Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-03-29
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
Magnitude and Cost Of Social I'm.
tertain ments.

tai it cosmopolitan, and it is imposSi
bic to apply strictly the standard o
money. There are many person:
whose official position entitle them ,t
social recognition, who have only
moderate incomes. They mingle on
, equal terms with those who are
favored with greater share of this
worlds goods, and also do their par,
in entertaining.
Now that Lent is here, and the
rapid pace which society maintained
during the season has somewhat
abated, an opportunity is given to
look back over the past. No doubt in
many cases All estimate is made OF
what it costs to take y prominent part
in the life of society. 4 great deal OF
money has been spent, and while it
is customary to say that the past sea-
son has exceeded all Others in point
OF elaborateness and display, yet such
a statement is hardly correct. 1t
seems that whatever may be the con-
dition OF the money market, or which
ever party is in power, society at the
capital pursues its way without much
change. There are always some
people who spend good deal of money,
and ii for any reason they have not
the same aspirations next year, there
is always some one to fill their places.
While those who entertain most ex-
tenslvely would not care to have y
mere money estimate placed upon
their hospitality, still this feature
makes very convenient method of
classification. At the head of the list,
perhaps, stands Senator Brice, or rath-
er Mrs. Brice. They occupy one OF the
largest private residences i'll the city,
and during the past winter they have
given one entertainment after the
other. In addition to providing elab-
crate refreshments and costly floral
decorations, Mrs. Brice has secured
the services of some OF the most noted
musicians who have sung and played
to furnish an evenings pleasure for
her guests. They have, of course,
been literally compensated, and it is
within the bounds OF a moderate es-
innate to say that one such a musicale
has cost the hostess the round sum of
$1,000.
The widow of the late Mr.. Hearst
the millionaire Senator from California,
gave perhaps the most costly single
entertainment OF the season in the
form OF n Louis XVI reception. On
this occasion the servants wore liveries
of that period, the guests were ap-
propriately gowned, and the famous
orchestra leader, Seidl, with his
musicians all dressed in the costume
OF the period, furnished the musical
program for the evening. To secure
the latter feature, Mrs. Hearst must
have paid very large sum OF money.
The wife of the inventor Of the air.
brake, Mrs. Westinghouse, occupied
suite of apartments at one of the
leading hotels here, and each week
she gave tea or an afternoon recep-
ton, which became the talk of the
town on account of the profuse dis
play OF costly flowers. American
beauty roses, which cost then dollar
apiece, were lavishly used, while Or
chids and other rare ilowere were
massed on the tables and on the
mantle pieces.
There is wide range in the scale
of social entertainments, and while
such lavish expenditure OF money as
above noted did not mark all the en-
tertainments, still there were numer-
GUS receptions given which easily cost
the entertainers four or five hundred
dollars. 1t is possible, however, to be
in society and not spend so much
money, and perhaps quite as much
enjoyment is derived both by the
hosts, and the guests, when the flow
ers and music and refreshments do
not represent such large outlay of
money. All this sort of thing, how
ever, is not regarded as extravaganza
for those who can afford it. II puts
money into circulation and helps
business generally. The practical
side of society life is not fully appre.
ciated. AS q trade promoter it has no
small influence, and perhaps, the only
criticism that can be made, is that
some people who have not the means
are tempted by ambition to try to en-
tertain on the same scale of magnifi-
cence as those whose bank account
fully justities the outlay.