The Washington times., 1934-09-17

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their hair Helen ESSary
and their provincialism with
o determined sophistication.
Recently, the tide big-city-
ward changed violently. New
York went country" country
houses, country clothes, coun.
try manners became smart. No
longer did New Yorkers merely
"own" country estates, and re-
motely enjoy them. They be-
gan to abandon their t city
homes more and more months
each year in order to live on
their farms"
Sometimes the farms had
Marie Antoinettish atmosphere.
But gradually reality on. the
farm became chic. The passion
for the horse was probably re-
5ponsible for this. New Workers
became so intense about coun-
try life that there weren't
enough places in New York
State, Long Island, and Con-
necticut to satisfy their longing.
So they hurried down to Vir-
ginia and Maryland and bought
up old places.
Many agreeable customs were
born Of this country viewpoint.
One that seems particularly
pleasant to me is the new habit
of introducing ones daughter
to society not at a big winter
ball in the city, but at an early
autumn party in the country.
Frequently, when the fad first
started, the rural ball room
built overnight was rather like
the Villa d'Este or some other
italian paradise. This was the
mistake of over enthusiasm.
New Yorkers. with the recent
grace born of the depression
are generally noticeably unaf-
1ected.
The rest of the United States
has set about copying the coun-
try ways of the Big City. The
new style came Southwark to
be interpreted in new environ
mentS. Round about Washing
ton we added the word Farm"
to the names Of our country
homes at the top of our per-
Sonal stationery.
In some ways we have out
done New York in our zest for
the country. We have revived
what may romantically be called
barn-dancing. This past week
saw two charming country par
ties in the neighborhood of the
Capital. The countryside was
filled with guests from Rich
nond, Baltimore, and Washing
ton, come for the entertain
ment of two debutantes.
The dance the Armistead
Welbournes gave their daughter
Betty (she's really one Of the
loveliest of the 1884 debutantes)
was typical of the new mode in
debutS. The Melbourne home,
it is true, is snug in the heart of
the little town of Alexandria.
The beautiful gardens at the
back and sides of the old house
enable me to call it a-well-a
farmlet.
The Welbournes' party brought
to Alexandria the old flavor of
Colonial days-youth driving
through the country (not in a
coach and four, it is true), a
town filled with visitors for an
evening of dancing, ending
with a rich feast and punch
made by an ancient recipe.
The dance of the Malcolm
Mathesons at wellington was
also reminiscent of older Gus
toms-and typical of the new
trend in entertaining. yelling
ton is q thrilling place for
such q party. Though it is not
yet called a farm, it might we'll
be so named. It's acres were
once a part Of the Mt. Vernon
farm. They covered miles of
countryside along the Potomac
and reached far back beyond
the present Woodlawn property
now owned by Mrs. Oscar Un-
derwood.
A little of the history of
Wellington should be known by
the Washington and Virginia
people who enjoy the Matheson
hospitality. George Washington
gave this home to Col. Tobias
Lear, of New Hampshire, his pri-
vate and military secretary and
the tutor Of his adopted Nellie
and Jacky CuStis-the children
Of Mrs. washington.
The 200 acres and the house
were a lifetime gift. They re.
verted to the washington FAM
lily and were owned by them
until 1859.
When the Malcom Mathesons
bought wellington in 1921, it
was in ruins. Mr.. William I.
Deming, who restored the house,
says it is one of the most in
teresting of the really choice
Virginia homes. While the work
Of restoration was going on, an
old lock was found with the
date wellington, 1852"