The Washington times., 1894-11-25
SOCIAL SAYINGS AND DOINGS.


were Mr.. George Vanderbilt and Mr.. Eugene
Higgins. The latter had his country house
near Morristown filled with guests. Mr.
Vanderbilt entertained at his mothers house
on Fifth avenue in order to have her chap
erons the little affairs. Among the Older
bachelors In New York society who will keep
up this entertaining throughout the season
are Mr. Peter Marie and Mr.. James V. Parker
Their taste in this line runs to small, cosy lit
tie dinner and opera parties. Mr.. Lispenard
Stewart will give, during the winter. series
of dinner parties.
This custom of the wealthy New York bach
elors has never prevailed to any appreciable
extent in Washington society except among
the members OF the diplomatic corps, many OF
whom, however, made memorable records in
this respect. Some half dozen years since il
was inaugurated In Washington by Hon.
George l.. Rives. at that time Assistant Secre-
tary OF State, and his bro her-in-law, Hon.
John Kean, who kept house ON X street, and
gave series of dinner parties during the
winter that were in every respect quite per-
feet affairs. With a few notable exceptions
this custom of bachelors returning the cour-
tesies shown them has not been followed.
In the Diplomatic corps few have given
more elegant dinner parties than the present
French ambassador. who before his marriage
gave series of them at the legation, as il
was at that time. Some prominent society
woman was always asked to chapsrone the
entertainments. NJ Rogstan, who preceded
him as French minister, also returned during
the latter years of his stay in Washington the
social courtesies shown him by giving dinner
parties and the Spanish minister entertains
in a similar manner.
Any list OF dinner-givers in the diplomatic
service would be incomplete without mention
of the late d'Arco Valley, who, though he
could not be said to be strictly included
among the bachelors, nevertheless as he was
not living with his wife, and was to all in
tents and purposes a single man, entertained
in most elegant and generous manner. His
dinner parties at the legation for so long es-
tablished on Fifteenth street. near Wormley 8
Hotel, always finished with a musicale. In
which the host Ii nself contributed to the en-
ioyment of the company by singing and violin
accompaniments TO instrumental music of
his guests. D'Arco Valley had fine voice
that had received every advantage OF cultiva-
tion. and though he never consented to siLg
in public, he rarely refused to sing for his
guests after dinner at the legation. The
Countess Leopo!dine, his sister, contributed
her share to the music of the evening during
the winter she presided in the legation and
chaperoned entertainments for her brother.
Baron Zedwitz at present the German min
lister to Mexico, whose marriage to Miss Lena
Caldwell in June, 1890, was the arst ceremony
of that nature to be celebrated in the chapel of
the Roman Catholic University in this city,
was formerly q conspicuous figure in Wash
ington society, not SO much as an entertainer
as one whose presence was sought at all en-
tertainments. Baron Zedwitz was 9 violinist
of unusual ability, and had he been compelled
20 Tir-apr in r,f,ar n,lI
have experienced any difficulty in achieving
a brilliant success Always accommodating
in playing for his friends, he WIS equally SO
upon occasions when asked to take part in
notable fashionable charities. At one time his
proficiency in the musical line was so gener-
ally the subject OF talk and complimentary
notice from the local press that some OF his
acquaintance in the diplomatic corps dubbed
him "The Fiddling Baron" This did not,
however, deter him from being just as accom-
modating after ths soubriquet was bestowed
as he had been before, and contrary to the
expectations of those who gave the name, he
appeared to enjoy even q greater degree of
popularity from that time until he finally left
Washington.
Mr.. Greger, formerly Of the Russian lega-
ton, was one OF the most generous entertain
ers among the wealthy bachelors of the dip
lomatie corps that Washingtonians have ever
known. 1t was he who, by his example, gave
the impetus TO the out-of-door exercises now
80 general in fashionable society. The paper
chases, starting always from the Russian le-
cation and having for their objective point
the Country Club or Grassland. were notable
events in which the enjoyment taken by on
lockers of the non-fashionable contingent was
almost as keen as that experienced by the ac-
tual participants, Not only In out-of-door
sports, at the close of which Mr.. Gregsr inva-
riably had a splendid spread for his guests,
did he take an active interest, but, as he was
himself q master in the art OF fencing he
sought to interest his friends in this as well
and had class OF the younger members OF
society who met on certain mornings each
week In the ballroom OF the legation where,
the lessons were given.
About the only large entertainments given
In the evening by the bachelor contingent was
the ball given at the Russian legation dur
ing the last administration. On that occa-
sion Mr. Greger and Mr.. Botkine were the
hosts. The cotillion was given the same even
ing one of the diplomatic receptions took
place at the White House and, in consequence,
did not begin until after II o'clock, when all
the foreigners attended in full court dress.
The fayors for the cotillion had been brought
from abroad for the occasion and were, for
the most part, souvenirs of Russia and ex-
quisite bits OF Swiss carving that are still
priced in memory of the cotillion in which
MIR. Greger led off with young woman yoked
undera floral douga. driven around the ball
room by ribbons ofthe Russian eolors.
Mr.. Levy, formerly attached to the Italian
legation in this city. should be classed among
the entertainers no less than among the mu-
slcians, as he was one OF the finest pianists
outside of the professionals who have ever
been in Washington. On this account he was
not only favorite. but was fer quite time
ha co,,1tu SuI IS1f% -.
society girls, each Of whom felt unhappy
until she had experienced the delight of hav-
ing the handsome young Italian test the
family piano. Mr.. Levys dinners and enter
tainments did not include ladies, as he lived
In bachelor apartments over Ritti's establish
ment on Connecticut avenue, which at that
time was favorite place with the younger
members of the diplomatic corps. There
were gay times in plenty there IN Mr.. Lewis
rooms, but the girls were notin it; which on
some accounts was to be regretted. as the
music on these occasions was undoubtedly
very fine.
A member of the corps, who, a few years
since, was almost better known than any other
in the matter of delightful little dinners, was
Senor Queseda, the former Argentine minister
Washington society never has been exactly
clear as to whether or not he was eligible to
AnaIi HAOny' ~ dii cutmdiu SeoLnluS He was
bachelor and from his conversation ii was
impossible to gather any statistics upon which
to build the structure either of the domestic
tragedy or comedy. Certain rumors, how
ever. to the effect that back of his state of sim
gle blessedness during his residence in Wash
ington there lay an unhappy marriage were
very current. That did not in the least inter-
fere with the hospitable instincts of the Senior
nor did it impair the appetite OF his guests any
less than it affected the perfect manner in
which his dinners were cooked and served
1t is to be inferred that if the
rumor concerning that unhappy mar
riage were true, the lady in the
matter must have been devoid of facial
haon fnr tNa nf