The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-28


The President and Mrs. Mckinley were
entertained at dinner last night by the
Secretary OF War and Mrs Root The
company invited to meet the distinguished
guests were the Secretary of State and
Mrs. Hay, the Secretary of the Treasury
and Mrs. Gage. the Postmaster General
and Mrs. Smith, the Attorney General,
the Secretary of the Navy the Secretary
of the Interior and Mrs. Hitchcock, the
Secretary of Agriculture and Miss Wilson,
Senator and Mrs. Mcmillan, Representa-
tive and Mrs. Hit, Mrs. Frederick Dent
Grant. Miss Phelps. Miss Root, and Gen
eral Corbin. The floral decorations of the
table were bridesmaid roses, white lilacs,
and farleyense ferns.
Senator and Mrs. Elkins, who have been
chief among the entertainers of the week,
were again hosts at dinner last night
when their guests were the Speaker and
Mrs. Henderson, Senator and Mrs. Thurs
ton. Senator and Mis-. Scott. Representa-
tive and Mrs. Dovenor, Representative
and Mrs. Johnston, Representative and
Mrs Dayton, Colonel and Mrs. Burt, Mr..
and Mrs. Livingston, Mrs. Ffoulke, Mrs.
Manning, Mrs. NJ. L. ingalls,, and Senator
Perkins.
Mrs. L. s. Grant gave luncheon yester-
day. when her guests were Mrs. Mackay-
Smith, Mrs. Dunn, Mrs. Audenried, Mrs.
T. d. Grant, Miss Mckinley, Miss Duncan.
Miss Sherman, Miss Sheridan. Miss Ruck-
er, Miss Kean, Miss Patten, Miss Cockrell,
and Miss Sartoris.
One of the most important demands on
the time of society woman is the neces-
sity of making calls so many days in the
week and OF remaining at home some one
special afternoon TO receive them. 1t is
what the Philistine would call big con-
tract, but not an impossible one If each
hostess on her lat home" day would rec
ognize the value of her callers time.
Those who receive in their own homes,
Of course, are always graciously ready and
waiting TO welcome and speed their guests.
\ footman whisks open the door the in
slant q visitor reaches 1t. There Is q
Whit of warm. rose-scented air, a glim-
mer of daintily shaded lights. minutes
chat, a sip of tea, and-that is one call
finished
If the next visit happens to be made at
one Of the large hotels or apartment houses
of the West End, the experience gained
is likely to furnish material for what Mr..
commenting on her own individual trials
and those of her sister sufferers. one
woman prominent In official circles had
to say like this:
Il recognize my social obligations, and
try TO fulfil them, but unless a change for
the better happens il is useless TO hone TO
do justice to my visiting list. ] have a
great many calls TO make during the sea
son. and If you are an expert at figures you
can reckon up how little time have 10 do
il in. / really enjoy my house-to- house
fitting. and come home with my mind re-
freshed from the pleasant incidents Of the
afternoon, but when / go TO pay calls at
hotels and apartment houses l must say
that 1t does not add to my happiness to
have 10 wait. and keep en- waiting until
find out whether or not the lady | have
called on is az home. Here is the usual
programme, OF course there are always OK
cepticns' Suppose / go to call upon, say
Mrs. Blank. wife OF the Senator from
Blanktown. ! give my card to the man at
the door. who hands il to the clerk at the
desk, who doesn't know whether or not
Mrs. Blank is receiving, but will send
at once and see. The card is turned over
TO an attache, who disappears w the stairs.
As he is not entitled to the privileges OF
the elevator, | have TO wait that much
longer for his return. Sometimes my
various Mrs. Blanks are at home, some
times they are not, but in either case
have lost so much time. / sent UP cards
last week to three ladies living in the same
hotel. 1t took just eighteen minutes for
me 10 find that all Of them were making
calls. ] hope they had better luck than l.
II is not In the least the fault of the man
ayers Of the hotels and as | want TO be
quite charitable. | won't go so far as TO
say that 1t is fault on the part OF the
ladies by the name of Blank.
what / insist upon thinking. however,
is that II would be very much better for
their callers If they would notify the clerk
in the Office whether or not they intended
TO be cut or at home"