The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1908-12-24
TACTFUL
Women, at White House
great help to the
President.
ALL DEPENDS ON HER
BY MRs. JOHN A. LOGAN.

sen by the president to preside in the
executive mansion.
Presidents personally unpopular
have been redeemed from the odium
Of the people by the tactfulness and
agreeableness of the woman who dis
pensed the hospitalities of the presi-
Dental home.
After careful personal observation
and having no desire to criticise,
I'm constrained to say that the glor-
GUS women in the past have not been
,qualed by their successors in these
latter days. The genuine cordiality
and unhesitating manifestations of
happiness in their position made them
anxious to put people at their ease
and to show that they appreciated the
fact that their sojourn In the presi-
lent's house, as the nations hostess,
was in the order of things necessar-
liy brief Absence of stiffness and
undue ceremony in their reception of
people was much more in keeping
with the republican principles that
are supposed to permeate all social
as well as political affairs.
The population has increased great
ly and probably so many demands
are now made upon the first lady of
he land, that she cannot give time
o each, as was possible for her prede-
cessors. AS far back as the days of
Harriet Lane, when one desired to
present friends at the White House
to pay their respects, it was custom
ary to write a note, asking the lady
Of the White House to name an hour
when it would be convenient for her
to receive them. l have never known
OF an instance in the past when a
reply was not sent Immediately, desig-
mating the time it would be conven-
lent. When the party arrived they
found the hostess awaiting them eth
er in the blue or the red room, ac-
cording to the number and impor-
tance of the personages to be receiv-
ed. After a cordial welcome, il the
party was not too numerous, they
were urged to be seated. Few we're
impolite enough to prolong their stay
beyond few moments, after which
they took their leave without being
made to feel that they were bores or
that the hostess had condescended to
confer upon them an inestimable fa-
vor by receiving them.
The Saturday afternoon receptions
from three to five, held at the White
House until a few years ago, were
among the most delightful social
functions in that stately old man
sion. The house was always beauti-
fully decorated. The marine band oc-
cupied the east end of the corridor,
while the callers, ladies and gentle
men, took their places in line, ac-
cording to the hour of their arrival,
and marched across the west end of
the corridor, through the red room,
to be presented to the hostess, who
stood near the entrance of the blue
room, usually flanked by a bevy of
bright women, who assisted in well
coming cordially all the callers, in
cluding the most diffident, who desir-
ed to pay their respects. The people
wandered through the series of draw
ing rooms, out through the conserva-
tories, all enjoying the genuine hos
pitality extended to them. Little
were exchanged, delight
full acquaintances were made which
often ripened into permanent friend
ships, and not infrequently import
ant political strokes we're innocently
scored. Having frequently assisted
on these charming occasions, / know
that the hostess enjoyed them as
much as the guests.
Mrs. Hayes was probably the most
diplomatic and altogether charming
mistress the White House has ever
had. Her Incompatible simplicity
and graciousness of manner, fine in
telligence and warm heart made her
approachable by the humblest, as we'll
as the most pretentious.
The dinners, including the conven-
tional state dinners, which are sub
ject to many additions to the eligible
official list, were without exception
superb affairs and we're always cook
ed in the White House kitchen, cater
ers occasionally furnishing some spe-
cial course.
The evening receptions from Grant
to Harrison surpassed in floral decor
ations and other appointments any
thing of recent years.
Musicales with such artists as Nils
son, Brignoli, Patti, Parepa-Rosa,
and many other celebrated singers
were delightful.
Experience has proven that the
president and his family, who are the
simplest in their way of living and
most unpretentious in all respects are
the most beloved and the least eriti-
cised. If the president of the United
States would insist upon rendering
unto Caesar that which is Caesar's''
there would be fewer heart burnings
and personal grievances to be reeSn-
ciled
When IL is remembered that occu-
pants OF the White House have only
to receive and never repay visits or
recognize courtesies ex-
tended to them, and that upon secTe-
taries, ushers and stewards rests all
the responsibility of arranging and
all social functions directed
by the president and the presiding
mistress, the demands upon the presi-
dent and his family are not excessive.
Tactful women of the White House
have endeared themselves No thou
sands by little attentions that cost
them only few minutes of their time
to order a card to be sent to aeknowl-
sdging calls they missed from per-
itons too modest TO ask an audience,
a few cut flowers with the card OF the
first lady of the land to the wife of
a new senator or representative or
prominent visitors upon their arrival
in Washington, have won for her un-
dying admiration and friQndahin In