Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-23

has not so Seucrdi Oil
observance elsewhere. There Is not only
the Presidents reception on New year
day, but receptions at the homes or the
cabinet officers and of the officers OF the
army and navy. It is as much a duty for
the officers of the army and navy to call
at the home of the general Of the army and
the senior officer of the navy as 1t is Tor
them to call at the White House.
During the last administration the recep-
ton Of the Vice President was also nota-
BILE affair. Singularly enough, 1t was the
first administration from the beginning or
Grants second term to the incoming OF the
Harrison administration In which there
was a social establishment Of the vice
President. During the sixteen years from
1873 to 1889 there was no Vice President
for ten years, and during the remainder OF
the time the Vice Presidency was filled by
men who had no wives. Only one OF the
Vice President from Schuyler Colfax to Lew
P Morton had wife. Three of them were
widowers-Wilson, Wheeler and Arthur.
Vice President Hendricks had a wife, but
he died in November, 1885, and he was
never in Washington as Vice PRESIDENT on
New Year day. Vice President Morton re-
vived the custom of a New Year day re-
ception at the Vice Presidents, and he
fxed regular hours for receiving the diplo-
matte corps, the army anu navy clC., just
as the President did. Mr.. Stevenson can
not afford an establishment like Mr.. Nor
toms, so he will not hold a formal reception
January ].
Wine at the White House.
There has always been wine at the White
House, although it has not been served at
the Presidents receptions for a number Of
years. When the receptions of the Presi-
dent were less crowded. refreshments were
v1nt
share his wlfe's intense prejudice against
liquor. Mr.. Arthur served wine at the
White House, and he had refreshments at
his crowded receptions. The custom Of
serving refreshments at these receptions
died with Mr.. Arthur. Mr.. Arthur always
took wine with his meals President Harri-
son took a drink when he wanted 1t, and
had wine served at his table when he gave
an official entertainment. But so strong q
prejudice lies in the minds Of the reformers
against the use of liquor by public men that
when Mrs Harrison was lying at the point
of death in the White House, her son-in-
law. Mr. Mckee. asked the family physician
not to make public the fact that she was
being kept alive by the administration Of
brandy. because, he said, II that fact was
published, the President and his family
would be grieved by constant letters from
cranks saying that Mrs. Harrison's death
was a dispensation Of Providence in punish
ment Of her people for having used brandy
OF course there will be no wine served at
the White House on New Year day. Pres
ident Cleveland has no prejudice against
wine or liquor; he uses both; but 1t would
cost an unreasonable sum to serve wine to
the enormous crowd which will fill the par
lors of the White House. There will be
opportunity for serving wine at the houses
of the cabinet people, and Of some other
public men and women who will receive on
New Year day. A reporter called on the
women of the cabinet recently to ask them
for their views on the subject of New Year
he nSa of
has been no meeting Of the cabinet women
to determine officially whether wine should
be served or not. Many Of the social OBJ
servances OF these women are the subject
Of conferences and concerted action. In
this matter each of them will follow the
dictates OF her own judgment; but 1t is
pretty safe to say that there will be no
serving of wine in cabinet circles on New
Year day. Only three of the women of
the Harrison cabinet served wine at the
New Year day receptions. Most Of the
serving wine at dinner, but they think that
1t should not be served Unfortunately at
a public reception.
Mrs. Carlisle's Firm Stand.
Mrs. Carlisle has been in Washington
SO many years that she speaks with greater
| authority than any other of the cabinet
people. She has always had a New Year
reception. and she is a firm believer in the
good old custom. now falling into disuse.
Il think" said Mrs. Carlisle. that 1t
is a good custom to keep New Year day,
| because it affords an opportunity for old
acQuaintances to meet. Besides, II the LIST
| Of January is set aside as a day for making
and receiving calls, young men who neglect
| that social duty at other seasons of the
| year. because perhaps they are too busy,
| will go to see their friends. l am very
| much opposed to serving wine, especially
on New Year day. and to young men. 1
! think that some good hot coffee some SUBJ
| stantial food to help them get through the
day and a cordial welcome are all that
should be offered to them-but particularly
| the cordial welcome"
| Mrs. Carlisle said that she realized the
fact that the opinion of women in promi-
nent place might have some moral influ-
ence, but she believed that the less said
ter. She is preparing to hold a reception
on the LIST of January. She will receive ut
home. as she has always done.
! The wife of the Postmaster General will
hold her first public reception on New Year
! day. She says that she will follow the
established custom so far as keeping open
house" and receiving all those who wish
to pay their respects to her is concerned,
general in other cities as 1t was" said Mrs.
| Bissell, but the reception of the President
has become matter of official CUSTOM and
| I do not see how 1t could be abolished, 1
| think that the hostess should use her own
| Judgment in regard to serving wine. / my
self think that 1t ought not to be served
at public receptions"
In Mr.. Herbert's Household.
Miss Herbert, the daughter of the Sec
| rotary Of the Navy, will not be at the head
! of her fathers establishment this winter
His married daughter, Mrs. Micou, whose
husband was recently appointed to the
position of chief clerk Of the Navy Depart
| ment will live with her father and pre-
side over his establishment. But Miss
| Herbert is more nearly associated with her
distinguished father in the public mind.
| So the question was asked Of her. She was
| just leaving her home, and she answered
| but briefly. She said: I'VE have made no
| preparations yet for New Year day, be-
| cause We are hardly settled In our new
| home. do not know what our arrange
| ments will be; but the serving Of wine is
something about which / always consult
| my father
| Mrs. Smith has been so much absorbed
in caring for her sick boy that she has
not had time to consider New Year matters.
| Her predecessor, Mrs Noble, used to say
that she had one quarrel with Mr.. Noble
| every year. 1t was over the question Of
Daniel Websters judgment in leaving the
house Of q friend, whom he had gone to
visit, because he found that his friend did
not serve wine. Mr.. Noble always held
that the friend should have consulted the
wishes Of a man of Mr. Webster's genius.
Mrs. Noble thought that Mr. Webster S
friend was entitled to his own opinions and
his own prejudices. Mrs. Noble never serv-