The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-01
rrha white, House.

"A temperance boGitet II w aSu = -
has been warmed up very much by ciaret
punch because chat great sinner made It's
appearance In presence OF Mrs. r. B. HAYES,
she consenting This was Upon the occasion
Oh the recent presidential pleasure exear.
sion. The members Of this society, com! COM
posed in large degree OF bero.c tempe
rance women, had attempted TO honor
Mrs. HAYES by calling their society by
her name because she had refused to nave
wines or liquors at the Presidents mansion
at state dinners, notably on the occasion OF
the entertainment OF the Russian Prince
and suite. But hearing that claret punch
had been part Of the entertainment to the
lady they had delighted to honor they passed
vote OF censure thereupon, and at once
struck Mrs. HAYRs's name from their So
ciety. And they did this Notwithstanding
that when the punch was introduced MRS.
HAYES said 81 do not use wine or liquors
"mysen, nor ia my family, but: have no
q Thought of stunning those who think ana
"act differently 1t is a mistake to think.
"that I should want to be so dictatorial.
:. want people to enjoy themselves in the
"manner that is most pleasing to them"
A day afterwards leading member OF the
society addressed Mrs. HAYES note say
ing that the action of the society was with
out authority and therefore void.
We rather think Mrs. HAYEs-all cotIr-
tesy and obedience to her-has by tins
time discovered that she would better
have avoided any alliance with this ht1e
Washington tea-party. We do not oo-
iect to temperance; on the contrary, we
are its earnest friend. But the mistress OF
the White House has duties and courtesles
to perform as the wife OF the President OF
the United States, and should never allow
any local or social alliances to Interfere
with them. The ruling out Of wine or Gus
tomary articles OF State entertainment when
high foreign dignitaries OF foreign repre-
sentatives are the guests OF the President
is a sort of departure from etiquette that
might reasonably be regarded subject
of scandal TO high civilization. Mrs. HAYES
was right when she disclaimed any intention
to be dictatorial; and she would have also
been right If she had observed the same rule
when her husband was entertaining guests
of the nation. 1t is too common for enthu-
siastic people to consider that it is incum-
bent upon them to make other people con-
form to their tastes. Always questionable on
occasions Of hospitality, it is unquestionably
wrong when the President Of the nation is
the entertainer. We had once in Virginia
Governor whose administration was
founded on strictly temperance principles,
and we can say that sometimes the enter
| tainments at the Gubernatural mansion
! were suspected OF dryness. And yet that
| Governor was the kindcst and most hospl-
table OF men. Only we don't think That
there should be such thing as bed OF
Procrustes for State entertainments.
We beg pardon FOR saying that Mrs.
| HAYES is at Washington in character That
should not permit her to be surprised by
local societies and appropriated in manner
that may interfere with her housekeeping
ciyilities. We question whether the prln-
cipals in the national mansion have not both
of them, in their con to Washlngton,'
been little too studied in their frank CT:
viltv. it was not incumbent upon Mrs.
HAYES, in her temperance zeal, to go to an
incorporate degree in social sense. She
is the first lady in the nation, in politico,
social sense, and she should be free from any
obligations relating to time or custom that
might cucumber her in the duties OF hcl
exalted position.
So Mr.. HAYES, we are sure, has sacrificed
his convenience, at least, if not bis dignity
in an amiable effort to be courteous to all
We are satisfied he has been led often TO re-
gret and has incurred unkind reflection
from things he has done in the best spirit
The McLINs, the DENNIsEs, the WELLsEs
and such, we are sure have given him trou
BILE. These are matters that time should
modify.
The White House, we are sure. il we may
be allowed to speak in homely way, hat
never better-hearted people than its presen
occupants. But still we must he allowed t.
carp little at these things.