Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1885-05-02
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1885.

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WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1885.
Among the prominent socialevents
at the Capital during the week were
President Cleveland's first public
|levee; the reception given to the
members of the National Academy
of Science, by Prof. Bell, at which
four hundred guests were present;
and Secretary Bayard's third card
reception. The new Secretary OF
State lives in a rather small, nnpre-
tentious house, which is not suitable
for large entertainments. Having a
large list of acquaintance, he decid-
ed to give four receptions on tour
successive Friday evenings, so that
the crowd would not exceed hislimi-
ted accommodations. This third re-
ception proved reunion for the
members of the Diplomatic Corps,
the Cabinet families, and prominent
citizens OF Washington. A story
was afloat some time ago that Mr..
Bayard had said he did not want to
accept the Secretaryship Of State
because ne was too poor to entertain
in the sumptuous style now in vogue.
He is not able to entertain with the
lavish hospitality dispensed by Sec
retaries Fish and Freylinghuysen,
but he is amply able to entertain in
the simple manner which he has
adopted.
Although the reception at the
White House was given to the pub
lie, a number of society leaders were
present, and some elegant toilets
were displayed by ladies who gath
cred in the Blue Parlor behind the
receiving party. The Russian Minis
ter wore court dress, and he with
the Netherlands and Hawaiian Min
listers were the only Diplomats pres
ent. The foreign representatives are
decidedly aristocratic and exclusive
and do not often consider a public
levee of sufficient Importance to
warrant their attendance. 1t was
noticed at this reception, that At
torney General Garland, who has
been Extensively nonchalent concern
ing his toilet, had reconsidered his
recent dress coat resolution. He APP
peared in full evening suit, swallow
tail coat and all, for the first time in
his lite.
AS number Of his predecessors
have done, President Cleveland ex-
poets to move out to the Soldiers
home during the heated term. and
occupy the cottage there which is re-
served for the use of Presidents.
His maiden sister, the hostess of the
White House, will accompany him,
and spend most of the summer there.
In official circles all eyes are now
turned upon the United States
Treasury. To it and it's many de-
Tendencies civil-service reformers
and spoils. seekers are looking for in
dications as to the construction to be
placed upon the civil-service rules
and law, and upon the manner in
which the spirit of civil-service re.
form is to be followed, and the pledges
of the Administrator carried out.
The Treasury Department with it's
thousands of employees in Washing
ton and throughout the country, en-
bracing as it does every branch of
tile Government service is accepted
as the institution through which the
policy of the Administrator IS to be
made known and developed. Sec
rotary Manning is regarded as the
most influential member of the of.
fetal household and it is understood
that he has no devotion to, or respect
for civil service reform principles.
The Presidents letter on that SUBJ
Ject to George William Curtis, is re-
garded by Mr.. Manning in the light
merely of campaign document.
Bitter complaint is made by Demo.
cratic Senators, Representatives and
others, of the offensive manners as
sumed by most of their brethren
who have been put in office since the
fourth of March. Instead of the
easy accessibility and unvarying
courtesy that marked many success
i've Republican administrations.
these compliments find a pompous.
lnsolent tone in some cases, and a
still more offensive, patronizing man.
ner in others. The other day promi-
nent Democratic politician called on
an old friend who had just been
made the head ola bureau. Speak.
ing OF his reception the gentleman
said, eff my former friend had been
a mastiff and | a poodle the way in
which he received me would have
been more in accordance with the
fitness of things" All this is irrita.
ting, but natural. The Democratic
party has been struggling for Office
for a quarter of a century, and it is
only reason able that its persistent