Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-05-11
SOCIAL MATTERS.
Mrs. Harrison as Housekeeper at the
White House-Personal Notes.

Mrs. Mckee Is still in New York city. Since
returning from New York Mrs Harrison has
In the private portion of the house, and cool
mating covers the floors instead. The curtains
md hsnginss are down, and all the woolens
are packed away beyond The reach of the de-
sroying moth. Nothing would so greatly de-
light Mrs. Harrison's sense Of good housekeep-
ing as TO be able to personally supervise the
annual house-cleaning at the White House
A she is to hive there for the next four winters
she would like to give it the careful spring
attention her houses have always re-
ceived at her hands. Like Mrs. Grant,
Mrs. Harrison does not require the SER
vices OF a housekeeper in the White House
Mrs. Harrison has a very trusty German maid
that she brought with her from indianapolis
and with her assistance the housekeeping is
done very satisfactorily to all concerned. The
present White House steward is Hugo lehman,
German whom the President brought with
him from the hotel Richelieu in Chicago. He
Is IN every way a competent servant. Mr..
Phister, the florist, who has been in the house
since the Mrs Hayes time, is retained. Mrs.
Harrison has her own taste about the arrange
ment of flowers, and often designs the floral
pieces that are sent with her compliments. Such
was the case with the white fern yelled pillow
that was sent from the White House for the
funeral of Mr.. Justice Stanley Matthews, with
the inscription III purple. Say not good night,
but in some fairer cline bid me good
morning" words from Mrs. Barbauld, who
lady of the White House also designed the
slipper that she sent to Admiral and Mrs.
Porter on the evening of their golden wedding
celebration, and that was very much admired.
Still another domestic who has been in the
White House for several years is Dan, a colored
man who was in the service of both General
Arthur and President Cleveland. Mrs. Harri-
son thinks Dan is suitable enough for a bachelor
establishment, but is scarcely so where there
are ladies and children. Mrs. Harrison pre-
fers women servants abOut her Init has made
no changes so far. The greater portion of
Mrs. Harrison's time is still employed with The
miscellaneous correspondence that is poured in
upon her every day. Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. Lord
devote several hours every day to opening and
reading these unavailing missives. For the
wife of the President has absolutely nothing
whatever to do with the apportioning OF Of
fcers, the granting of pensions, or the estab
fishing of post-ofices. As for the progressive
charity chains, the number of such letters is
legion, and Mrs Harrison never hesitates to
b-eak the sequence. If she responded ever so
slightly to half the calls made upon her for di-
rect financial bounties the lady of the White
House would be hopelessIy bankrupt within
month.
The Chief Justice and his family expect to
move into the Thomas circle house in July.
Miss Grace Fuller will soon join her sister,
Miss Maud IN Chicago, where they Will stay
with Mr. and Mrs. Matt Aubrey, jr.. their re-
Gently welded sister, Pauline. On his return
from his visit to the southern court circuit the
Chief Justice will visit Chicago. He will not
open his residence there, but will offer it for
safe. Miss Mildred the fourth daughter of the
house u Fuller. graduates at Wells college
neA. month. and will come on here imme-
dlatel! aIterward to spend the summer with
her mother and the younger children. With
the exception Of short trips out of town the
family has made no plans for the warm
weather but to spend it in the Thomas circle
house, and June in the Mt. Pleasant one.
A series of Wednesday afternoon teas have
been inaugurated at the Country club for this
month. The tea and other light refreshments
are served upon the lawn, and Me events prom
lse to be occasions of pleasant social gather
ings. Some Of those who enjoyed the sylvan
scene this week were Mr.. and Mrs. Aulick Pal
mer, Admiral and Mrs. Crosby, Col. and Mrs.
John Hay. Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Pellew, Gen.
and Mrs. Bachelor, Mrs. Hearst and others.
Senator and Mrs. John Sherman and Miss
Mary Sherman have arrived in London; also,
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Thomas the former on his
way to Stockholm. where he is accredited min
ister.
Senator and Mrs. Cameron have arrived on
the other side and will spend the summer
driving through the green fields of England in
a coach.
A gathering of congenial people we're pleas
antly entertained BY Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Nordhoff last evening. the feature of the occa-
sion being a discourse by Mr.. Henry like on
the expression of human emotions by music.
with illustrative accomplishments on the piano
by the speaker. Among those present were
Mr.. and Mrs. Pellew, Mr.. and Mrs. S. VI. Bryan,
Mr.. and Mrs. Lewis Clephane, 8Ir. and Mrs. w.
i. Hlldrup, Mr.. and Mrs. A. Pollok, Mr..
Horatio King, Mrs. Somers, Mrs. and Miss
kauffmann. Miss Window. Miss Edes. DR.. Bur-
nett, DR.. and Mrs. Pope. Mr.. Mutsu. tine Jana
nese minister; Mr. and Miss Spoford, Mfe Z. 3.
Wright and Mr.. II. J.. Revnolf
Mrs Burnett sails for Europe from New York
to-day by the French steamer. She was accom-
panied to New York by her two sons, one of
whom goes abroad with her while the other re-
turns here to remain with the father. DIR. Bur-
nett expects to JOIN Mrs. Burnett in Europe in
July and to return With her later in the season.
Mr.. Collins C. Patterson has gone to Atlantic
City and other neighboring watering places for
an extended stay. He is now convalescent
from his recent illness.
Mrs. r. C. Getchell, who has been visiting her
parents, Gen. and Mrs. Birney, left yesterday
Tor Chattanooga Tenn, to spend a few weeks
on Lookout mountain.
Mr.. and Mrs. ]. L. Mcfarland. accompanied
br their son. Mr.. c. Louis Mcfarland will sail
for Europe on the 29th inst
Mr.. and Mrs w. T. Hildrup expect TO leave
their residence on Iowa circle on Monday, to
go to their summer residence in the Delaware
Water Gap, where they will remain until early
autumn.
Mr.. Richard Sylvester, jr., chief clerk of the
police department., has returned with his wife
and child from st. Louis, where they were
visiting Mrs. Sylvesters parents. Mrs. Sylves-
Ter, who was sick, is much improved in health.
Miss Florence Briggs, Of Richmond, Va, is
visiting her sister, Mrs. E. c. Roper, of 1924
Q street.
The usual rain storm that nine times out of
ten comes when the students of the National
Deaf Mute college have a hop was right on
hand last night as an accompaniment to the
presentation ball given by the undergraduates
to the class OF 'S9. Yet enough people braved
the first furry Of wind and rain to I'LL the hall
comfortably and TO contribute to the pleasure
Of one Of the most enjoyable hops ever given
at Kendall Green. There were, perhaps over
nifty couples, and the dancing was kept up until
nearly O'Clock, broken at midnight by a de-
hghtful intermission, during which the guests
hled through the moonlight from the
gymnasium TO the dining room, and
there were refreshed. Among those
present were Misses Marguerite Bassett,
Harper, Banks, Martha Stockett, Acker, HALL
ellis, Kendrick, Z. Bassett Rne, Gallaudett,
Rudd, Mcpherson, Price, King; Messrs. Leh-
man, Long, Doyle, Wyte, z. B. Osborne.
Charles, Burns, Gallaudett, Greenwell, Van
Allen, Mari, Harah, Dennison, King. Lyon,
Hemstreet, James, Morsell, Schwirtz The
committees were as follows: Arrangements-O
u. Regensburg, 80, chairman; H. l. Tracy, 80:
W. W. Beadell, 81; w. ID. Himrod, '9i: p.
LANCE, 90; G. T. Sanders, '92; W. l. Tilton. '93.
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