Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-10-14
THE OFFICIAL SEASON
The Prospects Of Social Gayeties
During the Winter.
THE LADIES OF TIE CABINET

A
They Are Getting Their Homes in
Shape for Inequalities.
SOME NOVEMBER WEDDINGS.
1t Is very easy to make prophecies OF what
the first winter Of the new administration
will amount to socially, but 1t il not by any
means safe to do 30. The new corners must
remember that they are not under any obli-
cations to outline their plans for the public
delectation, no matter how persuasive the
questioner may be. and the future had better
be left to take care OF itself anyway. or
course. everybody would like to know to
just what extent society masters Will thrive
the coming winter when there Is an idea,
although of a vague and uncertain quantity,
that somehow or other things are not going
to be as lively as usual, because Of the finan-
cial issues now agitating the country. A
lady. whose opinion IL worth quoting, when
asked to say something about the situation,
puts 1t very neatly: Il have been here
through two or three administrations and
have mingled each winter in general society.
never remember seeing the first winter of
a new administration a gay one, so Tar as 1t
depended on official life to help II out.
There Is nothing extraordinary about 1t
either, for most OF the new officials and
their families are total strangers to each
other and the hundreds whom they are
looking forward to meeting, and there Is
some holding back, &C. Nothing win cure
this but time. 50 consequently L would not
be surprised II 1t seemed rather quiet here
next winter in comparison with the first
year of the former Cleveland administra-
ton, when Mrs. whitney was taking every
one by storm and starting in the career
which she followed SO splendidiy from that
time till the end"
Inside Of the coming month the chances
are that all the cabinet families who intend
to go housekeeping this winter, will be set
tied In their new abodes; and then the ladies
of these households can give their attention
to formulating plans for their mutual guild
cabinet ladies are fortunate in one respect.
that In their numbers there are several well
qualified to arrange a much more formid-
able campaign than that which Is looked for
from them. The wealth of experience that
Mrs. Carlisle and Mrs Lamont can bring to
the subject and their personal popularity as
well, will. Of course. be sufficient to settle
all questions, no matter how vexed. that
prophecies as to how or when the official
season will begin can be made by one person
as well as another. and are just as valuable
in any case. Until the hrst OF January there
will be very little savorng of official gayety,
and then the season only covers a period Of
about FIVE weeks.
When the first Wednesday comes that the
cabinet ladies are to be found at home Il
viii take circuit of the west end to reach
them ALL The cabinet houses are pretty
well scattered. The Secretary Of State and
Mrs. Gresham have not decided the momen-
tous question OF a residence yet and may
mot int n IN oiypn
up the house-hunting by any means.
The home of the Secretary Of the Treasury
Is getting its annual overhauling and Is
having a regular cabinet finish given to II.
For the first time in months Mrs. Carlisle
was without guests stopping with her last
week.
Secretary and Mrs. Lamont will not be
kent out Of their Lafayette Square man
sion day longer than is necessary. AS the
alterations and repairs approach compile
ton they are most anxious to get settled IN
the roomy old house which was flooded all
the past week with sunshine and seemed
most attractive 1t will take two or three
weeks longer to finish the house completely.
and in the meanwhile Mrs. Lamont finds
1t both interesting and profitable to spend
much Of her time there experimenting the
decoration and furnishing which Is In pro-
gress in some OF the rooms.
1t Is rather remarkable that two cabinet
officers from such widely separated sections
of the country should have become almost
General and the Secretary Of the Interior.
Mrs. Bisseal IL reaping the reward for her
early selection Of q residence last spring,
and long since has had her house comfort
ably arranged. Mrs. Smith Is going through
all these minor snnoyances just at present.
She has the furniture from their Atlanta
home, and 1t gives the X street house a
very familiar look to the family. As there
were small repairs to be made about the
premises. the household Is by no means
comfortably settled yet, although that de-
sirable condition Of things will soon be
reached.
The residence of the Attorney General and
| that Of the Secretary Of the Navy are at
opposite extremes of the West End. Both
are roomy and well adapted for their pur-
poses.
October is doing very well in the way Of
weddings. but next, the month Of the chrys-
anthemum. will do even better Some Of
the weddings about which there will be
shown the greatest interest are unfortu-
nately to be celebrated on such a quiet
scale that only the most intimate circles Of
friends can expect an invitation. Especial
ly is this true of the marriage Of Miss Mae
Ciagett to Mr.. Clifford Perrin of Cincinnati
which has been set for Tuesday. the 3lst
OF October. 1t will be solemnized at home.
IN the presence Of only the relatives and
close friends. The couple are to reside in
Cincinnati, but will not burden themselves
with housekeeping cares for another year.
A wedding in which many WASHINGTON
Tuesday at Berkeley Springs. when Miss
Nellie Biddle. daughter Of Col. and Mrs
James Biddle. and Mr.. Louis z. Shipman
will be married. The couple will spend
their honeymoon in Col. Biddle's residence
there. all the family departing Immediately
otter the ceremony and leaving the couple
In undisturbed possession.
Another pretty wedding in the near fu-
ture will be at ST. Johns next Wednesday
when Mr.. w. A. L. Gresham and Miss Ber-
tina Gerolt Kennault will be the envied cou-
pie.
The marriage Of Miss May Cox and Mr..
Alexander 3. Legare at st. Johns on the
Sth Of November, and that Of Miss Warder
and Mr.. Thoron on the 18th of that month
will. in all probability. be the leading events
Of the month.
If reports be true there will be two fnter-
national alliances cemented by matrimonv
IN this city which will create considern bIe
furore one before the HOLIDAYS and the
other before Lent N ''ie
From all accounts the number Of d,stin-
suished absentees from socia; ranks tbis
winter Is growing appallingly large and
there are many favorite hosts and hostessea
In the number. 1t Is said that Mr.. and MS
b. II. Warder will close I'D their stree,
mansion after their daughters marriaoe
and go abroad with their two younger
daughters. Mr.. and Mrs. Franklin Steele
and family and Mr.. and Mrs James r
Do b nd 70 Will xrrilI