Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-01-08
A CHARM DlSPELLED.
One Taste Of a Washington Recep-
ticn Is Enough.
Gay Khirl Of Sociely Hard Task for Pres
dent and Mrs. Cleveland.

WASUISGTON, Jan. - s'pSei"i'}
&c are now in the very midst of the gay
Nhirl CT society Every day brings its round
of receptions and teas. The ladies OF the
cabinet are in their glory, for this is the sea-
ron Of the year in which the wife OF the
cabinet officer finds herself of some account
in the world. For a time she has something
to do besides dancing attendance upon her
liege, humoring his whims and doing her
best to keep his secrets. After long period
Of self abnegation, of fearing to say word
lest it be inferred she is voicing her hus-
bands and not her own opinions, it may be
easily imagined that the cabinet woman
enjoys this opportunity to do business fora
time ION her own hook" The Wednesday
afternoon receptions at the cabinet houses
are among the most important events OF
the social season They were well attended
last Wednesday, and the indications are for
a greater rush on future occasions.
One of the charms of these affairs to
many people is their lack of eXclusiveness.
They are open to all corners. The most I'M
important stranger may call on the grand
ladies Of the cabinet, leave her card, taste
the punch, eat Il sandwich, talk about the
weather with the smiling ladies to whom
she is introduced, study characters and COS
TUNES and have u real good time. More
over, she may, by the simple act of leaving
her card. receive an invitation to some more
exclusive social events at the cabinet houses
later in the season. Thus it is seen how
easy it is to get into society in Washington
into official society. All you have to do
is to approach the open door and walk in.
1t is not even necessary to knock.
Insincerc Small Talk.
Tho nbapcac ara that if Won npn man
you will enjoy your first reception very
much and vote yourself lucky dog be-
cause your lines have fallen in such pleas
ant places. You will resolve to attend all
these functions you can find time to get to.
But on your second visit to the buzzing,
insincere, small talk:sh, dress parade af-
fair You will wonder what you are doing
there The charm of novelty so quickly
wears off that three or four of these affairs
satisfy you, and you do not go any more.
Other men have been similarly affected,
and consequently there is a great scarcity
of men at the afternoon social functions in
Washington. Even the idle army and navy
officers and the still more indolent men,
bers of the diplomatic corps prefer their
clubs to the receptions. Most of the men
one finds at afternoon receptions are either
very young men or very old men. If the
are between young and old, the chances are
they are newcomers in Washington, getting
their first taste of the stupidity and vanity
Of 'reccptou," and sure to disc 9pear aft
er few more trials.
But the women! They are in their glory.
This is IL halcyon period for the fair sex of
the national capital. They run and troJ
around to their hearts content and in
about every other hou IN town the serv-
ants reign supreme, while any shortcom-
ings in the domestic management are OK
planned in this way: WELL had to go to
Mrs Secretary Blanks reception, and cook
didn't know any better" The women dote
on this business of Cabling at each other
for /. few moments i'll one drawing room,
taking taste of tea or ice and then slip
ping away to some other house where the
same scenes are being enacted. Proud is
the woman who can boast when nightfali
comes and she reaches home. tired but
happy, that she has made A. calls during
tic day.
They Had Refreshments.
Notwithstanding all the talk to the con
trary, the cabinet ladies did serve refresh
ments at their first afternoon and doubt
.ess will continue to do so. For several
weeks there has been an animated discus
SIGN in cabinet circles of the great problem
whether II collation. should be served or
not. 1t was long ago decided that the re-
freshments this year should be of the sim
plest sort and as inexpensive as possible
no wine, no costly punches, 10 terrapin, no
pate de tois gras sandwiches, not even chick
en-. but the simplest of viands and most
harmless of beverages
Not satisfied with this effort at reform,
some of the cabinet ladies wanted to go to
the extreme OF serving nothing at all. But
after weeks of discussion it has been decd-
ed this is too radical step to take at the
beginning of the first social season of new
administration. 1t would create too much
talk. Besides-and this was a weighty rea-
son-if there were no refreshments the few
and therefore precious men who honor these
occasions with their presence would not at
tend, and it would never do to drive all the
men away just about two-thirds of the
men who mingle with the hordes of women
at these receptions do so because they get
something nice to eat and drink there. For
the sake of their outlets they are willing to
submit their ears to bombardment.
A Herculean Task.
President and Mrs Cleveland have made
a start at che of the biggest tasks which
fail to their lot. 1t is that of dining all the
members of the cabinet, supreme court,
the senate and the house and their wives
If you don't think this is a big job, pick
out about GOO of your friends and start out
to dine them all in dining room which
accommodates only about 80 people at Il
sitting President Cleveland does not like
the job ut ALL He is fond enough of hav-
ing people at dinner, but he wants them to
be people with whom he is specially friend
ly. These state dinners are rather solemn
affairs
Great care has to be taken in the seating
of the guests, so that men who have called
each other liars and horse thieves ON the
floor of the senate or house shall not be ell.
bow neighbors at the presidents table. The
conversation is also stiff and formal and ex
ceedingly uninteresting. People are afraid
to say much, and politics of course is barred
for the guests are of all political parties.
As most of them don't know1anything but
politics, and not very much of that, the eff
tort to keep UP conversation is sometimes
painful.
II President Cleveland could escape this
hitr taSk with honor ha xyould la oply tim