West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1880-07-03
white House etiquette.

The ceremonlous dinners at the White
House arc as much matters of course as the
reception of the Presidents wife by day
and his own Casually called levees, no one
knows why,) by night. Custom has made
it obligatory on our Chief Magistrate to
give several Of these dinners during each
session of Congress. A spacious apart
ment, forty by thirty feet, known as the
state dining room, is provided for these
banquets There is another smaller room,
where the President and his family take
their meals, and where they often entertain
their friends Twenty or twenty-five can
comfortably dine therein. The estate
dining ro0in" adjOiDs the red parlor and
has door OF communication with that and
two with the hall. 1t has a handsome
carpet and antique, substantial furniture,
including solid mahogany buffet OF the
largest size, which looks as if it had been
in use half a century at least. There are
two windows fronting south, reaching from
fioor TO ceiling; there is mantel-piece and
fire place at one end Of the room and side
tables OF mahogany in convenient places
The walls are tinted pale hue and paneled
with gilt bands. The table used for ban
quets is long and broad enough 10 scat forty
guests and leave abundant space for the
servants 20 pass around Il. A mirror about
two feet wide and long enough 20 extend
nearly the entire length Of the table is one
Of the heirioOms Of the White House, and
is always placed horizontally along the cen
ire Of the table when feasts are given. II
has an ornate gilt frame and serves as the
foundation for the table decorations. There
are other handsome ornaments belonging 10
the White House which are sometimesused
these occasions, as, for example, the Hia-
watha vase, representing fila Watha in a
single-masted vessel on a crystal lake IN
mirror on whose borders are representa-
tiUns in silver Of aqueous plants and amphib-
iOus animals. This vase was purchased for
the use Of the White House by Mrs. Grant
at the Centennial Exhibition The table
linen is very fine. The glass ~ the finest
white cut glass as thin as egg shells. The
china Is white Sevres, with a cOlOred bOrd-
or. The silver IL massive, aud for the de-
sert the celebrated gold forks and spoons
which brought down wrath on Van Buren
are used. China. glass and linen alI have
an eagle and shield upon them and are
simply marked Presidents House The
dinners are the only official entertainments
I given at the White House at which refresh
monts are offered The custom OF Offering
even the simplest collation. az any Of the
| public receptions was long since abandoned,
not only because II was impossible 10 pro-
vide food for the multitude which rushes
! in ON such occasions, but also on account
I Of the piZgish way in which the crowd fed
I and swilled lemonadt, throwing az much
I on the carpets ~ into the rapaciOus mouth.
! Those who are entertained NJ the State din
/ ncrs are members of the Cabinet, Judges Of
I the Supreme Court, Senators and Repre-
sentativcs and the foreign ministers The
\ wives Of al who are married are asked
/ when the husbands are these dinners are
never Stag parues." When foreigner Of
\ high rank, who may be regarded in any
sense as representing a foreign nation or a
sovereign visits Washington, ne Is usually
/ dined In state at the White House II Is
etiquette not 70 decline an invitation % one
Of these feas,s for any reason Of lass mag
nituds than death in the family OF severe