The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-01-19
NEWS AND GOSSIP OF WASHINGTON SOCIETY
baroness de Cartier to Be Much Feted
On Forthcoming Visit to Washington

SauOf 10 OUuTb VI O1s
James to Stay With
Mrs. Townsend
With the long-heralded
visit Of Baroness de Cartier
on the immediate horizon,
preparations are being made
for her entertainment by
many Of her old friends.
This will Re the first ire
turn engagement" Of Baron
ess de Cartier de Marchienne
since she played the imp9r-
tant role of doyenne Of the
Diplomatic Corps before her.
husband, then Belgian Am
bassador to the United
States, was transferred to
the Court Of st. James.
Now in New York
Landing from Europe last
week. Baroness de Cartier has
been visiting in New York, her
old home, but will arrive in
Washington on Tuesday and
will be the guest Of Mrs.
Richard Townsend for 10 days
or i fortnight. Mrs. Town
sends health has not been very
robust of late, and moreover
she is in mourning, so she will
only entertain for her guest IN
informal fashion, inviting groups
Of her old friends to dine or
lunch with her. However, sew
eral more formal dinners are in
prospect. Mr.. and Mrs. Wood
bury Blair will give a dinner
for Baroness de Cartier on Jan
nary %, and Mr.. and Mrs
Gist Blair, on February 1. Mr.
and Mrs. John f. Wilkins will
entertain for her on January 24.
The first of all the parties
for Baroness de Cartier will be
! dinner with Brig. Gen. and
Mrs. Charles L. McCawley as
hosts. This will be something
Of an. event, as Mrs. McCawley
has been more or less of an
invalid since she fractured her
hip two years or so ago, and
has done very little entertain
ing.
American Doyenne
Baroness de Cartier was the
third Of q trio of American women
TO be doyenne of the Diplomatic
Corps before Sir Esns Howard,
the British ambassador, succeeded
to the rank OF dean. She followed
in the footsteps OF Mime. Jusse-
rand, whose husband was dean Of
the corps for over q dozen years,
and Nine. Riano, whose brief
reign was counted by months.
Before her marriage to Belgihrn's
first Ambassador to the United
States, Baroness de Cartier was
Mrs. Hamilton Wilkes Cary 6f
New York and Newport. She had
been married to EIihu
Frost. The wedding of Baron de,
Cartier and Mrs. Cary took place
at the Church of the Madeleine
in Paris and shortly afterward she
made her debut in Washington as
m Arnbassa dress under the most
unusual auspices. the occasion be.
ing u reception given for Cardinal
MERCER, then d, visitor in this
country, with the late Cardinal
Gibbons sharing honors with the
famous Belgian prelate.
Glass Of Fashion
The Belgian Embassy was then
occupying the residence of the
late Mrs. William j.. BoardnaaIa,
and Miss Mabel BoardmaIl. Short
III after1Eard the move was made
to the present embassy at 1889
Massachusetts Ave-, which the
Belgian government had ptir-
chased from the ingalls, estate.
This mansion, one Of the finest
embassy buildings in washing
ton, still reflects the discriminat
ing taste Of Baroness de Cartier
although the present aHnba ssa-
dor, Prince de Ligne, and PriT-
cess de Ligne, have installed
many OF their personal belong
angs.
The drawing room in Baroness
de Carriers day was said by con-
1ioisseurs to be the most perfect
French drawing room in this
country. It was OF was OF sew
enrsenth century inspiration. but
had no resemblance to those npe-
Rod rooms" So beloved Of interior
decorators. The embassy in the
De Cartierss regime also bcasted
some MAGNIFICENT Chinoiserie, the
collection having been formed by
Baron de Cartier when he was
Belgian minister at Picking, He
first came to washington az
minister and was raised to the
rank Ok ambassador after the war.
Baroness de Cartier was warmly
liked in Washing ton- or warmly
disliked. Although Of American
birth and bringing-up, she had
the English idea that rudeness to
the pushing lis entirely justified
and she could be exceedingly cuts
ting. On the other hand, nobody
could be more charming when the
spirit moved herand 1t usually
did move her. She was generally
considered the best dressed woman
in the Diplomatic Corps and pre-
suplably is now setting fashions
Tor London as she did for Wash.
ington.
MaNA
Nine. Nlkola Pachitch, widow
Of the former Serbian Prime Mine
lister, has arrived ID Washington
to visit her son-in-law and daughter
the Charge d,Affaires Of Serbia
and Nine. Pourftch and to make