Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-30
THE SOCIAL WORLD.
The Gloom Cast Over the Capital by
the Death of Mr.. Window.
THE MOURNING PERIOD.
Gayeties I'm OfIicial Circles to be Suspended
The Senatorial Receptions Ycsserday-Teas,
Dinners and Dances-Ladies Who Receive
Tomorrow.

Inc death OF Secre tary Window will, ii Is
thought, virtually close the social season so far
as the participation of the presidential. vice
presidential and cabinet families are concerned.
There were still three events of interest at the
White House-that of Tuesday. FEBRUARY 8, the
reception to the army, navy and marine corps,
Mrs Harrlson's afternoon reception, Saturday,
February 2, and the public reception on Tues
day evening. February 10. The Vice President
and Mrs. Morton had cards out for two Satur-
day night receptions. tomorrow and February
T. The Postmaster General and Mrs. Wanna
were to have given two Monday night receptions,
February and 9. and Secretary and Mrs.
Noble were to have dined the President and
Mrs. Harrison on the evening of the 9th. II is
certain that all of these events dated for the
coming week as well as tomorrow will be re-
called, and the customary period Of official
mourning, which, in the case of the tragic
events Of last season, lasted a fortnight, will
carry its present observance over TO the Lenten
period.
Mrs. Thomas Wanamaker said this morning,
speaking for Mrs. Wanamaker. that the latter
intended to Immediately recall all acceptances
to outside invitations for the present, as we'll
as TO postpone indefinitely, perhaps antil
the Easter season, the two receptions
she had already her cards out. She is very
deeply affected by the sad occurrence, its shock
eliminating almost in her own drawing room.
and her sympathy for the dead Secretarys FAM
lily is intense. This feeling is shared by all the
whose planned festivities the presence of Mr.
and Mrs. Window was looked forward to as a
certainty. To go ahead now with such affairs
even without the precedent of official mourning
would be impossible.
So far as general society is concerned this
postponement or withdrawal of entertain
ments already announced will not naturally be
as marked. Many of those who expected 20
entertain the cabinet members or their wives
TINS and the coming week will gOOn with their
6ry,v
honored guests. In a measure the withdrawal
OF many from festive occasions, certainly of
those who had o long and close friendship
with the Windows, will seriously affect the
social gatherings for the present. 1t is also
expected that The entertainments of the COM
ing three or four days. or at least while the re-
mains of the dead Secretary lie unburied, viii
be perceptibly affected if not in some cases en-
tireiy omitted. After the funeral it is not the
custom for general society to observe any fur
Their retirement, as unfortunately such sad
events OF late years come too closely together.
The son and daughters of the dead Secretary
were really raised in this city, and many per-
haps most of their closer friends, reside here
When Mr.. Window was in President Garfield's
cabinet every one remembers the touching
solicitude which Mrs. Window manifested
toward Mrs. Garfield in her weeks of trouble
and anxiety, and the friendship then cemented
beside the dying Presidents bedside has never
waned in the years since. The Garfield and
the Window children are as devoted to each
other, and one of the most welcome guests at the
Window home the last two years has been Mrs
]. Stanley Brown. who was Miss Mollie Gar
field. The Windows have been p-e-eminently
home family. While social honors and dstinc-
tions came SO thickly on the head of the house
it is certain his happiest hours were spent IN
the company of his wife and children. He has
had several fine houses in this city, being at
tracted by the desiraDility of the city as a home
as well as always providing a suitable residence
for his different official terms. While in Mr.
Garfelds cabinet he lived for while in the
residence 11l6 Vermont avenue, which he built
and afterward sold. Then he built, and
ciOus mansion facing Scott Circle at the corner
OF 10th street. He afterward sole this house.
and when he came here a member of Pres
ident Harrison's cabinet both he and Mrs.
Window had great regret in the fact that they
had disposed of what would have made such a
desirable residence for them again. Their
present home on Massachusetts avenue, which
Mr.. Window leased for term of years. bears
everywhere in it the evidences of refined taste
and an ideal of home comfort.
The family had very pleasant social life
The young ladies' inherit their mothers Quiet
taste and dislike fancy, DESTINATIONS display
They started out for the pleasure as well as the
duties of the winter, which has now ended for
them SO disastrously. with anticipations of
great enjoyment The young ladies are both
musical, their marked talent in both painting as
well as music having received every posi-
BILE development, and only for the position
OF their father in the cabinet they would have
been now in Europe, studying under masters
to thoroughly acquire the greatest proficiency,
which has always been their ambition. Early
in the winter they gave a musicale, at which
the very best of the amateur talent was heard.
Then the Secretary and Mrs. Window intended
to arrange for series of evening receptions
when the illness OF their little grandchild and
her death subsequently made it impracticable
for their plans to mature the present season.
That event also postponed the dinner which
they had arranged for the President
and Mrs. Harrison and the cabinet.
They were very seriously affected by
this. the first break IN their home circle. but
feeling the duties they owed the public, all of
them were seen at entertainments after a week
or ten days. Naturally all the more love and
affection was shown the other little child of
Mr.. and Mrs. Window and many who called
at the house last Wednesday will remember the
pictures of the two little ones which were on
the parlor mantel and tables, fresh from the
photographer. Mr.. William Window is now in
the south travelling and he is expected to reach
home by tomorrow night. He has lived in this
city for several years.
Last night Mrs. Window was to have dined at
Mr.. Wanamaker's house, but a few DAYS ago
declined her invitation, as her husband had de-
termined to keep his New York engagement
She accepted, however, their second Invitation
to the musicale. which followed the dinner, and
arrived at the Wanamaker residence Just about
10 o'clock, accompanied by her daughters and
guest, Miss Collegiate Of New York. The Presi-
dent had remained only short time after din
ner. His temperance such a short while af
terward created some surprise. When he had
told the sad news to Mr.. and Mrs. Wanamaker
and Miss Collegiate, the latter went to Mrs. Win
dom and asked her would she take her home.
as she felt anything but well. Mrs. Window
Immediately acquiesced and while the music was
going on at its gayest she quietly babe her host
and hostess goodnight and started home with
Miss Collegiate and the Misses Window. I'm
known to her at the time the President. Mr.
Wanamaker and Mr.. Rusk with the Vice Presi-
dent followed in another carriage. Mrs. Wanna
maker, while grieved and shocked beyond ex-
preston at the sorrow SO soon to come to Mrs.
Window, kept up her perfect composure until
she had left the house. Then the news spread
quickly from mouth to mouth, the music
stopped in the middle Of a number and
sensation akin to terror seized the
guests when the reason for it became generally
known. From a scene of pleasure the gather
ing changed to one Of anxious concern and
sorrow. Shortly after IL o'clock all the guests
had departed to their homes and the social
season, SO far as those in official life are con-
cerned, was virtually over.
Mrs. Window, full Of concern for Miss
Collegiate, was glad to get home
50 quickly. She crossed her own
Threshold with no graver matter than that
on her mind. She rested after going in the
parlor, where Immediately the President and
the rest of the Cabinet officers Joined her. In
face and quivering lips told her the awful story
9TH her For favu n.