The Washington herald., 1908-01-05
J Ew YEARS DAY, with The

AE ception at the White House,
ushered in Washington's official
season for the winter of 1908
and from now on until Ash Wednesday
March 1. there will be no cessation Of
gayeties
Though the season may not be as brill
liant and as gay as Washington winter
usually is. there are at least enough
events 10 keep the society deyotee very
busy for the next few Weeks.
Conditions are blamed for the absence
of the usual strenuous social programme.
but there are those who expect to gain
the more pleasure therefrom, for the
usual Washington season was more or
less an ordeal for the popular.
A great favorite among the young
matrons of the Capital was heard to say
one or two winters ago, when her young
daughter was III: "Of course I am more
than sorry that the child Is III, but it Is a
relief to have a good excuse to stay at
home and get a good nights sleep" She
went on to say that on other occasions,
when the pace became more arduous
than her strength could stand. she found
II necessary to leave town for a few days
in order I'd get the much needed rest.
"You know one must keep on going.
she added. for If you drop out without
some very good excuse people will get in
the habit of passing you by. and just
naturally forget you, and then you are
out OF it all"
Another hostess, a Congressman's wife,
said she found it necessary TO send her
daughter to New York every now and
then that she might ease up bit on the
social pace. for strange as it may seem.
she declared that the social routine is
not so hard upon one in New York as it
IS here. She explained that while the
affairs in the metropolis were much
larger, as a rule. they were not so fire.
quent Balls and other brilliant evening
functions, such as the horse show and
the gala nights at the opera. are the
features of a New York winter, but there
Is a lull in between
Washington's chief social feature is its
routine of dinners. From the beginning
of the season TO its very end the endless
list Of dinners goes on night after night
until indigestion and want of sleep drive
the popular diner out 10 Atlantic City or
the Hot Springs.
Dinners do not cease even in Lent, for
as the Washington hostess naively says,
one must dine and why not dine with
friends rather than alone-so the nightly
round of dinners still goes on apace.
Even Official mourning cannot stop the
habit popular diplomatic representa-
tive not long ago was in Official mourn
ing. the death Of some relative of his
sovereign having placed the court of his
country in mourning. Neither the minis
ter nor his wife was supposed TO take
part in any social activities, but they.
too. thought that they might Just as well
dine with friends as alone. so very quietly
fitted about. night after night. TO meet
their friends at various hospltable tables.
The Minister, being met In the street
one day, and asked where he was dining
that night replied with the greatest gusto
AT home"
To explain his enthusiasm for the forth
coming home dinner, he said that it would
be the first time he had had the privilege
Of dining at home in three months, and
he was as pleased as Punch at the pros
poets.
The society favOrites. who are so much
IN demand that they can't keep track of
their engagements, and get their dates
woefully mixed and ind themselves on
the wrong night at the wrong house. IS
too common in Washington TO cause COM
ment.
Consequently there are those VINO are
glad that the social programme promised
just enough to keep one tolerably busy
and amused. and will allow night now
and then to get a good sleep For, young as
the season is, some popular girls and
men have already been heard to express
their pleasure at the prospect Of a free
night in between the round Of gayeties.
And even now there is enough going on
To keep some so occupied that they quite
forget to reply TO their invitations. and
have 10 be asked twice 10 an affair. OF
rather called up by phone by their would
be hostess 10 know if they are going TO
accept or refuse an invitation, say, a
week old
This week the Capitals gayest official
fun,tion will take place when the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Roosevelt receive in honor
of the diplomatic corps. which is always
the most brilliant official event Of the
winter, all the ambassadors, ministers.
charges, and secretaries and attaches OF
the diplomatic corps appearing In full
dress uniforms and the ladies Of their
families in their smartest evening frocks
and most beautiful jewels.
There are 10 be as we'll two smart even
ing dances, so the nights bid fair to be
very gay, with, OF course, the usual round
of dinners, to say nothing OF teas and
luncheOns.
The first Monday evening dance" will
take place tomorrow at Rauschers. and
will be preceded by a number of dinners
among the debutante set and younger
married people
The list of chaperons comprises Mrs
Truman II. Newberry, Mrs Charles NJ
Bell. Mrs. Joseph Crawford, and Mrs
G. A. Converse. and the young women
in charge OF the arrangements are Miss
Grace Bell, Miss Shelby Converse, Miss
Caryl Crawford. and Miss Constance H
Hoyt The series includes three other
dances. the dates set being January &c
and February and II.
The first OF the Bachelors germans
follows. on Wednesday evening IN the
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