The Washington times., 1895-02-10

Mrs. Cleveland says that no one is more
amused than she herself in reading the vari-
Gus accounts of how after each of the large
receptions at the White House when she has
gone through siege OF handshaking, her
arm the next day is perfectly useless, stiff,
and swollen to twice its normal size.
The fact is that not a word of all those
deliberately written treatises upon the pain
full condition of her arm is true. Strange as
it may seem, Mrs. Cleveland is herself au-
thority for the statement that no amount of
handshaking wearies her. The reason which
she herself gives is that before coming to
to Washington to assume the official cares
incident to the wife OF the President she was
an ardent tennis player.
II is to her unusual amount OF exercise in
this game that Mrs. Cleveland attributes the
ene development OF muscular strength that
has since stood her in such good stead in the
matter of handshaking, and in what would
otherwise have proven n severe physical
strain upon her in meeting the thousand and
one demands upon her time that are daily
made by the outside world, especially in re-
gard TO making appointments for receiving
strangers who are in the city for short
time.
This winter there has been a revival of the
talk of having Mrs. Cieveland's portrait
painted to hang in the East Room of the
White House, but so far nothing very definite
has been done in the matter. 1t Will be re-
membeied that when Mrs. Cleveland first
came to Washington as a bride the subject of
having her portrait painted was then dis
eussed at length. The late Mrs. Whitney
was especially anxious that she should stand
for the picture in her wedding gown. but at
that time. though urged to give his consent
to this project by several OF the Cabinet Of
fieers, the President persIstently refused 10
accede. This winter the subject has been again
taken up, and the names OF several promi-
nent artists proposed for consideration.
Those who profess to know aver thar even
if nothing is done Immediately in the matter,
it now looks as though before The close of
the present inistration of Mrs. Cleve.and's 5
portrait would acorn the walls of one OF the
rooms OF the White House. Should this be
case the proper place for the portrait to be
hung would he in the Blue Room. as II WAS
there Mrs. Cleveland was married to the
President and&he picture would be httngly
the only one of a woman ever hung upon
these walls that looked down upon the Pres
ident's young bride on the occasion OF that
auspiciou.s ceremonial eight years ago.
There is at present but one picture in the
Blue Room and that, John Hampden. has
recently been hung directly over the doorway
leading from the corridor. Just why this
portrait should have been selected for that
honor is mystery that remains for the future
to solve.
Miniature painting is fad that has re-
Gently been taken up with considerable ardor
not only by Washington's fashionable society,
but by the gay world generally in the leading
cities OF the East. 1t is in the main q very
pretty idea, since it will give to posterity a
much more iattering opinion OF many OF the
present day and generation than a less fat
tering process of picture taking would result
in. When the work is done by professional
II is an expensive luxury so that alter al it is
but an equalization OF matters that the pic
lures should be considerably fiattered.
There are several young ladies in the fash
| ionable set in Washington who are quite ex-
pert in miniature painting, to the great
delight of their friends. Prominent in this
| list is Miss Paunce.ote daughter of the Brit
! ish ambassador, and Bliss Emily Waliach
daughter of the late Mayor Waiaeh, of the
District Miss Georgine Campbell, who has
! just returned to Washington for a stay oil
| some weeks. is one of the most successful
miniature painters of the day, who happily
combines in her work that of the society girl
! and of the professional. One of tho minia-
| lures most recer tly completed by Miss Camp
bell is that of little Gordon Hammersly. the
| Young heir to all the Hammersy millions.
! There are as well n number of miniatures ol
the prominent society women of Baltimore.
The marriage of Miss Draper, daughter oi
! Representative and Mrs. Draper, TO Mr..
Montgomery Blair will take place at st.
John Church on the 26th instant. 1t will
be noon wedding, and will To followed by q
wedding breakfast and large reception mt the
| residence of Representative Draper on X
street. Upon returningto TO Washington from
their wedding trip Mr.. Blair and his bride
| will make their home in the old Blair house
| on Pennsylvania avenue, next but one to the
| Corcoran Gallery OF Art Miss Draper re.
turned few days since from New York, where
she has been for a number Of weeks past
| selecting her trousSeau.
There is a young society man in Washing
| ton who is fast earning among his acquaint
| ances the soubriquet OF "Sleepy head" Hi:
accomplishments in this line during the pres
ent season would do credit to the famou:
Seven Sleepers of nursery lore. Not long
ago he figured in the local society columns a:
| ons of the ushers at fashionable noon wed
| ding.
As matter of fact he was fast asleep al
that time aad utterly obliyious of the fact tina
life held for him anything more tangible IL
the way of duties and social obligations thar
the airy fabric of which dreams are made up
| When he finally awaked to the earish light o
day the hour indicated by the hands of tn,
| clock sent thrill of horror down his spina
| column.
| Instead, however, of acknowledging tn,
| real facts of the case the young fellow mad
| a sad blunder of matters by sending note Il
the bride excusing his absence on the scor,
of important business engagements that hat
kept him down town until too late to attent
the wedding. AS 1t is very well known tha
| important business engagements are rara avi
in his life the excuse trumped up did not holt
good, especially as through his own famil
the real facts of the case leaked out. Thi
soporifc failing of the young fellow has let
to his being notably late at SO many Dime
parties that those dinner giyers to whose in
vitations he was wont to be accustomed ar
fighting decidedly shy of him and sending
their invitations elsewhere because of the un
pleasant diemmas his slumberous procliyitie
have placed them in.
Not long since his approaching marriag
was announced. and now society is wonder
ing il he will wake up in time to attend tina
ceremonial, or whether the bride-elect viii
not be put to the expedient suggested by
bright friend of having a substitute or under
study on hand in case the groom should over
sleep himself and thus delay the wedding
pageant
Judge John Davis, since the return of hi
wife and daughter to this country, has takel
quite prominent part in the Washington
gayeties. Among other social honors heape
upon him. Judge Davis has been elected pres
ident of the Country Club and head OF thu
Washington Assembly to be given at the Ar