The Washington herald., 1909-02-20
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By THE SPECTATOR.

4 conspicuous person in the Blue Room
on Thursday night was Mrs Tommy
Hitchcock. who came over for the occa-
sion. and who, despite the fact that she
is q matrOn OF many years. retains her
girlish looks. her girlish figure. and her
girlish enthusiasm. Mrs. Hitchcock was
Lulu Eustis. and is q sister Of William c.
EBstis and Of George Eustis. who looks
enough like his grandfather, ". ". Cor
coran, Washington's most noted philau-
thropist. al his age. TO be taken for him.
While she was still a girl, and her broth
ers in their callow youth. these three
people. who are now dlgnihed and sober
members Of society. belonged TO the
sporting element In Washington. and
secured the country on their thorough
bred ponies doing feats OF hOrsemanship
that would bring shame 20 a professional
circus rider. Mrs. Hitchcock loves riding.
and her daughter is said 10 have inherited
both her taste and talent IN this direction.
Miss Hitchcock is entirely unlike the
affected society girl OF the DAY. but has
been brought Up out Of doors. and is
more at home among her dogs and horses
than she IS in the drawing-roOn.
Another distinguished woman in the
Blue Room was the Baroness de Bode.
the sister OF the military sttache Of the
Russian Embassy. The Baroness de BOde
IS the Ereat-granddaughter Of that IA
nous woman Of whom Il was said. Fem
ma sexU. ingenio. vir.~ and whose ''AIerl-
ories. published a few years back. made
quite a ssir In literary circles. Baroness
de BOde the elder. vas born Mary Kyn-
hershey. a daughter Of country squire
In StsffOrdshire, England. and had she re-
mained IL her original environment might
rever have been anything more than a
country gentlewOman. but her marriage
% German nobleman and her expert
ence In af.uence and poverty. IN peace
and war, developed In her an unusual in
tsllect aid one OF the most indOmitable
spirits OF her time. The story Of her
proGrcss from Staffordshlre 20 the Rus
sian capital. where she and her family
/ became subjects Of Catherine the Great
Who bcaped upon them a fortune, politl-
cal hcnoTs, and gave them an estate. is
[ thrilling and fun Of interest. and nowhere
does a person gather a better idea ~
I the social conditions in Europe during
the NapOleOnic wars. Baron De Bode is q
greaJ-graacs0n CT the famous baroness.
a son cf TIE late Baron Clement by fis
/ English wife. Charlotte Gardner. and was
I for years before his appointment 70 the
/ embassy here on the stan of the Grand
Duke Michael, military aid 70 the En-
I peror and grandfather Of the crown prln-
{ Csss OF Germany
| Another little visitor behind the the vhr
I attracted much attention was Miss Tax
ahira. the daughter Of the japanese An
/ bsssad0r. who was as dainty a. a bisqus
4 figure tn her native costume. Wfth ne
/ hair dressed after the fashion peculis
/ 70 girls OF her axe IN the Flowerv King
l dom. This little japanese maiden il a
/ graceful as her mother. with the sam.
Z winning charm and seemingly uncon.
! scI0us Of the notice she created IN Ne
( beautifzl embroidered robes. During n
I past year Miss Tskshira has been
Z pupil q. Mrs Scmers- school. and Ia.
! learned 10 speak English with 4 readiness
/ that her COu1trymen are noted for Sh
/ presented 50 charming a picture the 0the
/ night that II was matter o. genera
7 lay aside the lovely costume which Z
so much more picturesque. 50 much nor
/ practical. and SO much more sensible thar
| -he European clothes OUT women effect
! Among the recently distinguished Sis
ito7s IN town were Mrs Rzzsdsle. wif
OF the American consul general az s;
Petersburg. and Mss Ragsdsle. Who Ief
I here last week 10 visit friends n n
\ West before returning to Russia MJ
4 RsEsdale was stationed for q number @
I years IN China, and became 50 attache
! 10 that country that his transfer and pro
motion 10 ST. Petersburg was accepts
with real regret Both Mrs. RagsdaI
and her daughter passed through n
/ horrors Of the siege of Tientsin. an
| Witnessed all Of the incredible crueltie
that were practiced there by both n
Boxers and the invading armies, but de
spite that terrible experience they are i
love with the place and have a dee
devotion for the people. whom they fOUn
20 be courteous. responsive. and kind an
would be content 20 return there shoui
opportunity offer.
At a luncheon given in her honor here
Mrs. Ragsdale spoke with some feeIin
regarding the wrong impression that pre-
walls in America regarding the positio
Of women in China They are treated
she says. with more consideration tha
they are IN America even. that in thei
homes they are absolute despots. and n
honor is too great 10 be bestowed upo
the mother OF sons. whose memory
WoTshiped and reverenced- Mrs Ragsdsl !
was born a Miss Hines, OF Massachusetts
but she has passed so much time sbroa
that she IS almost & woman without