The San Francisco call., 1909-02-07

the incoming vice presidential family,
Washington has had little time to be
dull. To add to the diversity of the
high tide OF social and official activity,
moreover came a goodly crowd of
terribly" notable individuals from all
parts of the earth. Possibly the earl
and the countess of Granard, who came
over to Washington to spend part OF
their honeymoon with Representative
and Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, were
the most fascinating personages in the
group, unless you've a mind to except
the Charles Dana Gibsons, who, as the
house guests of the Bourke Cockrans.
took everybody social captive.
AS for the countess of Granard,
formerly Miss Beatrice Mills, she and
the earl had Washington's doors thrown
wide open to them. Representative
and Mrs. Longworth. who are about
the smartest hosts in the country,
brought an interesting group of dim
ers together for their visitors imme-
diately upon their arrival. Next day
the Count and Countess Moltke, the
brand new Danish minister and his
American wife, Thayer of Boston, had
the Granards to luncheon, and in the
evening the British ambassador and
Mrs. Bryce gave a tremendously large
and important dinner with the visiting
earl and countess as guests of honor.
Later in the week the Bourke Cock
rams had dinner for them, and one
day, quite impromptu. the president
and Mrs Roosevelt had the earl and
countess to luncheon.
Meantime the second Bachelors"
was on during the week, and the earl
and the countess, the latter wearing
wonderfully gorgeous tiara and one
of the most modish gowns seen in
Washington this year, with the Dana
Gibsons and the Longworths and the
Bourlxe Coekrans were conspicuous fig
who knows Washington realizes is the
smartest thing in the dancing line
given outside the White House.
| Mr. and Mrs Gibson, who stayed
over for Mrs. Mary Scott Townsend's
big dinner at the end of the week.
received with Mrs. Cochran on the
occasion of her regular observance OF
Members Tuesday" and pretty nearly
everybody in social and official, life left
cards on that afternoon. Mrs. Cock
ran, who is just as distinguished look
i ing as she can be, wore a chic gown
of pale pink satin made on empire lines
and trimmed about the bodice with
some exquisite embroideries in silver.
Around her throat she wore strand of
1
hair was punched bit at the back
in sort of half and half Psyche knot.
/ Possibly no woman IN official life in
| Washington, not excepting Mrs. Long
worth, whose experience would fill a
book, has had the training and oppor-
tunity for being interesting that Mrs.
i Cochran has enjoyed as leading lady"
in her fathers regime as governor
general of the Philippines and in a
dozen other positions. From childhood
days she has been associated with un-
usual personages, and her career, while
not thrilling" has been such as to
develop all the latent qualities of a
very alert quick wit and a mentality
not often encompassed by feminine
headpiece.
| Mrs. Cockran's home. therefore, is
| the rendezvous of the cleverest per-
sons in Washington. Showing up very
well against the graces and accom-
| plishments of her young hostess was
| the dashingly attractive wife of the
man who invented" the Gibson girl"
Mrs. Gibson, not less than Mrs. Cock
ran, has the easy grace of a woman
| born to be admired. and as she stood
! garbed In .'shadowiess black she made
a picture anybody would like to paint.
| Mrs. Gibson, who has a pale COM
! plexion. serene eyes. prettily turned
| chin and a demure mouth which parts
satin-a long, clinging sort of thing
with long coat marked with great
| wide lapels and very long narrow
sleeves. Topping her head was a
rather large hat Of black massed with
! black ostrich plumes. Everybody went
| away expatiating to her next best
friend how terribly becoming black
was to Mrs. Gibsons face and form.
Mr.. Gibson, an interested observer,
| RfQVed fhrnne eb0t1f af
gave no evidence at any time of wish
ing he were anywhere else
| Last week the White House. which
| is beyond all cavil generously hos
pitable. went into partial eclipse,
while all over town other well known
hosts proceeded to do things. This
| week once again the White House will
| entertainments. The dinner given an
nually by President and Mrs Roose-
welt in honor of the United States su-
preme court closed the series of state
4 functions and, like almost everything
else nowadays 1t was in the nature of
/ a goodby feast, since 1T was the last
in the long list of state dinners pre-
sided over by President and Mrs Roose-
Welt. The reception for the two houses
| of congress will be the principal event
of next week, and closely following
| this will come the tremendously bril-
liant fete Tor the army and navy. After
all, this will be fitting climax to the
Roosevelt regime. a period which will
go down in history as socially one
of the most brilliant administrations in
the history of the country
Miss Ethel, who still continues to be
/ the most feted girl in the city, has
gone over to New York to take part
| In some debutante festivities there
Before leaving she was guest of honor
at dinner dance given jointly by
baron de Stael and Mr.. Struve of the
Russian embassy and Mr.. Cora of the
Italian embassy. Soon after she comes
| back she Will be honor guest at the
dinner arranged by Secretary of War
and Mrs Wright.
| Mrs. Roosevelts dance last week was
| the last in the series of Friday night
dinner dances arranged in compliment
| to the debutante of the White House
and, incidentally. to the half hundred
girls who made their bow with Miss
Roosevelt Whatever Mrs. Taft may do
to commend herself to the affections
| of the women of Washington, she
will find it a difficult task to surpass
Mrs Roosevelt, whose kindness and
thoughtfulness, supplemented by her