The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-04-16
FESTIVITIES Of the Eastertide will

EST1VlTIES OF the EaStertloe Will
II be a fitting supplement to one Of
the gayest social seasons WASH
ington has yet known. 1t has
been a season singularly free from dis
amendments and sorrows and wonder
fully full of joy. The rapid and very
pronounced improvement in the health
of the first lady of the land is
matter of great rejoicing on all sides,
and her indomitable courage and will
power have had no little to do with this.
She has done so much toward making
the past season an unprecedented one
for happiness among both the young and
otherwise that it seems a proper climax
that she should be almost completely re-
stored to her normal health at the close
Of IL
Holy Week was observed quite univer-
sally this year. Even those not Of the
faith who observe with great devoutness
the Lenten season, and especially Holy
Week. paid respects to those few more
nacred DAYS, and dinner parties and the
beloved bridge were set aside very gener-
though to encourage the mourning of the
Christian world. This will serve to &C.
centuate the brilliance of the fortnight
which will follow. Then the general exo-
dus will begin in earnest to the foreign
waters, the tide of travel, of course.
surging toward London, although the
American ardor for the coronation fes-
tivities has somewhat waned, as Ameri-
cans are not so close TO the British
throne as they ia Te been for some years
past.
In spite of this, however, Washington
society will be we'll represented with
brides. prospective brides. and brides of
other seasons TO say nothing of the men.
Miss Cromwell, of whose debut the social
columns were full but a few months
ago. is equally interesting now as a bride
of the early spring. She will be married
to Walter Brooke, jr., of Baltimore. and
go to London for wedding trip, TO be
the guest of Lord and Lady Decies. nee
Gould. She had expected to go there for
the coronation festivities with her moth
er, but their plans nave been suddenly
changed by the early wedding.
The announcement of the wedding
plans is a strong reminder of the bril-
liant debut made by Miss Cromwell but
a few short months ago at one of the
most elaborate balls ever seen in Wash
ington. If the wedding arrangements are
carried out with half the originality and
elaborate detail. it will be a function
we'll worth remaining in town for. And
it will not be long to wait, either. for the
ceremony is expected TO take place with
in a month
This will be a gala week for the youth
full members of society. with the Prince
ton Triangle Club, the spring revel. and
the PART and Powder Club of Baltimore
all giving their brilliant performances
between Tuesday afternoon and Friday
evening. Then there are three notable
balls - the WOmens Army and Navy
League ball tomorrow night, the Neither
lands Minister and Nine LoudOns ball
for Miss Taft on Tuesday evening and
the ball at the White House on Wednes-
day evening. There are still many other
affairs OF the sort san6wched in which
will make the week almost unprecedent-
ed for activity.
All of these festivities are a boon to
the wives of the new Senators and Rep
resentatives, who are getting their first
glimpses of Washington life They are
fortunate to get them during this little
season." which is so much less formal
winter season is on they will have learn
ed a difficult lesson and be we'll prepared
for the duties of their new positions. 1t
has been interesting to note the different
attitudes assumed with regard TO the
very distinctive social customs pertain
ing in Washington, which are just the
reverse of those in all other cities.
Some women arriving with their new
glories still shining in their eyes assert
with a toss of the head that indeed they
will not make the first calls on all the
women in Washington official society.
They are accustomed to having old resi-
dents call on the strangers arriving. and
they will maintain their dignity. Then
It all has to be explained that the Con-
CHEESEMAN'S wife must call upon every
woman whose husband is higher up in
official prestige than She and this leaves
very few, to be sure, who make the first
call upon the Congressman's wife.
Not so with the Senator'S wife. She
has only to call at the White House. at
the home of the Vice President, upon
the wives of the justices of the Supreme
Court of the United States. the Ambassa-
doris and foreign Ministers wives. and
upon the wives of Senators longer in the
service than her own husband. Even the
women of the Cabinet circle must come
to her first. 1t mas been a great puzzle
TO the new ones just why these condi-
tons exist. but the wise ones accept II
with no delay and get right out and make
the calls.
And. in fact, it takes but a little time,
and they all accept it, no matter how
trying II is to go about among strangers
with ones name and ones official rank
almost upon ones sleeve. There was a
time. and not many seasons ago. that
the women of the Cabinet rebelled strenu-
ously against the custom of having to
make the first calls upon the wives of
new Senators. But they did not win out,
for Mrs. Roosevelt and the State Depart
ment settled the matters of precedence so
thoroughly and reasonably that they
are apt to stand for very long time.
PERSONALS.