The morning news., 1897-01-24

SIDES.
Ling. q
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walton and how they are mis-improved
Z the remedy would be forthcoming. He
could not bring them all to the park but
ne could take the park to them, in his
Photographic camera. And that he has
done, in magnificent series of coIored
views, to be thrown upon a screen The
event is set for the evening of Feb. s. ano
VIII be brilliant one, socially as well as
IN the character of the audience Not
seat in the house will be sold, and money
cannot purchase an invitation.
But brilliant events" are every dav
matters in Washington at this stage Of
the season. First, of course, are the reg
ular state affairs at the white house. The
last diplomatic levee which the Clevelands
viii hold in the white house. was a fitting
nnale to the social side of the admnistra-
tlon. The executive mansion, decked
with flowers and aglow with electric
lights, never looked better. Mrs. Cleve
land, who shook hands with each of her
several hundred guests, wore a striking
gown of pompadour silk-a background
of turquoise-blue, brocaded with half
blown pink roses, trimmed with passe.
menterie butterflies neckless of diamonds
and handsome Jewels in her hair. All the
cabinet members and their families were
present. and the diplomatic CORPS was
fully represented, with the sole exception
of the japanese legation, which is mourn
Ing the death of the Empress Dowager of
Japan. 1t was also grand opera week in
Washington, and many of the distinguish.
ed guests, who had paid fabulous prices
for their boxes, enjoyed the novelty of
doing the white house reception between
the acts. Senator and Mrs Brice, who
were entertaining Mile Lilli Lehman in
their box that night, presented her to the
President and his wife The prima donna
was conspicuous figure even in that gor-
geous throng. Her dress of rich white
satin, was made severely plain-but oh
the jewels! Upon her head was a magnif-
cent diamond tiara of five immense stars.
the gems all of great size and purest wa
ter. Around her throat was a neckless of
very large diamonds wore above one of
pearls or remarkable size and beauty
One little circumstance connected with the.
opera, which escaped the notice of most
people is worth mentioning. The La
fayette Square opera house of to-day is
the Old Blaine mansion, lately purchased
OF Mrs. Blaine in spite of almost national
protest, and remodelled for its present use
1t happened that Mr.. Walker Damrosch
the leader of the orchestra, sat welding
his baton upon the very spot where he had
stood with Miss Margaret Blaine to be
married, a few years ago, when her faith
er was Secretary of State
Among the most beautiful balls of this
or any previous season was that recently
given by Senator and Mrs. Stewart of Ne
vada to introduce their granddaughter
MISS Bessie Fox, a tall, fair girl, who has
been abroad some years completing her
education. over 800 invitations were is
sued, including everybody of prominence
at the capitol. The architectural mag
nficance of Stewart CASTLE" as the sen
ator's great stone house is called, is al
most matter of history, since 1t stood
alone in it's grandeur long before the
present era of palatial homes enabled
Washington to rival any city of the world
The entrance hall, baronial in shane and
vastness, and finished in the warmest
shade of Indian red, was transformed for
the occasion to an exotic garden of palms
and southern ferns. The grand salon is
draped with BeauVais tapestries and laid
with oriental weaves. Its gilded Floren-
tine chairs and couches, with their superb
brocades are as rare works of art in their
way, as the paintings and statuary that
cover the walls and fill the nitches On
| tables of rare mosaics massive lamps
burned under silken shades. Bric-a-brac.
brought from the four corners of the
earth, trailing vines and long-stemmed
La France roses were everywhere. In the
center OF this ideal environment stood the
youthful debutante in a simple gown of
white satin touched with pearls and point
applique, her beautiful golden brown hair
(Which in Nevada might be called plain
red), brushed back in the painest fashion.
Mrs. Stewart received in a magnificent
costume of white and gold brocade, so
stunning that it somehow reminded one
of the gilded furniture in the salon. She
was assisted by Miss Bessie Stewart the
oldest daughter of the household, in a
dainty creation of pink satin and chiffon.
and Mrs. May Belle Stewart Payson. who
was married last June and appeared in
her wedding gown of white satin covered
with priceless lace. Bessie" by the way,
is a family name in honor of Mrs. Stew
art, who was Betsy in the days before
fortune smiled so bountifully. The i'm
mense ball room, which is one of the larg-
est and finest in Washington had no other
decorations than its fine paintings in their
heavy Florentine frames. alternated with
panels of pale blue silk tufted with Chin
ese dragons wrought in gold thread and
the screen of tropical foliage In front Of
the recessed stage which hid the band
from view. AS is customary at all Mrs
Stewards large entertainments, the
great dining room was opened
at 1O:S0 o'clock and thence through
out the evening. On the per-
fectly appointed tables the white dam
ask had a width of pink satin extending
down the middle, covered with point lace.
Along this center piece tall silver epergues
were ranged. filled with pink carnations.
alternated with silver candelabra capped
with rose-pink shades and gold and silver
bowls Of rare fruits and bon bons Hard
" second in brilliancy to the Stewart bail
was the reception given the other day by
the Chinese minister and Mrs Yang
Yu in the imposing brownstone
building of the Chinese legaton-three big
houses thrown into one-above which
floats the imperial yellow flag of the Flow