New Britain herald., 1915-02-23
WHAT OTHERS SAY
Views on all sides of timely questions as discussed in ex- changes that come to Herald office.
Social Stir in Washington.
Washington Dispatch to Philadelphia
 Record


 RecOrd.)
 The dinner followed by dancing
 given Saturday night by Mrs. Richard 1 Townsend acknowledged leader In l the most exclusive circle of Washing i tons smart set, has put strain on 1 the neutrality of the social world 1 which threatens to reach the breaking l point.
 l It was one of those perfectly ap- l pointed entertainments for which the charming hostess enjoys reputation 1 on two continents, and in thls re- spect did not differ. from many an- other function over which she has presided. But the fact that in the
 place of honor, at her right, sat the 1 German ambassador, Count Won r >Bernstorff, and at her left the Austro- Hungarian ambassador, Dr. Constan-
 tin Dumba, has stirred to the depths
 that coterie of capital society whose sympathies are with the allies. The
 undercurrent of comment has ranged all the way from amazement to open resentment, and, as the story travels through the smart boudoirs and sal ons. the signs of open mutiny seem to
 multiply.
 At the beginning of the season the
 amba ssad dors of the allied powers let
 it be known that they would accept no invitatio to formal society func- tions This attitude was based part ly upon a wish to avoid the embar- rassment of rubbing elbows with the diplomatic representatives of a hostile power. Motives of greater delicacy suggested, as they announced, that it would be unbecoming for them to take part in scenes of rejoicing and festivity while the pail of death hung over their respective countries en- gagged in a terrible war.
 Society, of course, did not strike from it's list these foreign representa- tives, who normally constitute large and important part of the cap- ital's social prestige. The invitations went to them from society hostesses as before It was assumed, as matter of course, that regrets would be sent, and any hostess would have been astonished if her invitation to a dinner or dance had been accepted
 Perhaps such was the case at Mrs. Townsend's elegant affair, but she IS woman of too much graclousness and charm of manner to betray her surprise and the rules of precedents in the social world demanded that the German ambassador should be given the place of honor, and the Austro-Hungarian am bassador the second place at the hospitable board.
 The one outstanding fact IS that the Teutonic envoys were present and made themselves most affable. Count Von Bernstorff is reported to have danced every dance. The impression was allowed to go forth to the world that they had been specially selected by the accepted leader of Washing toms smartest circle as the guests or honor. The friends of the allies Tn the society set naturally wondered what it all meant. It is not yet cer- tain but what the feud will break out and social war take place, which, In a sense will be as keen as that Wh1ch is now going on between the armles at the front |
 The most generally accepted ex- of it all is that the German and Austro- Hungarian ambassadors are acting on direct instructions from their governments in accepting every social invitation rendered them, With | the view of creating the impression ! a broad that exclusive society in Wasn- 1 ington is strongly in sympathy With 1 the German cause.