Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1888-08-29
WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
The Mistress OF the White House Neither
Makes Nor Receives Calls.


II is the day visiting, says a Washington
correspondent, that puts the last straw on
society's tired back-the calling business,
which can only be evaded by one woman in
official circles. The mistress of the White
House neither makes nor receives calls.
The mistress of the White House, be she in
clined to gaiety or not, has an easy time
compared with the wives of Cabinet officers
and wives of Senators.
IL Is true she shakes hands with many
people on stated occasions But the oc-
casions need not be frequent, and this year
they are not frequent. The wife Of Cab
met officer or wife of o Senator is expected
to open her house TO the public every week
on stated day. The card of the visitor
does not make these receptions less public
IN the number Of strangers with whom the
hostess shakes hands strangers she has
never before put her eyes on, and may never
see again. In the long run she does as much
Misunderstanding as the mistress of the White
House. Then there are the dinner parties,
many all through the season, and there are
evening receptions, with elaborate suppers
or refreshments for several hundred guests
AZ one time. All this the wife Of a Cabinet
officer is expected 10 do, and then comes the
last straw in returning calls. II the Sena-
tor Is well known, IL he has his own house
here, and II people like him and his house,
there is almost demand in the expectation
that he viii entertain. II is the same with
the Cabinet officer II he shuts himself up
IN clearinghouse and lives on his salary,
there are no great expectations by the peo-
pie. But IL he once shows his hand as a
true host in his own house, then he is in
for all that society demands TO make society
happy.
Now, on the contrary, the President may
do very little besides the handshalring at
Official and public receptions. He need not
serve refreshments IL he does not choose
even ut official receptions, when guests are
really guests by card invitation, and the
mistress Of the White House is absolutely
independent, and may do very little unless
she herself wishes 20 do a great deal No
body finds fault with her IL she receives
every Saturday through the season. No
body finds fault with her IL she receives
every other Saturday, or three or four
times IN a winter. No womaa in official life
Is so seldom criticised as the mistress of
the White House. OF course, her sun sets
when she leaves the portals behind her
But while there 1t Is the brightest Of all
suns. IL Is a mistaken idea that the Presi-
dents wife or the Presidents sister has a
/" hard place" while mistress Of the White
House. Certain restraints and laws of
etiquette make her life in the White House
somewhat unnatural But it is, on the
whole, an easy, pleasant life. And to search
the land over, no woman could be found
who would decline TO be mistress Of the
White House.
Formerly Presidents gave more public
receptions in the evening. President Arthur
began the fashion of three official and one
public reception for a season. President
Cleveland followed this rule of fashion, and
so far has made no change. But his tri-
weekly handshaking with the people in the
East Room takes in part of the place Of
evening receptions TO the public. And all
strangers in the city on Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday may meet the President in
the big East Room at half-past one o'clock.
A PRACTICAL plumber gives the following
method Of keeping the drain pipe clear:
Just before retiring at night pour into the
clogged pipe enough liquid soda I've to I'll
the trap as IL is called-or the bent part
Of the pipe just below tho outlet Be sure
that no water runs into 1t until the next
morning. During the night the I've viii con-
vert all the offal into soft soap, and the first
current Of water in the morning VIII wash
II away and leave the pipe as clean a. new.
Sect This Is practical chemistry, yet few
/ chemists would ever think Of IL"