The Savannah morning news., 1902-08-31
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
THE COMING OFFICIAL SEASON TO
BE A BRILLIANT ONE.

Mistress of the Household of the
Secretary of the Maya Grand
daughter of Gen. Grant Who VIII
Take Leading Part i'm Washing
tons Social Lffc-A Daughter of
Senator Hanna win Drive With a
Party Through the Berkshire
HiIIs-Some Changes in the DipIO-
matte COrps-Other Matters of GEN
eraI Interest.
Washington, Aug. 3O.-An unusually
/ early opening of the social season at
the nations Capitol is predicted by
the puid nuncs. Every effort is be-
! ing made to push the living part of
the White House to completion by
| Oct l, at which time Mrs. Roosevelt
wishes to return to Washington with
| the President and her family. This
| is especially desirable for the younger
children, who attend school here. With
the executive mansion in superb con-
dition for great social functions, ar
ranged exactly to suit herself, the
Presidents wife may easily break all
previous records, in the size and bril-
liancy of her social functions, official
and otherwise. Yet she will find her
self decidedly hampered for allies in
the cabinet circle. In fact, Mrs. Knox,
wife of the Attorney General, is the
only woman Mrs. Roosevelt can count
upon to any great extent. Mrs. Hay
is still in the deepest of mourning,
for her mother and her only son, and
it is not likely that she will indulge
in even official functions, other than
the imperative diplomatic breakfast of
New Years day, and perhaps stand
ing in line once or twice at official
receptions. This leaves Mrs. Shaw,
wife of the Secretary of the Treasury
at the head of the cabinet households
socially. Mrs. Shaw is not likely TO
be found wanting in willingness to
fulfill her social duties, but she is new
to them. and to the fine points of off,
cial etiquette, and it is we'll known
that the demands of society here are
entirely different from those of any
other city. Mrs. Root will undoubted-
ly pass her winter in Europe, as the
health of her son requires. There is
no mistress of the household of the
Secretary of the Navy, thus Lowing
the blank in the official line at the
White House which has so long exist
ed for the Navy Department. Mrs.
Long was in mourning during almost
the entire time of her husbands serv-
ice as a cabinet officer, and no one
has been able to approach the brill
liant pace set by the late Mrs. Whit
ney, when at the head of the Secre-
tary's household. Mrs. Payne, wife
of the Postmaster Gsneral, is a wo-
man qualified in every way for her
trying position, but she is somewhat
of an invalid, being a great sufferer
from rheumatism. Mrs. Hitchcock is
equally endowed, but not disposed to
enter into the vigorous demands of the
administration with much zest. Miss
Wilson, daughter Of the Secretary of
Agriculture. has had long experience
in her double position as head of a
cabinet household and daughter of
cabinet officer; but it is beyond HUI
man strength to fill both roles accepta-
bly,, and so, beyond standing in line at
all official receptions and giving one
state dinner each season, Miss Wilson
renders little aid. Mrs. Knox will
prove a host in herself for Mrs. Roose-
| velt's assistance. They are close per
| sonal friends, and the Attorney Gen
| erals wife has already expressed to
| Mrs. Roosevelt her Willingness to sac
| rifice even her personal comfort to
ease the burden that will fall with
| with unusual force upon the shoulders
of the first lady" Mrs. Knox returned
! to Washington last Tuesday, and has
| opened her handsome X street home,
to have it in readiness for her hus-
| band when he arrives from the Cas-
| telia fishing trip which he is now en-
| joying with Mr.. Frick and other Pitts
| burg friends. He is soon going to Eu-
rope on brief business trip, but his
| devoted wife will not accompany him.
Miss Knox, Mr.. Reed Knox and Mas
ter Philanjer Knox are still at Attain
! tic City. and will remain there fort
| night longer. Each of the Attorney
| Generals children is entertaining a
| friend at the sea side-of course at
papa's expense-and having a good
time generally. Mrs. Knox, though "all
| by her lonesome" in the great Wash
irgton house, is neither dull nor I'M
happy. She takes two drives every
day-one in the early morning and an
other in the evening. She is a prodig-
ious walker withall, even going on
| foot to market to choose the weeks
supplies. Like the good woman in the
Scriptures, "She looketh we'll to the
ways of her household and eateth not
| the bread of idleness."
Another descendant of Gen. u. S.
Grant will take a leading part in
! Washington society, when his grand
daughter, Mrs. Vivian Sartoris Scovel,
arrives to make her home here AS
everybody knows. she is the eldest
| daughter of Nelly Grant Sartoris and
the late Algernon Charles Frederick
! Sartoris, of Warsesh Hampshore
England; and her young husband is
| Frederick Roosevelt Scovel, a second
| cousin of President Roosevelt The
youthful pair met this summer, for the
! first time, at Coburg, Canada, where
! the Grants and Mrs. Sartoris have
beautiful summer home to which Miss
Vivian returned only few weeks ago,
after a long stay in Europe. About the
same time the Prince in the story
came visiting his aunt Nine. Ricardo
! Diaz Albertina, who resides at Co.
| burg. The acquaintance was very short
| for Dan Cupid happened to be about
and got in his work without delay
! Within two weeks the engagement
was announced, at a large and bril-
| liant reception given by Mrs. Sartoris
! and her mother, and the marriage fol
lowed just nine days thereafter Of
course there are plenty of il-natured
| people to say that the affair was hur
ried up by the brides family, lest his
| tory repeat itself, like her broken en-
/ ga cement of the early summer to Mr.
Arthur Balfour. of England, which
was to have been consummated July
Il. And then, what was the use of
waiting, they say, since her trousseau
was all ready, wedding presents, in
great measure, received. and the we'd
ding-baked meats for the affair that
! is off would serve just as well for
that which was on? 1t was a beauti-