The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-03-24
WASHINGTON SOCIAL LIFE.

R0Om-Seraps of that. |
Especial Correspondence Chicago Tribune.l
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 3O.-The
most prominent feature OF the gay ana
festive season." now in its glory, is
the receptions by the President of the
United States on alternate Tuesday even
ings. Some, w no attempt to invest
these gatherings with the imperial or
regal dignifed tomfoolery of the Old
World, call them s'levees." But there
is a marked difference between the UNI
restrained intercourse of We, the People
of these United States, and their servant
and Chief Magistrate, and the long and
narrow path which those take who sa-
lutte the occupants of thrones. Here,
the doors of the White House are thrown
open to what Gen. Taylor called '.all
the world and the rest of mankind. y
There, every one must be arrayed in
court-dress, and the guarded formali-
ties of official presentation must be OBJ
served before the palace can be entered,
and the royal or imperial parsonage
humbly approached. In Great Britain,
which boasts of its progressive freedom,
the wealthiest retail merchant, although
of unexceptionable character and stand
ing, cannot be presented at the Court OF
Queen Victoria, unless he holds some
office which gives him the right. Here,
carriage-drivers and seamstresses have
as much right to attend Presidents
reception as Senators and heiresses.
THE ROUTINE OF RECEPTION.
E,+or;rr tho White HouSa hanaath itS
imposing north portico, the visitors
pass without ceremony to the rooms
where either sex leave their wrappings,
and where the ladies give the final
shake-out to the voluminous trimmings
of their skirts. A large staff of servants
endeayor to care for hats and overcoats
deposited with them for safe-keeping,
and are generally successful. This is
modern improvement, as in years past
they were piled up promiscuously, and
the owners ran the risk of exchanging
them for articles of worse or better
quality when they left. There were
those, it was asserted, who used to ex-
change old hats and thread-bare great
coats for others of better quality,
while their victims were forced to re-
place their losses by a more regular and
expensive mode.
Passing into a hall which runs cross
wise through the White House from the
East Room to the conservatory at the
west end of the building, gentlemen
meet the ladies, and "fall inn the line
waiting to enter the reception-room.
There is no favoritism, and each couple
must 90 to the end of
the column, which moves slowly
forward. Every two or three minutes
some half a dozen couples are admitted
into the Red Room. This is the family
parlor of the Presidents family. 1t is
papered with red, and the furniture,
coverings, and curtains are of the same
color-hence its name. 1t contains a
grand piano, large picture of General
Grant and his family, pair of Sevres
mantel-vases, on which are views of DR..
Franklin's residence at Passy near Paris,
and a comfortable on which there is
always a large basket of choice exotics.
But the column does not halt here. Nov
ing slowly onward, it passes through an
other portal, and enters
| THE BLUE ROOM.
This is a well proportional saloon,
oval in shape, with wallpaper, curtains,
and furniture of blue and gold. 1t is
without doubt one of the most elegant
apartment on this continent. But, be.
fore the stranger can take in the splen
dor around him, he finds himself con-
fronted by a gentleman in black, Mar
shall Sharpe, who inclines his ear, and
whispers:
"Your name?"
"Viator!" replies the astonished citi
zen, who is urged forward, and more
perplexed as he finds himself opposit,
the unmistakable figure of Gen. Grant
to whom he is introduced by the Mar
shall as "Mr. Plator!"
"Mr. Plator, I am happy to see you,
says Gen. Grant, shaking him by tn
hand, and then turning to greet the mex
conner. But it often happens that h
recognizes an old acquaintance, il
, which case, especially if it is comrade
, he detains him for few moments, an,
, generally asks him to call again in tn
, daytime. The General has the wonder
|. full gift of remembering the names @
those he meets, and he would be inval
liable as hotel-clerk on this account
Perhaps should add that at these re
g ceptions he wears dress-suit of blac
S broadcloth, with gloves that are whit
: at the beginning of the Misunderstanding
although at the close the right one
nearly black. He shakes and is shake
for two hours, and it is difficult to Sc
how his hand can retain any feeling III
der the infection.
q Just beyond the President, and fe'
= PAGES to the rear, stood Col. Ere
! Grant, in the full flush of young maj