The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-09
THE MID-LENT SEASON.
WHAT SOCIETY Is DOING AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.

Paderewski One of Washington's
Attractions The Newest Fad
Among the Young sen-The Deli
gate for New Mexico a Happy
Man-The Cause of His Happiness.
some other Matters of General In
terest.
Washington, D. c.. March $50
cially considered. this mid-Lent time
is dull and dreary at the nations cap
itaI. There are dinners, of course,
and afternoon teas, which, like the
poor, "ye have always" Doubtless
there are junketings of a merrier ma
ture, including cards, ct hoe genus
omne, but they are enjoyed in execu-
tive session, so to say-behind closed
doors Society is not studious this
winter. There are no French lectures,
nor talks on various learned topics
given by professionals at the homes
of prominent hOstesses, nor any of
the famous musicales, costing thous-
ands of dollars apiece, which the
Brices and McLeans and Leighters
used to give. For years back the COM
ing of Lent brought showers of ex-
pensive course tickets, as surely as
the spring time brings its fiocks of
birds. Every woman in society re-
ceived and was expected to buy more
or less of them. While each recital,
or lecture, brought out brilliant and
fashionable gathering, who doubtless
got their moneys worth in exhibiting
their clothes and jewels, there were
always many present who felt that
they could not afford such costly mem
tai culture, but were ashamed to ad-
init it for fear of appearing mean
Last year one of the most prominent
and wealthy hostesses, to whom money
is literally mo object" put a damper
on this sort of thing by refusing to
place her drawing room at the dis
posal of some high priest of art, on
the ground that she was tired of rob-
bling her friends.
AS far the greatest Lenten enter
tainment was the "tableaux vivants,"
given in our largest theater by the
very creme de la creme of society, for
the benefit of the Junior Republic, the
Diet Kitchen and Associated Chart
ties. The actors and actresses were
all from among the beaux and bellies
of the most exclusive circles and
Society" in it's best attire, crowded
every inch of space from pit to dome
1t was worth paying ten times the
usual price of a theater ticket to see
the glow and glitter, to say nothing
of the De Koven's finest music and
the dainty ''buds" and in the shep-
herdess dance of Amaryllis, in Mrs.
Burton's pantomime. Among those
who took part in the tableaux were
I1,,- 60 flf4 11n lin
lister of Austria Hungary; Nine, de
Margerie, wife of the first Secretary
of the French embassy; Hon. Audrey
Pauncefote Miss Sheridan, Miss Pat
ten, Mrs. Stilson Hutchins and others
from the topmost social notch. The
affair d'honncur" (sham dueD be-
tween Baron Frankenstein of the GeT-
man embassy, and Mr.. Crackanthor. &c
of the British was fearfully realistic.
The nymphs in the dance (sixteen OF
this seasons debutantes), wore loose,
flowing robes of green, with purple
scarfs, the colors shimmering in the
glare of the footlights and the toned
shades of the calcium, while the shep-
herdesses-belles of two or three sea-
sons past-were, of course, in cos
TUNES such as no real tender of sheep
was ever guilty of wearing-lovely
lowered tucked-up over white satin
petticoats, coquettish, rose-wreathed
flats" whose elegant simplicity cost
a mint of money, and tall slender
crooks tipped with ribbon-tied bou-
quets About $4,000 was realized from
the ticket sale, and so enchanted
was society with the whole perform
ance that another entertainment of
the same character is talked of, in the
cause of charity. Among the amusing
incidents of the affair was the embar-
RAISING dilemma of a popular young
diplomat. He was one of the shepherds
and dressed in costume, dashed up to
the door of the theater on Sunday af-
ternoon-just in time, as he supposed,
for rehearsal Diminishing his car
riage he 5ripped lightly up the steps
to find the door locked and himself
ten minutes too early. At that hour
the avenue is crowded with pedes-
trians-and it goes without saying that
everybody stopped and looked and
laughed at the spectacle of a SILVER
ing young man in overcoat and top
hat, below which were plainly visible
q pair of white silk tights and low
slippers adorned with huge bows of
yellow satin ribbon. while in lieu of
the usual natty cane he chung to an
absurd, beribboned crook"
M. Ignace PaderewsId has been one
of the Lenten attractions. and in
great social demand. On Wednesday
night he and his wife were the guests
of honor at a small dinner party given
by Mr.. and Mrs. Reginald de Doven
and remained to Mrs. De Kovens reg
ular Wednesday evening reception
which followed. The De Kovens, by
the way have made their winter home
in the old Meigs mansion, one of the
most picturesque houses in the fash
ionable quarter of the city. Medal
ions of Thorwalsdin's in Seasons" dec
crate IT'S ancient walls, and half en-
closing its garden and graveled drive
way is a brick wall which is Just
enough unlike other brick walls to
give the place special value from an
artistic standpoint. There is also a
mild round of entertainments for Ba-
ron Moncheur (the Belgian MINISTRY,
and his bride, who were recently mar
ried in the City of Mexico. They are
necessarily limited to quiet dinners
and teas, owing to the death of a
near relative of the Baroness, and the
many brilliant festivities which had
been arranged for the home coming
of the diplomat and his bride had to
be dispensed with. At the last small
but elegant dinner given in their hon
or, by Hon. John w. Foster and his
wife, the young Baroness Moncheur
divided attention with the other pref
~ bride who made her advent into
Washington society about the same
time-Mrs. Chauncey NJ. Depew. The
latter Is tall and slender. with dark
i l.