The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-12-15
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE MOST IMPORTANT SOCIAL
FUNCTIONS OF THE WEEK.


The Presidents Daughter Soon to
Be One of Society's Buds-She Is
Full of Energy and Is Fond of the
Gayer side of Life-SOme of the
Things Planned for Her Enter
tninment-The Hay Family Great
Iy Missed In the Capitals Social
Life-Mrs. Lane to BE Married in
Acknowledgement of Some Well
known PeopIe-SOme of the So
ciety SpIurges of Mrs. Bradley
Martin-Other Matters of General
Interest.
Washington, d. c.. Dec. 1S.-The
most important social function that
has taken place this season in the
White House, occurred this week, when
between the hours of and 6, Mrs.
Roosevelt received about one hundred
and fifty guests. 1t was not previ-
ously announced in the social schedule,
nor in the newspapers, but only by
card to those who We're so fortunate
as to be invited; for the reason that
on several previous occasions, when
the prospective event was widely an
nounced, great many people mistook
it for a public reception and flocked
TO the White House, thereby causing
great embarrassment and annoyance
to all concerned. To avoid further
trouble of that nature, Mrs. Roosevelt
quietly changed the day and hour of
her weekly reception and issued the
cards at the latest admissible minute.
She was assisted by three of the cabi-
net young ladies. Miss Root, Miss
Hitchcock and Miss Wilson, and her
daughter Alice, who returned from
Boston the evening before. The guests
included a large proportion of young
people, among whom were all the de-
butantes of the season, in honor of
Miss Alice Roosevelt, whose formal
debut is soon to occur. The floral dec
orations were extremely simple, both
in the Blue parlor, where the receiving
line stood, in the Red parlor which
contained the tea table, and the great
East room where. as usual, chatting
groups tarried longest. BY the way,
it is noticeable, so far this season, that
almost nothing is to be read concern
ing elaborate floral decorations" and
the toilettes of the ladies of the White
House, as compared to the columns of
space given to the subject after the
smallest entertainments of previous
administrations. Mrs. Roosevelt pos
sesses the happy faculty of dressing
so quietly, and so thoroughly in accord
with "the eternal fitness" that people
invariably observe the woman and not
the clothes, and afterwards try in vain
to recall what she had on But the
White House gardeners and keepers of
the great Conservatives are in de-
spair, because the choicest products of
their skill are still in retirement and
nothing but simple chrysanthemums,
carnations and roses have vet been
required-and few of those; whereas.
in times not long past, the gardeners
often found it extremely difficult, not
withstanding their immense resources
to supply the constant demand for
elaborate decorations.
Though not yet fairly "out," eighteen
year-old Miss Roosevelt has already
accomplished an overturning in Capt.
tai society. Besides being full of life
and energy, strong, athletic and fond
of the gayer side of life, she is evil
IDENTIFY blessed with plenty of her faith
er's sturdy Dutch independence and
originality. This is going to be young
peoples administration, and the mid
die aged and elderly may as we'll take
their back seats gracefully and at
once, for they will certainly not be
called to the fore, socially, through this
administration. Though receptions and
teas for the gray-haired contingent will
still occur, a greater number of dances
and balls will be introduced into the
social programme than ever before in
the history of Washington. Among
the things that are planned for Miss
Roosevelt's entertainment in the near
future may be mentioned the Presi-
dents bail, in tcf or of his daughter,
on Jan. S. which will really open the
season of 1907. and be the largest and
most brilliant affair the White House
has seen in many years. Until then
small and early dances, made up from
tho youngest circle &C society, but very
exclusive. are Of Almost nightly occur
renee, and In them all Miss Roosevelt
is the central figure. On Jan. 6, Miss
Kean, sister of Senator Kean and a
cousin of President Roosevelt by mar
riage, will give a ball for Miss Alice.
This will be Immediately followed by
bachelors cotillon to be led by Capt.
McCauley and Miss Roosevelt. The gall
liant Ambassador from Germany, whose
large and splendid receptions at the
German embassy have cut such an i'm
portant figure in the social records
of the last few winters, will give ball
for Miss Roosevelt. some time in Janu-
airy, which will eclipse all previous eff
forts in that line. Mrs. Draper, wife
of the late Ambassador to Rome, who
recently bought the handsome Mclean
residence, is having her big ballroom
enlarged for the purpose OF keeping up
with the procession on the light, fan
tastic toe" 1t was in this house, you
remember that Admiral Dewey was
entertained, by the mother of his soon
to- be- bride on his return to Washing
ton from Manila. The Diapers are
identifying their new home with the
wonderful collection of tapestries they
brought from abroad, and which are
said to be the finest ever displayed IN
Washington. Senator Depew, who VIII
soon be back with his young bride,
(who might be his and-daughter),
changed his social programme just De-
fore going away, in Crder to keep pace,
IL possible with the spirit of the sea-
son. Instead OF the large reception at
which he had intended to present Mrs.
Depew to the Washington world ne
will substitute a brilliant ball.
The wife and daughter of Secretary
HAY. who are, of course, in strict re-
tirement on account of their recent
bereavement, are greatly missed IRON,
the social circle wherein they hlleo
so important place. The deep mourn
ing that pervades that erstwnile happy
household will be lightenec only on