The Washington herald., 1911-02-26
curtain will fall Wednesday
on all the gayeties which have
gone to make this season one of


on all the gayeties which have
gone to make this season one of
unprecedented briIIiance. IT will,
however. rise gradually, to admit of
few festivities, without which life would
be dull indeed, and after the devotions
of Ash Wednesday have been attended
to and the Lenten season has we'll opened.
cards and music will occupy most of
the time of the social set. A series Of
musicales has been planned at the White
House. and a number of card parties by
others of the fashionable circles. so that
time will not altogether hang heavily
upon their hands. And then the charity
affairs will come later-pEays, concerts.
and entertainments of all kinds for vari-
Gus worthy organizations and manage
ments.
The last reception at the White House
was the largest and most brilliant of all
the series this season, and was fitting
close to a beautiful and successful social
season there. The President and Mrs.
Taft have dined for the last time this
year with their Cabinet circle. and the
last ball has been given, except for
few ''afterthoughts.' which will come
with the spring gayeties after Easter.
Washington has had more than its
usual number of distinguished visitors
for the ultra-fashionables, and the for
eigners find more each year to attract
them here for long stays. The fascination
of a Washington season is one which
Il nd L
ways remains. 1t is this which draws Off
CiaIs back here after their terms of ser
vice are over and attracts widows and
children of former officials here, where
they are sure of meeting old and valued
friends and acquaintances. There have
been in Washington several former oc-
cupants of the White House, not Chief
Executives themselves, but members of
their families, and only a few weeks ago
there were, in addition to Mrs Longworth,
who can never quite lose her distinctive
title of the American princess, her sister,
Miss Roosevelt, a White House bud; Mr.
Robert Lincoln. son of a martyred Presi-
dent, who spent some of his youthful
days in the White House; Mrs Russell
Harrison. daughter-in-law of President
Benjamin Harrison. who spent much of
3 the four years of his regime as a mem
ber of his household. and Mrs. Harry
Smith. of Annapolis who, as Nellie
Hayes, had her doll house under the
south pUrtico of the White House She
9 comes often to Washington but has been
little at the White House. as her visits
are always very short and she has lived
so quiet life in whatever naval station
her husband has been a resident that
Fher youthful identity is often not known
until she is ready to depart
OF the 100 or more members of the Con-
gressional Club who will retire from &C
o. tive participation in that unique or
ganizatiOn next week, no one is going
out with more ecIat that Mrs Jacob
Van Vechten Oicott, wife of the retiring
member of Congress from the Fifteenth
district of New York.
Mrs OIcott's six years in Washington
society have brought her hundreds of
friends. to all of whom she is bidding
"A reluctant but cheerful farewell Most
of the prominent women whose husbands
will he described a week hence as ex-
Congressman are being feted by their
particular intimates, but that was not
enough for Mrs. OIcott, who, in addition
TO accepting the many invitations. gave
farewell ball of her own a few evenings
ago. which in appointments and social
success was one of the finest of this long
and merry season. The Marine Band
played only the merriest of tunes. No
one was allowed to condole with the
hostess or each other, the supper was
one of the best of the winter. and every
one had a good time until the small hours
Of the morning.
Representative and Mrs. J. SlOat Fas-
sett also gave farewell party in the
past week that did away with all feel
ing Of disappointment for at least that
one evenings. Theirs was a dinner of
sixteen covers, every man present having
been defeated at the last election. Lame
ducks. demolished houses in miniature
and an imitation Salt River winding it
self from end to end of the table, formed
the decorative features, while the toasts
were equally appropriate, but not for
publication.
The promotion of the Hon. Esme How
ard, former counselor of the British EN-
bassy in this city. from his more recent
post at Budapest. to be British minister
at Berne, is of particular interest to the
scores of American friends he and Lady
Isabella Howard made during their
Washington residence.
At Berne they will he in close touch
with Italy. where their marriage took
place some twelve years ago. and in
direct. line for promotion To some still
greater post. Lady Isabella Howard, al
though the daughter of a Scotch peer,
jS an italian by birth. a beautiful and
charming woman. and the mother of
three young children who were a few
years ago the most admired diplomatic
babies about Dupont circle.
"
nrpC0Hys