The Washington herald., 1906-12-30


Bradley. Miss Elizabeth Kean, Miss
Christine Roosevelt. of New York; Miss
Eddy, Miss Hagner, Miss Houghton, the
Misses Switzerland. the Misses Whitney,
the Misses Williams, Miss Maxwell Miss
Jennings, Miss Leutze. and Miss Bowies.
The Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
and Mrs. Straus will be assisted by Mrs.
John w. Foster. Mrs. Brewer. Mrs.
George L. Gillespie, Mrs. Charles D. Wal
colt, Mrs. William s. Sims, Mrs Moore,
Mrs Schafer. and Mrs. Hochstadter, the
last two being the daughters OF the
hosts.
Next TO the personality of each Cab
met officer and his wife. in social inter-
est is the homo in which they dwell. as
the Cabinet houses, as they are called,
play an important part IN each Washing
ton season. Although the old-time after
noon reception Of each Wednesday, when
all the world was welcome to the home
Of any of the Presidents advisers. and
at certain intervals 10 the White House
itself has passed away. Cabinet calls
are still the rule for official families and
should be faithfully observed during the
short season from January / 20 Ash
Wednesday.
The latter date in the present season
falls on February IS, so that only five
reception days will be in order unless
all the ladies Of the Cabinet receive on
January 2 which is extremely doubtful,
as the fatigue of New Years Day, when
they will do double duty at the White
House and their own homes, and the
first evening reception on January g. will
make it advisable for these official hos
tesses TO take the first Wednesday Of the
season as a day Of rest
The place of residence, as we'll as posi-
ton in the receiving line, has undergone
many changes since last year. which
will call for a revised visiting list when
Madame Senator or Madame Represen-
tative starts abroad TO make her calls.
The Secretary Of State and Mrs. Root.
who have occupied no less than five DIFF
ferent homes during their Washington
life, are now delightfully."- located at 1900
Rhode Island avenue, a residence which
gained its first prominence as the home
-of Mr. and Mrs. Levi 2. Morton when
the former was Wee President Mrs
Morton setting an example Of gracious
and dignihed hospitality unprecedented
in the social hisrDyY of the capital.
Cabinet entertaining was at its best in
those days. with the home Of the Vice
President even more Of a social center
than the White House, where the wife Of
President Harrison was already feeling
the touch of the illness. which. before
the close of the administration, proved
fatal
Although many wealthy and prominent
tenants followed the former Vice Presi-
dent and Mrs Morton. including the
wealthiest Congressional hosts that ever
came TO Washington and the Dean Of the
Diplomatic Corps. It remained for the
Secretary Of State and Mrs Root to re-
store this residence 10 first place in the
social history of the nation
Where the fascinating and unconven-
tional Countess Cassini entertained the
merriest Of Sunday supper parties, the
President and Mrs Roosevelt were re
Gently entertained at the most distin-
guished dinner company Of the year,
while the ugly library, in which the Am
bassador used to discuss the affairs Of
his nation with his staff. is now an ideally
charming and cheerful room. The black
walnut bookcases remain, but above them
are numerous gOld-framed photographs
Of the powers Of the nation, dainty net
curtains. with under hangings Of crimson
silk. shut out the street, but not the
light. while all about the large room are
beautiful inlaid tables, a large rosewood
desk on which stand photographs Of the
f-A MoL rfr,lA
tary of State. John Hay. and on the man
tel a splendid picture of President RoOse-
Welt.
To the daytime visitors the greatest
of the many charms OF this history max
ing room is the open fire Of logs IN the
Old-time chimney place. The adjoining
rOOms-twO drawing and large
square dining-rOom. capable of seating
forty peOple-carry the same celor scheme
Of rich red and a soft dun green. The
large collection Of old prints. brought
from New York by the Secretary and
Mrs Root. are in the second drawing
room wall. while many other pictures and
ornaments not included IN the furnishings
give a note Of personal home making in
separabls from any habitattOn presided
over by Mrs. Root however short her
residence therein.
The Secretary Of the Treasury and Mrs
Shaw. who are living at the Arlington,
will receive there in the small ballroom,
where Miss Erma Shaw made her debut
a few weeks ago.
The Secretary Of War and Mrs. Taft
will be found, as last year. at 1903 X
street. the pleasant home they have &C
cupied ever since Mr. Taft's coming into
the Cabinet.
Mr.. and Mrs. Bonaparte. who were last
season described as the Secretary of the
Navy and Mrs Bonaparte, occupy to-
tally different position this season with
Mr.. Bonaparte as Attorney General They
are. as usual. at the Portland. where Mrs
Bonaparte will receive on Tuesday after
noon.
Mr.. and Mrs. Metcalf. the former hav-
ing been advanced from Secretary Of
Commerce and Labor to the Secretary Of
the Navy, are so well known and popular
as to require no Introduction in their new
office, and viii continue their residence at
2009 n street where they did considerable
entertaining last season.
There VIII be no reception at the home
OF the Postmaster General and Mrs Cor
telyou, or at that Of the Secretary of the
Interior and Mrs Hitchcock, or at the
residence Of the Secretary Of Agriculture.
The residence of the Secret Of Com