Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-11-05
Arthur to G1ve Recentinns this Win


Washington Letter to PhilddeIphia Record, Cd.
The White House is almost ready for
the President. 1t has been swept and
garnished, and it looks very well. The
only important improvement was the re-
trescOing of the great East Room. This
was very decided improvement, and the
room looks much the better for it. 1t
looks best at night. All the frescOes, car
pets and hangings in the White House,
except those in the Presidents personal
apartments, are designed for gasli ght
effects. That is the reason the East Room
carpet and hangings are so frequently
condemned by notable housekeepers
among the tourists, who stream through
1t every day. They ought to remember
that carpet, like woman, looks very
differently in the sOftened blaze of the big
chandeliers. | don't think Mr.. Arthur
has any idea that he will be reelected to
bis present position next year, and know
that he proposes to make this his last
season in the White House, a very bril-
liant one. He has hired a new cook and
planned the usual State dinners, and he
cOntemplates, in addition to the public
receptions and official parties which are
matters of course, several quasi-private
affairs which will be worthy the Presi-
dent. No one who has ever sat in his seat
knows better how to make social season
of his social duties duties as strictly his
as any enumerated in the second article
of the Constitution has been as notably
satisfactory as has been his execution of
the graver powers of State. He has made
Washington the most attractive city, So
cially, in the United States. Barney Big
lin, Johnny O'Brien and the rest of the
New York ''boys'' will doubtless be here
again this winter looking for crumbs of
patronage. They may get the crumbs
they seek, but they will not get invita-
tiOns to any of the Presidents entertain
ments. To tell the truth. | don't think
they ever expected they would receive
any different treatment from that they
have receiyed-the President has ALWAYS
kept his political self and his personal
self apart. These ''bOys'' were very use
full to him in politics. He appreciated their
devotion and their services, and did what
he could to advance their interests in pol
itics, but there he stopped. He drew the
line at his parlOr door. His relations with
them were purely ola business character;
he did not propose to change them into so
cial relations. Nor was it necessary.
The "boys" understood him; so he
gave them what he could in
return for what they did, and they were
not disappointed. 1t is absurd to compare
him to Prince Hal, and Barney Biglin and
the rest to FdIStdf and his band, and then
talk about sudden reformation on the
part of the Prince. Nothing of the sort
occurred, because nothing of the sort was
necessary. The "bOys'' were instruments,
not companions, and they had their re-
ward. The President used to laugh over
one of Governor COrnelPs attempts to
combine business with pleasure. One of
the ''bOys' came to the President one day
when he was Collector at New York, and
told him that he had just received an invi-
tatiOn to visit Mr.. Cornell at Albany for
week. "And," he added, "Mrs. Cornell
has invited my wife TO stay for the same
time" Mr.. Arthur was glad to hear it,
''Bilr' had scarcely gone out when
''rom" appeared. He tod Mr.
Arthur similar news. Governor
and Mrs. Cornell had invited
him and his wife to spend week with
them in Albany. Mr.. Arthur was very
glad to hear it. In the course of the after
noon "BilP' came in again. ''Pm not
going to Albany" he said, sullenly. "And
why nOt? asked Mr.. Arthur. ''Why,"
said ''Bill, ,"''Pve just heard that the Gov
ernOr has invited Tom and his wife to
spend the same week with him at Albany.
Do you suppose my wife would associate
with Mrs. 'Tom?" The Collector sup
posed not, with very serious face, but
he must have laughed internally, for Mrs
''Bill" and Mrs. "Tom" were like as two
peas so far as social positions went. At
any rate, Mr.. and Mrs. ''Tom" did not 90
to Albany, and the Governor had his
pains for his trouble. 1t was perhaps just
as we'll to draw a line behind the word
caucus and the parlOr.