The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-19
MISCELLANEOUS.
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S NEW
YEAR.

The levees OF President Washington
were far more select aud rational than
those Of his successors have been for
the last few years. They were nu-
merously attended by all who were
fashionable and refined OF society but
there were no places for the intrusion
of the rabble in crowds, or for the
more coarse and boisterous PARTISAN
the vulgar electioneer--or the impu-
dent place-hun,er, with boots and
frock coat, or with patched knees, aud
holes at both elbows. On the contra
~, they were select and more courtly
than have been given by any one hold
ing the same office since. Proud Of
her husbands exalted fame, and jeal-
Gus of the honors due not only to his
own lofty character, but to the digni-
fed station to which a grateful country
had called him, Mrs. Washington was
careful in her drawing-rooms to exact
those courtesies TO which she knew the
president was entitled.
Fortunately, moreover, the rudeness
of the present day had not then so far
gained the ascendancy as to Danish
good manners, and the charms of social
intercourse were heightened by rem
sonable attention in the best circles to
those forms and usages which indicate
the well bred assemblage, and throw
around it an air Of elegance and grace
which only the envious affect to decry,
and only the vulgar ridicule and con-
tenn. None, therefore, were admitted
to the levees but those who had either
a right by official station to be there,
or were entitled to the privilege BY
established merit and character, and
full dress was required of all. Some
show, if not Of State, at least Of res
pect, for the high officer to be visited,
was exacted down to the close Of Mr..
Madison's administration. Mr.. Mon
roe required less formality and atten-
ton to dress, and the second president,
Adams, less still.
Mrs. Washington was pleasing and
agreeable rather than a brilliant wo-
man. Her figure was not command
ing, but her manners were easy, con-
ciliatory, and attractive. Her domes-
tic arrangements were always concerted
under her own eye, and everything
within her household moved forward
with the regularity of machinery. No
daughter of Eve ever worshiped her
lord with more sincere and affectionate
veneration and none had ever greater
cause to render homage. When abb
sent he was ever in her thoughts, and
her mild eyes kindled at his presence.
She was well educated, and possessed
strong native sense, guided by all
necessary prudence and discretion.
She rarely conversed upon political
subjects, and when the most expert
diplomatists would attempt to draw
her out, she had the faculty of turning
the conversation with equal dexterity
and politeness. AT all the presidents
entertainments, whether at the table or
in the drawing room, Notwithstanding
the regard to etiquette heretofore re-
verted to, there was nevertheless so
mucu hlHuuCso VI lccliuS uispluycu,
and such an unaffected degree of gen
uine hospitality that golden opinions
were won alike from the foreign and
domestic visitors.
In those days, also, late hours were
not necessary, and many of our fair
metropolitan readers who are in the
habit of dressing at 10, to enter n
drawing room at eleven will doubtle IS
be surprised to learn that Mrs. Wash.
ington's levees closed always at
nine.
This was a rule which that distin-
guished lady established on the occa-
sion of holding her first levee on the
evening of January l, 1890. The
Presidents residence was in the old
franklin House in this city, at the
head of Cherry street. The day was
uncommonly mild and pleasant. The
moon was full, and the air was so bland
and serene that the ladies attended in
their light summer dresses. Having
] been introduced by the aids and gentle