The Washington times., 1904-12-25
No One Displays Better
Taste Than Admiral
Dewey's Wife.
Mrs. Hitchcock a Leader
Among the Wives of
the Cabinet.
Mrs. Thomas Walsh and
Other "UnofficiaIdon1'
Hostesses.

7 NASHlNGTON, where social duties
are the chief business-except per-
maps the government of the United
States-tEe hostess plays an all i'm
PcFsant part, and largely upon her de-
penoe the state of the social stock mar
ket- 1t may be said, however, that there
IS seldom a corner on the market made
by any of the charming women who
preside over the hospitable homes of the
Nations Capital The very fact that all
Washington's a social stage, and every
woman in it a hostess, precIudes the idea
of such a state of affairs
It may, however, be said with all truth
that certain hostesses have regulations
for giving entertainments of a distinc-
tive character. This woman is famous
because of her powers Of gathering
about her board brilliant and con-
genial company, that one for the huge
erushes with which large stones, by the
way. she kills many birds at one time
Still another for the gorgeousness OF her
tabta- But whatever may be the dis
tinction in kind and form of entertain
ment it is fact that Washington host
esses as whole are noted for their
graciousness and affability.
Gracious Because Uncertain.
A young married woman commenting
upon this gracious spirit meted out 10
all guests alike, irrespective OF wealth
Or position. asked a weH-known social
leader here why it was that such kind
ness existed.
zone never knows in Washington on one
day what the position of your guests
will be when you wake up the next
morning"
But notwithstanding this delightful
uncertainty il can hardly be said that
the cordiality of the hostess depends
entirely the cact that man or woman
may jump suddenly into official promi-
nence. one of the joys of a republican
society.
Men and women are considered large
" on their merits as social beings in
Washington, and their success or nom
success depends TO a much greater ex-
tent upon themselves than it does in
other cities.
with constant entertaining and be-
ing entertained what would become OF
us ALL, said another Washington wo-
man. IF we did not make an attempt
to be gracious and cordial? Society is
only bound together by an easily de-
molished chain of politeness and excite
nent. As the IrtShman said OK the
goodness of the priest: The divil thank
him for Tits his business so he
mi0ht say OF the cordiality of the Wash
inGton hostess.
Sets Not Distinct.
Many elements make up a society in
Washington TO say the least cosmopoIi-
tan. So frequently are the changes made
II its ranks that it is as floating as a pond
lily These elements have been termed
sets. but this is a misnomer in the social
sense of the word, for the woman's po-
sition in one set or another depends en-
ttrely upon her husbands business She
is said to be in the diplomatic set If he
IS connected with a foreign embassy,
with the official set If he is in the sery-
ice of The country's Government, IN the
resident set II the man of the family
holds no position but that If private
citizen There are certain exclusive CO.
tefiea, bat they are made up frequently
of members of all the so-called sets.
Particularly is this true Of the Wash
fngton smart set. whose title TO smart
ness. by the way, lies for the most
part IN having money ard using II with
artistic reclSlessness. The application
sf tne word smart to this quality as