Los Angeles herald., 1892-11-30
A SAD SOCIAL SEASON.
THE DEATH OF MRS. HARRISON DE-
PRESSES WASHINGTON SOCIETY.

The Last Winter of the Harrison Admin
istration VIII BE a Very Quiet One.
"Reminiscences of Mrs. CIeycland's Gra-
cious Presence in the White House.
Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON. Nov. 14.-Washington is
socially dead. The shadow which settled
down upon the White House has not only
affected the immediate presidential family,
but has spread its dark folds over the en-
tire city. Bhe wife of the chief magistrate
of the nation is not alone the first lady in
the land, but is the acknowledged leader
of social Washington. 1t is she who takes
the initiative in everything, and her
first official reception in the executive
mansion marks the commencement of the
social season here, and her last reception
marks its end.
With Mrs. Hariison's death went all
hopes of the usual brilliant social season
of winter at the nations capital. Very
many big social events were down on the
card, but all have been abandoned. The
biggest events in Washington are natural
ly the White House receptions, and of
course the executive mansion will be dark
all this winter.
The receptions given by the ladies of the
cabinet come next in prominence, and some
OF these are even more elegant than the
entertainments given in the White House
Secretary and Mrs. Whitney during the
Cleveland administration, for instance,
gained the reputation of being the most
lavish entertainers that this city had ever
known. And, strangely enough, his sue
cessor of the navy, Tracy, and his charm
ing wife, until her tragic end, during the
present administration occupied the same
brilliant social position.
Mrs. Cleveland very quickly earned for
herself the reputation of a charming host
ess, having in her advantage both youth
and beauty. But the present administra-
tion of the White House was none the less
brilliant under the late Mrs. Harrison.
No visitor to Washington during the
past two administrations who was fortu-
nate enough to secure an invitation to one
of the brilliant gatherings in the executive
mansion has been foolish enough to decline
it. There it is that the stranger meets not
only the great men of our own land, but
the diplomats and foreign ambassadors
from almost every civilized land that the
sun shines upon. 1t was this foreign ele-
ment which lent brilliancy to these gather
ings for it has long been the custom for
all foreigners with official rank to come in
their uniforms and with their bright med
ais of honor pinned upon their breasts and
flashing back the rays from the hundred
lights which flooded the magnificent
salons of the White House.
Many queer things happen at these re-
ceptions. On one occasion little old
woman, shabbily dressed and leaning on a
stout oaken staff, presented herself with
fNtl ct, of anfN I
Saturday afternoon receptions. 1t is Gus
tomary on these occasions to permit the
strangers to shake the hand of the hostess
and Immediately pass on into the historic
old East room, whence they are quietly
ushered out into the ground again. But
the old woman wasn't satisfied with that,
and as one of the attaches quietly remon-
strated with her she raised her voice in ex-
postulation.
81 was coming here to have a good look
at Mrs. Cleveland" she said, "and won't
go out until . get it,
Mrs. Cleveland, whose kindness of heart
was equaled only by her tact and adroit-
ness, Immediately leaned forward and tap
ping the attendant ON the shoulder said,
Tell the old lady to go behind the receiv-
ing line" This was an honor which Mrs.
Cleveland afforded to very few of her par
ticular friends, and the old lady's gratifca-
tion could scarcely express itself in words.
There she stood for more than three
hours. Meanwhile the sun had set, and the
interior of the executive mansion had been
made brilliant with the glare of the cleo
trio lights. Still the human tide of visit
ors rolled in, while the old woman held
her place directly in the rear of Mrs. Cleve-
land. The latter had evidently forgotten
her strange protege, and when the recep-
ton ended she moved off to her chambers up
stairs. As she was doing so the old woman
came forward, and touching her hand rev.
erently said: 'Pretty lady, have lived all
my life in North Carolina, and never saw
grand lady before. The people down
our way regard you as great and good
woman, but l will 90 back and tell them
you are queen" And with that she hob
bled out without leaving any further trace
of her identity.
Mrs. Cleveland was always considerate
of elderly people, and particularly those
whose appearance indicated that they be-
longed to the poorer class of society. To
these she was always particularly agree
able, and would frequently cross the room
and single them out as the recipients of her
special attention.
In this respect the president was even
more extreme than his wife. The writer
during the four years of Mr.. Cleveland's S
administration was present at score or
more of the latter's public receptions, and
he never failed to notice the kindly consid-
Grafton which Mr. Cleveland invariably
showed to the "plain people," as President
Lincoln used to characterize them. Cleve-
land was brutally honest in everything
that he did and said, and it was this moral
quality which made him at times unpopu-
lar He had a supreme contempt for the
conventionalities of society, and he was
not easily impressed by outward show.
The well dressed, fashionable looking peo-
pie who presented themselves at his recep-
tions were treated with proper civility, but
nothing more. His brightest smile and his
warmest handshake were always reserved
for those who occupied different condition
in life.
When shabbily dressed person, whether
it were a maa or woman, came along in
line Cleveland would bend forward, and
extending his hand draw them to him.
The act was one calculated to give the Wis
itor the impression that the president was
genuinely sincere in his greeting as he
always was. If he showed disposition to
say something beyond the mere formal
courtesy of the moment, Cleveland would
motion the ushers, two of whom fanked
him on either side, to hold the crowd back
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