The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-06-27
GOSSIP Of
WASHING TON
incidents Of Life at the
Capital.
ABOUT FAMOUS PEOPLE
A Popular Woman Duke D'Arcos
--0ther WeII-known Diplomats
In that City.

| WASHINGTON, June 16.-The pres
ent Minister from China is the most
| popular representative ever accredited
from the Celestial Kingdom to this CAP
ital and it is doubtful if any of his pred
ecessors, all of whom were distin-
guished men, accomplished more for
thelr government than has this talented
and astute diplomatist, whose intimate
knowledge Of the Anglo-Saxon charac-
ter, broad understanding of American
ethics and the American point of view,
magnetism and responsiveness have
made him friends on all sides.
! Madam Wu deservedly shares her
husband S popularity. She has not. un-
happily, the Minister'S command of
English, and has had no opportunity.
as he has had, of awakening enthusi-
asm by public speeches, but in her
more limited sphere she has shown her
self equally tactful and gracious.
! While not beautiful from the Occi-
dental standard, her face is extremely
interesting, and her genial manners and
evident desire to please have made her
widely liked A cordial hostess. an an
preciative guest, and having real pleas
ure in the duties of her position. no
woman in fashionable life plays her
role with more zeal and grace. The
wife of China's envoy comes of a long
line of distinguished ancestors, and has
all the repose and culture associated
with good birth and breeding. A native
| OF canton and of pure Chinese blood
in common with all women of her race
and caste, her feet were compressed in
INFANCY and are so tiny that standing
and walking are difficult, and she is
glad OF friendly arm to lean upon
| Madam Wu has senSibly remained
| 1althtui TO the Oriental dress and her
costumes are the envy of her American
| sisters. On state occasions she wears
a brilliant petticoat of red or blue lust
snort enough to show her little feet,
heavily embroidered with gold Over
this is worn tunic of black and pur-
| pie, also richly wrought with bullion
On her breast is large gold eagle,
Whlch signifies that her rank is equal
to that of her husband, and she may
at all functions enter and leave the
room at his side instead of behind him
as would be required if she were of
lesser rank. Her head dress is a mar
row band of black satin, ornamented
with handsome jewel, a large pearl
|
worn directly in front. This band is
decorated with flowers which fall just
behind the ears and add much to it's
p1cturesqueness. Her jewels are ex-
tremely beautiful. The stones are large.
OF fine luStre, eXQuiSitely cut and set in
the quaint manner which Oriental gold
smiths seem to hold the secret of, as
these settings are rarely seen In this
part of the world. Mr.. Wu's opinion
regarding some of the American GUS
toms are well known, and his stric-
lures on the habit of binding the waist
| instead of the fee, have been given
wide publicity. Madam Wu shares her
husbands views regarding what they
look upon as an instrument of torture
the modern corset, and when asked not
long ago what she thought most strange
upon her arrival in this country said
a panied expression coming over her
face:
THE small waists. How can they
stand it? How can they breathe?"
A POPULAR WOMAN
Mrs John Davis, when her father was
the premier in President Arthur's Cabi-
net, was the most conspicuous and ad-
lnired woman in society. Tail, graceful
| strikingly handsome, with wavy black
hair regular features, dark eyes of ex-
ceeding brilliancy and great expression,
| with the creamy complexion that be-
|
ed, as the saying goes, and Invariably
| dressed in exquisite taste, Mrs. Davis
! would be noticed in any assembly; but
| TO all her attractions of person she adds
a fine and well trained mind, a charac-
ter perfectly balanced, tact, a cheerful
spirit and knowledge of human ma
| ture. In her. to be brief, are united all
the qualities that make a successful
social leader, position no one dis outed
with her in the Arthur regime. Latter
! ly Mrs. Davis has srerI much time IA
| Europe, but when in Washington, 81
| though she does not take the lead in $
ciety as formerly. she Is seen at all
smart functions, and is one of The capi-
! tafs most agreeable hostesses.
THE DUKE d ARGOS.
The people at the capital who hold
| the Duke de ARGOS in high esteem uni
versally regretted the Chicago incident,
and deplored that anything snould have
| happened which could be possibly in
| terpreted as a rudeness to one who de-
| served nothing but good at the hands
| # Americans. Since he presented his
| credentials in June of last year, the
Spanish Minister has filled his difficult
| post with credit and dignity. and has
| furthered in every way the re-estab-
ishment of friendly relations between
| His and his own government. conduct
ing all official negotiations with ability
ard skill. and leav ng nothi z uadone in
| y social way to evidence his good will.
| The sending of the Invitation from Chi
cago he tactfully regarded as an un-
| fOrtur ate mistake. and by treating it
| as such disposed of situation that
| with a man Of less tact might have
caused a real difficulty between two ma