The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-30
IN SASSITY.
How Our Kansas Delegation En-
joys Social Life.
Congressman Miller DoeSn'tLike
It at All.
ONE OF THE CRTSHES
NE OF THE CRUSHEs
At the White House Where
Congressman Kirkpatrick
Stems the Tide With His Broad
Shoulders.

From the State Journals Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-The Kansas
delegation at the national capital do not
seem TO care much for the pleasures of
Washington society. Few of them at
tend the public functions, and the men
especially feel that they can put in the
time to better advantage in the evenings
by working. The new members like to
attend White House reception to see
what it is like, and most of them are
then not anxious to be crushed and fat
tened in the jam again. Col. Blue of
the Kansans appears to enjoy going bet
ter than any, and he takes in whatever
| comes his way.
At the beginning eff each year the pres
| ident and his wife, now, of course, the
president and Mrs. Cleveland, issue card
invitations to four evening recep-
| tlons. The first is to the
diplomatic corps. the second
to the judiciary and congress, the third
to the army and navy and then one to the
! public. Though only the recipients of
the regular engraved invitations, of
which about thousand are issued, are
| expected to come, no one is barred and
| hundreds who never even saw an inBi-
tation. go. 1t is not required to show the
| Invitation at the door nor even to be In
| evening dress. Every conceivable cut
| of coat for man is 10 be seen and tbs
| diversity in taste OF women could not ba
| more remarkably displayed. There arc
! the young man and the new congress
| man with the wrinkled dress coats
| anxious to get their $3 worth before re-
| turning it in the morning and the men
| who marched bravely in with sack coats
| and bright colored neckties. One has
| only to attend a White House rece ption
| to be assured that this is free country
\ i
| in Washington tells on the women who
are either compelled to attend or of their
own free will do attend all of them.
! Those who expect to see a galaxy of
] beauty at a White House reception are
| apt to find that most of the middle aged
women have been careful not to impose.
! too great a task upon nature and have
kindly sought to aid her in divers ways.
Pains and expense have not been spared
The first two of the evening" White
! House receptions have been given this
year, the ones to the diplomatic corps
and the Judiciary and congress-. The
first crush of the worst football
| patrick and Mrs kirkpatrick and Mrs
Small, his daughter; and Senator Peffer
Miss PETER and Miss Page, were the
| Kansas representatives there.
| 1t was in the surging mass which was
! pushing and edging along trying to get
| nearer the red room where the guests
| were let in by the dozen or score at a
| time that Mr kirkpatrick had chance
| 10 use his great strength and where his
| powerful physique served him IN good
| stead. He was near the entrance to the
red room and when those ahead of him
were let in the crowd behind moved for
ward with a bucking the line rush.
Wher all in front up to Mr.. Kirkpatrick
| had been let in those guarding the door
| 1oid that WAS a00uUh Rut the fOrce of tho
| crowd behind was hurting the big rep
resentative from the Third Kansas dis
| trict through the door. The guards said
stop and Mr. Kirkpatrick putting his
| hands against , side of the door pushed
! back against Il crowd with such force
| as to almost squeeze in two the man who
stood behind him and many pulled
| sleeve was hattened and much chamois
| fiber crushed. But the crowd stopped.
The reception to the pages of the su-
| preme court and congress was not such a
! jam because it was pouring down rain
| and the masses not being anxious to pur-
chase carriages concluded the army and
navy reception which is to be February
! 6. would be much nicer anyhow.
The old members of congress seldom
if ever attend these receptions unless
they have visitors who want to see the
show and have their curiosity gratifed.
Congressman Curtis's family say they
can't by any kind of pleading induce him
to go. The BrodercHs also never go un-
less some one is here to be taken.
Congressman Blue is realizing on his
! West Virginia nativity quite extensive
| Iy He, with other members of congress
born in West Virginia, were given a ban
ouet at Pages hotel last Thursday night
| By West Vireinians resident in " ash
ington, and the next night the same
ones were entertained at dinner at Sena-
| tor Elkins'. Congressman Blue may yet
| reconsider his decision that ian old man
like me won't be expected to get dress
suit"
Representative Miller appears to dis
like Was hington in every light it is seen.
The other night at reception given by
Representative Cobb of Missouri an ac-
quaintance noticed Mr.. Miller "wander-
ing lonely as a cloud" looking this way
and that as if he wished to find mode
of escape. The acquaintance went up
! to him and greeted him. and after the
exchanges of meeting were over Mr..
Miller said in a deliberate, decisive way
81 don't like these receptions"
Miss PETER gave very pretty Hgreen
and white tea" for Miss Lottie Page of
Denver last Wednesday at the Oxford.
She was assisted in receiving by Miss
| Curtis, Miss Brodsrick, Mrs. Webber,
daughter of Senator Palmer of Illinois.
and Miss Morgan, daughter of the treas
| urer of the United States The young
| people of the families of senators and