The times., 1899-04-14
SOCIETY AT THE OPERA.
Fashionable Washington Filled the
Grand Last Night. a

The opening OF a season of grand opera
in this city is always attended by a re-
markable display of the many perqusites
of local social life. The fashionables of
ashington-proverbialy one of the most
cosmopolitan of Capitals-always turn out
in full force upon such an occasion and
the result is brilliance and grandeur not
often surpassed. The Grau Company,
which began a brief engagement yester-
evening at the Grand is invariably most
fortunate in the class of audiences it
draws and that which graced the perform
ance of 'Lohengrin" was no exception to
the general rule. 1t filled the interior of
Manager Albaugh's old structure until
there was little room for air and made
up an array OF beauty and magnifcence
that was, in the words of the Snowman,
alone worth the price of admission"
The gathering was, of course. q mixed
one. There were long haired and wrinkled
browed enthusiasts who occupied seats in
the gallery because music rises and watched
the performance with rapt expressions of
Raphaei's cherubs; there were the plain,
every day folk who were rather pleased
with the entertainment and more delight
ed at the spectacle about them, and there
were the elite who formed that spectacle
and had come for the purpose. All alike
were part and parcel of such an assembly
as is seen rarely, even in this city of great
assemblies.
AS is usual on occasions like that of last
night many notables were in the house
distributed through multitude of the dis
tinguished
Not only were the boxes occupied
by prominent representatives of Wash
ingtons fashionable world. but at every
turn were men and women OF official and
social distinction in such numbers as 10
entirely fill the orchestra and flow over
into the parquet and galleries. which were
as gay as summer garden with the gor-
geous contrast of colors that everywhere
met the eye.
Mrs. Mckinley was to have BEN at
tended to the opera by Adjutant General
Corbin. but a telephone message was re-
ceived about dusk from the White House
to the effect that she was not feeling quite
we'll and would defer the pleasure OF hear
ing the company until another evening
Among those who occupied boxes and en-
tertained guests were Mrs Slater. Mr. and
Mrs. Stilson Hutchins, and Mrs. Town
shend.
Prominent among those seated through
out the brilliantly crowded house were
the Mexican Ambassador and Sonora Az
piroz, with their daughter, Sonora De Perez |
Rivera, Chief Justice Fuller and the ladies !
of his family. the Russian Ambassador
and Mile. Cassini, Mrs. Audenreid. Mrs |
Sheridan, Miss Quay, Senator and Mrs. Da-
Wis, Mrs. Warder and Miss Warder, Mrs
Frederick Leech and Miss Leech, Mr.. and
MIS- Ross Perry, Mrs. James G. Payne and
her house guest. Mrs. Robert II. Ward. of
Texas; Mr.. and Mrs Mayo Hazeltine. Senor
and Sonora Godoy, of the Mexican En-
bassy; Mrs. William F. Mattingly and her
daughter Mrs. Robert Treat Paine; Sena-
tor McComas and family, Senator and Mrs
Foraker and the Misses Foraker, Mrs and
Miss Miles. Senator Wetmore, Mrs. Will
lam Writ Dixon and her guests Miss Stur-
giss and Miss Taylor: the Chilean Minis
ter and Sonora de Vicuna, the Misses Pat
ten and party of guests, Mrs. Beriah
wilkins. Mr. and Mrs. Reside. Adjutant
General Corbin, Mrs. and Miss Boardman,