The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-04
WASHINGTON HIGH LIFE.
A PEEP INTO THE HOMES OF SOME
DISTINGUISHED PERSONS.

Mrs. John \. LOgnn's Wide Verandn
and Oriental Treasures-The Pal
ace of the Senator From West Vir-
sinia-The Home of the Chinese
Minister, and Some Notes AbOut
the Dainty Mistress of the Estnb-
Iishment.
Washington, July lin my round Of
calls yesterday / visited the homes Of sew
eral notable people in whom the readers
| Of the Morning News are interested. First
to Mrs. John A. Logans, away up Four
teenth street, in the now fashionable sec
ton known as Columbia Heights" which
was beyond the city limits when the housS
was built, a few years ago. 1t is a great
| big, old-fashioned mansion of red brick,
with roomy rooms and plenty of them
| every one full Of interesting relics and
| curios-the former pertaining to Gen. Lo-
gan's army-life and subsequent career the
latter picked up by his widow in her for
| eign travels. Mrs. Logan is still suffering
from the severe fall she received two
weeks ago. when returning from a dinner
at the white house. She is no longer con-
fined to her room and the danger of per-
manent lameness has passed; but the eff
feet of the hurt and the excessive heat of
the last few days is plainly apparent in the
feebleness of the white haired matron, al
though she received her friends as cheer
lily as ever But in this broiling weather
she does not take visitors into the house,
but sees them out on the wide colonial
porch, which is one Of the most comforta-
bic and restful places to be found in
Washington. 1t is enclosed In glass, which
is mostly removed in summertime, and
over the front hangs an exquisite screen
in natures handlwork, Of fragrant honey
suckle. This is supplemented by some gor-
geous Egyptian hangings, which Mrs. Lo-
gan brought from Cairo last year. They
are decorated with the text of the Ko-
ran combined with geometrical figures in
rich oriental eolorings, the designs and
vivid tints being essentially Egyptian. At
taehed TO the pillars and inner walls of
the piazza are many quantity artistic
pockets. covered with bark, moss and Itch
ems; and la them rain bow-hued nastur-
tons are growing, and delicate blue for
get-me-nots. The easy chairs and invit-
ing touches are covered with blue denim,
embroidered in white-a cloth. by the way,
which is having great run in this end of
the country, not only for sum-
mer carpets and furniture-ooveTings
sofa pillows, portieres, man
tel-draperies, ETC.. but for outing gowns
Of all descriptions The most chic travel
ing dresses l have seen are of hunters
green denim, the jaunty coat and well-cut
skirt trimmed with white braid This now
fashionable material which used to be
Ill 70 for ..oS f,tgnV
alls," comes in all colors and Is the best
thing known for wheeling and yachting.
being impervious alike to dust and damp
ness-always fresh, clean, cool and I'M
wrinkled. Scattered about among Mrs.
Logans blue denim chairs and couches
are little rustic stands, holding books,
bowls of roses writing materials and the
latest magazines; while larger Japanese
table, equipped with dainty tea service, IL
brought by the def hand-maiden at the
tinkle of a silver bell. Across breezy
corner of the porch a blue and white
hammock is strung; and when swinging
among it's blue denim pillows, one has
charming view of the city spread out be-
low, and the historical Potomac, winding
its tranquil way between the green hills
of Maryland and Virginia. Conspicuous
in the garden is an enormous century
plant, which Mrs. Logan herself has care
fully tended for twenty-five years. To her
II represents history having been ia
miliar object In the home through a quar-
ter-century of changes-of Kaleidoscope
political life and social success, of min
ged triumIA, happiness and sorrow. The
big century plant Is just nearing Its first
blossom; and IL it proves a success, its
owner will exhibit Il for sweet charity
sake-probably for the cause OF Cuba libre,
IN which she is interested. on the
10th inst Mrs. Logan leaves for Noungs-
town, Ohio. where she is to visit son
John and his wife in their beautiful home
called 1.-The Oriole." John A. Logan, Jr.,
Il will be remembered married the daugh-
ter of a very wealthy manufactures in
that village some years ago. John A.
does not resemble his distinguished sire
in many particulars. He is said to be one
OF the handsomest men in the United
States and Is thoroughly conscious OF 1t.
The fact Is. he Is the living picture Of a
spoiled mothers boy" whose vanity has
been fostered from babyhood; and he fully
concurs IN the material explanation Of the
late Logan McCook controversy, viz:
"The trouble all came from Jealousy, be-
cause anybody could see that my Jack
was the handsomest man there, in uni
form or out OF IT,"
My next visit took me to the beautiful
home OF Senator Stephen h. Elklns, No.
1926 X street The house Is one OF the
most artistic In the city, its interior dec
oratlons having been entirely executed
by a young lady friend OF Mrs. Elkins,
who also decorated the country home, at
Ell0ins. w. Va. The great trees which
shade the house in front make II de-
lightfully cool. even In these sweltering
days. and. assisted by fine shrubbery pro-
vide the daintlest OF sheltered hooks on
the bit OF green lawn, round which a cir
cuar driveway leads 20 the attractive CO.
ionial entrance Mrs Elkins well-known
artistic taste IS everywhere evinced in the
ndornment Of her splendid home. The un-
usually spacious reception hall has a beau
tlful floor OF grayish blue and white mo-
sale work The woodwork looks like poll
ishcd marble. with its glossy ivory white
enamel finish, the handsome mantel gar
landed with the delicate asparagus plu-
mosa. Norway pines and tail India rub
Der plants In China jardiniercs on the cor
ners and form an avenue on either side
Of the doorway. The walls are hung with
q tapestry effect. the painting being OF the
old imprcsslonist style and representing
stone walls covered with Virginia creep
ers.
Al the left OF the door Is a reception
room, where guests lay aside their wraps
when being entertained at the many dim