The morning news., 1897-07-18
IN CAPITAL SOCIETY.
SOME OF THE CHARMING WOMEN
OF THE OFFICIAL SET.

Not All Patrictanss 10 be sure, but
ouite Interesting-A Peep Into the
Homrs of Some of the Society
Lenders.
Washington, July 15-Nowhere in the
world is there a more reserved, exclusive,
tan-Ioftv lot than the presidential coterie
Of Washington society. Those whose
nroud boast it is to be "old Washington
ians"-i. e, whose social position does not
depend upon any accident of political life,
but came by right of wealth and heritage,
and is not for a term, but a lifetime
look down from lofty nights upon the
transcient element with which the capital
Is periodically inundated. One of the most
aristocratic of these leaders said to me,
with a slight elevation of her well-bred
head. "The wives of distinguished men
are not always distinguished-are fire.
oueutly not even desirable acquaintances.
make 1t a point never to call upon one
who has not something more than hus-
bands position to recommend her" But
The most sdueamish of 'old Washington
tans"-pince nez in hand and nose in air
can find little fault with the majority of
those whom the last turn of the political
wheel tossed into social prominence. Let
Us make a few morning calls among them.
REPRESENTATIVE Charles +. Sprague of
Boston, who succeeds Gen. Draper in the
House of Representatives, has leased Gov.
Norton's beautiful house for a term of
years. and evidently does not intend to
live like a hermit in it, He is not yet 40
years old, and his fortune is estimated
at $7N0,000, while his young wife was the
richest heiress of the Hub, her grand
father, William F. Weld, having willed
her 100000. Mr.. Sprague is Howard
graduate and a club man of great popu-
larity in Boston; and though not exactly
compelled to toll for his daily bread, is a
lawyer by profession-and hard-working
one. He comes from a family of office
holders from away back. His father, Seth
Sprague, Jr., was clerk of the United
States court in Boston for more than
quarter of a century; his grandfather Pc
leg Sprague, after long service as a men,
Der Of the Maine legislature, was United
States senator from Maine for couple of
terms beginning in 1929; his great grand
father, Seth Sprague, represented DuX-
bury, Mass, in the general court forty
years or more, and so on, to the earliest
Sprague estate is the finest in Brookline,
Bostons most aristocratic suburb. The
house is an imposing structure, and the
art treasures of the world have been
drawn upon to furnish it. Mrs. Spragues
artistic taste is amply demonstrated in
the house, its furnishings have been en-
trely carried out under her supervision.
She has travelled extensively and many
rare tapestries, bric-a-brac and Oriental
rugs were bought by her in other coun-
tries The entrance is particularly hand
some, the long walls of the reception hail
hung with famous painted tapestries
among them a piece of the noted cloth of
gold But the best thing about the ele-
giant mansion is the beautiful air of hos
pitality and free-and-easy comfort which
prevades it from top to bottom. Mrs.
Sprague is an ideal hostess and both are
lavish entertainers, at the head of the
young married set of Boston's -four hun.
dFed. All this genial affability is now
transferred to Washington, and great
things are expected of the wealthy occu-
pants Of the Morton mansion In
the way of elaborate functions
during the coming season. Mrs. Sprague Is
paiey 5O-a very handsome blonde with
solden hair slight, girlish figure and re-
sdl ar, her distinguished appearance al
ways enhanced by marvellous toilettes--
tailor-made gowns of absolute perfection
IN form and fit for street wear and gor-
seous creations for the evening She has
oay one child, pretty little girl named
marion, nearing her fourth year In Bos-
'oH as IN London, private hansoms are
Connon enough, but the only one yet seen
~ Washington belongs to Mrs. Sprague.
one uses II for visiting, and its we'll liver
@ .gt dtlNer IS outtitted in the English STYLE
MSS isabel Perkins, the rich heiress who
4@'ey married Mr.. Larz Anderson, of this
city, Is a cousin of Mrs Sprague and also
came in for some of the Weld millions.
Deh. William Franklin Draper the new
~ appointed ambassador to Rome, whom
MI opfague succeeded in congress, DOS
SeSses vile who will ably sustain the
iF9utatlon Of Americans abroad as mu-
Hincent entertainers. She is a daughter of
Zen Preston Of Lexington. XIV. and was
porn and bred in the social atmosphere of
Pupho ire, her father having been men,
yer OF congress during her early girl
n1ou' ana afterwards minister to Madrid
CneIe the family lived for several years
zen Draper was a widower with one
u"ughter and three sons, when he married
tle beautiful Miss Preston, about nine
SS,ynS ago The daughter is now Mrs
ionIsomery Blair, and the youngest son
- yet IN college. During Gen. Diapers con-
6b.,n9Iollal terms the family occupied the
H., o'Io residence opposite Senator
Iiale s. near the corner of X and Sixteenth
sLeeIs' and every winter gave a series of
routo entertainments. Always a star of
a,S ,s' magnitude in the social armament.
Tmu Tr WIN ample means at command-Mrs.
49, VIII MI the position of ambassa-
.,5 eUl VIE az Rome with credit to herself
tbo @ Wv country Her gowns are always
eiesi erection of good taste-simple yet
6nes, ann, and her Jewels are among the
'"'st ever worn In Washington.
g. ,ho 'ner r lady Of distinction in official life
soci He "lie OF Edward Douglas White. as
ale nre.. Justice Of the United states SUI
Ebene court As Miss Leita Montgomery
ico,." was a reigning beauty of New Or
her "a. ana as Mrs. Linden Kent, during
siao.l, nlst brief marriage, was Justly con-
suerea one Of the most charming ana
blggHli.' 'ished women OF the day. Like the
met ~ type OF southern women wherever
lam, ,.e, sne Is not only admirable in society,"
a olI lovely in her home. a devo,it cathoIlc
G,i vi mighty cultivated literary ana mus.
yo,,ca.e e Justice White is much the
tynlos1 man on the supreme bench. a
8Sreal southerner. born IN Taso,,rcha
leges louisiana, educated IN Jesuit col
ann. Doy-soldier In the confederate