New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-30
WASHINGTON SOCIAL LIFE.
INCIDENTS OF THE WEEK AT THE
NATIONAL CAPITAL.
AGITATION OF THE FIRST CALL" QUESTION
TEA OR NO TEA-THE PRESIDENTS RE
CEPTION To CONGREss-DINNERS

| senatorial circles II IS the same old question of
| quadriennia repetition discussed and settled by
| each Administration. OF course fhere Is hothihs
new TO be said on either side But that is of no
| consequence and the serious. In fact intense IN
eres OF all concerned gives ludicrous side to the
| discussion which Is amusing to all who are not
| concerned II may be remarked thar the first
call' agitation is exclusively among women. Men
are not "in It," AS far back as one cares TO re-
| member Cabinet officers have made ilrst cails on
| Senators. The President may choose ana nominate
| but IT IS the Senate that confirms and makes fhe
Cabinet Therefore, the ground that the CABINET
| officer owes his existence such To the senate
etiouet,e declares he shall make the first call on
Senator'S. Within fortnight after the iorh'a'io"
OF a new Cabinet the members nave caiied OH lhe
Senators and the latter have returhed the ''S''9
Whether in person by card. these VISITS are maue
! and returned with punctous promptneSs.
| +, rho lone run the result Is the same with the
| ,on,en and the wives Of Cabinet officers make frst
calls on the wives of Senators. why tnes ever
| hold out either in active or passive ieoei'o''
against what must be inevitable, whlle tleie - ~
| change in the manner Of making Cabinets Is ho'
clear 10 the ordinary understanding fropao's "e'
| themselves could give no reason though so"ie u
ho, hold ont until the last minute and then AT 'e
end If the season. and not infrequentiy AFTER 'he
season is over do from necessity wha' 'neS '',s"
| have done from graceful choice al the oes e
| T. ,,os fl, president Clevelands former AdHilhis-
| hat he
| , disnued polnt between the wives of CABINET OF
| a 1 ,,vas of Senator'S but also involved the
.,,,sn Of the Diplomatic Corps. The women ol t"e
| new Cabinet held Off only to yield many III III.
| usual way The wives OF foreign Mi"iS'e'' ~
| all but a number OF them-readhy acl"eSoe' !"
making first calls the wives OF CABINET o"ioe'''
! I'm, not on the wives Of Senator'S though etiquette
v,s oul,e az exacng in regard TO the latter lhis'
| ,,.r, on Thus until there many embarrassing
| little complications. When the wife OF fore's"
| Minister sent cards of invitation Tor party u
| Senator's wife on whom she had not maze 'he Iis'
| call the invitation not accepted. IL was lot
r,,uv acknowledged by the return OF Senator and
| Mrs Blanks visiting cards, left at the Legation
| door by a coachman or messenger In tnls manner
,h4 Senators wives held their ground AMI. without
any words about It. refused to give an men
Finally the Secretary OF State was called upon 10
act i arbitrator. Mr.. Bayards decision susta'''eu
| the women in the Senatorial circle. and peace was
declared for-four years. Then there were the wives
| OF the Supreme Court Justices. VINO are exempt
| ,rom all first calls except the mistress OF the
White House. The Court though made IN the same
way az the Cabinet. by confirmation OF the senate
Is for life The Justices. as rule. are men no
longer Young 50 that II only the life position
but courtesy to age which often gives them prece-
dence over Senators While the men Of the Court
circle accept this their wives firmly entrenched
on the NE position argument. and are by no means
| inclined to be rated as elderly women
duty OF making first calls. There Is not the least
| doubt however that In spite OF the quiet talk the
women % the cabinet will this year. as heretofore.
| make first calls "all round the Senate" Some of
| them have recently set about it, and the rest are
sure to follow.
Innovations find little favor In official society. the
solid element especially holding TO the old order Of
| things established by custom on well-lrawn lines
Of etiquette The no tea-table rule. with a single
| excepton-at Cabinet receptions'-wouli seem the
n.rest tritir If IT not in fact the radical up
setting OF old shoned hospitality. Afternoon re-
ceptious are pubic In the sense Of being open to
all respectable and presumably we'll manrered peo-
Die who desire to call the wives and daughters
OF men In official life. Whatever is said TO the
contrary hostcsses KNOW as well as everybody else
tina, a crowd is compliment The woman VINO
keeps open house her day would regard
score Of visitors scant courtesy and small recog-
milton her qualities hostess Every Cabinet. as
i rule. develops "A social leader. In President Cieve-
lands first Administration 1t the house OF Sec
rotary Whitney whore all the world delighted To GO
So far the present Cabinet H. however. FOR the
most part an even Cabinet. The uniformity OF
action in the social line gives suspicion of pre-
melitated cooperation. II the elaborate table some
times seen at former Wednesday receptions was
one extreme the new. no tea-tabie" Is none the
less extreme Ian the other direction. The single eN-
ceptlon to the no tea-tabe rule is at the home Of
the Secretary OF the Treasury. Mrs. Carlisle makes
no change. but holds To the middle ground or a
simple pretty table and heretofore. the old
fashioned hospitality OF cup Of tea Mrs Carlisle
is quite right: cup OF tea breaks the ice. and
gives the ind-finable charm of sociablity to the
simplest hospitality.
Though the reception given Thursday evening
by the President and Mrs. Cleveland was in honor
OF Congress Senators and Representatives did not
respond In large numbers. Other people did. how
eer. and it was reception. with the comfort of
not being in the least overcrowded. The new feat
OF decoration by electric lights in red. white
and blue coiors shining among tan palms ana ana
corners Of the East Room. was extremely effective
and captain pitcher continued the introductions
along the line. The President looked trihe pale
and worn. having that morning returned from his
nephew's funeral at Hartford. But he gave his
usual hearty welcome to guests. Mrs. Cleveland
own. She wore gown OF yellow brocade. with full
pun sleeves of yellow velvet, low bodice and dia-
The Vice Presidents wife wore gown of silver
brocade with trimmings of erinne
Mrs. Gresham's gown was pearl brocade ana point
Mrs Carlisle wore black velvet and satin brocad-
Mrs, Lamont; gown was canary colored satn'
with lace and clusters OF volets.
Mrs. Bissell wild-rose pink satin and
Mrs. smiths gown was goli-colored brocade and
Miss Morton wore black MORE and point lace:
Miss Rose Elizabeth Cleveland. who arrived that
day for visit at the White House, was Welcomed
by many old friends among the guests. Time has
forgotten Miss Cleveland. who looks as young as
when here her last visit six years ago She wore
"A handsome gown of mauve brocade and velvet OF
the shade
Mrs Manning wife OF the late Secretary of the
Treasury, was among the guests In the Blue Room.
Mrs Manning "A superb gown Of white MORE
and duchesse lace.
There were a number of distinguished strangers
al the reception. among them General van iIookie
Field Marshal OF the Army Of Saxony. and his son.
Count van Hookie who are In Washington for a
weeks visit. The General wore several magnificent
decorations his coat. Another distinguished
guest Or Prochet. Of Rome. the head of the
Waldensians in Italy. who is making two
months visit this country lie came In with
the Rev DIR. Child. OF Washington. Paul Bourget.
the author. and his wife were with NJ. Boeufoe,
chancellor Of the French Embassy
The diplomats wore many splendid decoratiohs'
those OF the British and Italian Ambassadors be-
ing most conspicuous. Many officers Of the Army
and Navy were In uniform: though court dress
and uniform optional at the reception
to Congress and the judiciary the members ,rs
Of which OF course always appear In the
conventional evening dress. Among the guests
were the Chief Justice and Mrs. Fuller; sen Sen
ator Butler. Senator Ransom Senator ana MIS-
PETER Senator Henderson, senator Ald'lci; sen
ator and Mrs Faulkner Repr.senave ana Ms, ,
REPRESENTATIVE