Omaha daily bee., 1919-10-26
w Washington
Society Is
Changing
Mrs. Lansing and Mrs.
Lane Will Not Return
Formal Calls Made
During This Year.
Bee Bureau.
Washington, Oct. rs.


king" Yesterday it was literally in
mourning and paid its last tribute
in St. Matthews church to a popu-
lar ambassador, Count di Collere, of
Italy, who died suddenly on Mon
day night. Monday it will be as
gay as it can possibly be with an
i'll president, and greet the ruling
king and queen of Belgium, the
most heroic and most democratic
and probably the most beloved
monarchs who figured in the late
war.
Mrs. Lansing. wife Of the secre-
tary of state, omitted her Wednes-
day afternoon reception this week
out of difference to the dead ambas-
sador. She, in fact, spent the greater
part of her time with tthe widow
from the time of the counts death
until his funeral yesterday. He
was i'll but two days, and was
about to return to Italy and be sue
ceeded by Baron Romano Avez-
zano. Mrs. Lansing will resume
her Wednesdays next week and
continue them informally until Jan
uary !, and after that until Ash
Wednesday. Mrs. Lansing has
made wise decision, unprecedented
in Washington society, not to at
tempt to return her calls this year.
1t is beyond the powers OF human
endurance to fulfill the social obli-
cations of cabinet hostess. re-
turning all the calls made during a
season upon her, and keep her ply
sical and mental strength. Last
season Mrs. Lansing made 5000
calls, and it was a season when CALI
ing was not at>its best because of
the war conditions.
Mrs. Lane, wife of the secretary
OF the interior, has been obliged to
harbor her strength for several wears
owing to lack of physical strength.
and she has followed Mrs. Lansing's
lead IN the matter of returning the
calls. She will, like Mrs. Lansing,
be at home to visitors on Wednes-
day afternoons throughout the sea
son and give her callers a cordial
welcome. Mrs. Houston, wife Of
the secretary of agriculture, will do
likewise.
The other hostesses of the circle
have made no announcement of
their intentions. The calls of the
wives of the vice president and the
members of the cabinet consist
merely of leaving cards at the doors
of the callers, which in itself means
little, although there are those who
cherish highly the bite of paste
| board which read variously "Thc
Vice President" Mrs. Marshall"
the Secretary of State" and so on
through the line of the cabinet. Just
now when the names of these dis
tinguished Americans are upon the
lips of every one, almost daily, the
little cards are of value, but only
four years hence and would every
one throughout the country remem-
Der? And it is the residents of towns
and cities other than Washington
who value the cards of distinguish
ed officials, far above those who see
and meet them day after day, in the
nations capital.
king and queen who are arriving
here on Monday evening, include q
dinner party in the Belgian embassy
on Massachusetts, Avenue on that
evening, sort zen familie" affair.
Tuesday evening the vice presi-
dent and Mrs. Marshall, who will
act as hosts in the place OF the
president and Mrs. Wilson, will en-
tertain at dinner in honor of their
majesties This function will be
given in the superb home Of Mrs.
Thomas F. Walsh, widow of the
Colorado lead and copper king, as
the Marshalls have had nothing
nearer home in Washington, than
a suite OF rooms in a downtown ho-
tel. This is matter of distinct
chagrin to Americans in general,
that the royal visitors will be enter
tanned by the ranking hosts of the
country, in house borrowed for the
occasion.
Mrs. Walsh and Mrs. Marshall
have been the closest of friends
since Mrs. Marshalrs arrival here to
assume the duties of her exalted, So
cial position. Mrs. Walsh, knowing
the embarrassment of the vice presi-
dent and his wife in having no suit
able place for a royal dinner party,
came promptly forth with the offer
of her house for that evening, wnicn
was as promptly accepted. Mrs.
Walsh, being in mourning for ner
eldest grandchild, and adored little
Vinson Mclean, SON of Mr.. and
Mrs. E. B. Mclean, will not be pres
ent. The king and queen will be en-
tertained at reception at Trinity
college on Tuesday afternoon. Trim
4 ity college is the highest educational
institution in this country for wo-
men and is under the guidance of
66 sisters of the order of Sisters of
Notre Dame of Namur, Belgium.
Nebraskans.
Senator and Mrs. Norris enter
tained at dinner last Wednesday
evening in honor of Major and Mrs.
Thorgrimson, formerly of McCook,
Neb., who are now living in Seattle,
Wash. Major and Mrs. Thorgrim-
son are in Washington for an indefi-
mite stay and have taken an apart
ment at the Hotel Powhatan.
| Representative and Mrs. Reavis
entertained small company at
luncheon at the Capitol on Tuesday
in honor of Mrs. Will Israel of
| Havelock near Lincoln, who is visit
ing her brother-in-law, Mr., F. L.
Israel, at Fairfax. Va.
| Mr. and Mrs. Otto II. Schurman
,,J tt,a,r JA,-hxa-e M.ee - Axx,lS