Waco evening news. (Waco, Tex.) 1888-1889, 1889-02-06
EXECUTIVE EpICURES.
eoMEThlNo ABOUT THE SWELL
DINNERS At WARRINGTON.

President Buchanan Tho Colonel Il Ex.
aspsrated by the Innovation -European
Ministers Who spiurged.
Il was at the time Of Mr.. Buchanans
administration that the most marked
change In dinner giving commenced. A
new mode OF serving dinners came In,
more expensive, Of course, for Il necessi-
tated additional servants and other nuxil-
iaries. Gautier had opened large con-
dictionary and restaurant, and had, with
Wormley, a monopoly Of serving swell
dinners. Some Of tho more old fashioned
In social life regarded his mode an in
novation and refused to acknowledge its
superiority. :,
The most marked difference consisted
In reforming the entrees and the wines,
etc., served with each. He Il was who,
In place Of the Sauterne or wine OF that
character, served with the raw oysters,
with which all dinners commenced, fur
nished a frozen punch called Arabian
punch. It was white and frozen to the
consistency of cream. Anamusing Incl
dent Of this innovation occurred at a din
ner given by Marshal Hoover. Among
the guests was Col. Sam Stambaugh, of
Pennsylvania, very noted political
leader In that day and friend Of Mr..
Buchanan.
SAD BLOW AT PUNCH.
The colonel was late, and he arrived
after the guests had finished oysters and
punch, and were on the SOUP He made
his apology and took his seat. His oys-
ters and punch awaited him. and con-
versing with his neighbor, he commenced
spreading the punch over his oysters.
It was observed, Of course, and the
gentleman next him snid:-"Colonei. ex.
cuse me, but that Is punch"
1.-THE - it isl" said the colonel; 81!
thought 1t was horse radish."
The table was in q roar, and the colo
mel, recognized authority in such mat
tiers, denounced this new style and
pleaded in favor of the old fashion, and
gave dinner q few evenings after, which
| was served in the old style. 1t made no
impression on the new style, however,
which continued to he the rage, increas.
ing in variety and expense.
The colonies experience of tho new
| order that evening did not end with the
punch. With the dessert was served
what was then entirely new-biscuit
glace in different colors and in paper
cases. He looked at the one placed be-
fore him and said to his neighbor, in tones
Of disgust audible to the whole table:
Shaving soap. by
Fashion, more powerful than any OPP
position, was on the side of Gautier &
Wormley, and the old style gradually
was wiped out. The dinners at the ex-
ecutive mansion were more lavish under
Mr.. Buchanan's administration. There
was a very perceptible change in mode
and expensiveness, and of course It pre-
vailed in the private dinners.
Slidell and Benjamin gave expensive
dinners, and one Of your representatives
at that time, Gen. Sickles, occupied q
fine house on Lafayette square and gave
most elaborate dinners and suppers. He
lived most expensively, entertained lib.
orally, and from one Of these dinners Of
| day before the fatal rencontre with Bar
ton Key, which occurred on Sunday, he
was called to learn, as was testified to at
| the trial, the particulars of the affair
which led to the killing Of Key.
Senator William N. Gwin represented
California, and occupied the large man.
sion on l street, near Nineteenth, where
his dinners and entertainments were no
table. Mrs. Gwin's fancy ball furnished
| as much talk and exhausted Us much
| preparation, in the costumes worn, rs
the great ball of the vanderbilts year
or two ago. It was very fine affair.
| GORGEOUS FOREIGN rETEs.
There was q good deal Of the swell
| attributes in the entertainments of that
period which might be attributed to the
example set at the White House. There
| we're several distinguished foreign Wis
itors during the administration, and
they were entertained with lavish and
elegant hospitality, and the example of
the president was followed.
Tho English minister at about that
time, Lord Napier. entertained fire.
quently and with great elegance. He
was popular beyond any Of his prede.
cessors. was very general in his invita-
tons, and mixed good deal with the
people Of Washington, attending stag
parties, then prevalent in tho club, con-
gressional and official life of Washing.
ton. Before his return to England bali
was given to him and Lady Napier by
senators and members of congress, off,
Gals and citizens. and very handsome
affair it was.
The foreign legations have always ex-
| arcised very potent influence in WASH
enjoyed a position that entitled them to
every social attention. The influence Of
wealth had, up to the close of Mr.. Polk's
administration, made but little impress
sion. The old families who. with the
army and navy and officials, made up
the social life OF Washington, were as
select as McAllister's 900
There was but little wealth among
them; competence and comfort were
about the standard reached at that time.
| A few years changed It all, The inrOad
OF wealth drove out the old substantial
style, and the new regime brought new
modes and larger expenditures.
Each season newer styles; each season
more expense and, of course, more ele.
gance. The cost of dinners and parties
swelled into thousands, where hundreds
were formerly expended This increase
OF entertainment and the general invita-
tions extended to official receptions
brought to the city class Of people,
male and female, who, without the So
cial recognition at their homes emitting
them to the entrce, forced themselves
into tx,,~fo In,