The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-18
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON
BY CONSTANCE cARRUTHERs

Lieutenant Camperio's estate in Italy. and will return to Washington some time in February.
 The speakers dinner is the new date on the White House social programme for 1911. It Is not the first one which Presi- dent Taft has given for Speaker Cannon by any means, but 1t is the first that Is to be so announced and designated.
 The beauty of our social procedure is that each President can make any prece- dent he wishes. but none of his successors is bound to follow 1t. It shows the equa- ton of things in general that at a time when politics has wrested some of the speakers powers from him. that the social side of his position should be augmented or defined in this way. The present speaker has not suffered any social shocks on the question of where he should be placed at White House dinner. for he has always had the seat he considered his due but if there are any new honors in this matter coming to the office he holds everybody will be pleased that MT. Can non is the first selected for the distine- tion, and that February 14 which Is St. Valentines day will have such a marked celebration.
 The official dates of the White House dinners has just been announced, and in elude one new official dinner, namely, that of the speakers dinner. on Febru- ary 14. This is the first time that the speaker of the house has been rendered an official dinner by the President. The first dinner Is on December 15. and the last one February 21; the army and navy receptions New Years day will be cele- brated Monday, January ?. The other dates are as follows:
 Tuesday, January 1o-Diplomatic recep- tion, 9:30 D. m.
 Tuesday, January 1T-Diplomatic dinner, D. m.
 Tuesday, January 24-Judicial reception 9:s0 p. m.
 Tuesday. January s1-supreme court dinner D. m.
 Tuesday, February 7-Congressional re- oeption. s:so p. m.
 Tuesday, February 14-Speaker's dinner, D. no.
 Tuesday, February 21-Army and navy reception, 9:S0 p. m.
 Announcement of the engagement of Miss Sally Simmons. daughter of pr. and Mrs Manley Simmons, and Paymaster Kirby van Mater has just been made pub lie. Miss Simmons is the youngest daugh- ter of the family, her sisters being well known navy matrons. The wedding will take place December 10 at Mare Island Cal, and will be notable event In navy circles
 Fashions continue to keep pace with the times or it might better be said, time keeps pace with the fashions, and with the arrival of the debutantes, manl pleasing and new fashions in the man. ner of coming out gowns were seen. Paris and various other European capi- tals have contributed their latest crea- tions to the Washington society bud. and while many patriotic daughters of Wash irgton are having their gowns made at home the models are imported from Paris.
 The present new fashion and style of l gowns at the capital show wonderful range of style, color and design, espe- cially suited to the debutante and her needs. No two girls need be dressed alike this season to keep in the picture, for while there is a general demand for mar row skirts, long straight lines, and sen- i der silhouette, this effect is brought about in so many ways that each com pany of well gowned people offers a study in clothes that is as interesting as a study in politics or astronomy, If one takes the trouble to learn the A c of good dressing.
 As shown at the debut of Miss May
 Hammond and her young cousin, Miss
 McMullin, who opened the seasons teas,
 the white frock Is no longer the rule of
 the debutante first to bow to society AS a matter of fact, in Paris, Vienna or l London colored gown is much smarter