The Washington times., 1917-02-25
JEAN ELoT@
- LETTER.

curtain on the season goes, Ash
Wednesday seems to be passing into
the realm of a mere traditional any
rate in Washington, and in an in
Gugural year.
1t did give the smart end of the
town a chance to catch its BREATH
and make up a little bit Of lost Sleep
but that is about all:
For Thursday, washington's Birth
day brought a renewal .of activities
and there seems to be from now on,
for the next two weeks at any rate
no prospect OF society's donnlng
spring STYLES in sackcloth, or trying
the effect Of ashes.
Society will keep Lent" but the
one dav, Good Friday There will be
no further official entertaining at the
White House, but the President and
Mrs. Wilson will dine out several
times during the Lenten season, as
will most of the Cabinet officers.
There will also be a succession or
evening musicaIes and the regular
meetings of the two or three fash-
ionabIe dancing classes to take the
place OF the formal balls.
Even Ash wednesday Exciting
Even Ash Wednesday was not en-
tireIy without it's social excitement,
Since the Secretary of the Treasury
and Mrs. William Gibbs McAdoo chose
that day TO announce the engagement
of Mr., McAdoo's daughter, Mona, TO
Ferdinand de Mohrenschildt, second
secretary of the Russian embassy, and
society. with four international
matches already accomplished since
the first of October, found itself with
vet another in prospect for The spring.
Five in one season is something OF
n record, and there is a good deal OF
smiling comment on the subtle con-
nection between war and weddings.
Mona Hazlehurst McAdoo Is the
second daughter of the secretary OF
the Treasury. the eldest being her
widowed sister, Mrs. Charles y. iiar-
tin, formerly of California, but since
her husbands death. of Philadelphia,
with whom she has of late spent al
good deal of her time.
As the youthful chatelaine of hei
fathers house, chaperoned by MISS
Laura Harlan, Miss McAdoo was one
of the interesting figures OF ofhclai
society She was regarded as the
beauty of the Cabinet circle. Since
which she was undisguisedly opposed.
she has not spent much time in Wash
ington.
Went Abroad as War Nurse
with CathurIne Britton.
She is accomplished, and has trayel-
ed extensively. About two years ago,
she and Catharine Britton, who re-
Gently married Prince Zu Hohenlohe-
schiIlingsfurst, formerly connected
with the Austrian embassy here. went
abroad together to engage in Red
Cross work, under the wings during
the Journey, OF Colonel and Mrs.
House.
Mr.. de Mohrenschildt has been at
tached to the Russian embassy here
for about a year. He belongs to one
of those untitled families of Russia.
that are yet regarded as more dis
tinguished than some OF the titled
ones.
In the short time that he has been
IN Washington, and in Newport, where
he spent last summer as member
of the embassy staff, he has been
able to make himself decidedly pop-
ular. Those in a position to know.
predict a brilliant career for him in
his country's diplomatic service.
No date has been announced for
the wedding, but Miss McAdoo's girl
friends-who are, of course, saying
''I told you so" (which they never
did and insisting that they knew II
all along (which one somehow ques-
tions) seem to think ii will be short
sngaEement and to look forward to
q wedding shortly after Easter.
On Ash Wednesday, too, came the
announcement that the Vice Presi- |
dent and Mrs. Marshall were plan
ming a ball for the evening of Marcn
8 in honor OF the Black Horse Troop
Of the Culver Cadets OF Indiana
which is to serve as the Vice Prest- |
dents escort in the inaugural parade
this year as it did four years ago.
First to Succeed Himself
Since the Civil War.
And we'll may the Marshalls csle-
brate the inauguration for is not Mr..
Marshall the first Vice President 10
succeed himself since the civil war:
So, instead Of submitting tameIy tu |
the Presidential edict against the ia /
augural ball, Washington is rejoicing /
in the prospect Of two inaugural balls. 7
which will be the more attractive
from the social viewpoint in that they |
are entirely outside the Jurisdiction
of the inaugural committee. The
other is the ball planned by the Wash.
ington Club. Both will, of course. be
invitation affairs. to which the great
body of visiting tourists Is not likely |
TO get cards. :
THE announcement OF the Marshal!s :
plan has been received with enthusi
asm Heretofore. except during the |
winter that the White House and all |
the immediate Administration circle .
was officially in mourning, the Vice
President and Mrs. Marshall have |
given two big evening receptions with !
dancing during February, which |
everyone has enjoyed tIemendnusly.
This season there was moirninE when |
Il was found that they were not Civ
ing them.
Of course, there Is no means Of /
knowing whether the President and |
Mrs. Wilson will attend either of these |
balls. Last winter they did 20 to the |
second of the MarshaiIs' dances. And |
Il il understood that one Of President |
Wilson's objections to the official in |
augural ball has been that he dislikes |
the idea Of a paid function i'll celebrP-
tion Of his inauguration. That, Of !
course. would not hold against the !
MarshalIs party. Nor would 1T really |