New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
DEVOTED MOTHERS
Some Smart Washington Women
Who TrundIe Their Babies.

A has the pet poodle Spitz Pomeranian and
other varieties of fashionable lapdogs. Babies
coming to the fore. That at least, is true of
washingtons smart society. where young
mothers in diplomatic and legislative circles
now seen wheeling their infant and daughters
on Connecticut avenue 10th street and other prom
enades, where in former days they were to be
behed driving in open carriages with pampered
dogs lolling by their sides. The dogs have to be
satisfied with the attendance of servants now.
Washington originated this fashion all by itself.
The national capital has been in the habit Of fol-
lowing New York's lead in matters pertaining to
dress and the proper thing to do. and all that:
but the capital is developing spirit OF It's
own The fashion of caring for their own babies.
once started, seized upon with avidity by
young Washington matrons. 1t is even said that
they have stopped talking about bridge whist. and
that, instead, they discuss the proper care of in
fants as they encounter another wheeling
their peramhulators along the sunny avenues
The leader and originator of this parade of young
matrons and their infants is Mrs. Robert Mason,
daughter of Chief Justice Fuller. During the
Washington season she may be almost any
morning about 10 o'clock in the vicinity of La
fayette Square and the eastern end of Connecti-
cut avenue. wheeling Baby Mason She is gen
orally attred in dark walking skirt, with
white shirtwaist. and is very girsh looking
mother.
Another domestic young matron is Mrs. B. r.
James wife of the attache of the British Embassy
The Janeses have three delightful children, the
oldest of which is now enrolled In a fashionable
girls school in Washington. Every morning and
evening the mother and daughter may be
walking TO and from the school, although the dis
tance is considerable Later in the morning Mrs.
James may be seen along the promenade with her
two younger children. She insists on training her
| children herself, without the aid of a governess.
| She is a most attractive woman, with mass of
golden hair and pink -and-white complexion, both
of which her children have inherited. Often Mr.
James will accompany his wife and children in
! their promenade, and then 1t Is hard TO hnd
| more attractive family group on the avenue.
Another young mother who is truly American
and is devoted to her baby is Mrs. William Loeb,
| ir Not little of her time is taken up with
T cial duties incumbent her the wife of the
Presidents secretary, but in spite of them she
manages to find time to shower much attention on
little Willie Loeb III. Every morning she bathes
7 and dresses the child, who. by the way has Presi-
dent Roosevelt for godfather. and then in the
pretty perambulator which was the gift of the
President she takes the youngster out for his daily
constitutional
Still another truly American mother is Mrs. Rich
/ mond Pearson Hobson whose husband is A MEM
/ ber of Congress from Alabama and was the hero
of the Merrmac incident in the Spanish American
War. Little Richmond was born not so very long
ago. and his first outing was along Connecticut
/ avenue in perambulator pushed by his mother.
Then there is Baroness Moncheur, wife of the
Minister from Belgium and daughter of Minister
Clayton who represented this country in Belgium
for several years. The baroness is one Of the
handsomest women among the younger set in dip
lonatic circles, and she IS devoted to her two
young children She, too is out along the fashion
able thoroughfares on pleasant morning with
her little
Nine Corea, who is the wife of the Minister from
Nicaragua. and who Miss India Belle Vedder
Fleming. daughter of the late Colonel and Mrs
Robert 1 Fleming, is another wife of a foreign
minister who is devoted to her baby and spends
nearly all of her mornings with it
The girsh wife of the Minister from Peru. Nine
Felipe Pardo. is devoted to her child. five
months-old daughter. She always has nurse,
the native Peruvian garb, in attendance. but many
of the baby's wants she looks after herself.
A touch Of the Far East is supplied to this
parade by the women of the Chinese Legation.
Nearly all of them have children Of various ages
Those whose children are very small use American
ba by carriages and readily adopt the methods
| the American mother.
One of the most picturesque and vivacious moth
ers in the diplomatic is the Viscountess de
.Martel, wife of the secretary of the French En-
bassy. She often is to be Connecticut
nue., and always handsome gown the
latest Paris style and picture hat. Frequently
she is accompanied by her baby daughter, who
croons in her perambulator that is in charge Of a
The carriage is usually decorated with q
bunch of artificial flowers. matching those worn by
the mother Viscountess de Marte and Mile. Des
Portes de la Fosse daughter of the counsellor to
the French Embassy, the originators of the
fad Of wearing artificial flowers as a corsage bou-
quet, bat the custom never secured a strong foot
hold in Washington.
Mrs r. S. smyes. who was Miss Anne Hitch
cock and was noted for her philanthropic work
among children and the aged. is a most devoted
mother She, too, frequently wheels her own baby
carriage.
Another devoted mother is the Baroness Hengel-
muller Won HengeVar. wife of the prvy councillor
10 the Austria Hungary Embassy She has a
pretty little daughter, Mia, five years old
who always accompanies her mother In her walks
and drives, and frequently her morning calls
The baroness will allow but her little
n her al sptop1n bich
is upholstered in white broadcloth.
Mrs. Grant Watson, wife of the third secretary
to the British Embassy is often spoken of as one
the ideal mothers in Washington. She has been
known to leave theatre in the midst OF a per-
formance social function the height of its
gayety because she had feeling that her baby
nsAiAd hAx-