The Washington herald., 1911-03-26
weekend is rejecting the
gayeties of mi-Careme, which. in
fact. were not as gay this year

gayeties of mi-Careme, which, in
fact, were not as gay this year
as they have been in other
seasons. This is Offset by the unabated
gayeties of the entire Lenten season
Seldom has dancing been a feature of the
forty days of fasting and self-denial
which the Christian world observes an
nuauy, but it has had its innings this
year, while Sunday entertaining has not
grown less since Ash Wednesday dawned
Therefore, any gayetics last Thursday to
celebrate mi-Careme would have had to be
OF unwonted brilliauce to make a show
ing Mrs. Wadsworth's fancy dress bail.
a special feature of every winter for
some years, was omitted. but Mrs. Hen
derson filed the date with a dance for
young married and unmarried people.
and, truth to tell. some older ones. too
Mrs. Henderson is one of the little CO.
terie of women who have found the
fountain of youth and who are dancing
some Of the ancient but modernized fancy
steps and movements of which the mod
ern dancers have been the inspiration.
Their Grecian costumes are among their
most treasured possessions, and an in
truder or unobserved witness of the pam
tomime performance of sthese so-called
Grecian exercises would consider himself
ir spookland, if they were not explained
to him. This, nevertheless, is the cause
Of the compilations growing brighter and
fresher, the carriages more erect. the
steps lighter, and i is even limited that
the digestions are improved. All this is
the excuse for the Lenten dancing
There are still many fashionable peo-
pie who disapprove of the Lenten
festivities. They are much the same class
who are fTowning upon bridge-that is
bridge with the cashing in of the chips
at the close of the game, for this is not
the exception. but the rule, even in friend
ly gam:S. one OF the most popular rec
tors in Episcopal circles in Washington
quite startled his flock recently by an
nUunCing to them that a request for
letter OF transfer would be refused any
ncmbe~ of his parish who played bridge
for cash, for letter of transfer, he
sail. was only for members in good stand
ing and h" did not consider such per-
:an II t...- category.
Tie festivities for the diplomatic bride
and bridegroom. Countess Luise-AleXan-
LrL Non Bernstorf lovingly known as
tales have made the past week bright
and gay. There has been a dinner party
almost every night, and the friends of
tho young bride and her mother have
dropIcd in at the embassy for tea and
to see the beautiful collection OF we'd
ding gifts. These have come from al;
parts Of the world. and comprise a mag |
niticcnt collection of rare gems, unique |!
silver. valuable linen. and sparkling crys- I
tai almost everything which the imagi- |
nation can picture. Fortunate indeed are |
the personal friends who have been al
lowed this glimpse at the pretty things. !
r-@ch Of the bridesmaids has enter
tained the bridal party, and the President !
and Mrs. Taft have been their hosts at .
a dinner and dance following. RumOrs !
EaNe he hove ring about each and every 3
one OF the bridesmaids of the countess,
excepting Miss May. whose engagement ,
IL Mir Robert Bacon is already an I
nouncCd. and whose marriage will be one
OF the Easter festivities. These rumOrs
connect the German Embassy. one of the
cabinet portfolios, and the Italian En- &
bassy with the little group of maids. but.
after all. rumors are only bubbles on i
the social wave.
Miss Taft has been counted in on all 1
the festivities for the bride and bride
would have seemed complete without her.
This is a reminder of another bit OF news,
which is not a rumor. but stated as fact
by a close friend OF the White House
bud, that she has tasted Of the delights
of society as the most feted debutante of
the season, and at the end of it has
signed her name to the class OF juniors
in Bryn Mawr College next year. This
was really hinted at by Mrs. Taft at the
beginning of the administration, when a
possibility "l introducing her daughter
to society was discussed. She well knew
her daughters love for books and study
and her lack of real love for the social
butterfly life. In fact, she said then that
even though she spent a season OF so in
the White House as 4 debutante. she
might return to her college life. Society
would indeed grieve over such step
but could not fail TO admire the pluck
and wisdom of the young woman. Nor
would any one who knows Miss Taft be
in the least surprised at her action. Her
college life did not spoil her for society,
nor will society spoil her for A success
full career in college. II is the social
circle in Washington which will suffer
by her departure. Il
Mrs Walter l.. Fisher. wife of the new
Secretary of the Interior, will not come ,
TO Washington until quite late in the |
spring, from present indications. They :
have large family, and since Mr.. Fisher
assumed the duties of his Cabinet po- ,
stion scarlet fever has broken out in !
their home circle, and he made hurried
trip to his Chicago home early in the |
week. There eight children in the
family. Mrs. Fisher was formerly Miss |
Mabel Taylor. of Boston. college woman
and a woman OF much wealth. She is also
the youngest hostess in the Cabinet circle {
ENTERTAINMENTS.