The herald., 1897-04-08
important Social Functions
at Washington
MRS. M'KINLEy RECEIVES
VISIT OF THE SEE YUPs TO MIN
lister YUNG W
Their Reception at the Legation OF
the Golden Dragon-A Chi
nese Banquet
snecIal Correspondence to The Herald.

Special correspondence ~ A"S
WASHINGTON, d. c.. March 30
Notwithstanding the mid-Lenten sea
son. capital society is extremely puss
exchanging courtesies with the new
comers in high places. The latter ars
besinning to realize the bitter-sweets
of their position, for the polite tacucs
Mat govern the social side of all Things
official involve much downright "aiu
work. An immutable law of local ep-
ouette requires the ladies of ofhclal ram
lilies to see to it that their husband 5 OF
fathers visiting cards, together with
their own, are properly distributed'With-
in a given number of days, to everyone
of the hundreds who have left addresses
In the traditional peck measure OF plts
of Bristol board which every weekly
reception brings The value of FORMER
residence in Washington, ana the eA-
perience in its social requirements'Wh Whlch
differ from those of any other CITY, IL
Mainly to be seen in the present au-
ministration. Mrs. Mckinley is charm
ing example of this. She knows the nat
ural interest in the nations house ana
the presidents wife. and she makes
evervbody welcome at all times and in
tho most informal fashion. 1t is al
ready apparent that the White House
will be much more accessible 10 the
general public during this admlnlstrd-
tion than the last. There will be great
many more receptions outside the ofil-
cial CLIQUE. and the whole mansion be-
yond the east room will not be so closed
and guarded as formerly, as If each WIS.,
iting stranger were a vandal bent on
destruction or theft Mrs. Sherman too
besides her many years as senator
wife. has filled position similar TO that
she now occupies when her husband was
secretary of the treasury. The Longs
also the Algers, the Grays, and others
in the present topmost circle nave spent
previous seasons in Washington, ana
are familiar with its peculiar social
usages. ro>-
THE FIRST FORMAL RECEPIlON.
Mrs. McKinley's first formal reception,
eiven to the ladies of the diplomatic
corps. was brilliant success, with none
of the stiffness about it which has some
times characterized the introduction OF
new faces in the White House. Inc
beautiful suite of parlors was decked
with a profusion of spring flowers, ana
the windows were wide open-so delight
ful is WASHINGTON weather at this time
Of year-showing the undulating lawns
that surround the mansion. green as
emerald in the warm sunshine, dotteu
with Towering shrubs and beds OF hya-
cinths and tulips perfuming the air
few minutes before the appointed hour
the guests had nearly all assembled III
the red parlor. and at o'clock the pres
fdent and his wife, accompanied by Mrs
Saxon and Miss Mabel Mckinley, aunt
and niece. came down the stairs and en-
tered the blue room. Mrs Mckinley dld
not look in the least like an invalid,
with a pink flush in her cheeks, brlght
smile and a cordial hand-clasp for each
guest She was very becomingly dressed
in robbins egg blue velvet, with eXqui-
site point lace about the yoke and
sleeves. During the reception, which
lasted just fifteen minutes, she sat in
an easy chair near the window, While
her husband stood beside her Among
the guests were Lady Pauncefote and
her daughters of the British legation;
the beautiful Baroness Thielnam of Ger
many; Baroness Hengelmuller of Aus
tro- Hungary; Viscountess de Santo-
Thyrso of Portugal; Nine. Paternotre,
wife of the French ambassador; Nine.
Romero and Sonora Adolfo Muiica of
Mexico; Nine Lazo Arriega of Gaute-
Italy: Princess Cantacuzine of Russia;
the Japanese, Chinese and Corean la
dies, and many others.
OTHER NOTABLE FUNCTIONS.
Mrs. Hobart. the wife of the vice pres
ldent, is holding weekly receptions,
which are largely attended. and her
graceful cordiality of manner has made
a most agreeable impression. The fam
lily is still at the Arlington hotel, and
Mrs. Hobart has contrved to give de-
cidedly honey look to her private
parlor. with pictures and bric-abac of
her own. favorite books within easy
reach, an open piano, and plenty OF
flowers, without OVERRIDING the floral dis
play She dresses exceedingly well, but
quietly, which is the best evidence of
good taste Yesterday she was gowned
In rich black velvet. made perfectly
plain except for some jetted garniture
on the bodice. with n few handsome dia-
monds of the first water. 1t is under
stood that the Hobarts will not set up
housekeeping in Washington until au-
tumn. The daughters of the Cabinet
households have their day" too
"wednesday, and are filling the places
of their mothers with credit to all con-
cerned and an up-to-date appreciative-
ness of the new honors conferred upon
their respective family circles. A more
charming bevy of young ladies than
were receiving today in the great Port
land apartment house would be hard to
find. Miss Long, daughter of the sec
retary of the navy, who will fill her step
mothers place in society until next No
vember, received several hundred call
ers in her parlor on the first floor while
the Misses Gary daughters of the most
master general. entertained an equal
number in their fiat above Miss Long
who is very pretty girl, with soft
brown hair waving back from high
bred, intellectual eminently Boston
type of face, wore black Brussels mel
over blue silk. with sashes of fancy blue
ribbon. She is indefatigable in the per.
formance of her social duties. and be
tween each Wednesday reception every
call in the hundreds due is religiously
returned by card. Miss Gary is dainty
little lady of the rosebud sort Cf beauty
all smiles and dimples and distractinl
little curlS escaped from confinement
She was gowned in ecru linen lawn ant
Russian lace. over China blue silk. will
ribbons the same shade. Miss Madelin,
Gary, who is of the sparkling brunett,
type. wore a dress of dark green with
bodice of brocaded satin and poin
d'esprt Between the social duties O.
two cities and the wedding of their sis
ter, which occurs next week in Balti
more, the Misses Gray declare them
selves to be harder worked than any
hodcarrier in town.
THE VISITING SEE YUPS.
Washington's Chinatown is just now
all torn up by the visit of ten distin-