The border vidette., 1931-09-19
some SOCIAL CUSTOMS IN
WASHtNGTONS DAY


beginning during the first days.
of Washington's administration, 1
when it was found that. in spite,
of the earnest desire of the young
republic to be as definitely re I
moved as possible from the
panoply of European court life,
it was nevertheless necessary to-
decide upon some code which
would be agreeable, and which
at the same time would not take
too much of the Chief Executives
time from the affairs of the ma
tion.
Therefore, we are Informed By
the United States George Wash
ington B!centennial Commission,
by the time Mrs. Washington
arrived on the scene. about q
month after the inauguration,
she found the executive mansion
ia running order. The famed
tavern-keeper. Samuel Fraunces.
had been installed as the chief
steward, and the social program,
at the suggestion of Alexander
Hamilton, planned as follows:
The President was to pay no
visits. He was to receive on
Tuesday afternoons of every
other week. Foreign envoys and
strangers, however, we're to be
received on other days, and the
President was always to be &C
cessible to persons who wished
to see him on business. Thurs
days be was to be host at dinner,
the guest lists to be made up
from official groups and strang
ers of distinction. Mrs. Wash
ington was to receive at a brilli
ant levee every Friday evening
from eight to ten.
It was q matter Of much dis.
cussion as to how the President
should be addressed. Some
wanted to call him "Excellency,"
and Mrs. Washington Lady"
but this was thought to smack
too much of royalty, so they de
cided upon the President of the
United States and Mrs. Wash
ington," which still is in usage.
The Thursday dinners, at
which Colonel Humphreys, the
Presidents aide, was master of
ceremonies, were served at three
in the afternoon, to from ten to
twenty-five guests. At the cen
tral table, laid exquisitely in foe
linen. was q long mirror, made
in sec ions and framed in silver.
on which stood NEUROLOGICAL
statuettes in china. The family
plate, which, since coming to
New York, had been melted
down and reproduced in more
elegant style, each piece display
ing the arms of tne Washington
family, with a small bead edge
around the rim, adorned the
table.
Roast beef. veal, lamb. tur
key and duck, and varieties of
game, in which Manhattan Is
land abounded, with jelly. fruit,
nuts and raisins, were on the
table before the guests made
their entrance. Mrs. Washing
ton sat at one end of the table.
and the Presidents secretary,
Tobias Lear. at the other. 10
the center of one side. sat the
President himself. After the
meal the President would raise
bis wine glass. All would drink
q toast, and the ladies would re
tire to the drawing-room, leav
ing the men to their after, dinner
indulgences. The Washingtons
served good champagne, but
ordinarily silver mug of beer
stood beside the Presidents
plate, though not at state din
ners. An invitation to dinner
was not then as it is now. re
garded as command, and there
were instances of regrets being
sent for one reason or another.
Half a dozen or more servants
were in attendance at these din
ners, in the brilliant white, scar.
let, and orange livery of the
Washington household. History
relates that both the President
and Mrs. Washington had q keen
sense of the dignity of the posi-
ton which they filled.
At his own receptions the
President wore full dress, his
hair powdered and gathered 10
behind 10 silk bag, coat and
breeches of black velvet, white
or pearl colored vest, yellow
gloves, a cooked hat in bis hand,
silver knee and shoe buckles,
and long sword with a finely
mr0nuht on1 rl;ttor rip,r otool