The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-25
MlD-LENT IN WASHINGTON.
SOCIETY DOINGs AT THE NATIONAL
CAPITOL.

Some of the Features of the Swiss
Legation-Table Services of Solid
GOId-The Finest Service Is Owned
by Senator Elkins-CuriOus Things
In washington Homes Engage
ments Which Are Attracting At
tentfon-The Choice of the Copper
Kings Daughter-Other Matters of
Special Interest.
Washington, D. c., March pa few
years ago the religious world would have
held up its hands in holy horror at the
idea of banquets and theaterAparties,
dances and kettle-drums in the very mid
ole of Lent; but nowadays the peniten-
raj season seems to be shorn of most Of
its rlgors Only a slight halt has been
called in the giddy whirl, hardly enough
to allow the wearied votaries of fashion
a little needed rest before the summer
campaign begins. Although the regular
round of official and state affairs is over.
society seems to be entertaining itself
IS gayly as ever.
Besides numerous opera-partes followed
by elegant suppers, amateur theatricals
are having their day, or rather their
night. preceded by dinners for the guests
and followed by banquets for the players.
Among the prominent dinner-givers of
the week were the Secretary of the Inte-
rior and Mrs. Hitchcock; the German Am
bassador, whose half-hundred guests were
from the cabinet, diplomatic and senate
rial circles; the Russian Ambassador and
his pretty grend-nieee; the Spanish Min
lister and Duchess d'Arcos; Baron Feroen:
Baron Speck Won Sternberg; Senator De-
pew; the Minister from Switzerland, and
dozens of others.
-
BY the way the Swiss legation, in it's
new home on Hillyer place. is much bet
ter housed than it has ever been before
m this country. And besides its charms
of architecture and dainty furnishings.
INr. and Mrs. Pio3a. the Minister and his
wife, have embellished il with souvenirs
OF their travels in all parts of the world
They have just placed in the legation
drawing-room q stained glass window that
As not only of rare artistic beauty, but
"mbodies both in design and coloring, the
early history of Switzerland. The large
central pane represents three male fig
Ures in illuminated colors on a ground
Of palsst yellow. Beneath is an inscrip-
ZION taken from Schiller: Unite! Unite.
3Hite! Inc center is surrounded by rows
OF tiny sduares OF wildly colored glass
loaded together. all of them bazoned with
the embems of the various cautions, to-
Gether with the flag of Switzerland and
lls eoas-of-nrms. On an opalescent panel
me miniature figure of an ecclesiastic pill
Srlm, clothed in monastic brown and car
FNlng staff symbOliZes the outstanding
OF tho country by the Irish monks. CEN
'uries ago; end on another panel is the
n1ticnaI bear. The arch of the window is
beautifully sprayed with eidelwes. the
snoW-blossoTns of the Alps which botan-
ISIS have declared to be the most mac
cess-b,e flower that blooms. When the
sun shines through the great window. the
viva exhibits of ruby, emerald and gold
coiore6 glass glow like so many living
Jewels and the cathedral-like effect odds
greatly to the tauty of the room. The
work WINS designed by Mr. Pioda and exc
Cuted by well-known New York artist
AT The dinner in this legation the other
night. the beautiful rooms on either side
Of the vast reception hall were thrown
open and adorned with spring flowers and
rains Hyaclnths tulips and delicate
trailing arbutus from the Virginia woods
flied the air with fragrance and blush
OF rose-tinted radlance was given to the
dining room by .pink-shaded lights group
ed about the wen-appointed table.
Speaking about dinner tables-senato tor
and Nrs. Elkins, who were also among
the hosts of the week, own by far the
handsomest table service In Washing
ton. 1t Is of sold gold, massive and
richly chased, and includes every imgain-
abe article known in its line. There are
several other golden dinner and tea sets
IN Washington, but none that can hold
candle to that of the Senator from West
Virginia.
Among other curious and valuable bits
of personal property owned by society
people in the national capital, may be
mentioned Mr.. John w. Fosters watch,
IT is'the tiniest ever seen, no larger than
an ordinary glove clasp, yet keeps perfect
time. 1t is intended to be worn either in
glove, or on a coat lapel and would
serve very wen as collar button, except
Tor the difficulty of ascertaining the time
under ones chin. Ex-Secretary of State
Foster and his wife own hundreds of val
liable ourios gathered in foreign travel,
and their house Is therefore one of the
most interesting In Washington.
Mr.. W. E. Curtis and Mr.. Frank Car
penter. the two widely-known journalists.
who have both made the grand tour
around the world and spent much time
in South America. have their spacious
homes crowded with curious things, in
Guiding ostrich feather rugs bought of
Patagonian Indians, furs from Andean
animals, idols from Inca tombs, Amazo-
man weapons, etc.
I.
Mrs. Sternberg. wife of the Surgeon Cen
eral of the Army, has lately come into
possession of the most beautiful nroduct
of the Philippines-an exquisitely en-
broidered pima handkerchief, which was
sent her by an army officer. The drawn
work end embroidery make a texture fine
as cobweb, and more beautiful and dura-
BILE than any lace The day is AZ hand
when pima cloth from the Philippines
both in its fine and coarse varieties, will
be In more frequent use in this country
Mrs. Mckee, daughter 0f former Presl-
dent Harrison had dress of It, with a
satin stripe weave which has been great
" admired. The true pima cloth is made
ty hand, of pineapple fibre, and is more
costly than silk. but very durable. The
handkerchiefs and neck shawls worn by
the Philippine women, made of pima
cloth covered with drawn work and en-
broidery, are simply marvellous
Among tho onua gQFneute made fauh1iC