The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-11
EVENTS IN
WASHINGTON CITY.
Ii Was Well That General Greedy Was
Absent From the City.
How New Years Day Was spent-The Fire
in the Dwelling Owned by Secretary
Blaine-Tracy's Old Home,
Special TO The SUNDAY CALL

WASHINGTON, Jan. >, 1891.-It was we'll
that General Greedy went to Florida for
fortnights stay after promising the sunniest
and wa.mest New Years day in many
years, as the sleet, rain, drizzle and heavy
fog that succeeded each other during yes
terday's daylight hours raised resentment
in every heart. No man could make calls
without a carriage, and only conscience and
a strong sense of duty got MIN into the car
Tiage In consequence, the receptions IN
The official homes were not attended by the
many hundreds VINO would otherwise have
divided those open houses. The Presi-
dents reception lost nothing of btilliancy
or numbers on account of the weather, and
the Marine Band playing, the electric
lights making a real sunshine in every
room. the fragrance Of flowers and the bright
uniforms and gay gowns and the hum of con-
Yer-a;ion made the interior of the mansion
quite a b wildering transformation scene to
the arriving callers. Mrs. Harrison had
most superb gown made for the occasion, an
arrangement Of pale, dull blue satin. bro
caded IN gold and combined with mousseline
de sole, emb oidered with gold and jeweled
beads and caught with clusters of blue
ostrich tips. Mrs. Mckee in pale pink
crepe and Mrs. Russell Harrison in pink
bI0cade and Mrs. Dimmick in,her morning
toilet of black silk and net made up the
family group, but stood back of the line of
the receiving party, and with a score of
assistants passed gay greetings with the
visitors, Mrs. Dimmick, Mrs. HRrrlson's
niece, is perman ent member Of the White
House family, aud has been since the death
Of her mother, Mrs. Scott Lord, year since.
Mrs. Dlmmlck is u charming young widow
OF nearly tue same age as Mrs. Mckee and
Mrs. Russell Harrison. She has travelled
ana lived abroad, speaks several languages
and possesses the greatest social tact and
genius. She is
MRS. HARRIsoN's CHIEF RELIANCE
And most invaluable assistant. and with
these three agreeable and wel-equipped
young women in the White House family
very bright and gay set are drawn there
hon-onclally and the house has social at
mosphere and individuality of its own.
Two Of the Cabinet families found the
day full Of painful "reminiscences to them,
and Secretary 1racy, alter Offering his con-
CALCULATIONS TO the President hastily left
the mansion. Mrs Blaine did not 90 to the
White House TO assist the President, nor did
she appear IN her own drawing-room later.
Secretary Blaine went over to the White
House With his TWO daughters, and Miss
Hattie Blaine and Mrs. Damrosch did the
bonors of their fathers house, with the as
sistance Of several frieds. Miss II attic
Blaine's simple white crepe gown, with
lunches Of purple and white yiOlets at her
Oelt was more becoming and effective than
all the rainbow combinations conc0cted by
the dIessmakers for other people for the
day, as this thoroughly charming girl has a
popularity not won nor affected by her mil
llnery at all just as lie hurried home and
The members OF the diplomatic corps began
to arrive, all the telephones in town rang up
their subscribers to tell them that Mr..
BaIne's great house on Dupont circle, oe-
eupied for these SIX years by the Letter fam
lily OF Chicago, was on fire. With calmness,
sniilingly through the ceremonies for the
next hour, and was the life and wit of the
gay breakfast party. By that time word
Came that the IRE was out and the house
ruined by water.
Meanwhile Dupont circle neighborhood