The herald., 1897-07-04

her head white embroidered net, held
by coronet of filigree gold. In fault
less English she describes the habits and
customs of her country, and, accom-
panying herself on guitar, sings folk
songs IN Icelandic, Danish and Swedish.
The women of this favored land have
little idea how their sisters fare in Ice
land. The latter weave and spin every
article of raiment worn by themselves,
and also cloth for the mems clothing as
well as the linen and other furnishings
of the home. They make their own shoes,
too, and the children's and the mems,
A few years ago one of Queen Victoria 8
maids of honor went with Nine. Mag
nusson on a summer visit to Iceland
While there the latter's mother spun
and wove pair of gloves and presented
them TO her guest. On her return to
England, she showed them to the queen
who was so much pleased with them
that she requested her maid of honor to
send TO Iceland and get her pair. 1t
was done, and now her majesty has
beautiful pair of white wooden gloves
which fit her to perfection; and since
that time the queen has worn no other
winter hand covering than the soft
heecy gloves spun and woven by the
women of Iceland. One of their princi-
pal products is elder down, said to be
the finest in the world. This is because
the duck plucks it from her own breast,
with which to line her nest for her little
ones. AS it thins out. she adds more,
and ii remains until the young ones
abandon the nest. Then the Icelanders
carefully gather in and put it through
cleaning process, after which it brings
higher price in market than any other
eiderdown. Being never molested in
any way, the ducks grow very tame, and
return year after year to the same
islands. A superstition precails that
they bring luck to Iceland and surely
they do, in the way of furnishing an un-
failing revenue.
Both Washington and western. people
are greatly interested in the, announce
ment just made of the engagement OF
Miss Frances Alger. daughter of the
secretary of war, with Mr.. Charles 3.
Pike of Chicago. The gromm-to-be 10
a young attorney who graduated from
Harvard college in 1893, and then entered
Harvard law school, from which he re-
=
is E. S. Pike, a we'll known real estate
owner and dealer of the Windy City.
The date of the marriage is not yet ar
ranged but it will take place early in
the coming autumn.
Another wedding of interest to Wash
ingtonians was that of Miss Nellie Pef-
long -whiskered Kansas Populist She
ioJ ofl, Jn
to Mr.. James. S. McIlhenny of this city.
The wedding was a beautiful one, after
the Episcopal service Bishop Mills
paugh officiating. The bride-a very
lovely and accomplished girl, who was
her fathers secretary while he was in
the senate and a great social favorite
in Washington-wore white taffeta COW
cred with accordion pleated mousseline
de sole, with sash and collar of white
satin ribbon and tulle veil. The cere-
mony was witnessed only by relatives
and immediate friends, but was fol-
lowed by reception, to which every
body as is anybody" out in Kansas was
hidden. The young couple will reside
in Washington, and have engaged apart
ments in the Concord flats, while their
own house is building
The usually quiet Russian embassy
was the scene of a brilliant fete las,
Wednesday, the occasion being some an
niversary in the life Of the czar, hardly
second in splendor to that given by M.
kotzebue some time ago in honor of
the young czar's accession to the throne.
The great house, corner of Nineteenth
and l streets. was decorated from end
to end with flowers and national ban
ners, and at each plate was a huge bou-
quet of blood-red roses. NJ de VIOLENT,
who is now residing at the legation in
the absence of Prince Cantacuzene,
Russia's accredited minister plenipo-
tentiary, presided as host. His guest,
included the entire embassy, besides |
Nine. de Smirroff and Miss Nelka Smir~
rolf, General Sevastianoff and M. Ro-
danowski, and other delegates to the .
postal congress. The last named gentle
man, by the way, who is making his first
visit to this country, has been con-
spicuous figure in Washington society
ever since his arrival. His stay this
time is necessarily short, but it is ru-
mored that his heart has already been
won by the beautiful daughter of a
cabinet minister, and that he will return
in the near future to press his suit and
place the ancestral lands and diamonds
lie Rodanowski at her feet.
BRIGHAM