The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1893-02-11
THE CUP THAT CHEERS.
It's Not Popular In Washington's
Official Circles.
President Harrison Never Served Wine st
His Receptions-Attornoy General Mil
lcr's Famous "Indianapolis Punch
"A Temperate City.
Especial Washington letter.

lSpec1al washington Letter.l
During the first session Of the present
congress the country was surprised and
aroused by the charge, openly made by
Mr.. Watson, of Georgia, that member
of the house Of representatives had
been in an intoxicated condition while
making a speech upon the floor Of the
house The charge was investigated
by committee composed of members
of the house, and, after taking volumi-
nous testimony, twas decided that the
charge was without foundation. Never
theless, the impression prevails
throughout the country that there is
great deal of social tippling done in
Washington; and there is something of
truth as well as exaggeration in that
impression.
1t is true that it is customary in So
ciety here, as it is in the social circles of
other cities, to have wine at banquets
und receptions; but tits not true that
this custom is always observed in Off
cial circles.
1t is we'll known that the present adj
ministration is dominated by the in
fuence of a home-loving, God-fearing,
temperate man. The views of Mrs.
Harrison on the subject of temperance
were of such a pronounced character
that from the moment of her advent
into the white house all alcoholic
liquors were banished. However, at
state dinners, in obedience to the GUS
tom OF century, wines have been
served; but the guests, knowing the
sentiments of their host and hostess,
touched them very sparingly. On the
presidents private table wine is never
served; indeed so rigid is the rule in
this respect that the use of liquor is
never allowed in the preparation of a
dish
Mrs. Morton, the wife Of the vice
president, never has served anything in
the nature of an intoxicant at her
Wednesday afternoon receptions. For
those who do not care for hot tea and
chocolate there is always prepared a
large bowl Of cafe frappe. At her even
ing card receptions, however, when the
company is smaller than when the gen
eral public is admitted, as is the case
on Wednesdays, a bowl of punch is
placed at one side of the square en-
trance hall. Mrs. Morton is an alb.
stemious woman, and, while declining
to prescribe any set course of action
for others, is personally opposed to the
indiscriminate serving of punch at
afternoon receptions, or indulging in
wines at luncheons and dinners.
| Postmaster General and Mrs. Wana-
maker have found an agreeable substi-
tute for punch in fragrant compound
of orangeade and fresh Strawberries.
They have the courage of their own
convictions in the matter of serving
liquor in any form, even at their cabi-
net dinners, where nothing stronger
than Apollinaris water is allowed.
Attorney General and Mrs. Miller
have also made a departure from the
usual order of things by introducing,
instead of punch, compound for which
they alone have the recipe. Although
frequently importuned to impart the
secret. they laughingly refuse, avowing
that none but themselves can properly
brew indianapolis punch" in which
raspberry vinegar and lemon juice pre-.
dominate.
Speaker Crisp and ex-Speaker Reed
arc abstemious men, and their families
are like unto them in this regard. Sec
retary John Foster, of the department
OF state, and Secretary Charles Foster,