The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-10-01
eonslY. administered before.

eously, administered before.
The "season" this year will short, but
il promises to be brilliant. The Presi-
dent, it is said, is not fond of general
society. lie was evidently i'll at ease
if not actually bored at some of the
Diplomatic and State dinners which
official etiquette required him to give
last winter. Mrs. Cleveland, however,
is fond of society and society is tho.
roughly in love with Mrs. Cleveland
and her social tastes may perhaps prove
a foil TO Mr.. Clevelands recluse dispo-
sition. Mrs. Cleveland will be sought
after and invited here, there and every
where but she will be able, as mistress
of the White House, to accept very few
invitations. The President cannot ac-
cept invitations TO dinners or parties
where he is likely TO meet one of the
diplomatic corps for the President to
dine out with one Minister of foreign
nation would be TO insult all the other
representatives and cause each and
every one to write polite letters to
their home governments, informing
them of the insult offered their SOW
ereigns or rulers. Here the Diplomat
ic corps is invited as body. 1t is
generally known here by people versed
in society rules that if the President
is invited no foreign representative is
to be invited. President Arthur loved
to go out to dinner parties, and he al
ways was enabled TO tell beforehand
who was to compose the party. Cleve-
land has never had occasion to inquire
because he has never accepted invita-
tions outside his cabinet. Whether
Mrs. Cleveland will accept invitations
or give little entertainments is one of
the problems not yet solved, but anxi-
ously awaiting solution. She has made
many friends here already, and every
one wants to zee more of her, fer she
is very lovable woman. Mrs. Cleve-
land will most likely begin her Satur-
day afternoon receptions as soon as it
gets cool, but those are more of an
official character than social, and do
not count with society here.
While the social season has not
strictly begun, it may be said, in an
other sense, that Washington is never
out of season. 1t is pretty full the
year around. People begin to come in
from the seashore and mountains the
latter part of August and are all home
by the first week in September. WASH
ington has become very popular Au-
tumn resort. People going south for
the winter always pass through here.
Each year they tarry longer. They
begin to leave the summer resorts earli-
er and delay their trips to Florida later.
The custom is becoming common to
stop in Washington the first of October
on their way south, and to stay several
weeks. The travelling public have dis
covered the attractions of Washington
as an autumnal and early winter re-
sort. Before these birds of passage
have flown, the social and political sea
son has begun. This brings in diff
ferent set of people representing the
wealth and fashion of all parts of the
Union those who are interested in
legislation before Congress and many
others Of literary or dilettante turn
who come to make daily study of
life and manners, as represented at the
only great American capital. About
the time Congress adjourns the pro-
cession OF spring and summer travel
sets in. They are not as numerous or
as wealthy as the people who visit
Washington in the fall and winter.
They are those who take advantage of
excursion rates,-country people, brides
and grooms, and organizations of
various kinds. These find as much
pleasure in the city with its many at
fractions as the city people do in the
country in summer.