Evening star., 1912-11-10

l
table meetings of the past few days.
Washington has survived two such
shocks within the memory Of many who
are still taking an active part in polite
amenities, and in each case there were
among the newcomers many splendid
men and charming women, whose COM
ings and goings in the days before auto
mobiles We're invented and telephones
were still luxury made really delight
full reading. Memory has been busy
since Tuesday reviving the glories of the
Cleveland regimes when the official latch
strirA did really hang out and when If
you We're in 1t at all the pleasure of
your company was requested. not only
for the series of evening receptions held
at cabinet houses throughout the winter,
but also to an infinity of other events
morning musicals and others in the aft
ernoon. with luncheons and teas galore
in connection with them. Such women
as Mrs. Cleveland pre-eminently because
of her youth and position; Mrs. Daniel s.
Lamont, Mrs. Bissell. Mrs. Daniel Man
ming and Mrs. Hoke Smith. who is hap
PLY again a resident. left the capital for
their homes elsewhere with general ac-
qualntance gained here of hundreds and
hundreds of persons. both rich and poor,
and an intimate following which still
halls their names with delight. The more
reserved life which gradually has become
the vogue of the cabinet household at the
capital. and which does not bring it in
contact with many outside of personal
selections, would not have been consid-
cred as qualification for entrance into
public Office and it's burden sixteen or
twenty years ago.
The p1easurable gossip which the
mention of the various possible cabinet
will be thread which will run through
the coming season and perhaps not be
broken until very close to the time
when the reins of power will be trans
ferred to new hands.
More certainty has ACCOMPANIED social
plans the past few days and many an
nouncements Of future events have
been made public or are discussed more
freely than was thought necessary be-
fore election. Home-comngs are daily
noted in greater numbers. but while
gayety here is Of the most informal
kind. the opportunities the quiet has
given for the acceptance of invita- ions
elsewhere. like the opera in Phila-
delphia and Baltimore. have not been
overlooked. The debutantes are break
ing through the bounds of their own
particular sets and are meeting each
other at the pleasant little half-dozen
capital society as it is represented here
at present is dealing strictly in futures,
just as 1t did month ago. A fiutter
of Wedding cards BEGAN some days
ago. and the indications for the events
around Thanksgiving are of a most
pleasing character. The brides-to- be
will be greatly entertained by MEM
bers Of the bridal parties as well as
others. which will also go to make the
wedding days memorable.
Departures for Europe. with trips up
the Nile and leisurely stays on the
Riviera are also indications that rarely
fail to be noticeable feature Of the
winter which has an Inauguration in
it. Some of the officials families find
that a graceful way to take leave and
others are going just because they
have no mind to face cold weather in
this climate.
The change of administration seemingly
will have less effect than usual on the So
cial world, in that many higher Off
cials, in coming to the capital to assume
their duties, buy their homes instead of
renting. OF President Taft's cabinet
three members own their homes-the Sec
retary of State, the Secretary of the
Treasury and the Attorney General. The
Knox home was bought when the Secre-
tary first came to Washington as Attor
ney General under President Mckinley.
and was built by Mrs. George Childs Of
Philadelphia Mrs. MacVeagh built the
beautiful house out 10Th street as a per-
manent home, and presented it to Mr..
MacVeagh, who will retire from business
and public life within few years. The
Attorney General and Mrs. Wickersham
feel a particular affection for Washing
ton. as 1t was here that Mrs. Wicker
sham spent the younger days of her life.
and she but returned to her girlhood
friends when her husband was taken into
Mr.. Taft's cabinet
Never before have so many cabinet
members remained in the CAPITAL, though
all along the social lines one meets names
which suggest former administrations.
Beginning with Madison's day, when his
charming widow Dolly returned here to
make her home In what is now the Cos
mos Club, the widows of other Presidents
have sought solace in the gay world as
for instance Mrs. U. S. Grant. who re-
turned here for the permanent home of
her old age. where she might again live
the triumphs of her husbands life
Vice Presidents have not thought so
much of their lives at the nations capital
and only Levi p. Morton has chosen ii
for a winter home. The Morton house is
being transformed into strictly modern
structure. Former Vice President and
Mrs Fairbanks are fond of coming here
for little visits.
Mrs Marshall Field has deferred her
sailing from Europe and will not open
her house until just before the official
social season begins. This is well, as
workmen are still engaged on the splen-
did new ballroom. and the rearrangement
and redecoration of the house she will
occupy on 18th street
Mrs James W. Pinchot will arrive
here Monday to take up her residence for
the winter in her home on Rhode Island
avenue. She will be accompanied by her
daughter, Lady Alan Johnstone. who ar
rived in New York few days ago. Miss
Morgan, the niece Of Mrs. Pinchot who
has been with her in New York. will also
return.
Few pieces of election news were Of
greater interest to the hearts of society
people than the selection of Peter
Goelet Gerry to the House by a Rhode
Island constituency. 1t will bring back
to Washington Mrs. Gerry. who as Ma
thiIde Townsend spent her life here. The
Gerrys will come with the new van
guard March 4. and will take up their
residence with Mrs. Townsend, on Massa-
chusetts avenue, where two years ago
their wedding took place.
Mrs. Gerry Will enter into the official
life of the capital just as her mother
Mrs. Richard II. Townsend. did when her
father, the late Representative Scott. was
in the House from Pennsylvania She
has not, however, the same active inter-
est In drawing room affairs as her
mother who probably did not have it
either in her early life. 1t is feeling
| which increases because of the necessity
| of the moment or whether or not ambi-
tiOn is growing with ones wears