The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1878-01-12

meFty-henRlScehctS OF 44Htc-OCt(Um DAYS
The Social Administrations of Harriet
Lane, Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Fish, md Mrs
Hayes" Fire o'clock I6aS'-THe first
regular" Reception Of tie Season at the
Waite House, etc., etc., etc.
WAsHINGToN, D. c., Jan. 5, 1878.
In ante-beliuns days, during the Admins
tration of Mr.. Buchanan, when Harriet
Lane " did the honors," as the saying is, of
the White House, it was she who struck the
keynote Of the season in other words, it
depended upon her whether the social season
at the National Capital should be gay or a
dull one. Our society bellies and beaux looked
anxiously towards her to set the example,
and her style and entertainments were
copied in all first-clas5 houses. Later, when
the political horizon became overcast, and
Mr.. Lincoln was called to the helm of the
ship of State, affairs all over the country, and
more especially at the Executive Mansion,
were of such a nature as to preclude much
gaiyty; other, farweightier matters, ,deman-
ded the time and attention Of him who,
during the eventtul period which followed,
stood at the head of the nation, and enter
tainments at the White House We're, like
Angels visits, comparatively few and far
between. Then came President JohnsOn's
Administration, which was a blank so far as
the social records of the White House are
concerned and after him came Gen. Grant,
and, with him arcvival. The cobwebs We're
removed from the cosed-up parlors and the
dust brushed from the unused and faded
furniture, and Mrs. Grant and her charming
daughter "Nellie" busted themselves to
make the would-be old building look and
feel like home again. In this they admirably
succeeded, and during the eight years of
President Grants Administration few houses
had warmer welcome or a brighter fireside
to offer, than the Executive Mansion.
But it was, perhaps, these very homeike
and domestic tendencies of Mrs Grant, which
| caused her never to hold the place, as did
Harriet Lane in her day, and as Mrs. HAYES
does now, of leader'' in Washington So
ciety. That place was, by universal consent,
awarded to Mrs. Fish, the wife of the then
Secretary of State. A woman of wealth,
| generosity, and refinement, she was evident
| ly suited for this position; and from her all
social edicts and regulations governing
| society and etiquette emanated. To speak
| allegorically, Mrs. Grant took Il "back seat -
and at the opening of season the question
was never " What is Mrs. Grant going to do;''
but; What will Mrs. FIsH dor" She
could make Washington dull or gay, at her
pleasure, and 1t was to her exclusively
that society looked for an example.
After her retirement from the social stage
at the close of President Grants Administra.
tion, came am eventlul and never-to-be. for.
| gotten interregnum, and then President
Hayes. As the wife of the Governor of Ohio
| Mrs. Hayes had had large experience i'm
! conducting the affairs Of an Executive
| Mansion, which, although on smaller scale
has been Of considerable advantage to her,
| The routine was familiar to her, as well as "a
the President; and the advantage which
they possessed in this respect over the late
| Administration when it came into power
was never more apparent than at the recent
| New Years reception at tie White House
| For all the world, both Mr. and Mrs. HAYES
looked and acted as if they had done the
same thing over and over again, when in
/ reality it was the first time they had been
| placed in this trying position. Trying, as
| requiring not only good presence" :" but
! great urbanlty, suabty,aud physical strength.
To shake hands with upwards of fifteen
| hundred persons, without moments rest or
respite, is 30 easy task certainly not with
| out showing signs OF fatigue. The stolid
| physique of President Grant could stand it.
as it could almost anything else, without
| sign or symptom of welriues-, but, as a rule,
| Mrs. Grant was compelled to retire before
the ceremony was over. Strange to saw, both
Mr.. and Mrs. Hayes stood it all through, and
| stood it well the only sign on her face of
| being worn out, or well nigh so, being a
slight pallor and tho deep breath of relief
she gave as she sank into an easy chair after
| it was all over.
The social feature of the season promises
to be five o'clock teas;" a sort of early and
| Inexpensive keitledrums, designed especially
| for the young folks. Mrs. HAYES has set the
example, and they are already in
vogue They have the merit of being cheaD,
80 that almost anyone can afford to give
them, and are suggestive of early in
fact, rarely last longer than midnight. The
oalis and champagne supper Of the Fish
| regime are at discount, owing to the hard
| times and the fact that Mrs. Hayes is noto-
| rlously opposed to wine drinking. Besides.
the fate of the late Secretary of War stands
as a warning against living beyond ones
\ income and a Cabinet Minister'S salary
does not, unless he has other sources of in
come, warrant great expenditure. All the