Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-12
THE SOCIAL WORLD
Brilliant Scene at the Westinghouse
Home.
THOUSANDS OF GUESTS PRESENT
Roses and Lights Made a Fairy
land of Pleasure.
A MEMORABLE HOSPITALITY

The reception given last night by Mr. and
Mrs. Westinghouse, in honor of the Ameri-
| can Society of Mechanical Engineers, was
magnificent event-a tribute alike to the
great profession represented by the special
guests as we'll as to the Washington friends
of this princely host and hostess, whose
Inequalities have been SO continuous and
SO elegant. Much was expected by the
knowledge Of the busy weeks given to the
Preparations but for once anticipations
fell far short Of complete realization of the
brilliancy and beauty of the scene. The
fairy palace Of light will go down in his
| tory with the glories of its lights, its flow
ers its dainty viands and it's joyful music,
but its GROWING feature will always be
that within its flower-lined walls there had
assembled company truly representatives
| of the American character-its heroes of
war and peace, its brainy men and women,
its everyday workers and its leisure
classes. Interested as participants as we'll
as spectators were the foremost members
of the diplomatic service at the capital.
and especially those whose names have
been heard the most frequently the past
year.
The guests long accustomed to functions
of a superior character were amazed at the
superb preparations that had been made
for their entertainment. The decorations
surpassed anything ever seen in Washing
ton at a private affair. The entire first
floor of the spacious mansion and the re-
firing rooms above were f1ower-filled and
bloom fragrant, while the large addition
which had been constructed In the rear
especially for this reception, and which
formed part of the first floor proper, was
revelation In artistic perfection. Entrance
to the mansion through the wide doorways
on Goth street and Massachusetts avenue
confronted the guests with luxuriant
blooming dogWood trees whose white bios
heightened nv the of
American beauty roses that filled every re-
cess and corner and the rare orchids that
banked the mantels The walls were trailed
with asparagus running up from bases of
palms and delicate ferns. The apartments
In the mansion proper were massed with
varied roses and spring blooms, while the
dining room was treated with orchids
sprnging between the massive gold candel-
at ra and fruit stands like birds OF para
disc.
The addition in the rear, a spacious square
apartment, had dome in the center, from
which was suspended an arc light shaded
by pink and white roses. The walls had
been covered with gracefully draped white
chalie and over this asparagus vines
riotouSfy, while great pink satin ribbons
Topped in true lovers knots were on cell
ings and walls alike. Between the lace
draped windows were gilt baskets, from
which sprang long-stemmed American
beauties, their leaves partly hiding tiny in
candescent electric lights, as though count
less firefiies were lowering in the foliage.
An orchestra discoursed music from bal
cony extending across the south side of
the apartment. This was supported by
columns whose bases were hidden by far
leyense and maiden-hair ferns and profuse
shafts of purple orchids. The satin rib
bons on these columns and the front OF
the music stand were of the same shade
as the orchids. A rich crimson velvet car
pet covered the floor, heightening the eff
feet of the floral and electric beauties
around and above. Under the balcony was
hA tal1 prfjC rt IN
guise under which substantials and dainties
could be arranged formed here new beau
ties. number of set pieces mechanical
inventions-a locomotive in full steam and
other devices sculptured in sugar-were in
tereSting features of these hower-decked
tables. menu of both hot and cold dishes,
with the appropriate wines, was served all
evening.
guests with trays laden with refreshingly
cool beverages. Under the arches at the
east side of the room there We're seats in
plenty. and some of the guests spent the
evening at this fine point of vantage,
watching the promenading throrgs. The
arrangements, which prevented any con-
gestion at the doorways, were admirable
A man was stationed at each and directed
the advance of the guests, which until long
past IL o'clock kept the same proportion it
had at 9-a slowly moving procession. Mrs.
Westinghouse received in the first drawing
room, and her assistants made a welcoming
line which extended half way cross the
second room. The gracious hostess was
gowned in cream-tinted net, which was ap
pliQued all over In light green and silver
passementerie Her jewels were diamonds
aid pearls. and bunch of pink roses
further ornamented the corsage.
Chief Engineer Melville stood next her.
with Mr.. and Mrs. b. H. Warren of Pitts
burg. Assisting also in the reception were
Representative and Mrs. Dalzell, Colonel
and Mrs: HUFF, Mrs: Boardman, Mrs. Har-
riet Blaine Beale, Mrs. r. r. Hit, with
DR. Stewart Mrs
onel and Miss Cotton Lieutenant Benning
ton, Miss Langhorne. Miss Alice Lang
horne, Miss Elsie Bel, Miss Marian Bell,
Miss Sedgley. Mrs. Frank Moore. Mr. and
Mrs. George w. Jones of Schenectady. Miss
Sartoris, Miss Rosemary and Captain Sar-
toris, Mr.. and Mrs. Crannell and Miss
Tracy guest of Mrs. Alexander Graham
Bell.
After their welcome the incoming guests
passed to the banquet hall, and the return
to the main hall was by the dining room,
where every one fingered to admire the
beautifully arranged supper table at which
the receiving party were entertained
Shortly after IL the hostess escorted nv
ADMIRAL Schley, and Mrs. Hay by Chief
engineer Melville, led the way to the din
Ing room, followed by the rest of the as
sistants The flowers of the table and the
room were mauve orchids and all the ap-
pGnfmeEts were In harmony. The lace
table cloth was over mauve velvet, and the
epergnes filled with orchids, had their basis
outlined by broad mauve satin ribbons
laid in wrinkled folds on the cloth. The
china service matched in shade. Silver
dishes were filled with peaches, strawber-
Hes. cherries and large purple grapes. Be
sides the orchestra in the banquet room,
another played at the head of the stair
case. The guests carried away pretty SOU
venirs in the shape of booklets which had
several pages which were printed the
music numbers and menu. Taken as a
whole the reception promises to long re-
main as unparalleled in the annals of
Washington hospitality for its refined per-
lection In every particular.
Among the guests were the German am
bassador. the French ambassador, the Rus
sian ambassador and Miss Cassini, the min
lister of Venezuela and Miss Andrade. the
minister of Brazil and Mrs. Assis- Brazil
the Netherlands minister. the minister of
Sweden and Norway. the minister of Por-
tugal and Vicountess de SantoThyrso, the
minister of Denmark, the minister of
Ecuador and Mrs Carlo, Miss Carlo, the
minister OF the Argentine Republic and
Mrs Garcia Merou, the Japanese minister
the minister of Haiti and Mrs. Leger the
minister of Turkey, the minister of Costo
Rica and Mrs. Calvo, the charge daffaires
OF Great Britain, the charge d'affaires of
Italy, Commandant and Mrs. de Grandprey,
Mr.. Jules Boeufve, Mr.. and Mrs. de VOL