National Republican., 1886-03-27

the two hours she graclously gives her
friends each week for morning calls, has
been eagerly appropriated by transient
sightseeing people. On Tuesday the use Of
cards was given up entirely the crowd was
so great, and on Thursday train load Of
Raymond's Boston excursionlsts fled
through the rooms, occupying all the hour.
But our lady Of the white house never em-
barasses any one by appearing surprised at
his audacity. On Thursday she accepted
the compliments Of the tourists aud re-
turned their expressions Of happiness at
sight Of her with equal professions Of joy
ut their presence. The Bostonans went
away with the impression that they had
conferred a favor by calling at the
white house on Miss Cleveland's day,
and never dreamed they had disturbed
the quiet meeting and conference
Of friends. Now, that is true womanly
tact, and how happy we Americans are In
contemplation Of the fact that the first lady
Of the land is gifted with that essential
Miss Cleveland said on Thursday that the
letter published last week over her sigma
ture was not written for the public press,
but was written In answer to communica-
tion from very old gentleman upon the
subject OF ladies' dressing, some time ago,
and the name Of the writer is not now re-
membered by Miss Cleveland. Further,
Miss Cleveland says she has no acquaint-
ance with Mrs.. Cady Stanton; never SAW
her, and never received letter from her.
The curious coincidence is that the two
letters should be published together, and
that her letter, written TO an aged cler-
gyman, should so aptly respond to the letter
OF Mrs. Stanton upon the same topic and al
legged to have been addressed to Miss Cleve-
land. Miss Van iechten, who has spent
some weeks at the white house, will bring
her visit to a close on next Monday, when
she goes to New York city to become the
guest of Mrs. Paran Stevens. Miss Van
Vechten has made friends Of all who met
her, and the very lively desire to keep her us
permanent resident at the national cap
ital probably gave rise to the rumor that n
justice Of the Supreme Court was paying his
addresses to her with matrimonial inten-
tions Miss Van Vechten brings grace and
beauty and good breeding to what
ever position she may be called.
She would htly adorn the highest
in the land. At the Presidents stag dinner
given to members Of Congress the floral
decorations Of the table were more elaborate
than on the former occasion of a gentle
mans dinner at the white house. The
central piece was a bridge composed of
balf-blown Jacqueminot roses and their
glossy green leaves, the abutments were
made Of plnks and white azaleas. At the
posts that were twined with smilax. There
were also great baskets Of roses mingled
with spicy sprays Of lilies Of the valley.
The usual boutonnieres were provided, and
we trust there. were no wounded fingers
made in the awkward attempts to adorn
their toilets with them. 1t is said that
the President never dons the rose at
pieces while waiting for the des-
sert. There is an episode in the life Of
famous dinerout, whose memory we all
love to cherish, that is suggested by these
diplomatic dinners of the President. Our
honored friend whose geniality reached the
point Of genius, the late Sam Ward,
lovely and sweet In his home relations, and
the king of bon vivants, used to transact
certain nice bits Of business at the capital.
The prime requisition for the success OF his
matters was the good will and friendly feel
ing Of the men he had to do with. Mr..
Wards strong point, the knife to open his
oyster, was the happy faculty Of ordering,
in every detail, a successful dinner. Why,
he taught the American peoplehow to dine,
and that man of genius was an indispen-
sable factor In a. successful dinner. Mr..
Ward gave his dinners and carried his point
in Washington. The President is giving his
dinners like sensible man.
~
The present administration has brought
prominently to the front successor to Mr..
Ward, whose fame is worldwide. We pre-.
sumo the Secretary of the Interior has been
for long time past much sought for by
successful dinner givers, but this strong
point has received broader recognition in
his more prominent position as Cabinet
official. The fame Of diner-out compre-
hends the highest compliment to tho genius
of the man, and IL Is as such we ascribe II
to Mr.. Lamar, knowing that 1t requires the
highest human gifts to render Intellectually
pleasurable to his brethren under condemna.
tion the tedium Of formal dinner.
m@s
It is pretty pathetic coincidence that
the wife OF the successor to Senator John
+. Miller should have spent the winter here
entertaining quietly and elegantly and
learning the intricate ways and etiquette OF
the capital, also learning to distinguish the
unlnowable delicacies Of the situation to
which che has since been called. Mrs.
George Hearst occupies splendid double
from Justice Miller's. The name when II
has appeared in print was spelled Hurst.
The family is one of high financial standing
on the Pacific coast. Mr.. George Hearst is
the proprietor of q successful daily paper In
San Francisco and Is successful
mine prospector besides. He sustains two
establishments, one In San Francisco and one
entertains with princely magnillcence.
During her visit here, Miss Hattie Crocker,
the daughter OF the Pacific coast railroad
magnate, was the guest of Mrs. Hearst.
Last autumn Mrs. Hearst closed her city resi-
dence and came to this city on account of
the delicate state Of her health, and during
her short soiourn she has made many friends
and already has q pleasant circle of ac-
quaintances to begin senatorial career
with. All here is not new to her, and she
commences under the most auspicious cir
cumstances. Mr.. Hearst has started north
from Mexico, and will arrive In due time.
the roilroad strikers permitting. Mrs Hearst
has gone to New York for while with a
party of friends. The only scion of the
house Of Hearst Is son, youth of %, who
has divided his time this winter between
this city and Cambridge, where he will grad
uate In June from Harvard University.
/ hear that the Democratic governor OF
California has an ambition to sit In the
United States Senate himself, and that Mr.
Hearst is appointed to I'LL the late senator's
unexpred term, which extends until March
0, 1887,
The interest in the mi carene charity
ball, to he held on Thursday night at Mrs
Mhitney's, Is intense. There Is wild un-
certainty In the minds OF the men as Ia
whether they should not wear knee
breeches and buckles to keep the ladies
In countenance who will be in powder,
rouge, and patches, and marquise wigs
The 400 tickets are selling with gratifying
Tapidity, and the bali will be by all odds
the event of the spring season,
The newsboys will be greatly benefited
and, besides. It gives ouS fashionable peo
pie a ghtopportunity Of manifestng thcll
appreciation Of the unbounded, unstinted
hospitality Mrs. Whitney has SO generously
extended during the winter The patron
esses Of the ball are Mrs, Whitney, Mrs En-
dicott, Mrs. Sherman, Miss Waite, Mrs Neil
son Brown, Mrs, Farnam, Mrs. David king
Mrs Marshall o. Roberts, Mrs. Biddle, Mrs
Laura Dclaileld, Mrs. Cameron, Mrs Justice
Field, Mrs, Warden, Mrs, Richard Towns
hend, Mrs. Selfrldge, Miss Sallie Lorlng,
Mrs, John Hay, Mrs. Payson, Mrs, Gen