A Century Ago

Colonel T. W. Higginson tlu3 writes in Earper's Magazine: "Mrs. Washington s reception wero reproached as 'inductory to the pageantry of courts,' but it was very modest pageantry. Nothing could havo been less festivo or more harmlcss than the hospitaiity of ihe Presidential abodo. An EngHsh manufacturer wlio was invitod tiiero to breakfast reports a meal of admirable simplicity - tea, coffee, sliced tongue, dry toast and butter - 'but no broiled fish, as is the general custom,' ho adds. At her evening receptions Mrs. Washington offcred hei guest tea and eoffce with plum-cake; at 9 sbc warnod her visitors that the General kept early honra, and after this remark tho gucsts had no dioico but to do tho samo. "At theso entertainments of hers the President was but a guest - without his sword - and found it nccossary also to rotroat in good order at the word of command. His own receptions were for invitcd guests only, and look placo every othor week betwecn 3 and 4 p. m. The President stood before the iiroplaco in full black velvct, with his b:iir powdered and gathercd inio a bag; he wore ycllow glovcs and silvcr buckles, with a steel-'hilted sword in a white leatber scabbard; he held in his hand a co'cked hat with a feather. This is the description givcn bv William Sullivan in his 'Fiimiliar Letters on Public Characters.' "If it was the object of Washington to make these occasions Btiffer than ihe drawing-rooms of any crowncd potentate, ho succoeded. Names were announced, gentlemen were prosentod, the President bowed but nevcr shook hands; at 3:15 the doors were closed and the visitor3 formcd a circle; tho President made tho circuit, addressing a few words to each; thcy then bowed and retired. It is hard to imagino that these mild entertainmenu could havo been scvcrely censured as extravagant or monnrehioal; ono can botter coniprehend how the censure could bo applicd to tho strect cquipago of the new President, tho cream-colorod carriage paintcd in medallions, and tho liveiies of white turned np with green. Yet these wore, perhaps, more readily recognized as cssential to the dignity of his station. It was with the desire of promoting this dignity that tho senators of the new nation were anxious to give tho President an official title. The plan was said lo have originated with John Adams, who believed 'splendor and majesty' to be important in a republie; and there was a joint committeo of congross to consider tho matter. "This commiltee reported agaiust it, but the dissatisfiod senate slill favored a title, as it well might, at a timo when the senators themselves were hab!tually called 'Most Honorable.' They proposed to cali the Chief Magistrato 'His Highness, tho President of the United States of America, and Protector of their Liberties.' The House objected; the country at lai-ge was divided. Chief Justico McKcan proposed 'His Serene Highness;' somebody elsc suggosted 'The President Genera!,' and Governor Sullivan thought that 'His Patriotic Majesty' would not bo inappropriate, sinco he representad the mnjesty of the people; Washington himself, it is said, favored 'His High Mightiness,' which was the phrase used by the Stadtholder of Holland. It was the common senso of tho nation that swept theso extravagances aside; it was one of tho many occasions in American history when the truih of Talleyrand's 'sa.ying has boen vmdicated that everybody more tlian any body. "