The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-23


own. In other matters, too, she is very
unlike the average playwright and wielder
of the quill. Her familiars call her by the
pet name of Fluffy" and it suits her to
t. Good as the first gentleman is, it IS
said to have one or two weak points. FcE
example, either the etiquette of the Eng
ish court has changed greatly since
George ". was Prince of Wales. Or Mrs.
Burnett has made a big mistake She
makes the prince call sociably on a GER
tain Lady Sark-not tncognito, but form
ally, announced by two footman-and
worse yet, his visit is interrupted by the
entrance of a servant, who hands Lady
Sark letter, which she read, then and
there! The truth is that nowadays no
such free and easy manners are allowed
with royal personages. When the pres
ent Prince of Wales Is calling, nobody
not even the husband of the lady upon
whom he is calling, dares enter the room,
unbidden by the prince. It is related that
one day Victorias eldest was visiting a
lady whose only son was about to be sent
on a diplomatic mission of some danger,
to far country. The order TO leave at
once came while the prince was in the
parlor, and rather than transgress the
sacred law of etiquette, he actually went
away without the maternal good bye.
Ex-senator and Mrs. Brice have eclipsed
everybody else In the way of lavish enter
tanning during the whole senatorial term,
and their farewell fete champetre was
perhaps the most perfect of the continu-
Gus series of gorgeous functions which
have made Corcoran house famous. The
wide hallway, which extends the length Of
the mansion, was converted into a floral
avenue by tall palms and bushes of white
lilacs and American Beauty roses lining
both Sides The drawing room was deco
rated with wonderful profusion of every
variety of spring blossoms; dog-wood NIL
ed the sombre corners. and jardinieres of
roses occupied every available space. In
the distance a fountain was playing, and
the high jets of water looked like silver
ribbons in the vista of flowers. The warm
sunshine of a perfect May day made the
beauties of the grounds more thoroughly
enjoyed, and the vivid green of the sur
roundiugs furnished a charming back
ground for the handsome toilettes or the
ladies' In the center of the spacious lawn
under an immense Japanese umbrella, was
spread a table, where punch and other
dainties were served, and strlnged Or
chestra. stationed behind clump of fiow-
ering shrubs, rendered delightful music.
Mrs Brice, in an elegant gown OF pale
gray and white, with black lace capote,
received her guests in the first drawing
ROOM AS they passed through the music
room they were greeted by Miss Kate
Brice. elder daughter, dressed in dainty
white. with large white hat and parasol
Miss HELEN Brice wore rose-pink NULL
with sash and garniture of pink ribbons
a Gainsborough hat Of black tulle with
plumes, and black parasol completed the
striking toilette The 600 invitations IN
cluded most of the postal congress, mem
bers of the diplomatic corps and the Off
cial set. and for several hours the house
and grounds were thronged with Drill
liant company.
The first formal reception given by the
new administration was that OF last nlSht'
D. 1oT,s and 70
to the delegates of the Universal Postal
| Congress. The famous east room never
looked more lovely, with the usual gor-
geous floral attire Of state occasions. The
red parlor and green room were also beau-
tifully decorated, as were the long corri-
| doris and state dining room. The center
Of attraction was the blue parlor, In
which the guests were received. Dark
red Meteor roses were the prevailing dec
orations with tall Easter lilies massed In
| the corners. The state dining room was
| also adorned with red roses the table
| brilliantly lighted with candelabra, includ-
| ing the four massive gold ones used at
| ceremonious dinners, the numerous tapers
capped with yellow shades. In the center
| of the table was the novel design OF a
| huge mound of fruit, with green foliage,
and at the ends were immense bouquets
| of white peonies and lilies. An elegant
| buffet supper was SerVed-and 1T is need
| less to add that the dainties included
neither wine nor punch. Mrs. Mckinley,
who remained seated throughout the re-
| ception, wore beautiful gown Of white
brocaded silk, high necked and long Slew
| ed, with long train, the bodice deliberately
| trimmed with point lace and sparkling
! with diamonds. Mrs. Hobart was also
| dressed in white brocaded silk, with de-
collete bodice, a spray of violets dropping
! from the left shoulder and dog-collar of
diamonds and pearls about her throat.
| Mrs. Sherman was gowned In black MORE
| antique, with white lace collar and white
ribbon stock. Mrs. Gage wore white bro
caded satin, with long train and pink roses;
| Mrs. Alger, a very handsome white satin
robe, with a white aigrette in her hair;
| Mrs. Gary, gray satin, cut decollete; Mrs.
| Long, pink satin with tulle trimmings,
| and Mrs. Porter, wife of the Presidents
secretary, pale pink, with puffings of deep
er shade. So much for the receiving par
| ty. Space forbids any attempt at de-
| scribing the gorgeous toilettes of the
| guests, both native and foreign-the blaze
of jewels the glitter of uniforms, orders
and insignia. Among the for
| eigners two figures were most
conspicuous - Muza Alinaghi Kahn
| observation-disclosures special am
| bassador of the Shah of Persia, and
the new Chinese minister, Mr.. Wang WI.
| The court costume of the former defies
| description, the breast being literally en-
crusted with emeralds, rubies and dia-
| monds. Nothing has been seen like II
here since the precpitate departure of
/ Persia's only minister to this country. the
| eccentric Hadji Hassi Ghouly Khan Mo-
| hammet ell Nezereh. Minister Wu's cos
tune was artistic in every detail, though
surprising to unaccustomed eyes His
trousers Of heavy brocaded silk, plnkish-
/ lilac in color, were fastened around his
| ankles with satin ribbons of corresponding
color, tied in jaunty bows. His small feet
were encased in white silk hose and rose
pink satin slippers. His inner silken Jack
ct was OF rich, pansy-colored satin, and
over IL was a long robe of emerald-Rreen
brocade, fastened on one shoulder with a
heavy white silk cord looped over rold
buttons, big as walnuts; on his head a
black satin cap, with a teweled butfon