Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-02-13
Mrs. CIeveIan,s's Social Position.


From the New York Word.
It is learned from reliable s.u,ce that
tie wife of Presideot Grover Cleveland Is
Suspicious of the social position Of the wife
of ex-Preadent Grover Cleveland in New
York, snd positive OF the houors that will
be accorded her abroad; she is almost deter
mined to defer her appearance in Gotham
circles until her return from a trip around
The world That she is unhappy there is
no disputiDg. Nobody took the defeat of
MIR. Cleveland to heart az much as his wife,
and the eXclusiveness that hens in society
and the indifference Of be, husband to scale
the walls in no way molify her grief. AS
the wife Of plain MT. Cleveland she hss
lustreless outlook.
He is sturdy, steady, patient plodder-a
sort Of legal drudge-conteDt to wade
through billows of reference and argument
| rather than trust the matter 10 bueting as
sistants. He has been st bis desk a, 9
O'Clock the year round for 3 decide or more,
is as systematic about his meas as his work
and makes it rule to be in bed by 10
O'Clock After the days toll newspaper
and CRATE fire are infinitely preferable to
company, and, once be gets bis slippers
on, it ia punishment to ask him to go to
play or concert Ellis habits are SET and
| he hates the ceremonies of fashionable so
ciety.
Mrs. Cleveland, on the contrary, is bright,
! buoyant, full Of life, fond of society and as
ambitious as all young and pretty women
are. She has queened it over the rep,e
sautatives Of al the courts of the civilized
world, ard praise has not been unstinted.
Before all be brilliant ladies from all the
Statea in the Union she bas ranked first,
and at The numerous entertainments where
she has appeared no one has left the paricr
| at reading or musicale, or risen from
! table until after the girl wife Now after
all this honor. distinction aud .nccess she
| will come TO New York, and It remains TO
| be seen whether or not she will bs re-
| ceived
The interviews had or the subject with the
| recognized leaders OF The famous 400"
which tnay uot be used, would make most
Interesting reading O1e lovely lady whose
papa peAdled Gsh in The old Washington
Market said Mrs. Cleveland will come to
New York as the wife ofa politician. he
frankly sdmi;s his aversion 30 society, and
that aversion vii! bs bis wle's fate. She
can't 90 out without her husband.
Another lady, Virginian by birth, who
has a lot of colonial candlesticks and three
coats of orms, asks tns question, Who is
Mrs. Cleveland ?" and gentleman, who is
direct descendant of one OF the proudest
families Of Madison's day says: What
claims havs the Cieveiands over the
Grants ?n Ask the Newport set about
either and the answer will be, Never met
| them"
Mrs. Paran Stevens said
Mrs. Cleveland l hear is coming to New
! York to live, and l have also heard consd-
erable talk about her social position. Per.
sonally l am not acquainted with her, but |
believe that she is very lovely and as she
has been the first lady in Washington
! have NO doubt that sho will be acknow
| lodged the first lady 10 New York. There
| is no question about her reception when
she comes here, for che mas youth, beauty,
refinement and tact the very qualities that
people who entertain and nre entertained
most DESIRE.
Misses Furness, who have been the hon
ored guests OF Mrs. Cleveland, had nothing
| to say on the subject.
Mrs. Sloan said "I don't know anything
about the matter" Mrs Mason Jones said:
~ never met the person and don't know
anvtbing about her relations to society,""
Mrs. Elliott Shepard said: IF Mrs. Cleve-
land comes to New York she will be cordi-
ally received by soccty."
Mrs. VIM. Astor said che "Gid not know
the Presidents wife and was therefore quite
incapable of giving an opinion. although she
had heard only the kindest things of ber"
Mrs. John Sherwood said: IF MIS-. Cleve.
land wishes to enter society when she comes
to New York she will succeed, you mag de-.
pend upon it. President Cleveland is very
domestic man in his tastes and devoted to
his home. The crowded receptions have no
attraction for him, and as BIS does not dance,
the ballroom would hardly interest him. It
is possible that he may oppose or throw OBJ
stacles In her way, for the sake of having
her all to himself, for he is very proud OF
her and never SO happy as when she ia with
him. From the first she has been very
positive success. She has more social tact
than anybody have ever known. 1u one
so Young it 10 perfectly marvellous. The
good opinion of the whole world is in her
favor. and if she goes abroad monarchs will
be glad to honor her AS l said before, MIR.
Cleveland is not partial to society, but not
wilhstsnding his reluctance l believe that
both be and his wife will be sought out for
all the Delmonico balls"
"Mrs. Whitney, if she bad no other friend,
would doubtless give her social prominence
among her companies, and although Mrs.
Morton is on the other side politically, she
wonld insure her entrance. Then there is
the family of George Lockhart Rives, As
sistant Secretary of State, son of Francis
Rives of Virginia, and dozens OF others
EQUALLY prominent and influential. any one
of whom queen might be proud to know. "
Mr.. Oliver Hartman. who is to the man,
ner born. when asked if Mrs. Cleveland
would be received in the Four Hundred set,
replied: "Of course she will. AS under