Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-04-22
WASHINGTON GO ssIP.
sr.. Whituey's Social Triumphs at the
Capital.
from ne Neto Yorh Hsrald.

Capital.
From the NetD York Herald.
WASHINGTON, April IS. - Curious
osit NAV appear. the current talk about
,he Presidents marrige to Miss Folsom
has not vet produced any agitation here.
Tho simple truth is, nobody believes 1t,
else there would by a ferment. The SEN
elton has been worked up from Buffalo,
ord for the benefit of certain social in
,orests there. When the subject was first
broached. about ten days ago, very near
and personal friend of the President au-
thorized a positive denial of the report.
Miss Cleveland, prior 10 her departure
for Atlantic City, also gave IL q most
unaouiyocal contradiction, though II Is
untrue that she expressed any dlsapproVal
Of such an alliance for her brother Miss
Folsom and she are warm friends, ana me
Younger lady was the guest OF the former
a. the White House last 1all. There
might have been some excuse LOT Lhe
rumOr at that time. Not that the engage
ment is by any means unlikely TO De true,
Int because OF the manner in when the
storv has been circulated is any real
doubt cast upon it. The union would GER
tainlv be desirable one for Miss Folsom.
That NAV go without saying. 10 be
raised to the position OF first lauy oil Cne
land bv such an alliance would charm
any woman's Imagination. me close
personal friendship that existed between
Mr.. Cleveland and his now deceased law
mariner is known to every citizen of
Ruffalo. Nothing could be more natural
than that the former should interest him
self in the welfare of the widow and the
daughter of his friend. 1 the most posi-
tive denials given here so for naught, and
# President Cleveland really is to be
married in June, there will be social up
turning here such as Washington never
before has seen.
WHAT Is THE MATTERE
Despite MissC leveland's scholarship her
position and her many graces, it IS an I'M
deniable fact that she has been socially
Overshadowed by Mrs. William &. Whit
ney, the wife of the Secretary OF the Navy.
This lady, with her vast fortune, her
splendid residence IN New York, her com
modiOus house on | street in this city
and her country seat Just outside the bor-
ders of the capital. has been the recogniz-
ed social queen of the present season.
Previously unknown TO the country and
unheralded on her appearance in WASH
ingtOD, she has, in one short year, become
the dictator at the Republican court and
the leader of fashion. / am aware that
many w ashingt0n ladies who read this
will shake their beads, If they do not dis
pute the assertion even more warmly.
But the lees impulslVe among them will
recognize its truth. Where is there any
lady in any way identified with the pre-
sent regime that can dispute with her the
place at the top? She cannot be named.
Mrs. Manning had all the charms that
fitted her for such a position. The Trea-
sury Department Outranks that of the
Navy in the unwritten code of precedence.
but the dangerous illness OF Secretary
10 20 n 10 of
Albany out Of the social field for some
time to come.
THE LEADER OF FASHION.
Every body who knows anything about
This season at Washington admits that
Mrs. Whitney has been appealed to when
A triumphant success in any charitable or
social enterprise was desired. Her house
has been at the disposal Of her friends
when she is at nome, though it must be
admitted that some of her associates felt
very badly because she recently declined
to permit them to take possession of her
home and servants when she was sud
denly called to Cleveland, Ohio, by the
death Of her grandmother. She was re-
solute in her pOstponement Of the news
boys charity reception, however. For
one woman to make a secret enemy Of an
other is a serioas affair. There is no such
word as forgiveness" in the feminine
lexicon. l have been convinced of sincere
wOmanly delight at the scandal which
Mrs. Potter's reading of an obnoxious
poem brought upon the Whitney cOterie.
1t was the only serious misstep prior to
the closing of her house, and, OF course,
she innOcenIly suffered for her friend.
Nobody suppOses for a moment that Mrs.
Whitney would have approved of such
nauseating rubbish as "0stler J0e"-a
species of verse that has for months been
sold in beer gardens and in the smoking
cars Of trains, but never mentioned in the
presence OF ladies. The unforeseen act
other guest has placed Mrs. Whitney in
a position OF considerable difficulty. 1t is
believed to have given rise TO the remark
in certain high circles that it was high
time to make the White House the social
centre of the capital. Womanly malice
had everything to do with this remark. 1t
probably was the precursor of the we'd
ding sensation now having its run. Some
curious things have been told me by
ladies' during the past week regarding the
channels through which the prospective
marriage has been given to the world.
do not dare repeat them, for | should have
the leaders of the social factions about my
ears like so many hornets.
THE MERRY WAR THAT WILL FOLLOW.
II Mr.. Cleveland is to marry in the
near future-and | believe it is a right
guaranteed even to Presidents under the
constitutional means the Inauguration
Of a merry war for social supremacy such
as has not been seen in this capital since
tue days Of the Pierce administration.
The local nabObesses, now almost a unit
as against "the foreign INVASION" so call
ed, Will inevitably divide and ally them
selves with one or other wing IN the con-
test, Miss Cleveland will retire to the
leisure necessary TO produce future sue
cessful literary fruit. she may contem-
plate writing "the great American
novel" for all that IL known TO the con-
trary. II she does, and introduces re-
view of Washington society, there are
those who will be able TO recognize, II not
dwell upOn, some Of the characters in the
tale. Her reception by Washington SOC
3letv never has been excessively hearty,
despite her charming manners, her
bright intelligence and her excellent taste
In dress.