The Washington herald., 1908-01-19

WollStOnCraft whose ideas regarding
freedom made a tragedy of her early
life. was irreproachable as to her con-
duct In society, No one will deny your
privilege 10 give your daughters all the
freedom you want them 10 have, but
that they will give them a wide berth
in which to practice their freedom you
may be sure. There Is a tradition that
mothers are the natural mentors of their
children; far be it. then. for The ATbter
10 point out any other path for your
three daughters than the path OF free
DOM you have chosen for them.
. Question-who was Beau Hiekmsng
Answer-An adyenturer. like nearly all
adventures, Of pleasant manners and ad-
dress who figured IN Washington shortly
after the war. He dressed elegantly,
wined and dined well. all at the expense
of his friends or of some gullible stranger
and was q man Of parts and education
and q teller Of good stories. If his talents
had been employed for some worthy pur-
pose he would have doubtless made his
mark in the world. He died under pc
culiarly sad circumstances and WGs buried
in potteTs field.
years Can yOU. perhaps. tell a newcomer IN Official
life f the reception given by the President tn honor
Of the diplomatic corps always what it is nov.
a uaddeuinE massg To "a lo0ker-oH in Vienna it
hardly seems compliment 90 invite the representa-
tiyes Of foreign powers 70 be crushed and jammed
and mauled hy a crowd Of several hundred Ameri-
cans who could he entertained comfortably. dec
GTously and aCceUtably al some other time MI
husband was for a period IN the diplomatic service.
and have attended state functions IN several capl-
tals-Berlin. Rome and Eienna-but never before
have been in such a crush a. that az the s0-called
diplomatic reception. one Of the ministers admitted
to me that after diplomatic reception be felt more
tired than after a day in the saddle and yet the
diplomats are r0pcd on from tGe ordinary crowd hT
the line 0f sofas In the Blue Room hack 0f the re-
ceiying party. and are not elhowed and i0stled as
are those who are not allowed behind tie line, "
but it s crowded enough heaven knows. behind
that sacred line. And such clothes as ! saw there.
high necks and low necks, silks, satlns. tissues.
cloths. CashmRus and seTEes. Surely. without being
sn0hbsh those invited 90 the reception could be
WHY, 7 actually men IN GETAWAY ard frock
coats / would De very glad % know something n
the history of these receptions and how they have
come 20 degenerate into what they are now.
Very truly yous. X Y z.
Answer-The diplomatic receptions Of
to-day bear little resemblance to those Of
twenty or twenty-five years ago, and are
far removed from the original intention.
Since the days Of Washington. the Pres
ident has been accustomed 10 receive the
members of the diplomatic corps on some
stated occasion every year. but recep-
ton in honor of the corps. 10 meet whom
II was planned TO invite a few Of the
higher officials and those noted in the
literary and scientific world. originated
with Mrs. Hayes. The Arbiter had the
good fortune TO attend the first reception
given by President and Mrs. Hayes in
honor Of the diplomatic corps in the win
ter Of 1879 It was a memorable occasion.
The White House was not as smart as IL
is now, but dignihed in its old-fashioned
shabblness, and exquisitely decorated.
The reception took place in the East
Room, there was no behind the line. q"
and the rooms were only comfortably
filled. Sir Edward Thornton, the then
British Minister tall, spare, and impos-
ing. was conspicuous figure, as was Mr.
Blaine. who made the rounds Of the rooms
with every pretty woman present. There
was no crowding. no hustle, no confusion
The women laid aside their wraps in the
bedrooms Of the family upstairs, and there
were competent and obsequious maids in
attendance. Il was a sight not soon to
be forgotten, the procession of women as
they came down the broad stairway in
their clingng gowns Of rich material
that was before tulles and tissues became
so popular-and their wonderful gems
There was abundance Of time and oppor-
tunity for tete-a-tetes. and the President
and his wife were most affable, going
about among their guests. and aiming 10
say some agreeable thing to every one
la L
per was served near midnight, and the
same decorum that marked all the other
arrangements was apparent in it's serv-
ice.
President Arthur kept up the standard
established by Mrs. Hayes, that Is at first,
later on there was such pressure for in
vitations to this function from those whom
he could not well refuse. and there was
such vandalism committed in consequence
Of charging the list-sOuvenirs were car
ried off from the bed rooms. lace mantIl-
las. fuTs. and handsome wraps disap-
peared mysteriously-tha he was com
PEELED to cUrtail the privileges his guests
had heretofore enjoyed. And thus, gradu-
ally, the reception for the diplomats, as
inaugurated by Mrs. Hayes, has so
changed that It in no wise differs from
the other receptions save that the mem
bers of the diplomatic corps are expected
to attend it in full regalia. That it Is no
compliment 20 receive this distinguished
body with hundreds of other people has
too often been commented on to need
comment here. But it is much easier TO
cTitiCise than it is to propose a remedy.
When the need becomes great enough the
remedy will surely be found. It is anus
ing, however. to listen to those who
grumble about the White House recep-
tions ana yet would not be prevailed upon
to stay away from one of those maligned
functions for half years salary.
As 10 the various bizarre costumes that
are seen at a White House reception, the
Arbiter is of the opinion that the same
custom that exists at some OF the Euro
pean courts should be adopted here and
on separate card the style of dress
direction for carriages. time supper will
be served. and other necessary details
printed Such a card reads much as fol-
lows:
Dress for ladies'
Not dancing, black court dress. with train
Dancing, white court dress without train.
Dress for gentlemen-ffu dress sir c0mmapders
with ribbon on outside.
All mourning 10 be laid aside for the day.
Carriages &c,
1t would. of course, raise a great hue
and cry of 'aping monarchies." ''au-
tocracy," and the like, but a simpler form
could be adopted, one less dietatorlai in
tone, such as Ladies are requested to
wear full dress, gentlemen, evening
clothes" To many the insistence of a
certain uniformity Of dress at the White
House. receptions will appear very foolish
the eurtailment of the right Of a free