The Washington times., 1915-08-29
JEAN ELI0T%
LETTER..

It will not be long now before tho 20.
tourners bv the sea and in the noun
tains will be vending their way home
ward. Summer resorts have not been
as satisfying as usual this year. any
way. owing to the continuous wet
weather: there seems to be a disposition
TO return in time for a week or two OF
shopping and preparation before plac-
ing the youngsters in school; and.
besides, I have hunch that people re-
gard home as Just about the most rea-
sonable and comfortable place to be
when the times are so unsettled.
Already where two or three are gath
cred together the tendency Is to dis
cuss the possibilities for a gay winter
a most fruitful topic OF discussion, in
deed, and safe as well; for by the time
''the season" rolls round and the mat
ter is settled pro and con. everybody has
forgotten all about the way we settled
It beforehand. Much interest centers.
Of course, in the part which the White
House Is to play. and this is bounded
on all sides BY conjecture. But he who
runs may read. and the fact that Har-
lakenden House was the scene Of a
number of festivities this summer. in
formal 1t Is true. but none the less at
tractive. leads one to suppose that the
President and his daughters will take
some part in the social doings Of tho
winter. and that entertaining. Of an Of
fetal character at least. will be resumed
at the White House. ,- .q ..-,..N.
.....s', * - ~-H "~
Unfortunately, the European war has
added new perplexitles to the always
delicate matter of etiquette and official
precedence. and should the White House
functions be resumed, work will be cut
out for a Napoleon Of social genius to
run things smoothly and avoid the possl-
bility of uncomfortable encounters under
the Presidents roof.
A Pan-American reception might be
substituted for the usual diplomatic re-
oeption and the state dinners 50 care
fully arranged that only allies and rep
resentatives Of neutral nations should
be invited to dine at the same ume-but
I fear me that would keep the poor
neutrals bound to the Executive dinner
table most Of the winter.
OF course. the early season Ia likely to
be marked by round Of official enter
tanning for the Secretary Of State and
Mrs. Lansing. a welcome which has not
been possible during this season Of
strictly informal entertaining and with
the Cabinet circle so broken up. 1t 10
immensely amusing to note the interest
, that has been reused by the momentOus
question. now answered in the afelrma-
tive. as to whether the Lansings would
serve wine at their official parties. One
might think from the publicity given the
Bryans' policy Of serving nothing
stronger than grape Juice. 1t was the
usual thing in q benighted republican
administ ration to drag bcsotted diplo-
mats from under the table at offic al
functions. But, ye gods, was there
ever more innocuous affair than the
usual diplomatic dinner!
"The beautiful Lady Hope Nelson"
who, according to the London papers,
has finally prevailed upon her husband
to allow her to take up nursing at the
front. and who was formerly Isabel
Vale, of St. Louis. is sister Of Jules
Valle. who married Frances Thorn.
Frances Vale and her baby. by the
way. are in town now. visiting Mrs.
Thorn.
of Isabel taken years ago at Coburg.
Canada when she had her dresses to
her knees, was almost as broad as she
was long. and when 1t required careful
study to discover the possibility Of her
becoming the most beautiful girl in
America-for so Mrs. william K. Van
derbilt called her at the time Of her
marriage to the heir to Sir william
Hope Nelson's millions. She was q
great favorite at Newport. and when
she was presented at the English court
she created a small sensation. Her
husband Is now training recruits In
Ireland.
Mrs. Royden D. Chase. having rented
her pretty home in Bradley Lane.
Chevy Chase. has gone to Anchorage
q mushroom village in Alaska. on the
line Of the Alaskan railway. now under
process Of construction. to Join her
husband Mr.. Chase is chief clerk OF
the Alaskan railway commission. and he
and his wife will make their home In
Alaska indefinitely. probably until this
splendid project is brought to compile
ton.
-
Charlie anu AIIIlc bTOWh IoIhulcy al 9
preparing for an extended automobile
trip to Cleveland. Ohio. and the coun-
try roundabout, as the guests of friends
who expect to motor from Cleveland
and take the Bradley family back with
them for visit. Mrs. Bradley and the
children have been passing the sum-
mer at that delightful old Quaker COM
munity. Sandy Spring. where Mr.. Brad
ley toins her each week end. Between
times he is staying with his cousins.
Mr.. and Mrs. John c. Heald. at Beth
esda. Nd.
-
MacRea Parker has accepted an In
structorship at Cornell for the coming
winter. and expects to go North as soon
as college opens. He is a Cornell grad
uate. you remember. and. consequently
looks forward with a great deal OF
pleasure to going back. His subject Is
mechanical drawing of some sort-it ha.
beautiful big name which I can't
remember, and you probably wouldn't
understand any more than I did.
-
Capt Joshua S. Mexican. Y. s. N.
of Ohio. is the descendant Of another
signer of the Declaration Of Indeepnd