The age-herald., 1901-10-01
NM/OMAN
 w and SOCIETY
A White House Debutante.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
 Washington September 3O.-For the first time in thirty years the White House Is to be the scene of young girls pre- sentation to society.
 Alice Roosevelt the 17-year-old daugh- ter of the new President, is, since the days of popular Nellie Grant, the first young girl to enter society through the stately doors of the executive mansion.
 Before the tragedy which resulted in the accession of Theodore Roosevelt to the Presidency, it had been understood that Miss Roosevelt, as daughter of the Vice President. would make her formal debut in Washington this autumn.
 This plan, with countless others, has now been modified, and 1t will not be surprising if another year passed before Washington beholds the agreeable novel; ty of White House debutante.
 Nevertheless. whether she makes her bow this year or next, much interest is already centering in the Presidents oldest daughter, who school girl though she is, is destined soon or later to inevitable prominence
  Washington friends because of her resi- dence there while her father was assist ant secretary of the Navy. Nevertheless, the many who do not know her are ask ing multitude of questions.
 'Is she really pretty, and will she be popular? Has she personality and man. ner and accomplishments and ideals? Where was she educated and what does she care for? Will she like society or. does she want only books?
 And will she be a success?"
 She certainly is pretty-this girl who will be the leader for the younger inner circle in Washington-the circle to which 1t is harder to gain admission than to any other set in this country, the group of daughters of diplomats and ambassadors, many of whom have had experience in half the capitals of Europe, and know the west end and the Faubourg St. Ger main equally we'll
 HaIr With
 Trace of Gold.
 Alice Roosevelt is a blond She has hair with a trace of gold and she wears 1t | drawn loosely back from a high, arched forehead. Her eyes are blue and they are set noticeably far apart. She has well-shaped little nose and 1t has a retrousse suggestion that gives her otherwise quite classical features a hint of piquancy. She has a slim little throat and her little muslin gowns reveal pret- ty, plump neck and graceful arms.
 One thing forces itself upon every one who sees her the wistfulness of Alice Roosevelt's face. She has all the beauty and bloom of youth and health, but there is a certain look, half sad, that has al- ways made her a person little apart from her fellow girl companions. The charm of her face Is her eyes. and 1t Is in these that the sadness lies.
 This expression superstitious persons and some who are not superstitious as well. say can be traced to the peculiarly sad circumstances of her birth.
 Seventeen years ago on February 8 last Alice Roosevelt was born. She is the child of President Roosevelt by his first wife. The night of her birth saw the death of her mother, and the death in | the same great mansion of her grand | mother, Martha Bullock Roosevelt mother of the President
 AS she grew up the most careful atten- tion was paid to her bringing up and the matter of developing her mind. When her chief talent was discovered to be one whose development could be di- | rected at home, the instructors who i taught her to read and write gave place to others who have always been members of the Roosevelt household.
 As an Artist CIT Is Remarkable.
 The talent which she wished especially to cultivate was for drawing Miss Roose- welt is really quite a remarkable little artist, not of portraits, but of nature and still life.
 Some of her sketches have both strength and distinction. and all her dreams for work in the future center about the day when she can do serious artistic work.
 She is clever at catching likeness, but she cares most for pictures of woods and the twilight. and her room at Albany was filled with sketched memoranda of places she loved.
 Drawing is not the only special ability she has. As is indicated by her dream ing eyes, and her slender, long-fngered hands, the Presidents daughter has de- cidedly the artistic temperament. She plays very well on the piano-nocturnes and slumber songs and barcarales-and though she Is not brilliant or spectacu- lar musician, her playing has great feel ing.
 She does not sing at all. She has charming soft speaking voice, and her accent is pure and cultivated.
 Miss Roosevelt has one longing that has never been gratifed She has longed to travel but she has never been abroad and has been about only a little in her own country. She has been hoping for a possible two months in Italy and France