The National tribune., 1911-01-05
SOCIAL WASHINGTON.
New Corners, Political and Social,
Make Merry Holidays.

New Corners, Political and Social
Make Merry Holidays.
There has been 6 leisurely quitting
of the old year at the National Capital
The days OF the last December week
came in quiet procession. There Were
rounds of merriment incident to feSti-
val season in the City-by-the-Potomac
As far as public business is concerned
it has been a period for marking time.
Many have noted that while there
has been more or less inactivity IN
worEaday affairs, it is many years since
there has been so much social activity.
That is really workanight activity, for
It is no secret that the society folk OF
Washington, as we'll as in other cities
for that matter, make their gaieties
very much matter of hard, constant
work. Anyhow, this season Washington
has been ablaze with social glories, and
the season is not supposed to be inaug-
urated till after the New Year recep-
ton at the White House.
To be sure, Washington society, with
all of its many SETS takes in only a
small portion of the-entire population.
The activities by no means extend to
all the people in official life, for there
are still many serious official people
with old-fashioned ways and notions.
who prefer quiet family life during their
hours of release from duty. But for a
very large portion of the more notice.
able people at Washington invitations
have been flying thick and fast of re-.
cent days, and will continue to fly thick
and fast well up to Lent and the ides
of March.
The official contingent is being drawn
iTf, iati Ttn
presence in the Winter of Il large col
ony of wealthy people, who have at
tanned 4 position where they need rot
worry about the wherewithal, enforces
the social swirl Many of them like to
touch elbows with prominent officials,
and the official contingent generally is
not averse to the entertainment 1t
helps make life merry, and a lot of
folks who come down to Washington
for a tenure of two or more years,
knowing that thereafter it is back again
to the small town. are disposed to get
all the fun out of the procedure that
they possibly can.
A Gay Yuletide.
Therefore it is that the Yuletide sea-
son has been so gay in the dying DAYS
of the old year, and that the hilarities
have mounted higher and higher. Per-
haps as far as the official world is con-
licans are passing out as party OF
control and that even a Democratic
Administration is among the possibili-
ties or even the probabilities has stimu-
lated many people to be up and doing
and to make the most of the flying mo-
mentS.
II is one of advantages of the social
Winter that so many prominent officials
are taking UP their duties anew. The
advent of a new Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court started a round OF din
ner giving in his honor. Altho Chief
Justice White has resided in Washing
ton many years the moment he was
promoted to the highest judicial posi-
ton many of his old friends and not a
few new ones wanted to entertain in his
honor Then there is Justice Charles
E. Hughes, a newcomer to Washing
ton, and there nave been dinners ga
lore in his honor. 1t will be likewise
with reference to Justices Lamar and
Van Deyanter, who will soon be taking
up their new duties upon the Supreme
Bench.
A few new Senators have likewise
come in with this session of Congress
and they and their families are made
something of in a social way. More
prospective lawmakers will be in town
during January and February TO look
the ground over, and there will be
more or less gaiety over their coming.
mere Representative does not create
much of social ripple in Washington
Immediately after his arrival but if he
be a Senator or a Senator-elect the
fashionable hostesses of the town i'm
mediately look him over, and begin to
make inquiry about the ladies of his
family. If the inquiries are satisfac-
tory, the newcomers are made very well
come forthwith in the fashionable
northwest section.
Champ Clark Social Lion.
One of the new lions of the season is
Speaker-to-be Champ Clark, of Mis-
souri,, but he and his good wife take
the social advances Of Washington very
sensibly Speakers establishment is
always an important one In social
Washington. because the Speaker ranks
high up with the Vice President on So
ciaI occasions. The late Speaker Reed
always lived at a hotel, and while he
dined out a great deal and was a most
acceptable guest at the smartest houses
in Washington, he and Mrs. Reed made
little effort to entertain at home. After
them Speaker and Mrs. Henderson also
lived at a Washington hotel, and made
very little social stir.
Speaker Cannon, however, took a
fine house on Vermont avenue when he
was elevated to the presiding officers
chair, and his establishment has been
in keeping with the eminence of his
office. Representative and Mrs. Clark
have always lived modestly in Wash
ington, and as he is not man of large
fortune probably will not try to rent
big house when the next Congress con-
Venes But the social invitations are
pouring in upon them now as tho Mr.
Clark were really Speaker. Washing
ton is quick to anticipate in such mat
ters.