, 1876-11-03
E,lqu.i,. in wa.AInE,on sos.s,y.


a.. VT. # tho rrzrl'ut. = the first
l,Iy In th. lanI. anil isk-- rr-o,,ieuc.
6 40 Uthar- ~hs bold, r,reptiuns and
r7sivcs calls. Int ID. alone j. sNrlude,l
frHm all duty ~ r'turuing call-. Th"
life e lsiy in sfssistv a. Washington
o. .Nreo,linrly onsruus. anil morr csI-.-
cially ~ II .he D. the wife Il any on
cal. Next On raul rum-s tho uife of
the President
II j. nal. The iuty - the President
to give several state dinners anil ufiicial
rrceptions during earh session cf Con-
grvss lieshlc. thc-e there arr the gen.
rral r-rcItions. ai which time the White
Hou~c j. oI'en To the public. AMI every
citizen of the Cnitcl States has a recog-
nized right 90 Iay his respects 10 the
President. On the days of the regular
levec-. the doors of the White House
are thrown open. and the world j. in
discriminatory invited 10 enter them.
No " court dress is required 10 make
one presentable at this republican court,
but every one dresses according 10 his
or her means, taste OF fancy. The FASH
ionable carriage or walking dress is seen
side by side with the uncouth home
spun and homemade Of the backwoods-
man and his wife. Neither are there
any ceremonies 10 be complied with in
gaining admittance to the Presidential
presence. You enter, an official an
nounces You, and you proceed directly
/ to the President and lady, and pay your
respects. They exchange q few words
I with you, and then you pass on to make
room for the throng that is pressing be-
hind you. You loiter about the room
for a short time, chatting with acquain-
tances, or watching the shifting pano-
rama of faces; and then you go quietly
out, and the levee is ended for you. If
any one wishes to make q private call
upon the President, he will find it nee
essary to secure the company and inhu-
ence of some official or special friend of
the President. Otherwise, though he
will be readily admitted to the White
House, he will probably fail in obtain
ing personal interview.
The ladies of a cabinet officer must
hold receptions every Wednesday dur
ing the season, from two or three o'clock
to half-past FIVE. On these occasions the
houses must be open to all who choose
to call. Refreshments and an extra
number of servants are provided. The
refreshments for these receptions may
be plain, consisting of chocolate, tea,
cakes, etc. Every one who has called
and left q card at q Wednesday recep-
ton, is entitled to two Acknowledgements
of the call. The first must be return
ing of the call by the ladies of the fam
| lily, who at the same time leave the Off
cial card of the minister. The second
acknowledgment of the call is an invi-
tation to an evening reception. The
visiting list Of the family of a cabinet
minister cannot contain less than 1000
to 5000 names. Cabinet officers are
also expected to entertain at dinners
Senators, Representatives, Justices Of
the Supreme Court, the diplomatic
corps, and many other public officers,
with the ladies Of their families.
The season proper for receptions is
from the first Of January to the begin
ming of Lent. The season for dinners
lasts until the adjournment of Con-
gress.
The President is not expected to offer
refreshments to the crowds who attend
his receptions. The Vice President and
Speaker of the House are also freed
from the expense of feeding the hungry
public.
1t is optional with Senators and Rep
resentasives, as with all officers except
the President and members of the cabi-
net, whether they shall entertain. I"
There is q vast expense in all this, hut
that is not all. The labor and fatigue
which society imposes upon the ladies
of the family of cabinet officers are fairly
appalling. To stand for hours during
receptions at her own house; to stand
at a series of entertainments at the
houses of others, whose invitations
courtesy requires should be accepted;
and to return in person all the calls
made upon her, are q few of the duties
of the wife of high official. 1t is
doubtful if her husband, with cares of
state, leads SO really laborious life.
In Washington society, one end of a
card turned down denotes q call in per-
son.
DETECTING THIEF BY MEANS OF A
TOY SNAKR.-A Richmond, Va, paper
says: A gentleman of this city, who sus-
pected servant girl of stealing small