Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-03-01
WANTED A CHANGE.
Our Alton Correspondent Tires Of the
Country.
A VISIT TO WASHINGTON.
The White House and How Re-
ception IL Conducted-The Inspfr-
ing strains of Dixic-A DOUBT
Raiscsi-Dresscs and Decorations.
ornrresnondence OF the plspatch.l


corntry-bred 1 feel an indefnable longing
10 see a bit OF civilization; TO SO out
into the wide. wide world and find out IL
e is all there. Then 1t Is that the Deautiiui
solitude Of these "blue hills pals upon
nv weary eyes; the low whispering OF the
pines ceases 20 be a charming iui'ao5'
and seems but the mournful signing Vi
lost chords upon a broken heart' luz
white stretch OF snow-covered heids ioohs
like n dreary desert; the lowing Oh the
cows makes me think Of cheap butter
ana an oyer-stocked market. the drip-drop
nj the .rain on the roof l know mas
sprung aleak in the shed-room' anu
natures wtching spells are poweriess
ID hold me with their rural oeilgh's. 4
count over the last leaves In my raliroau
pass-book; / shake out the family SOCK Tor
stray shekels, and / go! The accumula-
tive dust is whipped from my alpaca
coat. the hay-seed combed from my au-
burn tressos, and, like the Arab, between
nighttime and dawn l fold my tent
mean my telescope-and quietly steai
away" My latest pilgrimage was 10
Washington. and / happened opportuney
20 reach there--as Josiah Aliens Wile
would say-"on a-Thursday." II is the
day when MIR. ana Mrs. Cleveland receive
the public, and i concluded To attehu'
with the social herd.
THE WHITE HOUSE.
The white House-so-called on account
of It's being white-washed the year round
is a neat, two-story stone cottage. with
all modern improvements. centrally-lo-
I'D IN
0ics: terms moderate, 1t is bounded on the
north by the gates ajar; on the south py
the backyard, where the children roll
Easter eggs; on the east by the head-
quarters OF the bond issue, and on the
west by a large building where they
pacify the war-dogs. and study marine
tactics On the evening Of their pubic re-
eeptions the President and Mrs. Cleveiahu
receive from 9 until II o'clock; 1t Is pest
therefore, TO go late, and avoid the rush.
Acting on this, 1t was about 10 O'Clock
when we arrived at the White House.
eay I'VE" for there were four OF us
the dear old professor of happy school,
days, who is now an attache. young
medical student, who rejoiced in the gene
rio name of Jones. a young lady from
Georgia, and your bashful correspondent.
We were ''run-in" from the big gate
by two policemen. with "ninety-days'
knew IL, were standing in the square hail.
beneath hundreds OF incandescent-lights.
listening 20 the stirring strains or
s'Dixis' from the relocated Marine Band.
o beautiful gloriousl The lights and the
rnuslcl And, best Of all, the soul-awaKen-
ing echoes Of Dixie! That simple Air,
made sacred for a peoples cause, that age
cannot stultify nor Familiarity make stale
WHAT is IT?
What Is II In this old tune that starts
the pulses with the patriotic fervor or
past DAYS, when Dixie had It's birth. and
we were not? What transmitted love for
those who fought and bled comes sweep
ing down the aisles of time TO US when
'D.xie" throbs on southern ears!
wanted to lift my hat and cheer for
Dixie! Mr. Jones said I would better
not / might wake the children! The line
of people In front of US began TO move
slowly across the second hall, and we
moved with the crowd step by step.
Gradually as we drew nearer. / could
hear and see the master Of ceremonies"
take the name Of each person as ap-
preached, repeat II in loud voice to a
second gentleman. who in turn announced
IL with a bow 20 Mr.. and Mrs.
Cleveland. / had slipped the glove from
my right hand and was fixing real.
sweet smile for Mrs. Cleveland. when
] heard the Professor. In broken English,
announce his name. 1t flew on 10 the
second master OF ceremonies as Herr
Won Interschztostc. There was a mo-
ment's hesitation-a gasp-and then.
with n wild look of defiance. Master OF
C's No. introduced Mr.. Herban
Under-no-sich-topic Both the Professor
and the President looked relieved when
our second escort bowed to the name
OF Jones.
A HEARTY SHAKE.
Mr.. Cleveland gave my hand a hearty
shake, and said, I'm happy TO meet
you" of which-as i was about the iva
hundredth soul he had met that night-I
had my doubts. Mrs. Cleveland was her
own regal radiant self, in a pink gown
built OF brocaded satin. showing, much
TO my satisfaction. her lovely throat,
around which was chain and a magni-
ficient pendant Of diamonds-the only
ornament she wore. Next TO her stood a
long row of the Cabinet ladies', looking
unutterably bored. and differing. I
thought, greatly in manner from Mrs.
Cleyeland's sincerity. Passing on we
reached the East-Room. and seating our
selves on a divan near the south windows.
viewed the show OF Vanity Fair" The
great mirrors were festooned with ropes
or ferns. and II must have been nauti-
cal decoration, for wheels were every
where. i felt at home. In the dim ages.
long ago. wheels had been upon the bat
tered silver, and wheels-nautical
wheels-stamped upon the yellow leaves
or old books handed down from past
generations. wherein as child / had
tried 10 read the curious rs g." printed
lie Il s.. There were. In this gorgeous
room Of the White House, great wheels
or red and white carnations and little
wheels Of red and white roses. streaming
banners Of the Stars and Stripes In red
and white flowers hung hatuoar -,
windows, and more little wheels were
above. ] almost looked TO see the we'll
remembered motto of "Nosce Te In
sum know thyself'-up there among
the wheels
Wen. not many OF us do know our.
selves. and yet lesser number know
each other at the White House recenfion
We decided TO take look into the con-
seryatory and come back in time 10 see
inc receiving party pass through the
East-Room on their way up stairs Down
the long hall. between the stirr nor
traits or dead Presidents, and with the
sweet face OF Dolly Madison looling
down upon the scene of her former tr,'
umphs, We passed. But the living
parade GONG on around US held for me
Tar the greater charm. What gowns,
what Jewels: These gorgeous toilettes
ialrIy made my eyes ache, though with
Is.e exceptions, ono soon tires OF their
ehttefing monotony. q, frail woman
thou impotent slave OF Fashions whIu,
" thou young maid and old maid. and
tnou VINO art not made at all. when win
tne lesson OF consistency be Iearned7
Inc altogether may be high art. hui
II ia never beauty unless covered NV
urn. white mesh. For what purpose dost
tnou bare my bones TO the critical gaze
OF an exacting public? Oh, thou scraw-
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