The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1886-04-25
TO MARRY OR NOT TO MARRY.
Social Leadership In Washington. With an Incl
dental Remark on 'Ostler Joe.

washington Correspondence New York Herald.l
Curious as 1t may appear, the current talk about
the Presidents marriage to Miss Folsom has not yet
produced any agitation here. The simple truth Is,
nobody believes 1t, else there would be ferment
rhe sensation has been worked up from Buifaloi
and for the benefit OF certain social interests there.
When the subject was first broached about ten days
ago, very near and personal friend of the Presi-
dent authorized positive denial of the report. Miss
Cleveland prior to her departure for Atlantic City,
also gave 1t most unequvocal contradiction,
though II Is untrue that she expressed any disap.
Folsom and she are warm friends, and the younger
lady was the guest of the former at the White House
the rumor at that time. Not that the engagement is
by any means unlikely to be true but because OF the
IN whsS the story has has been wa Is
tainly he a desirable one for Miss Folsom. That
may go without saying: To be raised to the position
of first lady of the land by such an alliance would
charm any womans imagination. The close per-
sonal friendship that existed between Mr.. Cleveland
citizen OF BulTalo. Nothing could lie more Natural
than that the former should interest himself In the
welfare OF the widow and the daughter Of his friend
and II President Cleveland really is TO be married In
June there will be social upturnlng here such as
Washington never before has seen.
Despite Miss Cleveland scholarship, her position,
and her many graces, 1t Is an undenable fact that
{. Whitney, the wife of the Secretary of the Navy.
rhs lady, with her vast fortune, her splendid resi-
dence in New York, her cOmmodlous house on
street In this city and her country seat Just outside
the borders of the Capital, has been the recognized
social queen OF the present season. Previously un-
known to the country and unheralded on her appear
ancc In Washington, she has, In one short year, be-
come the dictator at the republican court and the
leader Of fashion. lam aware that many washing,
they do not dispute the assertion even more warmly.
But the less impusive among them will recognize s
truth. Where Is there any lady In any way identified
with the present regime that can dispute with her
the place at top? She cannot be named. Mrs.
Manning had all the charms that fitted her for such
a position. The Treasury Department outranks that
OF the Navy In the unwrlten code of precedence but
the dangerous illness of Secretary Manning Is likely
to Keep the lady OF Albany out of the social field for
some time to come.
Everybody who knows anything about this season
at Washington admits that Mrs. Whitney has been
appealed to when triumphant success in any charl-
table or social enterprise was desired. Her house
has been at the disposal Of her friends when she s
at home, though 1t must be admitted that some OF
her associates felt very badly because she recently
declined to permit them to take possession OF her
Cleveland, Ohio, by the death of her grandmother.
She was resolute In her postponement OF the news
to make secret enemy ofanother Is serious affair.
There Is no such word as forgiveness" In the fem
inine lexicon. ! have been convinced OF sincere
womanly delight at the scandal which Mrs. Potter's
reading OF an obnoxious poem brought upon the
Whitney coterie. 1t was the only serious msstep
innocently suffered for her friend. Nobody sup
poses for moment that Mrs. Whitney would have
approved OF such nauseating rubbish az mostler
sold In beer gardens aud In the smoking cars OF
trains, but never mentioned In the presence Of ladies'.
Whitney In position Of considerable difficulty II
s believed to have given rise to the remark In certain
high circles that 1t was high time to make the White
House the social centre OF the Capital. W0manly
malice had everythingto do with this remark. 1t
probably was the precursor OF the wedding sensation
now having its run. Some curious things have been
told me by ladies' during the past week regarding the
channels through which the prospective marriage
has been given TO the world. do not dare repeat
them, for ] should have the leaders Of the social
factions about my ears like 30 many hornets
II Mr.. Cleveland Is to marry in thenear future
dents under the Constituton-!t means the naagu-
ration OF merry war for social supremacy such as
has not been seen In this Capital since the days OF
the Pierce administration The local nabobesses,
now almost unit AZ against the foreign invasion,"
30 called, will inevitably divide and ally themselves
with one or other wing In tho contest. Miss Cleve-
lend will retire to the leisure necessary to produce
future successful literary fruit. She may contem.
plate writing "the great American nove' for all
that Ia known to the contrary II she does, and in
troduces review Of Washington society, there are
those who Will be able to recognize, II not dwell
upon, some of the characters In the tale. Her re-
cepton by Washington society never has been ex-
cessivey hearty, despite her charming manners, her
bright Intelligence and her excellent taste In dress.