, 1881-01-02
WASHINGTON,
FROM THE BEGINEING.

FROM THE BEGINNING.
Speefol Dtspateh to Tie Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 1-New-Ye ears
receptions were commenced by George
Washington when the eralAdministratio
was located i'll New York City. The name
given to these receptions was Presidential
Leyees, "a designation which they continue
IL receive in some social circles. Those
levees were very stilted affairs, and were one
Of the distinguishing features OF the series od
pageants which characterized what the social
people OF those days were rather proud to
cal! |'the Republican Court" In our own
fines the great American constituency would
designate such affairs as snobbishness, and a
President would soon lose his popularity who
assumed
TIE RoTAI. AIRS
which were exhibited in the everyday life
Of the Father Of his country. Indeed, the
chief distinguishing difference between the
society Of 1.-The Republican Court" in the
early days OF the Republic and the Tory
Court, which it Immediately succeeded, were
differences mainly OF name and OF location.
1t is very much doubted whether our fathers
themselves contemplated establishing so
thorough Democracy as the present Amer
lean Republic has come to be. At all events,
there was no such distinction between
ROYALTY AND EEPuBLICAN1sA
at the beginning. The society connected
with the Federal Administration sought to
retain the essential features Of the Royal
Tory Court, and even clung to the name
*'court" itself to designate the Presidents
reception. The Royal Tories gave red coats
to thei1imilitary; the Royal Republicans gave
blue coats to theirs. The declaration Of prin-
cipies Of government, of course, widely
differed, but the social characteristics re-
manned the same during all Of Washington's
Administration. So far as society goes, it
was simply the difference between the ms -
and the '+puts.' .,,,
MODERN REFunL1cAS1sM. :F1115 1: z.,.
This was specially noticeable at the New
TEARS receptions In the first days OF the
Republic To-day, when 'scitizens gener-
ally" we're admitted to the White House,
one could not only see prominent business
men md society leaders from all parts OF the
country, but, side by side with them, and
sandwicted in among them, were the colored
men who open the doors at the departments,
and the still humber class of persons who
attend the stalls at the market The thread
bare and tattered waterproof of the laboring
woman brushed roughly against the silk Of
the modern belle No distinctions were
made at the Presidents door. The only dis
elimination as to incomers within the peo-
pies hours was that which prevails in
horse-car-"Drunk and disorder}y not adj
1nitted." This was not so in the days Of
Washington, and probably was not true
until the days of Jackson, when the mob
first began to lake possession Of the White
House, and when
GEN. JACKSON,
to emphasize his Democracy, served in the
the East Room great cheese on New-Year's
Day to his guests, fragments Of which, the
society chroniclers of the time state, were
trarnpled into the floor, to the ruin Of the
carpet, and to the disgust Of those who dis
liked the mob. In those days there was
cider, too, in the cellars
But in Washington's time the strictest
rules Of social etiquet and decorum pre-
waited. No motley crowd could approach
the powdered and bewigged presence. The
President Of the the United States was an
AUGUST pERsoNAGE.
His receptions were not for the vulgar.
None came who had not the right to come
by official station. or who were not entitled
10 Special privileges by reason Of established
J merit and character; and one could no more
}reEture into the presence OF George and
: Martha Washington on that day in any
other than full dress, than one could now In
plain clothes obtain an audience with the
Queen Of England
THE FIRST WASHINGTON NEW YEARS.
The Sew-iear's ceremonial has now be-
come conspicuous feature OF Washington
social and political life. The custom of max
ing New-Year's calls, borrowed by 3Tr. Matli-
son from the old Dutch practice OF New York
City. was first introduced into Washington
in 1910, when Madison became President.
The custom has been preserved to this day.
The smaIl-c1ottes, knee-buckles. and pow
dered hair Of that period have been abandon
ed. but the calls are quite as frequent, the
founaii'ies AS conspicuous, and the social
zeal as great as in the early days of the old
Republican Court But it was not until 1871
hat the doors Of the White House were
opened to the general public on New-Years
Dag.
TIE PRESIDENTS RECEPTION.
The chief social feature Of the day is the I
eception at the White House. The program I
# these receptions is always carefully ar
anged by the person who acts as the s'Grand
- for His Exceliency,' and is |
day in advance The chiefs Of
e Executive Departments, the General of
1e Army, the Admiral Of the Navy, in
.r1, issue orders to the bureau officers, ana
] their respective staffs, to be present at a
ertain place at specified time in full dress,
r in full uniform, as the case may be, and
appear at the White House in the pre-
ribed order, and at the appointed time.
he Presidents custom is to assemble |
his family and the guests who are to as
St in receiving in the Blue Room about II
clock in the morning. The wife Of the
.esident always invites the ladies Of the
binet, and a few other ladies, to assist her .
receiving. It is considered an honor to ,
invited to receive, and such an Invitation. s
rording to the social code, is equivalent to :
Command. The reception party, in addl- ;
II i, tie wives OF Cabinet officers, general
Of the wives Of some Senators who
!, especially intimate with the Presidents