Evening star., 1914-12-27
Long Ago and Now.

looked forward to so many social oc.
casions that he felt he could omit the
New Year reception when the winters
hospitalities were being arranged The
announcement some time ago that the
house would be entirely apart from
the social life of the capital this
winter is decision such as was
reached following the death of Gar
field and at earlier periods and later
ones after personal bereavements in
the household.
The New Year history of the White
House has had an intense personal
meaning to Washington. There are
families whose man folks and woman
folks, too, and children. for the matter
of that, have rarely failed to join the
public procession at its gates and to
wait cheerfully for hours for chance
to shake hands with the President in
his home and to be able to see for
themselves what manner of state sur
rounded him on these occasions. The
customs followed have changed only
in hours since the Inauguration OF
New Year receptions in President Fill
mores term. and in the gradual en-
larging of the official body and Of or
ganizations designated as welcome
visitors.
President Fillmore's receptions began
at 9 o'clock. There was no stated hour
for the public reception to close, but it
began at IL and usually the ladies of
the household or their guests remained
with the President until noon The
procedure was the same as at the last
one held, New Year of 1913. The Presi-
dent exchanged greetings with the
cabinet The diplomatic corps fol-
lowed. then the Supreme Court and
other judicial personages, army and
navy officers and SO on. Then the
Kitchen" cabinet-employes and serv-
ants of the household. came in to pay
their respects-and were followed by
the public.
The Kitchen cabinet call has been
elimiHated as far as the public has
been Informed in late years.
In Buchanan's term the hours and
customs remained the same. The
change to IL o'clock for the opening
began at the two last receptions held
by President Lincoln. his wife, it is
recorded, thinking the later hour pre-
ierable.
A White House story anent Jeffer-
sonian simplicity is to the effect that
Mr.. Jefferson abolished this and all
other ceIemonious events and the de-
cision did not suit a majority of the
women in the official or resident So
ciety world of that time. So that they
ar anged a surprise by meeting at the
White House during the contemplated
absence of the President and proceeded
TO make themselves very merrily at
home. When Mr.. jefferson returned he
where the happy party was in possess
sion. booted. spurred and dusty after
his long ride, but he received and en-
tertained his self-invited guests with
pal ticular courtesy. The incident, how
ever, did not change what he had de-
cided upon. and the 'levees," the word
generally used in social descriptions of
that time, pertaining to the White
House, were not resumed.
President Jackson is thought to have
enjoyed his New Year receptions and
evidently he knew
The Jackson Bowl there was limit
of pun,b to a Washington
crowd those days.
He is on record as having a big bowl
of punch just inside the front door
and that the bottom of the bowl was
never seen only in the interval of it's
replenishing. There were no invita-
tions for Mrs. Monroe's Wednesday
evenings, society those days did not
expect any intruders. The Monroes
inaugurated state dinners, which were
served at and were over at 9. The
menu was French. The Monroes lived
at Octa gon House while the repairs to
the White House we've going on after
its burning by the British, and Mrs.
Monroe was the first White House pre-
siding lady who had a fully furnished
home there. The Tyler balls lasted to
IL o'clock. 1t is said that no refresh
ments were served and that the public
prints carried no mention of them.
The White House reception of January,
1889, twenty-five years ago, began the
last few months of
Quarter OF the Cleveland first
Century Back. sand sand neon1s ' nssssd ou
through the blue room from 12 80 to
o'clock. Mrs. Cleveland remained in line
with her husband until o'clock. That
throng was the largest of which any
record had been kept up to that period,
and was generally regarded as a tribute
to Mrs. Cleveland and the widespread il
terest in her, which always kept increas-
ing while she lived in this city.
The reception began with the diplo-
matte circle at IL O'Clock. Gen. John NJ
Wilson made the presentations to Mr..
Cleveland Mrs. Cleveland shook hands
with every caller, having her right hand
bare. She felt the fatigue of the hand
shaking. but kept it up while she was
mistress OF the White House. On this
in dress of pale pink silk The Star
carried three-inch description of her
dress and jewels She wore her diamond
necklace and a diamond star in her hair,
both articles being generally considered
as presents at her marriage
Her gloves, following the current fash
ION, were underessed kid, in a soft shade
OF gray. The Star, which was not then
Ihe b-s paper 1t is now, gave about two
columns to the description of the recen-
ton To the last New Year reception
held by the Tafts there were nearly six
columns OF this paper devoted to it.
Inc last New Year reception of the
second Cleveland term WIS in 1897, The
popular interest in them had not waned
in any marked de-
The Cleve,ands' gree Their two eld-
Saoopd Jo,+ er children watched
see from the landing of the west stair
case, which space is now included in
the east room. Mrs. Cleveland was
dressed in light gray cloth afternoon
dress. and Mrs. Stevenson. wife of the
wee President, who stood next her,
was in black velvet. The largest crowd
ever known up to that time. to have
passed through the White House was
there for the last evening card recep-
ton Of the Clevelands. Rain accornpa-
MED both of the TWO last puhIic recep-