Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-18
THE WORLD OF SOCIETY
Diplomats Dine With President and Mrs
Mckinley.
LuEehe0ns Today at Different Homes
Dinners and Teas
Personals.

| Perhaps in the history of the White
House no more sumptuouS banquet has
! taken place there than the state dinner
last night in honor of the foreign ambassa-
| doris and ministers. The table was again
| arranged in the corridor. that only being
large enough for the hospitality extended
| by the President. The flower of the even
| ing was the orchid. which is now in the
| height of its season, and low estimate of
the value of these expensive blooms used
on the long table $1,000. The center
piece of ferns was thickly studded with
| cattleya variety, extended the length of
| dozen covers and from its edges to the
ends of the table there were alternate cir
cular and oblong placques of the beautiful
pink blooms and of green. The plant hav-
ing the place of honor in the center had
thirteen blooms on it, and very naturally
| came in for great admiration. Corsage
| bouquets Of the large cattieyas and bouton-
| neires of the smaller flowers made lovely
| border around the table. The soft lights
| from the rose-shaded tapers in the Candida
bras Were reinforced by flower clusters Of
| electric lights hanging from the elaborate
| arrangement of smilaX drapery suspended
from the chandelier to the ceiling and side
walls The mirrors We're framed in vines
| and topped with borders of pink flowers
and the inches so filed with blooming
| azelea plants, of which the White House
| Conservatives are now especially rich that
| the table hau a flower background. The
east room was very elaborate. The usual
| plant decoration in the window recesses
| and about the corridor entrance and in tall
vari-coiored clumps of tropical verdure I'M
der the chandelier presented its familiar
| tasteful aspect. while the mirror rests,
| banked in RIBBON rows of bright flowers,
set in foliage maindenhair fern indicat
| ed a return to the old fashions which are
always most admired in the White House.
he nj a 1fati rSait no IN
of the special guests of the occasion on
their way to their cloak rooms, which were
arranged in the executive offices up stairs.
The flowers for the decoration of the east
room and its approaches always come from
the propagating gardens for these festive
occasions, and while part of the orchids
used on the table were grown in the White
House Conservatives, the larger portion of
the finest varieties were secured from out
side.
President and Mrs Mckinley received in
the east room, Col. Bingham being present
with Major McCawley, to make the intro
ductiCns to them. The guests of the even
ing included: His excellency the British
ambassador, and her exce!lency Lady
Pauncefote, the ambass ador of Italy and
Baroness de Fava, the ambassador of Ger
many, the ambassador of Russia. the am
bassadcr of Mexico and Mrs. de Aspiroz
the minister of Sweden and Norway, the
minister of Guatemala. the minister of
AuStria-Hungary and Baroness Won Hengel-
muller. the minister of Switzerland and
minister of Haiti and Mrs. Leger. the min
lister of Korea AMI Mrs. PAX Ye, the minis
ter of Belgium and Countess de LIGHTER
Velde, the Chinese minister and Mrs. WI
the minister of Brazil and Mrs. de Assis-
Brasil. the minister of Japan, the minister
OF Costa Rica and Mrs. Calvo, the minister
of Colombia and Mrs. Calderon. the minis
ter of Spain and Duchess d'Arcos, the min
| lister of Nicaragua, the charge daffaires of
France, the charge d'affaires of Chile and
Mrs. Infante, the charge d'affaires of Ven
IL hl a 'af f.1ir psnvft trr.,1
the charge d'affaiTes of Turkey. the charge
daffaires of Argentine Republic. the charge
d'affaires of the Dominican Republic. the
| Secretary Of State and Mrs. Hay. the Sec
rotary of War and Mrs. Root, Gen. and
Mrs Miles, Senator and Mrs Davis. Sena-
tor Daniel, Senator and Mrs. Cuilom. Sena-
tor and Mrs. Lodge Senator Money, Repre-
sentative and Mrs Hit, Representative
and Mrs. John S. Williams, Representative
and Mrs. William Alden Smith, Representa-
tive and Mrs. ScudCer, Representative and
Mrs. Seth W. Brown, Mr.. and Mrs. Levi T..
Morton, Mr.. Henry C. Payne and Mrs
Payne, Col. and Mrs. NJ T. Herrick of
Cleveland, Mrs. Frederick d. Grant Miss
Kean, Miss Pauling. Miss Phelps and Miss
Bessie Osborne.
Mrs. Mckiney's toilet was of mauve silk,
draped with lace.
The brilliant uniforms of the amba ssa-
doris and ministers and the flashing of the
gems worn by the fair sex made the eIe-
gance of the gowns rather subordinate
feature. Lady Pauncefote's jewels, tiara
and corsage ornaments were especially
numerous. Her dress was of black lace
over pale yellow. Baroness Fava was in
black lace over black, Mrs. Azpiroz wore
white satin embroidered in silver and dia-
monds and pearls: Duchess d'Arcos, white
satin; Baroness Hengelmuller, tiara and
necklace Of diamonds and sapphires gown
ton, black velvet with the front of black
lace over white: Mrs. Calvo. canary satin
draped with ChantilIy lace; Mrs. Hit, rose
satin; Mrs. Frederick Dent Grant white
satin: Mrs. Cushman K Davis. white lace
and satin, necklace of large soIitaires and
an American beauty rose in her hair; Mrs.
Cullom, pale mauve satin; Mrs Hay, yell
low silk draped in cream Chantilly lace.
1t was understood early in the month
that Admiral and Mrs. Dewey were to have
been guests at the dinner last night, when
| this distinguished couple would take prece-
dence over General and Mrs Miles; but
as they were not present this interesting
| ruling is not in evidence as part of the
| history of the diplomatic banquet of 1900.
| The Marine Band, as usual, played in the
| conservatory during the dinner.
The cabinet receptions yesterday Were
not well attended, save by carriage guests
| The average house-to-house Wednesday Wis
| itor who makes the circuit foot only
| fiourshes on fine days. and did not there
| fore increase the throngs perceptfbly. Each
| of the cabinet residences where receptions
We're in progress was surrounded by car
| riageS, whose occupants had most charm
| ing experiences away from the old-time
lush and push of the crowd Mrs and the
| Misses Hay; Mrs Gage assisted by Miss
| Lucy Page, Miss Cox and Miss Larned
Mrs. Root, assisted by Mrs. Bingham. Mrs
| Hit. Miss Mcmillan, Miss Gilmore, Miss
| MacVeagh, Miss Hagner and Miss Root
| Mrs. Charles Emory Smith, assisted by
Mrs. David Jayne Hill, Mrs. Radcliffe, Miss
Boardman, Miss Eta Wallace, Miss Grace
| Mckinley and Miss Duncan, and Mrs
| Hitchcock, assisted by Miss Sheridan, Miss
Amy Phipps of Pittsburg and Miss Janet
| Lee Of st. Louis, were the hostesses of the
| day
Senator and Mrs. Fairbanks gave a din
ner last night. Their guests were Senator
| and Mrs. T. c. Plat, Senator and Mrs.
| Warren, Senator and Mrs. Spooner Sena-
| tor and Mrs. Burrows, Senator and Mrs
Nelson, Senator and Mrs Hansbrough. Rep
| resentative and Mrs Heatwole and Mr..
| and Mrs. William E. Curtis.
| Representative and Mrs. Hit gave a din
her Tuesday evening in honor of Admiral
| and Mrs. Dewey.
| There were several pretty teas yesterday.
The Misses Robertson of 10Th street enter