Evening star., 1899-03-04
THE SOCIAL WORLD
Mi-Careme Will Be Marked BY q
Cotillion.
WHAT some FOLKS ARE TALKING OF
Secretary AIger Has State Friends
to Dine With Him.
OTHER INTERESTING TOPICS

OTHER INTERESTING TOPICS
Another milestone in a Washington win
ter is reached today by the adjournment Of
Congress, and the capital will soon be
without the charms of its transient dwell
ers Resident society is again left to itself,
and, as usual, will display its abundant
ability for providing all the extra pleasure
it needs, besides the mere joy OF living.
When Washington offers the rea! old-fash-
ioned thing in the way of weather-twice as
many balmy days as clustering ones-out-
door life here a fortnight or SO later In the
season has delights not to be scorned in
summing up the comforts of existence. The
congressional colony of homekeepers ap-
preciate this fact, so that very few Of them
think Of leaving for northern or extreme
northwestern points until the advancing
season makes the climate uncomfortably
warm. The chances are, therefore, that
the majority of this set of capital residents
will be met at the coming spring entertain
ments, just as they were here last fall to
help US open up the gay program
Society Is under many pleasant obliga-
tions to the Germans and MurDhys, who
have entertained so continuously and hand
Somely during their residence mere, ana the
end of the senatorial terms of the heads
of the houses removes two interesting
families, even if temporarily in the case
of the first named, from the glare of public
attention. Ex-senator and Mrs. Murphy
will remain in their K street house for
some little time yet, as they contemplate
stay in New York before opening up their
Long Branch villa for the summer, which
they have enlarged and beautified during
the past year.
Tea parties at fashionable boulevard res
ha latp Of
among the American colony in Paris, which
has outgrown Sunday dinner giving at the
hotels, which transplanted idea took SO
well in New York the past winter. What
the next move will be in the way OF pro-
viding novelty is a great problem-and has
aroused considerable speculation.
The New York Lenten Sunday diversion
has been subscription musicales at one of
the hotel winter gardens, but even this can
not expect to thrive If private houses offer
the same or similar attractions by invita-
ton. Mrs. Belmont had biograph war pic
lures exhibited in her drawing rooms last
Sunday-all this, of course, shows that the
average fashionable is still able to Sit still
and listen or observe what is going on,
which faculty has seemed on the wane of
late years. The set of folks most to the
front in all eastern cities have wanted to
take a hand foot may be, in all the
wCnders on the program and the gayest
invitations of professional talent were in
demand. Evidently taste is changing, he
cause at a much-talked-Of Shrove Tues day
ball in New York professional dancers per-
formed under shaded lights, and real live
animals were given as german favors all
of which is much better than the encour-
agement of amateur efforts in the dancing
line, and the many and distinct kinds of
shock. the audience would be bound to
have received.
The novelty idea as applied to everything
the base fashionable undertakes nowadays
or Is expected to patronize is rather trou-
blesome. Some of the events in substantial
homes are said to have failed because there
was nothing promised but music" I'm
less the names of the highest priced artists
are mentioned it is rather difficult to get
the folks together really desired in New
York, and sometimes, too, in Washington,
where normal appetite prevails and novel
ties are looked upon largely desserts,
welcome, of course, but not essentially
necessary. Some of the new corners in the
social realm the past winter have found
this out. They had no trouble in getting
nice little company of people strangers to
each other as well as the hostess, but the
old reliables were not tempted, and the
most desirable names could only appear in
next days prints as invited" A pretty
performance of this kind which has been
a tragedy to its star and comedy of most
amusing parts to many others has been
played out during the last four months,
and would have reached it's last presenta-
ton as a midLent attraction if the fates
had not interviewed in the shape of scary
creditors and slowly-paid bills-a rock on
which many a gallant craft has reached de-
structiOn.
There was a beautiful dinner given here
lately Such flowers and taste in arrang-
ing them and such pretty fixings generally
that nobody seemed to feel at first the abb
sence of the usual glass furnishings at the
right hand. The guests were great folks
generally. Indeed, in Washington, where
they abound, you could assemble no more
distinguished dozen. After contemplation
of themselves and everybody else around
the board and taste of the wholesome
cheer provided, which reminded them of
the good, old days before an appreciative
nation required their services at the Capt.
tol, they realized that something was
lacking which they remembered had opal
escent ruby and other glowing tints and a
bouquet and heavens above! flavor, and
which they never wanted so badly before,
because there was no sign of any at hand.
Then the revenge, which was sweet and not
tardy, was administered to the host, whose
invitations had lured them together, when
bouquets, where even freshetS could be
forgotten, because no part of them would
be served, might have had their company.
And they say each man told story of dry
weather, so dry, that fgurative clouds of
dust blew across the table, and some of
them almost hid the host from sight, but
he only smiled, and the band played on.
The tellers Of the dry weather fables are
wondering yet whether he understood and
vincing is wondering how she fix 1t up
with the hostess.
Secretary Alger gave Michigan dinner
last night, when his guests included Sena-
tor Mcmillan, Senator Burrows, Mr.. John
B. Corliss, Mr.. George Spalding, Mr. A. NJ
Todd, Mr.. E. L. Hamilton, Mr.. Samuel w.
Smith, Mr.. Horace G. Shower, Mr.. Ferdi-
nand Brucker, Mr.. Roswell P. Bishop, Mr..
R. o. Crump, Mr.. w. S. Mesick, Mr.. C.. D.
Sheldon, Col. Bliss of Detroit, Mr.. o. H.
Spalding, MIR. Edward Weeks, Mr. v. L.
Mason and Major G. H Hopkins, U. s. A
The Abracadabra Club met Wednesday
evening at the home of Miss Van Ness. In
the absence of the president, Mrs. ]. D.
Croissant, first vice president, called the
meeting to order. Responses by club MEM
bers were on THE Seasons" An instru-
mental trio of two mandolins and guitar
played by Messrs. Todd, Amiss and Cos
tadina, gave two selections. Mr.. Besslievre
read a paper on 1.-The United States Navy"
DIR. w. A. Croffut read, by request, Dewey
Was His Name and then gave a talk on
expansion, particularly in relation to the
Philippines. Mr.. ]. L. McCreery spoke
briefly on the other side, outlining the past
history of the Aryan race movement in
conquering the world, with remarks
by Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Besslteyre