The Washington herald., 1907-01-04
NEW YEARS DAY STORIES.

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reminiscent head. the White House at
mosphere usually brings It out, Whether
or not daylight Is responsible, or the fact
that happy New Year" greetings expand
human nature. certain il is that the in
Formally of the New Years Day recep~
ton at the Executive Mansion permits of
more leisurely affabiity and cordial con-
versation than is the case at the crowded
evening functions.
If all the good stories exchanged New
Years Day at the White House were pub
lished, no one would doubt that when
diplomats, officials, dogs Of war judicial
big-wigs, and interesting women congre-
gate at the good-natured hour of noon,
entertaining gossip is bound to flourish.
In one corner of the Red Room dis
tinguished cOterie paid court to d woman
whose presence each year in Washington
Is the occasion for much entertaining
Strange, isn't If" said she. how
simple action VIII suggest something
which happened long ago? Just now, in
shaking hands with the President, was
carried back 10 the eighteen-eighties. ]
was living then at a frontier post, and
my husband took me TO a roundup Of
ranch owners and miners. II was a social
as well as a business gathering, and we
had a reception and ball which lasted all
night. Every one within a radius Of
hundred miles was present. and Miles
City was in a state Of gay ferment. The
lion Of the ball was the Marquis de
MOres, handsome, witty, and the owner
a.
one wanted to meet the marquis. and even
the men caught the title fever and
crowded around him. All except young
Edgley-you knew him later doubtless
as a colonel of cavalry-and when
rallied him upon his lack of enthusiasm,
he replied: No, do not care especially
20 meet that foreigner There Is but one
man at this ball whom I should really like
TO know He is young, and writes, and
he does not appear 10 be generally ac-
quainted ] like bis face, and like the
cut Of his clothes.
What is he Ike-where does he come
from / asked Wears glasses and
shows his teeth prominently when he
laughs, and I believe he is from the East,
replied young Edgley.
j ) over
by the stove. 1 exclaimed L know him
well and will Introduce YOU and we made
our way through the thrOng. and / pre-
sented my friend 70 Theodore Roosevelt.
I can see IL all now, the Miles City ball,
the Tdnchmen, miners, and budding mil
liouaires OF this country; the young
author, and the army officer who pre-
ferred TO meet a future President OF the
United States 20 shaking hands with a
French marquis.
The woman who undoubtedly possesses
the most perfect complexion in Washing
ton passed the receiving line and joined
the speakers party in the Green Room.
THAT complexion is too fine 10 be
honest" commented a young woman
vita an embroidered white veil 10 her
companion, a tau attache in a blue mill
ta-y Jacket His reply was the acme OF
gal!antry. What he said was; 'impos-
sible 10 believe Eat. madamoiselle for of
what use would ~ rouge be TO a woman
whose eyelashes are so long zat any
powder put upon Ne cheeks would
instantly be brushed away at re first
wink OF ze eye2T
u heard that twelve gowns arrived at
the White House IN one box the other
day" gossiped a pretty girl whose hat
feathers barely brushed the elbow OF a
tall justice Of the Supreme Court Il
wonder II Mrs. Roosevelt OF Miss Ethel
has one OF them on to-day
My dear" replied a matronly figure
in black velvet and beautiful lace. "the
ladies OF the White House are supposed
always TO have extensive wardrobes But
recall one case TO the contrary, whe-
an attractive young relative Of President
Hayes was invited 10 pay visit 70 the
White House and she missed a brilliant
afternoon reception ali on account OF a
poverty in gowns I was assisting Mrs.
Hayes that afternoon and inquired into
the absence Of her young guest. The
dear child IS up stairs sewing, cOnfded
Mrs. Hayes. IN looking over her gowns
/ this morning 7 discovered she had nothing
suitable for the embassy ball tonight
7 didn't want her 20 miss that party, so
I turned over TO her one Of my last year S
dresses, and she is ripping and altering
/ with great energy this very moment My
maid is helping, and between the two
pairs Of nimble hands I expect 30 see my
I little country relative turned out charm
/ ing Cinderella for the ball"
Talking about girls and frocks. Ell?
/ put in the tall rudy legal light. i car
I point you out woman tGis very minute
who once visited Mrs. Stanley Brown
or. I should say. Molly Garheld-wher
/ her father was President. The nttlC
/ visitor got a dreadful reputation for be
/ ing lazy, and never getting out of bee
until II in the morning. But Il leaked
out that instead Of sleeping this clever