The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-02
COSTLY GOWNS AND JEWELS
Mrs. Cleveland's First Public Ap-
pearance for Months.
A Great Variety of Refreshments Served
atPrivate HOuses-EggnOg, Punches
and straight Stuff" Galore.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.

to-day, and, In the language or the society
reporter, it was a gorgeous and elegant
function" None of the sons daughters
of Democratic Simplicity" Jefferson's
bosom friend, was there They were ban
ished to the wilds of the South during
Cleveand's first administration. Once since
they ventured from their seclusion, but re-
tired in dismay when the President bid for
admission into the -Four Hundred by ap
pointing Dude Van Allen to Office Another
thing noticeable for it's absence from the
throng at the White House to-day was any
trace of the trade depression that over
hangs the country No sign Of tagging IN
dustries or idle and starving toilers could
be seen among the bewildering mass of silk
bedecked and jeweled women or costly
dressed men who passed in and out of the
executive mansion from II a. m. to p. m.
to-day. Washington is not the place to see
evidences of tariff tinkering. Most of its
people, in a literal sense, neither spin nor
toll. Some have fortunes invested in Uncle
Sans bonds; others own houses that bring
in large rents, and still others are fed from
the public crib. Want may stalk naked
through the cities and towns where indus
tries have prospered, but it is never seen
here except when office seeker tarries
too long for the size Of his purse or
spendthrift government employe suddenly
loses his place While employers are striv-
ing to keep their heads above water by
asking their men to accept reductions in
wages varying from to 20 per cent, those
who draw salaries from Uncle Sam go mer-
rily along knowing full we'll that, no mat
ter how hard the times, there will be no
reduction in what they receive. Though
loud in professions of reform and retrench-
ment Democracy never retrenches as far
as itself is concerned. 1t is in politics
for spoils.
FEW DO NOT RECEIVE.
There is no place in this country where
the new year is ushered in with so much
celebration and pomp as at the Nations
capital The gait is set by the occupants
of the White House, and in some sections
of the city and ut some hours of the day or
night it becomes highly liyely--NeU. Years
day is not only celebrated more generally
in Washington than at any other city in
the country, but in different way. Every
body with any pretensions to social stand
ing and this is essentially a social mart.
receives or makes calls, and contributes to
the merriment of the occasion in every
other direction. All make business of
their work in society. Great preparations
are made by the ladies for receiving, and
the men who make the rounds of calls have
a list and enter upon their fun with q vim
worthy of a business calling. 1t is no slip
sbod thing; it is a systematic and earnest
work.
More than a page Of fine type was re-
quired for the newspapers in Washington
to make the announcements of the women
who would receive to-day, while less than
column told of those who would not re-
ceive. 1t is the custom for all who have
been receiving on New Years day in years
past to announce that they will not receive
if they do not intend to do so. Then they
who do not receive hang on the entrances
to their houses little baskets, where their
friends out calling may drop their cards.
Where no card-basket appeared it was the
proper thing TO ring and enter, for the lady
of the house was receiving.
Young and old men go calling here. in
| groups or singly. If there are three or more
friends they generally get a carriage and
accommodate one another by an interchange
| or compliments to personal friends There
| Is nothing different from the manner of re-
ceiving here from that in Eastern and West
| ern cities but greater preparations are
made in the way of refreshments To-day
| was not cold enough for Washington
grog' not toddy or applejack, but egg
| nog. rum, whisky and claret punches were
served with free hands, and occa sionaIIy a
bottle OF the straight stuff was handed
| out 10 a weary looking caller A new grade
| OF punch was introduced at a number of
| houses, made of whisky or rum 1t was
| made by simply pouring quantity Of rum
or whisky over a block OF ice in a punch
| bowl, and adding some lemons and sugar
| If rum was used the sugar was sparing
and the quantity of lemons increased. If
| whisky was the basis, it was the reverse
with sugar and lemons, and, in some in
| stances, nickers worth of cochineal is
added to give It the color and flavor of cla-
rat nf
| and will warm up the cockleburs of the
| stomach in great haste. The ladies here
served to-day, besides eggnog and punches,
coffee, chocolate, ices, salads, croquettes,
| hot oysters, cold meats, at a few places
| terrapin, and the other ct ceteras of the Gus
| tomary reception luncheon. The principal
/ refreshment, however, was of the LIQUID or
| der. And the stronger it was made the
longer did the callers linger. There was not
| man calling in Washington while under the
| influence of refreshments. If he is overcome
| he goes home TO rest.
MIDNIGHT CALLS.
The feature of social affairs in Washing
ton which strikes a Westerner especially
is the lateness of the hour when men cease
| TO pay their respects. Calling begins at
the private residences when the public re-
ception closes at the White House. at
o'clock. and there is no let-up till the lights
in the windows are out. They call here till
coupeS bustling around in the fashionable
portions of the city when the midnight hour
strikes. Callers never hesitate 70 ring and
leave their cards so long there is q light
in the house. Even after the call receivers
have retired 1t frequntly occurs that q car
I riage full of celebrators served by the
butler in the hallway, and on 20 the happy
visitors. looking for another light i'm the
window
All OF the hotels had special dinners this
afternoon And every boarier at a hotel
or boarding house received at his or her
room this morning a platter and a few
glasses of eggnog or punch. with the com
plimentS OF the landlord. sir or the land
lady, IL you please" Every bar had its
great bowls of eggrog punch or apple
jack. ''and you help yourself, with the
compliments OF the house" II was n pitv
that this was not crisp. cold day with
a heap OF snow and sharp atmosphere
Such surroundings make the timer over
coat" more grateful.
loflnl-. auH and jamming reception
/ at the White House has been written
threadbare. There is great long line OF
carriages and persons afoot, who wait and
wait and shiver TIL finally they get inside
the executive mansion, are hustled past the
President and his wife and receive a cold
and formal "how'dye;" then they are
4 led nd ero. dtot tlxr