The Washington herald., 1909-07-11

dashing Marjorie Ide's experiences IN
settling down as American chatelaine at
the punctiliOus Court of King Alfonso
and his English consOrt. Queen Victoria,
and preliminary preparations going on at
Rome, where the John G. A. Leishmans
are looking up imposing ambassadorial
quarters; at Paris. where the Robert Ba-
cons are soon 20 be established as Amer
ica's Representatives; at 81. Petersburg.
where the w. w. Rockhills are on the
point Of taking possession Of the Anaeri-
can embassy quarters, and at Brussels,
where Charles Page Bryan and his ac-
complished sister. Miss Jane B. Bryan,
are soon TO set up home at the Ameri-
can legation. the stay-at-homes Of Wash
ington's prolonged summer season find
themselves never without a spicy top
ic Of diplomatic gossip. The Bacons
themselves, with their long and active
life at the nations Capital behind them
Ill the cup OF social converse 10 overflow
ing. Mrs. Bacon and Miss Martha, her
debutante daughter, no less than the
ambassador himself. come in for all
sorts Of comment since the erstwhile
Secretary OF State filed the role of
dancing man" no less satisfactorily than
he did that Of diplomat.
When the Bachelors gave their usual
series OF dances, Mrs. Bacon and Miss
Bacon might or might not be eon the
floor but invariably the Secretary's
stately figure whirling about in the gid
dy mazes Of the waltz and two-step was
as much 70 be depended upon for pic
turesque significance as was any debu-
tante In the bunch.
The Bacons had one Of the handsomest
homes in washington and one OF the
most commodious Commodiousness,
however did not count for much. for,
save when the Bacons entertained ''offi-
cially," the guest list was apt 20 be re-
marked more for the exclusiveness Of
the guests than their number. When
the President-elect and Mrs. Taft came
to town just a month or so before the
Inauguration the Bacon home went wide
open. and one of the biggest and smart
est luncheons Of the season marked the
record OF the swaggerest hostess in town.
II Is even whispered that on this occa-
sion the liveried retainers, who We're most
times as thick as hops and as always
as leisurely as eternity. were not only
augmented in numbers. but accelerated
the Bacon social history. and that was
the reception given during the Secre-
tary's six weeks regime as premier in
the Roosevelt Cabinet. Midway between
the incoming and the outgoing Of the
BacOns as "a Cabinet family the Sec
retary and Mrs. Bacon had the entire
diplomatic contingent from the most I'm
posing Ambassador 10 the most fncOnse-
quent attache Of the least conspicuous
legation as their guests. and the gra-
ciousness of Mrs. Bacon and the beauty
OF Miss Martha kept the gOssips going
as gayly as did the gorgeousness Of the
gowns worn by the hostess and her
young daughter or the extreme beauty
and perfection Of detail evidenced in the
incidental appointment Of the. fete.
Apart from these two significant occa-
sions Mrs. Bacon drew the mantle Of
an utter exclusiveness about her. and
none, bat the ''top-nOtchers" In Washing
toms swagger circle tasted the sweets Of
their favor.
Mrs. George ". Vanderbilt, Mrs Fred
erick A. Keep. the late Mrs. Pierre Loril-
lard. Mrs. Herbert WadswOrth. Mrs
Beekman Winthrop, Mrs T. H G. Slater
Mrs. J. II. PUrdy, Mrs. Richard Town
send. Mrs Nicholas Anderson. and Mrs.
Larz Anderson were among the women
whose society she most affected. A
younger member Of the set was Mrs.
Nicholas LongwOrth, while Mrs Ward
ThorOn was another.
Mrs Bacon is a most distinguished
woman. tall and well proYortioned. She
has a queenly bearing; her hauteur melts
graciously at the approach Of her in
Inmates. Her costumes are remarkable
for their elegance and appropriateness,
~
and perfect setting Miss Martha. who
as a debutante, chummed Il with Miss
Ethel Roosevelt. had for best friends
stunning Faith Simpkins. ranking beauty
among this years girls, and piQuant Car
RE Louise Mum. whose white skin and
inky black hair and merry blue-gray
ewes would have made her a fetching per-
sonage no matter how simply she was
gowned Miss Martha was known as the
most statesque girl at the Capital. To
accentuate her lines" she wore gowns
OF superb cut. with the flowing sweep OF
the drapery OF classic Grecian maidens.
She dances well, speaks French like a
native. rides and drives, sails a boat
when she has a mind, and as a pet fad
has her kennel Of sheep dogs, with
which she is ever hopeful of taking a
prize at the shows where she IS always
an entrant and always a patron.
From Rome comes the news that the
Leishmans are looking out for a 'vil-
limo" that Is to say, in proper Eng
lish." a rather large detached house IN
a garden. Ten thousand dollars a year
IS considered not much TO pay for a
''villno," and, therefore. everybody
jumps to the conclusion that the Leish-
mans are going to do things when they
ere duly established at one OF the smart
est courts In Europe. An ancient palace
or an apartment have heretofore con-
tented the American ENJOYS accredited
70 Rome, and news OF the more am
bilious menage is supposed TO indicate
that Mrs. Leishman and her dashing
daughter, the widowed Countess Cen
taut-Biron, are going 20 repeat their his
tory at Paris. where, by means Of their
wit and beauty. their gorgeous frOcks.
their sumptuous entertainments, and
their alliance with the Gentaut-B -Birons.
they stormed the ramparts OF the aristo-
cratic Faubourg and enjoyed social hon
ors which rarely fall 10 the lot Of a for
eigner, no matter what her antecedents
or her bank account Ambassador Leish-
man, with Mrs Knox. wife Of the Secre-
tary of State. and her second son, Hugh
Knox. form a small party. who are mo-
toring toward Rome where within the
next few weeks the Ambassador and his
family VIII be settled
At ST. Petersburg William WOOdvire
Rockhin will succeed John W. Riddle.
the only bachelor IN the American dipIo-
matte service who heads an embassy.
Mr Riddle, who is Harvard aIumnus.
q graduate Of the Columbia Law School