The San Francisco call., 1908-11-29


lions that marked her arrival over
whelmed, even those looking ahead in
olNiouals who for some time past have
been arranging their plans with view
10 getting in close. touch with the
hostesses most likely to do things for
the presidents daughter Needless to
say therefore. the. stress and strain on
the capacity of the White House social
secretary has been something past be-
leving SO many things have TO be
taken into consideration. so much pres
sure is brought 10 bear and so many
strings are jerking merriIy that the
doughty damsel whose chief function
IS TO keep disagreeaibIe things out Of
The path Of the White House family
has had her full share of woe.
Miss Roosevelt whose wishes. nova
days are commands. let it be under
stood very early in the season that she
preferred her prospective entertainers
would arrange their fetes in her honor
before the formal opening of the Off
cisl season Meantime the 'ides OF
November with their capacity for
changing the face Of society, kept
everybody on the. qui vive. and no
sooner were the results of the cleo
Y ons. definitely scheduled than the
~ hite House debutante betook her
self TO New York for a round OF debu-
tante dances and country house visits,
leaving ambitious ladies and hospi-
table intentions toward the White
House bud chadng in smiling silence
until her return.
Back she came this week, gay and
debonai-, and on Saturday night
Secretary OF the Interior and Mrs.
James Rudolph Garfield, who have been
long time friends Of the Roosevelt
family and who have practically
watched the debutante grow from
nursery jumpers into ball gowns, gave
Miss Roosevelt her first formal dinner
OF course Il was a very smart af-
fair, with the host a cabinet officer
and q son of former president Of the
(nfted States and g, guest list leading
of with the presidents daughter and
winding up with a group Of young Dip
lomsts and army and navy girls and
men
December i means the arrival Of the
legislative contingent. January /
brings the first White House recep-
tion. and with every household in the
capital that has any claim tOSOcial dis
tincti0n siWply pining for date with
the~president's daughter IL doesn't take
a very nimble imagination to picture
the frenzy OF entertaining inaugurated
10y the Garfield dinner.
HELEN TAFT ARRIVES
Meantime. what should be in imme-
diate prospect but the arrival of Miss
Helen Taft the college girl daughter
90 Presidct Elect and -Alrs. Taft.
Miss Helen. who is the greatest Of good
chuHrs with Miss Marjorie Aleshire,
daughter Of General and Mrs. Aleshire,
IS coming over from Bryn Mawr to do
the proper and becoming thing at Miss
Mar56rie's coming out tea. Altogether,
x is a mighty difficult task 10 get
q way. from the debutantes and still stay
in the sacial running, for no matter
how official or middle aged or persist
emily determined one may be TO have
none Of Miss Sweet and Twenty she
proceeds calmly and effectively to pre-
ompt for herself the center Of the So
cial stage and even the serried ranks
Of the bridge tables go squash" at her
advance. All OF which leads up to the
TACT that little California born Miss
Carolyn Murray. youngest daughter of
General and Mrs. Andrew Murray. duly
came out yesterday surrounded by most
all Of the seasons "comers.
Furthermore, Judge and Mrs. Hatch
have named December y as the day
for the formal presentation OF their
daughter, Harriet AS Mrs. Hatch her
self is young and good looking. the
family one Of wealth and distinction,
and the debutante attractive IT is more
than probable that the handsome old
fashioned house the Hatches have taken
for the season viii be one Of the gay
est in the debutante circle.
After 10 years wintertime residence
at Washington, affable, jolly, clever and
entertaining Mrs. Metcaf is TO return
10 Oakland. which she has determinedly
called home" throughout her hsuband's s
career in politics Not in a long time
has such a. keen note of sincerity
marked the customary expressions of
regret at the withdrawal Of an official
family Both Secretary and Mrs.
Metcalf had an infinite capacity for
making friends, and, more to the point,
7hey were able to hold them. Mrs. Met
ralfs home was rather simple, as Wash
ington homes go; her entertainments
while always smartly conducted, We're
never. marked. by lavish expenditures;
her gowns. while always suitable to the
occasion and the wearer, were not eX-
trayagant; nevertheless. by sheer force
of personality, Mrs. Afetcalf became
one Of the dominant factors in the
social and official life Of the capital.
FAREWELL ENTERTAINMENTS
Just. at present a series Of farewell
3 entertainments are on the tapis, the
secretary and Mrs. Metcalf having prac-
tically every minute Of their time taken
ND. Fsrst.in the list Of farewell func-
lions was the dinner which President
and Mrs Roosevelt gave for them, and
closely following came the smartly ar
ranged. dinner given by the acting sec
retary OF the navy and Mrs Newberry.
AT present. workman are busy dis
manflfng the home, the Metcalfs hav-
ing set December ! as the date OF their
departure. The homeward trip will be
made by thei southern route, and be
fore going to Oakland they will pass q
fortnight as the guest OF their son al
Los Angeles Recently Mrs. Metcali
las. been. entertaining her friend. Miss
Chabot. who passed a few days in the
eitsv en-. route to the coast after 3
perqod Of continental travel.
Recent transcontinental travellers also
,vese Lieutenant Stephen Abbott L. S. A
q nd Mrs Abbott who. leaving their
little daughter in the care OF Mrs. Alb
lk0tts: father, General John c. Black
and his elder daughter. Mrs. Nrooman
sqYsTe left for Lieutenant Abbotts new
.staflosl at. Fort Rosecrans, Cal III
Guided among late departures for the
COAST too, were Colonel Randolph Dick
frss u, S. NJ C, and Mrs. Dickins, IN
ia recently. Miss Minnie Viola Stinson
colonel and Mrs. Dickins after their
marriage passed some time in New
. : NJ fra Tfr-