San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1886-10-14

The President and his family have
returned to the White House, where
they are spending their time very
quietly. They take an almost daily
drive to the country house, overlook
ing Washington, which the President
recently bought. The heavy rectan-
gular stone mansion has been thor
oughly remodeled, and when COM
pleted will make an attractive coun-
try home, if indeed the rapid growth
of Washington will allow it to remain
long in the country.
Life at the White House at present
is uneventful-there will be no en-
tertainments until the opening of the
regular season, whom the usual num-
ber 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 oan
take as much time Us he pleases for
his message. Meanwhile the heads
of the departments are preparing the
data which he will need in his review
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 ad-
mirable showing for all tho depart
ments. Everybody who has any
thing to do with them knows that
they never were more honestly, eco
nomically, ably, and let it be added
with emphasis, courteously, admins
tered 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 evid emily
i'll at ease, if not actually bored, at
some of the Diplomatic and State
dinners which official etiquette re.
qnired him to give last winter Mrs.
Cleveland, however, is fond of soci-
ETY., 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-
trees 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 Min
lister OF u foreign nation would be to
insult all the other representatives
and cause each and every one to
write polite letters to their home gov
ernments, informing them OF the in.
suit 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 invited.
President Arthur loved to 60 out to
dinner parties, and he always was en-
abled to tell beforehand who was to
compose the party. Cleveland has
never had occasion to inquire, because
he has never accepted invitations
outside bis Cabinet. Whether Mrs.
Cleveland will accept invitations OF
give little entertainments is one OF
problems not yet solved, but anxious
ly awaiting solution. She has made
many friends here already, and every
one wants to see more of her, for she
is a very lovable woman. Mrs. Cleve-
land will most likely begin her Sntur-
day afternoon receptions as soon rs
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 mn
other sense, that Washington is never
out of season. 1t is pretty full the
year round. 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.
Washington has become very popu-
lar autumn resort. People going
South for the winter always pass
through. here. Each year they tarry
longer. They begin to leave the
summer resorts earlier 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 sev
eral weeks. The travelling public
have discovered the attractions of
Washington as an autumnal and early
winter resort. Before these birds Of
passage have flown. the social and po-
litical season has begun. This brings
in a different set Of people represent
ing the wealth and fashion of all parts
of the Union; those who reinterested
in Legislation before Congress and
many Others Of literary or dilettante
turn who come to make a daily study
Of life and manners, as represented
at the only great American capital
About the time Congress adiourns
the procession Of spring and sumner
travel sets in They are not as nu-
merous and wealthy as the people
who visit Washington in the fall and
winter. They are those who take ad-
vantage Of excursion rates-cOuntry
people. brides and grooms, and or
CARNATIONS Of various kinds These