The morning times., 1895-07-28

whenever one of the members of the Dip
lomatic Corps is transferred to another
post of duty. II II happens tu be an am-
bassador or minister plenipotentary the
excitement In society is great Everybody
who can go is In atten dance upon the SALE
while the ambition of each and all is to
secure some precious memento OF the de-
parting foreigners personal effects In the
way OF household goods.
The customary proceeding upon such occa-
sions is for cards To be issued by the far
seeing diplomat to his friends and acquaint-
ances, generally for a private view Of the
things TO be auctioned off. This is de-
cidedly In the nature OF vanishing day.
at the Salon in Paris 1t is a great social
occasion and every one who has received
such card attends the private view clad in
their best attire.
Then it is that the willy foreigner ex-
tracts from society the most exhorDitant
prices for his little bric-a-brac and goods
generally. He enaCts the part OF host and
receives the guests, so that If among the
elect of the invited there should creep all
unwarily an uniuvited, that same poor de-
luded soul is made TO feel the breach of
etiquette of which she has been guilty.
The things selected by society at this
private view are then removed before the
vulgar herd is allowed in upon the morning
or the regular auction sale, when the public
can attend. and upon which they can
eNptDu dS UutD money as tIe aQCtlOlHeF
sees fit to extort from them by placing upon
the ma iority OF goods SO sold an absolutely
fictitious value, one out OF all proportion
to their real value. TIE day OF bargains at
the auction sales of foreign ministers is
past. Some years since an entirely diff
ferent order of things was ushered in.
1t viii he remembered what a furore of
feeling was created IN society a few years
ago when Sir Lionel Sackyille West was re-
called as British minister, and the auction
sale Of effects at the British embassy or
legation, as it was then, followed this
recall by the home government. The
cause of the feeling was on account of the
fact that the Misses West put up for sale
not only the gifts sent them by various
members of the fashionable world during
their residence in Washington, but what
was III reality far more OF an insult TO So
clety, included the old CotilliOn favorS
and empty baskets ofevery kind shape and
variety, still tied with the ribbons in
which flowers had been sent them during
those years.
The ribbons of course were old and faded,
and the cotiilion flvors presented a sadly
dilapdated appearance Notwithstanding
all this, they occupied an entire table
TO themselves in the large dining-room.
Old, useless, worthless, worn out trash
that one would not have given or even Of
fered to a servant Yet II was put up
just such state of affairs has been re-
enacted in the east. One of the diplomats
who has been transferred to another post
has not only held an aUcticn sale of such
household belongings q s he had taken
with him to Constantnopie, but has had
the effrontery to place on sale every gift
presented by society and the high Of
ficals, but has even included in this list
a gift recently received from the Sultan
himself
One of the clever women in society who
does not bear a great love in her heart
for another OF her neighbors was recently
recounting the very laughable efforts of
that neighbor in trying to master the art
OF riding the bicycle.
81 watched her from my window last
evening for an hour or mOTe-tOOk care,
OF course, that she should not see me. 1t
was laughaDle beyond description to see
that fat old thing making wild passes
in the air in an effort to preserve her
equilibrium. She was all hands and feet
1t was a sight to behold l wonder she
would make such a spectacle OF herself
on the public street. When ! first looked
at her / was afraid she would fan off
and then as the time went by the more
looked the more ! was afraid she would
not"
Mr.. and Mrs Alfred Gillette, who pur-
chased residence in Washington last
season with a view to making this city
their winter home, have been for two
months ut their beautiful country place
near Philadelphia. For several weeks
they have been entertaining house party
of Washngtonians, among whom have been
Miss Florence Adams, the Misses Reeder,
and Miss Byrd Greer
Mrs Queen, accompanied by Mrs. Rey-
burg and the Misses owen, is spending the
summer at Jamestown. The Misses Owen
had visit from the daughters of Gov.
and Mrs Morton just before they left
Washington some weeks since.
Mrs. William Read and Miss Gertrude
Read are spending the summer at Baltim ore
Inn, Cape May.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bernard Johnson have
returned from trip Of several weeks to
Hagerstown, Md.
Miss Margaret Duncan has gone to the
Adirondacks to join the Misses Davis,
who will probably come to Washington
to spend next season.
Justice Whites residence on Rhode ISL
and avenue is now in the hands of work
men undergoing the most extensive alter
ations and Improvements generally.
The interior will be entirely remodeled and
redecorated. AT the rear OF the lot sta
bic is being erected.
Justice and Mrs White, who are now at
/ the seashore with the formers sister,
Miss White, of New Orleans, VIII not re-
turn to Washington until the late autumn,
by which time their house will be ready
for occupancy. rI.fI
Mrs. De Podestad, who will be well re-
membered as Mrs. Nina Wright prior to
her tragic marriage to the young Spanlard.
is now living in the south OF France,
where she is at present deriving an income
from a vineyard. Several OF her houses
in this city have been sold snice she went
abroad directly after the death or her
husband. Those who remember the beau
tiful woman who was at one time so promi-
nent in Washington n society will be in
terested to learn of her present whereabouts.
Mrs. Bessie Stewart is spending the
present season quietly with her mother
| at their home on Dupont Circle. Before
long she anticipates going to Cape May.
Senator Stewards grandsons, the FOX boys,
have recently been to Washington for a
visit.
| Admiral Walkers family are spending
the summer at Dublinn, n H., where his
| eldest son, Mr.. James Walker, has Joined
| them after spending some time In Florida
on engineering business. Admiral Walk
! er is expected to return from Alaska in
| August.
The Misses Chinn have returned from