The times., 1897-12-12


the president OF the republic as a-ell as
in the courts CT kings and emperors. 1t
should. at least, be dignified, and his plan
Of dinners TO diplomats and other high
officials was soon accepted as a happy
substitute for public entertaining.
The next change instituted was during
President Folks Administration, and Mrs.
Polk, who was a very beautiful and pop
uIar firstIady ofthe land, with considerable
credit for personal convictions and the
courage TO live up 10 them, was credited
with making the next change in White
House custahs. She was strict PresbY-
terian, and regarded pronhscuous dancing
as demoTali1ing, and, from her time on
until Mrs. Mary Mckee, President Harri-
sons daughter, gave chiidren's dance
in tie East Room, the sound of dance
music was heard no more In the ES-
ecutive Mansion. Mrs Polk introduced an
other custom that has since generally been
attributed &c Mrs. Hayes. She abolished
the use of wine from the private table,
and TUNED her glasses down at state
dinners.
Mrs Polk was generally sustained in her
innovati ions of customs dating from Wash
ington's time since they expressed conser-
vative public opinion.
Next To Gen. jackson President Lincoln
believed nothing that was his too good for
the common people from whom he had
sprung. And although he did not sntertain
with focd ana drink, the very Ace of Spades
never was turned down at the White House
on account Of his color or origin. These
ia sepcial customs outlved the Jolinstnand
Grant regime, and came as n well-worn
custom To tile time when President Hayes,
as i: were, drew the lucky number which
landed him in the White House. The staCe
OF things was almost uncomfortable and Mrs.
Hayes aud Secretary Evarts set their wits
TO work to introduce Some change that
would add dignity to official occasions
and net offend public opinion, which is so
very sensitive on the subject of being
classified. Mrs. Hays contended for moe
than She obtained in the way of concessions
ON the liquor question at public or state
dinners, but her stand made her forever
famous as the temperance champion OF the
Executive Mansion.
II was duriug this period the Joint Presi-
dental card of invitation to social events
in the Executive Mansion made its ap-
pearance Ia its present form, ITO meet the
Diplomatic Corps Reception to the
Congress and the Judiciary ITO meet
the Officers OF the Army and the Navy and
the Marine Corps" and lastly the Public
reception when everybody in the''blue
book net hitherto honored were at liberty
to present themselves even If an invitation,
somehow, had missed them.
This reception card has always been re-
garded 10y its recipients as a very elastic
thing, aud some Congressional families
passineinto the Executive Mansionunder the
wingn tingmembeFha - been
astonishmgly large, and in some insta noes
50 overpowered the doorkeeper by its size
or number he could nut utter word OF pro-
| test If ne desired to do 81. The suggestion Of
| issuing this combined card came from, Mrs.
| Hayes, and has served good turn for the
past twenty years. But still this emergency
| of overcrowding MANAGES all pleasure Df
! dignity in the Executive Mansion, and the
/ President being a plain, straightforward
| man, has Just brought his clear common
sense 10 bear upon tine subject, and at Mrs.
| McKinleys suggestion cuts the invitation
| into SIX cards and another custom oftwenty
years goes into 'innocuous desuetude, =
and for time, after criticism has died
for want of something further to sa on
| the subject, the situation viii be &C
cepted, and People viii wonder how any
otherwise was endured for so long.
At any rate. whatever emanates from
the White House has to be accapted, since
it is at the head OF all the socinl customs
that are in vogue at the capital.
Until Grover Cleveland took unto himself
young wife, the Ia that a President
| should only extend and not receive hos
pitality OF any kind, remained nnbroken
from Washington down. But there was
an outcry from the ladies Of his Cabinet
circle that to persist in such "A course
with rne beloved Frances would be as good
and seoluSiye as though she were tbs
inmate of u nunnery instead Of the White
House, and to Nr. Cleveland is due the
breaking Of this exclusive rule. He gave
Cabinet dinners and returned dinner visits
in Cabinet homes only, a custom that Mr.
Harrison thought so ensib!e he kept it UP
Each Cabinet officer thus has the honor
of entertaining the President OF the United
States once each season. Every one o
these innovations of old customs and intro
duetions OF new ones caused just as mucf
talk and writing in the time of them al
as the change of day on the McKinle,
card. He has decided that Wednesda!
is the day and all other things planned
for that day, IL they cannot be accom-
plished, viii have to adjust thensclve
To new conditions AZ they may.