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The Massachusetts Spy, And Worcester County Advertiser
Worcester, Worcester County, Massachusetts
What is this article about?
A letter from Washington describes a chaotic presidential levee at the President's House, where overcrowding led to disorderly rushes for refreshments, broken glasses, upset liquor, and men standing on furniture, preventing ladies from accessing wine and ice cream.
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The following extract of a letter from Washington gives an unpleasant picture of a levee at the Presidential Mansion:
"All the lower rooms of the President's House were filled. Among a great deal of well behaved company, it was painful to see a large number who seemed to forget the dignified occasion and the respectable place where they were assembled. A profusion of refreshments had been provided. Orange punch by the barrel full had been made, but as the waiters opened the door to bring it out, a rush would be made, the glasses broken, the pails of liquor upset, and the most painful confusion prevailed. To such a degree was this carried, that wine and ice creams could not be brought out to the ladies, and tubs of punch were taken from the lower story into the garden to lead off the crowd from the rooms. On such an occasion it was certainly difficult to keep any thing like order, but it was mortifying to see men with boots heavy with mud, standing on the damask satin covered chairs, from their eagerness to get a sight of the President." Village Record.
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Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington
Outcome
chaotic disorder with broken glasses, upset liquor, and overcrowding preventing ladies from accessing refreshments; punch moved to garden to disperse crowd.
Event Details
At the Presidential Mansion, lower rooms filled with company; some behaved well, others forgot dignity; profusion of refreshments including barrel-full orange punch; rushes broke glasses and upset pails, causing painful confusion; wine and ice creams not reachable for ladies; tubs of punch taken to garden; men with muddy boots stood on damask satin chairs to see President.