The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-28
IN WASHINGTON SOCIETY.
SECRETARY PORTER IS MAKING
SOME INNOVATIONS.


Director of the Administration
How the Functions for the Cur
rent Season Are to Be Arranged.
washington, Nov. 27.-Oficial society in
Washington is unduly excited over the
new programme for the social functions
at the white house this winter ]. Addison
Porter, secretary to the President, does
not find his path strewn with roses and
violets these days. Some of the official
set are introducing innumerable thorns
along the highway of his social ambition
in revenge for the Inauguration of GUS
toms that threaten to make official So
ciety the most exclusive at the national
capital and establish social caste.
Mr.. Porter, in the role of the social direc-
tor of the present administration, has
been remodeling the form of the social
functions at the executive mansion to the
extent of rendering the approaching sea-
son totally unlike its predecessors. When
Mr.. Porter issued the bulletin, early in
the week, setting forth the social pro-
eramme of the President, great was the
hue and cry, for distinctions are clearly
to be made as to who and how many
persons shall be the guests of the chief
executive and his wife this winter. Indis-
eliminate going to the white house will
no longer be possible, and while excessive
crowdlng at the different functions will
be avoided, a certain inharmonious chord
has been sounded that will set waggine
the tongues of grumblers and cause the
disconnected to term McKinley's social
policy one of snobbery.
AS a matter of fact, the changes made
are in the interest of Mrs. Mckinley,
whose health is far from being robust.
She could not endure the public pressure
that was brought to bear upon Mrs. Cleve-
lands vigorous constitution. At the same
time the present mistress of the white
house, wishing to meet the demands of
her position. has announced her intention
of being present at the four leading re-
ceptions of the season, and 1t has fallen
the lot of Mr.. Porter to render them as
easy as possible and of as short duration.
In consequence, whereas hundreds upon
hundreds have attended these levees in
former years, invitations will now be linn
lied and society in general will have but
a single opportunity of shaking hands
with President and Mrs. Mckinley.
To the first official reception, after New
Years day, Jan. 5, the diplomatic corps, the
Judges of the supreme court and the en-
tire congress will be asked This means
that no persons outside these circles will
be admitted. To the second, Jan. 10, the
Judges of the supreme court and the Ju~
dietary a part of congress and a part
Of the press will be invited. To the third,
Feb. 2, the army and navy the marine
corps, part of congress and part OF
the press. To the fourth, Feb. 8, part
of congress, the diplomatic corps, part of
the press and government officials.
1t will be observed that the entire con-
eress will be invited to the first reception.
After that part of congress" is men,
toned. The plan proposed is that for the
three important receptions following the
first, congress shall be divided into three
parts This will be done by inviting one,
third of the states in alphabetical order,
at time. All who are entitled Will be
given an opportunity to be present at
least once during the season, but not
oftener. The press is to receive the same
treatment as congress, with the exception
that no arrangements have been made for
the press a the opening reception. In
Justice to the press represented here, 1t
is but fair to say that very small pro-
portion of the corps of correspondents at
tend these social functions. The stories
written of such events are usually sup
piled by lady spondents.
1t is a great pity that the diplomatic
corps and the army and navy will not be
guests at the white house together as
heretofore as the mingling of imported
and homegrown uniforms has been a bril-
liant feature at these receptions. Mr..
Porter makes an additional change in the
manner of invitations. Under former ad-
ministra lions invita- lions were issue early
in the season, covering all of the state
receptions. Hereafter separate cards will
be issued to each reception.
L. I. 4 r..,,1 No. (NOV
densass marshaled his numerous family,
his landlady and all fellow boarders at
the various levees. 1t was not an uncom-
mon thing for madame of the exclusive
set to receive a bow from modest little
person, who, being viewed through be-
jeweled lorgnettes proved to be her seam
stress or her manicure. Either of theee
last named persons found it easy to at
tend a white house function as one of the
boarding house crowd, piloted by the
friendly congressman from Wayback. All
this will henceforth be impossible, for
4 Congressman Hayseed will be asked fewer
times and the absence of crowd will
make him more careful who he escorts to
| the presidential mansion.
4 The McKinleys will give the usual num-
4 Der of state dinners to the cabinet, the
diplomatic corps and the judiciary. The
only omission noticed in the programme
/ Of events is the afternoon card receptions
house for her women acquaintances. 1t
IS not known whether Mrs. Mckinley will
participate in the public reception on New
Years day or not. It is a very trying or
deal, and it is feared that the strain may
be too great upon her. If she is equal to
this exhausting ordeal of shaking hands
with hundreds of men, women and chill
dren she will prove that she is far from
being the delicate invalid she is supposed
to be.
The ladies' of the cabinet form gor-
Geous group in the blue parlor. The re-
ceiving line will show stunning effects in
gowns and jewels, as well as in beauty OF
person. With the young people of the
cabinet families and the fashionable con-
tngent of local society directly back of
the line, it will be a memorable event at
the white house. Just how the party Will
receive is a matter of speculation, but
MT Porter has undoubtedly solved the
question, and will spring another surprise
upon the public Both the wife of the
resident and the wife Of the Vice Pres
loent receive sitting down, and some i'm
aglnative young people are prophesying
I'M lIldt low p0lrtacas will he necessary in