The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-02-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
(spccial to The Times Dispatoll)

Especial to The Timss- DispatolD
WASHINGTON, y. c.. Feb. 21.--Asi
Wednesday, is the day popularity supposed
Ia sharply divide the solemn from the gay
4 IN social life, but In Washington Congress
ruleE, and when n long session Is IN PROF.
ress. as Is the case this year. the shades
OF the Lcntcn season arc less gloomy
than elsewhere. III III .E3
II TO be sure, sewing classes and lectures
for the benefit OF charity have replaced
balls and dancing parties, but much pleas"
ure attaches to the comfortable feeling OF
doing for others. and 4 dainty luncheon
often unitcs morning and afternoon plans.
The day is appropriately rounded out by
small dinner followed by bridge whist.
And Just here. let mo say that the p
to date woman no longer rcjoices u over
the fine quality OF her DANA SIX. but makes
her friends green With envy over the
beauty OF her table lace. Last years
table sets have been relcgatcd to tho at
tic along with last years gowns. and to-
day5the dainty dame Of the fashionable
world does not wear more costly lace thnn
that which; decoratcs the table u around
whicli she. seats her guests. Indeed SO
extravagant are the styles OF lace i have
recently seen on lunch tables. that ASIDE
from beauty. their one accommodation
IS the fact that when their daySof SER
vice is over they can be made Into frocks
or pretty things for the boudotr.
Notwithstanding this seeming extrava-
Eancc very dainty, artistic cffcts can be
accomplished by the woman who has
more time than money! Let her first
plunge into her scrap bag and drag out
all of the odd bits of lace and insertion.
Squares and ovals may be laid on the
linen foundation and worked together
with necdcwork stitches with charming
results A set of this kind done In i'nita-
ton Chinese work was seen on sena-
torlal lunch table this week, the occasion
being In honor of the State delegation IN
Congress.
Cross stitch embroidery is another pop.
ular fad being INDUCED at fashionable
sewing classes, and dainty collar and
cum sets are being turned out by skilled
fingers Linen, scrim, and even Turkish
toweing, arc the chief materials USED.
though some of tho work Is done on
solf silk, muslin or gauzc.
From the sewing class ono goes to the
lecture. All sorts Of subjects Tor the
benefit OF all sorts OF objects seem 70 be
In vogue Tho FIRST fashionable Lenten
gathering occurred on Tuesday when tout
& 10 monde assembled at Boundary Castle,
!.
b. Henderson, to hear the first Of two
lecture recltals given by Miss Anna Ver-
non Dorsey, under the auspices OF the
Society for Homeless Dogs. Tho enter
tainment consisted of representations. en-
costume, OF London society hundred
years ago, md was as unique us tie
object for which 1t was given After
the lecture the guests enjoyed looking at
The rare works of art, drawn partly from
tho galleries Of the old world, but large
ly from tho paintings of American ar
lists, 1t having been ono Of Mrs, Ilender'
sons patriotic endeavors to encourage
tic development Of art IN her her own coun'
try.
Aside from purchasing good specimens
or their work herself, she has taken an
active interest In arranging loan exhibit
tions with bcnefcent results. Mrs. Hen
derson is a firm believer In yegetarianism,
but so cleyerly does her French chef fol-
low instructions that few Of the guests
mt her formal dinners would suspect That
meat was not the foundation of tho tasty
dishes set before them, had 1t not become
an omen secret through the pages Of the
hostess recent book, "The Aristocracy 81
Health i.
Nh. and Mrs. John D, Rockeferrer, Jr.,