The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-02-17
LATEST FASHIONS
AT THE CAPITAL
BY MARGARET WADE.

ceptions, cabinet dinners and diplo-
matte at homes in the matter Of per-
sonal interest and smart attire.
Mrs. Wilson has, according to the
cable reports and in some rare in
stances through the private correspond
ents Of the favored few hearing Of the
feminine side of life at the Murat pal
ace and the Hotel de Crillon, provided
herself with a well-selected Paris ward
robe, which is expected to point the
way in smart fashions in the brief
season between the return of the pres
which brief period promises much Of
fetal entertaining.
Henry White, the veteran diplomat
accompanying the presidential party,
with a seat at the peace table, is au-
thority for the statement that Mrs.
Wilson has been a truly regal figure
in the varied program of state dinners,
from buckingham palace to the Quiri-
nal, as well as in the more democratic
companies gathered at the American
Woman's club in London, at a similar
Institution Of Art students in Paris or
on the ordinary sightseeing tours in
which she has INDUCED with her capa-
BILE secretary, Miss Edith Benham, the
latter having known Paris from a school
girl and an accomplished linguist in
any country of Europe.
In the meantime the younger element
Of smart society is receiving great at
tention.
The largest dinner of the season by
the commandant of the marine corps,
for example, was not in honor of the
secretary of the navy Or any visiting
dignitaries, but in compliment to an
extremely youthful bride-elect, Miss
Roberta Brooke Russell, only daughter
of Col. John II. Russell, y. S. NJ. c.,
who put aside her school books to
accept an engagement ring, and in
place of a debut wardrobe will have
a trousseau that will make her one
of the best gowned as well as one of
the prettiest of spring brides. The
fiance of this daughter of the marines
Is John Dryden Kusar, a senior at
Princeton, the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Anthony Kusar, of Trenton, and grand
son OF the late Senator Dryden, Of
New Jersey.
At this dinner of 40 covers, with
the marine orchestra stationed in the
palm-screened background, playing the
love music of Mendelssohn, the youth
full guest of honor fully sustained her
part as leading lady, wearing an ex-
quisite gown Of pale lilac chiffon built
over silver lace, with a girdle of pale
blue satin, all in modish but extremely
simple lines. The couture, her first
Of its kind, was also modern and sim
pile, with a pale blue ribbon holding
III pIdIC me iOOSGlH WdNGu mar VI sui
brown, which. with her genuine rose
leaf complexion, are two Of Miss Rus
sells very obvious assets. That the
ribbon was fastened by a sapphire and
diamond brooch, one of the many gifts
of the bridegroom elect, was a matter
Of sentiment that in no way detracted
from the elegant simplicity Of what
might be called the wearer's coming
out costume,
The wedding day for this favored
couple has been fixed for the spring
recess of Princeton university, and in
ci~dentally follows the seventeenth birth
day of the bride-to-be by just one
month.
While the capitals leading matrons
consider velvet is first choice for din
ner gowns, some smart and distin-
guished visitors are showing a prefer
ence for satin and even tulle for the
c~eremonious occasions.
Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt, Jr, a
recent guest of Capt. and Mrs. Perry
Belmont, wore to one of the most i'm
portant dinners Of her visit a pink
satin gown covered in tulle of the
same tone, with round draped skirt
and a bolero-like bodice of crystals
and pearls. r.
Mrs. Herbert wadsworth, who has
reopened her home on Dupont circle
after an absence Of five years, is an.
other matron sponsoring the tullt
gown, but in this case the color is
vivid green, with the skirt, like Mrs
Vanderbilt's, trainless and to the an.
kles.
Mrs. Charles McCawley is wearing 9
satin and tulle gown in black, which
is n of the smartest of the season
the tulle overdrapery being banded
In rhinestones and pearls, which also
formed the broad outline of the
V-shaped neck.
Mrs. Perry Belmont, whose gown
whether for street or house, always
points the way, is wearing a peacock
blue velvet with a long train, which
has its los fitting sleeveless bodice
of Colored rhinestones harmonizing with
the velvet, but in several tones of greer
and red. The latter note is empha'
sized by an ostrich fan of dark red
which Mrs. Belmont carries with thi,
splendid gown.
Mrs. George Thacher Gurnsey, of In,
dependence, Kas., now claimed as wei
by the national capital by reason o
her presence a great part of the veal
as president of the Daughters OF the
American Revolution, is one of thu
notably w~ell-gowned women to be me
this season. At a beautifully appointed
reception in her honor at the home
Of Mrs. Matthew T. Scott, Mrs. Gurn.
sey wore a mauve nj silver brocadt
that may have been made in America
as the d. A. r. leader is a practica
patriot. but If so by a ~transplantet
ing the French modistes the creates
Of their class. This becoming gowr
had a close PLAIN skirt with pointed
overdrapery and Square-cut corsage, al
Of the brocade with an embellishmen'
Of silver tulle about the bodice ant
to fall low on each side.
Mrs. Hugh Wallace, a daughter o
the late Chief Justice Fuller, was {
very smart figure at a recent dime
in a black and gold brocade on modisl
lines admirably suited to the splendid
graceful figure of this youthful looking
matron, who has just been made
grandmother.
At this same dinner party Mrs. Me
dill Mccormick wore a new version
of cloth OF gold, inasmuch a. the golt
ground Is brocaded In red, the ultra
smart frock fashioned on long line
with iris establishment. a garniture o
rhinestones showing the red tone a
well as the clear crystal.
Mrs. Thomas Watt Gregory, whc
with her husband, the retiring attor
n~ey-general, Is being extensively enter
tanned, is wearing a becoming an
modlSh dinner gown or blue velvet tina
shows the new line in train and bodice
Mr., and Mrs. Gregory have Dime
invitations out for two large companie
on next Thursday and Friday evening,
respectively.
Mrs, A. S. Burleson, also a niue
feted dinner guest-as much for he
own clever personality as by reason c
her husbands position as postmaster
generals wearing a black velvet din
ner gown on close modish lines, wit
long, narrow train that Is extremel
becoming,
Mrs, c. c. Calhoun is wearing a sill
yer gown of great charm in tulle an
cloth of silver on severe but gracefl
lines, with well -defined waist line an
medium train, A pearl necklace an
diamond corsage ornaments are detail