The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-23
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
ART AND CHARITY ENTERTAIN
MENTS AT THE FORE.

Roosevelt Exhibited for the First
Time-Cabinct Ladies Who study
Literature and Art-HOw the Len
ten MonOtOny Is Varied-A Senator
Gives a Baby Party-The Newsboy's
Home Has Furnished Society With
Some Lively FrOIfcs-A Chance for
the Girls When Bachelor Moody
BECOMES Secretary of the Navy.
other Matters of General Interest.
Washington, D. c., March 21.-From
now until Easter the leaders of capital
society will devote themselves mainly
to charity and art. NJ. Cambon the
French ambassador, contributed two
exceedingly pleasant happenings to the
social calendar of the week. On the
first occasion his invitations were is
sued for a lecture on the artistic and
Literary Life of Paris" as depicted
by Miss Caulfield, who illustrated her
subject with a number of views. A
day or two later NJ. Cambon gave a
tea in honor of his guests, NJ. and
Nine. Chartran, the celebrated French
artists. The portraits of Mrs. and Miss
Roosevelt, which M. Chartran has just
completed, were exhibited for the first
time in one of the great drawing rooms
of the embassy. Both the paintings
are very much admired. That of the
Presidents wife is a life-sized. three
quarter length portrait, representing
the lady, in the very prime of life and
the personification of matronly health
and happiness, seated ON a garden
bench in the grounds behind the White
House, the quaint south portico of the
mansion, with it's color ground. Mrs.
Roosevelt often takes a ramble in the
grounds, and the picture represents
her as having paused a moment in her
walk. She wears a large black hat
and a black silk coat, the latter
trimmed with ribbon bands of black
velvet. The coat opens over a gown
of ivory tinted silk, and one over
turned corner gives a glimpse of it's
violet silk lining. The right arm rests
on the back of the seat, and the left
hand holds a parasol of black chiffon
and lace. There are ripples of real
lace about the waist and the turn of
the head shows the chou of tulle at
the back of the neck. Miss Alice
Roosevelt is painted in her coming out
dress of white mousselne de sole, girl
ishly sweet in every line, and the art
list has faithfully copied her usual ex-
preston of frank curiosity, and the
spirited pose of her head. 1t is also
evident that the celebrated French
man understands the finer meaning of
faces, and that each is either a his
tory or prophecy" The story of
full and rounded life is subtly de-
picted in the matron's face, as we'll as
the undeveloped in the daughters. NJ.
Chartran has permission to exhibit
both pictures at the Paris saloon this
spring.
Notwithstanding her extremely busy
social life and devotion to her children
and household, Mrs. Roosevelt some
how finds time to keep up her study Of
literature and art. Her time for this
enjoyment, however, being necessarily
so limited, she called in the aid of CO.
operation this winter; inviting eight or
ten intimate friends, among whom are
several of the cabinet ladies', to Join
with her in a sort of informal club
Three mornings of every week they
meet for an hour in the Green room of
the White House, with a professional
teacher in literature and art In yes
terday's meeting, photographs of some
famous pictures were shown and the
artists talked about; a few new books
the lives of the authors given Mrs
Roosevelt has made an unalterable
rule to spend at least a few minutes
every day in reading to her children
and constantly orders for them the
choicest new books. Even her critics
must admit that this side of her char
acter is admirable.
The customary Lenten monotony of
muslcales, teas and dinners has been
varied during the week by several
picturesque entertainments. which
proved so pleasurable that they are
certain to be copied in other cities.
One of them, given by a wealthy New
Yorker and his wife, who are spending
the winter in Washington, was called
baby party and the guests were
requested to come in nursery garb. The
result was unique. The beautiful
drawing-room was transformed into a
nursery, where infants with rattles,
tots with dolls, and kids with tons
and balls, were impersonated by the
grown-up beaux and bellies of society
with a few young married people from
of1Iclal and diplomatic circles The
lonesome lady of the old song who en-
treated Backward, turn backward, oh
Time in your flight, make me a child
again, just for tonight" would have
mad her wish gratifIed to the full so
far as outward appearances go. had
she been present. The cotillion was
led by Mr.. Reginald de Koven and the
hostess, and the favors were of a kind
calculated to please children-sticks of
candy, gingerbread animals, including
specimens of the human species, dolls
toys, etc. The boys" wore knicker-
bockers blouses and wide ruffied COL
lars, and the girls" were in baby
frocks of white muslin, with wide rib
bon sashes, shoulder knots, coral
beads, red or blue slippers, hair charm
ingly ringletted and tied with rib
bons.
A real "baby party" was given by
Senator and Mrs. Dubois, in their fiat
at the Loudin apartment house. to cele
brate the second birthday of their
daughter Elizabeth. At first there
was luncheon party, from u to 2.
for special baby guests, all of whom
were accompanied by their mothers.
Among them were the two small
daughters of Secretary Cortelyou. lit
tie Margaret Dolliver daughter of the
senator from Iowa; Dorothy MondeIl
CWyoming), Ruth Thurston and the
young sons of Representatives TAYLOR.
Barke and Martin. Lights and flow
ers added a festive touch to the prep
araticns; and baby Elizabeth, daintily
dressed in white null and lace, her
brown curls tied with white ribbons.
presided with great dignity. After
luncheon the guests were ushered into
another room, where eight small fir
trees made a miniature forest, all
abloom with toys that children love,
e Ii, Ii.