The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-03-29


Much has been said about Mrs. Hayes ex-
ample in the temperance cause and her in
iluence upon society while she lived in Wash
ington, and but little has followed concerning
the apparent relapse of her minions. The
white house wine glasses and punch cups had
4 long rest in the dust of dark closet for the
four years that cold water ruled at the first ia
BILE in the land, and for this the temperance
ladies ordered the der1ded portrait where Mrs.
Hayes appears, not with her heel upon the
bunch of grapes, but with that bacchic symbol
hanging high and sour above her head. Now
4 wall rises from the teetotalers that president
Arthur has resumed the way of his forefathers,
and there is sad shaking of heads. In So
ciety generally, the punch bowl has been
more prominent figure at entertainments
this year than for seasons back. In Difference
to Mrs. Hayes avowed principles, those spicy
and insidious compounds that go by the name
Of punch were never offered at the receptions
held by the cabinet ladies and higher officials,
and only occasions of private hospitality saved
the great china and crystal bowls from COM
pletc neglect for those years. This year punch
is the rule at every entertainment, and there
are several hospitable houses that possess
considerable fame in this respect The inven-
ton of Hub punch has saved hostesses vast
amount Of trouble, and where the flowing
bowls have to be refilled many times during
an afternoon the process is much simpliied.
AT the house of one of the foreign ministers,
whose family is especially popular in society
fine and fiery punch adds to the gayety of
each weekly occasion, and on the
coolest, stormiest and most forbidding
days of the season their parlors were
always filled with the most brilliant
and animated groups. Women who passed
for stupid, and young ladies who were
shy and timid in other places, found their
tongues there, and the merriest kind of time
always reigned in that gas.lighted and flower
scented drawing-room. The daughter Of the
house, dark and graceful beauty, stirred the
amber liquid with golden ladle and filled the
plittering cups, and circle of ladies was kept
around her during all of the calling hours.
Those same ladies left with heightened color
and glitterng eyes, and many have watched
with amusement to see the callers descend the
doorsteps with slow motion and firm grasp
upon the handrail. Very often it happened to
novces that they made no more calls on those
days, and naive young lady, in refusing
proffered glass, said that she ''didn't think that
it paid to take punch and feel dizzy and cross
eyed the rest pf the afternoon" AT many
private Germans and dancing parties this win
ter punch and champagne have been as liber-
ally provided for these young people as for
stag party of their elders, and some debutantes
betray an acquaintance with different brands
and qualities of wines that would more fifty be-
come a club man. Plainly the temperance
people will have to do more than have por-
traits painted if they wish to redeem the in
iquitous and keep green the example of Mrs.
Hayes. Much as she did for the cause during
her stay, there were fragrant breaches Of dis
cioline occasionally then, and since her de-
porture the backsiding has been lamentable.
And now Robertson? Well well; are we to
have deluge of scandalism, all coming from
the boilers at the Chicago convention? We
hope Fate will save us at least one honest one
from the number. And to be fair, we are not
ready to condemn Mr.. Robertson on the tes-
timony ola man like Shipherd until he is
heard, though the fact that he does not con-
tradict Shipherd, though called upon to do so,
is somewhat suspicious Chicago Inter
Ocean, Stalwart.
Guiteau has raised his rates for autographs
and photographs. He struck up card at
the door OF his cell to-day, with this inScrip-
ton: thereafter my autographs will be sold
for So 50 per dozen, or IS cents each. No
extra charge will be made for adding reli iouS
sentiments to them, such as in God we trust, ,
or anything like that. My large-sized photo