Sacramento daily record-union., 1882-04-29
WASHINGTON LIFE.
SOCIAL LIFE AT THE NATIONAL CAP
ITAL-NoTES
Bow President Arthur Entertsins-The
White House Force-The Rule of
the Social Season.
WASHINGTON. April l3. 1889


The social life of the Executive Mansion
could not have been conducted with more
hawless propriety than it has been under
the present occupant, had he had no Other
interest than this. For six months from
President Garfield's death all communica.
tions emanating from there and from the
State Department were bordered in
black, except invitations to the few
dinners that were given at the mansion
during the last six weeks of mourn.
ing-the only form of hospitality
shown, except the perfunctory recep-
ton on New Years day. Neither since
that time has there been any undue
haste in assuming social relations. The
official mourning term expired March 10th,
which fell during Lent, and only one levee
was held before Easter, that being to the
general public, Tuesday evening, March
2Sth. You have heard what crush that
was
FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE
Wedging their way into house that a
crowd of eighteen hundred fills uncom-
fortably full. The Presidents vigorous
right arm was stiff and lame next day
One of the ladies who assisted him in re-
ceiving, lost a diamond aigrette that
fastened the white plume in her hair. A
foreign Minister and his party entered sans
dignity through a window, by the humane
suggestion of an attendant inside, who
saw them struggling in the unanointed
crowd without. In seven years observation
l have seen no jam to equal this before at
the levee of any President. There was
triple attraction that evening, for General
and Mrs. Grant assisted President Arthur.
The week the Grants were here there were
dinners given them every evening, in con-
nection with dinners 70 ex.Secretary and
Mrs. Fish, who were entertained by As
sistant Secretary of State Bancroft Davis,
a brother of ex- Congressman Horace Davis,
of San Francisco. The dinner of thirty
four covers to ex-President and Mrs. Grant,
given by the President, was probably the
most sumptuous dinner in the annals of
the White House, though all of President
Arthur's dinners are nearly on par for
elegance. The difference, when any exists,
is mainly between the State private dining
rooms, and the number of guests accom-
modated at table. There are always six
varieties of wine and from fourteen to
eighteen courses. "Louis," cook he has
brought on from New York, superintends
the entire preparations. President Arthur
has handsome private fortune, and it is
very generally understood that he means
to spend as much of his salary in hospital
ity as may be necessary to meet every de-
mand of his position. The service at the
White House is grave and decorously
courteous, as was the strict rule under
President Grant The same household
force whom Grant inherited from Lincoln
and johnson grew
DEMoRALIZED AND RUDE
Under the bucolic Hayes and there was
no marked improvement during the brief,
sad sojourn of the Garfelds ; but they soon
Strengthened themselves up into their best
behavior under the quiet, masterful eye
of Arthur, who is born mdgister dOmlts,
and has substituted metropolitan saUoir
tdire for the crude, pretentious Western
simplicity and unworldiness of his imme-
diate predecessors. Whether the Pacific
slope likes the Presidents Chinese policy
or not, it would like his soft hammered hos
pitality, so well.rounded as to have no.
where any jagged edge.
Dinners have been the feature of the
late social season, and of these Senator
Fair has given more and handsomer ones
than any other private host. Last Satur-
day evening he gave very elaborate din
ner to the young bellies OF the Arlington,
where he boards. The party was matron-
ized by two Senators wives. The Senator
occupies the second floor of what was
Charles Summers residence after bis sepa-
ration from his wife, and which now COM
municates with the Arlington Hotel. Con-
gressman Hiscock occupies the first floor of
the same mansion at rental of $500 per
month, and Senator Fair is said to pay
still more. 1t was here that Congressman
s. B. Chittenden, on the evening of March
2, 1881, gave reception to 300 gentlemen
IN honor of President. elect Garfield. Nearly
all the party giving during our exception
ally quiet winter has been either to or by
the diplomatic corps. Secretary and Mrs.
Frelinghuysen's Thursday evenings have
been standard weekly parties, primarily
for them, but to which many others of
distinction nave been invited. These have
been kept up during Lent, except Holy
week, and the closing one will be given to-
night. Nine entertainments were given
by foreign Ministers and their wives dur
ing the season but bereavement has fallen
heavily on three leading families OF the
corps, and no parties have been given by
any of their number of late. No Supreme
Justices families have given any parties
this winter, except one or two quiet din.
ners very limited in their invitations.
Mrs. Field is just emerging from the pe-
riod of mourning for her mother, and her
first reception will be next Monday to gen.
eral callers.
FEW SENATORS WIVES
Have given entertainments, a german by
Miss Dora Miller, and one by the daughter
of Senator Sawyer, of Wisconsin, and a
musicale by the wife of Senator John P.
Jones, being almost alone in that regard.
The families Of eleven Senators have been
out Of society by reason of sore illness or
bereavement. Two of the newer Repre-
sentatives' wives in Congress have each
given two serial evening parties. The wife
of DR.. Loring, Commissioner of Agricult-
ure, has held Friday evening receptions to
invited guests, and Commodore and Mrs.
Earl English have given one large party,
and Congressman and Mrs. Curtin, of
Pennsylvania, one. President Arthur on
Tuesday evening of this week gave a
special reception to the officers
OF the Army, Navy and Marine
Corps, at which there were invited
to meet them, the Supreme Justices and
the diplomatic corps. All these dignita.
ries, or nearly all, were accompanied by
ladies, who were in elaborate evening dress,
with many jewels, while the diplomatic and
military dignitaries wore their full uni
form, including chapeaux (which they car
ried in their hands), and swords dangling
at their sides. 1t was brilliant occasion.
The President was assisted by his Cabinet,
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