Evening star., 1914-11-29
In the Diplomatic Circle.

| The formal announcement from the
British embassy that Lady Spring-R
will not observe day at home during
! the coming season may really be APP
| piled to the chatelaines of other en-
bassies of the warning countries, but
| this does not put up the bars to ones
intimate friends 1t only excludes the
curious, who in Washington constant
| ly take advantage of days at home OF
cabinet women, diplomats and others
of the official set that they may get an
intimate glimpse of how things are
done to retail to their friends less ven
turesome, or perhaps the folks back
home.
The neutral or semi-neutral .diplo-
mats are receiving an almost overpow
ering lot of attention from society folk,
and 1t is a nice little point that the new
Italian ambassador and Countess
Macchi di Cellere should be so situated
as to accept attentions just at this
time when other ambassadors and their
wives are limited in their activities.
The engagements of the ambassador
and the countess extend right up to
Ash " Wednesday, and form a slender
but brilliant link of entertainments
running through the season. Mrs. Will
liam r. Draper, whose hospitality has
touch of old-world grandeur about
it, will give a dinner in their honor
January 5.
The war angle, as it is termed: with
out which no meeting of society is
complete, afforded double interest at
al informal dinner recently, when
the Austro Hungarian ambassador
and Nine. Dumba were guests AL
most the entire conversation ceEtered
about the experiences of Nine. Dumba,
whose powers of observation and de-
scription lent a thrilling charm to the
event. Dainty and vivacious, She told
in her beautiful English, which has
experience in Austria during those try
ing days when even the ambassador
received no word from her. Nine.
Dumba takes long walks every, day,
rain or shine, with her favorite, dog.
the Highlands terrier "Mugains.'
which became Il familiar figure in
fashiona BILE streets during the visit of
Prince Munster Won Durneburg at the
embassy last spring.
Thirteen ambassadors will bring the
President when he receives DIR. Remulo
S. Naon of Argentina and Senior Don
Eduardo Suarez-Mujica of Chile in
their new capacities as ambassadors.
With the Mexican embassy, which is
for the present closed, there are eleven
diplomats here with the rank OF am
baSsador.
There was a lively time in the corps
when the first legations were raised
to the rank of embassies, and then, as
now, they came in lots. There was 4
thrilling moment when it was unde-
cided as to whether Great Britain or
France should have the honor of the
first embassy here. The credentials of
NJ. Patenotre arrived first, but Sir
Julian Pauncefote, British minister.
was dean of the corps. With all the
grace for which his country is noted.
NJ Patenotre waived his right in favor
of Sir Julian Pauncefote, whose age and
years of service far Outnumbered his
own.
Senior Suarez- Mujica will be present
ed to the President Tuesday. The Rus
sian ambassador and Nine. Bakhmeteff
changed their plans Yesterday for
leaving Washington and will go to New
York today. They will be the most
prominent figures at the big Russian
benefit Tuesday. and will occupy box
with other notables They will return
to Washington during the week.
Nine. Ali KuIi Khan will leave Call
fornia Wedn esday. after spending some
weeks on the coast. and will come direct
to Washington. The legation is now
fully established at the Brighton. and
have every facility for entertaining
during the coming season
Countess Macchi di Cellere. wife OF
the Italian ambassador. will be at home
every Friday afternoon at o'clock
Her establishment of a. day and hour
is the first indication of real activity In
the Diplomatic corps. and the home OF
Mr. Thomas Nelson Page. now the
italian embassy, will naturally be the
favored meeting place for society on
those afternoons.