The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1884-01-05
H % LETTER.
From u Regular Correspondent.
WAsuINGToS. Japua

The sunlight Is shut out from her par,
lors. Her daughters from all parts OF
the nation are receiving in most fas.
cinating colors under the soft reflection
of blazing chandeliers. Her sons are
bedecked with swallow-tail and lmmac-
ulate tie, and order their cabs wildly
around in all directions Fastening to be
received. But it is the same old rou-
tine Of the first of January custom
wrought by some concentration Of cir.
oumstances, and one sadly carried to
excess at this social capital. This ex-
cess is wearing the good custom thread
bare, and each year the number of re-
ceiving and received grows smaller.
At the white house the usual pro-
gramme is being played. First the
members Of the cabinet and diplomatic
corps are received, followed in sequence
by the justices Of the supreme court,
senators and representatives in con
gress, the court of claims, district
Judiciary ana commissioners, ex-mem-
bers Of the cabinet, ministers OF the
United States, the officers of the army
and navy, government head officials,
and then the great crowd of American
citizens who pass down the reception
line in the red parlor, In single file,
deposit their card and shake hands
with the executive, without regard to
sex, race, age or color. This is the
pleasure Of the president on the first
day Of the new year. He is assisted by
the ladies Of the cabinet, and on the
present occasion Mr.. Arthur has been
very liberal in his invitations to the
wives Of prominent public men to assist
at the executive mansion. Among
tEem L noticed Mrs. Blaine, Mrs. Gen
eral Phil Sheridan, Mrs. Robson and
Mrs. ChiesN ustice Waite.
Christmas passed quietly at the white
house. To each employe of the house
hold the president gave SIS and a
Christmas turkey. His ewn Christmas
presents were numerous, but it IS to be
hoped that Christmas is not to be
marked every year by the unloading of
whole bundles OF canes at the white
house. President Arthur is opposed 10
canes, and has no use for them, gold
headed or otherwise. He received
about as many silk umbrellas, together
with wines, cigars, etc.
Apropos Of gifts to the executive, l
Am reminded of a little story that a
lady prominent in social and army cir
cles told. She was specializing on the
thousand and one pairs of slippers
which the lady friends of the present
handsome president send him, not to
mention other souvenirs by the cart
load. "But whether married or not,
people will always send presents to a
president, " said this lady. ''One time
a prominent and very wealthy lady said
to me while Mrs. Grant was still in the
white house: Il have just received the
sweetest new bonnet from Paris that
you ever saw But it isn't becoming
isn't II a wicked shame and I'm gong
to send 1t to Mrs. Grant And she
did" / hope Mrs. Grant didn't wear
it out of compliment TO the generous
friend who gave the wife OF the presi-
dent what she couldn't wear herself.
The new Congressional Directory has
just made its appearance. 1t is always
looked for in Washington with peculiar
interest, because its biographical
sketches serve as a sort of introduction
of the new members, whose official sta
ton at once renders them au element
Of Washington society. 1t tells what
the senators and representatives say of
themselves, where they were born, and
what they have done, and developes
many curious facts.
Senator Butler, of South Carolina, is
pronounced the h~andsomest man in the
senate, though MI. Riddleberger can
dispute the palm in this respect. Sen
ator ingalls, is considered the best de-
batter. Senator Morgan is the best
logician. Messrs. Edmunds and Gar
land are the ablest lawyers, while Sem
ator Vance is the finest rhetoritician
and best story teller.
But to return to the directory: Mr..
Morrill, remains the patriarch OF the
senate, though his colleague, Mr.. Ed
munds. is invariably taken for the old
est member of the body. The longest
senatorial biography in the directory is
that Of Mr.. Brown, of Georgia, while
the briefest sketch is hat of Senator
Call, of Florida, who occupies less than
Ave lines. General Rosecrans' sketch
takes up the best part of page. Colonel
Tom Ochiltree proclaims that he is the
first native Texan ever elected to the
congress of the United States" A
New Jersey representative takes occa-
sion in his biography to mention the
fact, probably for the benefit of his col
leagues, that he is a practical halter,
and is now in the retail hat business
at Newark. OF the 40l members OF
congress 267 are lawyers, though sew
eral of this number have practically
abandoned the law for other pursuits.
We have had the "beautiful snow
ergo, these are slush times in Washing.
ton. LENox.
HOT wAFFLES