The Washington times., 1913-11-09
National Capital Sees Society
UpheavaI Through Changes
in Inner Circles.
By MARY EDNA MOVES.

There has been an upheayal in
Washington society. The roots of fash
ionable society, which were buried be-
meath sixteen consecutive years of Re-
publican patronage have been torn up
and ruthlessly cast aside. This is so of
necessity, even though the new leaders
do not intend wholesale upheaval.
Mrs. WILSON. and her daughter, in
whose hands the greatest part Of the
building Of the new social structure rests,
are now cynosure Of all eyes. There
will be many well-known figures in the
new order Of things, for official society
is not omnipotent in Washington. The
permanent residential contingent known
as the "cave dwellers' are socially pow
erful persons who own and maintain
homes in Washington as they do In
Newport, Florida, or California They
yield wonderful influence in the social
order of things that is not affected by
politics, yet the circles overlap and
necessarily the wife Of the President and
her immediate friends and social fam
ily'' are practically in control.
1t is with a twinge of sadness that
the passing Of the faces made familiar
by many ties of personal association is
seen. Owing to the growing custom on
the part OF officials of buying and not
their. duties in Washington number of
the former leaders will remain here.
Two Different Circles.
In Washington society there are two
distinct circles of society-sofficial So
ciety and resident society. The former
is made up of six distinct sets, which
are the Cabinet or ''official family of
the President and Mrs. Wilson, includ-
ing the Vice President and his fam
ily and the members Of the Cabinet and
their families; the judiciary. which in
cludes the Chief Justice of the Supreme
Court and his associate justices, the
Judges Of the Circuit Court of Appeals
of the United States, the Judges of the
Court Of Claims of the United States
and the various other courts; the Diplo-
matio Corps, comprised Of the repre-
sentatives of the various foreign coun-
tries sent to the United States; Con-
gress, made up of the Senators and
members Of the House of Representa-
tives, and the army and navy set.
Resident society is not divided so
clearly, but is one large set, including
scions of many of the families of earli-
est inhabitants and settlers of the Dis
trict, society folk from other cities
whose financial standing has made it
possible for them to have homes in
Washington and enjoy the social sea-
son in Washington. which is really the
American court life,' and many for
mer officials who feel the attraction OF
tho .'Ioadstone'' In Washington and are
10th to tear themselves away.
Leaders In Each Set.
or each circle or set, as you will call
them, are their leaders. Years ago
when the matter was far less moment
GUS. there was always one leader OF
! Washington society.
Now, however, things have changed
and with the official Washington ant
the social Washington, We find the var
ious leaders.
Mrs. Wilson naturally is the supreme
leader of official society as Mrs. Rich
ard II Townsend Is the leader Of the
smart resident set. As the social ques
tions of the day are settled and the
mace set by Mrs. Wilson for her fol
| lowers. so the residential folk regulate
their lives by what Mrs. Townsend does
OF the Cabinet circle Mrs. Thoma;
Riley Marshall wife of the Vice Presi
dent. Is the natural leader, as Is Mrs
Edward Douglass White. wife of the
Chief Justice of the United States Su
preme Court. and Nine. Jusserand
wife of the French ambassador anC
dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
+ The leadership of Mrs. Wilson. Mrs
serand comes according to precedent