The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-05
copyright. 1871


Washington, Dec. 3.-The social sea-
son in Washington depends for its gay
ETY. on so many things that at this time
of the year all the men and women
who make a business of pleasure be-
gin to inquire anxiously about the out
look for entertainments. Cabinet peo>
pie and others in official life help to
make or mar the season. and entertain>
ing is so intimate a part of an admins
trations duties that men have been ap>
pointed to the cabinet for no better rea-
son than that they were rich and able
to give fine balls and dinners. Society
has even unmade administrations. 1t
was a social question. you will remem-
Der, which broke up Andrew Jacksons
cabinet and caused the resignation OF
all the members of it excepting one.
The presence or absence of wealthy
people who make a winter resort OF
Washington determines in some degree
the character of the social season
Deaths may change the outlook, too. by
throwing wealthy, hospitable families
into mourning. 1t is not surprising,
then, that the list of possible entertain-
ers should be scanned every season by
men and women who are looking for
ward to afternoon teas and evening
dinners, to balls and receptions. as the
chief source of the winters pleasures.
The last four years were not very sat-
isfying to society. In the first Cleve-
land administration was William c.
Whitney. and the history of social
Washington shows no entertainer so
lavish as he No week passed without
some social celebration at the Whitney
house. In the next administration was
John Wanamaker. who rented the
house which the Whitneys had occu-
pied, and did a great deal of lavish en-
tertaining.
Mr.. Cleveland's second cabinet was a
poor mans cabinet" Mr.. Olney was a
man of large professional income when
he left Boston, but not a man of prop
erty. Mr.. Carlisle had never had more
than his salary as a congressman, ex-
cept an occasional legal fee. and he had
to live strictly within his cabinet sal
airy. Secretary Herbert was the tradi-
tional poor southerner. He eked out his
salary with an income from magazine
articles, for which he received from
$3.50 to $500 each. In fact all of the
cabinet were men of modest means.
In the present administration the
president the vice president and the
members of the cabinet are well able
to fulfill their social obligations, and
the administration must contribute the
greatest amount to the fund of social
enjoyment
A great deal of gorgeous entertaining
is done at private houses in Washing
ton, but by far the greatest occurs in
the homes of men in high official life
The cabinet officers necessarily lead in
this, and as their entertainments are
Semipublic, no one who is respectable
need lack an opportunity to take part
in them Of course, the president comes
first with series of four great recon-
tions at the White House. and with
state dinners at intervals, at which he
is expected, before the eeason ends. to
entertain individually every member of
the diplomatic corps, the $50 members
of the house and senate and a great
many department officials and distin-
guished visitors. The vice president en-
tertains or not as he sees, fit. Mr.. Ho-
bart is wealthy and fond Of society. and
he is planning to entertain handsomely
in the Don Cameron house on Lafayette
square, which he is occupying during
the first winter of his term. The sec
rotary of state is expected to entertain
the diplomatic corps at breakfast on
New Years morning and to give other
entertainments in it's honor and to dis
tinguished visitors. Secretary Sherman
has home on Franklin square which
is better planned for fine entertaining
than any other in Washington, and he
has the wealth which makes lavish en-
pertaining possible. The other members
of the cabinet have fine houses. and
many OF them are wealthy Secretary
>Alger is a very rich man, and he is
very fond of entertaining. He has talk
en- fine house on K street. Secreta-
ry Gage iand Postmaster General Gary
are both wealthy. So is Secretary Bliss.
Among those not in the official circle
who will entertain well the first is Mrs.
George Westinghouse. Mrs Westing-
house is the wife of the fortunate man
who invented the airbrake and so be-
came millionaire. They have a beau
tiful home in the suburbs of Pittsburg
and fine country house at Lenox but
Mrs. Westinghouse has spent her win
tiers for several years past in Wash
ington. At the Arlington hotel three
years ago she gave some entertain
ments which are still quoted as exam
pies of extraordinary lavishness. The
roses and orchids for one of her din
ners cost $1,000. Last winter Mrs West
lngnouSe TOOK the ola Blame house on
Dupont circle. which was for many
years the home of the Letters 1t Is one
of the most spacious houses in Wash
ington. Mrs. Westinghouse was in
mourning last year but in the coming
season she is expected to give some
very fine entertainments.
The Letter house, on Dupont circle,
is better equipped for large entertain
ments than any other house in Wash
ington. On the first floor are library,
reception room, music room. dining
room and morning room. with a broad