The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-09

Mark the Centennial Celebration.
The social wheel and it's fellow worker.
the wedding bell, whirled and chimed to-
gether industriously the past week
through. The Andrews Connally wedding
on Tuesday and that of Mr.. Edgar and
Miss McComas the next day filed St.
Johns Church on both occasions with
splendidly gowned women and distin-
guished men. The early days of the week
were gay with luncheons and dinner par
ties in honor of the brides elect. and hard
ly had the last echo of the last wedding
march died away before the arrival al
most together, of ex-President and Mrs.
Harrison and OF the United States Com
mssioners to the Paris Exposition was
the signal for succession of enter
tainments in honor of each. Mr.. and Mrs.
John W.. Foster. Senator and Mrs. Elkins.
Senator and Mrs. Fairbanks. and Justice
and Mrs. Brown gave dinners at which
the guests were invited to meet General
and Mrs. Harrison, while the gracious task
of entertaining the Commissioners was
Mr.. Thomas F. Walsh.
The White House has seldom looked
more attractive than on Wednesday even
ing when the official gayeties of the sea-
son were inaugurated by the state dinner
complimentary to Americas representa-
tives at the Paris Fair. The East Room,
corridor, and state dining room were syl-
van-!ike with palms and tall tropical
trees. and the spirit of the coming Christ
mas.ide was expressed in the flaming
star-like blossoms of poinsetta that
caught the eye at every turn. In the Red
Room the floral decorations were OF the
same glowing color. while those in the
Green Room were entirely of foliage and
fern. Pink was the predominating color
Of the table. the tint carried out in Gu
riously beautiful blossoms and La France
roses. The CONNECTIONS, which were rem
iniscent of the Exposition. were in rose
color, and the candles burned under pink
shades. The trip to Mount Vernon next
morning was something more than a
pleasant outing for those members Of the
Commission who were making pilgrim
age to the Mecca of American history for
the first time. Mr.. Walsh chartered the
Manchester for the trip and as the big
white steamer plowed her way down the
Potomac flags rippled from her standards
and her salon and cabins were gay with
flowers and vines. The next afternoon
the gracious hospitality Of Mr.. and Mrs.
Walsh was expressed in reception in
honor of the formers colleagues at Paris
that brought together an assemblage OF
men and women prominent in the Capitafs
official and social world. In referring to
the entertainments given by Mr.. Walsh
in Paris one of the gentlemen of the Com
mission said that even had the other
members of the party failed to perform
their social obligations Americas reputa-
ton for hospitality would have been more
than triumphantly sustained by the sue
cession OF brilliant functions given by the
representative from Colorado during his
official term at the capital of France.
At the dinner given last night by JUS
tice and Mrs. Brown in honor of express
ident and Mrs. Harrison the guests in
vited to meet them were the Secretary of
War and Mrs. Root. Justice and Mrs.
White, Senator and Mrs. Mcmillan, Mr..
and Mrs. Chopper. Mr.. and Mrs. Lowndes.
Rev. Alexander MackaySm ID. D., and
Mrs. Mackay- Smith, Miss Tuckerman and
Senator Depew. Added to the elegant ap-
pointments of the table were pink and
white roses, mingled with farleyense fern.
Fashionable Washington paid tribute
yesterday afternoon to Miss Hildegarde
Mckenna, the third daughter OF Justice
and Mrs. Mckenna, whose eouing out was
marked by one of the most brilliant after
noon events of the present year The
debutante has spent each scholastic term
since the residence of the family in
Washington at the Georgetown convent,
and her glimpses at the brilliant world in
store for her have been few and far be-
tween. Though comparisons are as
odious today as they wers-yhen the poet
called attention to the fact, it is generally
conceded that the bud of yesterday is the
beauty par excellence Of the season. be-
ing tall and splendidly fair. with win
some personality that, to those who know
her, is her greatest charm. The new res
idence of the family on Rhode Island Ave-
nue. was artistically decorated. and the
debutante, in Difference to the unwritten
law laid down for debutaptes, was gowned
exQuisitely in white.
Assisting Mrs McKenna and the elder
daughters of the house were Mrs. Hit,
Mrs. Eikins. Miss Patten, Miss Harlan,
Miss Griggs, Miss Ffoulke, Miss New
lands, Miss Gary. of Baltimore, and Miss
Sloan, of New York
Another of the cluster Of yesterdays
pretty buds was Miss Mary Livingston
Austin. who was presented by Mrs. Aus
tin at brilliantly attended tea. The
hostess wore a strikingly handsome toilet
OF black satin and white lace, and her
daughter. in white mousseline de soie.
was as fresh and pretty as the pink roses
that formed her bouquet. Both stood near
the bay window of the drawing room,
which was decorated with white and pink
roses and palms.
TIE receiving party included Mrs. Sat
terlee wife of the Bishop of Washington
Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. McKim, Miss Lindsay.
Miss Florence Worthington Mrs. Holland,
Mrs. Van Rensselaer,, Miss Heloise Sar-
gent. Miss McCauley. Miss Dodge, and
Miss Annie Brown. Mr.. Austin will give
a luncheon for the debutante Deem
Der II.
Mrs. Johnston de Pcyster was hostess
of one of the most attractive teas OF yes
terday afternoon. which she gave to in
troduce her daughter, Miss Garcia de
Peyste:. TO the world of society The
very charming bud wore cream crepe de
chine and lace with touches of blue vel
vet, to which an artistic contrast was
given by the cluster of pink roses which
she held Mrs. De Peyster's gown was
of black velvet trimmed richly with point
lace The pretty maids on social duty
were Miss McGowan, Miss Lieber, Miss
Powell Miss Lydia Loring, Miss Ward.
Miss Lincoln. and Miss De Peyster, the
elder sister of the bud.
The floral decorations of the drawing
room were palms and American Beauty
roses together with quantities of flowers
sent by friends. The fireplace was filled ,
with holly that lent touch OF Christmas
cheer to the pretty scene. In the tea room
the table was abloOm with pink roses and
the candles burned under pink shades.