Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-11
Mrs. Cleveland and Washington Society.

From the PhiJddeLDhid Times.
"There is no danger" SAID a Washington
lady, who recently called upon Mrs. Cleve-
land when she was receiving Informally those
of her acquaintance who had previously met
her in a social way, "of the Presidents wife
ever injuring his political prospects by iDju-
dclous remarks. She seems on the spur of
the moment to say just the right thing in re-
ply to remarks that she could not possibly
have anticipated. / begin to think from the
opportunities have had OF observing ladies
in public positions during over twenty years
residence in Washington that, ike the poets,
Presidents wives are born, not made, and
Mrs. Cleveland certainly was endowed by
nature with the qualities Of mind and heart
which would best hit her for the place she now
fills so gracefully. When one is with her
one thinks more Of her charming, unaf-
fected manners than of what she wears or
whether she is a beautiful woman or not"
Mrs. Cleveland receives with a frank, I'M
affected cordiality that puts her visitors at
ease at once. She both talks well and listens
well. and manlfests interest in all that is said
to her, as well as readiness IN beginning con-
versation. She seems absolutely unconscious
of the fact that she is 'the first lady of the
land" doing the honors of the residence of its
Chief Magistrate. When some one said to her
that she need not be afraid of ''people whom
she would not care to meet intruding when
she was receiving informally IN the evenings
because those who would be embarrassed bV
sitting down for a tete- a-tete with the mis-
tress of the White House would rather come
on some more pubic occasion, when they
would be lost in the crowd and any de1cen-
cles in their dress or conversation would
escape notice, Mrs. Cleveland said promptly
and with evident sincerity: II do not know
who the people are that would not care to
meet don't object to meeting any one, but
only to having crowd come when ] am re-
ceiving in the evenings. as might be the case
if they thought was having formal evening
reception for the public" Congressman
said on hearing this: Mrs. Logan herself
could not improve on that speech for its ready
tact"
Mrs. Cleveland sees her visitors in the Red
Parlor. While waiting for her they are shown
into the Blue Room, and In very few min
utes she comes TO them, walking with the
buOyancy natural TO her youth, and invites
them TO go into the Red Room, as that is less
a chamber for occasions OF state than the
other. When passing through the doorway
Mrs. Cleveland always steps back for her vsi-
tors to precede her, and when one OF them re-
Gently, lady much older than herself but UNI
married, said to her at the door: ooh, Mrs.
Cleveland, you must 60 first, the married la
dies always take precedence of unmarried
ones" she SAID, in merry tone: us that so2
Then we VIII go together" and 80 walked by
the other lady's side. AS soon as she enters
the Red Parlor she asks her visitor TO be
seated and. when they are, herself draws a
chair near TO them and takes her seat.
At one OF her informal evening receptions,
a few days ago, Mrs. Cleveland wore over
black silk black Brussels net, the front breadth
of which was dotted with silver and had
small oliver pendants. The waist had the
black silk lining cut square in front, so as to
show the white neck through the black net,
II was fastened at the throat with n diamond
crescent, and she wore a bouquet de corsage
OF natural roses She mad on no gloves and
her hands were bare and arms exposed nearly
TO the elbow. Her skin is very fair, ana her
arms and hands are very white; but, while
round. her arms give proof by their shane and
size Of more muscular strength in them than
one would expect from q lady whose duties
had never required her to use them much IN a
way to develop the muscles She ecems to
A. mo a. ~
but had on several handsome finger rings on
the occasion noted, one gold bangle on the
arm, and no other jewelry except the diamond
crescent at her throat.