The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-02-10
WASHINGTON LETTER
VISITS AT WHITE HOUSE.
Mrs. Mckinley at Close Range-The Sem
ate Debates--Governor and Mrs.
Shaw's Washington Visit.

NAHs NhCAWlcy aC ClOAo Nauke-In0 sen. 1
ate Debates-GOvernOr and Mrs.
Shaw's Washington Visit /
I The day l reached Washington l
learned that Governor and Mrs. Shaw
/ we're in the city and soon after dinner
called upon them. They were stopping
at the Hamilton which has long been
the Washington home of Mr.. Dolliver.
1t seemed like old times to be chatting
with Governor Shaw and his wife.
They were both looking well. though
Governor Shaw was spending his time
cutting red tape. looking up pensions
and war claims and in other ways at
tending to the interests ''of his own
people," 1t was Mrs. Shaw's first visit
{, to the city and She was ''doing Wash
|ington" with keen interest and enjoy
ment. Senator Gear gave a large din
ner in honor of Governor Shaw and he
was also invited to speak before the re-
publicans of Iowa and gave them an
excellent informal talk. A number
present had never heard Mr.. Shaw and
he made most favorable impression
upon all. But to gosback to my cali, Mr..
and Mrs. Dolliver came into the parlur
and had the pleasure of being pre-
sented to Mrs. Dolliver. She is "a
noble woman, nobly planned" with
charming una ffected manners. This
let me say in passing is as delightful as
it is unusual. The average society
woman's manner being about as unreal
as the average stage kiss. Mrs. Dol
liver had arranged to have Mrs. Shaw
meet Mrs. Mckinley at one of her card
receptions and included me in the in
} vitation which was very glad to ac-
cept for it had all the merits s'of a
private vlew." Mr. Dolliver was re-
sisting the Overtures of an attack of
grip, and was glad to hear later, was
successful.
The next day, Saturday, our party of
seven walked over to the White House.
A member of the party was Miss Gay
Deliver who combines broad culture
with good sense, a combination that
made her a very entertaining compan-
. ion. We presented our cards to the
. doorkeeper and entered the long hall
where the state dinners are served,
then into the red room where full
length portraits of Mrs. Hayes and Mrs
Harrison are among the most interest
ing objects. From there we went into
!, the blue room where we were in the
, Ipresence of the first lady Of the land,
The decorations of this room were done
by Tiffany and are largely the result Of
Mrs. Harris0n's effort to leave the
White House more beautiful than she
found it. Mrs. Mckinley received her
: guests in blue and gold chair. that
!, was y fitting background to her blue
satin gown. Mrs. Mckinley is very
like her pictures but has alovely color
that they cannot give and that adds
; very much to her delicate, sweet face.
Mrs. Mckinley was very cordial to
Governor and Mrs. Shaw. Near Mrs.
Mckinley stood Mrs. Hobart, wife of
the e-president, Nellie Grant Sar-
toris, Mrs. Miles, wife of Gen. Miles,
Bishop Hurst and daughter, Miss Bar
! Der. and Miss Mckinley, a niece OF
Mrs. McKinley's and numberless others
of whose names and fame we all know.
Soon after being. presented we went
into the stately and historic east room
and then left. felt that was indebt-
ed to Mrs. Dolliver for q great pleasure.
Sunday it showed persistently. the
weather man seemed to have mixedshis
weather for the etSete east and wild.
and woody west. Snow in. q city 10 q
calamity. the pinch Of poverty becomes
more acute. Some OF the makeshifts
bring . smile and q tear, for instance
: an old darky plodding painfully In tie
SNOW. his feet tied up in huge burlsp,
sacks. -, :.
/ Yesterday. Monday. l went up, TO the
senate to hear Senators German. Allen
and Clay speak on the peace, treaty.
The galleries we're thronged with spec
tators. I went very carly and hsu ii
good seat. Senator Allen assured every
one that he was an honest mau, a vely
honest man. '.M~thought he did protest
too much'' and that Washington and
our other great men had better hug
their niche of fame lest the boy orator
of the Platte step up and they step
down. l was surprised to fnd thst
Senator Hanna was fine looking, jolly
man. The deadly cartoon had poison.
ed even my candid republican mind.
was also much interested in seeing
Henry Cabot Lodge of Massachusetts
His histories are SO interesting and his !
relations with his readers so cordial |