Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-28
wAsHINGroN's SOCIAL GOSSIP.
The Whitney Christmas Tree-Gay
Times at the White House.

The Whitney Christmas Tree-Gay
Times at the White House.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2!.-The gay season
here has fairly set in. The first Cabinet
dinner was given to-day by Secre-
tary and Mrs, Manning. The President
and Mrs. Cleveland were pres
ent. Since Secretary Bayard's Attic
ton he has not attended any of the social
gayeties but it is understood that he will
attend the Cabinet dinners and was
present at Secretary Mannng's.
MRS. wHITNEY's CHRISTMAS TREE.
On Friday afternoon the Secretary and
Mrs. Whitney entertained party of little
boys and girls, seventy or eighty in num-
Der, mostly the sons and daughters of
Cabinet officers, of Congressman, of men,
bers of the Diplomatic Corps and depart
ment officials. For two or three DAYS sew
eral young ladies, under the direction of
Mrs. Whitney, had been busy setting up
and dressing large Christmas tree, the
largest tree that could be placed in the
elegant ballroom of the hospitable Whit
ney mansion on l street.
Shortly after O'Clock the little boys
and girls having received and accepted
Mrs. Whitney's invitation to dine with
her and to dance around the Christmas
tree, began to arrive. The Secretary and
Mrs. Whitney received them all in the
| front parlor, where the early corners re-
manned until the party was complete.
| Then, about O'Clock, the curtain which
| separated the parlor from the ball room
in the rear and concealed the Christmas
tree, was drawn aside, and a spectacle of
| dazzling brilliancy burst upon the gaze of
| the young enthusiasts. The ball room was
| illumined to Its fullest extent and
| In addition to the regular
| illumination, scores of wax
candles and lamps OF many colors hung
upon The branches of the tree and shed
| their light upon the countless glitterng
things of beauty that hung there too;
and, Ito make the fairy scene still more
fairylike, it had been arranged that the
| sweet music of Christmas carol should
| fall upon the ears of the little ones as they
passed into the ball room to be introduced
TO the Christmas tree. A dozen trained
| chorister bows from st. Johns Church, in
| charge of the organist, occupied the re-
cess which is set apart for the orchestra
and with the rise OF the curtain they be-
gan to sing.
Mrs. Endieott and Mrs. Villas attended
| with quite a large number OF Senators
and Senator's wives. The Diplomatic
Corps was largely represented and some
OF the diplomats were accompanied by
their wives as well as their children.
TREAT FOR WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
The elite of Washington society have a
great treat in store for them next winter.
when MIR. Edward Burnett will take the
seat now occupied by Hon. f. ID. Ely, of
| the Ninth Massachusetts district. SMr.
Burnett Ia the son OF the great Burnett
of cocoaine and f1avoring extract fame.
He inherits a large fortune from his
father, and owns, besides good deal
OF other property, nne estate near
birmingham. known as Deerfoot Farm,
the most famous product of which
Is certain dainty sausage invented by
| the COngressm an-elect. who seems to
have inherited his fathers skill in CON-
pounding. Mr.. Burnett's wife is daugh-
ter of James Russell Lowell, and it is said
that the soul OF the eX-Minister and poet
has been pierced by many sarcastic
thrusts on the subject Of his sausage
making son-in-law. While Lowelps SON.
in-law may not be welcome to the break
fast tables OF all the blue-blooded Bos-
tonians, his sausages always are. Burnett
intends to put on good deal of style and
assume the role of the Prince of Mug
wumps. 1t won't make much difference
to the multitudes whether IL is the Whit
ney terrapin or the Burnett sausages, SO
| long as they are washed down with good
| champagne.
GAY TIMES AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
A good deal OF comment has been made
on the eXtensiveuess of the programme OF
entertainments TO be held al the White
House during the remainder OF the
season. No one seemed to have any idea
OF what was intended until IL was pub
lished. 1t IL seen that between Jan.
aud FEB. % there are to be five public
receptions, In which both the President
and Mrs. Cleveland will participate;
four receptions by Mrs. Cleveland alone.
and three dinners for the Congress, judi
ciary and Diplomatic corps. 1t was
limited some time ago that there would
be q gay wind-up at the Executive Man.
fion, but no one anticipated twelve en-
tertainments of such gorgeous magnitude
in the short epace of seven weeks-almost
two week. The official programme
quite takes the breath OF Washington So
ciety.