Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09

auets from admiring friends covered the
mantels and piano, which. with the profuse
decoration Of flowers literally lined the
rooms with blossoms. Mrs Edison was
richly goWned in black satin. trimmed in
scarlet satin, under white lace and was
assisted in entertaining by Mre Walcott.
Mrs. Dali, Mrs. Tunstail, Mrs Sidwen Mrs
Kendall. Mrs. Macdonald Miss Elise Pain
ter Miss Mary Warner Miss Mary Pierce
Miss Sue Tunstall, Miss Jennie Hume Miss
Mary Lyman and Miss Edison. niece of the
hostess. Miss Mabel Frye of Pittsburg and
Miss Alice Clark of Cleveland, college
friends of the debutante. who are now her
guests also assisted in the reception. which
was attended by so many notables of the
Sesident and Official world.
A correspondent writes The Star. apropos
of the mention in this column several
weeks ago, of the debated question of pre-
cedence for the army or navy. that the
best way out OF the difficulty would be TO
allow them the ranking privilege alternate
Years. But the trouble at present seems
TO be which branch of the service shall
have the honor January /. 1900. The navy
people see the way clear enough for the
proper thing, but the army folks fail to see
Why the present custom should Ee reversed.
The whole affair is very good-natsredlv
discussed but as in the advice to the man
who had invited too many officials to din
Eer and some OF them with a Hfc-tenure on
their office, a sudden indisposition on the
part of either the admiral of the navy or
the general of the army New Year morn
ing would help amazingly and really seems
to be the only way to please The s,iclIars
and let both sides down easy. While the
question of official precedence means pri-
marily the keeping of good order and is
therefore necessary and Commsndable. the
sober thought CT the people never apDlanis
any ambitions of this kind on the part of
an individual unless the contest is with a
foreigner. There is no backing down for
an American in an emergency of that sort
and foreign representatives never insist
upon it, after the right fight has been
made.
1t will not make any great difference to
the country at large whether the New
Year procession is made up of Admiral
Dewey ana staff. Gen. Miles and officers of
the army, followed by the Off ers of the
navy, o. whether the admiral and the navy
officers follow or precede Gen Miles and
the army officers, and it certainly will not
settle who shall sit above who at dinner
The average Washington host and hostess
do not ordinarily invite persons whose Off
cal rank might clash any more than they
arrange to have lifelong enemies as part
asrs. There might be an excuse for the
latter, but there would not be any for the
hrst, unless it would be to betray the fact
OF a single dinner and not several in pros
pect.
More than that, the socially inclined in
Washington manage to visit and be visited
no matter how firmly they may maintain
any position-and few dinner invitations go
begging. \ case in point happened not long
ago. A great man, who has passed from
n
other city, was wanted as a dinner guest.
The host and this guest had not exchanged
calls, neither had their wives Probably
the men would have done So only the
hostess in this case was overwhelmed with
the dignity of her position and was waiting
to be called on first. The situation was
this when some advice was asked as to the
next move in the game. VIII | call or will
my husband?' Don't do either if you are
in hurry. Send the dinner invitation The
great man knows you already and does not
know or care whether the exchange of
pasteboard has been made He is a busy
man, like your husband, but he likes a
dinner" And the dinner went off in great
style, and all the high lights We're there
Lady Pauncefote and the Misses Paunee-
fote had a very large reception yesterday
afternoon.
Miss Bessie Houchens of 1912 18th street
gave a very pleasant reception and dance
to her friends Wednesday evening, De-
cember 6, at Conf derate Veterans Hall,
11th and E streets. Among those present
Green and Mrs. Houchens, Misses Jennie
Delahay, n title and Jessie Medford. Flossia
Bartlett, Mabel Johnson, Annette Baker,
Carrie Rosebury, Mabel Chism, Mabel and
Carrie Dunn, Rose Snyder, Mabel Green,
LIE Duke, McAboy, Jenkins, Brown, Bailey,
and Messrs. Sparrough. Medford, Steinberg,
Kern, Cake, Dyer, Tarbox, Ford, Hail.
Hill, Wheeler. Mankin, Barry, Hofr, Need
ing, Campbell Rosebury. Wylie and~Don-
nelly.
Mrs. Cushman X. Davis only returned a
few days ago from Minnesota and will
soon resume her Thursday receptions.
debutante from the navy circle was
presented yesterday in the person of Miss
Julia Wood, daughter of Capt. z. p. Wood,
U. s. N, at a tea given by Mrs. Biddle, at
her n street home. Miss Wood was dressed
In white mousseline. Assisting Mrs. and