The Savannah morning news., 1900-08-05
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT OFF THE
ENGLISH MINISTER CANCELLED.

FashiOn-The Letters of a Daugh-
ter of Secretary Wilson Written
From Paris-Some WelI-KnOwn
People who Are in Europe-A Ref
erence to Miss Annie Wheeler.
The southworth FamiIy-Death of
Son of the Famous Novelist.
other Matters of General Interest.
Washington. Aug 3.-The British en-
hassy is again in official mourning, owing
% the death of a member of the royal
family-this time for Queen Victorias
second son, the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-
cotha. According to etiquette. all social
Angagenents are cancelled for the next
thirty days, which will bring them to the
end of the summer. The legation family
is established at Newport, its youngest
members being the center of the social
whirl Of that always gay resort. Lord
Pauncefote-big, bald and beefy, but gall
liant and musical goes about everywhere
with his daughters-p,aying his own cred
atable compositions on the piano, and oc-
Casionally singing, in a deep bass voice
Athat seems to rumble to the very bowels
health has not been the best of recent
years, pays less attention to society. but
prefers to spend her quiet days out of
doors.
Speaking of ngers-troubadouring is
again the fashion in this unsentimental
country, as 1t used TO be long ago, and
has always been in the SUMMER land of the
afin low oil ring
dunn During the spring and early sum-
mer before the tribes went up to the
watering places and all the swell houses
were closed 1t became a common thing
for the midnight air to be made musical
by stringed orchestras, or choirs of sere-
naders, or solitary wandering mihstrels
II is said that the pioneer troubadours of
the spring-time had a rather hardtime of
it. Time and again they barely escaped
srrest, as disturbers of the peace, while
all along their route windows banged up
with cries of murder! fire! poNcel and in
more than one instance the neither gar
mrnts" of the stlingers suffered from over
Eealous watch dogs. Had these murderers
Of sleep come from the lower walks of
life they would have been promptly sup
pressed as public nuisances; but as they
i we're always from the very cream de Ia
creme of society-generally from the corps
II naturedly as a genteel Joke So the
q fashion spread and spread, and our gay
young diplomats carried it away with
u them to the various places where they are
Spending the summer. and the whole coun-
Try is liable to be given over to ii by
autumn. One of the most jealous of the
pioneer serenaders at the capital was
Count Tarnowski, of the Austrian lega-
ton. He carried the fashion TO Bar Har-
h. tue
now giving a flip to the ordinary hum
Il drum of Newport by inaugurating the
8 troubadour business. His initial appear
q snce in the role of the minstrel stirred
& that dignifed resort from center to cir
81 conference. Accompanied by two friends
q and a band, the rounds were begun an
81 hour past midnight, and a dozen houses
N visited in turn. Whatever may have been
4 the unspoken comments of the fair vic
tins who needed their beauty sleep for
4 next days conquests, the up-to date
s. troubadours were in every case entertain
ed in fine style, servants were reused and
supper Cor rather breakfasts) spread-for
4 the jewellers saw the sun rise, many of
them for almost the first time in their
Il lives.
The widow of Supreme Court Justice
Field has so far remained in the heated
capital, in order to be near her sister,
with the Congers in China. Mrs. Field
was president of the Washington Statue
Association, and is much gratified at the
successful termination of her laborS. The
unwilling ceremonies, of which glowing
accounts have been received, occurred in
Paris on the Fourth of July. Mrs. Field
fully expected TO be present until the
dreadful uncertainty of affairs in Pekn
and the grief of her sister made her pres
ence necessary here.
.
Miss Wilson, daughter Of the Secretary
Of Agriculture, who sailed late in May for
Europe, is now the guest of Mr.. and Mrs.
Thomas f. Walsh of Paris. The party
returned last week from short tour in
Belgium. Miss Wilson. who has always
been a social favorite in Washington,
writes delightfully."- chatty letters from
abroad TO her friends here. In a recent
letter she describes their visit at Ostend,
where, at a dinner. Mr.. Walsh sat next to
the King of Belgium. 1t is an open Sc
oret that the wealthy American. who is
commissioner of the Worlds Fair from
colorado. derives most of bis more than
| prlncely income from copper-mines, and
the King had no doubt heard of ii. His
| MaJesty questioned Mr.. Walsh about all
the details Of copper-mining management,
and requested an audience next day at
Nic palace 10 continue the conversation
SO impressed was the monarch with the
Information gained that he has instructed
MS agents to at once investigate some
copper deposits known TO exist in the
congo district, owned by the Belgians.
Mr.. and Mrs Walsh came back to their
faris home, the Elysee Palace Hotel. to
attend some social Functions, but will soon
return TO Ostend to escape the heat They
nave entertained most literally while
epfoad; but, as always at home, their en-
tertalnments are characterized by excel
tent taste. Al a recent dinner given by
mem, covers were laid for 100 guests.
After the repast Nine. Nevada sang, a
noted violinist played and two dancers
gave an exhibition of their peculiar skill.
MISS Cockrell, one of the daughters of the
senator from Missouri, who is a guest of
'ne Walsh's for the summer in Europe, is
everywhere very greatly admired. The
youngest daughter. Miss Anna Ewing
Sockfen will sail Aug. 4 on the Waesland,
rom Philadelphia 20 Liverpool She will
oe accompanied by Senator Cockrell' $
Wlno"ed daughter-in-law and two or three
goung ladies', including Miss Willie Savers
% hentucky After a visit in London,
.aey VIII go TO Paris for a lengthy stay.
MIS- Anna Cockrell and Miss Sayers will
teI5alh abroad at least two years to finish
.nen education. With Miss Walsh, they
~. miIi pe pupils for a time at the Convent of
"e assumption, in Paris.
senator Wetmore and family. who
hslied for Europe last week, can remain
n 1NF L.