Soon after coming to the White House, Mrs. Cleveland began holding informal receptions on Saturday afternoon for women in Washington. But a Washington official, concerned for the dignity of the First Lady, urged she give them up.
”For what reason?” asked Mrs. Cleveland.
”Well, you see,” said the official, “about half of all the women who come Saturday afternoon are clerks from the department stores and others – a great rabble of shop-girls. And of course a White House afternoon is not intended for them.”
”Indeed!” exclaimed Mrs. Cleveland. “And if I should hold the little receptions some afternoon other than Saturday they couldn’t attend, because they have to work all the other afternoons. Is that it?”
”Certainly,” said the official. “That’s it exactly.”
To his chagrin, Mrs. Cleveland at once issued orders that nothing should ever interfere with her Saturday afternoon receptions.
Source:
Boller, Paul F. "Frances Cleveland." Presidential Wives. New York: Oxford UP, 1988. 173. Print.
Original Source Listed:
Crook, Memories of the White House, 194-96.
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