The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-22
She is Very Popular in
Washington Society.
CrOwiS Gather at Card Re-
ceptiOnS Given by Her.
There is Pressing Need of Enlarge
nent Of the White House.

White House. 1t was noticeable, however,
that nearly all the guests were from the
army and navy or from unofficial circles.
| As usual during the last two years, sena-
tors and representatives werc conspicuous
by their absence. The reception was given
In the special honor of the army and navy
and marine corps, and tho military arm Of
the government is represented In Washing.
ton by large colony, nearly all of whom
wero present TO bid goodby 20 Mrs. Cleve-
land. As have before had occasion to re-
mark, Mrs. Cleveland has lost none of her
popularity in Washington IL was inter-
esting TO sec the women standing in the
main corridor OF the executive mansion,
where 10y pushing and crowding they could
occasionally got IA glimpse Of the first lady
OF the land, and TO listen TO their remarks
such adIoetives as "sweet," " lovely, :"
Just grand, perfectly beautiful, F" were
common enough. But one Of the best
things said was uttered by the wife of an
old army officer, campaigner of many
posts and with vast experience in human
nature.
She "Wears Well"
Mrs. Cleveland is more loved by Us all
now than she was when she came here as
pretty young BRIDE" she said. .It is
mighty few women who wear as well as
Chat. f"
That Mrs. Cleveland has "worn we'll"
there can be no doubt She clings to her
old friends, and one Of tho best things
about her is that she never deserts he's
friends because fortune deals harshly with
them. Once friend always friend is her
rule. There are women in this capital
II m hn 10 baxv T.
president and who are no longer of the SO.
cial or official Importance they once were
But 1t makes no difference with the lady
of the White House. She stands by them
all tho time.
The crowding at the White House that
night was disgraceful to the American ma
tion. Inasmuch rs three or four congress
mon and their wives wore mixed up in the
scrimmage. one would think the national
Legislature might be induced to do some
thing toward giving us new executive
mansion or at least an addition to the old
one. But as long as this craze for eco
nomical appropriations continues 1t is un-
likely we shall secure any Improvement
The trouble with tho White House is that
IL is too small TO accommodate the crowds
which attend the card RECEPTIONS. The
line OF guests forms In the vvstbule where
the Marine band is stationed, and is crowd
ed dreadfuliy for space, and then moves
slowly through tho main corridor and TO
the door OF tho rcd room. In this corridor
the line broadens out and becomes crush
In fact, two lines converge here-that
from tho vestibulc and another from the
east room, the latter being composed OF
guests who have had the wit to go up
stairs 10 leave their wraps and who have
entered from the east room The two
streams of humanity como together with
terrific force Good natured and polite
tho most of them are, but as the little door
Is reached through which all are anxious
TO enter human nature asserts itself and
there Is dreadful jam.
Dangerous Crowd.
The writer tried to make his way
through this maelstrom at tho last recep-
ton. 1t required 30 minutes TO advance q
distance of 20 feet. The air was sitting.
Men and women were squeezed together as
II they were In n cotton compress Gowns
were crushed and tempers ruilled. Occa-
sionally a woman tainted 1t was next to
impossible to get her out, and her escort
could do no better than to fan her and beg
the people TO pass her glass OF water. AS
the door TO the red room was approached
tho crush became really dangerous. The
attendants endeavored To allow about 90
persons to pass through together, and as
soon as they raised their agIns as the sig
nal for the advance the whole throng be- |
gan n mighty surge forward. Those who |
were i'm line for the door were squeezed |
through it--shot through it--much as you |
would squirt soapsuds out Of your clinched |
hand. Moro than one man near me be- |
came excited through fear that their wives |
Or daughters would be crushed and began |
20 fight and push and pull, adding to the |
hazard that some one would trip and fell |
md create panic.
Gracious and Accomplished.
. As I stood Watching Mrs. Cleveland re
,eivc her guests with that graciousness for
which she is famous was reminded of the
yreat help she has been To the president In |
ihe matter of preparing many of his adj |
lresses and public papers. She has written
! number of them out for him, and some
II the prctticst and most highly valued
souvenirs which administration officials
will take homo with them are MANUSCRIPTS
Il Grover Clevcand's state papers I'm the
handwriting OF his wife | am also re-
minded that one Of the wives Of our presi-
ents acted as her husbands private sec.
etary Mrs. James X. Polk attended to
Ter husbands correspondence while he
vas president, kept his papers, filed away
which he might want TO con
ult and stood at his clbow great deal OF
he time TO attend to his wants Of n cler-
cal nature. That was before the days of
ypcwriters and OF stenography. and it l.
4 record that President Polk said no did
lot sec how he conld get along without
he assistance of his wife. she is so val.
able as an assistant president. he said
N one occasion, that sometimes wonder
Tho is really the prcsidcnt-she or / 4"
Guests at the last reception I'm the White
iouso saw lying upon one Of the desks In
be mp stairs apartments brief prepared
y Mr., Cleveland I'm pardon case There
vas the fine, regular, neat, almost femi-
line handwriting Of the president. and
here was his we'll known signature I'm
repairing this brief Mr. Cleveland had
rohably spcnt several hours, perhaps the
ottcr part Of day. He H. exceedingly
ainstaking ia all such matters He trusts
title 10 uthcrs. hut insists upon oxamin-
ng al the c,idcrcc for himself | once