Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-10-02
A Cosby Washington Letter.

is uneventful-there will be no en-
tertainments until the opening of the
regular season when the usual num-
Der of receptions and state dinners
will be given. The President will
begin the preparation of his annual
message at once, SO as to get it out
lined at least before Congress comes
back. He has few visitors now and
no pressing business, so that he can
take as much time as he pleases for
his message. Meanwhile the heads
of the Departments are preparing the
data which he will need in his re-
view of their operations during the
first year of his administration. 1t is
needless to say that the bare state
ment of the facts will make an adj
mirable showing for all the Depart
ments. Everybody who has any
thing to do with them knows that
they never were more honestly,
economically, ably, and let it be
added with emphasis, courteously,
administered before.
The "season" this year will be
short, but it promises to be brilliant.
The President, it is said, is not fond
of general society. He was evident
ly ill at ease, if not actually bored at
some of the Diplomatic and State
dinners which official etiquette re-
quired him to give last winter. Mrs.
Cleveland, however, is fond of socie-
ty, and society is thoroughly in love
with Mrs. Cleveland, and her social
tastes may perhaps prove a foil to
Mr.. Cleveland's recluse disposition.
Mrs. Cleveland will be sought after
and invited here, there and every
where; but she will be able, as mis-
tress of the White House, to accept
very few invitations. The President
cannot accept invitations to dinners
or parties where he is likely to meet
one of the diplomatic corps; for the
President to dine out with one Minis
ter of a foreign nation would be to in
suit all the other representatives and
cause each and everyone to write po-
lite letters to their home govern
ments, informing them of the insult
offered their sovereigns or rulers.
Here the Diplomatic 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 in
vited, President Arthur loved to &c
out to dinner parties, and he always
was enabled to tell beforehand who
was to compose the party. Cleve.
land has never had occasion to in.
quire, because he has never accepted
invitations outside his Cabinet
Whether Mrs. Cleveland will accept
invitations or give little entertain
ments is one of the problems not YET
solved, but anxiously awaiting solu
ton. She has made many friends
here already, and everyone wants tt
see more of her, for she is very low
able woman. Mrs. Cleveland will
most likely begin her Saturday after
noon receptionsas soon as itgets cool
but those are more of an official char
acter than social, and do not coun
with society here.
While the social season has no
strictly begun, it may be said, in an
other sense, that Washington is neve
out of season. 1t is pretty full TIT
year around. People begin to come
in from the seashore and mountain
the latter part of August and are al
home by the first week in September
Washington has become a very pop
ular Autumn resort. People goin,
South for the winter always pas
through here. Each year they tarr,
, longer. They begin to leave tn
summer resorts earlier and della,
their trips to Florida later. The Gus
tom is becoming common to stop il
!. Washington the first of October, O.
their way South, and to stay severa
weeks. The travelling public hav
discovered the attractions of Wash
ing as an autumnal and early winte
resort. Before these birds of passag
y have flown, the social and politics
season has begun. This brings in
different set of people representa-
v the wealth and fashion of all parts {
e the Union; those who are intereste
y in legislation before Congress an
! many others of a literary and die
i tante turn, who come to make a da
A ly study of life and manners, as rel
/ resented at the only great America
vi oo,;fol ho,,t 4hn 4iyoo CNnoro.