Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-22
SOCIAL WAsHINGIOg.
BATTLING CHAT ABOUT LEADING PEOPLE
AT THE CAPITAL.
A State Dinner and Who Attended-A
Fifty-four-F Romance and
How 1t Ended

WASHINGTON, January ID, 1881.
Congress has given itself industriously
to business since its resumption on the
9TH. With the slight Improvement in the
weather the social world has gone seri-
ously into the business of enjoying itself,
although the streets are still almost I'M
passable from accumulations of melted and
unmelted snow. Probably the difference
between those who "can go in chaises,
and those who must walk, be jases, was
never more uncomfortably felt by the lat
ter than now, but both kinds are out, with
praiseworthy fidelity, making the appro-
pirate and deferential "first call" upon
official families of high grade in all depart
ments of the Government.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW,
Like Bulge and Toddie, how the wheels
90 round? Well, Monday is the day for
the Supreme Court Justices families, the
Capital Hill ladies and those residing at
the National and the Riggs Hotels. Sen
ators' wives boarding at the hotels, how
ever, keep their own day, Thursday. Mon
day, too, the venerable George Bancroft
and wife receive. A few very "swell
Congressmen's wives also take Monday as
their day, but the majority of them receive
on Tuesday, unless boarding at one of the
above hotels. There is no perfunctory day
for Congressmen's wives. They make the
first call upon Senators wives, Cabinet
and Supreme Court ladies, and the newer
members wives make the first call on
the older ones. They make up the
crank and file" ii one may SO put
it, of the officio. social world here
though if their husbands are men OF high
consideration or great wealth, or dis
tinguished family connection, their social
status is governed by the last-named con-
sideration more than by the fact of their
belonging to the unaristocratic but power
full American House of Commons. Only in
priority of calls all must succumb to estab-
lished usage. Tuesday is also the day
for ladies at the Ebbitt, Wizards and
Arlington Hotels, and for General Sher-
mans family and the Admiral of the
Navy's. Wednesday is the Cabinet ladies'
day, and for the wife of the Speaker OF
the House OF Representatives Such
wives of members of Congress as live i'm
mediately in the neighborhood of a ma
iority of the CAbinet receive on
Wednesdays, as matter of con-
venience for their friends. Mrs.
Horace Davis is one of these. This
lady and her husband, from their high
social connection and their attractive per-
sonal qualities, have from the first been
sought for among the most coveted circles.
Their departure after March 4th is greatly
regretted in advance. They were last
night at Mrs. Dahlgren's brilliant party in
honor of the newly chosen Senator, Conger,
of Michigan, and wife. President Garfield
would do popular thing, for Washington
at least, if he would put Mr.. Davis in his
Cabinet.
The wives of Senators receive. Occa-
sionally some Senator's wife at board
ing. house will invite the members wives
also boarding there to make her day
their own, and they will shine around
her like the planets around the moon, she
being the central figure. This is the case
at Mrs. Logans boarding place, the brill
liant and popular wife of the Senator from
Illinois. Senators wives out-rank the Cab
met ladies and all the Supreme Judges
wives except the Chief Justice, and there.
TO-, must receive the first call. Friday
more of the diplomatic families receive
calls than on any other day, and it
is generally called diplomatic day.
Also some Congressmens wives have
it as their own, and many lead
ing old citizens of Washington. Saturday
is Mrs. Hayes weekly reception day. She
at first tried Friday, simply for the pleas.
ure of innovation, it would seem, but went
back to Saturday after few weeks. Thus
you see that the industrious caller may
start out Monday afternoon, and keep busy
till Saturday night, each day meeting we'll
dressed ladies at their own homes, who 60
through all the forms of being glad to see
you, and on Saturday finding brilliant
crowd at the White-House reception, the
great social exchange for the week. 1t Is
a scene of vivid coloring and of harmless
gossip. The great east parlor is filled
with ladies in handsome street costumes,
with few gentlemen sandwiched in. 1t Is
all hollow show, my friends, but it is a
part and parcel of official life that is not
without its uses.
THIS INTERMINGLING
Between families of different official status,
and different families of the same status,
softens much of the asperity of political
life These usages also help strangers to
become acquainted, specifically, at least,
at the capital, which would be dreary
place for them if no such possibility ex-
isted The officers OF the army and navy,
below the highest grade of each, have no
distinctive day to which all the world is
welcome. They receive personal friends
only, as general thing. Some of the
most exclusive of them are angry if called
| upon by strangers.
THE CABINET FAMILIES
Usually set lunch table for their callers,
and one daughter of the house will preside
at the table in the dining.room, serving
chocolate to her visitors. Nearly always
some lady friend outside the house is in
vited to assist at these receptions, some-
times young belle or distinguished
married lady from some other city.
For instance, at the Cabinet recep-
ton yesterday, Miss Lizzie Mills,
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