Evening star., 1946-01-10
| Inst about
Washington
BY Hope Ridings Miller

Since the early days of the 10Th
centu1y vhen Government moved
in on slnall river settlement and
transfol med it into this Nations
Capital, Washington has risen
nobly to meet every challenge, only
to resume a slack-Season tempo
when the emergency was over. But
whether, in view of the advent of
the atomic bomb, the strain of the
past four years and the collective
fear of another war to come, the
city will ever again be able to re-
sumo its erstwhile easy-going poise
is now the question. Optimistic
prophets insist that it will. Five
years from now, they say, it will be
well on its way to becoming once
more leisurely Southern town.
AS this Is the season for, as
Browning put it, looking forward
with an eye to the past" let us
consider briefly some of the charac-
teristics of Washington long before
either of the world wars. Although
its social life is fundamentally like
that of other towns which has
fourished around one big industry
(Washington's happens to be Gov
ernmenD, the Capital, with its mix
ture of cosmopolitanism and pro-
vincialism, has created an atmos-
phere all its own. 1t has been
lush field for diplomatic adventure,
intrigue and historic pageantry. 1t
has featured fantastic personali-
ties and imperial hostesses, and
politicians who sometimes became
statesmen. 1t has been a center
in which the most fabulous charac-
ters and happenings have added
spice to an official life that other
wise might be dull.
X 4 X +
Sensational Society.
Although its existence in the past
was generally ignored by the rest of
America, social Washington has
chalked up its share of sensational
events. Whether those emanated
from the White House depended
greatly on the inventiveness of the
President, or the First Lady, or both.
Thomas Jefferson, widower, lived
in the Executive Mansion as if it
were a manor His French chef
served up superb little dinners"
topped off by the choicest of wines;
but the most glowing chapter in
Jefferson's social history was writ
ten around colorful reception he
gave for the Ambassador of Tunis-a
fete to which hundreds of guests
came just to look at a turbaned
foreigner who wore slippers that
curved at the toes. Dolly
Madison went Jefferson one better in
lavishness, however, with her bril-
liant reception for Andrew Jackson,
hero of the Battle of New Orleans.
!. Perhaps Dolly was lovingly
remembered even longer than she
deserved to be because her successor
was such contrast. Elizabeth
Monroe, who had lived in London
and Paris held herself aloof as long
as possible from the social life of the
sprawling little Southern town. Fin
ally, however, she did bring herself
to preside at reception every two
weeks during the winter season, and
if we can believe the record of. James
Fennimore Cooper, who was present
at several of them, they weren't
bad"
Mrs. John Quincy Adams re-
ception for Lafayette made social
history on many accounts, but
chiefly because it marked the first
time that White House hostess
had opened her drawing room to
dancing. The famous cheese
reception" took place during Jack
sons administration. Friends sent
him a thousand-pound cheese. He
had it set up in the vestibule of the
White House and asked everybody
he knew to come in and help them
selves. Harriet Lane, James Bu-
chanan's niece, achieved her great
est social triumph when she was
hostess at a White House reception
for the japanese Ambassador who
came to return the visit of Com
aAOAoAS cay. 4AlCoOO1C 9 ISOOSC-
velt transformed the Executive
Mansion from a stuffy Victorian
dwelling into an open house that
cheerfully accommodated his large
and dynamic family, as well as a
host of friends from all over the
country; and the Tafts, while con-
scientiously obeying all traditions
also managed to lead a normal
family life there.
y X
The War-Torn Wilson's.
Social triumphS of the Woodrow
Wilson's were lost in the strain of
the war years, while the Hardings
who followed had most of their fun
outside the White House. In con-
CT e. }bA TNA1flnae <I1