Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-13
THE BURLINGTON. v


Washington Gossip.
Etiquette, which is very rigorous as re-
CARDS all formal dinner parties, IS especially
exacting in respect to those given at the
White House. An invitation to one df these
must not only he answered very promptly
but must not be declined for any reason less
serious than death, or severe illness IN the
family, or other calamity occurring to the
recipient of the invitation. The cards are
issued in this form: The President and
Mrs. Hayes request the pleasure of MI. ana
Mrs.-'s company at dinner on thurs
day, January ~, 1850, at seven o'clock
All this is engraved. save the name and
date, which are written on a sheet of large,
fine white notc-parCr, surmounicd by Inc
United States coat Of arms in gilt When
the guests arrive at the appointed time, 'hey
find all the first floor of the house thoroughly
lighted, the Marine Band stationed IN the
first cntrancc-hall to play during The repast,
and the corridors and parlnrs draped with
flags, and adorned with cut flowers and pot
ted plants The guests are shown into the
Blue Parlor, and each gentleman is given a
small envelope containing II diagram OF the
dinner table, with his own name and that OF
the lady he is to escort to the table written
against the number of the seals they will oc-
cupy The President always accompanies
the lady of highest official rank, and gives
her a seat on his right. The gentleman OF
highest rank escorts Mrs. Hayes. and sits on
her right. For example, at the dinner OF the
22d, Vice President Wheeler went to dinner
with Mrs Hayes, and the President with
Mrs. Evarts. The President always has
the central seat on the side of the table, with
his back to the North, and his wife sits OPP
posite From ihirty-six to forty plates are
laid at these banqucis. The table is always
lavishly decorated through the centre from
end to end with cut flowers and smilaX.
Bouquets are placed at every plate. a mir
ror is laid on the surface of the table through
the centre, reaching nearly its entire length.
In the centre stands lIiawathas boat,
wrought in silver, with himself at one end
holding n paddle, This handsome orna-
ment. purchased at the Centennial, is filed
with flowers. Gild,d wircs form arches
above the horizontal mirror. and are cntwin-
ed with smilax.
Two customs usual at formal dinners have
been abolished at the White House since
Mrs. Hayes has been lis mistress: one is
wine, the other low-necked dresses. She
herself uses neither. nor does she approve
more of decollcte toieitcs than of wine
drinking. The menu for the dinners always
includes numerous courses, and from two
and half To three hours are passed at
table. Conversation save with those on
either side, is impossible for the table is
very wide. When dinner is over, Mrs.
Hayes leads the way TO the parlors, and all
linger awhile in them, or the conscrvatories,
which are always lighted on all occasions
when there are evening entertainments at the
White House Before eleven O'Clock all the
guests Withdraw. Frequently they attend Il
party aftcrward. The handsomcst evening
dresses with high waists are worn by the
ladies, and dress suits by the gentlemen.
Members Of the cabinet, Justices of the
United States Supreme Court. Representa-
tives and Senators, and other high officials,
accompanied by their wives, or daughters
If they are widOwcrs, are usually the guests
at these dinners.
Fourteen have been sitting daily around
the table in the family dining at the
White House, who are the President and
Mrs. Hayes; their eldest son, Webb; their
two youngest children, Fannie and Scott
Mrs. Andrews, an intimate friend, who is
enough like Mrs. Hayes TO be her sister;
Colonel Weir, an aged gentleman, over
seventy years old, 4 cousin of Mrs. Hayes
from West Virginia; Miss Cook, a cousin
from Ohio and the following young ladies
from the same State ex-senator Matthews's
two daughters. two Misses Jones, Murat
llalsteads daughter ard Miss Ferguson. y
bright bevy of girls these seven are.
Mrs. Hayes enters with zcst into all the
amusements of young people, and although
there is no dancing now, rs there has not
been for many years AT White House par
ties, she does not disapprovc of it. Her
daughter Fannie, and Scott. the youngest
of the family, regularly attend dancing
school
Although our CAV season is now AT its
height, there are young ladies here who, dcs-
pte the fact that their social position gives
them the opportunity TO accept the most
tempting invitations for daylight and even
ing entertainments, yet find time TO spend in
serious study. A painting and skctching
class meets regularly every week at the resi-
dencc Of the widow Of the late distinguished
scientist Professor Henry. of the Smilhson-
ian Institution. The Misses Henry Secrc-
tary Schurz's eldest daughter Misses Minnie
and Bette Evaris daughters of the Secretary
of State, daughter of Mr. John \. King,
of New Yoik. and few others, are mem
hers of this class. The ladies are sufficient
ly advanced in art 10 assume the direction
of their own studies. and no longer have a
teacher. Each in turn sits as a mode, to the
others. In addition to practising skctching
while together, - every meeting word is
given out as a subject to hc illustrated 10y
each, according to her own idea of the best
manner of conveying its meaning, before the
next meeting, at which each is expected TO
bring a sketch as proof that she has worked
out the expression OF her thoughts on the
subject This gives scope to the Imagination
or the sense of humor, for a clever carica-
ture may express the meaning even better
than serious treatment. At one meeting
Coming was the word selected, at an
other 'Slencc"
Miss Lillian, the daughter of Senator Matt
Carpenter, regularly devotes her mornings,
however late her engagements may have de
tanned her the previous night. TO music and
the study of Italian and French. She has
fine voice, but her father never permits her
to accept an invitation to sing in any public
place, even for charitable purpose Nor
will he, from the same desire not TO expose
his only daughter to the gaze of mixed
crowd, permit her 20 appear in tableaux or
theairicals for which tickets are sold WASH
ington Cor. Hdvper's Bd-ar.