The Washington herald., 1915-12-19

WcIv IickuO8I8 Vi kuC GASioosvS OAb~so
circles Of washington before either of thu
heads OF the family assumed the Presi
Dental office. Mr.. Roosevelt had been
Assistant Secretary OF the Navy. Civil
Service Commissioner and Vice Presi'
dent and Mr.. Taft had been Solicitor
General and Secretary Of War. They
found Washington society ~ familiar and
as readily wearable as the proverbial old
shoe
The advent Of the Wilson famfh
created a real upheaval in Washington
At the time 1t seemed to be only political
but 1t slowly became apparent to even
the most casual observer that much that
was characteristic Of former regimes was
to be eschewed under the new dispensa-
tion. Washington. during the three years
ending has been treated to a number OF
shocks. The old customs are said to
be passing. The changes while hardly to
be termed radical are none the less
definitive.
The Chevy Chase Club episode furnished
the first indication that the era Of con-
servation in social matters had ended.
This was followed quickly by the elimina-
ton of the inaugural bail as the opening
function of a new administration. Upon
the heels OF this came the Presidents Ill
ness which made impossible his first New
Years reception to be followed year
later by the dropping of that festivity
from the White House calendar alto
gether. Were these the outward mani
festations of fundamental changes in the
social stratifcations Of Washington or
only superficial and largely accidental oc-
currences?' was the question which
Washington started in to answer. The
answer has not been heard. There re-
mains for the new mistress of the White
House to show Washington whether or
not a restoration of the older system OF
social habit is to follow. and Washington
sits back and wonders what will be the
result of her efforts when she takes the
social lead. What sort Of a social atmos-
phere will the new first lady OF the land
create in social Washington and at the
White House?
White House Bride Clever.
For one thing it is acknowledged by
all that the White House bride Is clever.
She has been more than popular despite
the fact that she has never been socially
active. She Is a woman Of great beauty
of form and face and OF a rare DISPOSE
ton which is coupled with the ability
to make and to hold firm and loyal
friends. The social obstacles which
Washington society sees looming so
iai &C oi SSosob Hoii<oh III thS
end prove only wind clouds and fog
banks, and Washington which has So
cially hungered for the past three years
in hoping for the best. The society OF
the National Capital regardless OF the
murnurings and missivinSs of the ultra
pessimistic is anxious to welcome the
new arbiter of its social life.
The first appearance of Mrs. Woodrow
Wilson will be at the reception to the
diplomats of the pan-American CONTRA
ternity of nations to be held January 4.
This function replaces the diplomatic re-
ception which in former years before the
European war rent the social fabric OF
diplomatic circles In all the world capi-
tails TO tatters. 1t will be followed by
two diplomatic dinners at which the
diplomats of Europe will be entertained
In two divided camps with the alignment
defined by the battle fronts overseas.
One point of Importance which thus far
has been held in abeyance is the question
of the extent OF the personal intimacy
which may be expected to prevail between
the new wife Of the President and the
ladies Of the Cabinet circle. No admins
tration has ever equalled the present one
for the absence of real intimacy between
the women of the Presidents official
family and the chatelaine of the
White House. The long period Of
deep mourning which followed the
death of the first Mrs. Wilson pre-
ceded by her protracted illness played
some part in this situation. This far
the ladies of the Cabinet Circle have held
back and not sought to intrude upon the
privacy of the future mistress of the
Executive Mansion. Whether or not they
shall shortly resume the relationship
which has characterized past administra-
tons remains to be seen and it is the
new mistress privilege to define Just
how much or how little of this intimacy
shall exist Upon the conduct of the
Presidents bride in this regard will de-
pend much as to the pace which will
be set in Washington's social whirlig1g
for the coming season.