The evening bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1887-1905, 1892-10-25

president-that the Wn.te 1Iouse should
be the social center of tie o.Iicial world
not merely of the Republican sphere
AT large DINERS it was the custom to
invite as many Democratic officials as
Republicans. The wives ard daughters
OF Democratic senator's and representa-
tlves were remembered in all cases
where invitations to the blue room
were EXTENDED. All thought of party
We're invariably put aside. and no one
set Of people had entree to the White
House to the exclusion of others.
Every one was received with the same
unvarylng welcome given to those who
came before and after. Private citizens
found there was room for them as well
as for politicians, oiiceholders and per-
sons OF rank. Indeed the hospitality of
the executive mansion was extended to
every one without regard to rank,
wealth or belief, political or private.
In coming to the White House the ex-
perience of Mrs. Harrison as a senator's
wife was valuable. She knew wha1
was expected of its occupants in the
social direction and signifed her APP
probation OF her position by giving a re.
ception before she had been in the
White House month During the first
winter. in addition to the. regular pro-
gram, President Harrison gave a dinner
to gentlemen. and Mrs. Mckee Cancelled
many of. her social obligations by
dance. This was not official, vet being
given by the presidents daughter in the
White House it added to the brilliancy
OF the season, which was otherwise
dlmmed by the sad occurrences in cabinet
families.
Mr.. Harrison's personality was in no
sense obstrusive. She had an innate
modesty about proclaiming her person
atty before strangers which might we'll
be emulated by many people holding far
less exalted positions before the world
and in society. This was exemplified on
the occasion of a visit made to one of
the large Washington stores, in the
window of which was displayed a
gorgeously painted coat of arms of the
Harrison family. Mrs. Harrison, after
requesting closer inspection of the fine
piece of work, casually asked the clerk
If he knew to whom it belonged and for
what purpose it was on exhibition.
Little dreaming who was his interloc-
utor, the man replied that he did not
know, but supposed it was in the hone
that some of the White House people
would desire to possess it. The natural
have been to have then said, II am Mrs.
Harrison" but the presidents wife hap
PLY proved the exception. and handing
the painting back to the clerk, with
thanks for his courtesy in the matter,
she quietly left the store without an
other word.
One peculiar development of Mrs.
Harrison's independence of character
was a dislike to be copied after or made
to set fashion in dress or manners in
spite of herself. If she got an idea that
women were wearing their hair in GER
tain way or draping their skirts after a
certain fashion just because she did it,
she would get provoked and change the
style of her hair or her skirts az Ortr.
There were no fashions set from the
White House while she was there.
1t is said that in 1859 hairdressing
in the east sent two
women to indianapolis to find out how
Mrs. Harrison and the ladies of the Har.
rison family dressed their hair, so as to
get up some new style to be, called the
"a la Harrison" They were baflied be-
cause Mrs. Harrison didn't seem to have
any particular style of dressing her
hair, but put 1t up in different ways, as
happened to strike her fancy, but never
in peculiar or an original fashion.
Mrs. Harrison was not fond of the
fuss and feathers of official life, but on
the other hand she never evaded the
duties imposed upon her by her hus.
bands position. She was an excellent
cook, and even while at the White
House personally supervised the domes.
tic arrangements, going to the length
of doing the marketing her
self, She also had immediate charge of
her grandchildren, the McKees
Mrs. Harrison was an excellent must
clan and performed very prettily on the
piano. She also painted we'll on china
and porcelain, and many of her friends
own and cherish specimens of the handi-
work of Mrs. Harrison. the gentle, re-
fined, amiable, intelligent and sterling
woman who has gone to her final re-
ward