The Dickinson press., 1897-08-28
WASHINGTON LETTER.

WASHINGTON LETTER.
TIE White House In summsr-1sv 1or.
trait Of Mother 1IcKinlsy-An
xishtsn1neh Calling Card.
u1sciaiSc6rrsspondsnes.l
A peep into the White House these
warm days n most refreshing, and
msny . thriftySshonsewlfe might prodt
byssa glinpse d tho executive mansioa
in In siimiianse attire, for no spot in The
city 10 moro cool looking or inviting.
The xioh carpets and heavy draperies
have been removed, and the door cover
ing Of dainty light mattings and the
pale yellow covers Of figured linen over
the-furniturc give the rooms q charm
ingly restful appearance. which 10 in
tensiAed b. The white, sauxy net wrapped
around the crystal chandeliers, a soft,
subdued light giving the finishing touch
Of comfort to the wayfarer, tired. and
heated by the walk through the sunny
streets F,a 500.
New Portrait Of Mother Mckinley.
By degrees the. White House is taking
on Mckinley air. One Of the latest ad-
ditions that greatly add to the homelike
appearance Of the presidents private
apartments 10 the portrait In oil Of
Mother Mckinley BY the celebrated
artist Peixotto, which is said to be .
most excellent likeness. She Is por-
trayed In . natural pose. seated in her
ahair, and the expression and ooloring
are most lifelike.
Among, the new things that have
been added to their belongings the one
most priced by Mrs. Mckinley is a
beautiful little piano, an upright grand.
Of polished mahogany and Of unsur.
passed richness Of tone. It has been
placed In her sitting room, where she
can enjoy hearing it at the many inform
al little musicales which she especially
delights in.
While the houses Of congress are 81
lent and deserted and the solons scat
tered over the land, enjoying their long
delayed vacation, the many foreign le-
cations still contain almost their full
contingent Of dignitaries, who seem to
be,quite satisfied with the summer at
fractions Of the Capital City. One Of
the quaintest Of oriental curiosities was
shown me by q courteous Celestial Of
rank recently.
Invited to 0 Chinese Funeral.
II was an invitation to . Chinese fu-
neral, not the ordinary interment Of a
commonplace individual, but the grand
obsequies Of a high class Mongolian.
The envelope was white, 6 inches long
by ~ wide, with u strip Of blue paper
fastened across it's entire length, over
which was pasted n Of bright red, on
which incomprehensible hieroglyphics
were printed in gilt-the address, I was
informed, Of the individual to be hon.
ored BY being included among the
mourners. The invitation itself was OF
most generous proportions, 2 feet long
by about a foot wide, Of fine rice paper,
printed In red and blue.
The correct thing in cards for the
ultra fashionable young nan Of China
ID also unique in the extreme. It is Is
inches long by ~ wide and made Of
thin red paper, which unconsciously
reminded me Of Fourth Of July and fire.
crackers. The colored edges, Of a rich
shade Of chocolate, are fringed, and on
one end IL a tiny red square, on which
IL minute Celestial lettering the name
Of the caller is inscribed. Tho man who
is not Of the Four Hundred contents
himself with q smaller expanse Of red
paper, his card being not much large,
than an ordinary envelope, on which
his cognomen is written in large char
acters, whereas the recherche card bears
the most delicate and fine hieroglyphics,
its size and the ~gorgeousness Of the
chocolate -colored. fringe sufficiently
t~ypifytng to&&the initiated the exalted
rank Of the high born caller.
No Moro Tea Adulteration.
The many millions Of tea drinker,
will rejoice to know that their favoritl
dsbeverage is to be protected from adul
teration by law. The act Of congress
shas gone into effect which provide
THAT experts shall be appointed and al
Yeas imported held in warehouses unit
:fthey have been tested and passed b
duly qualified examiners. All leaf arti
fcially colored or teas found to be adul
terated or that do not come up to tn
Established standard will be either de
stroyed or sent out Of the country
When one knowsthe enormous amour
Of d~eleterious matter usually added t
the dust left in the large chests end sol
as tea, and 80 poisonous character q
the coloring ana authorizations are take
into consideration, the tea drinkers hav
indeed cause to rejoice.
No one Of the enthusiasts who atten
with regularity the national game
more faithful these warm August day
than Assistant Secretary Of State Wi
liam 3. Day. Long ago in his old 90
Tlege daysS!Judge.D ayscovered first bal
J Tor the UniyeFsitySm Michigan team
| and today he smilingly shows his ham
: which boasts two very crooked finger
: when waxing eloquent on the merits
! the game aud relating amusing ane
: dotes Of his old nine. In Washingte
every one goes .''to the game" and
1 the Day family the assistant secretal
. is not the only patron. as his four soa
are one and all confirmed baseba
oranks," and on the stroke Of 4 Judd
paS I'm company with one or more
bis ''boys'' may be seen making q
haste to catch, the first car for Nation
s1pArk, where they root in . dignift
n manner for the home team.
A story has been going the roun
= which is unfortunately not true. It "
: to the effect that Miss Elizabeth HI
! wood Key. granddaughter Of Fran.
Scott Key. author Of the''star spangl
Banner, I" had been reinstated in the &c
ernmennti service and given . better po
~ . ton It was said that General Gary.
coming initastrestsssdinn thesad case Of N
= Key, who is her aged and indrm mot
= er's only support recommended her
= reappoiutment, and that abe Yves OF
{ -nofe halppylin tho spossessions Of
u ~odo,& ,osikion fhak enabled her to 81