The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-05-19
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
CHARITIES WHICH ARE SUSTAINED
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

CHARITIES WHICH ARE SUSTAINED
AT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.
Haste in which Wedding Presents
Are Forwarded-The Most Observ-
ed Man in WashingtOn-A Prince
and Princess who Have Been Rep
resentinR the Emperor of Austria
in MexicO-A Scrap of History Rel
ative to MaximiIlian-The Disease
From which President Diaz Is At
fected-Other Matters of Interest.
Washington. May 17.-This is a good old
world. after ALL when even dame fashion
in the midst of her frivolities and disspa
tins, finds tine to keep up no end of
charitable enterprises. 1t is eminently
proper that the National Capital should
be particularly distinguished for philan-
thropic works. it being her province to
set an example to the rest of the coun-
try The ladies of Washington's tip
topest circle. as we'll as those on other
rounds of the social ladder deserve
great deal Of credit for their numerous
well-sustained charities. Sudden bursts
of generosity come easy to everybody,
you know, and frequently do more harm
than good; to live UP to the text, BE
not weary in well doing" is quite another
matter. 1t is the unremittiug care, the
continual giving often involving per-
sonal sacrifice, which counts in the
long run, both here below and in Saint
Peters diary. To the credit of Wash
ington women in heavens books are the
Children Hospital, Home for Insurables,
Maternity Hospital, Working-women's
Retreat. the Winter Soup Kitchen, the
Florence Home for the rescue of young
girls from a life of shame; the place
where criminals, just released from pris-
on, are taken in and cared for until able
to look about them; and various other in
situations, each invaluable in it's line. A
few wealthy ladies' like Mrs Hearst and
Mrs Letter, annually give large sums to
these charities; and of course the others
get the bulk of their contributions, with
out special effort, from their husbands,
fathers and brothers. Yet a great deal of
money must be raised every year. by
their own work, and self-denial in the
way of gowns and bonnets. Now, every
body knows that gowns and bonnets are
as dear to the femiine heart as 1.-The poor
y
dies are perpetually devising new ways
to raise the needed funds without en-
croaching to deeply upon their
pin-money. Charity balls are an
old device; but here, being
made the SWEETEST affair of
the season, annually yields its thousands
of dollars. Lawn fetes, bazaars kettle
drums etcetera, all have their frequent
turn and net pretty well, because Dame
Init inc fnr
elites to produce the most gratifying re-
suits. Last year 1t was a series of Mill
merry sales, held in Senator Depews gar
den when the ladies contributed Paris
Creations that cost a good deal of
money (mostly of previous seasons) and
made hundreds of just as pretty hats and
bonnets themselves, all of which found
ready sale, at astonishing prices. This
spring. in order to increase the fund for
the Working Girls Retreat. ii was a
house-to-house canvass by the young la
dies of fashionable st. Johns Parish, sell-
ing homemade candies in little boxes-at
about ten times the regular price of bet
ter stuff in the candy shops. But every
body bought, as a matter of course, and
as a result. the Retreat is well endowed
for the summer of 1901. The newest de-
vice originated in the fertile brain of an
Italian woman of the diplomatic corps
and is now being carried out with great
success. 1t is a regular street market
carried on by the aristocratic Board of
Lady Visitors of the Founding Hospital
Every Saturday, from 9 a. m 20 in the
afternoon, they sell all the veg
etables of the season, together
with butter, eggs, fruits. flowers,
homemade cakes, pies and candles, at
said-to-be regular market prices, and de-
liver all purchases free of charge II is
worth paying double for ones peas and
potatoes, for sticky candy and amateur
cake and dubious cheese. to see the same
haggled over by society leaders at their
respective Stands" who, as a rule. know
no more what the price of edibles ought
10 be than do the vegetables they are sell
ing. The ladies draw the line at meat
FISH ana other dead things" and most
OF them have the good taste to leave all
their hnery at home; though occasionally
such unconscious incongruities are OBJ
served as thousand dollar diamond fas-
tening a calico shirt-waist. or a fortune in
gems on fingers that are handling pota-
toes. However, the idea is good one.
and may be profitably copied in other
places. Last year, street fairs were pom
ular all over the country, to the gain
of the merchants; how would ii do this
year, to give the ladies a chance with
their Saturday market, TO raise money
for their pet projects, in the towns and
Villagesf
Nowadays after a betrothal has been
announced, the fashionable world does
not wait for an invitation to the wedding,
or even for the important day to be fixed,
TO begin sending in its bridal presents
The two most prominent brides to-oe of
the near future-Miss Martha Hichborn
and Miss Edith Patten-are already de
luged with costly articles. some of them
from the merest acquaintances. Wedding
gifts are frequently an embarrassment
OF riches, which their recipients would
gladly forego. As gratitude is said to be
"a lively sense of benefit to come" so
such unsolicited favors. are sometimes
bids for social recognition in the way OF
return. Mrs. James G.. Blaine has given
her future daughter superb silver ser
vice, which will help adorn the home
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