Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-15

Psrsoaal Notes.
II looks a. il the attractions ct Fort Monroe
next week viii have rather depressing effect
on fashionable life here. All the social
strength in the way Of beaax and bellies will
be concentrated there instead OF here
and West End drawing rooms will be rather
quiet. But everybody viii not go. and life for
these will run along its merry round Just the
same - if naval rendezvous had never been
heard OF. The events In New York for the
week after viii prove strong Inducements also
for short trips to the metropolis, but the depart
ures are not likely to seriously interrupts any
well-dedned program arranged for home delec-
tatiou.
Among the crowds that have been gathering
at Fort Monroe for the great naval rendezvous
next week are many people who arc we'll known
in Washington and who have gone
down the river to participate in the
festivities attending upon the presence Of 30
many great men-of-war in Hampton Roads.
Among the Washington people who have been
at the Hygeia this week are the following:
Mr. and Mira. c. @. Duncanson, Maj.
and Mrs. Tucker, Mr.. Logan Tucker, Mrs.
J. g. Whitehead and Miss Christopher,
Marshal Ransdell, Mr.. W. L. Mcpherson, Mr..
H. G. Kemp, Mrs. H. A. Ortiz, Mrs. Lieut..
Moses, Miss Marrow, Mr.. H. L. West, DR.. and
Mrs J. W. Bayne, Miss Bayne, Gen. and Mrs. J.
c. Breckenridge, Miss Breckenridge, Dr.. and Mrs.
8. H. Griffith, Mr.. and Mrs W. H. briggs, U.
8. n, Mrs. g. W. Baird, Mrs. Graham, Miss
Patterson, Mrs. Rene Bache. Mr.. and Mrs. F.
w. Mattesan, Miss Chamberlin, Miss Molly
Elliott Seawall, Miss Henrietta Seawall.
J. K. Souther, Mrs. Henry Souther,
Thomas s. Moore, Mrs. J. c. Merrill,
Mrs. Jeremiah NJ Wilson. II. F. Clark, Geo E.
A.C. Patterson, Mrs. Magruder, Miss Probasco,
Mrs. c. Kennedy, Mrs. Boyd Smith, Mrs. B. F.
Tiley, D. J. Carr, R. A. Maxwell, Mr.. and Mrs
W. C. McIntire, DR.. H. G. Yarrow, Senator
Gray, Secretary Morton and Or. Irving G.
Rosse.
Mr.. and Mrs. James F. Barbour, Mrs. L. b.
Webb, Lieut.. and Mrs. Mccartney will 90 next
week to Fortress Monroe.
Now that Secretary Gresham's wife has
joined him here and Secretary Smiths family
will return with him from his trip to the south
the cabinet ladies will soon have strong repre-
seutation at the capital Secretary and
Mrs. Smith viii occupy the former res
idence of Mrs. Lamar on Massachusetts, avenue
Mrs. Smith is in mourning and will therefore
not participate in social life until next fall
She will be here next week with her children,
after the Secretary spends few restful days ct
his home in Atlanta.
The Postmaster General and MrA BisseiI
will move very soon to the residence, 1909 K
street, which they have just leased. They in
tend to bring on their furniture they had in
their home in Buffalo, As that house has been
leased unfinished.
Two prominent navy officers were at Mis-
Herbert's last Wednesday reception. No. ex-s
pressed considerable surprise when he saw No.
2, who had q reputation, well earned, for stay
ing away from all social occasions. No. 8 was
lady Of a reflective turn Of mind who, watch
the stream Of officers young and old,
who we're constantly arriving said, II
wonder if Miss Herbert were not
so young and pretty and attractive. il ell these
men would be in such . hurry to pay their re-
spects?" No. i drew himself up with a good
deal Of promptness and said: Certainly,
madam. the loyalty Of the navy to its chief is
so great that such q fact has nothing at ali to
do with the etiquette due to the daughter Of
the Secretary" No. 2, with merry
twinkle in his eye, answered quickly:
''Now, don't know about that. just tell you
it was that young, bright face and that pretty
golden hair which attracted me, and I guess
there are lots more Just like me. II the Secre-
tary's daughter had been an old and frumpy
creature nothing less than an official order
would have brought me.
The dinners and other entertainments at
which the members Of the cabinet have been
conspicuous the past month have completely
outdone both in number and elegance any
thing ever before attempted In the
early days Of an administration. Both
the Vice President as we'll as the csbinent Of
fcers find only one thing hampering their ac-
ceptances and that is the want of sufficient
dates to get them all in. For the dozen Of
large dinners that have been talked
about there were many more which these
gentlemen and their wives have been rendered
by friends not in the official circle. There seems
to be an era Of good feeling all around and the
desire to make the new as well "a the old
corners feel thoroughly at home is fospitable
way that Washingtonians have. which IS ofcourse
no news to anybody who knows any thing about
have been the foreign ministers. Tonight the
Mexican legation will be the scene Of .
notable dinner, at which the minis
ter and Mrs. Romero will entertain the
Vice President, nearly all the cabinet officers
and their ladies, several prominent Senators
and their wives, the foreign ambassadors and
some Of the ministers and several Of the high
officials among the new appointees. The table
will be spread in the famous scarlet and white
ball room of the legation. which has been
deliberately decorated for the event. and the
banquet will rank among the leading events
that have SO auspiciously marked the new adj
ministration.
"After all, the presentations Of Sir Julian
Pauncefote as British ambassador and of the
French ambassador TO President Cleveland the
past week did not differ from the same cere-
mony that transpired when they was first pre-
sented as ministers. Miss Pauncefote in describ-
ing the presentation Of an ambassador at for
eign court says that it is always attended with
great eciat- The state carriage is sent
to convey the new ambassador to the
palace and its passage through the
streets Is attended by q military escort.
The sovereign receives the ambassador sur
rounded by the court and the whole event is
made the occasion Of o court function of
great dignity and importance. In q country
as democratic as this we have neither the
state Carriage to commence with nor, it must
be confessed, any great desire to conform in
any way to the fashions which mean 90 much
to crowned heads and those about them, but
1t il very well to know by way Of contrast how
such affairs are managed across the sea.
But this brings up another phase Of our re-
lations to our diplomatic residents. Americans
as . class regard all the incidsntals of court
ceremonies, and among the titled classes in
foreign lands, the retinues Of iveried
funkeys, white-wigged footmen, outriders
and all the rest Of it, as q sort Of theatri-
cal fnery not to be countenanced among Amer.
leans at home without derision. But however
much Of this state the foreipners heva