The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-17

expected to write on a card their requests for
interviews II they wished them. Our hostess
amiably granted these petitions and chatted
with us in sets Of six or eight at a time. Each
parlor would have party and every party a
parlor' Ihe ceremony was quite simple and
unostentatious. Mrs. Cleveland would come
forward with a little rush, her skirts breezy
about her, and giving her n somewhat too cere
monious air although the hostess herself was
all graciousness and smiling case.
Looking into the diary kept by a daring
young person who was lin the swim" here n
few winters ago, | found this written: "The
Secretary OF state and Mrs EndCott gave
Mrs, Cleveland reception tonight. wasn't in
yitGd, nor were lot OF nice people whom know
so fancy 1t is to be merely official" "Oficial"
isn't the top crust, nor yet the plums beneath
in the opinion OF some of the "smart set" in
Washington. Mrs. Cleveland used to be at
nome nnoflcially on Tuesday mornings, to her
more intimate friends, for an hour or SO and
these were the most delightful days. On one
such occasion, we were among the last to leave
the Red Room. Passing out to the hallway
we were getting on our outdoor wraps when
an usher was sent to detain us, and IN u
moment Mrs. Cleveland ran out from the parlor
Putting out her hand with pretty coaXing
manner she said:
Dc, come back again for few moments, to
hear the stranger perform. She promises to be
a famous whistler.
had already observed little group snuggled
away in corner Of the Red Room while the
informal reception was going on, among them
chief Of the Confederate forces, Miss Mildred
Lee. There were some strangers too, and there
had been some discussion as to who they were
All doubt was set at rest when the principal
stranger, at Mrs. Clevelands request, placed
herself ut the open piano, struck a few prelimi.
nary chords, then gave us the aria from
Martha accompanying the cleaTest sweetest
most delicious whistle, had ever heard. The
privileged Listeners wore enchanted After
ward when the whistler had executed several
delightful selections and made her adieu to the
Mistress Of the White House, the u3hor inform
ed me In strictly confidential whispers, ag we
passed out, that tho lady had four children
and Il get Of twins NIL of whom could whistle like
the mother" This lady was Mrs Shaw, who
has since become famous here and abroad, and
who, IS indebted for her initial encouragement
to the young mistress Of the White House.
whoso genius for doing the best thing at the
right moment had happily taken that oppor-
tun!ty Of introducing her to "A little but highly
nppreciatiYc audience Of her own favored
guests
Mrs Cleveland would never consent TO bring
n party to wooden nutmeGs," but shc has
always been, Notwithstanding, rs astutc as any
Yankee ! mean Of course, in the scnsc Of
moral selection. Today, her course as mistress
Of the White House is instructive as touching
the financial pressure and what should be a
reasonable rctrenchment in our Supcrlutivc oN-
traVagance. Moderation IL the keynote Of
Mrs. Clcveland's administration, the dlstinc-
i've hallmark or the nursery, the kitchen. the
snOn as well as Of the personal expenditure in
the mlnutm Of her own dress. The economy
OF the French meHdQcr ih to spare q little here.
prune Il little there, save against the next ne
ccssity. Mrs. Cleveland Is n mcthodical all
round manager, and Il good boOk-kccpcr as her
accounts show, the entries all made by her
own hand, with tidy precision. sho does not
believe that even. large income warrants
lavish expenditure or ultra cNtravugant sOuan-
dering. This subject coming up in general
conversation, shc has not infrcqncntly reiicr-
ated her belief In the beauty Of moderation
Lot us have not only the spirit but the letter
Of the law, while the national treasury is under
the present strain, and hunger and cold arc
over the land" she has said quietly, and she
herself sets tho example Of II good thrifty
housewife
charged with gossip on occasion, owing to the
irrcpressiblc g0ssp-mOngGre. Mrs. Cleveland
dislikcs this cmphatiCally. Notwithstanding
hcr social ambitions she has an instructive
dis,astc for publicity OF the sort that haunts
one prominent in affairs. That d!stastc, need
hardly gay, has been intensified by the we'll.
remembered explorations Of the gossiping into
the unknown or forgotten early manhood Of the
late Secretary Blaine and the campaign raids
made by the interruptions political opponents
OF hCr husband into his private life These con
Ftitutcd examples which shuCkc Il the wOmun-
ly sense Of dcccncy within her and insprcd the
perpetual endCavor to keep the curtain of her
privacy stitched together with waxcd thread,
against intrusive eyes. She leaves these
mCddlcr5 absolutely nothing to talk about.
Very recently hcnrd fOrlOrn woman gossip
remark: " il Is perfectly hopeless: one never
hears anything whatever about her : do 30
long to have one comfortable gossip all about
Mrs. Cleveland"
Inquisitiye strangers end gushing women
who find their unbiddcn way into the grounds
Of the White House have compelled Mrs.
Claveland-!n order TO protect her children