Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL
WAS WIZARD OF SCIENCE
Carpenter Tells of the Meteoric Rise
to Fame of Washington's Father
of the Telephone.

most intellectual men you will find In
public life. They are fond of So
ciety IS a young girl on her first
coming out, and can pay compliments
like beau of rs.
The Army as usual made a great
show. Gen. Sheridan, the biggest
man Of the delegation in point Of
rank, was the smallest in stature and
his fat little form is almost as broad
as it is long. His face was as red
as the rising sun and as he chatted
and laughed with everybody he was
by all odds the most democratic Of all
| his gold-laced and brass-buttoned
bridade.
Though the reception was not on
the whole as large as might have
been expected. considering that this
is the first grand reception Of a
new President on the advent Of a
new party to power, still 1t was no.
tably democratic and free from red
tape. The people enjoyed themselves,
and the majority of them being
strangers, there was less of the petty
| jealousy and division into cliques that
always spring up in long established
societies.
One curious figure at the reception
was an old woman in a black veil
who moved along with an ear trumpet
about a yard long. This trumpet
was Of shining white tin which
cleaned against her black veil as
she held one end of it in her ear
and turned the other end up to the
mouth of the man she was addressing.
Another character was man with
a warty nose, who was pushing his
proboscis into every ones business and
was never satisfied unless he was
tramping on somebody's toes.
The President wore today double
breasted Prince Albert coat, well but
toned. This costume is de rigeur on
such an occasion. The ladies who
came to call upon him were in street
dresses. but those who received with
him were resplendent in diamonds anc
silks. OF course, every one did not
appear in proper costume. Many OF
the people who come to Washington
and these often include the wives OF
men of high rank-are ignorant o.
the ordinary usages Of polite society
and curious mistakes are always
happening.
One instance of the ignorance Of
Congressmen's wives about social US
ages was told me today. 1t is the
custom here as elsewhere to appear
in full dress at great evening re-
ception, and it is also customary to
invite with a gentleman the ladies OF
his family. A leading Senator, who
had been spoken of as a presidential
candidate, gave a large reception las
Winter to which he invited the Con-
gressmen of his own State. All wert
asked to bring the ladies of theil
families, the hour was set for
o'clock One. Congressman VIII
states in the Congressional Director.
that he lives end was raised on {
farm. appeared at Z O'Clock, accom-
panied by his wife and his thre
young daughters, aged from z to II
The girls had long straight hair. worc
high-necked dresses and ribbons abou
their waists. and both the Congress
TO keep their bonnets on.
The Senator's wife, a very kind
hearted lady, dressed quickly, for it wa
a full two hours before any one wa
expected. She tried to get her guest
to take of their bonnetS, but the
woman said that as her hair was MOI
combed, she would prefer to keep hers
on. Finally, however, the Senator
wife tactfully told her that she would
look odd with her bonnet on while
all the others were in full dress, anC
at last she persuaded the country
woman to allow her toilet to be re-
made. The daughters also took OF
their hats, but of course they were tn
only children at the reception.
This was an instance of a mistak
by reason Of ignorance We hay
here at Washington however, a elias
of the nouveau rich, who sometime
err through knowing too much and not
having gentle instincts to direct the
use of their knowledge. One of these
the wife of millionaire, who lives
in one of the finest mansions in the
Capital, sat not long ago at a great
dinner party beside one OF the most
noted generals of the late war. The
general happened to make use of his
knife in conveying his food to his
mouth. AS he did so, the rich lady
nudged him.
II beg your pardon, General" she
said in a stage whisper, but when
my husband makes a social error, he
is always glad to have me correct him.
know your wife will thank me when
tell you you ought not to eat with
your knife. People at Washington are
very queer and they always eat with
their forks"
The general turned around and
looked at the lady with whitening
aStonishment. He said not word to
her, but turned away to talk to his
neighbor on the other side, as though
nothing had been said. Few such
encounters, however, have taken place
recently in Washington. The aver
age American is gentleman or lady
and one with manly or womanly ma
ture need have no fear of making his
way in Washington society.