The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1884-11-20
TIE COMING SEASON
The Social GaietieS of IA Wash
ingtOn Winter. :"
WHITE HOUSE FESTIVITIES.
The Programme OF Brilliant Society
Events at tho Executive Mansion
and Elsewhere In the City.
The Social Season.

exceptional social gaicty in this city.
The weekly receptions by the ladies of
the Cabinet commence at once, Mrs. Ere.
liDghuyson holding her first reception this
week, and those of the Supreme Court
ladies aud ladies Of tho Diplomatic Corps
soon after.
Tho social season will open in earnest
with the opening Of Congress, ten days
hence and will be crowded with events
from that time until the Fourth Of March,
when the new administration will bring
with It another series Of entertainments and
obscrvances that will continue far into tho
spring.
The retiring Cabinet officers will en-
dcavor to crowd into this winters shorter
season as much gaiety and life MS charac-
terized the past winter
At the White House, the Contro of social
attraction, none of the splcndor or cxtr1va-
gaucc Of last winters entertainments will
be omitted. Mr.. Arthur has expressed II
desire to close his administration brill
liantly, from II social standpoint, and TO
make the White House entertainments OF
Tire season equal 10 any in the land.
The season at the White House will open
as il did last winter, with the New Years
reception. During the first month Of Con.
giosa the President will devote himself 10
receiving tho Senators and Members, but
will give no formal reception or dinner.
AT Christmas Mrs. McElroy will return
to Washington to resume her position as
mistress Of the Presidents household. She
will again take Saturday for her afternoon
receptions, and the same hours-from . to
5,p. m.-that were observed last season.
The first of these weekly receptions was
held last year on January 90, but the series
will probably commence earlier in the sea-
son this time.
The feature of the afternoon receptions
last year was Mrs. McElroy's happy faculty
of judicious selection of the ladies invited
TO assist Throughout the long series last
winter the array Of ladies changed with
almost every reception, and tho delicate
task of selection was performed without
ofense being given or an omission or over
sight perpetIated.
Tho coming series, rumor has it, is also
TO he notable in this respect, and the after
noon receptions are TO be important social
events in the lives of many young ladies of
beauty ana fashion.
The President has as yet made few def
mite arrangements further than expressing
a desire to adhere as closely as possible to
last winters programme.
notable departure from last winters
programme, however, will be in the in
creased number of public receptions.
New Years day. was hold last year until
February 8, but this will not be tho case
this winter.
Tho first three dinners ut weekly inter
walls will be given to the Cabinet ministers,
Diplomatic Corps and Supreme Court Jus.
ticcs respectively.
Following these will be the weekly alter
nate dinners and receptions to Senators and
Members which constitute the original and
costly feature Of Mr.. Arthur's plan of Exc.
cutivo entertainments.
This series will be as brilliant as during
last winter and held upon the same oven
ings, intefspersed with Army and Navy and
Diplomatic receptions, and continuing I'M
I'll March 4.
The Presidents entertainments last year
continued until the last of March, and rs
they will have TO terminate month earlier
this season for obvious reasons they will
begin earlier in many instances.
The White House is in much better con-
dition than it was at The opening of the
last season. The plan of improvement aud
ornamentation which President Arthur in-
auguIated has at last been completed. Tho
corridors first yielded to the artistic touches
Of the decorators and the unsightly partitions
gave place 10 imposing crystal screens.
Then tho state apartments, one after an
other, were transformed and beautiiled until
the good taste and perception of our Chief
Magistrate made itself felt in every apart
ment. In tone furniture, carpets, curtains
and frescoos the dictates Of a faultlcss taste
and cultivated eye produced harmony
and beauty.
Ono by one the rel, blue and green par
lors, the East Room and state diniug.hall
assumed new attractions, and the march Of
improvement found its way TO the upper
apartments and private portions of the
house, TO turn its attention during the
present summer to the Railways and stair
cases and corridors, and to pervade with SUBJ
dued colOring aud artistic cornices the por-
tions OF the house that have heretofore
been unattractive or tame in appearance.
Tho White House at the opening Of Mr..
Arthur's last season, and upon the advent
Of Cleveland, will be far mIre beautiful
than ever before in its history.
There are many public mon and brill
liant entertainers who, with the coming
March, will drop out of the public vision
at the National Capital and who are fired
with an ambition to make their last months
Of public lifo in Washington peculiarly
bright and memorable by social events of
imposing proportions. A number Of tho
handsomest houses Of tho West End will
be the scenes of brilliant entertainments
during January and February.
The change of Administration and the
advent Of new people will, of course, af-
ford an incentive to social gaieties and will
fully justify the prediction that tho com.
| ing winter will be unprecedented in social
I n