The Savannah morning news., 1901-12-22
SOME WASHINGTON Gosslp.
VARIOUS FEATURES of LIFE AT
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

ception-Dressed with More Care
Than When Receiving Invited
GueAts-The Usual Handshaking
Was Omittcd--SOme of the Pretty
Debutantes who Were Present.
sThe second Card Reception-The
Romance of Secretary Hays
Daughter-A Bride who WiIled
Her Fortune 10 Her Sister-Extra-
ordinary generosity Accounted
for-Prominent People in the
streets of Washington-secre
Hays Frugal Lunch-Alleged Rea-
son why Mrs. Dewey Refuses 10
Appear in Society-Other Matters
Of General Interest.
Washington. Dec. 21.-Mrs. Roosevelt
held her first public reception to ladies
on Saturday afternoon, between the
hours Of and o'clock. The clements
were not in accord with the festive
spirit Of the occasion and slow, per-
sistant, icy drizzle, which would have
been snow anywhere but in Washing
ton, chilled the very marrow in ones
bones. But the ardor, or curiosity, of
the feminine world was not percept-
ABLY dampened and several hundred
ladies-whose only chance of seeing the
interior of the White House during this
socially exclusive administration lies
in these rare concessions to the pub
Iic-waited patiently in the rain until
their turn came to get inside. Nearly
everybody came too early; and while
a few drove up in cabs, the majority
walked, equipped with rubbers, mack
intoshes and umbrellas. When the
doors were thrown open they surged
in, with difficulty kept in line by the
ushers. who insisted on taking charge
of their dripping umbrellas; and how
each got her own again is mystery.
/ am glad to say that Mrs. Roosevelt
was even more carefully dressed for
this reception than for any Of the
''sweller" private functions heretofore
given. The class of people who attend
these public receptions care good deal
more about clothes than those in the
higher circles, and ought not to be dis
appointed in the sights they come to
see. She wore trailing gown OF ivory
silk with passementeries of gold bull
lion: a single jewel at her throat and
IN IleI IdlF d tLOu OA niiiLC AAtASs -
was assisted by Mrs. Knox, wife OF the
Attorney General, who wore purple
velvet, with gagniture of black and
white lace; and Mrs. Smith, wife of tae
Postma ster General in soft gray, win
white lace. Just back of her moth~r,
behind the roN of chairs and divans
that usually divide the receiving HE,
stood Miss Alice Roosevelt, girTshiy
pretty in pale blue nuns-veiling, with
blouse 'front.' of white chiffon and revere
effects formed by narrow bands OF
black velvet. She chatted Brightly win
the young girls around her-her near
est neigh31r being Miss Daisy Letter,
lately home from India, wearing
French toilette of silver-gray and a
long lluffy boa or black ostrich tips.
All the ladies OF the Cabinet had feen
invited to receive with Mrs. Roosevelt.
and il was probably owing TO the
weather that only two were present
But the Cabinet girls" and the debut
antes, asked to stand with Miss Roose-
Welt behind the line, were out IN 1ul
force. including the Miss Hay. the
Misses Hitchcock the Misses Hanna,
the Misses Fuller, the Misses Harlan,
Miss Louise Foraker, Miss Mamie
Letter and a score of others. The
rooms were sparingly decorated with
1Iowers-the East room with palms and
hyacinths, the Blue room with SIM
gle bunch of white blososm, above the
central fauteuil, and another of Amer
lean Beauty roses on the mantel. The
Marine band stationed in the corridor
played throughout the reception. IL
is noteworthy as an indication OF Wnat
NAV be expected in future, that Mrs
Roosevelt refrained from the customary
Misunderstanding. She was very gracious
,.appiXinO each caller
with a cordial smile and bow; and the
ladies who assisted her also smiled and
bowed. but did not shake hands.
There is much to be said on both
sides of this long discussed hand-shak-
ing question. For myself, | must con-
fess to a partially for the warm,
hearty shake of Mrs. Cleveland S hand,
the gentle, sincere clasp of Mrs. Hayes,
even the gay pump-handling of the
Younger Grant, rather than to see d
stiff row of receivers, bowling and smil-
ing with the regularity of automotons.
OF course. the Misunderstanding is hard
on those who have to keep it up fW
two or three hours on a stretch-but
then greatness must have its penalties,
YOU know; and who would not be will
ing to endure greater hardship to stand
in the shoes of the First Lady of the
Land?
On Monday Mrs. Roosevelt held her
second card reception, from to p.
m. She was assisted by several of the
cabinet ladies. while the younger MEM
bers Of the executive family assisted
Miss Alice Roosevelt in pouring tea
and serving other refreshments. There
vas a CRATE fire in the Blue Room,
which with potted plants and orchids,
added much to it's attractiveness. Two
hundred and fifty invited guests have
been invited, including Lord and Lady
Pauncefote, Herr Won Holleben, the
German ambassador: NJ. de Margere,
tire French charge and Nine. de Mar
gerie. Count Cassini, and several 9TH
er foreign representatives who had not
previously paid their respects to Mrs.
Roosevelt. Those of us who have lived
in the rural districts and know what
"A country "tea-party" is, recognized 1t
al once in this semi formal affair.
Miss Cornelia Roosevelt ScoveI, a
first cousin of the President. has ar
rived in New York from Europe, with
her mother. wife of the tenor. They
will winter in New York, with the ex-
ception of next month. which they ex-
peet TO spend in Washington. The pret-
~ young lady does not hesitate to say
that she has come cousining' and
that her main purpose in crossing the
ocean at this time was to enjoy that
rare privilege of familiar entries to the
White House She will assist at Miss
Alice Roosevelt's debut. and will wear
q beautiful renaissance lace dress, spe-
cially gotten up for that occasion. She
Is said to have ain exceptionally fine
soprano voice which has been cultivat-