Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-01-11
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
New Years Day at the CapitaI--How the
PRESIDENT and Cabinet Received the
Sovereign People.

sovereign People.
Correspondence of the Bulletin.
WASHINGTON, ID. c.. Jan. /, rs.
A deep snow covers the ground; the
first Of the season. At 10 o'clock last
night the stars shonc clearly down upon
us, and with a thermometer sinking
down towards zoe, we little dreamed
this morning would usher in such a
storm of snow and rain as has greeted
our waking moments. A heavy rain
storm last week cleared up our atmos-
sphere, and we have had only brightest
weather until now. New Years day
particularly, was one Of unclouded bril-
liancy. The sun shone warmly and
clearly from the bright sky, and, with
the bracing air, gave us a pleasanter
holiday than we have experienced for
years. Our last New Years was pecu-
liarly unpleasant, owing to the deep
snow which blocked our streets and
barred nearly all locomotion. But this
was all that could be enjoyed and few
failed to enjoy it. The weather be-
comes necessarily matter of intense
concern to all who wish to make their
formal annual calls upon the President
and other officials. The White House
is the grand center of interest, for
around it revolve all the etiquette and
ceremony of the capital, and Tuesday
was no exception to the crush and splcn.
dor of the New Years receptions which
have characterized the White House
since and during Mr. Lincoln's occupan-
cy. All its rooms were most richly and
handsomely decorated with cvcrgreens
and flowers, and presented the same
festive appearance they did New Year s
Eve, as prepared for the celebration of
the Presidents silver wedding, which
unusual social White House event was
quietly and unostentatiously enjoyed by
him and Mrs. Hayes, with select par
ty of about 100 invited guests, prior to
midnight. New Years morning the pro-
grammc of the day commenced at II
o'clock by Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes entering
the Blue Room, and at once received
the Cabinet. The Diplomatic Corps en-
tered, preceded by Sir Edward Thorn
ton, the British Minister, who, by vir-
tue of longest residence here, becomes
Dean of the Corps, and is therefore en-
titled to the high honor of being first.
There is a vast deal of nice points of ct
iquette involved in these receptions, and
rank and precedence are most jealousy
contended for by the foreign diplomats
whose sensitiveness is often most sadly
hurt by some of our republican igno-
rance, or rather disregard, Of kingly rank
and power. The attaches of the vari-
Gus legations accompanied their Minis
tiers, and a more glittering display of
uniforms and decorations we have never
seen at the White House
The Blue Room was soon ablaze, and
remained so till l o'clock, for our army
and navy officers lent their presence and
uniforms to the occasion. At this hour
the doors were opened to the citizens,
who, until 2 o'clock, poured in through
the large doors in seething, struggling,
packed mass of humanity Once in the
dense throng, the visitor was borne help
lessly along to the President, who touch
ed each passing hand which was thrust
before him with his own, and thence to
the East Boom, where chance was af-
forded to breathe and rearrange torn and
disordered dress and wearing apparel
Few ladies care to undergo more than
one such ordeal, yet there are some to
whom the excitement and the crowds
afford apparently the deepest enjoy
ment, for we have noticed them for
years at every reception, repeating the
process of going through again and again
with the crowd Mrs. Hayes was assist
ed by several ladies, who were relatives
Of herself or Mr.. Hayes, or were invited
guests from a distance. Her toilet was
very elegant, though she wore no jewel
ry. But the dresses of her beautiful
young lady assistants were very elabor-
ate and costly. The President was in
full evening dress. with white gloves,
and went through his hand shaking with
a gravity and earnestness worthy of a
pow-wowing Indian chief in council
We used to fancy, when shaking hands
with Mr.. Lincoln during the hour of the
reception, when the great unwashed
plebian asserts his right to meet his
chief magistrate on equal terms, that
the merry twinkle of his eye appreciated
fully the absurdity and righteousness of
our senseless practice of public hand
shaking, which taxed his strength often
to the utmost. But Mr.. Hayes looked
as solemn as an owl to the end, though
Mrs Hayes and her assistants constant
ly laughed and chatted. Altogether, it
was grand affair As soon as the Cab
met officers had paid their respects to
the President, each left for his own
domicile to receive company. Official
etiquette requires che diplomatic corps
and other officials to call upon the Cab
met. though not necessarily in uniform,
and from II to 4 o'clock a constant
stream of visitors passed into the houses
of the Secretaries Mr.. Evarts receives
with his wife and six daughters, Mr..
Sherman with wife and one daughter,
Mr. McCrary wife and two daughters,
Mr.. Thompson wife and four daughters
and Mr.. Schurz with but his daughter.
These ladies were assisted by young
friends and relatives, and we feel assur-
ed no Cabinet receptions ever presented
more fashion and beauty than these.
Surely, no Cabinet showed such an
abundance of daughters Refreshments
were served everywhere. FELIX.