The Washington herald., 1909-04-11

ture that may be submitted Such
questions should be addressed to The
Arbiter. care The Washington Herald
Lent has come and gone, and now So
ciety is preparing for new pleasures and
excitements. new ways to kill time. and
from now on until the fashionable sepa-
rate in the summer the Capital and its
suburbs viii be turned into one gigantic
playground. for the post-Lenten season
promises TO be as gay as the winter one
was, and that, everybody admits. was
the most brilliant the Capital has ever
known But Mrs. Taft has instituted 4
new era. and from her course it is evi-
dent that she means TO make the White
House more Of a social center and more
OF an influence than ever before There
was time, not so very long ago, wheo
the White House counted for very little
socially. Few people outside Of the OH
cial circle were asked OF expected there.
and the smart set of Washington was
cutie content TO leave It alone. which
was due TO the fact that some Of the
Presidents wives were Indifferent 10 and
uninterested in society and satisfied 10
Iet it 90 its own way.
Mrs. Roosevelt. indeed. was lacking in
the keen interest that Mrs. Taft evinces.
bat her husband insisted that the White
House should have a recognized place.
and Mrs Roosevelt did all that was ex-
pected Of her. and did It we'll: but no
Presidents wife ever laid down her
duties with less regret, for during the
seven years she was IN the White House
she felt deprived OF the comDaniOnship
OF her husband and children. and was in
continual dread less some such fate as
overlook President Garfield and President
Mckinley should be her husbands lot
The standard that the RooseveIts set
will be maintained by the Tafts, and
from present indications II is evident that
Mrs. Taft viii do even more than her
predecessor did 10 bring the different eie-
ments Of society diplomatic. official, and
residential sets together under the White
House. and make society "a harmonious
whole instead Of q heterogeneous mass
OF little cliques For the next few weeks
all the entertainments that are adaptable
10 the open will be given there. Paper
chases have already been started. picnics
have Oeen arranged for weeks ahead;
then there IS music and driving on the
speedway. which viii make that popular
park a second Pinchio. where hand
somcly gowned women in magnificent
equipages and men in the latest toggery
from London on smart cObs will pass
and repass each other But those who
know the Roman drive will miss the
beautiful view over the city. the sur
rounding palaces. md the wonderful Bor-
ghese Gardens They viii miss. too. the
lovely. flashing eyes Of the Roman women
and the gay COlOTs and wonderful jewels
that they AFFECT on their afternoon out
ings. but there is no comparison between
the turnouts OF the Roman nobility and
the American plutocrats.
There is. in fact, no place in the world
where the eqUpages are handsOmer. more
perfectly appointed. or drawn by finer
animals than in Washington and this IS
becoming true OF the motor C8rs, the
gorgeous limousines Of to-day with their
boudoir appointments. their vases for
flowers, soft pillows, and hassOCks are
unequal i'm the world for with all her
energy the American woman loves luxury
as much as do the petted daughters Of the
nobility o. Europe
Then there viii be garden parties both
afternoon and evening, for some OF the
wealthy ones among us have wonderful
gardens inclosed by high fences. where
society delights to disport itself. I.arz
Anderson has such a garden at the back
Of his italian palace. and Mrs Townsend.
just opposite. has another, which she
generally leaves open on one side. where
Il is screened only by shrubbery and an
iron grill for the pleasure OF the public
The Washes have another big garden al
though so far they have given no parties
there but Mrs. Letter often serves tea
IN the rather cramped open space about
her house. The William Corcoran Eustises
have a charming garden, only half as
large as the one that existed at the time
their home was occupied by Daniel Web
ster. for a part OF il has been sold and
built Joon. but still large enough to make
pleasant setting for an afternoon party.
A correspondent from out OF town
writes 10 ask exactly how 10 manage an
al fresco tea such an affair is as simple
as possible. much SIMPLER than a tea
given indoors and much more enjoyable,
because there seems to be less restraint
than inside. and trees and flowers i'm
mediately suggest topics Of conversation,
fresner and newer than ordinary. gossip.
The hostess should select the very pret-
test corner in the garden in which 70
receive her guests. under a spreading tree
with flowers about her II possible, and
she should wear her lightest, freshest,
and most shimmering gown.
The Arbiter was permitted the other
DAY 70 see a frock planned for an out
door tea that will take place the middle
OF May. which struck him as being mar
vel0usly beautiful and marveloUsly ap-
propriate. yet It was in striking contrast
10 the directOire gown OF the past few
months. and might have been taken from
out Of the chest Of one OF our great
sTandmothers. The petticoat was of the
sheerest white muslin, made fuller thar
the prevailing style, and ct the hem were
gsrIands Of roses and leaves done IN
colOrs by hand. Over this was worn a
tight little pointed bodice, very long
wasted, with close-htting sleeves. and
wonders Of wonders. after the slank and
slim fashion OF the last winter, paniers
Of the tenderest shade Of apple green silk
brocaded in roses that matched the bios
SONS on the skirt. This little overdress
was finished with elaborate friIls OF sheer
muslin. edged with lace and it had q
cachet impossible TO discribe. all OF
which, IN a mans language, doubtless,
sounds crude, but It was the most be-
witchiug costume 7 have seen this win
ter. and I could love the woman inside
o. - II this sort OF frOck is 10 become
the style the dressmalCers VIII rake N
the sheclSles the coming season. for II is
as unlike the fashion OF the past season
as are the women Of ancient Greece are
-,i Dresden ShepheTdesses, for an Amerl-
can wOins-.. Is nothing unless in the
fashion.
But, to return to our garden party. the
hostess. then, IN her loveliest gown
should stand beneath the most beautiful
tree in her garden. with flowers growing
an around all around" If she has a
greyhound who viii pose in a graceful
lLllInde near her or q lovely little E,ranch