Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-12-06

year comes on February IL, and thus gives an
unusually short period of time in which to put
the events of the official program for the White
House. Mrs. Harrison is expected to return to
the city from indianapolis about Thursday Of
next week and will then, with the assistance OF
Col Ernst, arrange the dates for the events
The program will not differ materially from
those OF other years and will be varied only by
important passing occasions and happenings
that cannot be foreseen. 1t is altogether posi-
BILE that Mrs. Mckee will give another dancing
party, similar to the one given last year. and
that was greatly enjoyed by every one who par.
| ticipated in it,
THE REGULAR PROGRAM.
The regular program includes the three state
dinners, given to the members of the cabinet,
the Supreme Court and the diplomatic corps,
respectively. These are, like all dinners, very
formal in character, and the invitations for
them are issued several weeks in advance.
Etiquette does not permit one to refuse the
Presidents invitation to dine at the White
House, and only death can absolve the expected
guest from keeping his engagement.
The card receptions are given IN the evening
and are three in number for each season. The
guests are invited to meet the members of the
diplomatic corps. tn meet the officers of the
army and navy and TO meet the members of the
Senate and House of Representatives.
A fourth reception is given NJ the close of the
season. for which all the appointments are
and this is known as the public reception and
any one may so that night to call upon the
chief magistrate.
THE TOILETS WORN.
The President and Mrs Harrison assisted by
the Indies of the cabinet. stand in the blue
parlor and are in evening toilets. The guests
are expected &c present Themselves in full
dress The members of the diplomatic corps
wear their court uniforms, ri5ands and orders.
or the uniform of the regiment in which they
mold commissions abroad. and the officers of
the army aud navy are also i'll full dress uni
fcri1 on these occasions. The ladies who arc
prese nj wear evening toilets. The hours for
TIE Presidents receptions are from to IL.
After ii only those who are invited by Mrs.
Harrison to do so accompany the presidential
party upstairs: the others depart from the Ex-
ecutiye Mansion. No Refreshments are served
To tue hundreds OF people who attend these
card receptions at the White House. Mrs.
Hayes was the only woman i'll the White House
who ever served the guests OH reception nights
with collation.. And it is said to have been
very elaborate. too. but no wines or other in
oxicating drinks were offered.
MRS. HAERIsoN's SATURDAYS.
In addition TO these night parties the lady
OF the White House gives, during the season,
several Saturday afternoon leveeS from 3 to 5
o clock, for which no cards OF invitation are
issued. The state drawing rooms and the con-
servatory are thrown open, the rooms are
ilshtet. and decked with flowers and the Marine
Eand furnishes music. Several hundred peo-
pie sometimes so to the White House on an
to see the wife of the President. The
days are announced through the newspapers
he callers go III handsome carriage toilets or
street costumes, as the wraps are not laid aside
as they are at the evening card receptions.
THE OFFICIAL CIRCLE.
The families Of the Justices of the Supreme
Court hold receptions on Monday afternoons
after o'clock while the court il in session.
The wives Of Representatives in Congress re-
ceiye on Tuesdays through the session; the
cabinet hdies receive upon Wednesdays; the
wives of Senators have had THURSDAYS assigned
tnem: the families of the officers Of the army
and navy have taken Friday for their day at
home, and, as has been stated Saturday has
been set apart fer the levee of the lady of the
White House. The families of the foreign
ministers and the secretaries of legation do
not keep open house do the officials Of our
own government. When they entertain it is
ny card or by verbal invitation, and only those
hidden in one or the other way are expected to
attend Any one wishing to pay his respects to
a foreign minister or secretary Of legation can
do so by leaving card for him. As the repre-
sentatives of their soyereigns or governments
the Foreigners are always the guests Of honor
in official households.
REFRESHMENTS SERVED.
During the Official season it is customary for
the ladies of official households to serve tea,
coffee, waters and cake to callers and this con-
stitutes the formal reception. Some tables are
spread much more deliberately than others,
varying, IS Is everything. with the taste of the
hostess VI late years it il considered the
special province Of the ''tea.' to which guests
are invited, to offer salads, oysters and punch
at an afternoon levee. The casual caller does
not go to the houses Of the ladies Of the
supreme Court without any previous acquaint-
ance. Besides their friends. who make a large
company. few strangers outside of the officials
who make duty calls upon them visit the ladies
of the Supreme Court circle. The families of
the cabinet officers, the wife Of the Vice Presi-
dent and the wife of the Speaker of the House.
who receive calls upon Wednesdays attract
each week large concOurse of people. 1t is
probably because of the more frequent changes
in these positions that the crowd to visit their
homes is so great. The Justices of the Supreme
Court being appointed for life. their social
position in Washington is more like that of the
resident non-otticials.
YoU WILL MEET EVERYBODY
In going the rounds Of cabinet calls one is
liable to see everybody he knows, he will be in
PRODUCED to scores Of people he never did see
before and will see all the Distinguished tran
sients IN the city making the cabinet calls
The men wear street costumes and the ladies
should wear handsome walking dresses. Per-
sons transiently in the city and making the
cabinet or the senatorial calls. and not known
to the hostess In any way, should leave q card
unmarked by any address in this city, Much
time and strength has been expended by ladies
III official position in seeking to respond to
visits made by a visitor who was spending
few hours in the city PEASANT. 1t il perfectly
right and proper to make the call. but an adj
dressed card should not be left. The Thursday
receptions OF the wives of Senators rank next
to the cabinet receptions in their attractive
qualities for drawing large Attendance, espe-
cislly where the Senator lives in his own house
and is reputed wealthy, as many of them are
The ladies Of the cabinet and others in
official life who stay at home on their day in
this month do so informally, tina: is. without
offering refreshments. The ng-disputed
points OF precedence are settled among the
ladies Of official position in this way: Those of
the Senate and cabinet call upon the ladies of
the Supreme Court, and the cabinet ladies
make first visits upon the wives Of Senator's
The coming season promises to be one of the
most brilliant that the capital has seen for
years. 1t will be full of large events. or the
cabinet ladies there in the city Mrs Blaine.
Mrs. Window. Mrs. Noble. Mrs Miller and Mrs.
Risk. Mrs. Wanamaker may arrive from Phil
adelphia this week. Mrs. Morton will proba-
bly, not open the vice presidential mansion un-
til New Year time. The house of the Secretary
OF the Navy will not be open to the public this