The morning call., 1891-03-29
WASHINGTON,
TEE GAY CITY.
What Is Going On in Society Circles
at the National Capital
The Bernhard Furor-Young Mckee Enter
talns Young Friends-The italian Minister.
New Minister From Peru.


SIeN'ai " 4hE cONUAf tALIs
WASHINGTON, March 30, 1S91.-'rhe city
has not lacked excitement during this week
OF penance Nothing in Lenten regulations
prevents the faithful from attending the dog
snow, and before and after church society
meets and talks before the rows of kennels
at the riding school. Bedivere, the SPLEEN
uld 81. Bernard, is the prize animal and the
chlef object of interest, and nothing could
De inner than the gravity, the repose, the
dignity OF this splendid creature. While a
hundred small dogs yep and howl and bark
without ceasing Bedvere is calm and well
contained. One has a curiosity to know
what 1t might be like if those jaws were to
part and the huge creature should lift up
ais voice to bay or howl.
More unusual than this and more COM
pellIng has been the week of Bernhardt, and
beginning with slim audience on the first
night, which called forth some extreme re-
marks from the gifted tragedienne, the
dlVlne Sarah has steadily worked the commu-
nifty up to fever heat with these last nights
OF Cleopatra. The diplomatic corps have
attended as a body every night and all who
understood or who could even look as if
they understood French, have hung on her
nave Interested womankind beyond her
lines, and her Interpretation Of Cleopatra
mas been as nothing compared to her dress
ing Of Cleopatra. That marvellous swathing
in yards and yards of pale crere has dtfed
any lmltatOr, and her leweled head-piece
and ceinture have daZzled every behOlder.
Truly there is no one like her, and Bern
hardt is the theatrical incident of the cen
tury.
Mrs: Harrison continues her series of
lN1 nf Ia NNIsRly
roses succeeded the first party, where every
thing was in violet. with tiny baskets OF
violetS as favors. Quite as important as
these midday feasts to maids and matronS
was the birthday party of
MASTER BENJAMIN HARRISON MKEE
On Monday. That young man, having
reached his fourth year, was arrayed in his
first pair Uf trousers, trirkcd out with
Tuffted shirt and made host 10 fourteen other
youngsters. Fifteen high chairs seated the
company, and a simple menu, with many
tricks, toys and surprises, delighted them.
The orchestra of the Marine Band played
all the tunes popular with such Juveniles.
and they danced to 'Annie Rooney" anu
screamed with delight when that air began
TO dance from the strings. The President
looked in upon the gay scene for awhile,
and Mrs. Harrison and her daughter, with
MIR. Mckee, danced with the children and
led in their pretty games.
There was official CONSERVATION when the
news of the New Orleans riot reached the
city, and the excitement and wrath of Baron
Fava, the Italian Minister, was intense
Baron Fava is the dean of the diplomatic
corps-the tallest slimmeSt possible man,
with gray side whiskers, prominent nose,
and peculiar countenance altogether. He
always wears single eyegla5S, and carries
his head forward in an alert, intent pose.
lie is quick and nervous in speech and
movement, restless ard eXcitabe and the
fTOm Now Orleans arl- in,
powder magazine. 1t speaks volumes for
Mr.. BIaine'S tact and magnetism that he
could calm and restrain Baron Fava to the
extent that he has. Baron Fava was about
to start to Europe Tor tie summer, but this
little international episode prevents his
leaving until some solution of the situation
is reached. Baroness Fava, who is in poor
health, has not been in this country Tor
several years. During President Arthur's
time she was quite prominent in social life
but has cared little for Washington since
those gay winters, passing most of her time
in New York when on this side. Baron
Faya'S son is a civil engineer, who has
adopted America for his home. and Mr..
Francis Fava has been very busy of recent
years IN surveying, Subdividing and plating
the suburban tracts about Washington,
which have had su-h great bo1ms.
A NEW PERUVIAN MINISTER
Is soon to arrive and farewell entertain
ments to Mr.. Hansen of the Russian Lcga-
tion are still succeeding one another. The
latest entertainment was costume dinner
party of men. and the DISCUSSES and make
ups were very well done Many of the for
eign circle are planning tours to Europe
this summer, and Postmaster General Wan
amakeT'S family will soon sail to pass the
time until next autumn in foreign travel.
The Attorney-GeneraPs elder daughter,
Miss Florence Miller, goes abroad with
party of friends. and the Chief Justices
daughter Miss Grace Fuller. whose we'd
ding occurs in Easter week, will make a
wedding journey across the water. Mr.. and
Mrs. Russell Harrison and Mrs. Mckee
have been very seriously considering
Minister and Mrs. Lincoln and make a trip
TO England. Mrs. Lincoln is very anxious
to present these two young countrywomen
of hers to her Majesty, and the beauty of
Mrs. Russell Harrison would surely make
her the success of the season over there.
Were there not the temptation of the Cali
fornia trip these distraught young matrons
could more easily decide what to do, but the
Pacific Coast is so attractive TO them that it
is more than possible that the "Trip across
the water will be postponed and the one
across the continent taken Instead.
Among spring visitors are Mr. and Mrs.
Frank Il. Stockton, who have taken the
house of friend for brief season, and are
greatly enjoying their housekeeping visit to
the capital. 1t is several seasons sirce Mr..
his wife are pleasantly remembered, and
have Immediately surrounded themselves
with the bright and clever people of
their kind. a large company of distinguished
and cOngenial spirits was invited to meet
them at Mr.. Thomas Wilson's home on
Wednesday evening, and this most original |
master of fiction was the animatng spirit of
the company. Mr.. Stockton is a small, sal
low, dark-eyed man, who wears almost a
sad and quiet countenance when lie is in re-
I,,,I, ic tl,,p, cd H.
eye, whose quick Frightening and dancing
Immediately tell OF the fun bubblng behind
them Mrs. Stockton is little stout, quiet
and reserved, and it is only after acquaint-
ance that she is found to be as
FULL OF HUMoR
And merriment as her husband. Mr.. Stock
ton dictates all his stories to her, and much
of the sparkle and fun is hers the two
working together and supplementlng each
other admirably.
Before another year Washington is to re-
joice in second cable road, and the swift
moving vehicle will be chasing up and down
the avenue The many curves and corners |
to he rounded are going to make it an ex-
pensive line to build, but humane people
will not suffer the long minutes while the
poor horses drag car up the steep tobOg-
gan slide of Capitol Hill. To Western peo-
pie it has always been the wonder that
horses should continue to drag street-cars
around this city, while the Patent Office
was crowded with models of every other
kind Of traction machine, electric and other
motors and contrivances. The Seventh
street cable line, which is an air line route
from the river front to the northern boun-
Diary line of the city near the Soldiers Home
gates, has proved most successful venture,
and the cable will now sing in its trench |
all the way from the navy yard to George
town, and from the Treasury corner to the
end of Fourteenth street. A new electric
motor line now connects the Treasury cor
ner with the Catholic University and the
race track, and Washington is fast becom-
ing areal city.
The result of the California election has
been watched with great interest here, and |
its conclusion was a great relief after the
unpleasant way some Legislatures have
bad of delaying things for weeks and weeks.