The Brunswick times. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 188?-1900, 1897-12-12
NEW SOCIAL RULES.
INVITATIONS TO OFFICIAL REcEP-
TONS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

gressmen Jealous In Claiming Their So
cial Rights.
The programme of the official recep-
tions to be held at the White House,
beginning with New Years day, was
announced recently by Mr.. John Addi-
son Porter, secretary to the president.
1t is the joint production of Mr.. Porter
and Colonel Bingham, who will act as
master Of ceremonies at the receptions
this winter and announce the names of
the guests to the president and the re-
ceiving party.
The two officials having charge of
the matter have conceived the idea OF
limiting the number of invitations to
be sent out. Heretofore the members of
congress-. the Judiciary, the diplomatic
corps, the army and the navy, govern
ment officials and the press have receiv-
ed an omnibus invitation to all the re-
ceptions given during the season. These
receptions were given in honor of the
various divisions of official society, but
society as whole was invited to attend
them all.
The new order at the White House
changes all this. For instance, there
will be one reception to which all of
congress is invited, but to the remain
ing receptions only portion of congress
Is asked. The rule to be observed, it is
understood, is to divide congress alpha
betically into as many parts as there
are receptions. The army and navy are
subjected to the same rule. The men,
bers Of these services have always been
considered Indispensable to the success
Of the official functions at the White
House. They attend in full dress uni
form and their gorgeous trappings have
always lent color to an otherwise rather
plain and somber assemblage. At the
diplomatic reception the handsome re-
galias of the ambassadors, ministers and
their attaches, together with the bril-
liant uniforms of the army and navy
officers, made spectacle worth going
miles to see. Under the new order the
diplomats and our gold trimmed war
riors will have to shine on different
nights, for the army and navy are not
invited to the diplomatic reception.
There is some comment also among
the diplomats, it is said, over the Por-
birmingham programme. Heretofore
one of the receptions was held in partic-
ular honor of these foreign representa-
tives This year they will hsve to di-
vide the honor with the supreme court
and all of congress.
The greatest objection to the new pro-
gramme is expected to come from men,
bers of congress. Ever since these official
receptions we're inaugurated it has been
privilege highly regarded by members
from way back to attend each one in
company with whole flock of female
relatives and acquaintance. 70 have
this privilege curtailed by being permit
ted to attend one reception in his own
honor and only one other in the honor
of somebody else may breed jealousy.
The efforts of Mr.. Porter and Colonel
Bingham to restrict the crowds that
have hitherto made these White House
receptions farce and an agony receive
the approval of every one who has had
the misfortune to participate in one of
the rib crushing, clothes destroying
jams. The question, however, is, have
they taken the proper means of prevent
ing crush? The reducing of the num-
Der of invitations, it is feared, will not
result in a smaller crowd unless some
provision is made for keeping persons
out who have not been invited.
In the opinion of all experienced off,
cials the only way to limit the crowd is
to require those invited to present cards
of admission at the door. This plan, il
is understood, was decided on by Mr.
Porter and Colonel Bingham, but it was
promptly vetoed by the president. The
latter declared that he did not propose
inaugurating his first series of official
receptions by making himself exclusive
and requiring cards of admission to be
presented.
This veto may destroy the efficacy of |
the whole plan desired by the White |
House officials, as it is notorious fact |
that hundreds and even thousands of
persons attend these receptions who
never even saw a card of invitation.
President Hayes inaugurated the |
evening receptions extending from New
Years until the opening of Lent. The |
New Years reception itself is almost as
old as the government, as are also the |
state dinners which the president is ex- |
peoted to give but the evening func- |
lions for the reception Of official society |
dates from the Hayes administration.
President Hayes started off giving Law
ish entertainments. He not only received |
his guests personally, but provided them
with an elegant supper. Terrapin, pate
de fois gras and all sorts of delicacies
were provided in abundance, but the
drinkables were limited to lemonade,
coffee and Potomac water, thus prevent
ing the repetition of the scenes that
were enacted at President Jackson's
New Years receptions when hard cider
and other intoxicants were furnished
with big dinners and the White House
was turned into big free lunch estab-
lishment.
One of the reasons given for the re-
duction of the crowds at the presidents
is the desire to spare Mrs.