The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-11
At THE
NATIONS CAPITAL

Washington. January 5.-Washing-
ton kept pen house on New LcaTCI
day, and Connecticut avenue and
other fashionable thoroughfares were
dotted. nay. thronged. with man, mere
man. f~rock-coated and silk-hatted. and
passing gayly from reception TO reCep-I
ton TO pay glowing homage 10 youth
full beauty and matronly charms.
This is one day in the year when the
heart OF the hostess is ~gladdened by
the sight OF real men at her reception
for the unwritten law saith that on the
first day Of the year Washington host
esSes shall be at home 10 their men
friends only, and possibly that is what
makes New Years day one of the gala
days of the year, though the writerl
trusts no man will read this indiscreetl
admission. Hostesses vie with eachI
other in securing "eligibles," remorse-l
lessly robbing the cradle and the
grave, and men come, laugh, firt, in
dulge in the usual inanities and banai-
ity OF small talk and consume unspeak-
able quantities of punch and frappes.I
n almost forget 10 be bored. EveryI
one has a royal good time, but the
wise hostess, with a caution born of
experience, sets early hours in thcI
afternoon for receiving her men CALI
ers. and tactful wives ask no QueStionSI
OF belated and befuddled Spouses.
All day long a stream Of carriagesI
dashed up TO the White house porticol
and deposited members of the supremcl
court, diplomats, who are always ac-i
companied by their wives; cabinet Of
ncerS, army and navy officers, and in
tact all the male contingent of official
washington who on that day must payi
honor TO the chief executive and tirStl
lady. The justices of the supreme court
appeared in robes of Office. the highest
Ofncers OF the army and navy in !heirI
full dress uniforms, and the members
OF the diplomatic corps in ~gorgeOusI
northumberland coats, covered With
the insignia of various OrderS of
k~nighthood. The Chinese envoy and
his staff were arrayed in gayly coloredI
silks and furs, and corals and peal
cock feathers; the representatives of
Emperor Francis Joseph. the BarOnI
Hengelmuller Won Hengelvar. was
splendid in Velvets, rich furs, jeweledI
gold belt and the heron-plumeed kali
pax, or cap which constitute the full
dress regalia of the Hungarian man,
Of wealth and position. 1t is a spec-I
tacle worth travelling miles TO see andl
many out of town people make it al
point to be present at the White house,
reception on New Years day.
The reception of the citizens took
place in the afternoon and for hours al
long line of people. anxious to shakel
hands with their president, stood watt
ing their turn, and Mr.. Roosevelt With
unwearying patience shook hands With
each newcomer and smiled and said |
Il am most happy to meet you," as I'll
ne really meant il, and sc the stream
passed on.
1t was a most busy day for the,
ladies of the cabinet who first assisted
Mrs. Roosevelt at the morning recep-I
ton, and then fastened to their own
homes to greet friends and acquaint-I
ances. Mrs. Root, following the usual
custom, did not receive in the after-I
noon. but entertained at breakfast the
members Of the diplomatic circle, FROM
the dean of the corps, TO the newly
arrived attache of the smallest legal
ton.
One of the nos beautiful affairs oil
the season was given on Monday night
by the Thomas F. Washes, when 250l
guests were entertained at a costumeI
ball at their palatial home in Massa-I
chusettS avenu The guests were rel
ceived in the Louis QuatorzO receptiOnI
which had received no floralI
treatment other than a huge ~clusterI
of pale pink roses which blended per-
fectly with the mural tnts and ap-I
pOintments of the exquisite room. Thel
ceiling of the a room was PRACTICAL
~ concealed by wreathings of smilax,
from which fuvinly1ol h,,rIralo ~ 3:-.,l
electric globes, and music was fur-|
nished by the great pipe organ, al
stringed orchestra, and q quartet of
musicians stationed at the head Of thel
grand stairway.
In the large dining room on theI
first floor, were placed many SMALL
tables seating from eight to sixteeni
persons, and the floral decorations of
blossoms with effective arrangements
Of lights n candelabra lent additiOn-i
al beauty to the scene.
The costumes were rarely beautiful
and Mr.. and Mrs. Walsh alone ia all.
that company of merry makers wereI
unmasked, the host and hostess mott
even divining the disguise of their
own daughter. Mrs. Walsh wore nj
handsome ball gown of ivory white|
satin trimmed effectively with point
lace with which she wore many dial
mond ornaments, including a neckIaceI
of priceless value. Miss Walsh asI
Juliette, wore a costume of white lib-I
erty heavily embroidered down theI
front with seed pearls. In her dark
hair she wore a small cap Of pearls.I
Miss Hurd and Miss Jenkins, nousel
guests of Miss Walsh, were BOTH
dressed as she~pherdesses; Miss HurdI