St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-03-26

were excluded unless they wore the re-
quired dress. Access was not easy, and
Gignitied stateliness reigned. In the
second year of that administration the
seat of government was removed 10
Philadelphia, where Washington took
house on Market street. between Fifth
and Sixth streets. Mrs. Washington
held her drawing-room on Friday even
ings Of each week, the company assem-
bling early and retiring before l0:3O
p. IN. The lady Of the mansion always
sat. The president had his hair pow
dered and did not shake hands with
anyone.
Although all these things have under
gone great change. the regulations
which Martha Washington adopted are
to a great extent in force to-day.
Though she was not. probably. wom-
an Of remarkable intellect, her social
influence and wealth were great help
to the Father of His Country, and it is
not surprising that David Burns, when
Washington was bargaining with him
for piece of land south of the white
house, should have remarked derisive-
ly: Where would you be If it had not
been for the Widow Cus;is?"
Abigail. the wife Of President John
Adams. lived in Washington only four
morths. preferring to reside at Quincy.
Mass. where she could take care Of her
husbands estate. She complained that
there was no comfort to be had in the
white house, because it was ION such a
grand and superb scale, requiring at
least 80 servants to attend to it." While
occupying it. she could not get wood
enough TO keep the mansion warm, and
the most convenient use she found for
the East room, then unfurnished. was
to hang her clothes to dry in it. She
was by all odds the most heroic figure
of the revolution, and her letters to
have become historic.
jefferson had no liking for social
ceremonial. but, becoming convinced
that it was necessary for him to be-
stow some attention on such matters,
he asked Mrs. Madison, the wife of his
secretary of state, to act as mistress OF
the executive mansion, assisted by his
daughter. He was widower. Thus the
neyer-to-be forgotten Dolly Madison"
took the place of first lady in the land"
which position she continued to occupy
for 16 years, her husband succeeding
jefferson. Under her regime, the
formal etiquette which had made the
drawing rooms of Mrs. Washington and
Mrs. Adams dull and tedious was laid
aside, and no stiffness was permitted.
For all this a cheerful Virginia hos
pitality was substituted. On one occa-
SION, the abundance and size of Mrs.
Madison's dishes were made subjects of
ridicule by foreign minister, but she
was Indifferent to such criticism. She
used rouge to some extent and was
very fond of snuff. At the first in
auguratinn Of her husband she wore
dress Of buff velvet, Paris turban with
a bird-of-paradise plume. and pearls on
her neck and arms. Withal she was the
most popular woman in the United
States, and she never forgot the name
Of a person who had been introduced to
her. The senate granted her seat on
the floor Of that body-an honor which
has never been accorded to any other
person Of her sex.
1t is generally regretted in our social
circles that Mrs. Mckinley cannot en-
tertain at the white house as her prede-
cessors have done. The little lady has
been an invalid nearly all of her life,
and her physical strength is very
meager.
During the past 20 years the giving
of ladies' iuncheons has become an i'm
portant part of entertaining at the
executive mansion. Mrs. Harrison and
Mrs. Cleveland gave many such
spreads. Both women made numerous
calls on friends. though etiquette did
not oblige them to do so. for the presi-
dents wife need never return visit,
and she is not even required to send
card instead.
President Mckinley is . poor man.
His business reverses were so serious a
few years ago that he was practically
impoverished. But be will be able to
bear the burdens imposed by his off,
cial 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 of the land" are exceedingly
onerous during the social season. She
is expected TO please everybody. for
any offense she may give is sure to be
magnitied a thousand times.
The praises Of the wife of President
Hayes are still heard ID all social cir
cles. She was exceedingly popular with |
both sexes and with all classes. Il is
claimed by ladies who may now re-
epectfully be called veterans" In so
ciety that her hospitality and open
heartedness made the administration
Of her husband great social success. |
She thoroughly enjoyed the high posi-
tion in which she found herself. and |
the white house was always full Of |
guests while she governed IT.
Il i - years since Ne have had IN the |