Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-02-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Politics, Parties and Fashion.
Miss West and What She Wore.
Mrs. House, Of Tennessee, on Mrs
Keifer's Committee.

family well says that reticence is one
of their characteristics; she went tt
school with one of his sisters, who was
so close-mouthed that she would moi
even tell what was her middle name
Only the initial letter was known tt
her teacher and comrades.
! Mrs. Hunt is, of course, deeply
mortified at the reflections cast upon
| her husband and sons in regard to his
| retirement and pension. The public
| appears to have forgotten or over
i looked the fact that Judge Hunt was
SENATOR COMBINES APPOINTMENT
New York entered a protest when
he was brought forward for the posi-
ton, while it was admitted that he was
a gentleman of birth and breeding, yet
he was always puny and without the
physical or legal stamina requisite for
the highest judicial position. Judge
Hunt was not pauper, and when be
was struck with paralysis over three
years ago, his recovery was not only
pronounced hopeless, but his death
was hourly expected. At that time
there was war between the Senator from
New York and President Hayes,
and Mr.. Conkling would never have
consented to the resignation Of Hunt
while Hayes was President. If Gar
fold had lived no hill for the ratire-
ment of Hunt would have been intro
duced and passed by Congress.
Neither Hayes nor Garfield would
have been permitted to make a nomi-
nation. Fortunately for the business
of the court, the ex- Senator from New
York is willing for President Arthur,
by and with his advice and consent, to
fill the vacancy. Is the Supreme
Court always to be run in the same
ruts? Are the judges ALWAYS to be
taken from New York, New England,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio {?
There are only three Ohio men on the
bench, the Chief Justice and judges
Matthews and Woods. Judge Harlan
is from Kentucky, Judge Miller from
Iowa, and Judge Field from Califor-
MIA. Should any of these seats be
vacated, the same States might, with a
show Of reason, argue that the new
men must hail from them, just as the
States have mentioned above refuse
to be overlooked because they have
been favored so long.
Mrs. Keifer is more successful than
her husband in the makeup Of her
committees. She receives every
Wednesday with corps of assistants
selected from the most popular Con-
gressional families. Last Wednesday
she was reinforced by Mrs. Reed, Of
Maine; Mrs. Gen. Sparks, Mrs. House,
of Tennessee; Mrs. Ermentrout, of
Pennsylvania; Mrs. Bowman, of Mas.
sachusetts; Mrs. Cannon, of Illinois;
Mrs. Mcfarland, of Kansas; Miss
Theresa Blackburn, Miss Lily Turner,
and her aunt, Mrs. Allnutt. Mrs.
Keifer presented bouquet to each
one of the ladies. Mrs. Turner's was
mainly composed of lilies Of the valley,
few rare pink buds and heliotrope.
The weather was wretched, and yet
over 800 persons, mostly ladies, risked
life and limb on the slippery sidewalks
in discharging their duty to the wife
of the Speaker and the ladies Of the
Cabinet. Society devotees are the
most faithful class one meets with in
this city. The recital of hair breadth
escapes, or falls not attended with
injury, gives variety to the small talk
OF receptions in general. 1t is impos-
sible to hold consecutive conyersa-
ton where people are as we'll acquaint
ed with each other as they are in
Washington. So constant is
THE ROUND OF VISITING AND DINNERS
and evening parties that you meet the
same people constantly, and every one
gives recognition at each meeting, 50
that the company is constantly in mo-
ton, with only a word for each one.
Bon mots" are rare, and it is folly to
attempt the recital Of anything that
takes more than five minutes to tell.
If you premise a story with an expla
nation which is tedious, and feel eager
TO reach the denOuement as a compen
sation to your listeners it invariably
happens that you are interrupted be-
fore the point is reached, and you
have the modification of feeling that
you are looked upon as tiresomo
bore. when in reality if you had been
permitted to finish you would have
established the reputation of being
highly entertaining.
AS a hostess,
MISS WEST,
the youthful daughter Of the British
Minister, is one of the most accom-.
lplished in Washington. She ia per.
fectly natural in manner, but if she
we're older and more experienced hel
simplicity and self-possession would
be looked upon as the result Of Ions
study and the perfection of art.
Last Thursday she gave a dinner
party to young ladies and gentlemen
and after dinner gave a ball, to whicl
she invited about one hundred per
sons. During the evening her fathel
told me that she had ordered him no.
to receive with her, nor interfere il
any way, that it was her company, anC
she wished 10 do the entertaining Fl,
said that she was a surprise to him
for she was educated in conyen
where dancing and department werl
net taught, and yet she seemed t,
/, know it all. This is true, and NOR,
? persons than her papa wonder, whel
, they see this childish. looking Dir
: dance gracelully-as she did Thursda-
eyening--but while 50 doing keeping
sharp lookout for the arrival Of guest,
when she would break away fron
her partner, bound TO the doorwa
and cordially greet the new AT
J rivals. Her father obeyed order