The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-01-03

Sht'toIlp1i4 AeeePWpNs OF A4ate
Years
l,oDsl Rqa N os4epqo Timel
This New Years day in Washington
was unlike any other New Years
day iRthe nations capital in the last
seventy years. For the first time in
seven decadeS there was no official
RECEPTION, The white house doora for
the first time in seventy years were
closed 70 the public, Death SO recently
passed through the portals that the fra
GRANGE Of q gracious life gone out still
Fingers theirs, and tile berett are to be
left alone a little longer with their
ipemories. n
lt was long time ago that presi,
dents began holding drawing rooms
on eY Years day They were called
drawing rooms" at first, 'loyees" q
llltle later, and are now styled "Fecep'
tioRs, The very first New Years re-
ception ever held in Washington was
on January ], 1901, when the uncom'
) plsted white house was thrown open TO
the public, and President and Mrs,
John Adams with quaint pomp and
ceremony received the 'curtsies' Of the
cutiopspeople,
1twas In 1879 that the now famous
Marine band played for the first time
inithe white house, and It was on New
YEARS. day, IN 1924, while Monroe was
yet president, the white house was again
opened Tor a New Years leyee, since
which time its doors have never been
closed that day, or, as would be the case
inthls instance, the day following, un-
tilnpw. rs
ADVERTISEMENTS,
Nav Years receptions at the white
house do not include refreshments,
either liquid or solid, Only one Presi-
dent ever attempted wholesale feed"
New Years day, and that was Andrew
Jackson, When "0ld. Hickory came
into power he inaugurated u now style
81 entertRinment and served "hand-me.
down. lpncheons at his public recep-
tions A warm friend, Of his, farmer
up in jersey, once sent him asplens
did cheese Of mammoth Dimensions.
ssOld Hickory conceived the brilliant
idea OF treating his friends to this de-
lipious tidbit, So New Years day this
cheese was ordered cut into "hunks" Of
aquartor otaapound each aud served
along with other edibles 10 the people
who thronged the white house at the
drawing room Haltthe cheese thus
served was thrown upon the floor by
thepeople who were abusing while en-
jpytng The Residents hospitality, and
tFampied into the carpets until tho
odor became almost unbearable. The
carpets were ruined and had to be re-
y placed. AS II requires 5l5 yards to
carpet the east room alone and the
carpet has to be especially woven for
the purpose, II will be seen that Mr..
Jacltson's receptions were expensive
liiSuries. When Mr.. Van Buren, en-
tered the white house he very wisely
discontinued the feeding" process,
and has never eince been resumed.
Another peculiar feature Of those
long.ago, New Years receptions at the
white house was furnished by the
society ladies. They wore on that day
torthe first time their new winter bon.
au .asas. 1sy utt a,,. al"ays
~ Sy sssfi ITLT,s ss a'o.e, s a...
woman OF the present day being re.
dnced TO one suit OF winter "togs,"
which she displays at the New Years
receptions at the white housed
PRESIDENTS OFFICIAL RECEPTIONS.
The custom Of keeping "open house"
a 4 a
s.ts l;s,,s. 4, ..;,,ata ha..a. LA !.
s1se = .Ns ~, t !, ,,s =, O1 ~, = .
az much part oil ot1clal lie in WASH
lngton az the inaugural ceremonies or
thes election OF speaker. me fecep.
ton at the executive mansion begins
about II o'clock q: m. AT the vice
ptesident,s callers begin to arrive at u,
o. directly after leaving the white
house, and the secretary OF state and
other cabinet officials are ready to re-
celxelabout ! o'clock.
The receiving party at the white
house consists otthe President and hie
vie, Y he have one, and the wives OF
thecahinet officials These constitute
the line. Behind the receiving par.
" there Is always q perfect crush OF
elegantly attired ladies and aprink-'
ling q gentlemen who are personally
ihyited 70 assist "behlnd tho line"
After the Vice PreSidont and cabinet
officials nave paid their respects to the
Ptesident and his party, the secretary
otatate takes MS station at the Fresi-
dents lett hand and IN turn presents
each member Of the corps diplomat
iqne; The foreign legations come hrst
on the official programme after the
cabinet. Then IN turn comes the jus.