The morning times., 1895-12-08
SOCIETY NOW LOVES
A WELL-T0LD STORY
Art to Tell 1t Is the Open Sesame
to Many Homes.
Mrs. Cleveland Giyes Tea to the
Cabinet Ladies-Many Brilliant
Affairs of yesterday,

There is a regular craze for anecdotal
wit In Washington society just now. The
clever recontcur was never ST. much in de-
mand and reputation for making point
IN fashion that will please aud amuse a
table full of well dressed, Travelled, smart
folk is as good for dozens of small but
perfect dinners and an unlimited number
OF teas and Iuncheons thepossession of
titles, estates and q castle up to its battle
ments in debt.
The women are readily adapting them
selves to the existing condition or affairs,
and here and there thoroughly coached
debutante may be heard telling a story
with real Partisan dash and vim. Rosy
lips lend themselves prettiiy to recountiug
summer adventures or hearsay contradjc-
tons, as they rapidly sketch in delicately
chosen words situations that a masculine
Interpretation would coarseu.
Matrons of dignity, of social and mental
weight, have picked up the notion and are
handling it with strength, one woman es-
| pecially prominent having developed an
ability for grotesque phrasing, suggestive
| of nothing so much as Aubrey Bea rdsley's
| art.
Laugh and grow fat" says the axiom.
| Washington society is in danger OF most
unbecoming adiposity if danger lies In
not taking its pleasure sadly"
| among DTlSHItsb NOLicl III klNniB
full value to an amusing incident Is Lady
| Paun cerote. Not often and then to a
chosen few is this power given full sway,
| but her sense OF fun and power Of communi-
| eating her impressions are unlimited.
Among the men Durham White Stevens
| of the japanese legation, reigns supreme.
He is by all odds the finest raconteur At the
capital, aud his wilt and droll word effects
are put in play for incidents and accidents
| throughout America, Europe aud the Orient.
Mr.. Leigh Robinson, Mr. Thomas Nelson
Page Mr.. Alvey Adee and Mr.. Francis x.
Thurber are among q number OF men who
are endowed with the power bow so highly
valued by the Medes aud Persians OF society.
| Mrs. Cleveland gracefully raised the
social baton OF official society yesterday
afternoon by giving luncheon in honor
of the Cabinet ladies.
The table was prettily arranged With a
center piece OF camelias and ferns. and
beside each plato was laid q big SNOW
white chrysanthemum as favor.
Those present were Mrs. Olney. Mrs.
! Lamont Mrs Smith, Mrs. Harmon, Mrs
wilson. Mrs. Carlisle, Miss Morton, only
| Miss Herbert being missing, to complete
! the charmed circle.
| These attractive women thoroughly en-
| joyed the delightful occasion, which was
| characterized by the charming suavity
and courtesy of the first lady of the land.
Mrs. Charles II. Alden and Miss Alden,
| OF No 1911 New Hampshire avenue, gave
| a tea Yesterday afternoon, from to z
o'clock, at which society was largely
! represented. The cordial hostess received
| costumetI ha ndsomely In black triped satin,
Miss Alden being gowned in white SILK,
| OF Dresden pattern, with narrow gold
stripes.
| Assisting these ladies were: Mrs. George
| Andrews. wearing black velvet and cut
steel; Miss ClossoD, in light gray SILK
and chiffon: Miss Parke, white and pale
| blue silk: Mrs. Wood, IN dark blue velvet.
The rooms were prettily decorated with
| flowers and palms, and the table spread
with dainties in exquisite glass and porce-
lain, and set with flowers and shaded
| candelabra.
! Among those who called were Major and
Mrs. Hall DR.. and Mrs. Nash, General and
| Mrs. sternberg. Mrs. Lancaster, Mrs. Chase,
DR.. Fletcher, Colonel Mrs. and Miss Gil
more, Mrs. Cabell, Miss Morton, Mrs. Irving,
| General and Mrs. Parke, Mrs. Ba xter, Mrs.
| Barry and many others. ..t....
Mrs. Cleveland has purchased a beautiful
master has-rel,ef bv Mrs. Prescott of Boston.
| Mrs. Cleveland win send the cast as a
Christmas gift to England TO her friend
and favorite, Mrs. Curzon, formerly Mary
| Letter. -..-...-... -. .4-.-..
Mrs Rosa Wright Smith of No. 1908 n
street north west, entertained at tea yes
| terday afternoon from 4 TO Z, to meet Mrs.
| Craighill wife of General Craighili, U. s. A.
Assisting Mrs. Smith and her guest were
Mrs Vincent, Mrs. Alexander. and Mrs.
| Wright. Mrs. Craighiil was prettily gowned
in black silk. and Mrs. Smith wore pearl
colored silk combined with lace and passe-
menterie.
Palms were arranged in every crook and
Granny, making more picturesque tue gay
scene where so many of societys wen
known people gathered. The table was
ornamcnted with a mound of yellow ana
| white chrysantbemums, and gold colored
shades capped the candelabra. q
Quite a little excitement was caused dur
ing the function, two OF the scarlet
candle shades which added their glow to
the beauty of the drawIng-ronm igniting
and causing small panic. Mr.. Jesse Blair
came promptly to the rescue, extinguisheo
the flames and had the pleasure or being
regarded as the hero OF the hour
A few of those present were: Gen. and
Mrs. Parker, Rev. Mr. Elliot, Miss Elliot,
Miss Eugenia Washington, Mrs. Micon, MISS
Baylor, DR.. and Mrs. Nash. Mr.. and Mrs.
Fleming, Mrs. Bryan. Mrs. McArthur, MISS
Morton, Mrs. Kate Kearney Henry, MISS
Elizabeth Washington, Gen. William Henry
Brown, Mrs. Brown, Gen. Vincent, Gen
Greeley. s
Miss Mary Henry-Davis of Syracuse, N.
Y, win be the guest of Mrs Emmons Oh
street this week. Mrs. Emmons has issued
Invitations for a dinner In compliment OF
Miss Henry-DavIs for Tuesday evening.
hon nrrre