Evening star., 1914-12-06

erably since Sunday became, after the
continental fashion, Is the most fashion
able day of all on which to receive
ones intimates. 1t is not often an un-
desirable arrives to make Sunday
call, as the very nature of the day,
remote and distinct from the hustle Of
the week. precludes the display of the
necessary nerve.
The Mexican embassy has had a lone
some look for the past year. but it had
it's days and
Favorite Rendezvous years of glory
in Past Years. aa aaa;, may nave
| day.
| During the first Cleveland adminis-
tration the house was built, and its
housewarming ball was an event in
| which the officials and resident society
of that time took part.
The minister. Matias Romero, and his
wife were very popular, and after they
established themselves in the new
house it was at once in the. fore
ground of the foreign homes here.
The deaths Of this eminent diplomat
and his wife, who was a Philadelphia
and who had charm of manner which
| one waits a generation or two to see
equaled, followed within six months of
each other.
The minister from Mexico who pre-
ceded Mr.. Romero was Mr.. Zamacona.
As a farewell to their friends here,
| Mr.. and Mrs. Zamacona gave a fete in
the K street houses, then the legation.
The whole front of the building was
illuminated by rows of gas jets under
can colers. The word Mexico" also
illuminated, showed on the front, and
an eagle blazed in colored lights At
! the exit doors the guests read Fare
4
| ground space in the rear was turned
\ into a Mexican garden, with painted
scenery on the stable wall to help
carry out the illusion. Tropical plants.
| helped to make the picture
Dancing kept up in one of the par
| lors, sitting-out places were arranged
in another and third held the supper
tables. The fete was the talk of the
town and deserved all the encomiums
it received.
Minister and Nine. Romero's house
| warming ball at the l street legation
tainment of the period. Two floors
were in use. and there was not an inch
too much to house the brilliant COM
pany. Champagne flowed in the spark
and Mexican punch and lemonade wells
-fanciful affairs arranged near the
basement dressing rooms-were a fea-
ture also. Hospitality of the same
grade was marked during the ambas-
sadorshps of Mr.. Azpiroz and Mr..
| Creel. the latter with an extra touch.
which was to be expected of a man
whose personal and family wealth was
known the world over and whose gra-
ciousness of manner was a delightful
attribute of cosmopolitan notable.
Twenty years ago a neighborhood
spirit prevailed on that I street block,
bounded by 14th and 18th streets that
it is doubtful ever could be noted in
lDc t%r- ft,nN nvta fy1lN ~
since. Chief Justice Waite lived on the
other side of the Romeros. A banker.
the late John w. Thompson, was next
door to him in the brownstone house,
and he carried into his social life the
same prominence and success which
marked all else he did. He had much
to do with the selection of the site of
the Mexican embassy, and was warm
Romero. Next door to the embassy Mr..
and Mrs. John W. Foster were inti-
mates of the Romeros through years Of
official and family intercourse and also
by Mr.. Fosters residence in Mexico as
American minister.
X
The tendency for those who have had
important positions abroad or at home
to return here to
They Often Come live when their
public service 10
Back to Live. over grows more
marked with the years. The example
of former Vice President Morton is a
case in point. Last year he and his
family occupied for the first time their
newly-built mansion. which is on the
site of their former residence on Rhode
Island avenue. During the Harrison
regime the old house had almost as
| many formal receptions as were held
at the Presidents home. and the par
lors of the Morton house had the dis
tinguishing colors Of the White House,
red, blue and green. Mr.. Morton added
a new dining room, entrance and cloak
rooms, so that the facilities of the
a house were greatly increased for its
greater needs during his four years
is modern and spacious. and the family
is again in residence there.
Mr. Henry White, ambassador to
France. has occupied new residence
Robert Lincoln, a onestime Secretary
Of and also minister abroad. is also
a winter resident. Mr.. Charles Page
Bryan, ambassador to Japan, and min
lister to other countries. has also re-
turned to his home at I street and
10th, which he inherited from his aunt.
Mr.. Truxton Beale. former minister
to Persia. has one. of the historic
homes Of the capital in the old Beale
house on Lafayette square.
Mr.. David Jayne Hill. another ex-
amba ssador. has been back here for
several winters. where he and his
family have such a wide acquaintance.
One of the most charming figures in
the social life of the capital twenty
years ago was the
Two IuncheOnS late Mrs. Febiger,
.e1.A wife of Rear Ad-
VI oAs'1n0'io"' miral Febiger. Her
granddaughter, Miss Nelly Johnson.
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Evarts
Johnson, will be among the debutantes
of 1915, and the latter is giving a
luncheon next week in compliment to