The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-01-12
THE VICE PRESIDENCY.
MR.. MORTON PROPOSES TO FILL
THE OFFICE AccEPTAeLY.
IL IL Not Important Politically, but IL
MAY Be Made of Social Consequence.
Come Incidents at the New Years Re-
espticas Recorded.
fsn.clni correspondence.l

soms Incidents at the New Years he-
eeptices Recorded.
Especial corrcspoudencel
WASHINGTON. Jan. again tho peo-
pie Of the capital city and Of the country
have a vice president. They were re-
minded Of that on New Year'sday, when
for the first time in sixteen years the
wife Of the vice president stood in the
line OF ladies at the presidents right
hand on the occasion of the annual re-
ception at the White House, and for the
FIRST time in many years the vice preSi-
dent and his wife gave a grand reception
nj their own residence. The people are
likely 10 be often reminded OF the exist
ence Of the vice president and ais wiie,
FOR one easily perceives a determination,
a very praiseworthy one, on the part OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Morton 10 make all that
can be made IF their Office and station.
A singular ftality has attended the
Office Of vice president for a long time.
Mrs. Schuyler Colfax was the last wee
presidents wife who was able to take
her proper place In the social world;
She was a lady much admired here, and
from the day of Der debut IN Washing
ton society. New Years, 1869, till her
husbands retirement from Office, sh0
bore a prominent part The next three
vice presidents-Henry Wilson, William
"a. Wheeler and Chester A. Arthur
were widowers. Vice President Hen
bricks did not live long enough 10 en-
able his family to contribute much 10 the
eocial activity Of the capital. Mrs. Nor
ton comes. therefore, 20 fill an aching
woid. She brings great wealth, abun-
dant culture, long experience and rare
tact TO her task Of taking the social lead
hrship OF the new administration which
Secretary Whitney's wife bore IN the last
one.
On going from the White House to the
Morton mansion on New Years day !
could not help contrasting the two build
ings, 10 the formers disadvantage. 1t is
"a fact that private house in Washing
ton seems better adapted 10 social and
ceremonial events than the president s
house. in which the whole public should
take so much pride. There may be a,
little more room in the White House
than in the Morton mansion, but the lat
ter excels in beauty and convenience.
AT the White House an amusing incident
occurred Just as the annual reception
was at its height The diplomatic corps
was passing along in a brilliant line oil
gold, silver and gay colored trappings
and uniforms, greeting the president and
the ladies Of his court, when some one
in the blue parlof, where were congre-
gated the members of the cabinet and the
beauty and fashion Of the city, com
planned Of the temperature.
And what do you suppose then hap
pened? Postmaster General Wanamaker,
who is very jealous about proper ventila-
ton of rooms, called one Of the servants
OF the house, the veteran Pendell, and
Pendell presently appeared bearing I'm
his hands long pole with hook on one
end-such a pole as is used in some old
fashioned churches to pull the windows
down. That is what Pcndell had it for
but in order to get into the blue parlor
he was compelled TO drag the long stick
through the line Of diplomats and over
the heads of the ladies of the cabinet
and special guests in the rear Of the
president and his assistants. Count Arco
Valley, the German minister, was pass
ing Just then, and he looked up at the
pole and at Pendell with his one eye
glass in half surprised manner which
was very suggestive. 1t twas well he did
so. for at that moment Pendell turned
from the passageway to the blue room,
and the count came near having his sin
gle optic knocked from its roosting place
TO the floor.
In the Morton house there were two
entrances, conveniently arranged as to
the drawing rooms and the cloak rooms.
People could come in by one door and
go out the other. But at the White
House the arrangements in this respect
were most miserable. Only one door
was open. Through this people were
arriving constantly, SO, of course, II
could not be used as an exit. Shortly
after greeting the president, the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps had to take
their carriages and drive to the resi-
dence of Secretary Blaine, where they
were 10 partake Of tho annual diplo-
matte breakfast. But in order to leave
the building they found it necessary to
30 out through q window and walk
across a temporary bridge. Here they
emerged right in the thick Of crowd OF
grand army veterans who were coming
to pay their respects to the president.
The veterans had been standing for an
hour in the rain, and many fine costumes
were soiled, and many pretty tempers
temporarily ruined 10y the enforced con
tact
OF course the vice presidential recep-
ton was a great success. The diplomatic
people seemed particularly delighted
and, as is well known, they are inclined
20 be somewhat critical. They fingered
by the hour in the beautiful parlors
Mrs. Morton's experience eS wife of the
minister TO France was seen 10 stand heI
good service on this occasion. She not
only speaks French like a French wo-
man, but is thoroughly familiar with
those countless little things which make
up the sum Of perfect breeding and man
agement As one of the diplomats was
heard TO say on surveying the great din
ing room, with It's Louis XVI ceiling, il
fireplace and grand mantel Of the Renais-
sance, and It's sumptuous appointments
and collation., "Ah, this is like home
again" Ii will certainly be something
il the Mortons can satisfy our friend:
from across the sea that we rude western
ers do know something about society
after all.
But the MortOns want 10 do much
more. They want TO lift the vice presi
Dental Office up TO all the dignity OF
which it is capable. Il is rot much OF
al office anyway, considered as politi'
cal factor or from its influence upon leg
islation. Ii is an Office Of great POSSIBLE
ties and very small power. The only
authority the vice president can claim Is
that 81 ma kint, the DISTINGUISHED mem