Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1882-01-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.
WASHINGTON, JAN, 10, 1881.

the Capital with the usual ceremon-
ial of official receptions, though in a
general way the custom of calling
and receiving appears to be some
what on the decline. The ceremon-
ial of New Years receptions at the
Executive Mansion has always been
a conspicuous feature of Washing
ton social and political life. George
Washington first inaugurated them
when the Presidential residence was
located in New York City, and in
those days they were called 'levees,'
a name that is still given to them in
some circles. But the receptions
of the present day are very diff
ferent affairs from those of the early
period of our National history. The
"royal airs" which came down from
European courts have gradually dis
appeared. In Washington's time the
strictest rules of social etiquette and
decorum prevailed. No motley, an
xious crowdapproached the powdered
and bewigged presence. The Presi-
dent of the United States was an
august parsonage. His receptions
were not for the vulgar. None came
who had not the right to come by
official station, or who were not en-
titled to special privileges by reason
of established merit and character;
and one could no more venture into
the presence of George and Martha
Washington on that day in any 9TH
er than full dress, than one could
now in plain clothes obtain an audi
ence with the Queen of England.
But these. affairs have become
thoroughly Americanized, beginning
with the time of Gen. Jackson, who,
to emphasize his democracy, served
a great cheese in the East Room of
the White House on New Years
day, fragments of which were tram
pied upon the floor to the ruin Of the
carpet and the disgust of those aris-
tocrats who disliked the rabble. And
in those days, too there was cider in
the cellar. In u day citizens gen
orally are admitted to the White
House, and one can not only see
prominent business men and society
leaders from all parts of the country
but side by side with them, sand
whiched in among them, are the col
ored men who open the doors at the
Departments, and the still humber
class of persons who attend the stalls
at the market. The threadbare and
tattered waterproof of the laboring
woman brushes roughly against the
silk of the modern belle. No dis
tinctions are made at the Presidents
door. The only discrimination as to
incomers within the peoples hours
is that which prevails in ~horse-cars
Drunk and disorderly not admit
ted" 1t is doubtful if the founders
of the Government, who still chung
to some of the ceremonies and large
dignities of ~aristocratic Europe, ever
contemplated establishing such a
thorough Democracy as our Ameri-
can Republic has come to be.
The official part Of the reception
at the White House is stately enough
however, and this year was no ex-
ception to the rule. There was first
the grand panorama of foreign diplo-
mats, army officers, Cabinet officers,
Supreme Court Judges, and officials
generally, marching in to the music
of the Marine Band, always station
ed in the main vestibule on all such
occasions. The diplomatic corps is
a prominent feature in the social life
of Washington, and, a central figure
on all state occasions, is made con-
spicuOus by its tinsel and flummery.
The snowy uniforms of foreign
courts parade the parlors of the
White House with as much ostenta.
ton as may be seen in the official
presence of Kaiser William or the
Car of Russia. President Arthur
passed through his first reception
with the same quiet grace with
which he does everything. His
manner was digni6ed though agree
able and easy, and to well.known
zoe r -.
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