Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-07-22
SOCIAL LIFE
At the National Capital During the
Summer Solstice.
Saturday Afternoon - "reminiscences Of Old
Times-Miss Hornet Lane and the
Moeking Bird-The lineoIns
The Grants.
FLeEINGToTHe SPRINGS AND SEASIDE

Special Correspondence Of the Register.
WASHINGTON, July 20.-There is at leas
one feature of Washington out door socia
life which to the superficial observer seemi
to suffer but little change as men come and
go. 1 can hardly go back to tell who origi
mated the custom, but the Saturday after
noon concert by the Marine band in the
grounds are as permanent an institution In
our local code as anything earthly and
transitory can be. The Incompatible rem
dition by this famous organization is by it
self sufficient attraction for the multitudes
but join to It, the agreeable surrounding
of the executive mansion and grounds, and
the idea is complete. For many years the
band gave also prominent concerts in the
capitol and Smithsonian grounds semi.
weekly, but the
Saturday Afternoons
were the gems of the week. President Ar.
thur has bonored these occasions this year,
of the White House, and always surround
ed by brilliant coterie of friends. The
ladies have been prettily dressed, quite in
spirit with the affair, and the group revived
in the memories of some, similar scenes in
days gone by. / stood watching the crowd
as it slowly filed homeward the other night,
and asked an old attache of theWhi House
who had served six different administra.
tions prior to Johnson's rise and fall, and
from a sentence he dropped ! knew l was
in for good store
OF Reeollections.
There passed lot of school girls with
their first long dresses and beaux, and then
an overwhelming array of baby carriages.
Now" said he "when was in the White
House, no baby carriages were allowed
within the grounds on Saturday afternoons;
we had place provided for the little coaches
and the nurses were never allowed to in
commode everybody running carriages
aronnd. Why in Pierce's and Fillmore's
time these garden concerts were the gayest
social affairs of the summer season. Folks
did not leave town then, as they do now, at
the first breath Of summer, and through
the season long that Southern portico
would be filled with the gayest danes and
in'' in the al city H'i if the S President
did so. Or if the Presidents summered at
the Soldiers Home, they would rarely neg
lect to spend Saturday evening at the
White House, just to be present at the
band concert. But there was some dignity
about it then. Poorly clad or rough look
individuals were never allowed within the
grounds at all, and the
Presidents Guests
came by invitation. All the ladies of the
foreign legation and their husbands came
in full dress, and drying up to the north.
ern entrance, were escorted through the
suite of rooms out to the portico, opening
on the windows of the blue parlor. In the
between the music, the
chatted away and light re-
freshments were discussed. After
the President, with some lady leaning on
his arm, would promenade the grounds,
lust as you see the crowd doing now, fol.
lowed by the presiding lady OF the White
House and the rest Of the company. There
was always an air of formality about it,
hTs 1atehokind aheniHng: Many OF the
Presidents entertained their list OF invited
guests, after the music, at supper. Then,
Just as now, the
Grand Finale
by the band was the National airs, winding
few of the Presidents / served made habit
of giving the band supper, too, but the
custom did not become general. could
tell lots of stories about the charms OF par.
ticular evenings, when famous men and
women were gathered on that portico, but
| believe the one best remember is that
which most other folks have quite forgot
ten, The first time "The Mocking Bird
was ever PLAYED, believe, was by the Ma.
rine band. ltwas during Buchanan's term,
and his niece
Miss Harriet Lane
presided with grace rarely equal led, at the
White House. The leader Of the band had
Miss Lane to allow him dedicate
the piece to her, and she had consented and
invited large company to listen to It's
first rendition. The band leader, following
the programme, first presented Miss Lane
q card, on which was painted mocklng
bird and the inscription, ITO you" The
was played in splendid style,
and never read it since but what the
scene comes up. / can see Miss Lane
bow her acknowledgements again and again,
almost hear the murmurs of applause from
an assemblage, of all that was distinguish
ed in our social life" The flavor OF that
evening hung about the band concerts for
many day. While Mrs. Lincoln was in
the White House,
: Social MingIings
were such exceptional events that can re-
call but few events to distinguish
this particular feature. The war
scattered the social body and
besides Mrs. Lincoln was not oyer-fond
of gatherings. She likes few chosen
friends rather than the presence or ap-
plause of the masses, and while certain
iormalities, like New Year receptions or
such, on stated occasions. there Is little
else to chronicle of social doings then. To
he sure, from time TO time even these
stated affairs, were very brilliant owing 70
the presence Of the heroes OF the great con-
flict. One of Mrs. Lincoln's rules still holds
good at the White House though, and 1t is,
the commencing Of the New Year reception
at ten o'clock instead Of nine as IL had
been, so many terms back, that the rule
seemed one never TO be broken. She
changed il however, and il has soremained.
The Grants
were fond Of the band concerts, and the
mass of Washingtonians first made the &C
auaintance of Miss Nellie there, where she
used TO romp and play with absolute free
dom. The younger Grant boys, too, took
great delight in mingliny with the crowd,
but as q rule, the elder members OF the
family, when they appeared at all, re-
mained with such Of their friends as ap-
on the portico.
Hrs. Hayes
was frequently present on Saturday after
moons and held an informal reception, her
self the liyeliest of the group. So IL seems
but natural sequence of such well de
yised custom that our widower President,
the cynosure Of so many maidenly glances,
sbdnid pose himself TO the best advantages.
The mass Of those who listen TO the mu-
sic now a-days are Of class it takes but
little to amIse, yet the musical part OF the
programme Is carried out quite as faithful
" as of yore. Peshaps the present Admin
is,ration will effect revolution in this re-
gard, rs have Others in different directions.
Personal Topics.
The family of ex-Surgeon General Barnes
are deeply afflicted again by the death OF
his sister IL lis only Q few months ago
Stree his son, Dr.. Barnes, died Miss
Emma EarDes is .,ne of the young ladies'
most seen at the White House. and with
Miss Porter, the Misses Frelipghuysen,
Miss Beal, Miss Errell, seemingly especial
favorites with the President believe
Miss Barnes is the only one of Nellie