The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-11-18
WAITE HOUSE NEWS
ROOSEVELT a GREAT HAND To
ENTERTAIN.
IS A LOVER OF GOOD THINGS.
MRS. ROOSEVELT PLAYING QUITE
A PART.

men of the Capital-She Also Likes
Fine Horses and a Smart Carriage.
washington, Nov. 17.-President
roosevelt is likely to eclipse all rec
ords as White House host, so far as
table hospitality is concerned, if he
continues his present custom Of break
ing bread twice and thrice a day with
the friends of the administration.
Since the day of his coming to the
mansion, the President has failed to sit
down to single private family lunch
con or dinner. and even the first meal
Of the day has been enlivened frequent
ly by the presence of guests. AS a
washington wag has put it: Teddy
drops a dinner in the slot and gets
package of administration advice" Po-
litical economists are beginning to spec
ulate how the presidential pocketbook
is going to stand the perpetual dinner
giving strain. Health cranks are all
a-wonder over the Roosevelt digestive
organs, and it is understood now why
the President is such an ardent advo-
cate of physical exercise, for no man
could consume the quantity and the
quality of food that goes into the
presidential interior department daily
without proportionate output of bod
lily force. President Roosevelt is a high
liver, and takes wine at luncheon and
dinner. For him the joys of the table
are increased a hundred-fold by the
presence of congenial guests. Just at
present he is as busy dining those
whom he wishes to cultivate as his
political advisors as his old and large
circle of Washington friends. The Red
Parlor, room famous during the Nc
Kinley administration as the scene of
the Sunday night symposiums SO dear
to the heart of the martyred President,
has been selected by Roosevelt for his
private after-dinner conferences. 1t is
here, in the genial glow of the red
hangings and crimson shaded lights,
that the President comes after
a mellow dinner with half
dozen political authorities" to discuss
affairs of state. Cigars may still be
lighted, tough political pie in course
of argurnentative mastihcatlon, anu
the guests of the chief executive con-
clude that the latter has not forgotten
that ancient Republican slogan con-
corning the full dinner-pail.
Her Husbands Companion.
Whatever the President undertakes,
he has a boon companion in his wife.
Mrs Roosevelt has her husbands con-
fidence to an extent unusual, and she
is SO we'll up on all questions of public
interest as to be an adviser to her dis
tinguished husband. Though she per-
sonally supervises the education OF her
children and has a keen interest in
all affairs of the nursery, Mrs. Roose-
welt finds time to ride or drive with
her husband every afternoon. Riding
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
President when beyond the city limits.
Mrs. Roosevelt has swept everything
before her at the White House. Matters
formerly left TO the decision of the
secretary to the President or the SUI
perintendent of public buildings and
grounds, have been taken in hand by
the Presidents wife who, with the as
sistance of iier secretary, will form
new code of White House etiquette.
Social life at the White House this
winter will be far and away from the
cut and dried formula hitherto observ-
ed. The first innovation has been the
only the most desirable women in
Washington society may visit Mrs.
Roosevelt on Friday, which is her day
a. home. Formerly it was possible for
almost any respectable woman to meet
Mrs. Mckinley. She had only to ar
range for a day with some. White
House attache and then CO. with per-
haps thirty others. by turn into the
presence of the first lady of
ha f-G TnL x4roC
always good-naturedly willing
TO satisfy feminine curiosity,
but there was never any effort put
forth to make the visits of strangers
or acquaintance particularly interest
ing upon these occasions. One had only
the satisfaction of receiving hearty
hand-shake, a few words with Mrs.
Mckinley, with the further privilege
of staring at the surroundings and the
toilet of the Presidents wife and COM
ing away with what enthusiasm 1t was
possible to muster. Mrs. Mckinley was
not equal physically to exerting her
strength for the entertainment of WIS.,
itors. 1t is altogether different with
Mrs. Roosevelt. She has abundant Vi
tality and means to be an active par
tcipant in gay society. So much Of
her time is to be taken UP with social
affairs and entertainments that she will
find no time for catering to the public.
Therefore there will be no evening pub
lie receptions this winter at the White
House, and on Fridays Mrs. Roosevelt
will receive only women of the official
and desirable sets. Her lat homes"
will have all the charm of a private
reception. There will be assisting
friends, tea tables, and Mrs. Roosevelt
will make herself attractive to each in
dividual visitor. She may do this with
perfect safety and propriety, for in the
White House corridor there will be a
lynx-eyed custodian of the social elect
ist and also custodian of the famous
slack List. in fear of which many
Washington women are at present
shuddering. Abundant whisperings
nave already gone abroad Of the sur
priSing refusals 10 admit certain wo-
men Of wealth who have enjoyed White
House privileges for many years. Such
women are politely informed by the
ushers that Mrs. Roosevelt Is not re-
ceiving, and IL 10 proved conclusively
mat Mrs. Roosevelt has determined, 20
an individual, exactly the women she
wishes 10 know In Washington.
Cry of social Discrimination.
These social determinations have
rsieed hue and cry among class
4lWhys ready 20 diepsrage the so-call-
g sets IN society, but the best peonle
~ washington have nothing but praise
lYr ne women, who, BY her social ex-
ptrleDce, VIII elevate the position 81
first Lady Of the Land" Thsy re-
leiee that the position VII be bedged
apy1i ~ few social rules. and that