The Washington herald., 1908-01-16

/ No more representative gathering Of
official and social Washington could be
/ brought together than marked the recep-
ton rendered by the Vice President and
/ Mrs. Fairbanks 10 the members Of the
/ United States Senate last night at their
/ beautiful home in X street, opposite Far
ragut Square.
/ President and Mrs. Roosevelt were the
principal guests, and they spent about an
/ hour meeting the other distinguished per-
sons present Mrs. Roosevelt was the cen
ter Of a small and select circle. and did
not mingle greatly in the throng But
the President was the center Of a kaleido-
scopic throng that flowed past and around
| him in one OF the reception rooms, and
was composed Of practically every one
/ present As ne did on a similar occasion
/ last year, Mr.. Roosevelt disregarded
strict Presidential etiquette by becoming
a guest in a private house at other than
a Cabinet dinner his host on the former
occasion. as last night, being the Vice
! President
Cabinet Members Attend.
Representative and Mrs. Nicholas Long
worth accompanied Mr.. and Mrs. Roose-
/ Welt The Senate might have held a ses-
sion right there, as a majority Of the
members Of the Upper House was present.
The House was also largely represented.
The Cabinet members present were Secre-
tary Of State Root. Attorney General
| Bonaparte. and Postmaster General
! Meyer. Several members of the Supreme
Court were also present, as were num-
Der Of members OF the diplomatic corps.
The receiving party included, in addition
10 the Vice President and Mrs. Fairbanks.
Miss Cannon, daughter Of the Speaker;
Mrs. Le Seure. Mrs Nelson Dingley, and
Mrs. John W. Timmons. the last named
being the daughter Of the Vice President
and Mrs. Fairbanks. Mrs. Fairbanks
wore a handsome gown Of hand-painted
chiffon, and her ornaments were dia-
mcnds
The rooms were profusely decorated
with cut flowers and potted plants. and
military orchestra stationed in an al
cove in the upper han discoursed music
throughout the evening.
IN the large dining-TO0m on the second
floor a delightful collation. was served
throughout the evening. The handsome
room, large enough 20 accommodate d
state banquet with its ll-harmouized
color scheme Of blue and gold, and the
concealed lights shedding a subdued
mysterious radiance over the handsomely
gowned women and the uniformly attired
/ men. made as pretty d picture as an
artist could desire.
Speaker Cannon There
+ Speaker Cannon was one Of the centers
/ of interest, and his progress from the re-
ception room 20 the dining room was a
much-delayed one. as he had 10 stop fire.
quently 10 shake hands and exchange q
I few words with many friends, new and
old. Senator Gallinger. affable and smil-
( ing, and accompanied by his pretty young
granddaughter. Miss Williams. was greet
cd by many friends. and he was claimed
I by the President for bit Of shop" talk
before he took his leave. Senator Burkett
was everybody's friend, and circulated
among the throng with the freedom Of
the man who knows everybody Senator
+ Knox was prominent figure, and he and
Senator Burkett formed the center Of
a merry group for @ time in one OF the
rooms of the dining room.
President Is Democratic.
Politics was debarred for once by com
mon consent. and this was evidenced in
no instance more strongly than in the
case Of the President, who greeted every
one who approached him in the most
democratic manner imaginable, and
chatted with everybody who had any
thing TO say TO him. It was an evening
of social diversion. and the very Ameri-
can lack of formality which marked the
occasion throughout was an eloquent
tribute 70 the accomplishments Of MI
and Mrs. Fairbanks as host and hostess.