The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-03-02


 of the north were scraping lint and rolling bandages for the soldiers at the front, and while she cut out the state dinners for economical reasons, she gave a great s20 600 reception that brought down even greater censure on her head. It was too difficult a place and too parlous time for even the most finished hostess to find success perched on her banner, and the lines were hard for the little country woman from the west. Mrs. Hayes, fond of young girls, entertained bevies of them at dinners and had them constantly as house guests; Mrs. Cleveland began her remarkably successful regime with q ball, one of the last large ones in the White House, and Mrs Mckinley frail and delicate, was able to give little time to social events, but in the time she sat in her room patiently combating pain, she knit hundreds of pairs of slippers for the poor.
 With the growth of populat tion and the increased interest in the country in its social life, many changes had to be made in the official life of the capitol. Only one day in the year may the world and his wife go unbidden to a White House re- ception, and that is New Years Day. On four other days there are evening re- captions, by invitation. for the diplomatic corps. the judiciary, the army and navy, and the members of Congress. Even were the crowds smaller these branches could not be mixed now as in the long ago. for class distinction has grown up in this, presumably, most democratic court of the world These form four separate and distinct social circles and the Cave Dwelers" @of old Georgetown and Wash ington residents, form another, while the band of new and very rich that has captured the capital in the past decade or so. permeates the several strata in pro- portion to the distances that they as climbers have gone
 The law of precedence, s rigorous as iIl the older European courts, once caused some high judicial lights to start home in high dudgeon from a judiciary reception because a blundering officer sent some diplomats in ahead of them. Not long ago an officer of the navy asked to be excused from attending a banquet to which he had been asked, on the grounds that he would have to meet some con- gressmen on terms of equality. And Con- gress could put him down and out with a measure or two Once a daughter of a judge calmly changed the cards at a luncheon given a lady of the diplomatic corps, so that she and not the honoree sat at the hostess right,
 Washington is said to be the most cos mopolitan, yet the most provincial of all American cities. The White House dances of 1925 are gone, the first inaugural ball, held by the Washington Dancing assembly at Longs hotel on Capitol Hill on March 4, 1909, and the Garfield inaugural ball at the National Museum. have been followed by more pretentious ones at the pension building. Hanilton's suggestion that the President return no visits and that he attend no dinners save those of an official nature, has been gen. erally followed until today. Tudor Hall, The Highlands and the quaint homes of Cherry Alley no longer attract the gay social crowds Washington is becoming the home of the wealthy. Massachusetts avenue between Dupont circle and Sheri- dan circle Is a second edition of upper Fifth avenue. The Belmonts Letters Washes, Ryans and Boardmans have made homes here, and the Vanderblts make it more temporary abiding place. But Lenten resorts are claiming these as we'll as the official society set the Pavilion of Rest stands open and the 10Sth Shuove Tuesday has ended the winters social season in Washington.