidents grounds The
number of ferns and greenery used in this
window is wonderful and sets one to asking,
Where did it all come from? Not so much
'"That the thing is wonderful and rare
AS how in the world did ever get there"
On the G-street side the window display is
a magnificent collection of Cinnerarias AS
one enters Small's the first thing to engage
the attention is a wonderful Azalia bush SO
full of brilliant bloom that it looks artificial.
Before | leave the floral subject / want to
give you a point on the preservation of
maidenhair and other delicate ferns. If you
immerse the frouds completely In water for
about twelve hours before using them they
will retain their freshness and vitality for
quite long time.