The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-03-01
WAsHlNeToN,s STATE DINNER.
& Solemn Scene Mt Which tho Father ci
Ills Country Presided.

s. Solemn Scene Mt Which tho Father ci
Ills Country Presided.
Times change and dinners change with
them, rs was seen by comparing the &C.
counts Of President Clevcland's last state
dinner with one given by President Wash
ington. I have copied it from the manu-
script diary kept by William Maclay, a
senator from the state of Pennsylvania in
the first Federal congress. He was tho
original stobjector, /" and he made himself
very disagreeable to President Washing
ton and his supporters. One day after
Washington had met the senate he says:
81 was called out by the doorkeeper to
speak to Col. Humphreys. 1t was to in
vite me to dinner with the president On
Thursday next at o'clock. really was
surprised at the invitation. 1t will be my
duty to go; however, I will mako no in
ferences whatever. am convinced all
the dinners he can now give, or ever
could, will make no difference in my con-
duct.n Then we have his account of the
dinner.
"The president and Mrs. Washington
sat opposite each other in the middle of
the table; the two secretaries, one at each
end. tt was great dinner, and the best
of the kind ever I was ut. First was
soup; fish, roasted and boiled; meats,
CANNON, fowls, etc. The middle of the
table was garnished in the usual tasty
way with small images, artificial flowers,
etc. The dessert was, first, apple pies,
puddings, etc.; then iced creams, jellies,
etc.; then watermelons. muskmelons,
apples, peaches, nuts. 1t was the most
solemn dinner ever sat at. Not health
drunk, scarce word said until the cloth
was taken away. Then the president,
taking glass Of vino with great formal
ity, drank to the health Of every individ-
nal by name round the table. Everybody
initiated him, charged glasses, and such 8
buzz of Health, sir, and Health, madam
and thank you, SIR and thank you,
madam, never had heard before. In
deed had like to have been thrown out
in the hurry; but I got O little wine in my
glass and passed the CEREMONY
Mr.. Maclay goes on to tell us that "the
ladies sat good whilo aud the bottles
passed about, but there was dead silence
almost. Mrs. Washington at last with
drew with the ladies. IeHpected the men
would now begin, but the same stiffness
remained. The president told of New
England clergyman who had lost hat
and wig in passing q river called the
Brunks. Ho smiled, and everybody
laughed. He now and then said SEN
tence or two on some common subject, and
what he said was not an1iss. There was
Mr. Smith, who mentioned how Homer
described Encas as leaving his wife and
carrying his father out Of flaming Troy.
He had heard somebody (I suppose) witty
on the occasion; but if he had ever read it
he would have said Virgil lit does not
appear that Washington, Adams. Jay or
any other of the magnates present detected
the blunder.l The president kept fork
in his hand when the cloth was taken
away, I thought for tie purpose Of pick
ing nuts. He ate no nuts, but played
with the fork, striking on the edge Of the
table with it,: We did not sit long after
the Indies retired. The president rose,
went up stairs to drink coffee, the COM
pany followed. took my hat and came
home. ''-Ben: Perley Poore.