The Washington times., 1895-03-23
VERY LATEST In LUNCHEONS
They Are Called Quodlibet and Mrs
Lewis Clephane Gave the First.
Mrs. Hodgson Burnett in London Engaged
on Literary Work-Her Home Presided
Over by Her Sister.

Mrs. Lewis Clephane entertained about
$50 guests at her home, No. 1925 K street
northwest, yesterday afternoon. The
affair was the first of a series of similar
comings together known as "Quodlibet
Luncheons," the proceeds derived from
which are for the benefit of the National
Homeopathic Hospital.
The spacious drawing rooms were dec
Grated with palms. while in the dining room
great banks of ferns were seen on every
hand. The menu was extensive and elegant.
and the entertainment was delightful in
every way.
Some of those present were: Mrs. But
terworth, Mrs. Col w. W Dudley, Mrs.
Theodore Bimey, Mrs. Berger. Mrs Sol
Smith Russell, Dr. T. S. Verdi. DR.. Gibbs,
DR.. Dennison, DR.. Barnard, Mr.. Wilcox,
Mrs. John Joy Edison, Dr. Edison, Mrs
Mcknight. Mrs. Robbins, Mrs. spaulding,
Mrs Whitaker, Mrs. Gilbert Towles. Miss
Bennett, Mrs. Dingman. Miss Bulls, Mrs.
Choate. Mrs. Pelouze. Mrs. j. 7. Hough,
and Mrs Robert Huff.
A charming feature Of the afternoon was
the singing by Mrs. Ralph Barnard and
Mrs. Clarence Rheem, who Were accom-
panied on the piano by Miss Bartlett.
The next OF these gatherings will take
place at the residence of Mrs. Job Barna rd, i,
No. 1906 Rhode Island avenue northwest,
next Friday from noon till O'Clock.
Mrs. Hodgson Burnett has decided to re-
main abroad for another year. she is at
present at her villa near London, where
she gathers about her the leading literary
and artistic lights OF London society The
days are filled with writing and the nu-
merous demands upon her time that an ac-
tive literary woman invariably has upon
her, Leaves little time for anything else.
Mrs. BuTnctt has considerable new work
on hand, and finds London the most con-
genial atmosphere in which to reside while
she is SO employed.
During her absence from this country her
sister, Mrs. Jordan, will reside in her
Washington home and keep house for DR..
Burnett. Mrs. Jordan's son is at present
with Mrs. Burnett. Mr.. Vivian Burnett
is at present pursuing his studies in Boston,
where his mother, before leaving this
country, beautifully fitted up a suite of
apartments for him.
One of the most attractive portions of the
apartments is the music room, as the young
son of the authoress has developed a great
fondness and considerable talent for music.
He has a season ticket for the symphony
concerts, and is q regular attendant upon
the leading musical entertainments at the
Hub.
Up to the present time Vivian Burnett
has not developed to any marked extent
the talent for writing that has made his
mother one of the most successful literary
women OF the present day. When he
was about twelve years of age he started,
in collaborationwth several of his young
friends in Washington, a tiny little paper
called The Moon, which was sold among
their friends at school for a penny
apiece.
The paper was issued once week during
one winter, when Vivian Burnett did all
the printing on q small press kept in his
workshop of the house On Massachusetts
avenue. He was so interested in this
literary venture at the time that he made
repeated requests OF his mother that she
should especially for him q novel, every
on the beloved printing press. Whether
or not Mrs. Burnett ever acceded to this
request is not known, but if she did the
precious manuscript was never given out
TO the public in the form of q book.
Mrs. Burnett is very desrious 10 have her
son given a cosmopolitan education,
and to this end has had him spend consid-
cradle time abroad studying at various
well known institutions of learning in
England and on the continent. In this
way the young fellow has become a fine
linguist and has had opportunities in this
line seldom afforded the young men of
the present day.