The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-20
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
THE MAINE AFFAIR DISCUSSED
WITH MUCH INTEREST,".

Women Find Many Things to Say
With Regard to international
COmpIicatiOns-Wha Is Going on
Among the Folks of the Social
Set.
Washington, Feb. 19-The women of
Washington are with the men in the gen.
eral discussion of American-Spanish top
les Battleships may explode and sink,
but feminine opinion is a thing impossible
to submerge. Cabinet meetings may be
more prolific of results, but they are not
more interesting than the lively debates
at afternoon teas, .luncheons and break
fasts such as have been occasioned by re-
cent national events
While Senior Dupuy de LONE has been
fguratively hayed alive by mems tongues
and it is conceded that had that polish
ed Spaniard delayed his departure from
this country a single day, the destruction
of the Maine would have melted some one
to the capturing of the ex-ministers scalp
as a mere matter of opinion regarding
Spain-the women have not been back
ward in placing Nine. de LONE upon the
gridiron of social censure.
While Madame was head of a legation,
and the wife of a diplomat, she was be-
yond criticism but directly her husband
cast a slur at American policy 1000 reas-
ons sprang into existence why Washing
ton society is better off since the depart
Now, 1t appears the De Lomes have al
ways been condescending and offensive,
the Senior delighting to polish his keen wit
at the expense of democratic America,
and the Sonora much given to ranking her
self above the generality of women. Nine.
de LONE has a reputation for good looks,
but her charms, viewed dispassionately
are only such as are displayed by Spanish
Jewesses the world over dark, color
less complexion, giving evidence of over
feasting and little fasting, and physique
demanding the need of obesity pills. do not
approach the American ideal of beauty
Poor Spain, poor Spaniards. Both have
suffered at the hands of opinionated pa
! triotic women and they, If no others, have
| arrived at a fair conclusion regarding the
! Cuban controversy. The women of Wash
| ington unite in declaring that America Will
! receive the reward usually accorded a
would-be peacemaker who interferes in a
family quarrel. If two boys are engaged
in a fight and third steps in to separate
! them, it is the third who receives the blows
| of both sides. Nine times out of ten, the
| original antagonists unite in resisting for
| eign interference. America stepped in, in
a friendly way, to make peace between
| Spain and Cuba, and to-day America has
sustained the loss of a 100000 battleship
and many lives, that as a calamity Off
| sets any engagement between the insur-
| gents and the powers of Spain that be.
| At least so argue the women of Wash
ington, and they are apt to understand
whereof they talk.
The calamity of the Maine in the harbor
| of Havana was responsible for the cur
| failing of official gayety at the national
capital. The postponement of the We'd
| nesday night reception occasioned no very
wide regret, as the majority of fashion
| able folk had attended already some one
of the previous White House levees. The
| pubic reception announced for Thursday
night had been anticipated for weeks by
| the less fortunate element and the news
| of its postponement was greeted with
| groans of disappointment. Strangers in
| town thought to get glimpse of the exec
| utive mansion in gala attire, but the close
advent of Lent is likely to prevent the
holding of either function, so that public
curiosity must still feed upon anticipa-
ton.
Valentine day taxed the originality of
entertainers, and the small love god was
| honored by a variety of affairs both
mirth-provoking and clever. One of the
| smartest gatherings was the Valentine hop
! held during the afternoon hours at Fort
! Myer by the officers of the post The
| guests were received by Col. and Mrs.
i Sumner and Capt and Mrs Kingsbury In
Amusement Hall, which was finely deco
rated with bunting, flags and palms The
| Sixth Cavalry Band furnished excellent
music for dancing, and its inspiring repu-
tation was sustained by the army punch,
which was quite the most important feat
ure of the refreshments.
| Late in the afternoon Miss Donovin Of
New York sang a Spanish love song. and
her encores were clever coon songs, ."
such as delights society for the moment
and furnishes a popular fad for the nu-
sically inclined.
Miss Texas Bates, daughter of the lately
appointed military attache to the United
| States Embassy at London, gave a VAL
| entine supper in the evening. The table
decorations were devices suggestive OF the
| DAY, IN both flowers and CONNECTIONS Each
| guest upon entering, dropped two valen-
tines into a postoffice ceverly contriyed
in the hallway, the window of which was
I'm the form of heart and flower bordered
gilded Cupid was stationed as POST
| master General, and he proved very non
| ular with the fifty or more guests who
came at $50 o'clock TO enjoy an Informal
1 cotllion.
Everyone holding "at homes" upon this
day gave valentines as souvenirs, and the
heart-shaped bon-bons were devoured
/ wholesale
The most brilliant function of the week