The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
season Of 191-12 would seem
to be opened, II tue festivities Of
the past week and the blaze OF

~HE season Of 1911-12 would seem
to be opened, II tue festivities Of
the past week and the blaze Of
entertainments which closed the
week last evening were any indication.
Eut, In fact, the season is never open"
until after the great New Years Day re-
ception at the White House, when the
President receives formally judicial, dip
lomatic, and official society.
To be sure, the first State dinner at the
White House was given on Tuesday even
ing, but even that does not constitute an
opening. for II has to be given earlier
than is customary in previous years, that
all the official functions Of a season can
be crowded into the Ishort weeks of a
Washington social term. There have
been dinners and luncheons galore, with
always the debutante tea, each and every
day this week, with a single exception,
that of Wednesday, the 18th; for that day
the buds appeared to rest apd no debu-
tante appeared.
The gayety at the navy yard had a
splendid start last evening by the first
formal dance of the season. Last even
ing also marked the return, to a GER
tain extent, of the Admiral Of the Navy
and Mrs. Dewey to their place in society,
when they had a company dining with
them in honor of the new Russian Am
bassador and Nine. Bakhmeten. On ac-
count of Mrs. Dewey's frail health, these
most interesting hosts have been little
known in society for several years, and
it is a matter of great rejoicing that she
is able to again take her place as the
ranking hostess of the navy, next to the
wife of the Secretary of the Navy.
The Congressional Club, which is taking
an active and very important part in the
social affairs of the Capital, quite COW
cred itself with glory last evening, when
the President and Mrs. Taft were the
guests of honor, the other guests being
the Senators and Representatives and
their wives.
The tea and song tableaux for the
benefit of the House of the Good Shep-
herd held at Rauscher's on Wednesday
afternoon were most successful, in fact,
far beyond the expectations of those in
charge. The song tableauX were an ar
tistic triumph for Mrs Barney, for they
were the most beautiful entertainment
of which she has yet been the inspiration.
The worthy charity reaped the benefit
of her efforts to the amount of nearly
Sl,65O and the returns are not yet all in.
This was the first entertainment this
season in which Mrs. White, the wife
Of the Chief Justice, appeared. She pour
ed tea in the afternoon. One of the
smartest companies of which Washing
ton can boast formed the audience for
the tableaux and filled every seat. They
were enthusiastic in their praise of the
artistic merits and the historic correct
ness of the pictures.
Mrs. White, who is in mourning, and
not taking part in the social festivities
of the season also poured tea at st. Mat
thew's fair yesterday afternoon. which
was gay with society people and people
interested in church work. The fair was
held every afternoon during the week,
and was participated in by wives of am
bassadors, justices of the Supreme
Court, and scores of women active in
the social circles of Washington.