Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-12-31
PRESIDENTIAL HOSPITALITY
A New Year Reception Given bs
Thomas Jefferson When He Was
President OF the United States.

/ The ideal reception a century ags
rounded up with q feed" Feed
included liquid refreshments, ant
these insured some remarkable
scenes at times, incidents of which
annotate, if they do not enrich, thu
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 il
one of those remarkable letters which
the men and women of the early
years of the century knew SO wei
how to write 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 it's writer, Samuel
Latham Mitchell, was a physician
statesman, a man of eminent learn
ing, and termed by many the "Nestol
of American science" After several
terms in the house he was elected tc
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:
1.-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 point to visit
the president on January /, and that
gentleman is always civil enough to
be at home and receive them. II is
the only great levee day that there
&c % L.
the company assemblies voluntarily
without invitation.
"Of the personages present I OBJ
served the king and queen of the
Mendanese tribe of Indians. living
about 1,600 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 grea.
audience chamber and received the
visits of the ladies and people OF
quality. When 1 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
military character is distinguished
by the uncommon size and extent of
his whiskers, which cover the great
er 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
"onsort of the French minister she
had withdrawn from his house and
society, and passes her time at pres
ent in a humble and solitary way in
the neighboring village of George
town. In consequence of this meun-
derstanding the minister had it is
said, attempted to shin off his lady
to France. She refused to submit to
this, made an cutlery, alarmed the
neig5borhood 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. Under the circum-
stances this distinguished lady did
not make her appearance. The Brit
ish minister and his lady were both
there. They have lately succeeded
Mr.. and Mrs. Merry in their diplo-
matte capacity. Being newly arrived.
they attracted good deal of notice,
particularly the lady, who is a pretty
Philadelphia.
"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 he: DIS Of
the executive departments of the
eocernment and their helnmeets.
They came forth on this grand ocea-
sion to pay the homage of their rex
sDects to the chief magistrate of the y
nation. The members of the house
Of representatives. the respectabIe
resident inha bitants. 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
semblage brilliant, as you may sup
pose.
"Great mirth and good humor pre-
vailed. and you may easily conceive
when it is COMMITTED that
besides the smiles of cordial;fv ena