The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-02-11
IN THE ASHES.

The gay and fashionable world of
Washington, after an exceptionally bril-
liant round of festivities, closed its doors
last night and will, for the next forty
days give its attention to matters of more
serious spiritual pith and moment.
There has been an unusual number OF
weddings, which always form the most
Interesting feature of the season. And
the charming group Of young deJuta,tes,
who have contributed their youth AMI
beauty to society, have already made their
circle of friends and admirers, and will
enjoy their next winter even more than
they have enjoyed this, their first one.
There has been nothing particularly
novel or original in any of the entertain
ments, with one or two exceptions, per-
haps. The bal poudre of Mrs. HAMMOND
and the DANA" at the Mexican Legation
were very picturesque features; but the
most notable success was the production
Of the burlesque on Meyerbeers opera.
"L'Africaine," by ladies and gentlemen
amateurs, under the intelligent and adj
mirable direction of those two cultivated
and accomplished young ladies, the Misses
Hunt Of Boston, aided by the talent and
beautiful voice of Mrs. WHrLAN of Phil
adelphia and others.
The members of the Diplomatic Corps,
with the exception of the Spanish and
Mexican Ministers, have. confined their
field of entertainments to private and state
dinners. They have, however, constituted
an agreeable and interesting feature at all
Of the many large affairs given by the
resident society, and have returned in
many ways much of the lavish hospitality
they have enjoyed. Still there has been
no general round Of large entertainments
In the legations.
The dinner has become now the great
social test of the breeding, tact and culture
of those who essay the difficult roles of
host and hostess. Almost any one with
rlenty of money and expert florists,
caterers and musicians can give NAM
moth tea, reception or ball, but the swell
dinner, with all of its appointments inn
mfcnlate, the guests just enough and of
n congenial kind, and the menu and SER
Vice perfect, is altogether a different sort
II thing. The dinners of Mr.. and Mrs.
HENRY H. PELLEw, Mr.. and Mrs. THEo-
DtRr ROOSEVELT, Sir JULIAN and Lady
PAuHcEForE, the Italian and French Min.
listers, Lieutenant and Mrs. T. d. NJ.
MASON, the Countess EsrERHAzy, Mrs.
ENNoSs Mrs. MCPHERSON, Mrs. STANFORD,
Mr.. and Mrs. BLAINE, Mrs. ANDREWS, Mrs.
y ArersTrs CLEVELAND TYLER, Mrs. WAL
ZACH and others may be mentioned as
models in all the essentials that go to
make that form of entertainment per-
fection.
The great drawback TO every species of
festivity here is the extraordinary scarcity
Of men. If as many men as women came
here during the winter there would be no
dearth. But It must be evident to all OBJ
servers that the men at the average func-
tion areso far outnumbcred by the women
that the fact is depressing not only to the
host and hostess, but to the guests.
Washington is sometimes spoken of as a
Paradise for girls. 1t is an Adamless
Eden, II IL is anything. As matrimonial
market 1t Is q dead failure. II is even
worse than the average watering place.
Nearly every resident family, every Sena-
tor and many of the officials have always
from one to three local bellies visiting
them during the season. To this must
be added those who live here and the
hundreds spending the winter in the
hotels and flats. Where are the men who
are to dance with, talk with and, perhaps,
marry all of these lovely beings? The
available men for social duty are much
given to burrowing in their clubs, when
they ought. the women think, to be sim
pering over tea urn talking about the
last party or the equally thrilling recep-
tion at the Ponsonby de Tompkins.
A truce to this gloomy retrospect Let
the Punch and Judy show of VANITY
Fair be put away. 1t is the time for the
ordering Of ashes for everybody, for q
halt in the galop to the grave-memento
mori. what shadows we are what
shadows we pursue" Bismillahl