Evening star., 1897-03-13
THE SOCIAL WORLD
Mrs. Mckinley Welcomes Visitors to
Her Home.
CABINET FAMILIES AND CAPITAL HOMES
Recent SociabiIities at the White
House and Other Places.
MRS. LAMONT'S DEPARTURE

The new administration has made rapid
strides into the social good graces OF the
West End. and has accomplished more in
week in the way of making a pleasant
impression than others in high places have
ever bothered themselves to attempt. The
PRESIDENTS afternoon jaunts have set the
fashion. and all the newcomers are as
easily seen and as approachable when seen
as IL their acquaintance with Washington
and its ways was formed in years instead
of days. The hundreds who have climbed
the Office stairs to see the President have
teen balanced almost in number by those
who have enjoyed similar satisfaction in
being able to pay their respects to Mrs.
Mckinley. Notwithstanding the unusual
fatigue which the inaugural ceremonies
caused her, the large parties of relatives
and dear friends who have met at the
White House table ever since the evening
of the 4th, and the other demands made
upon her, Mrs. Mckinley has graciousy
received callers. visiting strangers as well
as residents. nearly every afternoon of the
present week. and sometimes twice day.
This courtesy has been extended not only
to those whose names must be familiar
words nj the Mckinley household. but to
many others who under the conditions
which have largely prevailed at the White
House for some time. would have been
obliged to make formal application for the
honor and await formal reply.
Mrs. Mckinley for the most part received
her visitors in the library upstairs which
will probably become the family sitting
room for the future 1t has been so used
the last seven eight years. and is ad-
mirably adapted for the purpose AS is well
known. the Presidents office adjoins it on
| the east, and it has pretty view of the
| grounds and the Potomac. Here Mrs. Nc
Kinley meets her guests, and. seated in a
coZy armchair, makes charming picture
of gracious hostess, who. If her bodily
strength only equals her Willingness and
desire will make one of the most agree
able mistresses the White House has ever
known.
President and Mrs. Mckinley have been
giving their visiting relatives the best time
| possible, and each company about them at
| their meals larger than the last.
Mrs. Nancy Allison Mckinley, the Presi-
dents mother. took as much interest in
the ceremonies and sightseeing as any OF
| the younger members of he family, and
while the excitement and fatigue We're
| unusual in her quiet, everyday life, her
splendid strength and health saw her
through it all with no more trouble than
| sound sleep would obliterate. 1t is a
| general regret that her visit was not longer
prolonged SO that more of those VINO de-
sired could have had a chance to meet her.
The new cabinet families will not as
| rule burden themselves with housekeeping
| cares until next fall. Secretary and Mrs.
Gage are temporarily located on Connecti-
cut avenue. and Secretary and Mrs. AL
ger will spend their first Sunday at 16oi
| H street tomorrow. the Lamont family
having departed yesterday. Secretary and
| Miss Long and Postmaster General Gary's
| family are at the Portland and it is quite
within the range of possibilities that they
would make this house their home for next
season. Attorney General Mckennd may
soon be Joined by his family, as he thinks
they would enjoy visit east at this sea-
| son. Until Mrs. McKenna comes. he will
not give MUCK concern to house hunting.
Mrs. j. Thomson Swami entertained
party of friends Wednesday night 10 meet
| Miss Mcdowell of Kentucky. and. as usual
with all social occasions in her charming
home. it was an event to remember with
pleasure.
Ex-Secretary and Mrs. John w. Foster
gave dinner, followed by reception last
night In honor of Senator and Mrs. Fair
banks Of Indiana. Their splendid home on
l street was handsomely adorned with flow
ers, and throughout the evening a strinsed
| orchestra played in the balcony of the
music room. The dinner table was dccked
with bridesmaid roses and maiGenhair fern,
the centerpiece being of the latter with a
! fairy lamp burning in the middle. Tall
vases filled with roses were at the corners
of the table. The dinner guests to meet
the new Indiana senator and his wife were
Senator and Mrs. Frye. Senator and Mrs.
Mcmillan. ex-senator and Mrs. Henderson,
Senator Turpie. Senator Burrows. Senator
and Mrs. Spooner. Mrs. Logan. Mr.. w. II.
Smith. attorney general of Hawaii. and Mr..
and Mrs. Lar sing. At the reception which
followed the hostess was assisted in cecev-
irg by Mrs. Steele. wife of Representative
Steele of Indiana: Mrs. George b. Williams
and Mrs A. ]. Halford. About 200 of the
resident lndianianS were present, as were
also number of Washingtonians.
Ex-Secretary and Miss Herbert will give
reception this afternoon at 5 O'Clock to
meet the Secretary of the Navy and Miss
Long.
Mrs. Victor Kaufman entertained at a
luncheon yesterday in honor of Mrs. Tileston
F. Chambers of Saratoga and Miss Shep-
herd of Chicago.
Mr.. and Mrs. Boardman entertained at
dinner Wednesday evening in honor of Mr.
and Mrs. j. Addison Porter. Among the
guests were Secretary and Mrs. Sherman
Senator and Mrs Hanna Senator and Mrs
Wolcott. Senator and Mrs Lodge, ard Mr.
and Mrs. Townsend.
The engagement was formally announced
in New York yesterday of Miss Alice Tracy
Wilmerding only daughter of Mrs. Ferdi-
rand Wilmerding and granddaughter of
former Secretary of the Navy Benjamin
F. Tracy, to Mr.. Frederic r. Coudert jr,
of that city.
Mrs. John " L. Pruyn and Miss Huy-
BERTHE Lansing Pruyn have gone to Ashe-
vile, N c.. for several weeks. They will
visit here as the guests of Col. and Mrs
William Gorham Rice route
Mrs. Lamont and family will leave this
afternoon on the car "Mascot' from the
Pennsylvania station, for Fortress Monroe
Col. Lamont has been detained in New
York by a pressure of business, and will
join his family Tuesday, when they will
start for Palm Beach. Fla, to spend the
next month in lesurely travel and relaxa-
tion.
Col and Mrs. J. r. Nutting of Davenport,
Iowa " no have for several weeks been The
guests OF Prof. Willis Moore at the Cairo
have left for their western home.
The Noble Hart Pleasure Club held their
meeting last evening at the residence of
Miss Edna Gottwalls, IS n street Among
those present were: Miss Sophie Krumke,
Miss G. Gottwalls. Miss F. Fillius Miss NJ
Schultze and Miss Florence Click and
Messrs. A. Noble. NJ. Siorie, w. Grupe. H.
Eberly. w. NJ. Eppley. E. Fridly, b. Hart
and Oscar krumke
Mrs. Ferd. Levi of SUMTER s. c., is the
guest Of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Max
Cohen. and will be pleased to see friends.
An informal hop was given Thursday.
March IL, by the Ladies' Age Quod Agis
Club, at the home of the Washington
Saengerbund, 314 street. The affair was
great success in every way. The ladies in
charge were: Mrs. H. Donch, president;
Mrs. William F. Lutz. vice president; Mrs