The morning call., 1892-03-27

with grief and woe, not for the Duke of
Hesse, but for the fact that the British
legation is ordered into another six weeks
of mourning because of that serene high
ness decease. 1t was sad enough, but al
together reasonable, that the legation should
observe mourning Tor the Duke of Clarence,
who would have been England's King and
the retirement of Sir Julian Pauncefote
and bis family from the CAV world for that
six weeks was loyal and natural. But for
that hosptable family to have to close
their doors, cancel their engagements, re-
call their invitations and decline ali part in
society until long after Easter, all on ac-
count of one of the Queens poor relations
for one of her undistlnguished German sons
in-law is rather too much. We're the
Princess Alice living it would be exactiBg
much. but that this remote German Duke,
who was never liked by the Queen and who
was taken by the ears like a schoolboy
when he contracted his left-handed mar
rage with Nine. kolemine, should close the
gayest and most hospitable legation in
Washington is much resented by the gay
set.
Washington society is fortunate In its ex-
emptiOn from great scandals. In 10 other
society Is there so much publicity attached.
In no other city Is there such a corps of re-
pGTteFs and press correspondents eager for
items, news aud sensations The Mrs.
Deacons, the Mrs. Hetheringtons and the
Mrs. Draytons have fortunately never been
themselves to other countries for the free
dom and laXity they observe. There Is al
ways talk and always gossip, but such scan
dals as these, with their resulting tragedie
have not disturbed the capitals 400. Society
has been agGg over these three notorious
episodes as fast as they happened. aud talk
has been unlimited, but no parallels could
be instituted between such Of New York's
elect and Washlngtons own. While Mrs.
Deacon and Mrs. Drayt0n have chosen TO
fyt w Ef1rn MI r.n1c for oil Are
HetheriBgton has given sensation to Asia,
and the typical American woman of the in
ternational noYelists will have TO be made
over again.
la tire Hetherpgton affair no one has any
respect or mercy for the silly, vain, unprin-
cipled and utterly heartless woman who
caused the tragedy. In the naval set here
nearly every officer knew Lieutenant Heth-
eriDgtop, and all vote him a good fellow. a
quiet, sensible, upright man; returning
friends had brought word from japan
months ago that his wife was leading him
such dance that the poor man was nearly
craZed. utterly beside himself and nothing
like the man ne used to be. Enough officers
and officers wives had met Mrs. Hethering-
ton ia the short time between her marriage
and her going to japan to have clear idea
of the sort of woman she WAS. None who
has met her were at all surprised when
word began to come OF the gay
time she was having, nor much sur
pTlseu WDen inc news came OF the
murder of the admirer she most and so
openly encouraged. Her family and rela-
tives are utterly crushed by the disgrace of
it all, and her father has been for a week
past looking for official aid. He goes inn
mediately to Japan to be present at the
trial, ana the result of it will be awaited
with interest. To save his own neck and
prove that he had cause for killing his wife's
lover Lieutenant Hetherington will have to
prove everything against her. and it Is
most unpleasant situation all around.
The last echo OF pair occupying much
pablic space for many years in Washington
was heard this week when ex-Secretary
Rnbeson's house became the property OF
Representative Bourke Cochran OF New
York. During the Grant dayst bach Tor
Secretary of tie Navy was the catch for
whom all the maids and widows Ia Wash
ington angled 2 ;alously. AT last Mrs.
Aulick, the widow of naval officer. car
ried him off, and hers was long and merry
reign until her husband stepped down ana
out OF Office. During the Arthur admins
tration they were on top again and. much TO
the front socially. 1t was then that they
built this great house at the corner of Six
teenth and o streets, and there they en-
joyed the gay company they were devoted
10. Slowly Mr.. Robson was slipping
down the scale OF pros ferity. and having
been representative from his home district
in New jersey for term. he was not chosen
for hOn0rs again. AS lawyer he existed
here for a few years, then the house was
closed, placarded for sale and Mrs. Robson
went abroad to live. After several years
emptiness and hopeless waiting for q ten
ant, the house found an occupant In the
Tammany leader. and when the property
changed hands Ii came out that it had been
held by local bank on a fOreclosed mort
gage ever since the RobesoEs ceased to &C.
cupy it. Mr.. Robson has been little seen
here of late years. deyoting himself entirely
10 his law practice at Camden, N. j.
Senator Hill, who Is still swinging round