Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-02-01
"REMINISCENCES,
New Years Calls in New York in 1900
How Cen. Washington Received His
Gucsts-Philadclphia as the National
capitat-How the Father OF His
Country Loo L ed on Z Ii III Il IAaa nnN.


Country Looked on Christmas Day.
Col. Forney, in his recollections of
public men, gives the following enter
tanning "reminiscences of Gen. WASH
ington and the society customs of the
day:
New Years calls had their origin in
Continental Europe. The custom was
brought to New York by the Dutch
and the Huguenots as one of their Pc
culiar Institutions. 1t has never been
naturalized, until recently, intowns of a
more purely English origin or popula-
ton. Christmas is the favorite holt
day all through the Middle
States, especially N districts
originally settled by the English
and the Germans. New Years recep-
tions have lately become universally
fashionable, and the cities of New York
and Washington are more particularly
abandoned to this growing and pleas
ant custom. On Friday, the first of
January, 1870, the government of the
young United States then located in
the city of New York, the first Presi-
dent George Washington, was waited
upon by the principal gentlemen of the
metropolis. Mrs. Washington held
her levee as on other Friday evenings,
but this special reception was one of
unusual elegance. The weather was
almost as gentle as May, and the full
moon shone brightly into the chambers
of the Presidents stately mansion. 1t
was not the general custom for visitors
to the President to sit, but on this par
ticular evening, as learn from a diary
of the period, there were chairs in the
room where Mrs. Washington met her
friends, and after they were seated,
tea and coffee, and plum and plain
cake were served. Mrs. Washington
afterwards remarked that nothing Of
the day SO pleased 1.-the General" by
which title she always designated her
husband, as the friendly greeting of
the gentlemen who had called upon
him. Washington asked if New
Years calls had always been kept up
in New York, and when he was answer
ed in the affirmative, he paused u
moment and said: "The highly
favored situation of New York
tract numerous emigrants, who will
gradually change its customs and man
ners, but, whatever changes take place,
never forget the cordial and cheerful
observance of New Years day" Mrs.
Washington stood by his side ns the
visitors arrived and we're presented,
and when the clock IN the hall struck
nine, she advanced and said with y
pleasant smile "The General always
retires at nine, and l usually precede
him." upon which the company made
their parting salutations, and said good
night. This was the second session of
the First American Congress, and the
last ever held in New York 1t was
closed on the 18th of August, 1890.
The Pennsylvania politicians, includ-
ing such men as Robert Morris, felt
that if they could make Congress, the
President and the departments com
Portable in Philadelphia, the object of
removing to the South would be aban.
doned, and, therefore, some amusing
expedients were resorted to, especially
to propitiate the President, but without
effect. He was exceedingly careful
about committing himself, would re-
ceive no favors of any kind and scru-
pulously paid for everything. The
house of Mr. Robert Morris had been
taken by the corporation for his resi-
dence. cit 49, said Washington to
his private secretary, Mr.. Lear, " the
best they could get, and is, ! believe,
the best single house in the city" A
larger house was set apart for him, on
Ninth street, on the grounds cow occu-
pied by the Pennsylvania University,
which he refused to accept.
The house he occupied while he was
President was large double house on
the south side Of High street near
Fifth, was three stories, thirty-two feet
wide, four windows in the second AS
we'll as the third story, and three in
the first, approached by three heavy
steps of gray stone to single door 1t
was situated in vacant lot, used as
garden, and surrounded with trees and
shrubbsry.
On Saturday, the 2Sth Of November,
1890. the President and Mrs Washing
ton arrived from Mt. Vernon, and took
possession of this, their new mansion,
and on Christmas day, the 25th Of De-
cember, they gave their FIRST formal
leyee. The President was surrounded
by members of his Cabinet or other
distinguished men, his hair powdered
and gathered behind in silk bag, coat
and breeches of plain black
silk velvet, white or pearl-col-
ored vest, yellow gloves, cooked
hat in his hand, silver knee and shoe
buckles, and long sword, with finely
wrought and glittering steel hilt, the
coat worn over it, and its scabbard of
polished white leather. On these &C
casions he never shook hands, even