Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1901-12-26
HOSTESS DRAWS A lane
WHITE HOUSE RECEPTIONS ARE
MORE EXCLUSIVE.
Mrs. Roosevelt Not as Democratic IN
Her ideas as the President, and
Will Not Open Invitation Lists to
Promiscuous Ccmpany-Vulgar
Display and Comment Make One
Caller Persona Non Grata.


Washington letter: There has
been general rejoicing in the capital
over the fact that the president and
Mrs. Roosevelt We're going to entertain
extensively this year and that the white
house would form Il sort of social CEN
ter where everybody would. on occa-
sion, meet everybody else. but there
is disappointment of poignant nature
in the hearts of some prominent pco-
pie who had counted on white house
hospitality.
While Mr. Roosevelt is very demo-
cratic in his ideas his wife is NOT, and
as there Is a young lady in the white
house this year it seems more than
probable that the exclusive ideas of
the hostess will prevail and that many
people. whose chief claim to recogni-
ton by Washington society is the
length of their bank accounts, will not
be found on any of Mrs Roosevelt's in
vitation lists,
Already some people who are on the
top wave of the social world at present
but who have had "A past have been
informed that this is not one of Mrs.
Roosevelt's receiving days" nor were
they given any further information as
to when Mrs. Roosevelt would be pleas
ed to receive them and when cards FOR
the informal 'at homes have been sent
out they have received none. AS n
consequence there is, to say the least,
| disappointment in some of the most
magnificent homes of the capital.
1t Isn't Sncbbish,
| 1t cannot be- charged that there is
anything snobbish about Mrs. Roose-
velts eyclusvcness, The possession OF
wealth evidently does not impress her
ony way or the other, but 1t has come
to be understood that she will not toll
crate any one who is vulgar or who
has been touched by the breath of scan
dial Some of her invited guests have
been far away from wealthy aud quite
unable to maintain the style of lif. pur-
sued by the majority of the people they
met in the white house rsrlors
II is common gossip in Washington
that on the occasion of one Of the re-
ceptions a lady begged the privilege
of bringing a friend who had not been
invited and the permission was most
graciously given, The friend arrived
gorgeously attired and resplendent with
| diamonds, Notwithstanding the fact
that 1t was broad daylight, and before
leaving the blue room she took occa-
sion to severely scrutinze her hostess
attire, which was simple gown OF
soft black silk ornamented only by a
| little real lace and then remarked sot-
to voce no wonder she can dress on
5000 a year, Why my maid dresses
better than that" Mrs. Roosevelt heard
the remark and needless to say Mrs
Nouveau Richie and the lady who stoot
sponsor for her will not again he in
vited to the white house.
Doubtless Miss Hagner Is rendering
valuable assistance in posting Mrs
Roosevelt as TO the manner of man OF
woman her callers are, for so far she
| has made few mistakes. During Mrs
McKinley's reign she was herself I'M
able TO exercise any personal superyi-
sion Of the lists TO whom invitations
We're sent and all that work was done
by one OF the presidents secretaries
who doubtless did his best but was
quite incapable Of drawing the fine dis
Itinctlons which viii be drawn by Mrs
! Roosevelt and her secretary Moreover
/ Mrs Mckinley's devotion to her hus-
bands career made her very fearful OF
offending people. even If she realized
they were not particularly refined
/ Mr.. Mrs. and the Misses Letter arc
/ back in Washington and have reopened
4 their handsome home on Dupont Cir
Gle. II Is understood they are contem
/ plating giving cotllion compli-
montary 10 Miss Roosevelt some time
in January They will keep their hunt
4 Ing lodge at Warrenton open during
the season and their stables and ken
nels viii be ready for instant requisI-
4 ton.