The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1910-06-04

called We had at least the splendor
of the foreign diplomats uniforms for
our background. and to this we added
the bravest of our attire, each one In
his own individual fashion. l fear,
Thus my friend Jack cambridge was
wholly resplendentT Tin a new waist
coat OF his own deyislng, and an even
ing coat which almost swept the floor
as he executed the evolufions Of his
western style OF dancing, Other gen
tlemen were, perhaps, more grave and
staid We had with us at least one
man, old in government service, who
dared the silk stockings and knee
breeches OF an earlier generation. Yet
another wore the white powdered
queue. which might have been more
suited for his grandfather. The young
cr men of the day wore their hair
long. in fashion quite different, yet
this did not detract from the distlnc-
tion of some of the faces which ono
iaight have seen among them some
Of them to sleep all too soon upturned
to the moon In another and yet more
bitter war, aftermath of this with
Mexico. The tall stock was still In
evidence at that time. and the rufiied
shirts gave something Of formal and
oldfashioned touch to tho assembly.
Such as they were, in their somewhat
varied .but not uninteresting attire. the
best OF Washington were present. In.
ritation was wholly by card. Some
said that Mrs. Polk wrote these invi-
tatlons in her own hand, though this
we may be permitted to doubt.
Whatever might have been said as
10 the democratic appearance OF our
gentlemen in Washington. our women
were always our great reliance, and
these at least never failed to meet the
approval Of the most sneering of our
foreign visitors, Thus we had pres.
ent that night, as remember, two
young girls both later to become
fan ous In Washington society, tall
and slender young Terese Chnlfant,
later TO become Mrs Pugh Of Ohio,
and TO receive at the hands Of Den.
marks minister, who knelt before
her at later public ball, that Jew
eled clasp which his wife had bade
him present to the most beautiful
woman he found In America. Here
also was Miss Harriet Williams OF
Georgetown, later to become the sec
ond wife OF that Baron Bodlsco OF
Russia who had represented his gov
Y ernment with us since the year 1895
o tall. robust, blonde lady she later
grew to be. Browns hotel, home Oh
many Of our statesmen and their la
dies, turned out a full complement
MIR. Clay was there. smiling. though
fear none too happy Mr. Edward
Everett, az It chanced, was with US
at that time. We had Sam Houston
of Texas, who would not, until he ap
peared upon the floor rellnquish the
striped blanket which distinguished
him-though splendid figure OF
man he appeared when he pacet
forth in evening dress, part OF whicl
was a waistcoat embroidered in suci
fancy as might have delighted the eye
OF his erstwhile indian wife had sh'
been there TO see It. Here and there
scattered about the floor. there nigh
have been seen many OF the publi'
figures OF America at that time, mel
from north and south and east an'
west, and from many other nations be
side our own.
Under Mrs. Polk's social adnlnistra
! oEiion, we did not waltz. but our bal
!, tbegan with stately march, really
grand procession, In It's way distinctl
interesting, In scarlet and gold an
blue and silks, and all the flowere
, circumstance OF brocades and laces {
our ladies'. And after our march "
had our own polite Virginia reel, me
ry as any dance. yet stately too
! was late In arriving that night, Il
. II must be remembered that this WI
but my second day in town. and ha
A had small chance TO take my chief
q advice, and TO make myself presor
n able for an occasion such as this WI
a fresh from my tailor, and very ne
made when entered the room,
a came iust In time TO see what | VI
! glad 10 see: that Ia TO say. the kee
y ing Of John Calhoun's promise
il Helena Won Ritz.
" 1t was not TO be denied that the
b lad beel talk regarding this lac
II and that Calhoun knew II, though n
d from me. Much Of 1t was idle Ia
e based largely upon her mysterious II
% Beyond that, woman beautiful
4, she has many enemies among her 81
r There we're dark glances for her II
q night. ] do not deny, before Mr.. G
II. houn changed them For, bowe'
ID John Calhoun was rated by his e
NJ mics, the worst OF these knew "
= his austerely spotless private life, a
r. his scrupulous concern for decoru
"a Beautiful she surely was. Her b
ht gown was Of light golden stun. a
IN there was a coral wreath upon
ut hair. and her dancing slippers w
ne OF coral hue. There was no more 8
We king figure upon the floor than 9
ar Jewels blazed at her throat and eau
At here and there the fiimy folds of
90 gown. She was radiant, beautiful.
sn parently happy. She came mysteric
~ enough; but knew that Mr.. {