Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-14
THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
Some Gossip, Matrimonial and Other
wise
Cabinet Ladies' and the Bicycle-En.
gaEement of a Prominent Omcial
and a Reigning BeIle-Personals.


and a Reisning Belle-Personals.
Well, the mi-careme is over, and for all
the difference 1t made in the social calendar,
its recurrence would not have been Sus-
pected If 1t were not for the fashion If the
moment. which gives 1T honorable mention.
or course, there were dinners and some
other enjoyments that night, but none of
these events are SO singular as to create any
special excitement, for we hear Of them
every day. Now we look forward to Easter
tide as having within 1t much that will be
interesting in a social way, under the special
| and notwithstanding effects of new mill
linery and other pleasant Illusions of the
spring season. Just at this time Of the year
weddings, or, at least enga gements ought
to be numerous. and it would greatly restore
public confidence in Washington as matri-
ponial center If the world were quickly told
all about 1t. Judging from the announce
ments already made. girls have found their
future husbands in other. cities. and Wash
tngton VIII he loser in consequence, while
the men, rotwithsta nding their scarcity and
the value which Is placed upon them in the
home market, have discovered their fate
at more or less distant points. But such
little details will not detract in any degree
the wedding ceremonies and participating
in the attendant festivities.
1t Is little too early yet to give out the
tender sentimentali.ies that surround the
plans OF some willing couples whose ''souls
have but single thought" and all that style
OF thing. Somehow or other, with the
weather as full of mean surprises as 1t has
developed lately, there Is no background
for the pretty little stories of loves sweet
song. The foundation IS all right, and there
are no lack of indications that the little god
mas been attending to business right
straight along with the same old deadljness
of purpose. but romance does sound SO much
better when the trees are budding and the
ar Is as SOFT as some of the things you hear
people say. and especially the fellow who
mas Won the girl you wanted.
Another feature of the announcement so
far 1s that they seem to be rather surprises
ana the couples are SO absolutely daft over
eacn other that you feel rather a slight on
your own mental grasp not to have defined
the situation long ago. This particularly
| nts the case of one belle of last year. who
almost retired from the gay world the past
winter TO enjoy the society Of the man she
loves. He has given Vanity Fair the cut
direct to get thoroughly acquainted with
the maid of his choice, and just as soon as
uoung pa and ma can be brought around
10 Deneve that the young people are thor
oughiy IN earnest there is going to be a
wedding announcement which will create a
hutter right along the line.
IN, Ihere has been one dear old Institution re-
mamma She has come back just in time
TO redeem all mothers from the sweeping
declaration that they live only to marry
Off their own darlngs and then to arrange
matches for other peoples. One of the
prettlest things at a big wedding lust be-
lore the season closed was to see the brides
1notner following her from the altar, with
the tears trickling down her cheeks She
Gid rot care who saw her cry for she only
mad eyes to watch the vision in white sa tin
ana tulie who was ahead, and she forgot
The new woman with a leap wear pro-
posal does not seem to have vet cornered
Fer victim, or, If SO, she is not boasting
s ancut 1t. Not even the bravest Of the
pfldeS-Ic-De couli be brought to admit that
she did the asking or that her wedding is
gong to be in any way different from the
olo.estabilshed regulation and fashionable
metnoa: me fact OF It all is. that the more
the better everybody likes it. Letting ali
the girls handle the wedding finery and the
boys as wen see the wedding presents
may upset the ideas of a few advanced
foiks-but it seems a good way to lots of
people to let family enthusiasm bubble
over IN such fashion. Some entertain
just now In the west end, and they have SET
| no end of pleasant gossip in Circulation.
without which the weddings which thew
are TO precede would be voted dull and
Mrs. and Miss Mcmillan, Miss Julia. Edie
and Miss Ledyard. have been in New York
for the past three days.
One OF the ornaments in the parlor of the
Vice Presidents suite at the Normandie is
rug used as a sofa cover. 1t was pre-
sented to Mrs Stevenson during the Alaska
trip she enjoyed with the Vice President and
their daughters last year. 1t is made of
eagle breasts. is soft and fluffy and in pretty
light brown shades. Mrs. Stevenson values
1t too highly to use 1t on the floor and so ar
! ranged it as a sofa cover Other substantial
souvenirs Of their western journey are ad-
dresses Of welcome inscribed on silver plates,
beautifully ornamented, which were pre-
sented to the Vice President and his wife at
different points along the Pacific coast
The engagement is announced Of Miss
Jcsepha Newcomb, daughter of Prof. Simon
Newcomb. U.S.N, and Mr.. Edward B.
Whitney, first assistant attorney general
Miss Newcomb is one of the prettiest
young ladies in society. and is a great ia
vcrite generally. Mr.. Whitney is a son Of
the late Prof. William Dwight Whitney,
the eminent philolcgist of Yale College, and
is nephew of the seologist for whom Mt
marriage will unite two families whose
| members have attained great distinction in
the scientific world. The bride. whose
father has probably more honors from for
scientist, Is a descendant of Professor
Hass.er, the founder of the coast survey,
| and of the Nourse and Rittenhouse fam
lies The wedding is set for noon satur-
nant and will be one of the most brilliant
social events Of the Easter season. Several
bridesmaids will attend the bride.
Miss Ednah Proctor Clarke has returned
from Cambridge, Mass, where she has
spent the past few months, and. with her
mother. will be glad to see their friends on
Fridays at 1887 R street northwest.
Ex-Gev. and Mrs. Shepherd leave for
Florida this evening, for a stay Of two or
three weeks. most of which time will be
passed at Palm Beach and Tampa.
Senator Morrill, of Vermont entertained
at dinner last evening the Vice President,
Senators Sherman, Allison, Waltham, Har-
ris, Jones of California, Vest, German,
Flatt OF Connecticut, Burrows, Wolcott and
White and Mr.. James Morrill,.
Ex-Governor and Mrs. Shepherd gave a
dinner Thursday night, at which the
guests were Mr.. and Mrs. Thomas Wilson,
Mr.. and Mrs. S. H. Kaufman, Mr.. and
Mrs. B. H. Warner, Mr.. and Mrs. Crosby s.
Noyes, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. c.. Gorharn, Dr.
and Mrs. Sewers, MIR. and Mrs. Brodie.
Mrs. Carlisle, who is the only one of the