The National tribune., 1899-12-14

| Pres dent down There is no obligation
! f-Jm one official to another on such days
=. ii Vel Is an opportunity Tor strangers
II tee ciIy 10 see something OF official life
and many crowd these houses at these
! racer tons. That it IS q mere formality
without much heart or purpose there are
many evidences.
We have recollections of reception
given by member cf The Cabinet. Ii was
the first session that Billy" Mason was in
Congress be entered the list, and made
the visit after much perturbation of soul
as to his duty in the matter. He said
afterward to a party with whom he was
| talking over the "reminiscences of the day:
Il don't know just how | would have got
out OF it if had not gone up there. You
see, they were expecting me, and when
| entered the hostess and all the ladies'
faces were wreathed in smiles, and they
received me like lost brother, and before
| got through hearing how glad they were
to meet me, felt like culprit, that | had
allowed a thought to enter my mind that
this pleasure above all others was the one
for me to indulge in, and had l not gone.
how could ever have been able to excuse
myself to those ladies?
Il chatted with one and another, and
| then | was captured and led into the dining
| room, and you would have thought that
| it was the return of the prodigal son.
was just laden with everything but the
fatted calf
"When the time came for my departure
almost hated to say good-by. l felt
very sure if there was member of Con-
gress in Washington that had been taken
heart and soul into official society. it was
| William E. Mason. member of Congress
from Illinois.
Il advanced toward my hostess to give
the salutary goodnight. l should have
said 'Good-morning'-you know. it was
long after dark. but l had not dined;
have got on to the social partition Of the
| day here. / made no mistake. l said. i
bid you good-morning, madam; l have
had charming time and l felt it, too;
but she said: 'Good-morning; we hope you
will be sure and come to our next reception,
will you not Mr. - Chum-chum'
Il walked out, and just said to myself:
| II they do not know who l am. do. and
| I'll let the reporters know Billy Mason.
of Illinois, is in the swim of Washington
society"
Think of a ball in which such high
| lights as Daniel Webster, John c. Cal
houn, and Henry Clay appeared. John
| Quincy Adams gave famous ball when he
| lived on F street. opposite the Ebbitt House.
| He was then Secretary of State. The ball
was given Jan. s, 1924, in honor of Andrew
jackson and his victory at New Orleans.
| 1t was the most brilliant social affair that
had ever been given in Washington. No
snapshots were taken In those days, bu1
| if artists were true to the line old pictures
indicate that everybody did honor to the
occasion by appearing in full dress cos
Itumes-buff waistcoats, blue coats, gill
buttons, white neck-tieS, high chokers
silk stockings, and pumps.
| This was an auspiciouS night for Gen
Jackson. John c. Calhoun was in line
on the Presidential ticket, but his name
was soon after withdrawn and Andrew
Jackson put in Calhoun's place. Johr
Quincy Adams. the late host. was running
in opposition to him.
The year succeeding the election was on,
of great strife and bitterness. Unfortu
nately neither candidate was elected
cision. The roll of the House was called b,
States. The votes of each State were de
posted in box and placed on a table
The tellers were Daniel Webster and Johl
Randolph. who proceeded to open tn
, boxes and count the ballots. Mr.. Web
ster announced the election of Mr.. Adams
, No event in the social affairs of Wash
ington has been so associated with the his
tory of its politics as the Adams ball
1t was a strange turn in the affairs O
; these men that brought them into thi
. social cauldron. and undoubtedly tn
seething was augmented by the rhym
in which John Ogg celebrated the even
in the Washington Republican, Jan. S
. 1924, one verse of which reads thus:
'Wend you with the world tonight?
Brown and fair, and wise and witty,
Eyes that float in seas Of light
Laughing eyes and dimpes pretty.
Bellies and matrons, maids and madams
All are gone to Mrs: Adams"
Hoods Sarsaparilla is the effective and fauItIes
cure for impure blood or q diSoIdered system