The Washington herald., 1911-10-01
-HERE is hustle and preparation

~H HERE is hustle and preparation
in the very atmosphere, for
these are busy days at the open
ing of the winter season, with
an unusual number of new officials and
diplomats. In the ambassadorial circle
there are three new members, all Of
peculiar interest and Importance. Two
only are married, the Mexican and the
Russian, and the Brazilian Ambassador
is bachelor OF the three he will have
the most pretentious and attractive home,
the Bliss house in Sixteenth street, which
is we'll known for its interior beauty
and its sunker gardens at the south
side of the house.
Among the first of the ambassadors
wives to return for the season will be
Sonora Crespo, wife of the Mexican Am
bassador, who is remaining in Vienna
with their children, all but the eldest
son. Mr.. Jorge Juan, who has been here
with his father all the summer, and
made the trips away with him. The
Amba ssador will have quite the largest
family of any member of the diplomatic
corps, with seven children of their own
and two mel news of the Ambassador
The only bud in the ambassadorial circle
will be the eldest daughter of the Am
baSsador, Senorita Adela, one of the most
accomplished and cultivated girls who
have ever gTaced Washington debutante
season. She is gifted with an exceptional
voice. which has been we'll cultivated,
and she is a brilliant linguist, speaking
English. German. French, and Italian, IN
addition to their native tongue, Spanish.
This family will also contribute four
Young bachelors TO Washington society,
the two sons and the two nephews of
the Ambassador. who make their home
with him
Mrs Marian Campbell GOuverneur, wild
ow of Mr.. Samuel l.. Gouverneur, who
was a gr3.ndson of President James Mon
roe author of the Monroe doctrine. has
given to the present and the coming
generations her "reminiscences of social
life in Washington in the nineteenth cen
tury and the early part Of the twentieth,
in her interesting book. entitled las l
Remember" Mrs. GOuverneur is one OF
the type of grandes DANES of whom we
see few in these modern days There IS
no one better fitted for Chroniclng the
social life of the past few adminstra-
tions than she. What she does not re-
member has been handed down to her
husband 5 family. who have been part
of the social history here for several
generations.
The marriage of Mr.. Gouverneur's
father and mother. Samuel /. Gouver-
neur. private secretary to President Mon
roe, to his first cousin. the daughter of
the President. Maria Monroe. was one
of the historic weddings which took place
in the White House. Mrs. Gouverneur
subsequently, presided over the mansion
for her father. after her mothers health
failed. Only the bridal party and a few
old friends of the two families were
present at the ceremony. which was an
affair of stately simplicity There was
no reception until one week from the
day of the ceremony. when the brides
maids and grOomsmen were in attend
aDCe. and the bride and bridegroom held
a large and brilliant reception in the
East Room, when the brides parents
the President and Mrs. Monroe were
present and mingled with the guests but
did not act as the hosts OF the occa sion.
a round of festivities followed the re-
CeptiOn. among which was a great ball
given just afterward. by Commodore and
Mrs. Decatur. m the Decatur home at the
corner Of II street and jackson place. now
the home Of Mr.. and Mrs Truxtun BeaIe
inherited from Mr.. Beale's father, Gen
Beale. This bail was to be followed by
another given by Commodore and Mrs
Porter. but the sudden death of Commo-
dor" Decatur occurring just before the en-
t,rIIinment it was cancelled, as the
death of this brave officer stopped all the
gayetics in Washington for the time be-
ing. 50 greatly was he hOnored and re-
spcctCd.
Mrs. GouvcrncT will return to her