Milford chronicle., 1931-10-23
SOME SOCIAL CUSTOMS
In WASHINGTON'S DAY

Many of the official social customs
in vogue today had their beginning
during the first days of Washing
tons administration, when it was
found that, in spite of the earnest
desire of the young republic to be
as definitely removed 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 nation.
Therefore, we are informed by the
United State George Washington BIZ
centennial Commission, by the time
Mrs. Washington arrived on the
scene, about a month after the in
auguratiOn, she found the executive
mansion in running order. The
famed tavern-keeper Samuel Fraun-
ces had been installed as the chief
steward, and the social program, at
the suggestion of Alexander Hamil-
ton, planned as follows: The Pres
ident was to pay no visits. He was
to receive on Tuesday afternoons of
every other week. Foreign ENJOYS
and strangers, however, were to be
/ received on other days, and the
President was always to be access
ible to persons who wished to see
him on business. Thursdays he was
to be host at dinner, the guest lists
to be made from official groups and
strangers of distinction. Mrs. Wash
ington was to receive at a brilliant
levee every Friday evening from
to TO-.
1t was a matter of much discus
sion as to how the President should
be addressed. Some wanted to call
him "Excellency," and Mrs Wash
ington Lady" but this was thought
to smack too much of royalty, 50
they decided upon the president of
the United States and Mrs. Washing
ton," which still is in usage
The Thursday dinners, at which
Col. Humphreys, the Presidents
aide, was master of ceremonies,
were served at three in the after
noon, to from ten to twenty-five
guests. AT the central table, laid
eXquisitely in fine linen, was a long
mirror, made in sections and franz
ed in silver, on which stood mythol- !
ogical statuettes in china. The fam
lily plate, which, since coming to
New York, had been melted down |
and reproduced in more elegant /
style, each piece displaying the
arms of the Washington family, with |
a. small bead edge around the rim,
the table.
Roast beef, veal, lamb, turkey /
and duck, and varieties OF game, i'll
which Manhattan Island abOunded,
with jelly, fruit, nuts and raisinS,
were on the table before the guests
made their entrance. Mrs. Wash
ington sat at one end of the table,
and the Presidents secretary, Tobias
Lear, at the other In the center of
one side, sat the President himself.
After the meal the President would
raise his wine glass. All would
drink a toast, an dthe ladies would
retire to the drawing room, leaving
the men to their after dinner indul-
gences. The Washingtons served
good champagne, but ordinarily a
silver mug of beer stood beside the
Presidents plate, though not at .
state dinners. An invitation to din
ler was not then as it is now, re-
garded as a command, and there
we're instances of regrets being sent
or one reason or another
Half a dozen or more servants
we're in attendance at these dinners,
n the brilliant white, scarlet, and
orange livery of the Washington
History relates that both
he President and Mrs. Washington
lad keen sense of the dignity of
he position which they filled.
At his own receptions the Presi-
lent wore full dress, his hair pow
Tered and gathered in behind in
ilk bag, coat and breeches of black
-elvet, white or pearl colored vest,
elbow gloves, a cooked hat in his
and, silver knee and shoe buckles,
nd a long sword with a finely
7rought and glittering steel hilt,
With coat worn over it, and it's scab-
ard of polished white leather. At
he never shook hands
ven with his most intimate friends.
he name of every one was distinct
= announced, and he rarely forgot
hat of a person who had been once
to him. The visitor was
eceived with a dignified bow, and
assed on to another part of the <
Dom. At a quarter past three the
oor was closed. Then gentlemen b
resent moved into a circle and he
ent around to speak to each one.
Mrs. Washington, like other wom-
Il of fashion of her time, wore
andsome ample-skirted gowns of
oh stuffs with Italian gauze neck
rchiefs and elaborate caps. Her
Lvorite fashion i'll caps was a Gre
ion known as the queens night
lp," which added to her height.
Few Jewels were worn in the
nited States, but in other respects
)stumes were rich and beautiful.
ne of Mrs. Washington Friday
'ening levees presented a scene oil
brilliance. The Presi-
INT appeared in black velvet with
amond shoe buckles and lace stock
Id wristlets. When not in black
, sometimes appeared in purple
tin or drab broadcloth. Bellies
lorned themselves in silks and sat
s in celestial blue, yellow or scar
t, with pastel brOcades and lus
Gus velvets in equal demand.
Plumes were most popular. At