Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-03-03


were excluded unless they wore the re-
quired dress. Access was not easy. and
Gignified stateliness reigned. In the
second year of that administration the
seat of government was removed to
Philadelphia, where Washington took
a house on Market street, between Fifth
and Sixth streets. Mrs. Washington
held her drawing rooms on Friday even
ings of each week, the company assem-
bling early and retiring before 1880
p. m. 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 remarka BILE intellect, her social
influence and wealth were a 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
1y: Where would you be if ii had not
been for the Widow Custis?"
Abigail. the wife of President John
Adams, lived in Washington only four
months. preferring TO reside al 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
grand and superb scale, requiring at
least 80 servants tc attend to it." While
occupying it. she could not get wood
enough to keep the mansion warm. ard
the most convenient uSe he found fDr
the East room. then unfinished. was
10 hang her clothes to dry in it. She
owas by all odds the most heroic figure
of the revolution, and her letters TO
Jefferson were so admirable that they
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 mis-
daughter. He was a widower. Thus the
never-to- beforgotten Dolly Madison"
took the place of first lady in the land"
Which position she continued to occupy
for 10 years, her husband succeeding
Jefferson. Under her regime, the
formal etiquette which had made the
Oh MIS- w washington a nj
Mrs. Adams dull and tedious was laid
aside. and no stiffness was permitted.
For all this cheerful Virginia hos
pitality was substituted. On one occa-
sion, the abundance and size of Mrs.
Madison's dishes were made subjects of
ridicuie by a 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
auguration of her husband she wore n
dress of buff velvet, Paris turban with
bird-of-pa radise plume. and pea rls on
her neck and arms. Withal she was the
most popular woman in the United
States, and she never forgot the name
of 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-
terrain 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 90 years the giving
of ladies' iuncheons has become an inn
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 presl-
dents wife need never return a visit.
and she is not even required to send a
card instead.
President Mckinley is a poor man.
His business reverses were so serious a
few years ago that he was practically
impoverished. But he will be able to
bear the burdens imposed by his Off
-cial position. and yet can proba bly, 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
IL expected 10 please everybody. for