Harper's New Monthly Magazine Volume 104 December 1901 to May 1902 . ost Presidents, haying been men well ad-vanced in years, have not cared much forsocial diversions, and have been contentnot to do more than the official entertain-ing that custom makes obligatory. Presi-dents have seldom been social arbiters,or given their name to a new brand ofcollars, or made a style the vogue. Norhave their wives, because they, like theirhusbands, have usually been women whohave left the vanities of youth behindthem. While an invitation to the WhiteHouse is a compliment as well as acommand, the White House
Harper's New Monthly Magazine Volume 104 December 1901 to May 1902 . ost Presidents, haying been men well ad-vanced in years, have not cared much forsocial diversions, and have been contentnot to do more than the official entertain-ing that custom makes obligatory. Presi-dents have seldom been social arbiters,or given their name to a new brand ofcollars, or made a style the vogue. Norhave their wives, because they, like theirhusbands, have usually been women whohave left the vanities of youth behindthem. While an invitation to the WhiteHouse is a compliment as well as acommand, the White House, unlike apalace, has never set the fashions or pro-nounced the last word in a social con-troversy. Eew of the Presidents havebeen men of great private fortune ordistinguished for their love of societybefore their accession to the have not materially changed theirhabits after their election. They cannotavoid giving a certain number of officialdinners during the season, but thesedinners have never been noted for ex-travagance. A President may accept. Half tone plate engraved by G. M. LewisA RECEPTION AT THE HOUSE OF A SENATOR « Vol \ A Tournament at th invitations from any person in officialor private life, although few go outsidethe cabinet circle, but tradition would berudely jarred if he should enter an em-bassy or a legation. Tradition also pre-vents the wife of the President from dan-cing, but she may ask some of her youngfriends to the White House, and infor-mally invite them to dance. Three or four times during the seasonthe President and his wife give recep-tions to which the official world is in-vited, which goes because it cannot avoidit, and is most dreadfully bored in conse-quence. The New - Years reception inthe morning, and the evening receptionsto the corps diplomatique, the Judiciary,Congress, and the Army and Navy, arethings long to be remembered and talkedabout by the country cousin and thestranger visiting in Washington, but
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