The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-01-10
WASHINGTON
SOCIETY EVENTS.
Festivities at the Capital During the He'll
day Season.
The Presidents Receptlon-so Who Were
Kept Away by La Grirpe-The New secre-
taIy of Wharf.-The French Minister.
special to The SUNDAY GAIL

never was such gay holiday season as the
one Just closed. Society, instead Of resting
during the Christmas time, was more active
than ever; and entertainments which Will
certainly rank as the handsOmeSt Of the
season were given this side of Twelfth
Night. The wedding of DR.. Paul Thorn
dixie and Miss Rachel Sherman was not
able event, and, while called only family
gathering, was quite large company when
all the Sherman clan had gathered. Cen
eral and Mrs. Miles came on for it, and the
war-breathing newspapers Immediately
made it out that General Miles was
studying Chilean maps and planning
the disposal of the land forces at the
first great battle of Iquque. Senator
Sherman, after presiding at this wedding
least in his home, was driven to the station
soon after the bride and groom and plunged
into the thick of his campaign for re- election
at Columbus The British Legation gave
Its most brilliant ball just before the old
year ended and the most carefully selected
Three Hundred danced or watched the
figures of pretty cOtillon. Mrs. Harrison
gave another luncheon to thrty5ix ladies.
The children parties have been most numer-
Gus during this holiday season, but the
day light reYel, the bread and-mllk supper,
the tatfy-pull or the candle-light dance does
not do for the modern yOungster or large
sized school-boy and schoolgirl. Wee tod
dleTS have their fancy-dTess balle, and Mr..
John r. McLean's siX-year-Old son enter
tanned several score Of his small friends
with party Of that kind this week. The
young host was miniature Buffalo Bill
Colonel Cody looked at through the wrong
end Of an opera glass, and there tT0Oped to
him even smaller
KINGS, QUEENS, PAGES,
Flower-girls and peasants. Children Of a
large size-thOse just in their teens-imtate
their elders closely in their holiday amuSe-
ments, and teas, dlnuer parties, theaer
parties and dances that last until midnight
leave them weary and worn at the end of
the holiday vacation These ambitious
young girls will have little OF novelty left
for them when they make their real debuts,
and II is rather amusing now to hear them
tell or recent dinner OF twenty-tOur such
adOlescents, served by the leading caterer.
They have even reached the point Of class
ing their beardless beauX as those who are
good and good for nothing at a dinner,
those v no can talk well and those who only
eat we'll.
Along with all this yety goes the grip.
and 1t RACES unpleasantly In our midst. Mrs.
Harrison and Mrs. Mckee were in the
midst of ii on New Years day, but heroic
ally rose up and assisted the President with
his official reception Secretary Foster was
able TO call upon his chief and 10 receive
greetings in his own home on New Years
day after six weeks struggle with the grip,
but Secretary Crisp could see no one. Gen.
erai Meigs, who was missed from the gil +
terIng line Of officers that filed into the
White house, died on the second dav of the
new year. A few weeks ago mans four
footed friends were attacked with species
Of grip, and the large part Of the gay world
that stables Its hunters and carriage horses
al the riding-School, was practically on foot
while the epidemic ragged there. While
every one has been b2mOanlng SICK horses
tie only animals affected seem TO be thor
OughbredS and fine carriage horses. The
stree;-car service, the butchers, groCers and
mlk-dealers seem not to be lncouveni-
enced, aud cabs are
AS NUMEROUS As EVER.
New Years day was a surprise to all-the
first mild, clear decently dry, regular Wash
ihgtou winter day with which any "ear has
begun since away back. The official and
public receptions al the White House were
more numerOusly attended than any one
had ever seen them Officials and their
families were all present, and from IL TO
half past y, while the eXcellcnces, honor
abes, military and naval pcrSonages were
entering in their turns, the state apartments
were crowded. Later 5000 citizens gathered
in queue aud closely fled through 10 shake
best of humOr and the best of clothes. The
house was brave in all its new fur
nishngs and decorations and the
thorough cleanliness aud freshness which
has marked the long-neg ected mansion
since its latest tenants have taken it in
charge. The general tone Of the new deco
ration has been a shade between white aud
gold, 50 that in all parts Of the house the
new electric lights falling upon such walls,
draperies and carpetings give one the agree
able sense Of gentle sunlight The ladies
were forth In such gowns, too as defed all
the newspaper talent to tell one of. and
Mrs. Harrison's palcst pomegrauate satin,
with its gold 6rOiderng and beading was
the richest toilet OF the day. Mrs. Morton
was clad from head to foot In smooth
shining mail of rose satin, bell skirt AMI
cuirass bodice, testing the greatest con-
tuTier's ability TO smoothly follow the lines
of her perfect figure. Mrs. Mckee brought
home with her this fail Worth gown Of
white SATIN strewn with
PALE VELVET ROSE PETALS
And rutIlcd with pink chiffon, and all the
ladies in line wore shades between pink and
purple that softly harmonized as they stood
together.
Mrs. Blaine, who has been confined TO her
room for the past six weeks, was not able to
be present at the White House reception
nor to preside at the breakfast to the dtpiO-
matte corps ut her own house. Mrs. Elkips
bldlC ICl utOub III tio Sdblutb ClANlf luNb
day, and every one admired the handsome
brunette woman in her pale yellow gown
almost OVerlad with lace Secretary FL
kins was the center OF a lively group all the
time, and spread waves and ripples OF good
cheer over town as he went on his round Of
calls Under the lead OF Mr. Russell Harrison
and Lieutenant Parker. The new Secre-
tary of War is already the most popular
man in town. and should he choose TO start
any booms Of his own his Cabinet colleagues
might as we'll take theirs in. No one can
resist the infections gayety, good nature,
the rush and whiZz of the young cyclone
from out Of tile West. If there are TO be
any hOslillties while he is holding the dogs
of war ii will be done as swiftly and surely
as an electrOcutiOn. The first Chilean head
that shows will be hit, and no peace-c0n-
gTess Will dare bother him while war Is his
business of the moment. Personally, he
could takc the Chilean Minister, throw him
over his shoulder and play all the Indian
club exercises with the little man. Such an
intense hard-hitting, restless hustler as the
igure-head of the War Department ought
to keep all nations respectful and at peace
during this administration.
The new Chilean and the new French
Minister appeared with their colleagues for
the first time
ON NEW YEARS DAY.
The latter, NJ Patenotre, is q handsome,
languid, supremacy elegant and dsEin-
guished looking man, with darkly melan-
choly eyes, and the calmly depressed air Of
the ennuyee man of the world. The women
have already forgotten the amiable. unos-
tentatious, stubby and dapper little NJ.
Roustan at sight of this splendid hero of
romance. and his sad eyes and dropping
mustache have given half a hundred vague
ideas of cheering his single lot. The French
Minister is the social success and lion of the
season, ami one would be safe to wager that
he is already engaged for dinner for every
night for six weeks to come. He is the
Prince Charming, who will rule; and all the
gay world of women will gladly dance at
his bidding.
A half dozen learned societies met here
during holiday week, when college profess
Sors and men OF letters are most at leisure.
'len s Il fIn Enll