The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04


burnt orange plush draper,es Hand
somely carved mahogany furniture
corresponds with the wood fnishings and
rafter ceiling. From the windows of this
room the view is fine. The lawns Of Sen
ator Quay's palatial home and of the
Riggs estate join that OF Senator Elkins
and the broad expanse OF green dotted
with tall magnolia trees, is seldom seen
al ones home in the heart Of a city. The
Eikins family sitting room is one Of the
most attractive / have ever seen. At one
END is a raised platform with a mosaic
moor OF green and white laid in a palm
design. The suns rays, altering through
a splendid stained-glass window, reflect
the brighter hues on the soft greens.
merging into the more delicate tints
The hangings are of pistachio green
saun; the woodwork, pure, glossy white
The French drawing room is very Frenchy
in its blue and pink effects which pre-
dominate in the rich brocaded hangings.
with their gold embroidery. The furniture
Is OF the Louis QuinZe style. and overhead
are garlands and true-lovers' knots Of that
period, in bas-relief. 1t is a perfect en-
Vironment for the Tuesday afternoon re-
ceptions at which Ms. Elkins, always per-
fectly gowned, makes such an ideal host
ess. The library of this charm
ing home is. very properly a
little more somber than the other
rooms but elegant and reposeful
wlth It's dark, antique furniture, and old
blue velvet window seats The handsome
paintings which adorn the walls are Mrs
Elklns own selections. and show her fad
IN the line OF atmosp heric effects One
grand painting is of the Sahara desert
the yellow glare of the burning sun re-
Meeting its rays across the sands-a pic
ture TO avoid at this time Of year when
our slaring asphalt, softened to jelly by
the sun, make enough Sahara for the
Washlngtonians contemplation. Mrs. Ell
kin room Is a gem in Its way-a ruby.
10 carry out the comparison, with its
walls of crimson satin, upholsterings and
bed-hangings of the same contrasting
well with the snow white wood work
There is no more popular hostess in Wash
ington than Mrs. Elkins. When the SEN
ator was Secretary of War, under Pres
ldent Harrison. she was said to be the
most distinguished looking lady In the
cabinet circle.
Next l wended my way to the magnifi-
cent Schneider mansion at the intersec-
ton of Eighteenth and Q streets with
New Hampshire avenue, which is to be
the new Chinese legation, when Minister
Ting Fang Wa and his family get set
tied in 1t. 1t is In the very holy of holes
OF the aristocratic section of Washington,
close to the British embassy within two
squares of Stewart castle (once the home
of the Chinese legation) and surrounded
by modern palaces. Mrs. WI is probably
the best educated Chinese woman extant
for she is not only as well informed in
the Chinese classics as her scholarly hus-
band, but is making admirable progress
in English. She is a very bright little
lady, with the glossiest of black hair
which she combs straight back from her
face and coils in two pear-shaped puffs
at the nape of her neck, and through
which she sticks an odd lot of scroled
Chinese pins Her skin is smooth as vel
-
times seen, happily, without paint or DOW
der. She has a voice like running brook
mot like Tennysons, which goes on for
eVer'D, and so rapidly does she talk, plac-
ing staccato emphasis on every word that
the syllables seem to fairly tumble over
one another. Yet her voice is wonderful
" low and sweet, and she intonates * >
softly that one wonders IL any pitch OF
excitement could ever make her guilty
of the sharp, high tones to which Amer
lean women are addicted. Mrs. WI comes
from the Cantonese district of China, and
is an aristocrat of aristocrats In her ma
tive land-her feet being exactly three
Inches long. Her wardrobe was all made
in China, and is of course in the regula-
ton unchanging Chinese style since the
days of CONTIGUOUS; but its gorgeousness
makes Paris-made gowns pale into insig-
nificance.
While in Philadelphia with her hus-
H.
gown outshone all others in the throng
of elegantly dressed women. She is also
the possesser of Jewels worth a kings
ransom, including the funny black velvet
head-dress, thickly-studded with precious
stones, and the mammoth diamond neck
lace which sometimes burdens her slim
throat. If chop-sticks were the dining ac-
cessories of Mrs. Wu's table at home, she
has certainly picked up the use of knife,
fork and spoon with remarkable celebrity
and grace. During the long, ceremonious
dinner and banquet at Philadelphia, at
which she was one of the guests of hon
or, she was never once guilty of the slight
est deviation from the letter of the law OF
our table etiquette. and although there
must have been dozens of things which
were unusual to her she never betrayed IL
by so much as the culver of an eye-lid. Oc-
caslonally those bright almond-shaped
orbs would sweep over the stately scene
and take in all that her nelghbors were
doing-and If they were seeking point
ers" at the same time. they seized them so
gracefully that on one suspected It,. Her
only son, Choa Cho WA stout little lad
Of ten years, looks out on life through
great serious eyes, and seems TO think that
the two things worth living for are the
mastery OF English and the bicycle.
lie is learning both rapidly. and no doubt
will always associate one with the other.
His able assistant in both arts is Mr..
SEE, nrst secretary OF the Chinese lega-
ton, who graduated with honors
from High school last year. Mr..
SEE is great enthusiast of the wheel
and is very popular as a cyclist, being al
ways an invited participant In the num-
erous wheeling parties given by the young
people. He has lately laid aside his ma
tional costume OF brocaded petticoats.
etc. and looks a very different young man
in jaunty bicycle suit with cap and golf
stockings TO match. Fannie Brigham.
UrTnuNnA.a rnUUEEE,