Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-28

finished man of the world and accom-
piished host. He attracted to the cap
ital the finest and most interesting peo-
pie in the country. The little court in
the blue room was a real court in the
best sense of the word. and 10 IL came
savants and artists well AS officials
and mere votaries of society. How
ever. neither his own hrilliancy nor the
brilliancy of his friends could dispel
the gloom OF his first reception.
President Garfield's tra~ic death and
the circumstances attending Arthur's
induction into office were still remen-
bered. and toward the end OF the re-
ception one of the guests. Mr.. Allen,
minister from the Hawaiian Islands,
fell dead OF heart disease. The TWO
New Years that followed this one We're
gay enough. hut at the fourth and last
one his friends could hardly offer Pres
ident Arthur their greetings, so choked
with grief were they at his defeat.
Society divides President Cleveland's
administration into two parts. one with
his sister. Rose Elizabeth. at the head
of his household. the other with his
bonnie wife as its chatelaine- Rose L IL
aheth was an interesting and agreeable
spinster, none better 1T o tete-a-tcte dis
cussion but she had neither presence.
equipment nor the knowledge for a great
social role. The few functions at which
she presided are remembered. IL they are
remembered at all, with good -natured
amusement.
Mrs Cleveland. on the contrary. out
distanced In popularity all the women
who had preceded her as mistress of the
White House and no one since then has
achieved the favor she enjoyed. Her
loneliness OF face and character. her
blooming youth and naivete. her kind
ness and constant thoughtfulness for
others endeared her To every one. and
she fully deserved her popularity.
Neither the Harrison nor the Mckinley
regime was distinguished socially The
Harrisons, who had lived in Washington
for a number of years before Mr.. Harri-
son became President. knew all the social
ropes and what was expected OF them in
the White House, and did their duty
handsomely. Mrs. HarrIson's death.
which occurred in the fall OF 1892. in the
very chamber where Garfield passed
away, put the Harrison family In
mourning and saddened the last year
Of their stay in the White House
The strenuous reign OF President
Roosevelt and the less strenuous one
Of President Taft are still fresh in the
public mind. The famous Rough Rider
was the soul of cordiality at his New
Year receptions. and not only shook but
wrung the hands of his guests and
showed little exhaustion when the
last of mis- thousands of callers had
passed as with the arrival Of the first
one. Mrs. Roosevelt was reserved and
retiring and the public knew her only
in the most formal and superficial way
There was never any one more con-
scientious or painstaking in the per-
Torrance of her social duties than Mrs.
Taft She informed herself on every
disputed point of etiquette and her en-
tertainments evidenced careful plan
ming and attention to detail. The COM
fort and well being Of her guests were
provided for, and among the inno-
vations she introduced. which should
win her the thanks of posterity as Well
as her contemporaries, was trained
nurse stationed in the dressing room,
with first aid" package, TO succor
fainting ladies and others who might
be suddenly overcome. President TAFT
had always the attitude of a good COM
rade and at his receptions on the nrst
day Of the year was invariably IN q
jovial mood.
What New Year reception at the
White House under the Wilson's would
be one is not to know unless the irest-
dent Yeconsiders his determination and
re-establi this pleasant and popular
lar custom next year.