Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-04-16
JUST like A WOMAN.
MRS OLEvELAED'S NICE RECEPTIONS IN THE
BLUE ROOM.
The First Lady In the Land and Her Guests.
Her Unaffected Manner and bow She Is
Gowned a: Prsssnt-Sensibls
Sons of Noted Fathers.
s,,,-,,l corr,,nona.ue< or the RsCistsr.

WASHINGTON, April 15.-Mrs. Oi6Ve-
land gives two receptions each week In
the blue room of the executive mansion,
and very popular receptions they are.
They are not public levees, and in order
TO be admitted one must have an invita-
ton. One of the peculiarities OF Wash
ington social life is that here people
openly asks for cards Of invitation, and
four-dfths OF the ladies who attend Mrs.
CIeveland's receptions have sought and
in many cases begged for the little cards
which alone gives entree. Every week
hundreds and thousands OF applications
for audience are denied. Mrs. Cleveland
rightly assumes that she is not required
by her position to submit TO the insdec-
ton of mere curiosity seekers. At least
she is not required to do so at This time.
Naturally there are people who do not
approve Mrs Cleveland's present policy.
They say she is the wife OF the Tesl-
dent, and it is as much her duty to see
all callers as 1t is her husbands. These
are the same sort of people who goes to
the White house with certain sense OF
proprietorship. Because IL Is pubic
property they cannot see why every
room In the house is not thrown open
for their inspection. They would like
particularly to enter Mr.. Cleveland's
private apartments, to 60 into tie
kitchen, the linen press and to be per-
mitted to pluck flowers in tho conserva-
tory.
A few days ago overheard a woman
expostulating with an usher because he
would not admit her to the blue room
and to the main corridor CT the house
while Mrs. Cleveland was holding one OF
her receptions. In vain did the usher
explain that his orders were imperative,
and finally he was compelled to say that
Mrs. Cleveland was entitled to some
rights of privacy in her own house.
"Her own house indeed!" exclaimed
the woman, with a toss of her head.
"Perhaps Mrs. Cleveland thinks she
owns the place just because her husband
| has been elected President The people
of the United States own this house, sir,
and I'd like to know by what right the
people are denied admittance to the par
lors! It's perfect shame?
Many such unreasonable women go to
the White House in the course OF a
week. They do not go into the private
rooms, or the conservatory, or the
kitchen, but they do manage to make
moro or less miserable the lives of the
poor ushers. The people who visit the
| executive mansion have to be constantly
watched Oh account Of their craze for
souvenirs or relics. Women carry scis-
sors with them in order to snip piece
out of q curtain II they get chance.
Once woman was seen cutting bit, OF
ribbon from Mrs. Cleveland's gown.
When detected she tried to pass the
matter off as a joke, but quickly disap-
| peared.
Some Of these people manage to get In
vitations to Mrs. Cleveland's receptions.
In the blue room they distinguish them
selves by standing as close to Mrs. Cleve-
land as they possibly can, staring at her
and listening to every word she utters.
They get In the way OF new arrivals, and
by their piggish manners make them
selves genarally disagreeable. At rirSs
Mrs. Cleveland tried to manage her lit
Tile receptions alone, but she soon
found it necessary to call in the assis-
lance OF one Of the White House staff.
! Now Usher Dubois stands near her con-
stantly, presents the ladies who are not
personally known to the hostess, and in
his quiet way contrives to prevent too
much crowding about her. 1t is won
derful what authority man is able to
exercise over lot of women, Darticu-
larly when he is the only man in sight
and an official who knows his business.