Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-15
FALL HOUSE PARTIES
WHAT THAT MEANS AMONG THE
SMART SET.
Pleasant English Custom Of Inviting
Many Friends for Few
Days.
Written for The Evening Star.

With pheasant shooting in Vermont and
New Hampshire, fox hunting east and
west, and golf all over the country, house
parties are the rage. Up the Hudson, at
Lenox and Tuxedo, down on Long Island,
in the Virginia mountains, on western
ranches, in the blue grass farms of Ken
lucky and wherever people have time and
lands, they are filling their country houses
with guests and stopping as late as the
autumn weather will permit. The rivalry
in the matter of traps and gowns and skill
In shooting, riding and golfing is making
some interesting history. In some instances
the parties are on so large scale that an
army of attendants Is necessary for their
care, and the women go prepared for a
regular campaign.
At some of the parties given recently on
the big estates owned by several Of the very
rich men in the east the display of gowns
has been more than interesting. FaShiona-
BILE women go abroad, and if the supply they
bring back with them lacks anything, they
pick up in New York shops the prettiest
things that are made or imported, and when
my lady arrives at a country place she has
the confidence of a warrior who knows his
armor is bullet proof and his weapons il
battle trim
The parties are formal or otherwise ac-
cording to the disposition of the host or
hostess. DR.. and MRS. Seward Webb at
their recent big pheasant shoot at Shelburne
Farms, their splendid place in the Vermont
hills, entertained for a 'fortnight a house
party of forty persons on scale of manih-
cence and formality that was iprincely. Miss
Frederick Webb and Miss Gwendoin Bur-
den set the pace for chic dressing among the
younger women, and Lady Mihto, who, with
Lord Minto was a guest of honor made a
superb English model for the American
guests to follow in smart Shooting toys,
regal evening dress and sumptuous fur gar
ments for cool evenings or for driving and
automobiling. = !
he na at he El t6de rxyith IL
fast al dawn. Riding and driving and shoot
ing followed until II, when the trap that
carried the luncheon was patronized Then
shooting again for those Who loved the
sport, while the others drove back in time
for dejeuner at the house. The men, for
the most part, hunted on TIL dusk and re-
turned for tea and chat or nap before
dinner which was followed by dancing and
cards.
Up the Hudson.
At Colonel Astor's, Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish's
and other places on the Hudson there is
less forrnality at the parties held over
every week end
During a party given last week a pic
turesque feature was the hunt ball, to
which the guests wore the dress in which
they had hunted during the afternoon. The
effect was extremely smart.
The George Coulds, at Georgian Court,
their gorgeous Lakewood place, are very
hospitable, and make their guests feel at
home without much fuss. Mr.. Whitney
gives his company to understand that the
house Is theirs for the time they are In it.
The Jimmie" Kernochans take for granted
that you like to ride, and order horses
around as soon as you Eight" and a
sportsman or sportswoman has an ideal
time.
The George vanderbilts, in their Carolina
mountain palace, see to your creature
comforts and leave you to your own
devices, which is in harmony with the GUS
tom through all that part Of the country.
In the south, no more than all over the
west, wherever cultured men and women
have country homes, the latchstring hangs
out to those who are counted their friends
I AT the house party as it now is a COM
plete layout of clothing is essential.
A general list, which may safely be used
as guide, begins with some dainty, frilly
things for the boudoir, for every woman
loves TO excite the admiration and envy of
her woman friends. She will want a neg
lige of silk and lace, pretty slippers and
stockings for the time of day when she
might, with conscious ease, be seen taking
cofee IN her own room. She will need a
riding habit, short skirt suit of cloth
corduroy, warm and light with linen and
light flannel shirt waists A very swagger
suit suggested by a young English visitor
10 girl friend has been copied successful
iy 1t is of golden brown velveteen in cordu-
roy stripe, the short skirt gored and fiaring,
and the jacket half fitting, with cuffs and
numerous pockets.
For the Afternoon.
An unusually smart afternoon gown that
can be worn at informal dinners is de-
sign OF black liberty satin embroidered all
over In black and white silk in graceful
princess lines from the throat to the hem Of
the train.
Another stunning gown, and one very
servfceable for dinner and for dancing, is
or heavily dotted black net, also princess,
with design in stripes that end in large
scaiiops at the bottom of the skirt ap-
pliaued in satin and Whitman elaboration of
hand work in chenille and get beads. This
duplicated in white net, satin and seed
pearls makes regal BAH gown.
A coat of selected squirrel skins makes a
Injurious garment for autofnobiling or for
driving in the cool autumn air.
II my lady's visit is long, these garments
Will need to be duplicated and added to ac-
cording to time and place and circum-
stances az H.