The age-herald., 1902-02-16
THE r1URr1UR OF THE WORLD.

Washington, February 15.-(Special.)- The last few pre-Lenten days passed in a manner entirely worthy of the most bril- liant society season Washington has ever experienced, and now we are well into the gray of the period of penance fixed of old for all who have been glad and all who have been sad. Even those who are without religious scruples in respect to Lent are barred by the canons of polite society from promoting or taking part in the moro worldly merriment of the dance the reception or the dinner; for culture has in this particular for nearly two thousand years obeyed the behest of the church, an acknowledgement of spiritual law which good form ever requires.
 Therefore society is now divided in its arrangements between sleeping and taking reelzon!ngs, taking recllonings and sleep ing; and this capital, which has been for weeks the splendid central playground for all American society. has come with in three days to be as quiet in the society sense as Rome itself is in Lent.
 Ths Major Pendennises and the Colonel Newcomes, all of whom have here an- swered adsum, agree that the most su- perb society entertainment ever given outside the White House was the truly princely reception and dance given by Senator Hanna and Mrs. Hanna at the close of the season. Their private resi- dence, though large, was wholly made uuate to accommodate the thousand guests, and so Senator and Mrs. Hanna engaged the magnificent public rooms, five in number, and numerous private apartments of the Arlington Hotel. In deed it was said they had the entire hotel engaged; and certainly they had it decorated as richly as the White House on the night of the Diplomatic reception. It all was wonderfully imposing and wonderfully happy-a scene of the rarest brilliancy and joyousness.
 In the second of the four lofty and spa cious chambers that open as one on the ground floor, counting from the entrance the Senator and Mrs. Hanna stood to re- celve their guests, their two daughters standing to the mothers right and pace behind the receiving line. There was almost boyish gladness in the Sena- tors welcome, and in few instances he did not wait for tho master of cere- monies to call the names, but advanced a step and himself called each name and presented its bearer to Mrs Hanna, who is a stately and noble-looking woman and as graciously cordial as her husband.
 The two standing side by side. as they stood at the altar some five and thirty years ago, and greeting gladly their guests presented a most engaging and happy reality of human life's brighter side. Their unaffected cordiality and most graceful bearing left do doubt of the gladness of their welcome. And throughout the evening as they mingled with the throng the same glad light rest ed upon them. In its tender glow the face of the laughing white-haired wife and mother was nobly beautiful.
 In the banquet hall the great horseshoe supper table was a marvel of the decor ator's art, both as to the arrangement of the great wealth of flowers and. the rich display of food. The centre piece might be termed an altar to St. Boni- face It was surprisingly attractive; at the base of it being a triumph of the confectioner, representing giant sal mon floating In lake of broken trans parent candy, the shores of which were rare pink roses. The supper was serv- ed to the guests as they stood or remain ed seated about the apartments, there being enough servants to form a full company in the army There were nu- merous great punch bowls scattered about the apartments, each one served by three servants, while other servants conveyed the beverage to all who wished it.
 The world of society was there in greater degree than it had ever before