The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-19
SOCIETY IN WASHINGTON

; Washington, June ESPECIAL. )-ouite
likely by the time that society comes
hocl1ing back into the National capital
from Europe, the seaside and the noun
tains, the Chevy Chase club will be
housed in its new 100000 building. The
Chevy Chase club IS the real smart and
exclusive organization of Washington
President Taft and Vice President Sher-
man play golf upon the links there
every chance they get. Upon Its commo.
dious grounds senator's, representatives,
foreign diplomats and others of national
name and even international renown are
common figures.
The Chevy Chase club has, perhaps,
the most interesting roster of members
of all the clubs in America They COM
prise foreign statesmen, famous soldiers
and sailors, ex-presidents, congressman,
society kings and queens and many other
notables.
The smart affairs given at Chevy Chase
by the< present generation of society in
Washington constitute the elegance char
acteristic of society among. the rich.
The new club house will be of the
old country house type. simple in form
and detail but dignified and capable of
oe taking its place amidst the beautiful
surroundings Both President and Mrs
Taft are much interested In the new
club house.
AS the summer advances social life
IN Washington becomese very dull June
has furnished its regular quota of we'd
dings but the families of many of the
congressman and cabinet attaches have
departed for the season.
Tn contemplating Washington In the
present half light of society one is in
stantly struck by the high position
achieved in society by the matrons of the
west who have at once become notable
hostesses well known for their c1everness
and tact in entertaining and their hospi-
tality. There was once a time when the
resident set of Washington looked with
something akin to scorn upon those who
came out Of the west, called by the
duties of statesmanship. In those days
the westerners were regarded mostly as
outsiders. They were not taken into the
coterie of the residents and the eastern
ers who were supposed to make up tho
real society of the capital. Now all that
has been changed. Some of the brightest
women in Washington are found in In
surgent' households. Washington long
since came to recognize in Mrs Robert
LaFolette, the wife of the militant SEN
ator from Wisconsin, one of the mozt
brilliant minds and the strongest person
alities IN officialdom From the time
when she first became engaged to her
fellow student at the state university at
Madison Mrs IaFolette has identified
herself heart and soul with the aims
of Senator LaFollettes life. She finds
in his political career an interest scarcely
less absorbing than is her, care for her
family one of the most interesting In
Washington.
Mrs LaFollette Is as close a student
Of politics as Little Bob himself. and is
also a clever writer. Mrs. LaFollette is
one of the strongest advocates of equal
suffrage to be found among congressional
women and, as becomes the wife Of the
foremost senatorial radical, she Is like
wise somewhat radical in her wives Of
the future of the woman movement
The LaFollette home, roomy resi-
dence on Wyoming avenue, is a redez-
vous for all the family friends. of whom
the clever westerners have a great num-
Der The eldest daughter of the family,
Miss Foa LaFollette, blond and pretty,
Is likewise an ardent woman suffragist.
Another charming western woman like
wise the wife of an insurgent leader, is
Mrs. Victor Murdoch, wife of the young
Kansan who is generally recognized as
one of tn most irreconcilable of all the
party insurgents in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Mrs. Murdoch never fails to
attract attention in any gathering.