The Washington times., 1894-12-23

known IN many years is tue unlNorS;l Nerdlct
In regard TO the present month in society.
The fact that the season will this year be
very short one has undoubtedly had mueh TO
do with the matter and made many hasten TO
get in their desired entertainment before the
great rush that is inevitable after the first of
January However the stringency of the
times may be apparent in other cities, there
is little. If any. trace Of such state Of affairs
in Washington. The food gates of enter
tanning have been opened and society has
been fairly inundated with invitations 10
wine. dine. dance and make merry at high
tide throughout The short time that society
will have IN which 10 enjoy its merry-making
before the Lenten season brings things 10 a
standstill
Thursday has been the day selected by the
President and Mrs. Cleveland for their state
entertainments this season. the first of these.
the Cabinet dinner, having been set for Thurs
day. January g. Mrs Cleveland will hold
but one Saturday afternoon reception, the
date OF which has been fixed for January 26,
when, from to O'Clock. the public Will be
received. or at least such portion as can be
passed through the Blue Room. during those
two hours. This season society will see far
less Of Mrs. Cleveland than during any pre-
cedIng winter she has passed in the White
House. The reason fer this is because she
has elected TO accept neither luncheon nor
dinner invitation, with the exception OF the
Cabinet dinner. either in the Cabinet or out
side OF that body Of the elect.
Furthermore the idea of entertaining eX-
tensively in the matter OF luncheons and din
ners with which she came 10 Washington at
the outset Of the present administration has
been wholly abandoned for reasons best and
only known 10 herself and the President.
This is to be regretted, for. 10 have the White
House the hub Of the great social wheel of
en- ertaininG in Washington society always
makes the season far more brilliant than is
otherwise possible. 1t cements the pleasant
relations that should in each administration
exist between the official and resident society.
II is only occasionally that Mrs. Cleveland de-
parts from her rule and sees callers in the
morning. so that when il does happen the
fortunate one should esteem it An especial
favor.
This does not mean. however. that the
afternoon receptions in the Red Room, that
were so distinctive feature OF last seasons
social programme viii this year be omitted.
There was no publicity given these little
gatherings last winter. nor VIII there be this
winter as Mrs Cleveland's wish is 10 have
all mention of them kept out Of the papers.
We're II otherwise their social character would
be destroyed in great measure by large con-
tingent of the uninyited who would make
their way TO them. As IL is every one now
-Understands that unless they have received a
note from Mrs. Cleveland or been verbally
apprissd by her of the fact that their presence
would add TO her pleasure on such occasions
their attendance should be in the vocative.
Mrs. Cleveland has been spending all her
time during the past week in visiting the
large stores on the Avenue and Z street In
order TO accomplish her Christmas shopping.
The idea that the Presidents wife has an i'm
munity from such obligations Is very mis-
taken one. Time WAS when Mrs. Cleveland's
appearance in any of the shops was the sig
nal for such a dense gathering of people 10
stare at and follow her as to be extremely
discomforting to the object OF such attention.
Now. however, this state of affairs happily
no longer exists. The people have grown
accustomed TO the sight OF the Presidents
wife, and she can enjoy like any other less
exalted mortal walking about inspecting and
selecting Christmas presents without fear that
her every move will be followed by curious
eyes and the things selected by her made the
subject Of present and future comment in and
out Of the papers.
Mrs. Perrine arrived in Washington on
Thursday and will spend Christmas with the
President and Mrs. Cleveland at the White
House.
There is a very notable tendency in the
ultra-fashiCnabe set in Washington society to
adopt the French fashion of arranging the
hair this winter. This means n return to the
old-time distinctly ugly and unbeeoming
style OF crepe. 1T means dispensing with the
effort to bring out the natural glOssiness of
the hair and doing away with the simplicity
Of arrangement that has Icr so long prevailed.
II means the restoration OF crimping-irons
and q generally frizzy appearance in place of
what was eminently becoming. 1t means
further a very decided effort toward the re-
vival Of those abomInations known as water
falls II Is a movement OF the retroGrade
order that should not be tolerated; that
should be put down at once. Why it should
ever have been started is q mystery, since it is
destructive 10 tue last degree to any youth
fulness efappearance. 1t makes the debutante
look artificial and as though she were well up
in the thirties, while with the matrOn 1t plays
havoc in the matter OF looks which she should
be most careful TO avoid. 1t may be all well
enough for dowagers and persons well ad-
vanced in life, but by the woman under fifty
Il should be given the widest possible berth.
There are plenty Of European fashions that
can be introduced in the matter Of dress with
advantage to society in Washington as else
where but when il comes 10 creeping the hair
and arranging il rabbit-ear fashion, with the
Wind-up Of ugliness and dunbecomingness in a
monstrous waterfall then it is surely time for
protest to be entered and a vigorous crusade
TO be begun 10y all sensible people.
Another French fashion that appears to be
gaining considerable ground especially dur
ing the present season in Washington. is that
Of rouging. II is practice that never de-
ceives any one. no matter how ar.istically the
work may be accom- plished. and the woman
who lends herself to such makes in the eyes
OF society morally a pitiahie spectacle OF
herself. 1t is a practice borrowed from the
demi-monde that had better be left exclusively
20 that class as their badge.
Mrs and the Misses Brice are now on the
ocean oD their way home 10 this country. It
Is expected that they will take their Christ
mas dinner in their residence on Lafayette
Square and preparations there are going for
ward TO that end. Their arrival will conduce
very perceptibly to the gaiety Of the season.
g Gen. and Mrs Perry have gone to Florida,
and from there will 90 to Bermuda to spend
the winter on account Of bronchial trouble
from which Gen. Perry has been a sufferer for
some time.
Among the weddings that will mark the
month OF January IN the fashionable calendar
will be those of Miss Mary Wallach 10 Mr.
Ned Mitchell, of Connecticut; Miss Stoughton
60 Mr.. Clifford Richardson, and DR.. Glaze
/, brook TO Miss Jane Cox.
Mrs. and Miss Lucille Blackburn have ar
rived in Washington for the season and are at
the Normandie for the winter. Miss Corinne
Blackburn is at present in Brussels where
the gay season is at its height. Early In De-
eember with Miss MeLanahan she will accom-
pany United States Minister and Mrs. Ewing
10 London, where the young ledies will be for