The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-09

| partleB came 10 DE Careluly ConsiueIeu III
the sending out OF invitations, In order that
no unfortunate renconlre might occur be-
tween uncongenial guests.
Mrs. Clay says that on the first occasion OF
her dining at the President's table she was
struck not only with the spaciousness OF the
White House, but with the air Of simplicity
which pervaded IT, Elaborate alterations
were to be made In the mansion for the next
President (Buchanan), but In Pierce's day
It remained practically as 1t had been In the
time OF President Monroe. We are told
that one Of the most notew worthy features
in the White House at that time was the
gold spoons, which were used invariably
at State dinners. They were said to have
been brought from Paris by President Mon
roe, who was criticised for placing acces-
SORES 40 undemocraic on the Chief Magis-
trates table. Next to these golden imple-
ments, the most remarkable things were the
bouquets made at the Government green
houses. They were stiff and formal, as big
around as a breakfast plate, and always
composed Of half q dozen wired japonioas.
surrounded with case OF lace paper. This
fashion, originating at the White House. was
taken up by all Washington. For whole
season the japonica was the only flower
seen in fash ionable houses.
HI.
| II during Mrs, Clay's first winter in WASH
ington the White House itself was far
| from gay, the residences of the rich Sena-
| tors and citizens OF Washington, OF the Dip
lomatio Corps, and of some Of the Cabinet
Minister'S made amends for it. 1t was in
the sos that American hospitality
acquired a reputation. That Of the capital
was synonymous with an unceasing round
of dinners and dances receptions and balls.
A hundred hostesses, renowned for their
beauty, wit and vivacity, We'd with each
other in inventng novel social relaxation.
Notable among these, it seems, were Mrs.
Slidell, who before her marriage had been
Mile. DIES Londes of New Orleans, and
whose daughter Is now the wife Of the
Partisan banker. Baron Erlanger; Mrs.
Jacob Thompson, Miss Belle Task and the
daughters Of Secretary Guthrie; the wife Of
Senator Toombs, and Mrs, Cobb (nes Miss
Lamar), the wife OF Howell Cobb, who
was to be member of Buchanan's Cabinet;
Mrs. Ogle Tayloe and the Mggses.
Mrs. Clay tells us that the most brilliant
Of all the legations at Washington in the
sos, until the coming OF Lord and Lady
Napier was that OF France. The Countess
de Sartiges, who presided over it, was
woman Of much personal beauty, who
entertained on lavish scale. In the
spring OF 1854 took place the funeral OF
Baron de Bodisco. who had been Minister
to the United States from Russia since
1888. His young wife, Miss Harriet VIII
liams, a native OF Georgetown, was one OF
the first to draw the attention Of foreigners
to the beauty OF American women. The
old diplomat had learned to admire his
future bride when, upon her daily return
from school, he carried her books for her.
She Was scarcely OF an age to appear in
society when she became the Baroness de
Bodisco and was carried abroad for
presentation at the Russian court. Her APP
pearance there created a furore, echoes OF
which reached America, Mrs. Clay had heard
1t said that this young bride was the first
woman to whom was given the title the
American Rose The author of these
memoirs was present In st. Johns Church
when the second marriage Of Nine. de
Bodiseo, with Capt. Scott Of Her Majesty's
Life Guards, took place. The wedding oc-
CURED early In the Buchanan Administra-
ton, and the bride was given away by the
President. Mrs. Clay does not omit to add
that, while St. John 3 was often referred to "a
q fashionable centre, yet much Of genuine
piety flowed there, too.
During Mrs Clay's early residence In
Washington, Miss Adelaide Cults, who
became the wife Of Stephen A. Douglas,
and some years after his death married
Gen Williams, was great favorite of the
legations. Miss Cults was the niece Of Mrs
Greenhow, a rioh and brilliant resident
Of the capital, and when she became Mrs.
Douglas held q remarkable sway for years
She was reputed q great linguist- Our author
says that while she was still Miss QUITS
and felt keenly the deprivations that fall
to the lot Of a daughter Of a poor depart
ment clerk she was complaining to her
poutingly of the cost Of gloves- Nonsense"
was the answer. Were Addie Cults,
with hands that might have been chiselled
by Phidlas, would never disguise them
in gloves, whatever the fashion" In afoot-
note is subjoincd a reminisoenoe Of Mrs
Douglas by Col Henry wattsrson: -Her
passport into Washington society was her
relationship to Mistress Dollie Madison.
who WAS her grandaunt- 1t Ii true that
Mr.. James Madison QUITS, Mrs- Douglass
father, was . department clerk, but he
of the White House. Mrs. Douglas was
very beautiful Col Watterson continues
Il remember stepping into the Douglas
library one morning and coming upon
her unexpectedly a. She was busting a
precious bit Of brio-A-brao, over which
she extended q personal cara She was
en- negligSe and, a. the color mounted
her cheek upon my unexpected appear
anoe thought I had never seen 90 beauh-
full, so rosy girl I told Douglas so.'
Mrs. Clay says that while Mr.. Champion,
q bachelor, was the British Minister few
functions were given at the British Legation
which ladies attended Not that the
Minister and his suite were eremites. On
the contrary, Mr.. Champion was exceed
ingiy fond Of outing a figure His
traps were conspicuous on the Warrington
avenues Always his own reinsman, the
Minister'S swiftly driven tandem and the
stifny Upright Atiger' behind him were
for several years one Of the sights Of the
city. A favorite drive in those days was
Pennsylvania avenue, then but sparely
and hregularly built up. The most strik-
Ing contrasts In architecture were there
presented, hovels often all but touching
the mansions Of the rich. The great boule-