The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-29
WASHINGTON CHAT.
By THE SPECTATOR.

her sister, Mrs. Patton. the wife OF Lieut.
Commander Patton who will return with
The feet a month hence. Mrs. Farwell
was born Mildred williams. Her father
was Gen. Williams, Of The army. and her
mother was the widow OF stephen A.
Douglas. the famous Little Giant the
Democratic nominee against Lincoln. who
was as eloquent in the drawing-rooms OF
society as he was on the stump. Mrs.
Williams was a contemporary OF Kate
Chase Sprague, and the daughter CT the
Chief Justice. who bent every energy
10 have her father made President. even
making a iOveless marriage 20 this end,
and the wife Of the Little Giant were
two OF the most beautiful women OF their
day and friendly fivals.
The Douglases lived IN a roomy man
sion near the C.Iy Hall. then the fash
ionable part Of town. now chiefly given
over 10 lawyers Offices and business
houses, and were widely known for their
hospitality. The latch string Of their
house was always out. the sideboard
beautifully spread with the drinkzbies
popular in those days. which was before
the temperance wave swept over the
country. when every man in public life
drank his tOddy, grog. OF whatever be
listed. and It is told that he and Mrs.
Douglas never took a meal without
some expected or unexpected guest
The famous Mrs. Dougies was a tall,
graceful woman. with a shspeiy head
set upon marvellous shoulders, TO whom
the dress Of that day. the low, r0upd
neck OF the Victorian era. and the full
skirt. was immensely becoming. But
with al her natural advantages-for be-
sides great beauty and charm sEe had
a pretty wit and sympathetic character
Mrs. Douglas would never have attained
l.le social distinction she enjoyed except
for her husband. who advanced her am
Z bilious plans and had a talent for bring
ing out her very best qualities, since
nothing pleased him so much as 10 see
his beautiful consort surrounded By a
crowd OF wOrshipers, OF which be was
+ tie most ardent few years after his
death. Mrs. Douglas married Gen Will
Jams. and became the mother OK three
children. the youngest Of whom is the
I beautiful Mrs Farwell. who married a
+ son Of The late Senator Fsrweu. Of hi
+ nois. whose enormous wealth enables her
+ 70 90 about what she elects in the world.
Sac goes hIther and thither, across the
continent for a jaUnt In SPECIAL car,
I 10 Europe. the Orient. wherever fancy
/ dictates. and IS everywhere hailed as the
! great beauty she doubtless IS. though the
{ friends OF her mother Kiu never admit
she IS either as beautiful or brilliant as
I that famous woman. who was the toast
Of her day. But Mrs. FarweII has not
4 always had a great fortune at he CON-
/ mand- When her father died he left
/ only his meaEer pension for the support
+ OF his two daughters, and the stories OF
how they managed TO subsist on little
I OF nothing and still keep up APPEARANCE
I told IN Mrs FarwelFs ininltable style
I FOR she has fine sense OF hunor and
: real talent as g racouteur. furnished
+ frequent amusement &c her intimates
Mr.. FarweIrs eldest sister. Anna. who
has written at least one creditable novel
and made several acceptable TRANSACTIONS
q which Pierre Lots TIE Iceland Fish
/ erman" is the best known. is the wife
+ OF Reginald de KOven, the composer,
who was once accused by that exclusive
organization, the Abb Club. Of having
! appropriated its famous song. Fiddle
+ dee-dee. adapted from the Spanish by
one OF its members. dedicated 70 the club
+ and used BY IL on gala occasions Mr.
&c KOven lived here for number of
years after this incident. when he en-
deavored TO awaken some enthusiasm for
music among the fashiO1ables, but that
was beyond his power. and following
several futile attempts 10 secure hackers
20 a weIl-thought-out scheme % main
tanning q symphony orchestra. he foldet
his tent 20 pitch Il again IN New York
I where he has found a larger and more
[ sympathetic following While the q:
I Kovens were here they lived in n,
Melgs house. opposite the Luther Place
Memorial ChurcS. where they gsthereS
about them an interesting circle OF Ii
erary and musical folk
Mrs de Koven's sister Rose Is married
to Hobart Chatfeid Chatheld-Tay!or. tn
author. and gained some fame as
binder OF books. She was a pupil O
I Cobden-Sanderson and learned the craft
which she made popular in Chicago. thor
oughIy Apropos OF England's most "a
nous bookbinder. Mr.. Cobden-Sande-sol
Is about 10 give up the Doves Bindery
which is situated near Hammersmith
q part OF London familiar TO boatme1 th'
world over. and he VIII give Up. too, ii.
wonderful old house near Il. where VII
liam Morris lived, thought. and worked
and where some Of George Macdonald.
novels were penned. and go te tn
country FAR from the madding crowd.
leaving the binding OF books 10 some O
MS pupils. He viii, however, install hi!
printing shop IN his neat home and prin
the books for others 10 bind
Stella COb6en-Sanderson, who viSitet
Mr.. and Mrs North last year. has gon.
10 Sussex to learn market gardening. ant
when she becomes proficient IN this pro
fession will start q garden on her father:
place. with the idea of supplying a part o.
fashionable London with fresh vegetables
Il viii be remembered that Mrs Golden
San6srson is a daughter Of that notsS
free-tra6er, Richard Golden. America
good friend and sympathizeT Mrs Golden
fSanderson. who. by the way. gave the
distinguished name she bears to her hus
band when they were married, has in
iherited ell OF her fathers radical ideas
and IS one Of the militant suffragettes
iof England Last year she visited thi:
icountry where she was much chagrineC
lat the lack OF enthusiasm shown here
flor the cause she represents
Speaking OF the Abb Club. which in the
last few years has more than quadruples
Its membership. it began in very modes
way something ike quarter Of ;
century back when the governors of tbs
Metropolitan. the Capitals smartest men,
club. forbade gambling in its precincts
Especially tsbo0ing poker. Some Of TIT
Young bIoods ard some of the old hoods
too. for that matter. determined theS
would not be denied their favorite game
so they hired and fitted I'D suite o
rooms in the vicinity OF the club wher