The Washington herald., 1918-05-26
Women Prominent the Social Life Of the Nations CAPITAL

benefit or another. And that means
to have It in. For Mrs. Dimock is
been since the days when her brother,
the late William C. Whitney, was
the strongest man in Cieveland's
Cabinet-the man who might easily
have had the Presidential nomina-
ton himself. but that his loyalty to
his chief made him turn 1t down.
The Whitneys entertained bril-
liantly In their time-and passed into
Washington's social and political his
tory. But Mrs. Dimock stayed on,
until now she Is almost the last of
a group Of Washington grande danes
|-dowagers of tremendous social in
fiuence who ruled Washington for
the salvation Of its social soul-wom-
en- like Mrs. John Hay, Mrs.-or as
she was more often called, Madam
I-Pinchot (and she looked the partD,
Mrs. William Draper-who since her
daughters marriage to Prince Bon
compagni, Of Italy. some eighteen
months ago. has established herself
in Italy, too. and not opened her
Washington house for two seasons.
The only ones who remain and who
are even approximately in her class
are Mrs. Richard Townsend, Mrs.
Mark Hanna, who has a sumptuous
apartment and entertains occasional
ly; Mrs. Thomas Bayard, and per-
haps Mrs. John B. Henderson. So
when Mrs. Dimock suddenly realized
that the Italians had been neglected
in the distribution OF benefits-and
started out to make 1t up to them-the
result was foregone conclusion; all
the more, that her only daughter,
Mrs. Katherine Dimock Hutchinson,
married Giuseppi Catalani. former
counselor Of the Italian Embassy, and
some Of the best blood of Italy flows
in the veins Of her little grandchil-
dren over the water.
Such stars would, of course, have
packed the house anyhow, especially
since Caruso had not been in WASH
ington for more than ten years. As II
was. the town outdid itself. Caruso
and De Luca were Mrs. Dimock's
house guests, and they were met at
the station by Mr.. and Mrs. Town
send and Lieut. Lawrence Townsend,
tr, and Lieut.. and Mrs. Efringham
Townsend; by Capt. VannuteIH. naval
attache at the embassy; Count Min
iscalchi-Erizzo, counselor, and Mr..
Butt and Mr.. Quattrone, also from
the embassy. Moreover, they were
greeted by fully a thousand of Caru-
SOS countrymen and several hundred
Americans waving flags and shout
ing viva IL rey del canto!" Twas a
great day for Italy!
As for the concert, II was sheer de-
light; wonderful audience in a hol-
iday mood. The President and Mrs.
Wilson. just back from the weekend
In New York, launching the Red
cross drive there, but not in the hoy
that had been reserved for them.
They started of with one of their usu-
al family parties. But they were met
at the door by Gen. Guglielmotti. who
escorted them triumphanSy to the
Italian Ambassadors box, leaving the
White House box to their party. which
included Mrs. William H. Rolling
John Randolph Boiling, Miss Helen
Bones and Miss Benham,
The Italian Embassy party occupied
Two boxes, and included Vice Presi-
dent and Mrs. Marshall. and the Sec
retary or State and Mrs. Lansing az
well as the President and Mrs. Will
son. Opposite to them Mrs. Dimock
entertained the British Ambassador.
Just back from Toronto with a new
degree. and Lady Reading and the
French Ambassador and Nine. Jus
| serand.
Capt. and Mrs. Perry Belmont and
MRS. William A. Slater were Joint
nosts at box party which included
mrs Longworth. Nine de Blanpre,
NINE de Laboulaye, Col Martin. of
the French Mission, and Major Crau-