Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-01-19
sEr. Cleveland's Reception.

The most accurate conception Of leCep-
ton at the White House may be obtained
from the following written by "Bostonisn" to
the Washington Star:
II thought on Saturday afternoon as |
looked upon the thousands of ladies waiting
to be admitted to the White House, ii there
was any other nation under the sun OF whom
it might so Justly be said, "What fools these
mortals be-" as we Americans, and one of
the Americans.
"To stranger coming to Washington for
the first time, hoping, yes, longing, to see
some "hgh life" at the capital, on being in
formed that the Presidents wife will give a
reception, resolves at once that here is now
chance TO be presented. also 10 sac how
she is dressed, to have few words with her,
and, of course, to be introduced TO the re-
ceving party; and when cne returns home
to have something definite to tell ones
friends. That is a womsn's idea of recep-
tion before they go, but alas! for the
reality.
"As the reception II wish more appro-
pirate name could be found is to begin at
o'clock, it is thought advisable TO arrive
at the executive mansion at the hour named.
We arrived and 10, Instead of walking in,
we take our position in line on the
pavement outside the gate0 and about
In front of the Treasury building.
While waiting, we begin to look about us
and find that it requires q policeman to
about every one hundred women. presuma.
bly, to keep them in order, or possibly to pre-
vent the late corners from pushing out one
Of the weaker sisters and taking her place
In the line- Every few minutes wes%nnld
move about two or three steps, and finally
after one hour and a half of weary waiting
in the cold, with feet and hands like ice,
We reach the door, and feel at once as il we
have just stepped into heaven. But then [
hope heaven will never be 80 crowded as
that place was, ior evidently it was only an
illustration of everything in the government.
tai line, for the ins in staying in and the
outs were trying to get in so that al one
could do would be to stay in the current and
be carried forward.
las one nears the doorway where the re.
ceving party stand you are told to keep
the line moving ladies'" then "break up
there, go one at time," announce your
name," and then with q shove from behind
and somebody's hand to grasp you in front,
you are pulled through and find yourself shot
into the east room by an attendant who in
forms you in not the gentle3t tones that
s'there is no time to lock around" and then
you realize that you have been received ~
by Mrs. Cleveland. When you get time
to take a breath you ask "did you see
her p "well, no." is the answer, "all l
could possibly see was tall lady in white,
couldn't tell for the life Of me whether she
was young or old, dark or fair, and failed to
tell what the dress was made Of" Well,
since we cannot see what we came to see
we must feast our eyes on what We did not
come to see.
1.-THE crowd has blocked up the corridor
leading to the conservatory, the early birds
have blocked up the doorways, and short
people can only gaze up at sea of heads.
Such mixture Women are there with
babies in their arms, women with three or
four half grown children, women we'll dress
ed and women poorly dressed, and here and
there you see man ssndwiched in. DR..
Mary Walker is on hand, and gives every
one chance to admire her manly proper.
tions. A giddy young man, when the Ma
rine band plays lively piece, feels as if he
must wigge and shake himself all over
to let people know how fond he is of dane.
Ing.
1.-THE pushing, the elbowing, the beg par.
dons, &C., the black looks one woman knows
90 we'll how to bestow on another, makes it
all something to be remembered. Dispirited
and de8pairing with aching limbs, we make
our wey homeward, but Notwithstanding
all our trials we have something to look
back upon, for we have been to one of Mrs.
Cleveland's receptions"