The Washington times., 1901-11-17
HOME LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE,

as table hospitality is coafcernsd, if he
continues his present custom of break
ing bread twice and thrice a day with
his personal and political friends.
Since the day of his coming to the
Executive Mansion, the President has
failed to sit down to single family din
nor or luncheon, and even the first meal
of the day has been enliN eped frequently
by the presence Of guests. AS a Wash
ington wag has put it, He drops din
ner in the slot and gets a package of
administration advice
Political economists are beginning to
speculate how the Presidential pocketbook
is going to stand the perpetual dinner
giving strain.
President Roosevelt lives we'll and he
takes wine at luncheon and dinner. For
him, the joys of the table are increased
a hundred-fold by the presence of con-
genial guests. At present he is as busy
dining political advisers whom he wishes
to cultivate as his old and large circle
of Washington friends.
The Red Parlor, room famous during
the Mckinley administration. and where
were held the Sunday night symposiums,
dear to the heart of the martyred Presl-
dent, has been selected by Mr.. RooseVelt
for his private evening conferences. IL
is here, in the genial glow of the req
nduBlUSS ana crimson Snaueu iEhlS- tit'ab
the President comes after dinner, with
half dozen or more political authorl-
ties" to discuss affairs of state.
Whatever the President undertakes, he
has a good companion in his wife. Mrs
Roosevelt has her husbands confidence
to an unusual extent, and she is so well
up on all questions of public interest as
to be an adviser to her distinguished hus-
Itaga
the education of her children, and has
keen interest in all affairs of the nursery,
Mrs. Roosevelt finds time to drive or ride
with her husband every afternoon. Rid
ing is the more popular with both. and
Mrs. Roosevelt is an expert horsewoman.
the possessor of a thoroughbred mount
and keen for a swift race with the Presi-
dent when beyond the city limits.
Mrs. Roosevelt has swept everything be-
fore her at the White House. Matters
formerly left to the decision of the Secre-
tary to the President. or the Superin-
tendent of Public Buildings and Grounds.
which latter office has become rather of
a social stewardship, have been taken in
hand by the Presidents wife. who. with
the assistance of her secretary, will form
new code of White House etiquette.
Social life at the White House this Win
ter VIII be far and away from the cut
and-dried formula hitherto observed. The
hrst innovation has been the establish
ment of a list, which will include only
those who may visit Mrs. Roosevelt on
Friday, her day at home Formerly it
was possible for almost any respectable
woman to meet Mrs. Mckinley. one had
onlyto arrange for r day with some White
House attache, and then go. with per-
haps thirty others into the presence Of
the First Lady of the Land.
Mrs. Mckinley was always good-natur-
a
lty. but there was never any effort put
forth to make the visits Of strangers or
aequaintances particularly interesting
upon these occasions. One had only the
satisfaction of receiving hearty hand
shake. few words with Mrs. Mckinley.
with the further privilege of staring at
the surroundings and the toilet of the
Presidents wife. and coming away with
what enthusiasm it was possible to mus
ter. She was not equal physically to
eEerting her strength to the entertain
Inent of visitors.
1t Is altogether different with Mrs.
Roosevelt She has abundant vitality and
means to be an active participant in gay
society. There will be no public evening
receptions this winter at the-White House,
and on Fridays Mrs Roosevelt will re-
ceive only the women of the official and
desirable sets. Her at homes will have
all the charm OF n private reception
There will be assisting friends, tea
table, and Mrs. Roosevelt will make her
self attrdt tive to each individual visitor
AbundaE. whispers have already gone
forth of the surprising refusais to admit
certain women of wealth, who have en-
joycd White House privileges for many
years. Such women are politely inform
ed by the ushers that Mrs. Roosevelt is
not receiving, and it is proved conclusive
IHH 4.
70 an individual, exactly the women she
wishes to know.
The best people of Washington have
nothing but praise for the woman who
by her social experience will elevate the
position of First Lady of the Land.
They rejoice that the position will be
hedged about by few social rules. and
that society at the National Capital will
henceforth have an example and a recog-
niZed feminine head.
Rumor has it that Mrs. Roosevelt is re-
sponsible for the very smart appearance
OF the Presidential equ1pages, but 1T IS
safe to divide the honors, apportioning the
selection of the horses to the President
and the trappings and liveries to Mrs
Roosevelt. At last We have a White
House outfit that can compare with that
of any embassy in Washington Mrs
Roosevelt drives in victoria or n trim
Droushain, anG the men on the box wear
Hveries Of very dark blue, with wide COL
lars Of pronounced. almost Continental.
blue. Their hats are ornamentcd with
small cOckades of red, white and blue
II sounds rather bizarre, but it is. in real
ity, in the very best possible taste and
smart to the extreme of smartness.
Mrs. Roosevelt in her victoria, was
driving up Sixteenth Street recently when
she was observed to bow to a commodi-
Gus automobile. There was great bob
bling and lodging of heads within the
automobile. and finally the numbering ma
chine was turned about and started in
the direction OF the President $ carriage
When the latter was successfully over
taken three quaint and curious young
faces were turned in the direction of Mrs
Roosevelt, who smiled at the eagerness
with which these strange little Chinese
maidens regarded her The automobile
was the property OF his Excellency
Wu Ting-fang. The Oriental stran-
gers within were the young relatives of
Madame WI, who returned with the lat
ter from a recent visit to China. Both
the Chinese Minister and Madame Wu go