Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 February 1889 — WHITE HOUSE CHATTER. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

WHITE HOUSE CHATTER.

WASHINGTON’S GAY SOCIETY CIRCLES AND LEGISLATIVE HALLS. Entertaining: Royally—Mrs. Harrison Not to He a "Reformer”—Mills’ Committee Scores a Victory—Controversy with Germany Recoiling Serious. [SFOCLAL CORRESPONDENCE.] Washington, Li. C., Jan. 29. The social tide has reached its full, and surges and swells with high teas, dinners, receptions, and cotillions. To miss a single entertainment now before Lent is suicidal to the career of a society belle, and already fagged steps and hollow eyes tell how severed}' their strength and time are being taxed. As illustrative of this, a Chicago girl, wiio sprained her foot on an icy pavement recently, wrenched it back again, exclaiming, “I can’t take time for a sprain now.” Tho official entertainment of the week was the state dinner given by tho President and Mrs. Cleveland to the diplomatic corps, it being resplendent with all tho glamour of lights, flowers, and brilliant costumes incidental to such an occasion. Mrs. Don Dickinson rather divides tho honors with Mrs. Whitnoy as entertainers of the Cabinets and their parlors are always tilled whenever the occasion presents. A number of New York ladies in conversation with the latter recently spoke of the pleasure that New-Yorkers felt in the prospect of having Mrs. Whitney once more with them, "Ah, my dear,” said she, “I am going to ■lead a quiet life after I leave Washington, Easy chairs, hammocks, and horseback riding aro to be features of my next year’s life. Ah, I dream of it.” Yet those who

saw iter enthusiastically leading the german for three long hours recently would hardly imagine her capable of enjoying quiet times. Secretary and Misses Bayard gave the first of their card parties this week, but there were so many other entertainments which demanded the presence of their guests that tho parlors were filled scarcely ten minutes at n time during the evening. A laughable incident occurred through the absent-mindedness of the Persian minister. Ho attended wearing ltis left glove on his right hand and vice versa. Among tho Senatorial entertainments, which were unusually numerous aud gorgeous this week. Senator and Mrs. Hearst's ball, in honor of Miss Head, of California, was a notable affair, the young lady appearing in the costume in which she was recently presented at court in London. It was of white mousseline de soie, the overdraperies embroidered in pearls in a Louis XVI. border threo or four inches deep. Down the left side, caught with bows of white satin ribbon, were rich clustets of white Scotch heather and harebells intermingled with green leaves. Tlte low neck bodice was filled in with a tucked or mousseline de soie at the V-shaped opening, on either side of which the material was laid on in full, soft folds which crossed over tho bosom. The bodice was finished in front with a pointed inelosure of silk embroidered with pearls. Inclement weather had no effect on the crowds that gathered at Mrs. Cleveland’s second public reception, unless, perchance, it was to make them doubly anxious to catch a smile from the fair lady or tho White House, who, though genial and pieasant, showed signs of fatigue before the day was over.

As oft as oacli recurring inaugural claims the attention of the people so often are the inconveniences and inelegance of the White House as a residence canvassed and recanvassed. Washingtonians in general and reporters in particular are again airing tho throadbaro topic. Mrs. Cleveland jokingly remarked recently that she believed she would send a message to Congress before March 4, written and signed with her own hand, asking for an appropriation for a new Executive Mansion, as she was sure Mrs. Harrison would appreciate ; some one taking the initiative in that direction. Everybody is just now interested in Mrs. Harrison’s New York shopping expedition, and the contemplated change of leader only adds a feverish tervency to the whirl of entertainments. A Now York reporter gives assurance that the bustle will still hold its own under the new reign, and dresses are cut sufficiently decollete now to make ample amends for any revolutionary efforts attempted in this line. Mrs. Harrison will not, however, pose as a reformer, as she takes the ground that the lady of the White House is not ex ofllcio a leader of fashion. She argues that her personal views regarding the use of wine, the wearing of the bustle, the morality of the dance and such like topics should have no weight with the public simply because her husband happened to be elected President. Once again we have enjoyed the rare treat of a night’s session of tlio Senate, the tflrst which has been held in nearly two years. There is no such magnificent, sight in Washington as the great Capitol dome flashing put its myriad electric sparks upon the sable curtains of night, and thousands of gas-jets twinkling upon the snow and ice of the Capitol Park. The gay assemblages that congregated in the galleries to listen to the tariff debate were amply rewarded by the flow of wit, wisdom and repartee that fell sedately from the lips of America’s Solons under the stimulus of the lights and brilliant throngs, notwithstanding the dryness of the topic under discussion. The Senate tariff bill is now in the hands of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and Mr. Mills will take another whack at it, much to the disgust of the Senate, which insisted upon a conference in relation thereto and hoped to seeure it immediately upon returning the measure to the lower house. Meanwhile the Southern Democrats are having a sorry time over their tobacco-tax measure. The Republican leaders deem it unwise to take any action in the matter during this Congress. As aresult; Cowles’ Republican assistants have suddenly discovered that it is a breach of legislative etiquette for such a bill to be considered by the Appropriation Committee, and committee comity has assumed gigantic importance <n their estimation all ateinee, wiiich leaves the internal-revenue bill In the same •condition it was before being referred to Mr. Randall’s committee.

I Interest is fast growing in the Samoan alTair, and although the island is, comparatively speaking, little more than a heap of earth in mid-ocean, four thousand miles from our coast, it has created a “bit of a fuss” between two great nations that promises to become highly entertaining. Uncle Sam doesn’t propose to be imposed upon,and Bismarck is stubborn, and not accustomed to making gracelul apologies. That is ,-bout the way the matter now stands, pending the earlv action of Congress. The army would no doubt be gratified for any break in the dull monotony of a quarter of a century of peace and welcome a bit of lighting as a sort of legitimate boom. By-the-by. Secretary Endicott’s contemplated order to restrict leave of absence to thirty days a year is creating no little comment in blue coat circles. Thirty days a year is the time allowed by law. If tue thirty days are not used up each year the war secretary contends that they should be forfeited and no one be allowed to absent himself from duty for a longer period of time. J Congressman Frank Lawler has secured an appropriation of $50,000 for repairing the Chicngo postoffice, although Randall was pitted against him. From Mr. Lawler’s concurrent resolution directing that the Public Printer hereafter drop the letters “uc” at the end of such words as “epilogue,” and tho letters “me” at the end of such words as “programme,” the letter “e” at the end of such words as “hypocrite,” the letters “to” at tho end of such words as “coquette,” and substitute “f” for “ph” in such words as “phantom,” it is readily inferred that he is more proficient in oratory than etymology. Mr. Springer’s omnibus bill has sadly failed to meet the Senate’s idea of perspicuity in language, a committee of that august body having instructed its chairman to write a new territorial bill that would be “eloar and precise.” The objection chiefly urged to the Illinois Congressman’s bill is centered in New Mexico, it, being claimed that her admission is sought in the interest of railroads. Not oponly, of course, but it is averred that two railroad men would be sont to the Senate from New Mexico in ease she were entered among the sisters of the Union. Final vote on the Oklahoma bill was deferred by the adjournment of Congress in respect to Congressman Joseph Nelson Burnes of Missouri, who was stricken to death so suddenly'; and Mr. Weaver’s good looks and filibustering have availed him nothing so far. A pet schetae of tho ladies, under the auspices of tho Woman’s National Bureau, to have a portrait of Mrs. Cleveland hung in the White House, a project that would receive universal commendation, has been crushed by the following: Executive Mansion, Washington, I j Jan. 19. 1889. f i Mrs. M. P. Lincoln: Peak Madam— Responding for Mrs. Cleveland and myself to your note in relation to procuring her portrait for the White House, and fully appreciating the kindness intended, I j.ave to say that both of us are so opposed to tho project that you could not show us greater consideration in this matter than by an entire abandonment of the scheme. Yours, very truly, Grover Cleveland. The menu is out for the inaugural supper; not so the cabinet selection. Senator Allison begins to waver in his resolution not to accept the Treasury portfolio; while Wananmker’s visit to the President-elect upon the special invitation of tho latter seems susceptible of but one conclusion. It is said by Harrison’s Indianapolis friends, however, that this may not be indicative that the Philadelphia merchant has been tendered a place in the cabinet. Perhaps Harrison called Mr. Wanamaker off Irom his contemplated Paris trip to apologize tor having purchased his wardrobe in Chicago. Morton has rented a house and returned to New York, Blaine is holding a continuous levee at the Normandie, Quay is in Florida threatening revenge on any intruding politician, and Harrison is at Indianapolis wrestling with tho office-seekers, of whom ho says he never saw so many. What will he think when he reaches the White House? Morse.

MRS. GEN. HARRISON.