The Press., 1885-10-15
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington D. C., Oct. g, Il

Political matters were never qu1eter Ill Washington than they are at this time, but it is the quiet that precedes the storm, for, in one short month, the city will be crowd ed with the throng that gathers here every winter attracted by politics, by society, and by the thousand and one magnetic forces of the only American capital.
 The coming social season promises to be one of considerable activity and interest. The changes in official circles will be marked, and many of the old rallying points will be, have been, obliterated, but the renewal of business prosperity in the country, and the growing popularity of Washington as social center, as well as 8 center for conventions of a religious, scien- tific, literary or commercial character will continue to make this arena of every ''ism Z conspicuous in the eyes of the western world.
 With regard 10 social matters much will depend upon the example of the white house and the cabinet. The bachelor president is anything but society man. He has none of the s0uUiter in m1odO, the grace, the ease, the saVoi1' ,faiq'e that makes man effective in mixed society On inauguration day the uncOuthness of his appearance and manners were all the
 
 was in such contrast with the most ele- gant of presidents who stood beside him. He is perhaps less awkward and little more at ease now than he was on the 4th of March, but MT. Cleveland will never attain the distinction of bearing and that ease of address which was the religion of Chesterfield. He is, however, fond of so- ciety in a mild form. He does not like to be in crowd, and he considers one office seeker crowd. His preference is for the society of well known friends with whom he can talk without fear that his words will be distorted and published.
 The crowd at the presidents reception yesterday was not as large as usual. There were lot more than two hundred men, wo- men and children present when the big form of the president appeared in the east room. A careful calculator has estimated that the president can dispatch just forty persons per minute when he has large crowd on hand. A coup G'OeiI showed that the crowd was not large, and there being no occasion for haste, Mr. Cleveland took it leisurely, and was nine minutes and fifteen seconds in getting through. About the center of the battalion of visit ors was stout, loudly dressed woman who held little girl baby by the hand. She had brought it to be kissed by the president of the United States. As she grasped the presidents hand she remark ed, '"This is my baby 'And very pretty child it is, madam, replied the head of the. nation. 'And 1t is only two years old. Won't you kiss it ?" said the mother. The president looked at the crowd, looked at the baby, and the smile faded from his face. He whispered some thing to the mother and she gave place to the next in line.
 About half the crowd had shaken hands when pretty girl came into the east room at the entrance of which she saw MT. Atch- ison, the doorkeeper, who is always on hand at these receptions, and who is a much handsOmer man than the president. At least the young lady thought so. for she seized him by the hand and shook it heartily. The doorkeeper looked happy but confused as he explained to the young lady that he was not president and pointed out MT. Cleveland. MT. Atchison says similar mistakes often occur, and that one day an old lady kissed his hand and de- clared that he was the first president she had seen in twenty years.
 MT. Bayard IS the only member of the cabinet who has been a long resident of w ashington. He and his family are thor oughly acquainted with its social life.
 MT. Lamars residence here dates from before the war, but there was an inter ruption of about four years during which time he lived in the confederate states of America. He is, however, widower, and will take little part in social affairs. The secretary has quite as much society as he can handle in the mob that calls on him each day at his office in the interior de- partment. Speaking of the crowds that hang around his door, one of the attend ants remarked, '1 see the same faces that l used to see about here last spring They seem to have come back with new energy. 1 suppose they stayed around here as long as they could stand their winter clothes, and now tn at the weather is cold they wear them back aoain