The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-07-22

DEAR SUSAN-writing from Eng
land recently a friend OF nina COM
nented on the real thrill she expe-
rienced in attending a dinner party
Of twelve. Such functions, she ex-
planned, had been considered dis
tiaatly had form since the very out
bYs4k Of the war. For many months
people in the right little, tight little
island' continued to have all manner
of delicacies and luxurIes on their
tables, but IL was not considered the
thing in wartime to give parties. 1t
wasn't done.
Now, however, she continued, the
attitude is changing. People are be-
ginning to recognize that bit OF
recreation is q very necessary thing
IN time Of national strain, and that,
moreover, twelve persons may dine
together quite as simply as they can
dine separately. Luxuries and dell
cacies are now taboo, menus are Of
spartan simplicity, but dinner giving,
marked by a certain degree Of infor-
naAlity, is coming into vogue again.
=
In Washington we seem to have
recognized this principle right along.
Although we have still lot to learn
about curbing extrAvagance, there
has been q very notable change in
the character OF entertaining. Each
OF these summer evenings has its list
Of dinner parties. People like Seere-
tary and Mrs. Lane, and the Graysons,
the Joe Letters, who are staying on
here, and the various interesting new
eomers to town have scarcely an even
ing when they can dine at home; but
there IL an informally and sim
plicity about most OF the parties
which Is in keeping with the serious
ness of the times. --
DfnnerS About Only Recreation
During Week Just PaaOed.
During the past week dinner giving
has been about the only form Of
social diversion on the program.
There has even been q lull in the
midsummer weddings; and, although
the marriage OF Margaret Clark and
young vinton Pierce was OF unusual
interest, the ceremony was too quiet
70 add much to the gayety OF the
week.
Both young people-and they are
very younE-come Of families which
have been unusually prominent in the
District. At was Vinton Pterces
grandmother, wife. Of Admiral Dahl
Eren, of civil war fame, who wrote
tie FIRST book on Washington ETH
qustte. She laid down laws rigid as
those Of the Medes and the Persians,
drew class distinctions sharply. and
in short tried to-impose upon a demo-
cratic capital the etiquette governing
life In tn, aristocratic capitals of Eu-
rope. 1t didn't work, and some sim
pier system lad to be devised
Mrs. Pierce, vinton's mother. was
Ulrica Dahlgren before her marriage.
and the boys father. the late Josiah
Pierce, was professor Of engineering
at the Catholic University. He came
Of q long line Of noted engineers and
Inventors, so his son comes by his in
ventive genius naturally. You know
he has already one ordnance device
to his credit which has been accepted
by the War Department
-
Chapel It GeOrEetOwn Dedicated
II BrIdeErOOn's UneIe.
DahIgren Chapel, at Georgetown
rial to Mrs. Pierce's brother, the late
John Dahlgren, and his little son.
His widow, who was Drexel, after
ward married Harry Lehr. Another
brother. Eric Dshlgren. also married
q Niss Drexel, but they were after
ward divorced. She is known as Mrs
Drexel DabIgren, and has a beyy Of
pretty daughters, nrst cousins of the
Pierce boys, who are leaders Of the
summer colony at Lenox.
Mrs Drexel Dahlgren and Mrs Lehr
are daughters OF the late Francis
Drexel and belong to the Catholic branch
Of the family. They are closely related
% Mother Catherine Drexel, who
turned over her large fortune to the
church and founded an order for work
among the Indians and the negroes.
NrS- Pierce and her boys have .