The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1884-01-31

dinner at the White House this season. II
will be given to the cabinet officers and their
ladies', and Speaker and Mrs. Carlisle. How
odd it seems that the leader OF the opposition
should be the frat to be invited TO the home
and table of the president Yet 1t IL so or
dered by the rules OF social and state etiqsette,
and 1t is well enough too that there should be
an occasional armistice Of this sort. The din
nor Is to be the usual stats event. with the Ma
fiue Band furnishing music, the White House
brilliant with lights and fragrant with choice
flowers, and the ladies and gentlemen in full
evening toilets.
Tomorrow evening the usual weekly recep-
tjon Of the Secretary of State, diunsr bs post
master General Gresham to sorae gentlsE en-
friends, Justice and Mrs. Woods 'at hons,"
and several other minor events fill up the eV-
eniug. On Friday evening the reception OF
the Russian Minister Is the chief event.
! Saturday Mrs. McEroy gives her second re-
ception That of last Saturday at tha White
House was very largely attended, and showed
the kindly regard in which both the President
and his sister are held here.
NOTES.
The very small number of social
gatherings at the White House since
President Arthur came to that posi-
tion occasions some comment. President
Hayes was severely criticised for his alleged
parsimoniousuess in the White House, yet the
number aud character of the entertainments
there during his term were in striking con-
trast with those of President Arthur. There
are under President Arthur only half dozen
at the most Of dinners during the year, and to
these the same persons are to a considerable
extent at least invited and reinvitsd, 50 much
so that the Senators wives are little inclined
to complain that so few of them are konor9d in
this manner. Others, whose stInding Is IN
questioned, say they have never so much ~
had glass Of water at the White House since
President Arthur came there. On the other
hand President Hayes aSea to give bountifHl
suppers at his card receptions, serving thea In
both dining rooms, while at the diplomatic
reception of 1881 some three or four thousand
persons were it is said fed at @ cost OF not less
than five thousand dollars.
Society has been slightly disturbed Of late by
that complaint common to people of all classes,
measles. 1t has been very common among the
little folks, and has kept the mammas at home
in the most serious cases, while some OF the
mothers and grown daughters have themselves
enjoyed its visits in a personal way. Mrs..
Hale, the wife OF the Senator from Maiae, has
been quite i'll with this disease, and so have
several other ladies who are often seen in tAs
social world.
Jane W. Genmill, In her notes on Washiag-
ton, gives an interesting incident In regard 70
ex-Speaker Keifer and Mrs. Powers, the wife VI
the chaplain of the last house. Mr. Keifer,
the paragraph says, after having mot Ars.
Powers frequently, remarked to her thssft
seemed to him that he had met hor before at
some time. "Do you remember" she an
swered, when you were wounded IN Virginia
and carried TO house OF gentleman RsAr the
battlefield, that little girl used to come and
read to you IS you lay on your sick bed. slowly
recovering from the wound?" ~ do" he an
sWered. "Wel, am that girl"