Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-07
SOCIAL SIDE OF LIFE.
THE WEEK A BRIGHT ONE WITH
THE FOLKS OF FASHION.
SEVERAL ELEGANT ENTERTAINMENTS
Rceeptioa and wedding Annivcr-
snry of MIR. and Mrs. Gordon-Pien-
sant Events at the woman's Club
brilliant Card Parties. &C.

When the season OF 1897 IS passed,
what will the echoes bring? The frou-
frou OF silken skirts. the sweet strains
OF music. the shiverng cry of the poor
the mourn OF the bereaved. the happy
laugh Of Joyous youth? Which viii they
bring? or win they bring all? Yes, all,
and so blended that the voice Of JOY
will be mellowed with the sweetness Of
sympathy and the voice Of suffering
raised to a paean Of gratitude. Society
Is gay, but society is good. Glance down
the page, and then gainsay It who dares
Tes at the Woman's Club this week
proved stimulus. though not a ruling
principle. the social feature making
way part Of the evening for most
profitable and interesting programme Of
scmi-literary and wholly practical
nature.
Mrs. James Werth. who was chair
man of the evening, read a paper which.
without stating its subject. she had an
nounced as of especial interest to wo-
men," and which proved to be OF alb
sorbing interest 10 all those to whom
the care of youth has been assigned.
whether as mothers, teachers guardians,
or guides in any way. The circular was
one Of those being sent out by the Off
Gers OF an organization which. while
progressive, and distinctly OF the nine
teeath century, was essentially feminine.
and smacked not at all of tho new
woman" IN the usual acceptation Of
that term.
Extracts from the circular will best
explain its design. and the names Of
ha officers quI nufrannecFe a. Tho
ganizo ton strengthen IL greatly as an
appeal TO intellectual women. The circu-
lar reads In part: 1.-THE first national
congress Of mothers VIII be heid in the
banquet hall Of the Arlington Hotel.
Washington, d. c., February IL. Is, and
Is. 1887.
1t is proposed TO have the congress
consider subjects bearing upon the bet
tct and broader. spiritual and physical.
as well as mental training OF the young.
OF special Importance viii be the sub
Ject OF the means OF developing i'm chill
dren characteristics which win elevate
and enno5le them and thus assist in
overcoming the conditions which now
prompt crime and make necessary the
maintenance OF jails, work-hOuses, and
reformatories
AS tie time Intervening between this
and the Mothers Congress is cOmDara-
lively brief. IL behooves all who feel an
interest in the cause TO be up and doing
II Is desired that al who can will attend
thc national meeting; but as II Is possi-
bic that only a minor proportion Of the
mothers will be able to come. il is es-
sential for each organization 10 send az
least one delegate, who can carry back
q detailed account of the meetings. and
be prepared TO instruct the home club in
the methods to be pursued for coming
years. II being part of the plan to have
the national organization hold regular
annual meetings hereafter. The officers
are: President. Mrs. Theodore Birney:
Vice-Presidents Mrs. Phoebe A. Hearst,
Mrs. John Il. Lewis Mrs. Adlai Steven
son, Mrs. Mary Mumford; Treasurer,
Miss Emma Morton. and Corresponding
Secretary. Miss Mary Louise Butler, 1929
Twentieth street Washington. d. Q.
The attendance at the club was large
and while there was disappointment at
the absence Of Miss Elizabeth Taylor, OF
Norfolk. VINO was TO have sung. the eve
ming was pronounced success. There
were many visitors, besides members
OF the club. and all agreed that the
fortnightly Tea OF Monday, February 1st
was one Of the most pleasant which
have yet taken place. Tea was served
by Mrs. Matthew Gilmore.
The largest social event of the week
Is TO be recorded 10 the credit Of Tues
day night Expectation had been on
tiptoe for some time, as the announce
ment a week previous that Colonel and
Mrs j. W. Gordon, and Miss Gordon
would give a reception ON that evening
left an opening for all sorts Of delight
full anticipation, all Of which found full
fruition when the time came. The
genial hospitality of the host and
hostess Is too we'll known to make
comment necessary and Il Is almost
Impossible 20 do justice to The Deauu-
ful scene which their home presented
on the occasion OF the debut Of their
daughter: and. as we'll the twentieth
anniversary OF an event meporably
happy 10 them, and suggestively happy
to many others-their wecding-day.
American Beauty roses, Madame
Testout roses palms, ferns, smilax.
red and pink carnations-what matter
hand disposed. Put them in profusion,
use them as a frame for brilliant
gathering, and the effect is-wcn, in
desoribable.
At the foot of the stairway. facing the
front door. q double arch had been
erected. wreathed with trailing smiax,
In which appeared written in letters OF
red carnation (Which, seen in the light
OF lamps looked Ike soft glow of
a sunset BEAM, 1851, 1891" That was
the hint of the happy anniversary.
Miss Gordon makes brilliant entrance
into the ranks of this years debutantes.
The reception was followed at 10 o'clock
BIZ dance, to which only few were
invited. those present being: Mrs. {.
sadtler. Mrs. Edmund Strudwick. Mrs.
George L. Pender; Misses Carrie and
Resale Shafer, Ellis Glenn, Margaret
Cannon. Lizzie Leary, Mabel Walker,
Annie Lee Alfriend Rsbekah and Annie
Gordon, Mary Inch. Louise Afeld;
Messrs Otis Aifriend. Julian SHELTON.
Monte Workman. Lewis Harvie, Nc
Weigh, Brander. Campbell, Tanner, Ed
ward ouarles. George Lehven, Sheppard
strudwick, and Frank Green.
The receiving party consisted OF Col
onei and Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Gordon wear
ing a gown Of peau de sole. with bodice
OF nousseline de sole. over black taffeta.
Miss Gordon, white tune over SILK.
with trimmings of mink fur and orna-
ments OF pearl.
Mrs. Pender. OF Baltimore. black satin.
with jewelled front; diamonds.
Mrs. strudwlck. black satin; amethysts.
Mrs. c. Herbert Sadtler, OF Baltimore,
black and white MORE; black lace trim
mlngs; diamonds.
Miss Louise Affeld, Of Brooklyn. cream
and corn-colored brocadc. silk, chiffon
trimmings. and white roses
Miss Gray, black satin broeade; jet
ornaments. pink roses.
MISS Resale Shafer, OF Powhatan,
white orsandie, over yellow.
MISS Carrie Shafer. OF East Orange,
~ j., white SILK.
Among the guests were: Miss Annie
zee Alfriend, Mr.. Otis Alfriend. MT.
George Bidgood, Miss Baughman Mr..
Lewis Brander. Mrs. Breeder. Mr.. and
Mrs. Robert ChamDerlayne, Major and