The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-06
NEW YEAR AT THE CAPITAL.
>orEs UPON THE PRESIDENTS RE
CEPTION.

.ho turkish Suit-Cabinet Women
A.. Observation-Disclosures Taking
an Metropolitan Airs-SOl Smith
Russell Talks of the American
Drama.
washington, Jan. 5-The century came
8, with merry gait and was welcomed
o. Washington as coy and youthful
century should be. 1t did not take her
long To- acquire the etiquette peculiar to
1-rcle Sans particular city, and already
ebe has set her individual stamp upon
budding society, the recruits to which are
n be known, henceforth, as the 'rwen-
tieth Century Maids"
# was quite the proper thing that the
earliest New Years day in the latest
century should mark an epoch in White
House affairs. The reception given by
the President to the representatives of
oil nations and the dignitaries of this
country, was, easily, the most brilliant on
record.
The diplomatic corps has never boasted
such numbers as at the present time, and
on New Years day not one minister was
absent from the brilliant throng that filed
before the presidential line to offer the
compliments of the day.
1t was a never to-be-forgotten sight,
this body of men in the most gorgeous
attire known to the civilized world. Never
before were theirs such numbers of at
taches and secretaries such bevies of
beautiful wives and daughters to spread
the creed of universal feminine beauty.
whatever the nationality. The Persian
minister was the hero of the day. He
was distinct novelty and wore a regalia
that might have been FURNISHED by the
sun god there was such metallic glow of
emerald green and crimson against the
gold of his person. Even the comparison
ed minister from Turkey and his glitter
ing suite had a woman in their midst rms
IS a distinct innovation, but unhapply does
not relieve the minister's wife from her
eeclusion, as the latters rank is too ex-
allied to permit her to be seen of men
The wife of the first secretary however.
did enough observing for dozen women.
a certain evidence of her first venture
into the world of society, and no DOUBT
she went straight home and reported the
affair to the minister's wife with great
regard to detail.
Another distinctly new feature of the
reception was the forming in line in the
preme Court, accompanied by their wives.
and their grand march through the entire
length of the corridor into the Red room
and thence to the Blue room to greet the
President. Also the senators were kent
close together to so through the line, and
there was no break in the bodies of men
comprising the army and navy, and the
various other organizations that followed
For the hrst time MIS-. Mckinley remained
al her husbands side throughout the en-.
TIRE tlme OF the reception, and she had
emile, and sometimes word, for every
individual comprising the Hoi Polloi that
passed through the White House in manv
hundreds at the close of the private re-
cepton. One little pickaninny, in its mann
mys arms, was even presented with a
rose out of Mrs. McKinley's bouuuet
Wednesday night occurred the first state
oihher OF the season. Although distin
eulShed by name as the cabinet dinner
the guests of honor were the Sneaker
ana Mrs. Henderson. The company. which
was not 50 large as in former years. was
seated in the newly decorated state din
In5-rooin. a happy change from the cor
THOR banquets that last seasons large
companies made necessary. Mrs. McKio-
icy gown was ciei blue in color, with
profIs1on of pearls and lace Mrs. Nc
hlhley halr has grown perceptably gray
IN the past year. Always delicate in an
pearance and without a suggestion of
color, the mistress of the White House
would be vastly improved if she allowed
her hair to grow and would not effect
the curly poll of a boy. CA sweeping apolo-
~ 10 the First Lady of the Land for
the criicism)
1t may be deserved and it may be dis
temper, but 1 am inclined to quarrel with
the taste in dress, or the modstes, or
me hairdressers, or Nature herself, for
IdiIlhS 10 make better showing of the
GARNET women. Standing in line at A
s1dle reception, one likes to behold a req
Iesenlative Sroup of women, representa-
i've OF the type of good looks that for
elsue's expect of us. If Nature fails to
make complete successes of the wives Of
Prominent men, there is no excuse for
Art failing to step in to the rescue 1t
Is The duty of every woman in the public
eye to make the most of her appearance,
ana 1t is depressing to behold the
fat and lean combinations, the conflicting
coors in gowns, the contrasts between
protuse cordially and excessive dignity
ana the tall and short irregularity of the
receiving line All this was painfully APP
parent at the New Years reception, and
have reached the conclusion that day
Hght alone, is responsible for the i'll eff
Ieet. The women make up for artificial
night and, with the exception of the cleo
Ulc lights of the Blue Room which fail
10 remove the curse from the light that
streams through the windows, the White
mouse depends entirely upon the ilumina-
IONS Of monday sun, than which there
are lew conditions less becoming and the
women suffer i'm consequence.
Daylight is especially ludricous in re
gard to the foreign women. The paint of
me Chinese ladies is not more conspicu-
GUS than the wholesale "rice- agging'' of
the Latin races. Great and mighty men,
IN court elegance, as a thing of respen-
Gent beauty ranks ahead of 'lovely wo-
man at morning function at the White
House.
There is a sudden cafe epidemic in
Washington Slowly but surely the craze
OF New York for supping from home is
taxing hold upon the fashionable of this
,o"n. Hitherto Washington has had lit
We TO do with the cafe, preferring the old
southern fashion of entertaining at home
ailer the play. Now, not
only is the Raleigh a popu-
iar rallying point, where everything
Is forthcoming in the way of epicurean de-
"snts beautiful surroundings and a fine
orchestra, but other resorts Of the kind
are springng up on all sides, attesting
20 The metropolitan development of the
great delightful, overgrown village Of
Washington
Ia an incredibly brief space OF time that