The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-18
HIGH LIFE AT WASHINGTON.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OH A
WHITE HOUSE RECEPTION.

P"hteness as Illustrated by Chi
ncSe Conference.-The Chatting Dish
Causing Trouble in Washington
HOusehOIds-Card Parties at the
National Capitol.
Washington. Feb. IA white house re.
eeption presents a broad field for an an
! preciator of the ridiculous to revel in for
nothing in the world can be more absurd
/ than the great American public when
| turned loose In the executive mansion.
| BY o'clock on the evening of a function
| there, the broad corridor is densely pack
/ ed with crowding, jostlng throng. who
/ elbow each other anu make discourteous
/ remarks about that woman behind. who
! is showing So" and shoves meanwhile
! with fun force against the unfort0nates
/ in trout, and this opening excitement is
! TO see them come down. for the corridor
| commands a view Of the staircase
/ down which the receiving party descends.
! This first sparring match is rewarded by
/ hearing buzz around one, there they
come" and the man or woman directly
| in front stretches out a preternaturally
/ long neck and effectually cuts off what
| little chance one ever had for seeing first
/ act of the drama and the band plays Hail
/ to the Chief"
The second act introduces a few more
| specialties in the line of torn gowns, dis
/ hevelled locks and loud rather than
high kicks and the plot or the crowd
/ thickens. BY the aid of ones own doughty
elbow and continuous pressure from the
rear place in the advance column is
attained. Flushed with success in this
achievement Americas elite is apt to
/ grow forgettul Of the rights of others and
1 exhibit too much energy in pressing for
| ward, which tendency is brought to a
/ decided standstill by u dagger i'll the
/ lady's hair who stands a pace nearer the
J goal, which infiicts a beauty mark in the
! shape Of a scratch on the very side of the
lace destined to be scanned by the critical
( eye Of the President and Mrs. Cleveland.
/ By this time, unless one has became dis
/ couraged and dropped out of line, the
entrance to the red parlor is reached and
as the portal is passed the strains of the
! ''lntormezzo" fall on the ear.
The third act opens very quietly
for the red room is kept com
/ paratively cleared in order that
/ the performers may in degree
compose themselves fer the climax of the
tragic farce. Here the individual murmurs
his or her name to functionary at the
| door, who repeats ii more or less garbled
to Col. wilson, who makes the presenta-
| tons. Before the victim has time to more
| than gasp, the President, with a cordially
| born of long practice siezes his hand and
| passes him on to Mrs. Cleveland, whose
| desire to make his acquaintance is evinced
by the eagerness with which she leans for
ward TO greet him, and he thinks, NOW
/ tins IS somethink like" when he feels
himself being handed on to the next hand
! outstretched which he is TOO confused to
! grasp, and SO he falters along the line
until he passes between two guards. who
| keep up a perpetual duet of ladies, please
! keep this passageway open" into the
! green room, and the great third act of the
! society play Is over while the marine band
| discourses one of F'anciulli's latest efforts.
| Here, if one cares to lnger, the comedy
/ may be witnessed for everybody passes
! through this way into the east room, and
/ the funny man and the serio-comic dam
! sci have full sway. These are some of the
! choice bits of dialogue overheard at the
! Army and Navy Reception last Thursday.
THAT was a nice little conversation | had
with the President. just now" says the
] gentleman from Wisconsin, who was
rushed through with more than the usual
! degree of speed to his wife, who grum-
/ bles, 4 never even saw Mrs. Cleveland"
7 Didn't she look too lovely" says the ell
/ thusiastic young woman, Yes, but that
man at the door called me Mrs. Hamp-
/ ton, and he ought TO know ] am Miss
! Norman" We could have gone behind
| the receiving line If it had not been so
| crowded." futters the social struggler,
pluming herself meanwhile, at having
| shaken hands with everyone in the line.
II didn't see a single thing but those side
| combs the President gave her Christmas"
| chirps Miss Curlylocks. Mrs. Cleveland
doesn't wear gloves, that's funny" criti-
cises another did you see Helen Carter
standing back of the line? l wonder how
/ she got there is the envious comment of
the new woman who had d long and ex-
! cited interview with Mr.. Thurber, in or
| der to convince him of the right she had
to get into that sacred precinct. I'm los
/ ing my skirt walls forlorn damsel clutch
ing the truant article with dismay. well,
| | think We are lucky to get through alive,
| Is her fathers unsympathetic reply. Il
think out town can give them some points
| on beauty" unsallantly comments the
| vilager. And so the stream of talk and
| people passes on till one wonders If that
receiving party is composed or flesh and
| blood or of some unknown substance war
ranted never to wear out.
out in the East room, where the whole
. company mingles and chats, there is
! some semblance of good manners, but
even that resemblance takes flight when
the hour of II approaches and the re-
port spreads they Will make tour
Of the East room" and then the pushing
and showing sets its current toward the
door from which the presidential party
shall emerge, and While the guests are
blocking the very path to be followed,
the host and hostess, with their coterie
Of friends make their escape the other
way up the Staircase. and the gaping
crowd, as was the case on Thursday
night. has 10 soiace itself with ''The Star
/ Spaugled Banner"
Observation-Disclosures to the frequently
| charged American rudeness. MI. Dennis
of Boston, man OF wide travel, who is
i making a visit 10 this city. tells Of the