The Savannah morning news., 1903-09-13
SOME WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
ENTERTAINMENTS IN HONOR OF AN
EARL AND COUNTESS.

Summer Is Ended at the National
CapitaI-When the Cabinet Fami-
lies Are Expected-White House
Doors Again Open-SOme of the
Rare Plants in the White House
GrOunds-Other Matters of General
Interest.
Washington, Sept. 1.-THE event of
the week in Washington, on which
hinged all things social, was the visit
of the Earl and Countess Of Shafts
bury. They came over from New York
to be the guests of Maj. Gen. and Mrs.
Henry c. COrbin, and as they had
never seen the American capital before,
considerable time was given to showing
them the sights" on each night OF
their stay Gen. and Mrs. Corbin gave
a dinner in their honor, which includ-
ed a number of other guests. At the
dinner on Saturday night the titled Wis
itors were greatly interested in the
singing of a local glee club of negroes,
who were grouped upon the lawn out
side the Corbin home. 1t was the first
time that the Earl and Countess had
heard the quaint melodies of the South
ern negro, and both confessed them
selves charmed with them.
The second dinner given for them by
Gen. and Mrs. Corbin was at the Coun-
try Club, on the Tennellytown road,
and the eight other guests were all
prominent army people. The decora-
lions were entirely of autumn foliage
and golden rod. Most of the afternoon
was spent on the golf links of the
club, the Earl being an enthusiastic
player, The last dinner was the larg-
est function, including all the mem
bers of the cabinet now in town, Gen.
Oliver, Sir Thomas Upton and Mr.. and
Mrs Edwin Gould, the three last nam
ed persons coming over from New
York on purpose. The table decora-
tions were white roses and chrysanthe-
NUNS. The famous Engineer Band
was stationed on the lawn outside the
dining room windows. On Sunday the
distinguished party attended service at
st. Johns Episcopal Church, ana on
Monday morning a special drill was
given for them by the troops at Fort
Myer. On Tuesday the Earl and Coun-
tess left for West Point, where they
will still be the guests OF Gen. ana
Mrs. Corbin, who accompanied them.
1t does not need the almanac to tell
us that the summer is ended. The
approaching season is indicated in
Washington, so clearly that he who
runs may read, in the taking down OF
shutters from long-closed houses, and
increased activity everywhere. The
National Capital regularly goes to
sleep for a few months every year, and
suddenly wakes up again with the first
days of autumn. Many prominent hos
tesses have already returned to town,
but of course there will be no enter
tanning of especial account until the
presidential family are again in the
White House The ladies of the Cabi-
net are yet scattered far and wide.
Mrs. Hay remains at her cottage in
Newbury, N. H. The Secretary, who
was called to Washington earlier than
he had anticipated by the Turkish stu
alton, will probably return to New
bury for a short stay before the cot
tage is closed for the season. The
date of their return to Washington
for the winter is not yet decided. 1t
will depend upon the weather. as we'll
as on the movements of the Secretary.
Mrs. Shaw and her daughters are
expected to arrive in Washington about
the middle of September. The vessel
on which they sailed from Europe is
due in New York next Saturday. Mr..
Shaw, accompanied by his private sec
rotary, will go to meet them.
Mrs. and Miss Root are with the
Secretary of War in London, which
will be their headquarters while the
Alaskan Boundary Commission is in
session. The ladies will make several
short trips to different places on the
continent.
vacation very quietly in New England,