The Washington herald., 1911-12-24
.HE Christmas season will be a
typical American celebration, al
most strictly en- familie, until


most strictly en- familie, until
Christmas Day is over, and then
the floodgates of gayety will be thrown
wide open, and dancing and dining will
reign supreme for some time to come.
The President and Mrs. Taft are sur
rounded in the White House with fam
lily party, and. without having a Christ
mas tree, will have joyous celebration
of the festival. There will be an inter
osting company Of young people for the
remainder of the week and over the New
Years Day festivities, including Miss
Harriet Anderson. niece OF Mrs. Taft, and
Miss Edith Morgan, of New York, and
some others of the girl friends Of Miss
Taft and the men friends of Mr.. Robert
Taft, forming a gay little house party.
The dinner last evening for young peo-
pie at which Miss Switzerland and her
fance, Nj. Bacon, were the central fig
ures, was the beginning of the almost
incessant entertainments which will con-
tinuc there until Ash Wednesday. Miss
Anderson will arrive carly next week,
after her own Christmas celebration at
home to be present at the wedding and
the preceding entertainments for Miss
Switzerland and her fianCe. for the two
girls are warm friends, and It will be re-
membered that Miss Anderson spent
some time with Miss SOutherland last
season in the Switzerland home.
The other wedding of great interest 10
Washington society for the early season
will be that of Mrs. Oliver Cromwell
and Mr. Edward T. Stoteshury, of Phila-
deIrhia. which will take place from Mrs.
CromwcH's Washington home during the
month. The engagement is one which
has interested society since last season.
when the first faint rumors Of it ap-
peared They were not confirmed by
either one of those most concerned until
the past week. when both acknowledged
it. Mrs Cromwell has been a winter
resident Of Washington since her charm
ing daughter Louise, now Mrs. Walter
Brooks, of Baltimore was a young
SCHOOLGIRL and while Mrs. Cromwell
IUrsed her late husband through long
illness. she always found more or less
time to lend her aid to charity benefits
and to take an active part in all things
Of social Importance
Her daughter was announced as a dc
huIante of two seasons ago. but had only
just given her first luncheon. which pro-
redod her debut tea ny n few days, when
her father took turn tor the worSr
and died verv shortly. almost on tn" eV"
If his dau-hters formal bow to society.
Almost the same thing hapDened to Miss
Draper during the same season. although
she did not have a large and brilliant
rotillion for her actual presentation.
After period Of deep mourning, Mrs.
Cromwell returned here and laid aside
hcr grief sufficient, +" intrndpce her
-I-',ohie-r' - SoNltlN ~ V''C VI '''' ms
elaborate. beautiful, ard brilliant balls
Washington mas known. The artistic
details were all planned and carried out
lN Mrs CrOmwcITS own taste and in
gcuuity. md the ball was seven days
wonder. even in this advanced and elah-
oratc age and generation. Before thar
season was quite ended the engagement
~ the distinguished mud to the son of
one Of the leading financicrs Of Balu-
more was announced. and their wedding
was one Of the ev .nts which marked the
brilliant close Of tho season Of 1901.
The Cabinet j. widely Scattered fam
lily for this Christmas season. The Vice
President and Mrs. Sherman, who are in
the Cabinet circle. but not Of il. and who
are in deep mourning this season. ar"
spending their holidays with their sons
and daughters-ln-law and grandchildren
in Utica The Secretary Of State and
Mrs. Knox arc in their family circle at
their Valley Forge farm The Secretary
Of the Treasury and Mrs MacVeagh are
spending d very quiet christmas in their
Washington home. and will not be joined
here by their son Eames until after
christmas when he may come on for
he New Year s festivities The SeCre-
rary OF War and Mrs. StimSOn. also he
ing in mourning. will have no festivities.
hut will spend tho Christmas in their