The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-05
SOCIETY women
! HAVE RARE Gifts
National Capital Owes Much To Am
bassadors' Wives Who Are Train
ed in Hospitality.

w IA AAooPAtuAitys
WASHINGTON. May The state
ly Baroness Mayor DIES rlanches. wife
OF tho ambassador from italy; the
charming countess Won Bernstorff
wife Of the ambassador from Ger
many; the petite Oriental Baroness
Takahira, wife OF Japan's ambassador;
the jolly Baroness HengelLluller. wife
OF the Austro-Hungarian ambassador.
and energetic. business.like Mrs.
James Bryce. wife of the British am
bassador the only "commoner" In the
European ambassadorial contingent at
Washington. present that vivid con
trast OF individual differences" which
help to make life In Washington SO
-dipefting-
Filling out the roster Of ambassador
ial chatelaines are Nine. Nabuco. the
unassuming wife OF the SCHOLARLY am
bassador from Brazil the Baroness
Rosen. wife OF the ambassador from
Russia. and gentle Nine. Jusserand,
wife OF the ambassador from France.
AS wife of the dean OF the diplo-
matte corps the Baroness Mayor des
Planches has commanding role in
the social life of the capital. That she
is eminently fitted for her position Is
willingly acknowledged: even by
those who grudge TO hand out praise.
Before the Baroness Mayor DIES
Planches had been established in
Washington a year she enjoyed the
reputation of being one OF the mos,
generous hostesscs OF the city.
Succeeding Baron Fava the present
10, H. col 10
complished wife shone by happy
comparison. and the italian embassy,
with its wide open doors, took on a
phase hitherto unknown In its history
Daughter of n noble old Italian family,
the Baroness des Planches is an arts
tocrat to her finger tips, and her birth
and breeding are reflected in the life
of the embassy No house in Wash
inpton is handsomer and none more
satisfactory from the STANDPOINT of the
lover OF art
Every Detail Smart"
Hangings. pottery, rugs and pic
lures, each special article In Itself
model OF it's class. distinguish the
house. To the slightest delail the EN-
tassy menase is conducted with I
smartness and dignity that reflect
credit upon the fame Of the homs
country of the occupants. No smarter
livery is evident in the streets OF
Washington, and the distinguished
looking baroness. seated IN her low
victoria drawn by spanking team.
fooled by coachman who Is an "ar
fist" In his line. make a picture notice
able even in the hurly-burly OF the
midseason rush.
Tl~t Inc Dlun ho
fancy for long sweeping lines and for
great big hats, her slenderness of fig
ire and her superb carriage making
the ensemble especially effective. AS
10 Jewels, no woman in the city has
anything TO compare with the pearls
and diamonds the Italian ambassador
wife dons on occasions CT ceremony.
She has happy appreciation of oc-
easions. too.
The Countess Won Bernstorff is a
New Yorker by birth. Before her
marriage in 1880 she WIS Jeanne
Luckemeyer. Having passed the
greater part of her life in Europe. the
countess has the charm which is the
Distinguishing trait of the European
woman privilege and-wtth- the
reniaiity of the weii-pUtsud American
woman.
Countess Won Bernstein net Ter hus-
band in France when he WAS attached
10 the German embassy at Paris. and
her worth as a "helpmeet" is evi-
denced In the unvarying popularity
she enjoyed not only at the German
court. which is n bit critical Of VIC
mankind. but at the Italian court and
later at Cairo from which post the
ambassador was detailed to Washing
ton. Countess Won Bernsiorff is 4
very good-looking woman. She has
fine eyes and sweet expression. but
possibly her most potent charm is her
radiant smile and her wholesome per.
sonelity. 6
Clever Japanese Hostess.
The Baroness Takahira first came
TO Washington as the wife OF the min
lister from Japan. AS such, by her
pretty manners and her cordially, she
won for herself an enduring place In
the interest and good Will OF official
Washington. Like a true daughter OF
Nippon the baroness Gin the old days
Rain Madame" TakahiraD kept pace
with the fashions of the Occident, but
her inherent instinct Cor the skilful
use of flowers prompted her 10 affect
a certain style of headdress. Always
en- occasions OF state, In lieu OF jewel
or coronet nesting among The smooth
masses OF her silky black hair rested
o single crimson rose.
The whirligig of time brought, the
little Japanese lady back To Washing
ton in more conspicuous role. With
the prestige obtained by the victorious
armies OF the emperor OF Japan. diplo-
matte affairs took on new Importance
and with the rank of baron and the
Diplomatic status OF ambassador. the
erstwhile minister returned TO Amer
lea.
Presiding over one of the most beau
tifully appointed homes in the city an
seventh In line of precedence, the
Baroness Takahira has an ambitious
rlace In the life of the community
tiny little parsonage. distinctly Orien-
tai in type and unusually pretty. Baron
ess Takahira has very eGectually
made good" as an embassy chatelaine.
Her gowns are marvels of elegance
and modishness: also her mats and her
Jewels The crimson rose is replaced
by Offering tiara Of diamonds. fash
Toned TO indicate the rank OF the
wearer. and diamond necklace and