New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-15
SOCIETY AT THE CAPITAL
EVERYBODY Is GLAD TO ECONOMIZF
THIS SEASON
NEw-YEARs AT THE WHITE HOUsE-sENATOR
sHERMAN's HoUsEWARMING JUSTICE
BROWNS HoME-oTHER ENTER
TAINMENTS

tai Is not gay. l. is quiet. There IL no denying
that fact. The new year is well under way. but
the official year tho White House. which
opens the social season. IL followed by the usual
gayctes. as in former years. The influence Of
general business depression throughout the country
Is. to marked degree. quietus on social life in
Washington this winter.
1t Is not people Of small means, who entertain
only by expert management. rigid economy and de-
termned effort to put the best foot forward. who
compelled to pursue other lines in order to
hold their own in appearance. and therefore hod
their own In the swim" The woman who grows
up In made-over gowns: has been her own milner
with help but fashionable openings. ever since
she remember, and not infrequenut is her own
house decorator. is used to every makeshft known
under the sun. 1t is not the fashionable poor in
official circles who suffer by tho financial de-
preston. II IL the fashionable rich who feel the
stress-mlli onaires still mlionares but without
ready uns;inted Incomes, which enabled them to
entertain all the word with lavish expenditure
II is not the small houses, but the great ones
modern palaces which will not be opened this year
to repeat scenes OF sp.endor scarcely surpassed by
royal entertainments in balls and other evening
parties
THE RICH WEAR THEIR OLD CLOTHES.
The wife OF a millionaire. when asked the other
day what she would wear to a dinner that evening
replied:
"Oh. shall wear my Old brocade. I've had II
several yeas. but am not going to have a new
gown this winter. so you viii have to accept me in
old ones" Then she added. more seriously: II
mean what saw. 1t Is really hard times We. Of
course. have good deal OF property as much as
ever. bat very little ready money. I've never seen
greater scarcity Of money among people supposed
- nave plenty OF II, and who have had until now;
Dut now we are as cramped as anybody else"
Iher" Is. for once. entire harmony between pco-
pie who used to have more money than they knew
now to dispose Of and people who never had as
much as they wanted. No difference Of opinion
now exists TO mild and inexpensive entertain
ments being IN" rule right through the season
which nj the longest IS less than six weeks or as
the mother Of n dHbutante put it-"Thank the Lord
It's Just as short II can be" The line f. drawn
at big balls AMI parties. with floral decorations
costing 10 end Of money and leading 10 rivalry
which made each one a more extravagant display
than the other. Dinners take the place Of recep-
! tons. and teas to which pcopl" said two seasons
ago II was no compliment 70 be invited are
already In high favor -indeed. are on the top
wave OF popularity 1t Is admitted all round
That a larger company Of guests may be enter
tanned. and most handsomely. with less expense at
tea than AT any other form Of social entertain
/ m"nt Even mon who formerly went 10 teas under
protest turn ont this winter In large numbers. and
/ apparently enjoy th.sr occasions As fully as do
their wives and daughters The decorations 1t may
be remark'i. both AT dinners and teas this sea-
-.
this reason often in better taste.
ENTERTAINMENTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
In social life the White House Is a law unto
itself keeping 70 the even tenor Of the official pro-
grammc II three State dinners and three evening
receptions. which etiquette makes 1t obligatory on
tho President 10 give every season. lie can do no
!"es hut he lo more II II plcases him to do so
Whether hand '..nes reach the White House o.:
n0t II ~ no 81 cal Interest. for II is likely
there Will lr visible so { AZ M &C. Sal
entertainments q.
Tn" reception given on Thursday evening By the
President and Mrs Cleveland In honor of the Dipo-
matte corps was quite up 10 the mark and was
hriliiant occasion. Tropical foliage and fragrant
blossoms added their beauty to the East Room and
STATE Parlors. AMI the music OF the Marine Band
Cav" festive air 10 tho scene. The Diplomatic
Corps turned out 10 4 man. AMI II may be said to
woman also. for seldom never has the foreign
circle Included go great number Of women. Every
secretary was present. and the diplomats alone
made company OF l-o. Court uniforms were made
more gorgeous hy royal decorations and jcwclled
orders. the British. German. Russian and Swiss
representatives, who are large men and OF fine
physique. being particularly conspicuous and strk
Ing figures. The Ambassador OF Italy, tall slender
and white haired. always suggests the French
nohcman Of the Louis XIV period The AM
bassador Of France enjoys the distinction at
least It f. given him. Of bciLg regarded the hand
soonest man In the Diplomatic Corps. The Minister
Of the Netherlands. who ranks third in date OF
service. having been at Washington ten years. had
the whole front OF his coat covered with royal
orders conferred by his Government.
PICTURESQUE oRIENTAIs
OF course the Chinese and Coreans pictur-
csquc. China has the largest legation at Washing
ton. being one Of twenty-five members. including
the Minister'S wife AMI the wives of three secre-
tarics The Chinese were a group Of six. in royal
purple and dark blue silks. and the two repre-
sentativcs Of corca-the Charge HAffalrcs and the
secroiary-werc In their dark silks. When pre-
sented to- the receiving party they passed the line
with grave ceremony But meeting later in the
East Room there friendly interchange Of
many little bows and smiles and conversation
carried on In English by their Interpreters. Curl
ously enough. white understanding written charac-
ters. neither understands the language Of the other
The Chinese cannot speak Corean and the Coreans
cannot speak Chinese. All the talking is done in Eng
llsh by Jarng BONG Whan. secretary OF the corean
I.ega ton and Yen Shing Ho. secretary Of the chi
nesc who then interpret In their respective lam
giages The Minister OF China Is IA short, stout man,
with face Of such rugged strength and keen dark
eyes az would attract attention anywhere. 1t IL face
OF alert changing expression. and If an American
Mr. Yang VII would At once give the impression Of
being "A strong man Of the "wide-awake" makeup
little scowl makes his face when In repose a
trlne forbdding. but when he smiles 1t souens
wonderfully. The Minister Is man OF more
reserve and ceremony than his predecessor. but
also broader and more progressive.
ON New Years Day, after paying his respects to
the President In brief and formal greeting. he de-
clined To ioin other diplomats In the Blue Room,
but promptly turned on his heel, passed quickly
through to the East Room and out OF the house.
He * tho only Minister who has been able To effect
"A complete cnaI.se IN the personnel ot the regain
since II established twenty years or more ago
The last mold over, who was 50 nrmly lntrehchei
that former Ministers declared they could not get
rid Of him. quietly departed when Mr. Yang J" ar
rived H..
The President looked well. and Il was geherany
roma rl.eJ thn he had never seemed to be In better
spirits Mrs CleveIand's toilet was GOWN OF
white satin and lace. with diamond ornaments.
White is especially becoming 10 her ana IL s o,
without saving that she looked charming ne
ladies' I'm the line had chosen their most Deau,iuI
gowns-the Vce-Prcsldents wife wearing W nnari
satin and pansy velvet; Mrs. freshaiIl prarl
brocade and malive velvet Mrs Carlisle heiiotrope
bengallne Mrs lamont white MORE ana c [psg
plnk velvet: Mrs Bssell blue brocade ana corai
satin; Miss Herbert white SILK; Mrs; Smlth , tur,
quosc MORO; Miss Norton black Sa''" anu i''s"
point. - ,noso of m. u.x
Among other line gowns were thoie Hr cnd Mr rex
l .aAf