The Dillon tribune. [volume] (Dillon, Mont.) 1881-1941, 1882-01-14
EarreSvoFdtrre.
WASHINGTON LETTER
[From our regular Cosrespondeut,l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9th, 1888,

[From our regular correspoodentL
WAsH1NeroN, Jan. 9th, 1882.
The New Year was ushered in at the
Capital with the usual cerimonial of
official receptions, though in a General way
the custom Of calling and 'receiving" ap. q
pears to be somewhat on the declinc. The
cermonial Of New Years receptions at the
Executive Mansion has always been a con.
spicious feature Of Washington social and
political life. George W ashington first in.
augurated them when the Presidential res
idence was located in New York CITY, and
in those DAYS they were called "levees,"
name that is still given to them.in some
circles. But the receptions of The present
day are very different affairs from those OF
the early period of our National history.
The "RovAl Airs' which came down from
European courts have gradually disap
peared In Na~hing,on's time the strictest
rules OF social etiquette and decorun, pre-.
vailed. No molly crowd could approach
the powdered and bcwiggcd presence. The
President Of the United States was an au.
gust parsonage. His receptions we're not |
tor the vulgar. None game who had not |
the right to come by official station, or who |
were not entitled to special privileges b,
reason OF established merit and character:
and one could no more vcnture irto the
presence OF George and Martha Washing
ton ON that dav in any other than full dress,
than one could now in plain clothes obtain
an audience with the Queen Of England.
But these affairs have becom thoroughly
.\nericanized beginning with the time of
General Jackson, who, to emphasize his
Democracy, served great cheese in the
East Room OF the White House on New
Years day, fragments Of which were
,ranpled upon the floor to the ruin OF the
carpet and disgust of those aristocrats who
dislike 1.-The rab,ls" And in those davs
too, there was cider in the cellar. In our
day "citizens generally" are admitted to the
White House, and one can not only see
PROMINENT business men and society lead
ers from all parts OF the COW try, but side
by side with them, and s,ndwicl.cd in
among them, are the colored men who
open the doors at the Departments, and
the still humber class of persons who at
tend the stalls at the market. The thread
bare and tattered waterproof of the labor
ing woman brushes roughly against the
silk Of the modern belle. No distinctions
are made at the Presidents door. The
oniv discrimination as to incon,ers within
the peoples hours is that which prevails in
observation-disclosures and disorderlv not ad-
mi,ted." 1t is doubtful il the founders OF
our Government who still cling to some OF
!. the ceremonies and dignitieS of ari>tocratic
Eurore, ever con!enpl.t ID establishing such
ii thorough Democracy as our American
Republic has come to be.
, The. official part Of the reception at tht
, White House Is stately enough, however
and this year was no exception to the rule
There was first the grand y !norara of for
ei!,n Diplomats, army officers, Cabine
5 officers, supreme Court Judges, and Off 'ial,
generally, marching IN to the music of tin
) Marine Band, always stationed in the mai,
. ,c>thnle ~, such occasion. The diplomat
t IL corps is a prominent feature in the so
: cia life of Washington, and, Il central fig
l ,,rr on state occasions. is made CONSPICUOUS
BY its tinsel and tlunmery. The show,
= uniforms of foreign courts parade the par
: lorS o' the White House with rs much os
! tentainn as NAV ne seen in the ot1icia
:, presence of Kaiser William or the Gar q
$ Russia. President Arthur passed througl
u his first reception with the same que
c grace with which hc does everything. Iii
V manner was tiynilicd though agrccabl
/. and easy, and to well.known persons or hi
e own particular friends he was very cordia
II lie impressed every one with the polish I
IS his manners, but as if the cares Of stat
d weighed heavily The household l@in
j. still in mourning, the occasion was M
y given the usual festive nature, hence TIL
a ga, was not lighted, the blinds being throw
y open to admit the sunlight. The flor;
to decorations were the simplest have evs
seen on such occasions.
=. Congress will not do much for wee
h, yet Among the first things it ought to
y, Is to provide for the pa, mcnt ofthc Gems,
;s clerks who ''ave been in the hands Of II
t,, ten per cent. sharks for six months. Mo
/, of them have been obliged to get their &C