, 1876-12-31
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
NEW-IEAR's DAT AT TIE CAPITAL.

| From Our 01cn Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, D. c., D,c. 81, 1678-The Gus.
tom OF making New-Year's calls was not inau
gurated in Washington until Jan. /, 1870. It il
| not surprising that this ceremony should have
been brought here by Mr. Madison, whose Ad,
minfstrntton is celebrated as having introduced
the s'era of good feeling.'' The Knickerbockere
in New York, from the time Of the building
Of the colony upon Manhattan Island, had regu-
1arly followed this custom Of their ancestors,
M. Madison, thoroughbred Virginia gentle
man, was struck BY this, to him novel. social
practice, and, upon the first occasion after bis
Inauguration, introduced it at the new White
House in Washington. Those were the aavs of
snall~c1othes, knee-breeches, and powdered hair.
The receptions at the White House during that
Administration are pictured to us in the curious
engrayings OF the social festivities Of that day.
There were but three receptions at the Wlitc
House before It Was destroyed BY tho British tn
1914. Mr.. Madison tnen accepted the hospital
famous "Octagon House,'' on the corner Of
New York avenue, west, and Eighteenth street.
This house is one OF the four or five notable old
houses Of Washington. 1t is built On triangular
reported to have cost $5o.o00. Mr.. Tayloe was
an old gentleman, who had an immense landed
estate. He was sort Of feudal Baron.
Nearly everything which entered into
the The material lite Of that day he
oas f5 b 9s Fl Hs ugsa a 5
slaves, and is reported to hare enioycd m in
tGat period co Tayoe vf inyted 'fseaaS Presdent a
Madison to this house, and it was there that the
latter held his New-Year's leTee in 1915. In the
next month Of the same year the famous Treaty
Of Ghent was signed in that house, in the large
circular room over the eutrancc-liall. This
house Is: now occupied BY the photographic
office. Like many other Of the old houses of
Washington, it is reported to be haunted. It
very many years. at certain hour Of every
night, the bells all over the house were
rung By unseen end unknown hands, and
that, If one undertook to hold the wires, some
undiscorered influence would fell one to the
ground. The Dext Two years Mr, Madison held
his annual New-Ycar's court In another one OF
the old houses Of the town on Pennsylvania
avenue at the West End" =,
Mr.. Monroe held his first New-Year's rccep-
ton in the new White House in 1915 The ST.
Madison's Administration reached the climax Of
bril1lancy in the period Of Mr. Moaroe's. There
has not been time since that day when
greater number OF distinguished people of all
the season. In 1892, for the. first time. the
Marine Band was required to perform
Oh Ncw-Years day at the White House.
That custom has been continued ever since,
and4 thanks to himself, Mr. Carter Harrison
may think, is likely now to continue. On the
New Year Of 1925 the Marquis de Lafayette as
sisted the President at his reception, and there
were present besides, In & galaxy Of unusual
brilliancy md greatness, such persons as Har-
rison Gray Otis, OF Boston, Stephen Van Rens-
selaer, Henry CLAY, Daniel Webster, Calhoun,
Everett, and Gen. jackson.
ORIGIN OF PRIVATE EXCEPTIONS.
The custom OF receiving In private houses WAS
not introduced in Washington until 1880. In |
That year 4tr 0gle Tayloe, & descendant Of old |
Col. John T.r1oe, and leader OF the fashion |
IT the day, opened his house to the public t
IN Lafayette Square. For many years there !
liter this house was one Of the most conspicu- !
ons features Of Washington New Years. After !
.aeir visit to the President, the members Of the !
diplomatic corps were accustomed to appear at |
his house, In iuu court dress, ith all the mem
3ers Of their legation, and to be entertained BY !
VI. Oglo Tayloe and his intelligent wife: Mr. !
Cayloe, in his charming, "reminiscences Of Wash
ngton society, published hy subscription three
ears since, recalls, evidently with pleasure, the
brilliant scenes OF those days.
The PEeafdenta in the receptfQna Of those daYa