The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-11-20
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON
BY coNsrANo e cARRurHEns

| Washington, November 19.-(Special.)-
Congress is almost with US. President
Taft and family soon will return from
Panama and 1t is a matter of days now
when society at the nations capital will
be in full swing.
The season with reference to the peni-
tential 40 days OF Lent, which abridge
its gayeties, will be several weeks longer
than it was last year, Ash Wednesday
coming on March /. While the time has
gone by when Ash Wednesday ends the
dinner season, It still casts its shadow on
dancing, and as rule the host or hostess
who cannot secure q ball date before
Shrove Tuesday gets out cards for mi
| careme or figures among the entertainers
| of Easter week.
I'VE have to dine,-- said Washington
hostess when dinner-giving first went
over the line and found recognition among
Lenten institutions, $50 why not dine to-
| gether?" No one, however, has yet been
ingenious enough to find reason detre
for Lenten dancing, though some morn
Ing classes were formed last year to fill
the leisure hours which the period Is
supposed to bring to smart matrons and
maids.
An acceptable change made In White
House dates for state receptions last
year was one transferring them From
Thursdays, on which day they had been
given for several years, to Tuesdays. The
tendency to crowd functions into the clos
ing days of the week brings burden of
unnecessary effort upon both hosts and
guests Saturday is now the smartest
day In the seven. not only for weddings,
but for entertaining generally.
A number of the winters debutantes
have selected 1t for their coming out teas
Friday is a close second. especially for
dances, the hop at the various military
posts at Washington usually being given
on Friday nights The selection of Tues
day as White House night gives the day
vogue elsewhere. While Monday is gen.
orally considered an undesirable dinner
night, a number of dinners preceded the
White House receptions on Tuesdays
nights last winter. hosts and guests fire.
quently going on to the White House to-
gether. Many Washington hosts long
ago selected day for entertaining and
keep to 1t season after season. There are
a few who have found means of over
coming the gastronomic difficulties of a.
Monday menu and who have long es-
tablished their hold upon another day,
custom has given precedence. and only
a very verdant newcomer would plan
a hospitality that would in any way con-
fiict with their recognized priority.
Miss Helen Taft will set the debutante
ball a-rolling early in December, when,
1t Is understood she will be presented by
her mother at ball in the East Room.
where two notable buds have bloomed
before her-Miss Alice Roosevelt, now
Mrs Longworth and her younger sister
Miss Ethel Rooseyet-both of whom had
beautiful balls in that historic room as
fitting launching Of the first young
lady of the land.
Miss Taft will also participate in the
debutante festivities in Baltimore, and
has already accepted Invitations for the
early part of December in that city. She
will go over about the time of the first
Monday german, on which occasion about
"A young girls OF Baltimore's smartest