The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-08-26

seems incredible to those familiar
with society gossip in it's various
phases that a hostess. however elev-
er. could possibly serve genuine
surprise at an engagement luncheon,
yet that social achievement belongs to
Mrs Ferdinand Stephenson, who made
the. announcement yesterday at
luncheon given at her home in Ross
Valley that Miss Gertrude Van Wyck
was betrothed to Archibald Clark Pot
ter of New York.
The secret was not even suspected
when the dozen guests were hidden to
an informal luncheon to meet
Miss Van Wyck. who had lately
returned after an absence of three
years abroad, and the usual welcome to
the returning traveller was supposed to
be the order of the occasion until the
unique cards at each place told the
romantic tale in brief, with the names
of the complimented guest and her
fiance. The cards were dainty white
squares adorned with two golden bells
and the two names that called forth
the exclamation of real surprise and
the felicitation.
Miss Van Wyck recently returned
from the east with her parents. Mr..
and Mrs. Henry L. Van Wyck
and, as has been explained, her
the last three years. Last year in New
York she met the clever eastern man
whom she is to marry this fall. The
date is to be settled upon a day late
in October, and the event will take
place in town The Van Wyck family
are at the Granada for a brief stay. but
will be established soon In their home
at 2419 Vallejo street, where il is
probable that the wedding will take
place, although the definite plan for
the ceremony is not yet announced.
Among the guests at the luncheon
yesterday was Mrs. Arthur Gala CHAN of
Salt Lake, a sister of the bride
elect. who has many friends in town
and will remain here until after the
wedding. The bride elect is a charm
ing girl of the fair type, with more
than ordinary gifts in the way of
charm and personality. while she num-
hers her friends by the score. 1t will
be matter of regret that her future
home is to be in Providence, r l., but
her friends are anticipating a series of
visits from the couple who are to make
their home so far away.
The table decorations at the luncheon
yesterday were unusually pretty and
color and was ingenfously draped in
loops of ribbon and huge ribbon hoops
over the table with streamers to each
place and the whole scheme in the
same delicate hue. Among those at the
table Were:
Miss Van wyek Mrs. Roosevelt
Mrs. Ernest Dwight Mrs Jules Brett
Chapman Mrs. Arthur GessIer
Mrs. Sam Boardman Mrs. Paul Bancroft
Mrs. Charles Wood Mrs. John S. Drum
Mrs. Arthur Callaghan
Miss Irene Dernham. whose engage
ment to Herbert Rothehild was an
nounced recently, will be at home sun
day. August 20, at their San Mateo
residence
Mrs Clay Miller. who has been visit
ing her sister, Miss Bohrman. for
week or more. has decided to take
house in town and will be here for
the winter.
Mrs. Spencer B. Buckbee has been en-
joying an outing at Aetna springs dur
ing the last few days, and Will return
to town SOON
Miss Florence CIuff, who has been
out of town all summer with her pa
rents. Mr.. and Mrs. William Cluf. who
have leased a house in Berkeley for
the season, is at Los Gatos for a visit
with her sister, Mrs. George w Dow
ney, and will not return until late in
September. when the Cuff family ex-
poets to return to the Fairmont for
the winter.
DR.. r. S. Hughes, U. S. A. and Mrs.
Hughes. who have been at Angel island