January

January

Sun. 1 January

To church. After to the Levys and Mrs. ?? and Mme Outrey. Mrs. Wodl. Blair and W. Hopkins here. Papa to N.Y.

Mon. 2

First official of the year. Did not go to the White House, and I did not receive here, because I went to the quarters in Mrs Hopkins house where Miss Worden was receiving. I left for the dinner with Mrs. J. Miller, Lowndes, and Everett. Left cards here: Vindes, Boca, of the Spanish legation, Babcock, Clover, Henneberger, Strong, Mancomb, Paine, 2 Phillips, Lowndes, Upshur, Ferguson, King, Adams, Allen, Buchanan, Stephens.

At that time the President still held an open house on the first of the year (or the second if the first was a Sunday). Anyone who wished could visit the White House and greet the President.

T. 3

Mdlle de Noqueiras here. Went with her to see Miss West,Mme & Mmle Medina, Fava, G. Lorings, Lee King, Mrsw & Miss Lippett, Mis Dodge & Miss Turnbull called. Lunch with Mrs Wadsworth here.

This is the first evidence of a meeting between Amy Heard and Victoria West. Victoria had recently arrived in the United States as the daughter of the new (and never married) British Minister to Washington, Sir Lionel Sackville-West. Sackville-West was a career diplomat, having served as Secretary in Paris and as British Minister to Buenos Aires and Madrid before taking that office in Washington in 1881. He was the fifth son of the fifth Earl of Delawarr.

The long term liaison between the British diplomat and his Spanish gypsy dancer mistress was the subject of the book Pepita [22] by Vita Sackville-West. Official Washington had already decided to accept Victoria as the new hostess of the British Legation in spite of her unusual status, perhaps in relief of the previous rather dull occupants. The arrangement, however, proved a source of constant comment in diplomatic annals of the times. Despite her initial social handicap, Victoria would prove to be one of the most clever and adept hostesses in Washington of the time.

Victoria and Amy were roughly the same age. Victoria spoke little English and Amy was fluent in French, having been raised in Paris while her father served as an agent for the China trade. Their common language and age was a sufficient bond to form a friendship. In March "Miss West" became "Victoria" in Amy's notebook and Victoria appears regularly from then on. The two traveled in similar circles and had many friends in common.

Baron Saverio Fava was the Italian Minister to Washington from 1881 through 1893. Mrs Henry Adams found his wife the Baroness "lively and amusing."

Sun. 8

To see Miss Hopkins, D. King, Adams. The evening at the Robesons with Davenport and Mama who came to look for us and return with us.

M. 9

To see Mrs Bancroft, Mr Keever. Mr West, Miss Long, Mrs Phelps again. Danced at the house of the Mexican minister (Zamacona). Lunched with Mrs Wadsworth.

T. 10

To see Mrs cox. Mme and Mlle de Barca & Mathilde de Nogueiras here. Dined with the Countess Lewenhaupt. Mr de Meissner took me to the table. Went to Mr. and Mrs. Henry Adams, Mme de Meissner, Mr and Miss West, Miss Hooper, Miss Beal, Viliasons ? de Bildt, Boca.

W. 11

Went to the Frelinghuysens. Count & Mrs Upshaw, Mrs Blaine came. Mrs Robesons theatre party to Miss Pratt. saw "Our Bachelors" Robson & Crane. amusing__ Supper at Mrs B.

Thursday 12

Aristarqui Bey, Mme & Mathilde de N, Capt. & Mrs McCalla, Howells, Storeys here. Mrs C. W. lunched with us. To see the Pendletons, Zamacones, Bayards. Dinner for 16 given by Col. Bliss to Mama, Sen. &Mrs Hale, Mr & Mrs Hopkins, Gen. &MrsMcKeever, Miss L.  Frelinghuysen, Jinny McLane, Mrs. G. Loring dined. Ct Benst, Aristarqui, Mr Conduzcó, Mr Hopkins at the table.

F. 13

In the city for the morning. Bad weather and I did not go out in the afternoon. Mrs. Hopkins and Mrs. Lowndes came.

Sat. 14

Mrs J. Ricketts Roca here. To see the Countess Lewenhaupt, Sherman, Upshaw, Kearney, Howell, Alt. Ray, Outrey_ Max vaccinated by Dr Wales.

Sun. 15

Church in the morning. Evening at Casa Nogueiras.

M. 16

Lunched with Ginny McLane, Jinny Pendleton, Miss Sherlock, Miss Shenck. Later, with Mama to see the Pettisons, the Navy Yard, Mrs. Bancroft Davis, McCalla. Mr. and Mme. de Fava, Gen. Mrs. and Miss Hunter, Mrs. Phillips & Miss Levy, Mrs. Lee Phillips, Mrs. Barbour, Miss Dangerfield, Mrs. Stewart here. At Casa Pendleton for the evening.

Notes: Bancroft Davis was nominated Assistant Secretary of State in December 1881, a position Mrs. Adams says he had refused under Blaine. That same month Chief Justice Horace Gray of the Massachusetts Supreme Court was nominated to become Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court by President Chester A. Arthur. Miss Shenck is likely the daughter of General Shenck.

Tues. 17

Danced the "Tuesday German" with Roca.

W. 18

In the city with Mama. To see Dr. Pope. Mme. Outrey, Mrs. and Miss Rives, Cap. de la Chére, Mr. Bérard to see us.

William Rives was American Minister in Paris during the 1830's.

T. 19

Mrs. & Miss McCeney, Mr. & Mme. deBille, Dr. & Mrs. Pluwer, Mrs. Lam. Palmer, Jam. Palmer, Mme. Pollock, Mme. de Chambrun, the Nog. here. To see the ??, Hunter, Stuart, Phelps, Knight, Delany, L. Palmer.

F. 20

To see Mrs. Ricketts, Miss Turnbull, Mrs. & Miss Rives. Danced the "Bachelor German" with Babcock.

Sat. 21

It rained all day, but ?? with Mrs. Hoskins. Mrs Robeson, Miss Pritt, Mme de Bildt came here.

Sun. 22

??? Visit by Mrs. Lowndes.

Mon. 23

With Mama to see Dr Pope (second time). To Mrs Pollok, Mullen, & Grace. Visits by the Jays, Outreys, Schuylers, Coxes, Frelinghuysens, Shermans, Howels, Martinez, Biddles, Bancroft Davis, Storey. For the evening "at home" at the home of the Spanish Minister.

Eugene Schuyler (1840-1890) was a lifelong diplomat. At this time he was Counsel at Bucharest. His wife was the former Gertrude Wallace.

Tues. 24

To see the Biddles, Mrs. Lamb. Palmer and in the city. Mrs. Mackely and Lorings here.

Wed. 25

To buy boots for Helena. To see Mathilde.

Thurs. 26

Mrs. B. Morse here, Mathilde. To see Mrs. sen. Hale. Dined at British Legation with Mathilde. Misses Barca, Martinez, Lowrie, Hooker and Mr's Roca, Bérard, Cadojan, Lowrie, Count Brunetti, and Lord Geo. Montague. I was conducted to the table of the Minister Mr. West. After dinner, dance.

Fri. 27

To consult Dr. Loring for my eyes. And Mama for her ears. To See Mrs. Schuyler and Mrs. Jay. Mama fell on the stairs and sprained her foot so badly that she will have to stay in bed for several days.

Sat. 28

Mrs. Robeson, Miss ??, Mrs. and Miss Pitts, Mrs. and the Misses Emory, Cte Lippe, Mrs. Wadsworth here. I to the McCeneys, Barcas, Hopkins. Dinner given for Mama at the French Legation. With Papa and Mrs. Wadsworth. Also Mr and Mrs Schuler Mr and Mrs Jay, Misses Loring, Ginny McL., Mathilde de N., Baron Arinos, Mrs. de Meissner, Perry Belmont, Villarmo?, ?? took me to the table.

Sun. 29

To Church. Lunched at the Nogueiras'. with Count Brunetti later to the customary party. Papa came to find me and take me to the Robeson's.

M. 30

With Mathilde to Miss West, Aldis, Waites, Millers, Emory. The Brownes, ?? Palmers, Pendletons, Lewenhaupts, F. Adams, Babcock, Miss Porter, Misses Markol, Mr. Blaine.

T. 31

I was sick, stayed in bed. Snowed all day.

January