Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1884-01-09
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Cpd, 'S3.

NS'HNSE1-~NN'
So far as Washington was concerned
the new year opened gloomy, damp, and
cheerless, greatly TO the disgust of those
who made calls. Gentlemen had been
looking over their cravats, and gloves,
making their "lists' revolving the ques'
ton of carriage hire. and hoping it would
not be sloppy. Ladies had been decorat
ing their homes, arranging their toilets,
and it is said practicing poses. Tailors
had done thriving business cleaning and
pressing Swallow tails" and "Prince
Aberts" one of the annually recurring
questions that was vexing fashionable men
of speculative mind was, whether New
Years call should be made in a swallow
tail or frock coat. The dictum of fashion
in the matter was that, the New Years
call being morning call, should be made
in morning dress, but coats OF both styles
were worn. 1t had been noised abroad
that alcoholic sideboards would be in dis
favor this time; that fashion would be on
the side of common sense, morality and
reform; that fashion had decided that
hospitality did not consist in turning ones
house into free lunch saloon. But it so
happened that punches, and wines were
almost universally included in the enter
tainment offered by ladies to their New
Years callers. Though gentlemen, with
long lists of calls to make, were aghast to
find the new year had begun on one OF the
most disagreeab!e mornings the year
could be expected to furnish, most OF
them were to gallant TO surrender. or to
dissappont their friends who kept open
houses. Carriages, cabs, and hansons
went whirling through the rain. each
making its round according 10 schedule
In the official circles of the capital New
Years day is devoted to ceremonial calls
The interior of the executive mansion
was beautifully decorated. Corridors
and parlors were gay with flowers and
plants. Columns and chandeliers were
iestooned with smilax. President Arthur
had invited a long list of ladies to assist
him in receiving. including some of the
wives of cabinet officers, and ex'cabnel
officers of senators and representatives.
At eleven o'clock the marine band, sta
toned in the vestibule OF the white house.
began to play "IIail to the Chief" and
the president and his assistants descended
to the blue paror The president escort
ing Mrs. Carlisle, the wife of the speaker
Of the house, who Is now leading lady,
according to the official etiquette of Wash
ington. The first guests presented were
the dslomatic corps, each wearing the
court dress Of his nationality, and the
honors and decorations which are so
profusely conferred in Europe. Next
come cabines officers and the justices of
the supreme court, then followed army
and navy officers in full uniform, next,
civil officers, then various organization
such as the Grand Army of the Republic,
MtXlCdu NGltltllSB puN OItCou
tants, with their distinctive badges and
military caps. Here, the official recep-
ton ended, and the people next shock the
presidents hand. The scene in the great
east room, which received all the guests
for little while before they went out
into the rain again, was interesting.
First it was filled with the members OF
the Foreign Legations in their gold EN-
broidered velvet court uniforms, and the
their wives in rich costumes, then came
the uniformed army and navy officers,
and last the citizens. One class gave
place TO the other gradually, so that each
was ut some time mingled with another!
During the entire reception Mr., Blaine
stood behind the president, surrounded by
richly dressed ladies, and looked quite
happy. He did not assist in the hand
shaking but was the object Of as much
attention as the president himself, and
when he went into the east room, became
at once the center of an admitting throng.
Senator Logan was followed by curious
ewes, and when he, Mr.. Blaine, and
President Arthur came together for few
minutes and passed some trillng Jest
that was lost to the crowd, the group of
presidential possibilities was the subject
of no little comment.
Among other cranks in the procession
was Dr. Mary Walker with her trousers,
frock coat and plug hat. Later in the
day, the ladies of the cabinet and supreme
court dispensed the Inequalities of the
season at their elegant homes, and the
wife of Speaker Carlysle held brilliant
reception nj the Riggs house.
President Arthur received his New
Years guests in black morning dress,
buttoned to the neck. He spent the
evening of New Years day at Mr.. BIane's
house.