Evening star., 1922-12-10
iRIS and Washington alike are
in the grip of the epidemic OF
balls for n philanthropic pur-

u
- in the grip of the epidemic OF
balls for a philanthropic pur-
pose, three or four deep each
night in Paris, and beginning to assume
rather formidable proportions in the
American capital. OF the more formal
entertainments which were so numerous
in both cities when December was ush-
cred in, the number is SO few as to be
negligible The older social arbiters here
are of the opinion of the poet Brown
ing. who called down the wrath OF
the cruel Ghenghis Chan on China, be-
cause from her cursed tea came par
ties, and of them I'm slowly dying.
The leaders in FaubourE st. German
find the same complaint about the
bafIs which invade their domain and
usurp all the energy formerly devot-
ed to tine banquets. lecture courses
and chamber music. Next year they
declare tn. social planet shall swing
back to it's normal orbit. No one can
deny that Washington. too, is rather
overemphaSizing the ball with en-
trance tickets at such price; that
they wear on the most philanthropy
ically inclined. until. like in Paris.
the reaction Is inevitable. Time was
event and most generously patroniZed.
for there was but one a season. Now
some variety of charity or patriotic
need is announced almost nightly. The
private dance becomes rare and rarer.
not that the spirit OF hospitality
grows stale in Washington. but that
hoStesseS find the calendar so con-
geSted with balls with tickets for
sale. with spectacular presentations
and such like. that they give up the
effort in despair.
London. in direct opposition to the
French and American capitals. has
gone in for the most brilliant winter
since the fatal year 1914. The power
full political hostesses have return
ed to their realms and levees by the
Duchess of Devonshire. the Countess
of Derby and the NiScountesS CurZOn
are reminiscent of the eras of Dis
raeli and Gladstone. All the lesser
celebrities in parliament follow this
lead. and London after midnight
revels not in the hectic gayety of
pleasures and the refinement of social
intercourse in a supper room. and
with a dance in between more serious
diversions. The Duchess of Devon
shire, whose regime in Ottawa stands
as an example. holds her salon four
celebrities of London pass in the
throng. Supper is served for four
hours and dancing in an adjoining
room continues for the same space
of time. In one of the vast drawing
rooms a group will collect about a
noted member of the Royal Academy
and he will explain some knotty
point. holding his hearers sometimes
for hours. Lady Cynthia Moseley.
second daughter of the Eiscount
duchess. but as frequently she holds
!evees in her own home in Carlton House
Terrace.
An achievement of the late James R
Mann. which has not been noted by his
biographers was his consuming love Of
perienced in transforming a hideous
waste place into a glowing garden. He
planted what might be described as
pecks of poppy seeds in spots on the
south side of Chicago. where he had
made real estate Investments. with the
result that the famous fields OF France
and Belgium did not present more
vivid scene when the flowers came into
bloom. Mr. Mann thought nothing of
Il trip to Chicago just to see the flowers
petunias and other gay ANIMALS and at
his suggestion. when property was
treated permanently and offered for
sale. there were always paintings of
such blossoms as peonies. iris and orna-
mental shrubs. The south side Of
Chicago is a succession Of little gardens
at the present time. for Mr.. Mann's en-
thusiasm could not fail to inspire all
those with whom he had dealings and
they became lasting converts. During
the war. though intensely patriotic, he
was grieved when much Of his flower
paintings in public triangles and tiny
parks had to be dug up to make room
for potatoes and the usual war crops
Last summer. however. he had per-
suaded the park authorities to return
to the old days and plant bushels Of
annual flower seeds. and he had antici-
pated their blooming next spring with
keen impatience. Already there is
movement to perpetuate Mr.. Mann's
memory amidst these flowers which
were his delight.
A reviving vogue in furniture is
the love-seat. that settee known to
the earliest masters of the craft
Chippendale. Sheraton and the Adams
Brothers. and which was always de-
scribed as accommodating two. II
they sat very close together. There
are several examples at Mount Ver-