Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-01-22

Chit Chat Personal from the National Capital
The Dullest Season on Record.

I
and her daughter give several balls
\ with Il great many dinners every win
| ter and none are more popular
| Perhaps next in public favor come
| Baron Hengelmuller and family, of the
| Austrian legation. Nobody in society
misses their weekly reception, and u
bid to one Of their balls is considered
J an honor second only to n White House
| Invitation. Nine. Won Hengelmuller,
| who is considered the most beautiful
woman In Washington. Is n Russian by
{ birth, daughter Of distinguished itus-
/ sian statesman Of the last generation
| As the Countess DUNN Borkouska, she
/ was married at the age OF lC to her
| countrymnn. the Baron de Taczanows-
| kn, and was for number of years one
| of the bellies OF several European courts
| After her first husbands death she
| married Baron Hengclmuller, who was
| then representing his country In Paris
| and came with him to Washington
| three years ago. Having lived at court
| all her life, 1t is said that the ultra
| democratic atmosphere OF the Amerl-
can canital is not altogether congenlal
| to the lovely countess, who. however, Ia
| too wise and kind to make any I'M
complimentary comparison between her
! present and past diplomatic stations.
| The Youngest daughter of the first
marriage, Mile Felicie Tnczanowskn,
ably assists her mother in the many
| splendid functions which are given in
! the Austrian legation. Miss Julia Dent
| Grant, granddaughter OF the late ex-
| President, is now a guest of the
| Hengelmullers. and ball will be given
| In her honor on January 22nd.
The Mexican minister and Mrs. Ro-
| nero. give a constant series OF
sumptuous entertainments every win
| ter In the great legation building, No
| 1913 I street No house is more adj
mirahly adapted for the purpose. with
/ "a oil 1.ol1 -rs.s, nj
vast parlors. which are always filled
with the notables of the diplomatic and
official world. to say nothing of the
| curiosity seeking strangers. Mrs. Ro-
nero was a Philadelphia girl, and I'M
| like the naughty Countess Borkouska
de Taczanowska de Hengelmuller. is
apparently not at all disturbed when a
| throng of unlimited plebeaus nearly
| crowds out her guests.
| The Junesse dorc of society Is still re-
GREETING the loss of atAdonis from
| turkey, Seifddln Bey, who, since the re-
call Of Mustapha Bey last September.
has been promoted to be first secretary
| OF the Turkish legation at st. Peters,
| burg. Russia. Though only &c years
old. Seifeddin Bey proved most
efficient and popular official. He was
particularly handsome. with soft. black
! eyes, and hands and feet like girl,
! and skin the color of an old saddle;
and he had an Irresistible way of maxi
| ing love. as by instinct. to every fe-
male In sight. Rumor hath 1t that he
| really was engaged To several young
| ladies' OF the upper circles, according
| to harem- blessed custom of his coun-
| try. He is a brother-in-law to the
| minister Of foreign affairs at Constan-
tinoplc. and his sister, the minister's
accomplished wife, IL considered the
most beautiful woman In the Orient
| Edhem Bey, the new charge d. affaires.
4 ttsltr Mt from RrlI1lelA
| where he was for some time first Sec
rotary of the legation. is another very
! handsome man and fast becoming
| social lion.
| No society account would be COM
J plete without something about the DO
| ings of he. Leiters-the ex-merchant's
| family from Chicago, you know, whose
| eldest daughter married the Hon. Geo.
| Curzon, of London, two years ago.
| Their elegant white stone house on Du-
Pont Circle-a veritable castle in APP
pearance-was built expressly with an
eye to entertainments which should
out-do those of anybody else. On the
| first floor are library, reception
| room, music room. dining room.
| and morning-room, all on colossal
scale and furnished with indescribable
richness-although colors and styles do
another: and there Is also an enormous
hall on the floor which Is equivalent to
| a salon. and staircase leading to half
dozen parlors above. The period OF
official mourning could not daunt hos
| pitable Mrs. Letter, and she has al
ready given several small dances and
dinners, assisted by her second
daughter Miss Bessie. who came out
only last winter. Perhaps the most
interesting member OF this millionaire
family is the much-talked-of Mr..
Joseph Letter, whose operations in
| fDplloqpd nj
him few weeks ago. The young man
has handsome residence in Chicago,
and plenty OF servants. and his parents
are In the habit OF lifting to and fro to
visit him. The Letters have an abiding
faith In the common sense OF their
children, supposed to be inherited from
the sturdy head Of the house. 1t is
said that the confidence they have re-
posed In their son, with the success
which has for several years accompan-
led all his Investments, was the main
reason why his wheat deals, however
wild they looked to other people, were
promptly backed up by just as many
of his fathers reserve millions as the
emergency required. Hence he could
hardly fail Of success. That both
father and mother placed their only
son on n high pedestal, may be in
ferred from an Incident which diverted
society considerably last season. At a
sumptuous dinner given in the big
white mansion of Du Pont Circle. the
British ambassador and the then secre-
tary of state, Olney. were guests. l,
Is needless to say that Sir Julian
Pauncefote, the great stickler for the
letter of the law In social precedence
knew his place was that CT the most
honored guest. at the right hama OF the
hostess. What, therefore, was his as
constituent, on going out to dinner. Ia
have the pleasure of taking Mr.. Joseph
Letter, the heir of the house" as his
mother ainicably remarked Since
time out of mind It Inns been the Gus
tom TO settle all these little questions
prior to the day OF the dinner by iu-
dicious INQUIRIES. automatically word
ed, and by prompt reply, granting
the Information asked. But sir Julian
was too sure OF his own lofty position
TO feel the need Of any such thing. on
thle occasion In question, Mrs. Letter.
while quite loyal to her guest of the
british nobility, wished TO do especial
honor TO our secretary Of state: and
ahe did II. as she has done many other
things which have earned for her the
title Mrs. Malaprop."
FANNIE BRIGHAM.