Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-28
A WHITE HOUSE DINNER
when Monroe Was President, ms De-
scrfbed by n Contemporary.

When Monroe Was President, ms De-
scrfbed by n Contemporary.
From the Utica Morning Herald.
The December meeting of the Oneida His
torical Society was held yesterday afternoon
| in the Arcade. The speaker of the evening
was Robert ]. Hubbard of Cazenovia.
MI Hubbard's subject was Political and
social Life in Washington During the Adj
mlnstration of President Monroe" In the
beginning he stated that his paper was COM
posed largely of extracts from private letters
written by Thomas H Hubbard In the
years 1917 to 1924 he-was Representative at
Washington from the congressional district
embracing Madison and Herkimer counties
| OF this state, during the administration of
President Monroe.
Mr.. Hubbard had been presented to Presi-
dent James Monroe, who occupied the 'pal-
ace as the Presidents house was called in
1917, and spoke of him as plain unassum-
ing man, who acted as any other well-bred
man would do. The President received call.
ers on the 1st of January, 1918. At . o'clock
the doors were opened and the crowd pour
60 IN. a corps of marines was drawn up in
front or the house, bright in all the trappings
OF military dress. The President received
with Mrs. Monroe. One followed in the cur
rent which bore him to his distinguished
nosts, who bowed gracefully to each glIest-
much more dignified, certainly than the
more democratic custom of ha ndshaking
which prevails in cur own time. Simple re-
IIesnments were passed by the servants,
consisting of sweetmeats, ice cream hot
punch and lemonade. The President was
dressed on this occasion in a blue coat and
pun waistcoat and smallclothes, and white
|. SILK STOCKINGS Mrs. Monroe had on silk
or satin gown of light color almost white
close around the neck, and large bunch Of
aruhclai flowers at the bosom. Her hat or
DC met was of the same material surmount-
MI Tho -
ABOUT nifty years of age, rather handsome
ana very gracious and polite in her man.
ners This good couple stood on their feet,
noddinS, bowling, smiling and talking with
about thousand persons.
On February p, 1878, Mr.. Hubbard dined
with the President, in company with Messrs
o ~ NINA Palmer and Drake. They went
at half past five. The Presidents brother
ana private secretary received them in a
most awkward manner and ushered them
IN indian file into the drawing room. where
there We're some twenty gentlemen sitting
IN row in solemn state, mute as fishes
they having undergone the grand state
ceremony. Mrs. MonrC e." he wcites was
seated at the further end of the room with
other ladies' On our approach she rose and
received US handsomely. After being my
self presented, / introduced the other gen.
tlemen l now expected to be led to the
President but my pilot, the private secre.
tary, had vanished.
I'VE beat retreat each to his respective
chair. Observing the President sitting very
rely ny the CHIMNEY corner, / rose and
advanced to him. He got I'D and shook ma
by the hand, as he did the other gentlemen.
1hlS second ceremony over, all again was
silence, and each once more moved to his
seat 1t was a period of great solemnity,
Not a whisper broke upon the ear to in-
terrupt the silence of the place and every
one looked as II the next moment would be
his last After a while the President in a
grave manner, began conversation with
some one who sat near him, and directly the
secretary ushered in some more victims,
who submitted to the same ordeal We had
experienced. This continued for fully half
an hour, when dinner was announced
The dinner was good and the table most
richly furnished. There were about thirty
guests In alt 1t became more lively as the
dishes ratified. The plateau in the center of
the table was very elegant. 1t was fully
twelve feet long and two feet wide oval at
the ends, and figures, eight inches high,
with extended arms composed of a mirror
surrounded by gold females holding CANDLE
sticks The table was garnished with arti-
fetal flowers. The plate was very handsome,
china highly gilt, and the dessert knives
forks and spoons were of beaten gold. The
dinner was ended at about half-past
o'clock" Mr. Hubbard attended another
dinner at the palace and spoke of IL as a
grave and serious affair.
The speaker referred briefly to the import,
ance Of President Monroe's administration
and the development of the Monroe doctrine.
Then he took up the social life described in
the letters. The French minister NJ de
NeuVille, gave elegant entertainments In
december, 1917, he attended one in honor
of the brthnight of the Duchess dAngoul-
eme.
At s O'Clock they We're ushered into the
presence of the hosptable host with a very
profound bow from the master and three
low courtesies from Nine. de Neuville They
were shaken by the hand and had a cordial
welcome. The ladies were many of them
richly dressed. If such decollete exposure can
be called dressed. Nine. de Melville was
dressed not only with great propriety but
in the plainest manner, and altogether with
out ornament. The lady of the British min
ister Mr.. Basot was most superbly attired
and decorum was an ornament not forgot
ten. The foreign ministers, with the excep-
ton OF NJ. de Melville, wore the court cos
TUNES OF their countries, that of the Span
ish minister eXcelling in richness Decatur
graced the feast with his attendants in full
uniform. Neither the President nor his lady
were present. Soon after their arrival
dancing commenced. Two rooms were fitted
Tor this purpose, and there were many eager
participants. Coffee, jellies and ice cream
were sent around early in the evening, and
after 10 o'clock all moved upstairs to the
supper table, which occupied three rooms.
They were decorated with taste and ele-
gance. At IL O'Clock the company broke up.
-