Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-08
THE CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS.
pecial Correspondence OF the Register.


be in Washington during the winter. 1t
is absolutely necessary to see the grand
rush OF visiting which sets in here after
January !, to realize what it is. Every
afternoon, except Sunday, and ones
own
Reception Day,
must be devoted to visiting il lady
means to keep up at all with her social
duties. The bad weather, while it has
not wholly prevented our ladies from
visiting since New Years, still has kept
every one from making as many calls as
usual, wherefore as soon as the bright
days came the rush was tremendous.
The streets about the residences where
the receptions took place each day have
been fairly blocked with carriages, and
tho sidewalks with ladies in full
visiting costules, walking, for
many here do walk when making their
calls las otherwise they would have no
exercise in the open air) and dress as
richly as when they ride. This causes
the place during the season to look like
provincial town on q fete day-especial.
ly as people have habit OF stopping to
talk in the streets, and many animated
groups Of ladies and gentlemen may be
seen. White bonnets have become al
most indispensable TO surmount visit
ing toilet, and certainly
These Dainty Creations,
with their fresh looking long full
plumes, add greatly to the effect where.
ever ladies are cOngregated together.
But it is amusing since the thaw began
to see these snowy head dresses dodgng
drips as their wearers pass into or out OF
front doors.
Some comiCal scenes have been wit
messed on the spaces where the meeting
of two avenues with a lettered and
a numbered street leaves vast open
frozen masses OF snow and mud make
an attempt to cross appalling. Yet
lalies in velvet and brocade suits did
plunge in accountered as they were, and
really did get through, showing no signs
OF the encounter with the unpleasing
mixture except on their rubber shoes.
Rubber shoes and boots have latterly
become almost as imperative for one
end OF visiting costume as white bon
nets Tor the Other.
Reception Days.
AS is wei known the families OF Ger.
tain classes of officials receive on certain
days in Washington. Monday is the re-
ception day at the houses OF Justices OF
the Supreme Court, on Capitol Hill and
at the Navy Yard; Tuesday is approprl-
ated by the families OF many members OF
the House Of Representatives and in
certain neighborhoods; Wednesday is
for the Cabinet and Speakers families;
Thursday for Senators; Friday for nu-
merous private citizens, and Saturday is
reception day at the White House and
on Connecticut avenue, now one OF our
most fashionable streets for residences.
More foreign legations are on that street
than any other, but the ladies belonging
to these have, az rlle, no reception
day; il they had one they would be over
run with visitors, for ever one who
comes here wants TO visit the foreigners.
While refreshments are by no means
obligatory at the day receptions, except
when guests Gre esq ec.ily invited, still
many ladies do have table set on their
"day" each week. Chocolate, tea or
coffee, light cakes, fancy crackers and
sandwiches generally comprise the re-
ireshments on taese occasions. Some.
times claret punch is added TO these. A
lew wears ago very substantial lunches,
including salad aud oysters, were pro.
vided by some ladies every eek, but i
am glad to say even rich people have
now set the example Of simplicity, thus
making it possible for many whose
houses are agreeable to visit because Of
their occupants, not their larler, tn re-.
ceiye their friends on stated days with
out feeling uncomfortable because they
cannot afford to have lunch for their
visitors. The amount OF standing one
has TO do here during the season is stu
pendous.
Ii is rarely the case that one can sit
even at the day receptions, az they are
generally too crowded. At the evening
parties, except at dinners, sitting is we'll
nigh impossible. 1t is equally out Of
the question to expect to talk with the
LADY on whom you are nominally call
ing. You talk with your hostess OF yes
terdsv at mutual friends house to-day,
bit don't expect to finish sentence
wherever YOU meet her. No one used
10 our hurried life in winter expects TO
utter consecutive sentence during the
season. Long calls, OF course, are out 81
the question. One cannot share ten
minutes at many houses when list OF
over thirty calls must be accomplished,
some Of them far apart, between and 5
p. NJ, which are our most fashionable
hours.
II is not alone in Washington, but in
other leading cities, that dinners have
this season
Largely Engrossed Fashionable Activ.
i;y
in comparison with evening parties.
Here they are numerous and elegant.
Scarcely half OF the most interesting OF
them find their way into print, for the
reason that, having political signifi
canoe, they are often kept quiet for DAYS
afterward till they accidentally leak out.
In the approaching change of admins.
tration the groupings that occurat these
semi-political dinners are most inter.
esiing to watch. They are hard to get
information OF, bat when found are a
b9uSss bouch to the reporter. Dinners
OF mere courtesy and ceremony have a
different interest, a pleasant phase oi
which is the overlapping of party ties,
in the selection OF guests-reminding
one OF General Garfield's remark on &C
cepting the nomination at Columbus TO
succeed Senator Thurman, aud in direc.
reference 10 the friendship for the latter,
There are no flowers OF sweeter fra.
GRANGE than those that grow over the
wall OF party politics"
Senator Henry O. DAVIS, CT West Vfr'
einia.
last Thursday evening entertained a,
dinner fifteen gentlemen in the noted
banquet room at Wormley's. IT was hi
first formal hospitality this winter anC
was elegant in all its details. The twC