The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-02-11
CHICAGO OPERA COMPANIES VISIT
DROWNING EVENT OF GAY SEASON;
BRILLIANT BRITISH EMBASSY BALL

II L uOeS not seem as tnOuSn
Washington had ever been
buster, socially, politically, per-
sonally-''every. day mot forget
ting every night in every way
than it is right now.
In most American cities the OBJ
servance of Lent is a theory
rather a condition. In Washing.
ton, where society-really smart
society--revolves to a considerable
extent around the Diplomatic
Corps, which is very largely
Roman Catholic, 0the observance of
Lent In some degree, though much
less general than it used to be, is
both a theory and a condition-to
say nothing of it's being a physical
necessity.
So everybody has been trying to
crowd everything into the last
few days before Lent rings the
curtain down--not that 1t will stay
very long, for there is even one
big party, a musicale at the Eu-
gene Meyers, with a dinner for
the Vice President and Mrs.
Coolidge beforehand, set for Ash
wednesday evening - and the
pressure has been increased by
the rush to pay all social debts.
owed by or to, members of either
house who are retiring to private
life On March I.
For time it seemed as though
I. the usual festivities of Mardi Gras
were to go into the discard this
year, but it develops now that
Mrs. F. B. Moran is to give a big
reception. with dancing and music,
that evening in honor OF Senator
and Mrs. Carter Glass and Senator
and Mrs. William M. Calder, 80,
after all, the penitentIaI season
will have q fittingly gay welcome.
FOR all that, the crest of the
seasons gayeties was reached
during the last week, which was
crowded with dinners and dances.
not forgetting the usual grist of
luncheons, teas, and receptions,
and which had the visit of the Chi
cago Grand Opera Company for
its crowning event.
What thrill for opera starved
Washington! The Washington
Opera Company's "Rigoletto" but
whetted our appetites and even
after the Chicago company's
brief season we are hungry for
more. Polls Theater-a huge
place and pictorially effective in
it's new dress of rose brocade,
with great panels of Maxfield
Parish inspiration by way of
decoration-was filled each night,
so the company must have brok-
en- even and in that case we may
hope that the company may be
an annual visitor. Forty-two
public-spirited citizens underworld
the production this time, the
proposition being that il the thea.
ter were filled each performance
expenses would be met and they
would not be called upon to full.
I'LL their guarantees.
ZINE Of the interesting events
not programmed was the an
pearance Of Leon Bakst, the great
Russian artist, in the audience
one evening. 1 had not even
known he was in this country.
but it seems he has been visiting
the John w. CARROTS in Balti.
more and came over with Mrs,
Garrett to dine with her mother.
Mrs. Benjamin Fl. Warder, and
take in the performance of the
Russian Opera, "The Snow
Maiden" which has had only a
few performances in this coun.
try-and which out-Baksts Bakst
in the matter of daring design
and brilliant color.
Having been discovered in the
audience, NJ. Bakst held an i'm
promptu reception, Mrs. Warder's
friends all discovering that they
really must speak to her. And,
equally of course, he would have
been inundated with invita-
tions-had people known just
where to find him. But, as a
matter of fact, he only spent that
one night here and then fled
back to Baltimore to escape the
lion hunters. However, he may.
visit Washington yet and if he
does things will go hard with
him.
Bakst did a stunning portrait
of Mrs. Garrett a few months ago
1.-The lady being a striking look.
ing woman, who seems to put lin
much of her time having her por-
trait painted by great artists.
She is pretty nearly in the class
with the President-not necessar.
lily Harding, but any man who is
President-who must count that
day lost whose low descending
sun sees of his mug no portrait