The Washington herald., 1915-04-18
Bv MARGARET WADE.


illustrate anew the true spirit Of Ameri-
can independence. In the great body
of LOCO delegates and visitors. who come
TO Washington each year for this oc-
casion, one finds every type of American
woman of today. just as one hundred
and forty years ago the struggling
colonies called on every type of man. TO
fight for the principles these worthy
ladies are building monuments to CONF
memorate.
The "Daughtcrs'' are not such cri-
terion of style as they were ten or
fifteen years ago. when women of nation
al importance filled the highest offices
of the society and social attention offered
the delegates of those days so encroach-
ed on the official program that much
unfinished business had To be crowded
into the closing hours of the week
which always holds as its most import
ant days the anniversary OF the battle
Of Lexington.
This years congress. in addition to
elcctinS a new president for the society.
affords an excellent opportunity for
standardizinS American fashions. as the
list of delegates shows the names of
scores of women leaders in their re-
speCtive States who are coming to Wash
ington to take part in the annual con-
Eress. but will select considerable par
of their spring and summer wardrobes
that enveloped a large part of the coun-
try. and the interruption to imported
models and materials have been two OF
the contributing causes to the great I'M
certainty to what is what in the mat
ter of spring attire. which this great
gathering of women from Maine to Cali
fornia, it is hoped, may dispeI
Mrs Matthew T. Scott and Mrs. John
W. Foster, two former presidents of the
society. already in Washington. are
models Of elegance in dress. as also is
Mrs. Samuel Spencer, wife of the late
president of the Southern Railroad. Mrs.
J. B. Foraker. of Ohio. who comes as a
delegate from her State, is another wom-
an always well dressed to any occasion.
Mrs. J. {. Burrows. of Michigan, a char
ter member of the society. is a figure of
more than local interest coming To this
years congress. with smart wardrobe
recently selected in New York. where she
las been passing some time.
ono OF the most complete wardrob"s
of the carly season, from sailor hats to
the latest model in ball gowns, is that
of Nine Bakhmetcf. wife of the Rus
sian Amha Ssa dor. hut herself an Amer
lean whose brilliant Cirlhood was passed
in Washington. where her parents. Gen
and Mrs. Edward F. Beale. were leaders
OF smart society a generation ago. Nine"
Bakhmetcf who passed the week in
New York as the patroness Of the Rus
sian bazaar in aid of the war sufferers or
that country. took no part in general so
Cicty in the carly weeks of the war. but
more recently has been accepting lnNi-
tations to dine and also has done some
entertaining at the new embassy IN six
toenth street. which it may he said in
Passing, is now the handsomest OF all the
embassy homes in Washington.
one, Of Nine. Bakhmcteffs new dinner
gowns is canary Coiored chlnon vel
vet A chiffon foundation hroCadcd in del
icate velvet figures. a Russian fabric
that is fine and light enough for sum-
1ner wear. hut rich enough for court
dinner PARTY With this gown Nine
Rakhnetef will wear topaz ornaments.
thus following the Russian custom or
matching the Jewels to the gowns. She
probably will wear pearls or diamonds
as well. as she has plenty of both. but
tho secondary stones in quaint artistic
setting will emphasize the color of the
gown. In the same fashion this Ambassa-
dress. who proposes passing the summer
as las year at Newport. has a green satin
sinner gown to wear with her iar-faTed
.mcra Ids and blue gown AS back
ground for necklace and tiara of Saphlres.
For Informal afternoon occasions Nine
Rakhmet.n is wearing a two-piece SUIT
of dark blu" serge. tn" round skirt cut
in three. straight unrippled fOunces. with
:. sclni-fttinC coat much longer in the
back than the front Her blouse is or
tho finest handkerchief linen and Rus
SInm iiiiet. nf which she uses a great
deal and nor hat an uncompromlslnS
sailor of light brown hemp. trimmed i'll
lluc velvet and dark bluebird The
latter is placed in the new fiat fashion.
with OutStrctChcd wings and BODY
pressed close to the straw crown Nine.
RHkhnct"f completes this cost'im" with
Very smart French low shoes Of bronze
leather.
Two prominent hostesses of former
Years who ar" enjoying all the delights
uf q sprin. season in Washington with
mo- RESPONSIBILITIES are Mrs. Philandcr c.
Knox. wife Of tho former Secretary Of
state. and Mrs. Theodore a Bingham,
who's. husband, Gen. Bingham l. S. A.
was leading figure in tn" military
..r,l" under Presidents Mckinley and
Roosevelt.
Mrs. knox. who is pa ssing the season
ut her * street h0m". is looking chic
and dainty as ever in "a walking suit
Of blue and black tWilled cloth. made
with a round skirt that is plainly the
Tnrcrunncr of the kilt 1t. is practically
a kilt skirt with box pl"atcd front and
hack and a slight broadening Of the
side picats on each hip. These side
jacket i just to the hips on each sid"
and some inches shorter in the hack.
TIL" hat worn with this is blue straw
in = long sailor shape. with domed
crown and trimming of black satin and
small cluster Of odd little silk flowers.
Mrs bingham takes her morning prom
cnadc in stylish suit of black velour
d'lainc. with short skirt and long close
tunic cut in points. Her coat Is OF the
hip length model with reveres bound
in silk braid Her hat is one OF the
very newest oval turhans. faced i'm black
satin and trimmed in wings poised at
just the right angle on the crown.
The NiCouutess Chinda, wife of the
Ambassador from Japan, who took no
part in society through the past win
ter by reason OF official mourning, is
again accepting invitations and maxi |
ing visits. At the recent at-home |
OF prominent hostess the vicountess
wore = smart but very plain black !
gown made in q Semitailored model |
with slight drapery about the hips |
| Han W., Mo.