The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1883-10-27
WASHINGTON T
From Our Regular Correspondent.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, Oct. 10, 1889.
Your correspondent learns that the
President pr ,poses to lead society
himself this winter. The executive
mansion has been UNDERGOING repairs
and deliberations all summer, and
is now much more desirable as a
residence and more suitable for the
tasks Of entertaining than ever be-
fore. The Chief Executive has a de-
cided penchant for social pleasures,
and his good taste in allsuch matters
is we'll known. The White House,
under his quiet supervision, has
come to have about it an air OF re-
finemeut, taste and elegance which
is quite q novelty. He himself seems
to be DESTROYS in an unostentati0us
way to impress this distinction upon
his surroundings. I think, in fact,
that he accepts the title of a polished
gentleman with salts faction, and is
rather proud of it. He always dresses
in fashionable attire, wears a season
able flower in his button-hole, and is
the glass of fashion and mold of form
in appearance and style. Among his
intimates he is said to ba extremely
easy in conversation and most cordial
in his manners. Hi acceptance of
many social attentions at Newport
is of course to be repaid in like coin
and the leaders of society, so-called,
quite congratulating themselves on
the prospect of lionizing in the White
House this winter. But while it is a
difficult matter in these sarcastic
times to lead in fashion and
oneself from ridicule, there
is nothing of the dude about Presi-
dent Arthur. He is independent
enough to select his associates in &C
with his own tastes, but L
not think he will allow his digni-
ty to be sacrificed on the social altar.
c~ultivates society more as a relief
to hard headed, wearing work than
an occupation of itself. The Presl-
dent still occupies his summer resi-
dence at Soldiers Home, a quiet Sc
spot which he likes very
much. The White House has been
closed to visitors since early simmer,
and has been given over to carpen-
tiers and decorators. He will occupy
it about the first of November, and
the season will then be open. His sis
ter, Mrs. McElroy, will be the chief
hostess, but the circle Of ladies who
will make up the American Court
will include the names of all the
leading ladies of society and politics.
I cannot learn that any definite pro-
gramme has been prepared for the
winter. but there will be a continual
round of receptions, dinners and en-
tertainments. There will be four OF
Eve public receptions, out Of defer
ence to republican ideas, but those
are voted a bore by those
who have the entree to the better
class affairs. The President finds
them very tedious, but submits as a
duty. The really enjoyable enter
tainments are the official receptions,
the state dinners, and the select o
cial parties which are made up from
Inc inner circle Of distinguished peo-
pie.
There has been q rumOr often r7-
that Mr.. Arthur wants to mar
~ again. 1t is an actual fact, as the
knows, that certain rich wild
ows and aspiring maidens nave made
The pilgrimage to the Capital to
the fates in their favor. But
this eligible match is still open to fair
His intimates say that his
domestic tastes are strong, and he
not be averse to matrimony if
1t may b. fairly expected that
has fact will add piquancy to the
Of society this winter. Among
The foreign legations there will be
quite a rivalryf for display. The Rus
,ian Embassy will occupy the ele-
CANT mansion built by Boss Shop
herd for his own use in those golden
lays when he was governor of the
District and prince of contractors. It
now being decorated and furnished
n a style which it is claimed has
never before been attempted in this
country. The Russian minister, it is
,aid, is determined to outstrip all RI
vals in the magnifcence of his enter
and the gorgeousness of
lis displays. His palatial house will
be a second Kremlin wherein all the
yayeties of the aristocratic court
IF Russia will be produced.
All this is brought about
~ a strange fact, the predeces-
'or to the present minister did not
a high character among trades
as a customer. 1t is claimed
hat the diplomatic barriers in the
way of collecting domestic accounts
we're absolutely insurmountable.
And it is now said these facts COM
ng to the ears Of no less person than
emperor of all the Russias him.
he has c~ondescended to order
hat the Russian embassy at Wash