The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-10-19
(By Christine Wealand.)

interest Of Washington's smart society
for the next six weeks will be found
in the launching Of the seasons debu-
tantes to whom will be dedicated the
little season. preceding the opening
OF and official entertainments
at the White u And If any one
thinks the launching of a girl into
Washington society is a matter Of little
importance I would like that individ-
uaI to spend Just one day with the
mother OF even the least am bilious OF
this galaxy of buds. Forty gowns and
twenty hats constitutes the major por-
ton Of one contingent outfit, with &C
cessories of lace and linen in ropor
ton of one coming out outfit, with ac-
least twenty-five gowns to start her
social campaign may as well make up
her mind not to start.
In the case of the twenty or thirty
candidates for social honors already in
the field, one-half have been QUILTED
from Paris, with nearly every large
CITY in America contributing to the
boxes and boxes of millinery arriving
by every train. OF the girls who Will
wear the clothes there is literally an
infinite variety, with the result that
the gayest debutante season of many
years is upOn US, Notwithstanding the
administration circle will have no rep
resentatives in the group Of bellies to
be. =.
The advent of Miss Marion LeutZe,
daughter of the commandment of the
navy yard, and Miss Helen Hatsfield,
daughter of the commanding officer
of Fort Myer, will bring these two
posts very much to the fore in general
society and introduce a large number
of young officers of army and navy
into resident circles. Commander and
Mrs. Leutze are delightfully."- situated in
the large, old-fashioned headquarters
at the navy yard, which was the CEN
ter of SO much entertainment under
Rear Admiral and Mrs. Terry when
their daughter, Miss Eleanor Terry,
made her debut a few years g and
won immediate recognition as the
handsOmest girl in the navy. Fort
Meyer, which, although geographically
in Virginia, is socially a part Of Wash
ington, and a very important part at
that, has not had any young people in
the family of its chief for many years,
which gives additional interest to Miss
Hatsfield's debut. Other acquisitions
from the army circle will be Miss Mar
garetta Symons, only daughter Of
Major and Mrs. ThOmas w. SymOns
and Miss Juliette Williams, daughter
of Colonel and Mrs. John r. Williams.
The latter, who is one of the hand
soonest of the seasons buds, has al
ready seer something of society in Ma
Mia. where her father is now stationed,
and where, in spite OF her youth, she
participated in many of the post gaye-
ties two seasons ago. In the past sum-
mer she enjoyed quite a vogue at Mar
r~agansett Pier, and is assured a part
ner for the three large COtilliOnS of the
winter. Miss SymOnS, or the other
hand, comes direct from school, but is
a remarkably lever and accomplished
girl, whose mother was one of the
bellies of Washington a generation ago.
Miss Olga Converse, third daughter
of Rear Admiral Converse; Miss Ruth
Tanner, daughter of Commander and
Mrs. SeatOn Schroeder, from a trio OF
Schroeder, daughter Of Captain and
Mrs. SeatOn Schroeder, from a trio OF
navy girls who have travelled practi-
cally all over the world in the last ten
years, it being found as convenient
and economical for the average Off
GERS family to be educated abroad as
at home, and much more interesting
Miss Converse, like her elder sisters
has spent most of her youth in Italy
is an accomplished linguist and musi.
elan, n in special emand for the
popular fancy dances now a fad with
smart society. Since her return tC
Washington, two years ago, when she
presented her second daughter to so.
cietV, Mrs. Converse has had a hand.
some apartment at the Connecticut
but will shortly take possession Of {
new home on Connecticut avenue tt
bring out this last of the family. Mis-:
Tanner has also been educated in Eu'
rope. and is q really fine %viOlinist; no
of the average amateur class. but with
a skill and charm that. were she {
poor girl. would make her fortune or
the platform. Miss Joanna Schroeder
the youngest of three SISTERS, was bOr1
in Washington, as was her mother be
fore her, n claims by Inheritance c
high place in the social world, beine
the great-great granddaughter of Ben
jamin Franklin. as we'll as the daugh'
ter of one of the most distinguished
officers of h American navy. Mis-
Schroeder, when a child Of twelve. &C
companied her parents to Guam
where. as the daughter of the COVER
nor. she learned at a very early ag'
all the charm Of official society am
saw her elder sisters reign as bellies il
the coterfe OF officers Away to b
found in that far-away and ideally fas
cinating land.
One Of the great heiresses Of tn,
winter, as we'll as n Of its beauties
will be Miss Kathrine Jennings. daugh
ter OF Mr.. and Mrs. Hannen Jennings
of New Orleans and London, but nov
established as permanent members o
the winter colony of Washington
where they are building one Of tn,
palatial homes going up in every sec
ton Of the fashionable northwest. I
the meantime. Mr.. and Mrs. Jenning
have leased Mrs. A. c. Barney's arts
tic home on Rhode Island avenue
from which they will introduce thei
daughter. This particular houee
which brings one Of the largest rental
in Washington, has in past season
served as the temporary home Of tn
secretary of state and Mrs. Root. NJ,
and Mrs. Henry Phipps. formerly o
Pfttsburg, but now Of London. and MI
and Mrs. Thomas T. Gan. of Cincin
natl. MI. Jennings is one OF the grow
ing colony OF South African mine own
ere in Washington, where he was pre-
ceded by Henry Cleveland Perkins an,