River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-12-18
PRESIDENTIAL HOSPITALITY.
A New Year Reception Given by
Thomas Jefferson When He Was
President of the United States.


Thomas Jefferson When He Was
President of the United States.
The ideal reception a century ago
rounded up with a feed" Feed"
included liquid refreshments, and
these insured some remarkable
scenes at times, incidents of which
annotate, if they do not enrich, the
history of those early days.
Of these cumbersome and ceremo-
NOUS affairs only the incidents come
down to us in many instances and de-
tail is left to the imagination, but in
one of those remarkable letters which
the men and women of the early
years of the century knew so well
how to write a senator from New
York has left a clear picture of
New Year reception given by Thomas
Jefferson. This letter is dated JAN
uary 81, 1907, and its writer, Samuel
Latham Mitchell, was a physician
statesman, man of eminent learn
ing, and termed by many the ''Nestor
of American science" After several
terms in the house he was elected to
the United States senate. In letter
to Mrs. Smith, the wife of his col
league in the senate, he sketched the
following word picture of New
Year day at the executive mansion:
''The greatest exhibition in Wash
ington is the levee of Mr.. Jefferson
on New Year day. A large number
of the fashionable and respectable
persons here make it a point to visit
the president on January 1, and that
gentleman is always civil enough to
be at home and receive them. It is
the only great levee day that there
is at our court, and on this occasion
the company assemblies voluntarily
without invitation.
"Of the personages present [ OBJ
served the king and queen of the
Mendanese tribe of Indians, living
about 1000 miles up the Missouri
river. His majesty was dressed in
sort of regimental coat given him by
the government since his arrival, and
her majesty, wrapped in a blanket,
sat on one of the sofas in the great
audience chamber and received the
visits of the ladies and people Of
quality. When [ had the honor of
being introduced to her she did not
rise, nor did she quit her seat during
any part of the ceremony.
Another person of distinction was
the French minister. This great
military character is distinguished
by the uncommon size and extent of
his whiskers, which cover the great
err part of his cheeks, and by the pro-
fusion of lace that covers his full
dress coat. His lady was not with
him on account of a rupture which
happened a little before at the
commencement of the session of
congress between Gen. T. and the
consort of the French minister she
had withdrawn from his house and
society, and passes her time at pres
ent in humble and solitary way in
the neighboring village of George
town. In consequence of this misun-
derstanding the minister had, it is
said, attempted to ship off his lady
to France. She refused to submit to
this, made an cutlery, alarmed the
neighborhood and brought mob to
her house, and finally made her es-
cape from her gallant spouse and has
ever since been deprived the pleasure
of his company.
"The greater part of the senators
were there, and the few whose wives
were in town brought them thither
to partake of this great exhibition.
So it was with the principle heads of
the executive departments of the
government and their helpmeets.
They came forth on this grand occa-
sion to pay the homage of their re-
spects to the chief magistrate of the
nation. The members of the house
of representatives, the respectable
resident inhabitants, the officers Of
the army and navy, the strangers of
consideration who happened to be in
the city and the Usage Indians, men
and women, little and big, crowded
to the presidnet's house to partake
in the festivity of the morning. The
day was very favorable and the as
semb1a ge brilliant, as you may sup
pose.
"Great mirth and good humor pre-
vailed, and you may easily conceive
wherefore when it is computed that
besides the smiles of cordiality and
welcome which the company received
from their generous entertainer
they consumed for him a quarter
cask of wine, barrel of punch and
a hundredweight of cake, besides
other knicl1knacl1s to considerable
amount While the refreshments
were passing around and the com
pany helping themselves a band of
music entertained them with mar
tial and enlivening airs. Before the
hour of dining the assemblage of
people dispersed, well pleased with
their manner of spending the. morn
ing and in high hope that Mr.. Jeffer-
son might long continue in the pres
idential chair. Washington Star.