The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-06
By
GRACE
PORTER
HOPKINS.

&(specul Correspondent Ut the Times.
DIspntcll.) iEa
WASHINGTON, d. CT, March 5.--Large
ana formal entertaining has bccn studi-
olisly avoided during the carly days OF
Lent, and dinner giving continues to. oc-
cUpS the social stage. Tho Frencl, AM.
l,assndor ana Madame Jusscrnn1 htrve en-
tcrtaircd ut several OF the lnndsomcst
dinners Of the scnson-evcnts that were
postponed on account Of the illness OF he
Y hostess In January. Ssy
syTltl, these exceptions there has been
no entertaining by members OF the dplo-
matte corps, the majority OF whom take
q more serious view Of the pcntcntial
season than do their American friends.
War clouds In the far east has also mad
IT'S effect upon the foreign clement OF
society, as tho Russian Ambassador.
Count CassinI, and his fascinating young
daughter AFRO naturally more Interested
\ In the passing events in tho Orient than
" III those at the American capital. In the
first days OF the waraticy even cancelled
ali Of their social cngagcfre nts. even those
given In their honor. but arc now y ia x
ing UP their former custom and VIII pc
conspicuous entertainers during the grand
y opera season this week gFttg N
~
Governor Taft, the new Secretary OF
War. has been tho most fcted guest OF
the month Dinners lnnchcons and re-
captions have been given IN his honor.
but the most unique Of ALL tho dinner
given by Senator Warren, OF. Wyoming,
j. on "Wednesday at the New Willard. One
X hundred guests, ''thc largest number 70
be seated Mt d single table" said IN old
.Inhabitant Of Washington, were Invited
to meet him. The dec0ra tons were en- I
tirely official aud military. The centre
piece consisted OF a miniature Panama
canal on which noatcd perfect models OF
tho modern battlcslip Wyoming and the
Wyoming OF fortyxyears ago: bcaldes the
Ohio, d. boat named for Mr.. Tafts ma
tive State Miniature guns In brass and
bronze, muskcts stacked for peace nd
catssonS IN brass drawn by Ella horses
each, were alternated with clusters OF
flowers tied with red, white and blle
ribbon In a graceful arrangement around
tho open square table. To the right OF
Miss warren. the debutante$ Hostess. the
Z guest OF honor, and back OF them hung
tho flag of tho Secretary OF War. while
tho Stars and Stripes. with tho f,as or
The new Republic Of Panama. had their
place In decoration OF tho entire suite OF
rooms, thrown open to the visitors. a
string orchestra played in the gallery
overlooking tho dining room series OF
patriotic airs from ''Star Spanslcd Ban
ner,' to pixie"
SIMPLE, BUT VITAL.
SO rapidly Is national, international and
political history being made now a-days.
Y that one can scarcely tell who Sis%to be
addressed as Senator, land who as plain
MIR. so.and- SOL" who as Monsieur
1.Arniassador,,' and who n lslcr
Minister I'D say nothing OF the be-
wildcring maze encountered in trying 10
distinguish between charge d'affaircs ,nn,i
4 attaches diplomatIquc. This may seem OF
& little moment but 1t Is really OF vital
= iu1purt.to many N"plain" Americans IN
official life, for DO 1t remembered that
Mr. and Mrs. Everybody, who belong to
the Anybody family, are constantly meet
ing these foreign representatives IN a
social way. and to make q mistake in
their rank would he well nigh socially
,lnpurdonabl BILE. Think OF receiving black
looks from any ono whom you might
meet three times In q single week at the
White House, not to mention tho smaller
functions frcqucnted by the diplomatic
cofps
These tightening changes caused by
wars or rumors Of wars. death or politl-
cal destruction. are particularly notable IN
the nelghborhood OF the japanese lega-
ton which happens also to be the neigh
borhood OF the Colombian legation.
Only brief while ago. though already
so long that the incidents would have
been forgotten had Tho Panama Canal
bill in the Senate not kept them alive,
the rcd building on the north side Of tho
street where DR.. Thomas Herran had his
headquarters was the all absorbing cen-
ter of interest, To-day the scene has
changed Colombia and what she thinks
or does Is OF minor Importance compared
with the plucky little island which u.s.
fievl,f {l,c ,Ycg ~
popular attention ut the capital has
turned fright about face" to tile trim.
new, bright brick mansion across tho
street. occupied By the japanese minister,
4 Mr.. IloSoro Takihira, and his assistants.
BEAUTIFUL JAP LADY.
Tho beautiful and dIgnfled Madame
TakIhira. who for arly two years has
gracefully presided over the legation OF
Japan, was called home in tho autumn
BY mothers longing 10 see tho chill
y dren whom the diplomatic usage o her
country required her to leave In Toxic. No
only Is she missed, but the visitor as he
nows enters the legation is aware Of sup
pressed excitement and charming
rOricntalsm." 3ffj
#8 Tho purlors are richly furnished and IN
exquisite taste. hut with that indie
scribatle something to delicately remind
one of tho country there represented.
THE Land Of the Lotus Blossom
''Falr Japan and my Lady Of tho
Chrysanthaneine," are in evidence every