The herald., 1896-12-30
GOSSIP BY BRIGHAM
Her Weekly Budget From
the Capital
GLIMPSES OF washington SOCIETY
A Social, Political, Literary and
Scientific Center
THE YULETIDE FESTIVITIES
The CleveIands' Last Christmas in the
White House
The Cabinet People Keep en- House on New
Years Day
Some Entertaining Gossip Of the Lead
ing Members of the Diplomatic
Service-General Grants
The Cievelands' Last Christmas in the
White House
The Cabinet People Keep D en- House on New
Years Day
Some Entertaining Gossip Of the Lead
ing Members of the Diplomatic
Service-General Grants
Granddaughter.

Especial Correspondence to The Herad.)
WASHINGTON, D. c., Dec. 24.--The
nations capital is as it should be, the
great social center of the country, as we'll
as the political, literary and scientific,
and it's annual season" is synonym of
all that is brightest and best in America.
Despite the little war cloud (heaven
grant that it grow no bigger), and the
fact that the present stars of first magni-
tude on the social horizon will soon be in
eclipse with the change of administra-
ton. the winter promises to be unusual
ly gay. Already society scores its en-
gagements half dozen deep by day and
deeper by night, and the roll of it's car
riage wheels is heard in the wee, sma'
hours of the morning. Just now the yule
tide festivities add an extra touch of
brilliancy for nowhere is Christmas
more generally and generously observed
than in Washington. The whole city is
garlanded with holly and festooned with
ropes of evergreen, and wreaths are hung
in every window. The abounding colored
population revel in the season and turn
as one man, and especially as one wo-
man, to the gathering of christmas
green's" for which they tramp the Vir-
ginia hills and scour the woods across
de Branch (of the Potomac) for miles
around. The result of their unwonted
activity is piled high in the market places
and on the street corners-wagonload
of holly, with it's dark green, prickly
leaves and bright red berries; evergreen
twigs, twisted into ropes long enough
to reach from ocean to ocean; wonderful
mstletoe boughs, mosses and litchens,
Wreaths, anchors and crosses made from
the same-all you can carry for what
yCu please to glib, sah," for the smiling
black vendors expect generosity at
Christmas time, and are seldom disap-
pointed.
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
AT the White House President and Mrs.
Cleveland have arranged to mark the
passing year and their last Christmas in
the historic mansion with observances
On rather more elaborate scale than
has hitherto characterized their enjoy
llent of the day. The three young ladies
of the nursery are older and therefore
able to appreciate the spirit of the occa-
sion. Ruth's very first Christmas in
this more or less agreeable world was
things calculated to attract baby eyes,
and in the evening the little ones of the
cabinet circle were invited to share it's
dazzling splendofs and assist in sucking
the paint off its toys. Since then the
children's Christmas party at the White
House has grown into a regular institu-
ton, and each succeeding year the moldy
pld rOokery has been gay enough through
the afternoon with shouts of childish
glee, and Papa Cleveland in the role of
a benevolent. bay -windowed Kris Krin-
gle. Beginning with her second winter,
Miss Ruth has always opened proceed
ings by reciting salutatory, in German,
taught her by the governess-notwith-
standing the silly story so often seen in
print, that she Is deaf and dumb, if not
non compos mentis. This year she has
one of Goethe's poems committed to
memory. Esther is not far behind her
elder sister, either in size or attainments; !;
and even baby Marian is quite able to
keep up her end in the family entertain
ment. AS usual. the president and his
wife will spend the entire day with their
daughters without guests-unless Mrs.
Clevelands mother arrives at the last
minute, or the uncle from the west, who
is expected to bring his bride here for a
portion of the holidays. The big Christ
mas tree, bigger than ever before, is gor-
geous in beautiful trimmings and all
sorts and conditions of dolls. 1t may be
admired by the Misses Cleveland all day
long at respectful distance, but must
not be touched until late in the after
noon, when the small guests are all as
sembled. At twilight its hundreds of
tiny red, white and blue lamps are
lighted, and then the fun begins. Mrs
Cleveland receives an enormous lot of
holiday gifts from all parts of the coun-
try, and she gives just as generously,
,1k ,I,,
all kinds of charities and deserving OBJ
jects."
CABINET PEOPLE KEEP OPEN
HOUSE.
Vice President and Mrs Stevenson are
established in their usual comfortable
quarters at the Normandie and have with
them for the holidays their youngest
daughter, Miss Letitia. and their only
son, Lewis Greene Stevenson and his
wife. The eldest daughter has already
passed two Chrstmases in the Better
Country, and the other. who has been
married only few months, is with her
husband in Kentucky. Mrs Stevenson s
sister-in-law. Mrs. Scott, will arrive
next week. with her pretty daughter,
Miss Julia, who is to be married In Wash
ington this winter to Mr. Vrooman of
Baltimore.
Custom compels the cabinet people to
keep open house and entertain all the
world and his wife on New Years day:
but on Christmas they have the blessed
privilege of private individuals-that of
enjoying themselves each in his own
family circle. Secretary of State AMI
Mrs. Olney and their daughter. Mrs.
Minot, will devote the day unreservedly
to the pleasure of Master Frank Minot,
the prospective heir and present ruler
Of the household, and the atti-
tude of congress on the Cuban
question will not cast the small
est shadow over their enjoyment. Sec
retary and Mrs Francis, now we'll set
tied" in their handsome new home have
their five sons home from college to
make lively their first Christmas in
official life. Secretary and Mrs. Car
isle are entertaining their customary
rather large family party. including Mr..
and Mrs. William K. Carlisle, their son
and two lovely daughters from Chicago.
with the usual accessories of great
tree and room full of gifts. Secre tary
and Mrs. Lamont will celebrate Chris,
mas under their own roof-tree with their
do I n n ..,f