White House gossip

by Edna M. Colman

Among the many interested spectators of the ceremonies were Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. Stevenson, who braved the weather to hear their husbands.

Following the ceremonies at the Capitol and the luncheon at the White House, the new President took his position in the open reviewing stand, where he stood for three hours as the pageant assembled in his honour and marched past. Mrs. Cleveland reviewed the parade from a window over a drug store on Fifteenth Street, where a party of her old friends had gathered to be with her.

The procession was remarkable for its length, order, and appearance. The distinguished and the well-known clubs and organizations participating represented hosts of Democrats from coast to coast. Governors of eleven states with their staffs participated; a fine-looking group of students from Carlisle, and Tammany in all of the paraphernalia of its origin, 3,400 strong, whom it had taken eight trains to transport. All these, joined with 20,000 marchers, adherents, and admirers of the new head of the nation, made a pageant long to be remembered.

The Inaugural Committee had done valiant work in again preparing the great Pension Building for the ball at which President and Mrs. Cleveland arrived about nine o’clock. They were announced by the Marine Band’s “Hail to the Chief.” Their tour of the ballroom gave many scores of people the opportunity to see their Chief Executive and the First Lady at close range, a privilege for which thousands had travelled many miles and endured great discomforts. Mrs. Cleveland, walking with Justice Gray, was all-inclusive in her smile and greetings, but scores carried away the fond belief that she smiled just at each of them. The President, escorted by General Schofield, radiated pride and happiness. When they reached their own special reception room, the Vice President and Mrs. Stevenson, with their daughters, were the first to pay them respect. Here, too, came hosts of old friends to extend congratulations and greetings.

Mrs. Cleveland’s dress was, of course, the observed of all observers. Severe and simple in style, it was rich and graceful. Made of heavy white satin with an empire front and tightly fitting back, the skirt was carried out to a pointed train. It was trimmed with point lace and crystal beads. The embroidery ran up in rows about twelve inches from the edge of the skirt. The front was most elaborately embroidered with crystal beads, while the huge puffs of the satin that made the sleeves were dotted with the crystal. Stiff satin bows at the shoulders and a heavy fall of the lace completed the corsage. She wore diamonds.

Mrs. Stevenson’s handsome gown was distinctive, being white moire antique made in the style of 1830. It had a narrow binding of purple velvet on the edge of the skirt and on the edge of the round low-necked waist. Garlands of purple violets were arranged to fall over the old-fashioned bertha of fine duchess lace. Puff sleeves of the velvet reached to the elbow and were met by soft suède gloves of the same shade. Mrs. Stevenson’s fan was a dainty affair of flowers, lace, and ribbons in the same tints.

Adjoining the ballroom, a huge temporary structure had been constructed on the north side as a kitchen. From this a local caterer supplied an elaborate banquet to all who sought refreshments.

Part of the celebration, and one that from the beginning has been popular in connection with inauguration ceremonies, was the unusually beautiful pyrotechnic display.

While the Democratic chieftain and Mrs. Cleveland and all of their followers were celebrating their victory, another charming function was in progress in honour of Ex-President Harrison and Mrs. McKee, at the home of Postmaster General Wanamaker, Eighteenth and I streets, formerly the Whitney home, where Mrs. McKee and President Harrison’s household had gone early in the day. Here, too, all of the retiring Cabinet and the prominent Republican officials were guests at an elaborate farewell banquet and reception. From this General Harrison and Mrs. McKee went to the special train for Pittsburgh, where they were invited to visit before returning to Indianapolis.

Great interest was manifested in Baby McKee’s successor, Ruth Cleveland. The night following her father’s installation, she was taken seriously ill, but soon recovered. Mrs. Cleveland found her problems multiplying rapidly regarding the care of her baby girl. The general public visiting the White House seemed to regard the President’s child as part of the establishment. Mrs. Cleveland was horrified one morning on glancing out of the window to see her baby being handed from one to another of a group of about twenty tourists. Against their eagerness to fondle the baby the nurse was helpless. Upon another occasion, a determined visitor had to be prevented by force from snipping a lock of the baby’s hair as she passed through the corridor of the White House in her nurse’s arms. Then the President and his wife decided that, for the protection and safety of their child, the gates of the grounds must be kept closed and locked. This order was received with great indignation and considerable protest, and Mrs. Cleveland suffered much perturbation and annoyance in consequence, especially when it was boldly asserted that her little girl was a deaf mute, was deficient in faculties, or otherwise afflicted, so that her parents wished to keep her affliction from public attention. One day, while receiving a delegation in the latter part of the administration, Mrs. Cleveland saw Ruth pass the door. She called to her to come in and let the ladies see that she was not minus arms, legs, or fingers.