Evening star., 1901-01-26
WHITE HOUSE EVENTS
Inauguration Of the System Of New
Year Receptions.
THE SOCIAL FUNCTIONS NUMEROUS
Society's Refusal in Jackson's Day
to Receive Mrs. Eaton.
POPULAR DOLLY MADISON

The recall Of announcements for White
House functions since the 1st of January
owing to the illness of the President, ana
the possibility that the social system OF the
capital would receive further shock for
the same good reason in the withdrawal OF
all the White House events calendared for
the current ante-Lenten season, reVlVes
stories of the time when social features were
introduced at the PreSidentS mansion 10
mark the beginning of new year, and
the numerous functions which have taken
place there since are passed in review.
1t was John ADAMS VINO, following tne
precedent Of Washington, opened the White
House New Year day 1eo1 for reception
although the mansion was then unfinished
and the upstairs apartments only could oe
used. Mrs. Adams had been here but two
months, in which time she had set the gait
for the social world by returning the cails
made upon her. There IS eXtant one OF
her letters in which she says that, although
her neighbors live widely apart, she re-
turned fifteen visits in one day.
Old Virginia hospitality was the rule on-
der Jefferson, and On New Year and lnde-
pendence days, when a welcome was eN-
tended to the popuiace. long tables were
spread and both solid and liquid refresh
ments served. Mr.. jefferson had served
notice that all levees of an evening were
abolished, and the ladies who had enjoyed
the hosDtal!ies of the house under MI
Adams took 1t to heart and attempted 10
force measures. On the usual leVee even
ing large number of society people gath
cred at the mansion to find that Mr. JEFF
ferson was out riding When he arrived by
the back way and learning that the recep-
ton rooms We're filled with people, he sur
missed their object and, booted and spurred
covered with dust and hat in hand, he en-
tered the room, cordially greeting the call
arc I, hnJ
eXpectedly, and urging them not to hurry
The company soon found that the expert
ment was failure. 1t was not repeated
Mr.. jefferson was then wtdower and
his two daughters having homes OF their
own in Virginia. there was permanent
mistress of the White House. Mr.. and
Mrs. Madison lived at the house until their
own quarters were made ready for occu-
pancy, and when occasion required Mrs.
Madison was asked to receive and preside
at the dinners and other functions at the
White House in which ladies took part.
Thus was that lady receiving the expert
ence which enabled her to fill the role of
the first lady in the land to perfection when
her husband went from the State Depart
ment to the executive office.
Though public levees, excepting those Of
with, a number of dinners and other func-
tions were given. 1t was Jefferson's Gus
tom to see whoever desired to see him, and
with as little ceremony as possible.
A Society Queen.
Under the administration Of Mr.. Ma..son,
Mrs. Dolly Madison became the queen Of
society. Receptions were held regularly
and happy mean between the formal and
ceremonious customs of Washing ton's and
Auams' days and the informal audiences Of
Jefferson was struck The White House
became noted for hospitality-and, though
party spirit ran high. here all assimilated.
The opening was on the inauguration day,
and for some hours the President and Mrs.
Madison were kept busy receiving con-
gratulations. Refreshments-cream and
cake, with light drinks-were dispensed
This formed type Of the New Year recep-
tons when the general public paid their
respects. OF that held January l, 1914. a
lady wrote:
Yesterday, being New Year day, every
body. affected or disaffected toward the
government, attended to pay Mrs Madison
the compliments of the season. Be.Ween
! and o'clock we drove to the Presidents,
where it was with much difficulty we made
good our entrance, though all our acuuaint-
ances endeavored with the utmost civility
to compress themselves as small as they
could for our accOmmoda ion. The Marine
Band. stationed in the ante-room. con inued
playing in spite of the crowd pressing on
their very heads. But If our party was
excited for these hapless musicians what
must we not have experienced for some
members of our own sex, who, not forsee-
Ing the excessive heat of the apartments
had more reason to apprehend the efforts
of nature to relieve herself from the effects
of the confined atmosphere. You perhaps
will not understand that l alude to the
rouge, which some of our fashonables had
laid on with an unsparing hand, and which
assimilating with the pearl powder dust
and perSpira ton made then altoge her un.
lovely to soul and eye.
Her majcsiy's appearance was truly re-
gal-dressed in robe of pink satin trim
med elaborately with ermine, with nodding
f-' Ri t,Ii md
gold chain and clasps around the waist and
wrists Tis here the woman who adorns
the dress and not the dress that beauties
the woman. You are aware that She
snuffs, but in her hand the snuff box seems
only as n gracious implement with which
to charm. Her frank cordiality to all
guests is in contrast 10 the manner Of the
President. who is very formal, reserved and
precise, yet not wanting in certain dig
nifty. Being so low Of stature, he was IN
imminent danger of being confounded with
the plebeian crowd, and was pushed and
josted about like common citizen: but
not so with her ladyship! The towering
feathers and excessive throng distinctly
pointed out her station wherever she
moved.
I'VE were preparing to leave the rooms
when our attention was attracted through
the window toward what We conceived to
be n rolling ball Of FURNISHED gold carried
with swftness through the air by two gilt
wings. Our anxiety increased the nearer 1t
fore the door, and from 1t alighted, weight
ed with gold lace, the French minister and
suite.
Gorgeous FOOtmen Only.
I'VE now also perceived that what we
had supposed to be wings were nothing
more than gorgeous footmen with chapeau
bras, gllt-braided skirts and splendid
swords. Nothing ever was witnessed In
Washington so brilliant and dashing-a
meridian sun blazing full on this carriage
filed with diamonds and glitter.ng orders
and gilt to the edge Of the wheels-you
may well imagine how the natives stared
and rubbed their eyes to be convinced twas
no fairy dream" pa
Probably the most joyful reception by a
President was the spontaneous one of Feb
ruary IA, 1915, on the reception of the It'd
ings that a treaty of peace with Great Brit
ain had been agreed upon. The populace
had been exultant for few weeks over the
victory Of Jackson at New Orleans and, as
was the case in the civil war, there was
an anti-war sentiment prevalent to some
extent When the carriage containing Mr.
Henry Carroll enc of the secretaries, drove
up the avenue and 1t became known that
he had the document. the city became fren-
zied with delight, and for time legislation
was forgotten and business was suspended
the entire male population going on the
streets to cheer and congratulate each
other, while the women prepared to illu-
inmate and decorate the houses Mrs Madi-