The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-01-02
WHITE HOUSE DARK
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MANY
YEARS NO RECEPTION WAS
HELD.
OTHER RECEPTIONS GALORE.
NO APPARENT DIMINUTION OF NEW
YEARS GAYETY AT THE CAP
ITAL.
FIRST LADIES OF THE LAND.
Interesting "reminiscences of WOm-
en- Who Have Ruled the Execu-
tive Mansion.

Special to the Globe.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1-For the first
time in many years the first day of the
New Year was not observed at the
White house by the holding of & pub
lie reception. The recent bereavement
Of the president not only affected him
deeply and made him averse to the
dazzling display of a public reception
but it was decided by his advisers that
it would be in exceedingly bad taste
for him to hold a reception, merely to
crafty the clamor of the unfeeling
people who seek the garish glitter of
Public functions because of their NOR
bid curiosity and their desire to disport
themselves.
1t has long been customary in Wash
ington TO have the New Years recep-
ton at the White house mark the be-
ginning of the social season. Follow
ing that reception, it has been the
custom of the secretary of state and
the other members of the cabinet to
give public receptions in the order of
their cabinet rank. Immediately there
after, the heads of bureaus in the ex-
ecutive departments have given recep-
lions; so that within a week after New
i =
fairly aglow with the warmth and hot
haste of receptions following fast and
following faster upon each other until
all of our society people went swirling
together into a maclstrom of gayety.
All Of them have Wed with each other
in making a fast and furious pace of
PLEASURE in order that no time might
be lost before the coming of the Lenten
Of
self-abnS cation.
However although there was no pres
ident's reception on this CNew Years
day. there were other receptions ga
lore, and the social ball was set rolling
Like the snoWballs which the boys in
wintry chimes are now rolling this social
ball will grow in volume as it rolls along
The manageable girls, with shrewd
matchmaking mammas, will be very
busy during the coming season. EX-
cept only the Sundays, we newspaper
correspondents might telegraph our pa
pers every evening during the winter:
There is a sound of revelry by night"
and add, on each occasion, that soft
eyes lock love to eyes which speak
again; and all goes merry as a marriage
bell"
circles that Mrs. Mckinley cannot en-
toretain at the. White house as her
predecessors have done. The little lady
has been an invalid nearly all her life
and her physical strength is very
meager.
During the last twenty years the Civ
ing Of ladies' lUncheors has become an
important part Of entertaining at the
Mrs. Cleveland gave many such
spreads" Both women made numer-
Gus calls on friends, though etiquette
did not oblige them to do so; for the
presidents wife need never return a
visit, ard she is not even required to
send a card instead
The most trying part of entertaining
at the White house is the giving of
state dinners. To provide these feasts
is duty devolved upon the president
by ineXorable custom and he cannot es-
cape from it. He must invite, each win
ter, all the senators and representa-
tives in congress, the cabinet, the diplo-
matte corps and the high officers of the
army and navy stationed at Washing
ton. To accomplish this six banquets
are required, costing from 500 to 81, 500
each. MIR. Harrison had such official
meals served by a caterer; but Mr..
Cleveland employed his own chef. The
butler of the executive mansion, who
arranges the dinners, is hired by the
government. but the chief magistrate
of the nation must pay for everything
else out of his own pocket
President Mckinley is a poor man.
His business reverses were so serious
a few years ago that he was practic-
ally impoverished But he will be able
10 bear the burdens imposed by his
official position, and yet can probably
save something out of his salary of
$4,000 per annum.
Even if Mrs. Mckinley had been
blessed With health and strength, she
might have found her position some
what eXacting, because the duties of
'the first lady in the land are ex-
ceedingly onerous during the social