The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-27
WASHINGTON IN LENT.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONS VERY FEW, But
PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT.


PLENTY TO TALK ABOUT.
The "Heathen ChInee'' in High Fa-
vor-DoIngx of the Daughters of
the American ReyOlutiOn-The As
sembIy BaII-Various Topics of So
cIaI Interest.
Washington. Feb. 2s.-Forty days of
Forty nights exemption from paying
court to Mammon.
Though Lent is supposed to be a period
of quietude and reflection, in reality 1t Is
only sharp turn In the road of pleasure,
marking a different variety of entertain
ment. Balls come to a standstill; recep
tons are over, and these two phases OF
social life will not rebound into favor I'M
I'll Easter. Formally is declared Off and
to many the less onerous and exaeting de-
mands upon strength and purse are as
| welcome as the breath of existence. II
means that dinners and luneheons may
be given economically upon the plea of
Lenten abstinence. Could be expected
that the revolving wheel of Washington's
brilliant season should suddenly become
stationary? The way OF the fashionable
world is said to be strictly downward,
and 1t would take more powerful pres.
sure than that brought TO bear by church
and state to manage a system of perfect
moral airbrakes. And so, while the social
engines may shut off STEAM sufficient mo-
mentum has been gathered throughout
| IN ba gay
wheel to roll smoothly on for many a day
to come.
There are so many spokes to this wheel
Of pleasure. and they all radiate from the
White House hub. Ere the tire of the
wheel is reached, every phase and chapter,
stratum and grade is represented, proving
Washington a modern Babel for variety
of tongues, and city of cities for the
study of costumes. Grandmother's crazy
quilt does not display greater analogies in
fabrics than Washington displays in types
of man.
The heather Chinee" is in high favor as
a type just at present, and no affair of
fashion is complete without the Chinese
minister, who, being rather new to Wash
ington, and as clever an Oriental as ever
understood the subtleties of slang laden
English, is altogether the rage. While
| Madame WI stops at home nursing her
poor little feet-the like of which would re-
quire good round dozen to approach the
Trilby type-and porting over English die
tionaries, her attractive lord and master
goes forth, with his first secretary of le-
cation, to conquer social worlds.
He Is literally everywhere a drinking af-
ternoon tea and chocolate with excellent
grace, pledging the American women at
punch bowls, employing his generous jaws
for compliments-and condments-whole-
sale. He is devoted TO sweets and he man
ages ice cream with fork,
with Chesterfieldian ease. AT a reception
on Monday Minister WI, thinking to pay
a high compliment to a popular Southern
beauty. told her she resembled the fairest
type of the women of his country. There
was nothing to do but appear honored at
the fancied resemblance. however much
the sweet little American may have FUN
ed within her soul
This reception, by the way, was among
the prettiest hotel functions of the sea-
son. 1t was given at the Normandie nv a
coterie OF fair Southerners-Mrs Elliott
Mrs. Clark. Mrs. Mccullough, Miss Shoup
and Miss Evans, and the apartments lent
themselves happily to exquisite decora lions
and the assembling of distinguished
guests.
|
masses of roses and tulips against maid an
hair ferns. and the tea room as fragrant
with hyacinths and pink roses. The table
was beautifully laden with de,icacies, and
there were many statesmen in attendance.
Ex-Vice President Stevenson was a center
of attraction, and many of the guests dis
played the decorations belonging to the
d. A. r. organization, at present agitating
Itself in Washington.
The Southern darkey has a word in his
vocabulary which expresses the condition
viewed collectively, of the d. A. r. state of
mind. This word Is "catawise'' and it
means there are more counter-opinions.
booms and projects than there are drops
in the ocean. and that every delegation, if
not every delegate, is going "catawise'' TO
the others. The d. A. r. congress, in fact
suggests disc a-whirl upon q patriotic
. | stick some what after the manner of a
juggler's performance.
The Daughters are a revelation to man
kind. and their enthusiasm and indefati-
gable ambitions are proof thatAmericnn
women possess Spartan blood. The ses-
sions held at the Grand Ocera House are
pra!seworthy performances. viewed from
a theatrical standpoint There is much
beauty to study, constant give and take
of wit and wisdom, parliamentary discus
sious galore, laws ruled in and out, eoc-
tioneering and canvassing worthy OF a
Tammany fight. fugre of femme voices.
and such q huzzing that ever woman of
the thousands present must entertain sew
eral bees la her bonnet.
The fight for the new president general
goes merrily on, but after much discus
sion It has been decided 10 abolish the Of
flee of first vice president general, the sew
eral vice presidents 10 share alike in re-
gard to power and dignity.
While their seniors have been making
more indelble the colors of the American
flag, the junior organization known as
the National Society of the Children OF
the American Revolution" has also been
in session during the present week. The
Washington birthday celebration was
charming. Mrs. Tennis S. Hamn, chap.
lain of the society, is an active worker
in the cause of instilling patriotism into
youthful hearts, and Mrs. Daniel Lothrop,
the president, is host in herself
Marches, drills, minuet dances. as our
rrapdfnOfhprS danced n and ,,,psf,, v,.o~.