The San Francisco call., 1908-12-27
Tspcaial Di,polch 10 The Call


streets have been a whirl of hurrying
pedestrians. scurrying motor cars,
busting little runabouts ana preten-
rfous convevances, the liveried attend
ants and the incidental appointments
telling as plainly as words the i'm
portance OF their owners.
Jostling one another in the friendly
rivalry OF Yuletide buying We're repre-
senfatives OF half the crowned heads
of Europe. and even stately Old rang
shao VI. imperial Chinese ambassador,
clad in the somber hues Of court mourn
ing. was not above taking a turn about
The shops TO see just how the Christ
mas shopping is conducted at the capl-
tai OF the greatest nation OF the west 4
Incidentally Tang Shao II himself
turned Santa Claus. sending an ennis
sary over to the White House the other
day with a bewildering assortment OF
things which the late empress dowager
set apart as tokens for Mrs. Roosevelt
and chipper Mrs. Alice Longworth.
Mrs. Roosevelt unfortunately was of
on q personal Christmas seeking jaunt,
and therefore Tang Shao Yrs repre-
sentative had to spread his priceless
treasures before the eyes Of the White
House secretary.
Included in the collection Of gifts
were two enormous sable robes, two
white fox robes, two immense tiger
skins. two leopard skins, six rolls OF
silk from the imperial looms and pair
Of wonderfully wrought portieres heavy
with embroideries in silk and bullion.
To top all, when Mrs. Roosevelt re-
turned there stood before her an enor-
NOUS punch bowl of silver. beautifully
handwrought and Of such tremendous
size that a hundred persons could be
n
the punch bowl was an old water jar
Of silver fashioned like a Chinese junk.
When the Chinese embassy's Kris
Kringle called at Mrs. Longworths he
left half a hundred pieces Of jade In
the form Of necklaces and rings and
bracelets. Mrs. Longworth as the first
western woman of distinction to be
presented at the Chinese court, still re-
tains the memento the empress dowager
bestowed upon her, namely. the fasci-
mating little Pekingese spaniel Manchu.
Manchu. adorned with a perfectly huge
how Of yellow ribbon in token of his
imperial connections, was the first crea-
lure to rush up TO the presidents
daughter the day of her wedding and
present his compliments IN a series
Of yeIps that brought half hundred
persons into the brides breakfast room
10 see just what was happening TO the
bridal company proper. Manchu still
holds the position of household favorite
AT the Longworth mensge, and not a
dog i'm Washington gets the attention
he receives with imperturbable calm
ness and royal self-possession-
Anropos of Mrs. Longworth, that
doughty matron, just as everybody had
settled down TO a conviction that the
directoire mode was going to rule the
world Of good clothes: serenely Jolted
everything sartotial by walking down
,bo busiest Christmas street in town
clad in A rough faced gown Of black
marked with hair line OF white and
made with tight fitting coat reach
ing we'll TO the knees. and Father
snort. rather scant skirt. Not in any
line or particular did Mrs Longworth' s
costume suggest the directoire; rather
rbe exact opposite effect was worked
ont. the very narrow collar presenting
an exceedingly tailored effect, while the
bottom Of the skirt was stitched and
stitched and again stitched.
With this costume Mrs. Longworth
wore a rather large turban shaped hat
az long furry. black beaver, the only
trimming being a single glossy ostrich
4fn fastened plumb in q line with her
nose and held to the hat with rather
large Jet buckle. Instead Of turning
backward, as ostrich tips have had
fashion Of doing since time began, TINS
particular feather turns over, curling
fip forward. where IL swings and tosses
jauntily with every movement OF the
wearer's head.
Er.-vhodv took a. second look at the
nresident's daughter as she tripped
down street, and there was scarcely a
woman in washington who DID not
suYer a pang Of envy over the hat Next
dav at the terribly swagger matlhee
concert at the British embassy, where
al society gathered to hear a program
PRESENTED by the amateur musicians OF
society circles, Mrs LongWorth ap-
reared in semi-empire gown OF black
ohinon broadcloth made very long. Ke-
lfevfng the dense blackness were very
7o,r FIGHT transparent sleeves OF black
tucked chiffon. The very high collar
and the tiny yoke We're also OF the
tucked chiffon. Mrs. Longworth hat
was a big affair OF black corded SIX
trimmed with bird of paradise plumes
in glittering black.
Mrs. Longworth was among the star
performers on the program as were
Nine de Blanpre, wife of the naval
attache Of the French embassy who
sang like an angel; Nine Gude and
wav. and half a score of other persons
whose presence goes to make Washing
ton the social center of the country
Nine Jusserand's pet charity, a
working home for girls, was bene-
dciary, and good natured Mrs. Bryce,
wife Of the ambassador from Great
Britain, gave the embassy ballroom as
her contribution to good cause.
Everybody paid So for a ticket, and
when the concert was over the out
pouring guests thronged the wide space
In front of the embassy and cheerfully
effected a blockade in the streetcar
service, which was not broken for 20
solid minutes.
The FIRST Of the state functions Of the
year took place last week, when the
president and Mrs. Roosevelt brought
their official family about them for
dinner for the last time Mrs. Roose-
Welt, who always supervises her dinner
table on occasions of ceremony. gave
over the red rose idea she has always
favored for the cabinet dinners and
worked out a decorative scheme in red
geraniums.
Huge bowls Of the flowers, devoid of
foliage, were placed at intervals down