Middletown transcript., 1886-09-30
FROM WASHINGTON.


THE PRESIDENT AND HIS FAMILY RE
TURN TO THE WHITE HOUSE. -THE
COMING SOCIAL sEAsoE.-BITs OF
GOSSIP.
WASHINGTON, Sept. %, 1885,
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 rectang-
ular stone mansion has been thorough
ly remodeled and when completed will
make an attractive country home, If
indeed, the rapid growth OF Washing
ton will allow it to remain long in the
country. /.
Life at the White House at present is
uneventful. There will be no entertain
ments until the opening OF the regular
season when the usual number Of re-
ceptions and state dinners win be Civ
en-. The President will begin the
preparation of his annual message at
once, SO as to get it outlined at least
before Congress comes back. He has
few visitors now and no pressing busi-
ness, SO that be can take as much time
as he pleases for his message. Mean
while 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 administra-
tion. 1t is needless to say that the
bare statement of the facts will make
an admirable showing for all the De-
partments. Everybody who has any
thing to do with them knows that they
never were more honestly, economi-
cally, ably, aed let it be added with
courteously, administered
before.
The season this year will be short,
but it promises to be brilliant. The
it is said, is not fond of
general society. He was evidently i'll
1t ease, If not actually bored at some
Of the Diplomatic and State dinners
which official etiquette required him
10 give last winter. Mrs. Cleveland
is fond of society, and society
d thoroughly In love with Mrs.
Cleveland and her social tastes may
perhaps prove foil to Mr.. Cleveland's
.ecluse disposition. Mrs. Cleveland
viii be sought after aud invited here,
here and everywhere; but she will be |
lble, as mistress OF the White House,
@ accept very few invitations. The
President cannot accept invitations TO |
linners or parties where he Is likely to |
meet one OF the diplomatic corps for
he President to dine out with one
Minister of q foreign nation would be to |
INSULT all the other representatives and |
.ause each and everyone to write polite |
etters to their home governments, in |
orming them of the insult offered |
heir sovereigns or rulers. Here the
corps is invited as a body.
t is generally known here by people
'ersed in society rules that If the Presi-
lent is invited no foreign representa-
i've Is to be invited. President Arthur
owed to go out to dinner parties, and
10 always was enabled to tell before
and who was to compose the party.
has never had occasion to
nquire, because he has never accepted
invitations outside of his Cabinet.
Whether Mrs. Cleveland will ac-
ept invitations or give little enter
is one Of the problems not
ct solved, but anxiously awaiting So
ltion. She has made many friends
ere already, and everyone wants to
ee more of her, for she Is very Iowa
le woman. Mrs. Cleveland will most
kelly begin her Saturday afternoon re-
options as soon as it gets cool, but
hose are more Of an official character
han social, and do not count with So
iety here.
While the social season has not
richly begun, it may be said. in an Ii
ther sense, that Washington is never 1
ut Of season. 1t is pretty full the |
BAR around. People begin to come in
ON the seash0re and mountains the
tier part of August aud are all home
y the first week in September. Wash
lgton has become very popular aut-
mn resort. People going south for ,
le winter always pass through here.
ach year they tarry longer. They be-
IN to leave the summer resorts earlier I
nd delay their trips to Florida later.
he custom is becoming common to Z
op in Washington the first of October
4 their way south, and to stay seve-
i weeks. The travelling public have /
the attractions of Washing
N as an autumnal and early winter
sort. Before these birds of passage
sYe flown, the social and political sea-
n has begun. This brings in a differ
It set of people representing the
ealth and fashion of all parts of the =
nion those who are interested in
gislation before Congress and many
her of a literary or dilettantet turn who
me to make daily study of life and
anners, as represented at the only
eat American capital. About the
me Congress adjourns the procession
spring and summer travel sets in.
1ey are not as numerous or as wealthy
the people who visit Washington in
9 fall and winter. They are those
10 take advantage of excursion rates
country people, brides and grooms,
d organizations of various kinds.
lese find as much pleasure in the
y with its many attractions as the
y people do in the country in sum-
u. b
Now that earthquakes have become I
frennanf tho article nv, au,- f;,.et nara T.