Evening star., 1928-10-14
RY MARGARET r. DOWNING.


Mrs. Coolidge in prc-empting the
month of November for official func-
tions. which were traditionally held
after the new year. has, in so re-arrang-
ing the schedule. eliminated what was
long known as the little season." say
the social mentors There are many who
see a permanent shifting of the official
period. for 1t will be remembered that
Mrs. Wilson was compelled to announce
the cabinet dinner in December of 1914
because the World War had divided the
diplomatic corps into two distinct
groups. Two banquets to the foreign
corps had to be given. and the period
between what had been accepted for
more than a century as the official sea-
son. the weeks between January / and
Ash Wednesday. was in that dire year
unusually brief. Yet when peace reign
cd after 1918. the giving of the cabinet
banquet in December was accepted by
succeeding first Ladies of the Land. Mrs.
Coolidge is pushing the season to the
earliest date on which any appreciable
section Of the legislative wing is to be
in residence. and no doubt her success
ecrs will follow the example of Mrs
woodrow Wilson in 19l4l5. February
u an eXaSperating month in Washing
t0n and to dismiss it from the scheme
81 formal entertaining might be the
height of wisdom But the last ANALYSIS
s. that the debutante season must now
be shifted either to Spring or Summer,
As IT is in the mojority of large cities.
October finds no one of consequence in
Washington. so that month is not to be
considered. but there are long stretches
after Easter and until late June which
would prove ideal and in fact the logi
nHI hInni11
Sir Esme Howard has promptly met
'4ls> situation Of appearing at the head
OF the International pageant which
will greet the President and Mrs. Cool
tdge the evening of November Is, and
with Lady Isabella Howard is expected
to arrive in New York City october 81.
3he British Ambassador had hoped for
a longer holiday, but the departure of
1Tr Henry Getty Chiffon. charge
G'afTaires. and the appointment of Mr..
Ronald Ian Campbell. first secretary.
as acting charge daffaires. curtailed his
vacation, and no doubt his plans we're
speeded by the cabled news which he,
with all other diplomats across the
ocean. received Of Mrs. Coolidge's early
calendar. But whether the Spanish
Ambassador will be so fortunate in
changing his plans is not yet known.
NJ Claudel awaited the pleasure of
the foreign Office in the matter of the
debt funding commission and the Span
ish Ambassador, who did not sail until
late in August, has many and Important
affairs to regulate. The German Am
baSsador and Frau Won PrittwitZ und
Caffron remained on this side until late
In August, and whether or not they can
return by mid-November is not yet
known in Washington.
Col John Jacob Astor. second son
ef the late Viscount William Waldorf
Astor and brother of the present peer
like that member of the Lords, married
widow. Lady Violet Mercer-Nairne,
who survived Lord Mercer Marine, who,
at the head of his regiment of Lancers.
was killed near Ypres. He was the
second son of the Marques of Lans-
downe. Lady Violet Astor is daugh-
ter of the Earl of Mimic and is
woman OF much charm, and her
daughter by the first marriage Lady
Margaret Mercer-Nairne, was presented
ut court with Miss Phyllis Astor, daugh-
Ger of Viscount Astor and his wife.
Mamie Langhorne Astor, M P. These
two handsome young maids will be in
timately associated with the amenities
of the political wing, and they will take
part in the activities pertaining to elec-
tons. Miss Phyllis already shows much
of her mothers talent for impromptu
speaking and frequently addresses the
tenantry at Cliveden and the younger
constituency of her mother in Plymouth
Lady Margaret Mercer-Nsirne is a win
yaome type of beauty and takes deep
interest ip the journalistic activities
of her step-father Col. Astor owns
and publishes the London Times and
several important weeklies. Lady Vio-
let AStor is among the beauties of the
London world and is noted for her
talents as political hostess. Like her
sister -in-law, she is conservative in
politics and is among the peeresses
whom Mrs Stanley Baldwin gathers
about her at the drawing rooms held
All during the season in Downing street.
X
Mr.. and Mrs Otto H. Kahn have this
October been entertaining many vari