The Washington herald., 1912-01-14

~HE social pendulum II swinging
faster each week. as the season
advances. There are but five
weeks in which society viii dis
port itself with dancing and dining, and
much must be crowded into these short
weeks before Ash Wednesday draws the
curtain, and sackcloth and ashes win be
assumed. An army OF New York ana
Boston millionaires has invaded wash
ington, and its presence Is being Ielt-
Never before have there been such ex-
hibitions OF rich clothes and rare gems
as have been displayed at the last few
evening receptions IN the White House.
The President and Mrs. Taft continue
the great success inaugurated on New
Years Day, when their morning reoep-
tion, notwithstanding the notable ao-
sentees in the diplomatic circle, proved
to be one Of the largest and most in
teresting in White HOUSE history. The
shortage In ambassadors was compen-
sated for in the splendid attendance OF
army and navy officers
The first evening reception last Tuesday
was even more brilliant than that of
New Years Day. While in honor OF the
diplomatic corps, this great international
company constituted less than one-flfth
the number Of guests. Twelve hundred
Invitations is the limit now placed for
evening receptions, as against 1000 Of
former times. For the smaller number
there is naturally a more personal well
come and a greater degree Of comfort
not to mention the well-served buffet sup
per and the dance in the East Room
with which each of the four receptions
ends.
The presence of the United States Am
bassador to Great Britain and Mrs
Whitelaw Reid has, as usual. been the
occasion of much entertaining. In addi-
ticn to the President and Mrs. Taft, their
hosts have been the Secretary OF State
and Mrs. Knox, the Secretaries of the
Teasury and the Navy and their wives.
Mr.. and Mrs. W. }. Boardmsn, the
former a lifelong friend OF the Ambas-
sadOr; the British Ambassador and Mrs.
Bryce, Mrs. Richard Townsend, Mrs
Letter, and Mr.. and Mrs. John Hays
Hammond. The large reception on Janu-
ery II, to which Mr.. and Mrs. Hammond
invited smart society to meet Mr.. and
Mrs. Reed, was second Only to the White
House reception OF Tuesday evening in
Importance and interest.
This week will be an important one for
weddings, Thursday being especially in
teresting as the wedding day OF Mrs.
Oliver Cromwell and Mr.. Edward p.
Stotesbury. While this is one Of the
most interesting and important weddings
Of all the many notable ones taking
place in Washington, it will also be one
Of the most simple and unostentatious.
The company will include only the chill
dren OF the bride and bridegroom and
the latter's partners and their wives
The bride will depart from the usual Gus
tom Of widows Of wearing gray or Law
ender at thSr second weddings, and will
wear white, but everything pertaining to
the costume and the arrangements will
be carried out with the greatest sim
plicity and elegance. Mr.. Stotesbury will
take his bride South for a short trip,
after which they will take up their resi-
dence in his Philadelphia home.
Thursday will be the wedding day also
q Miss Zelma PiIson and Ensign Robert
Pollok Cutler, jr., U. S. n. The ceremony
IS to take place at the residence Of the
brides mother, Mrs. Benjamin F. Pilson,
with only the immediate relatives pres
ent. The bride-elect is the second daugh-
ter OF the late B. F. Pilson. whose death
occurred last summer. Like her elder
sister. Mrs. Charles A. Wood, she is a
very handsome girl Of unusual type, with
particularly fair skin and dark hair. Mr.
Cutler is attached to the Il. s. S. Mis-
sissippi, now at the Philadelphia Navy
Yard.
There are two younger girls in this
family Of handsome daughters to be pre-
sented in the near future, the Misses
Marguerite and Olga Pilson. having the