Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1886-09-23
SOCIAL LIFE IN WASHING
TON.


every new conner. questions which brief
newspaper announcements do not an
swer. Sometimes there are two or
three ladies who will have to go. if at
all, unattended by their busy husbands,
fathers or brothers, yet who are anx-
ious to see all they can and at the same
time not infringe upon the proprieties.
Refinement of feeling and taste which
ought, if it does not, to underlie every
external conventionality, have nothing
to do with those forms of social life in
Washington, which have grown up
merely out of the exigencies Of its popu-
lation. Here strangers and residents
first call upon the families of officials.
Among the officials themselves, the
wives and daughters of those in the
lower rank, first call upon those in the
higher. Thus Mrs. Representative Blank
first calls upon Mrs. Senator Blank; the
latter upon the wives of the various Sec
retaries of the Cabinet, each success
sively stepping up the governmental
staircase till finally Mrs. Vice-President
Blank finds herself next to the last step
and calls only first on the Lady of the
White House.
1t has accordingly been found con-
venient for each official class to ''re-
ceive" on a certain day in the week.
The President receives informally, that
is, merely walks through the East Room
and goes through the painful hand
shaking process nearly every day ex-
cept Tuesday and Friday when the
Cabinet meetings occur. Every morn
ing the White House is open from about
eleven to half past one, when, if the
President can, he sees for few mo-
ments those in waiting. Two or three
hundred are often present, besides
various deputations.
Our party of two or three ladies, then,
can visit this historic building. unac-
companicd by gentlemen, going in
street costume, either on foot or in a
carriage. The gentlemanly ushers in
attendance, some of whom have been in
their positions many years, and are Of
ten sorely tried by cranks and incon-
siderate visitors, take pains to show the
rooms which may be open. Sometimes
several hundred persons pass through
these rooms in a morning; occasionally
parties coolly seating themselves upon
the golden-brown brocade covers of the
chairs and sofas of the superb East
Room, as if they were determined to
pre-empt lions share of their own in
divisible and intinitesimal portion of
the public property.
Our friends can also attend the
Thursday afternoon receptions of the
President without an escort. Well
made and well-fitting walking costumes
as simple or elaborate as they choose or
can afford, are appropriate. There is a
Gordon of ushers to give all necessary
directions upon arriving at the Execu-
tive Mansion at any moment between
three and five o'clock. No cards are
necessary. The attendant repeats the
name given him by the visitor to the
officer nearest to the President, who re-
peats it in turn to the chief, as the par
ties pass through the Blue Parror or East
Room where audiences take place. A
word, bow (why should handshaking
be necessarily and the person present.
ed makes way for the next.
The Lady of the White House holds
public receptions on Saturday after
moons. There are more ladies than
gentleman present, though there is al
ways sprinkling of officials and diplo-
mats as well as strangers. The hostess
is assisted by several ladies, one Oh
more of whom stand on line with her,
the others Immediately back. They are
selected by her from the wives of Sena-
tors and Members; usually the wife Of
the Vice-President or of the Speaker oi
the House, or the wives of some of the
Justices or Members of the Cabinet Oh
private guests are at her side. The
ladies are in handsome afternoon dres.
ses or in full toilettes, as they prefer
satin and lace, velvet and jewels ar
seen in profusion. Visitors do not re
move their bonnets, and the order O
procedure is similar to that of the Presi
dents reception. The name of eacl
visitor is mentioned to those receivin,
with the hostess.
The present winsome and graoic11
Presiding Lady has also instituted
series Of afternoon receptions for her &C
quaintances and their guests. On thes
occasions visitors wait in the ante-room
where wrappings are removed, until tn
usher, who has previously taken tn
cards to the hostess, announces tina
Miss Cleveland is ready to see the mex
party in turn. These lat homes" ar
on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednes
days of the winter season. The recel
tions take place in the beautiful Re
Parlor, which is used by the family O
all ordinary occasions. Each grou
enters and passes out together, and onl
the briefest conversation is possibl
where, perhaps, twenty persons may b
in waiting.
Evening receptions, appointed at til
instance of the President, are held abol
; three times during the winter, at datt
announced by the city papers. At thes
occasions, Miss Cleveland receives, ais,
and other ladies assist. There are a.
| rangements for the ingress and egre'
: of large crowd; flowers and plan
are banked in every. available spac
the entire lower portion of the house
thrown open, the private dining-rool
being used for wrappings, and tt
whole is magnifcently lighted. II
gold and amber of the East Room al
resplendent. Standing in front of tt
triple window, the spectator can gaz
, down noble perspective, ending tw
hundred feet away at the western e,
, tremity of the conservatory. AS IL
visitors, in costumes more or less bri
liant, pass out of the spacious corrido
real estimate of the size of the room