Evening star., 1898-03-05
Lenten Days Busy With Lectures and
Art Study.
DINNER GIVING GOES BRISKLY on
Brides and Grooms and the Com.
ing Wedding Bells.
IN A PRIMO HONOR

active people. Dinners, both among Off,
Gals and residents, continue with the same
regularity as during the height of the win
ter season, and are in some respects more
welcomed and more enjoyed because OF
the absence of any rush In keeping up
with other pleasures. A great many OF
the dinner givers have found 1t impossible
tc get in all the events of this kind dur
Ing the past two months. Many others
never feel at ease If social obligations OF
this important character have not been
reciprocated and would feel decidedly un-
happy II all these debts were not paid or
before society scatters for its summer
wanderings. While an occasional dinner
out is all very well, 1t must be also ad-
mitted for the consolation of those TO
whom this rre-eminent social joy is some
thing unknown, that the most of those
who are themselves most conspicuous as
entertainers and consequently receive more
Invitations than there are days in the
week, are sick and tired of the past three
months Of 1t and find to their dismay
that the very sight of a table laden with
flowers and lights. banishes the last REM
nsnt of appetite and makes them yearn
for a hermit's life, temporarily at least.
One charming young matron on whom
Dame Fortune has showered everything
the world Graves in the opportunities for
luxurious delights says that the only way
dinners a week all the winter and enter
tain regularly at her own home has been
to decline all luncheon invitations. no mat
ter in how tempting form they came: But
having shown this strength of mind as
well as a disposition to accept all the IN
vitations that included the company OF her
husband. she Is now quite willing TO ADMIT
that a week Or two more at the same
pressure would exhaust all her powers or
endurance and for one she is mighty glad
of the Lenten season and it's opportunities
of leaving town If you want to without Its
creating comment.
Talking of the pleasure this particular
young matron takes in the company of her
husband-not that such state of affairs is
anything unusual in Washington society
there are other fashionable matrons VINO
are so seldom accompanied by their part
ners of Joy and woe that their presence on
festive occasions causes some restrain
all around. There are some husbands VINO
enjoy the distinctive trumphs OF their
wives and really prefer forming the audi
ence They like the back seats; but there
are some others who do not even bother to
go out with their wives. and contrive to
set forgotten very easily. 1t Is sald tnat
at one of the largest gatherings marking
the close Of the season that the presence
OF one West End couple was seized upon
by the wife as just her chance to let the
great wcrld see her husband was very
much alive, almost good-looking as ever
and as thoroughly her admirer as he had
been in the days of their youth. She took
the trouble to point him out ana introduce
him where she feared any doubts OF his
identity might have existed, and with some
thing new to talk about. probably enjoyed
her evening more than she thought possible
in these days, when only something out of
the common thrills or interests.
Changes soon to occur in the diplomatic
corps will cause the loss of several pleasant
family groups, who have become. and most
deservedly SO, great favorites. The Chilean
minister and Mrs. Cana will go to London
next month, and the Brazilian minister. Mr..
Mendonca, is expecting transfer to For
tugal, and may probably go. abroad this
spring. The departure of Mrs. Patenotre
to join her husband in Madrid, Is another
break in the circle many friends here re-
gret. The coming of the new Spanish min
lister will be an event of more than usual
interest at this time. Senor Bernabe is no
stranger to Washington society. particular
ly to the older resident families, who were
it's powers fifteen or twenty years ago
when he was here. young man. He WAS a
great favorite those days among chatty
groups OF young people, and old ones, too
for the delightfully."- candid way he had of
expressing himself on men, women and
affairs generally. His impressions wera not
only tinged with the vigorous one-sidedness
of youth, but they had an aptness and di-
rectness of aim. which showed him even in
youth good reader of men and women.
To renew these old friendships and to enjoy
again these old associations, will probably
be among the pleasures the new minister
may safely promise himself. as relaxation
during the worrisome episodes which are
likely to more than fill up the early days of
his term here.
1t is rather early to prophesy the bril-
liancy or length OF the Easter season, as
that period of the year, Ike every other, is
n ore apt to be made up of the unexpected
than of events foreshadowed or long PLAN
ned. That 1t will be pleasantly Interrupted
by the ringing of wedding bells is a fore
gone conclusion. AS the days and dates
have been fixed for at least three mar
riages, and one of the most important fea-
tures-the trousseau-is in course of prepa-
ration. Miss May Keyworth Barbour and
Mr.. George Broome will be married at the
Barbour family residence. Miss Condit-
Smith and Lieut.. Key are another of the
happy couples, and the marriage of Miss
Elizabeth Robinson, daughter of ex-Repre-
sentative and Mrs. John Robinson, to Mr..
A. yelling Wyckoff Of Elmlra, N. Y, is a
third matrimonial event Of great interest
to very large family circle, as we'll as
general acquaintanccs. Another wedding
Of a most charming young lady to a we'll
known young New Yorker Is settled, but
the fair young bride has not yet given her
folks permission to talk about the details
OF the happy day.
Countess Lchtervelde's cards are out for
an evening reception, Saturday. March II.
at half-past O'Clock, at Rauscher's. 1t is
expected that Prince Albert of Belgium,
who is now on his way to these shores, will
be present. Prince Albert Is twenty-five.
the heir presumptive once removed. to the
throne Of Belgium. and his visit to this
country is fer the purpose of studying our
institutions. He viii be a guest at the
Normandie during his stay in this city.
Senator and Mrs Hanna entertained an
other group OF friends last night at dinner.
when their table at the Arlington was
beautifully adorned with flowers. Their
guests were the Postmaster General and
Mrs. Gary, the Secretary of Agriculture |
and Miss Wilson. the Secretary OF the In
terror. Justice and Mrs. McKenna. Senator |
and Mrs. Lodge. Senator and Mrs. Wet |
more. Senator and Mrs. Cullom, Senator
and Mrs. Burrows. Col. and Mrs. Bates. |
Senator Platt of New York, Assistant Sec |
retary of State and Mrs. Day, Mr.. and Mrs. |
Huidekoper. Representative and Mrs.
Beach of Ohio. Mrs. Grosvenor. Mrs. Letter, |
Mr.. and Mrs. Stanley Brown, Mr.. and Mrs.
w. E. Curtis and Judge Thompson of Ohio. |
Judge and Mrs. Edmonds entertained last |
evening a pleasant company at dinner. Civ
en- in honor of MT. Franklin Smith and his |
sister, Mrs. Loud Of Boston. The other |
guests were Naval Constructor and Mrs.
Hichborn, Mr.. and Mrs. Gorham, Lieuten-
ant and Mrs. Reamey, Mr.. and Mrs. Bar |
ber and Mr.. and Mrs. Kaufman. The |