The Washington herald., 1909-02-07

%HE households Of the President
and Vice President are quite as
busy with the preparations for
departure as they are with social
functions OF the mid-seasOn. Each day
now finds boxes ready for shipment TO
the Oyster Bay home OF the President
and Mrs. Roosevelt. which. when all the
shipping and moving is ended. viii be
filed with souvenirs and relics OF a
famous term OF years in the Executive
mansion.
And with all the experimenting OF pack
ing and selecting what Is 10 be packed.
Mrs Roosevelt finds time for the gayest
OF social affairs. and also for her daily
rides into the country with the President
The Oyster Bay home will be a veri-
table souvenir hall. filed with the most
interesting collection OF souvenirs and
trophies, probably. which any President
ot this country has ever gathered
There viii be but one great evening re-
eep;ion this season, which will be the
army and navy. and then the Official
affairs for President and Mrs. Roosevelt
viii be over, unless an election Of the
future returns this popular and very in
teresting family 10 the White House
The house o. the Vice President has
been invaded By mourning. and Mrs
Fairbanks has cancelled her social en-
gagements for the remainder Of the sea-
son. II vas a matter OF deep regret that
she was not al home to visitors Wednes-
day last. as she always makes a distinct
feature Of the weekly at home" Last
Wednesday she set aside for calls and
asked her successor. Mrs. Sherman, wife
OF the Vice President-elect, 20 lunch with
her Informally. and give her the afternoon
Therefore the wife Of the Vice President
and Of the Vice President-elect. lunched
together. and then went out for a round
OF calls in the Cabinet homes
Their appearance was a unique feature
OF the Cabinet receptions Of that afternoon.
They gathered 4 little Of the see our
selves as others see US knowledge. and
Yet there was no place where hospitality
was warmer OF more generous than was
20 be found fl the home Of Vice President
Fairbanks during the past four years
Much Of this warm good fellowship was
dispensed over the tea and the coffee and
other refreshing things always 70 be
found in the dining-TOom OF the Fair
banks home on Wednesdays. for Mrs.
Fairbanks never abandoned the recently
despised tea cable. in spite Of the fact
that most Of the Cabinet hostesses did.
according to an agreement made al the
meetings OF these hostesses with Mrs
Roosevelt early in her regime as first
lady OF the land. She has always dis
approved Of the tea table as an adjunct
Of the weekly receptions in Washington
because OF the possible abuse from which
they might suffer from the curious or the
hungry.
The majority Of the hostesses forthwith
made their receptions far more informal
and likewise more chilly in atmosphere
for the tea table does warm the at
mOsDhere as well as the inner nature Of
visitors
There are hostesses however. N the
Cabinet circle who cling 70 the old-fash-
toned hospitality OF Offering a beverage
TO their callers. ana al these closing We'd
nesday receptions the woman who makes
the round cannot but feel the cheering
warmth Of tea. chocolate. and coffee IN
the homes OF the Vice President. the Sec
rotary Of War, the Secretary OF the Navy,
the Secretary Of Commerce and Labor.
and the Speaker Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives, where the tea IS considered a
necessary adjunct to the afternoon recep-
ton
The wife OF the Vice President went
even further and provided. as a rule. the
most inviting dishes easily served and
easily partaken Of as has the wife OF
the new Secretary Of the Navy, Mrs.
NeWberTy Her table last Wednesday
afternoon was thing o. beauty IN its
decoration Of yellow jOnqUlls and its
dressing Of shining silver and crystal.
The drop Of beverage and the bite accom-
panying Il was the boon which saved many
q stranger from apparent embarrassment
The vote q the majority Is for the tea
table May Il be restored 10 q place OF
honor even though II be in corner Of
the drawing-rOom or the hall. II Is 50
CHEEKY.
Changes are coming thick and fast in
the diplomatic eorpsthIcker and faster
than had been expected IN addition TO
the early departure Of the Russian Am
bassad0r. Baron Roser. there also viii
be the Cuban Minister and Nine. QUessda
and the Haitian Minister and Nine.
Leger. who have become Ike fixed resi-
dents OF the Capital so long have they
been identified with Washington society.
And then there Is the coming departure
Of the Persian Minister. Gen. MOrteza
Khan. 10 say nothing OF the already de-
parted former Minister from Nicaragua
and his American wife. Nine. India Bell
Fleming Corea. and their young daugh-
ter Washington society must be philO-
sOphical, as II is made Up OF these pleas
ant acCusi sintsnces, followed sooner or
later by inevitable separations