The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1877-05-18
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.

OIdIe-uOuS6 III NOh OAANobSs OdA pun
ticians are girding themselves for Con-
gressional conflicts upon these vexed |
Southern matters, and, instead of the
open discussion of such matters, our
lookers-on have nothing to do but note
the busted preparations of the combat
ants for the approaching fray. The cry
of war time, "All quiet along the Poto-
mac" is supplemented now with, "and
at New Orleans"
The commission sent to Louisiana |
having returned AMI reported to the
President the result of their labors, and !
shown how automatically they engi-
neered peaceful acquiescence to the
fiat that the troops must be withdrawn,
were dined at the White House and
have returned to their homes. The ex-
citement among the Republicans and
Democrats over the anticipated Presi-
Dental action has so completely disap-
peared that we almost wonder if our po-
litical solons were aroused at all.
A lively topic for discussion has been
opened here recently, as to whether
Mrs. Hayes really means to abolish
wine from the State dinners in the fu-
ture. 1t is said that there has been
none served at any of the many private
dinners given by her since the inaugu-
ration. 1t is not probable that the gen.
eral temperance question has been dis
cussed inside the White House, yet it
may be regarded as settled that Mrs.
Hayes will exclude wine from her table,
except when foreigners are present. 1t
is well known that while she disap-
proves of wine for herself and family,
she does not think she has any right to
dictate to others on the subject, hence
her willingness it should be served
when foreigners in official capacity are
at the White House table. If it is
decided to Danish wine from State din
ners, an invitation to one of these te-
dious feasts will be likely to be viewed
in the light of an executive manifesto
to the effect that a certain number of
persons of both sexes are to abstain
] AACAA AAA oPAAAb OCNNAhSCo bClhCSh
say, the hours of and 1880 P. NJ. OH
such a date. Now, this to those who
are accustomed to "take little wine
for their stomachs' sakep would mean
an order for an after-dinner dyspepsia.
Dining at the White House is not, at
best, an unmitigated pleasure. There
is a sad want of elbow-roOm around the
executive table, owing to the limited
size of the dining-roOm, and it is often
impossible for those seated next each
other to raise their arms at the same
time. So it is customary among inti-
mate acquaintances to agree upon which
courses each shall partake, and while
one eats, the other leans back for room.
The foreign diplomats are very sensi-
tive on the wine question; they not
only want it of unexceptionaI quality,
but they desire the different varieties
served punctually at the proper moment.
Count Coeti, Baron Blaine's predeces-
sOr as italian Minister, used to find
great fault when he dined at the White
House, because the elaret was served up
toward the end of the dinner instead of
with the soup.
Hon. Alexander Stephens, who has
been confined to his house for several
months, called upon the President re-
Gently. He sent his card up, regretting
that he was too lame to leave his car
riage. The President came down to the
carriage and was introduced by his
friends who accompanied him. He ex-
pressed his pleasure in making the ac-
quaintance of Mr.. Stephens, who recip-
rocated the compliment in the warmest
5 terms.
Among the callers at the White
a House was Mrs. Sarah Davis, who has
a shaken hands with every President,
= from Washington down. She sent her
card up to the President, who shortly
= afterwards came down into the East
, Room and received her. She told him
that when little girl she saw Wash
ington lay the cornerstone of the Capt.
tol. Mr.. Hayes expressed himself graf
ified at meeting her, and hoped she
!. would live to shake hands with many
e more to come. Though of ripe old age
e and far past the allotted age of three
- score and ten, yet Mrs. Davis is full o.
E vigor and bids fair, seemingly, to riva
e the age of the frisky girl of one hundred
}, and ten, who, according to the nursery
y rhymes, met an untimely end by fall
e ing from a cherry tree.
e Ex-President and Mrs. Grant have
d returned among US, and are quietly en-
. scocned at Willard's Hotel. Among the
g first to call upon them were the Ex-Sec
il retaries Fish and Chandler. A recep
a tiOn of the members of the metropolitan
Il Church was held in the parlor of it
1 pastor, DIR. Newman, and hundred
e calling to pay their final respects t,
: them. They are bidding goodbye t,
= all their old friends preparatory to leav
l. ing for Europe, where they will spen'
It the summer. Mrs. Sartoris, with he
y highly-prized baby, will accompan!
# them, and her house will be her parents
d headquarters during their visit
It Mr.. Gordon Cummin, son of the lat
ie Alexander Cummin, of Scotland, an
> now a resident of MARYLAND, Miss Eames