The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-05
The Latest Gossip About Mrs. Cleve-
land
From the st. Louis Republican.

From the ST. Louis Republican.
| Everybody is talking about the great
change that has taken place in the President
within the past year. He is becoming quite
gallant. and takes a great interest in
society matters as far as he can in his re-
stricted position. As one of the members
of his cabinet expressed it the other day,
the old chap is getting to be a regular
ladies' man, and the women are beginning
to like him as well as they do his wife.
When he first came to the White House the
gossips spent much of their time relating
anecdotes of his brusqueneSs and rudenesS
| toward visitors, but now they tell of the
pretty compliments ne pays and the little
attentions he shows to the ladies who go to
the executive mansion. All this has been
brought about by the refining influence of
matrimony, and Mrs Cleveland is to be
thanked for it. She has been a blessing to
the country as well as to her husband.
AS everybody knows, before he was
elected the president had never been more
than a club man. Living as a bachelor in
a suite of apartments over a store at Buffalo,
and taking his meals at a hotel, he never
took any part in social enjOyments, saw
none but male companions, and they not
all of the best, and he was recognized as a
''woman hatern He came to Washington
with club manners, which his sister, Miss
Cleveland, had not the tact to correct. Be
but Mrs. Cleveland has worked great re-
form. She has improved his appearance
as well as his manners; he now dresses
fauItleSSly, and under her influence he has
not only become gentler and more refined,
but is beginning to take pleasure in it. At
the state dinners at first he always acted as
if he was terribly bored, and it was proba-
bly, the case, but now he seems to enjoy
them. Instead of fleeing to his room when
ladies Gonna n tho ITbita Hpuca ba did
when his sister was there, he now seeks
their society and says pleasant things to
them with the sangfrold of an old beau.
| could not help noticing this at the re-
captions that have been given this winter,
and every one has observed the same
change He has lost the I-don't-like-this-a
ut-I-have-to-endure-it look, and takes
a hearty enjoyment in meeting people. The
same is the case in his treatment of gentle
men callers Instead of dismissing them
with blunt and sometimes rude refusal, he
treats every one kindly and puts an I'M
pleasant denial in the gentlesS manner pos
sible, as President Arthur used to do.
AT the last reception, when the receiving
party walked among the crowd in the East
room, Just before retiring to the private
part of the house, he did not look straight
before him and plunge along as he used to
do, but stopped several times and said
pleasant words to gentlemen and ladies he
recognized, There was not a great crowd
that night, as was the case at the earlier re-
ceptiOns OF the season, and the great East
room was only comfortably filled. AS the
president, with Mrs. Dickinson on his arm,
reached Senator Henderson, he stopped and
said:
Il am admlring these decorations, Sena-
tor; don't you think they look uncommonly
pretty to-nIghtP
YES" replied Gen. Henderson, ''they do
but isn't it because the crowd is not so great
as to prevent them from being seeng | was
talking with Tim Campbell about the same
thing little while ago, and he said that the
White House always looked better without
the diplomatic corps and the gold lace on
their coats"
The president smiled and retorted, Tim
is a true Democrat"
Among others at the reception was Repre-
sentative Martin of Texas the man who is
famous for having blown out the gas at
Wizards hotel the night after his arrival at
the capital. He was dressed in an ordinary
frock coat, the same one he bought the
morning he came, although the rest Of the
company were in evening dress, and his
vest was unbuttOned about three-fourths OF
the way d0wn, showing shirt front that
was conspicuous for eXpanSiveness. As he
passed the receiving party the president
graSped his hand cordially, thanked him
for comming, and introduced him to Mrs
Cleveland without waiting for Lieut. Duvall
to do so.
'This is Representative Martin of Texas
said he.
Mrs. Cleveland gave the granger one of
her best smiles, said something that could
not be overheard, and made him solid with
the administration forever. The old man
looked happy all the rest of the evening,
and went home feeling that he was a great
and social success even if he did not wear a
claw-hammer coat.
Representative Hopkins of Illinois had
his little girl, IL years old, at the reception,
and when they passed through the Blue
room he said that she had come because sac
had never seen either the President or Mrs.
Cleveland, and did not know when she
could have another opportunity. The Presi-
dent kissed the child and asked her name.
Fanny" she answered, shyly
"Well, Fanny, you can come and see me
any time, and Mrs Cleveland, too
yes" added Mrs. Cleveland, come and
see me when there are not SO many people
here"