The Washington times., 1894-11-18
SOCIAL SAYINGS AND DoINGs.

The fact that the President attended the
ceremonies held at the Russian legation on
the 9th instant in memory OF the late Car,
Alexander III marks the first occasion that
President OF the United States during his
term of office has in his official capacity
entered foreign legation, seems altogether
1t is a wel-known fact that the President,
never accents any invitation either to dinner
or a reception at foreign legation and that
throughout the term of his office as Chief
Magistrate of the United States he never
upon any occasion enters the doors of lega-
ton. The reason for this is, however, by no
means so generally known, and therefore in
this Connection it will be of interest to state
that it is because in so doing he is conform
ing TO one of the unwritten laws of the
Constitution. AS the legations in Wash
ington are each under the flag OF the coun-
tries represented, they virtually, for the time
being, represent the foreign countries them
selves, into which, for the four years lndi-
Gated, the President is prescribed by tradition
precedent from entering.
That President Cleveland made an excep-
tion TO this rule on the 9th instant was due to
tho fact that for the time being the russian
legation represented church in which the
memorial services for the Gar were held. AS
there is not in Washington n Greek Church,
and as to omit for this reason the services
| that were held, would have been looked upon
| by the Russian government as sufficient
grounds for recall of their minister, the le-
| cation was made to do duty as chapel.
| This is not, however, the first time that the
| Russian Legation has been pressed into the
service OF holy orders, as singularly enough
the previous occasion was upon the death OF
| the father of the late CZar. Alexander II. AT
| that time the legation was situated in the
house on Connecticut avenue, directly In the
rear of the large house on the corner of Con-
necticut avenue and X street, in which for
| the past dozen years the legation was suhse-
| queDtly settled. At that time the minister in
charge was Bartholemi and the legation
throughout was draped in mourning, and
memorial services held in the presence OF the
cabinet ministers and the diplomatic corps.
| To those services held in that house in mem
| ory OF Alexander Ii, more than passing in
terest attached, at the time, Inasmuch as
| added to the sorrow of the minister in charge
for the end OF the ruler of the Russians,
there was supposed TO mingle the genuine
grief of kinship. Rumors TO the effect that
! Bartholemi was natural son of the Gar
| were current throughout society at that time,
and as no one has arisen in authority to con-
tradict those runors since then the impress
sion to this effect generally prevails to the
present day.
In regard to President Cleveland's action in
attending the services of the 9th instant at
| the Russian legation, it would have been a
| grave discourtesy for him 10 have remained
away upon such an occasion; therefore, re-
garding the legation for the time being as a
! church, the Executive of the great United
States of America went TO pay the last sad
tribute OF respect to the memory of Russia s
dead Gar. Among the especially invited guests
/ a.
was Hon. John w. Foster. to whom the in
vitation was extended on account of his
having been minister to Russia during the
lifetime of Gar Alexander IL
To be a woman in Washington society at
the present time and have no interest or ac-
tive participation in the bicycle craze is
deliberately 10 count ones self out of the
| swim. 1t is the fancy of the hour and has
taken hold of the fashionable world with such
force that the pros and cons of adopting the
| Tuxedo suits are now being discussed with
| all the ardor OF an International affair inyolv-
ing the welfare of nations. The craze was
first started among the Washingtonians dur
ing the past summer while they were saunter-
ing through the time at New London, Mar
! rGgansett. and Newport. At those places the
| teacher came regularly from New York sew
eral times week and so successfully inocu-
lated the Washington contingent that the
|
back to the city, and at present RACES at fever
heat. Every one apparently. irrespective of
age or avoirdupois. is going in for bicycling,
and at the establishment where the lessons
are given one can witness the funniest sights
imaginable in this respect. Last spring
some of the more advanced spirits Began
their lessons in bicycling and not
content with exercising at the school, made
up parties and after dark adjourned TO the
White Lot and cut pigeon wings and all man
ner of unlooked-for eyolutions upon the wheel
and bit the dust of the broad dIiveways times
innumerable. There were great larks. how
ever, and as no accident of any great moment
occurred the after-dark excursions on the BIZ
cycle were kept up. Now the present rage
for bicycling aims at greater things than rid
ing in the White Lot after dark. 1t has taken
q far greater hold upon society than the wise
acres could ever have foreseen, and the out
como of the present rage for cycling means
that as soon as proficiency i'll the art is at
tanned Connecticut avenue is to be the grand
promenade on which the devotees of the wheel
will disport themselves on bright afternoons.
Among those who have already attained
somewhat of degree Of proficiency are Mrs.
Gordon Mckay, Mrs John Rodgers, Mrs. Rob-
ert Fitch Shepard. Mrs. Viele. Mrs. Poor. Mrs.
! William May the Misses Wallach the Misses
Hoy, Miss Patterson and Miss Sheriff.. With
such patronage as this inaugurated in Wash
ington under the most exclusively fashionable
patronage, bicycling from this time forth is a
go. II came once before, hovered for some
time on the horizon of the great mass of the
people, and then vanished. This time it has
come to stay.
Golf is another fad OF the hour that has
invaded the precincts of upper tendon in
Washington society, and, entering the strong
hold, has come to stay. The golf links over
and above which the fashionable world will
disport itself from this time henceforth, is
situated near Fort Myer. They have been
put In excellent condition. and with grand
flourish of society's trumpets, the popularity
of the game is to be noised abroad Mr.
Fraser, formerly of New York, and for the
past three or four years resident of Wash
ington, has been elected president of the golf
club. The tocsin has been sounded, the piper
Is about to play, and all society that can, by
hook or crook, be included in the golf club,
will shortly begin TO dance. Literally, this
phase of the question is to take place, as Mrs.
Fraser has announced to friends her intention
to give in the very near future an entertain
ment intended to open the golf club festivi-
ties. The ball thus set in motion will need
no added impetus to roll straight through the
gateway of success. Whether or not the en-
tertainment il to be given IN the splendid new
house on the correr of r and Twentieth
streets com pleted last season by Mr.. and Mrs
Fraser is not determined. 1t is possible that
the golf links may be the scene OF the festivi-
ties. In thar event the world of society will
drive over the Aqueduct Bridge, with jingling
harness and the smartest showing of liveried
attendants and cockaded coachmen.
The latest developments in the Divonne-Au-
denreid case are eagerly looked for by soc-
ETY., and the tidbits in this connection are
fallen upon and devoured with avidity. The
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