Temperance at the White House.
At the last State reception at the White House, one of the most brilliant ever held there, with its eight hundred and fifty invitations, no wine was allowed. The newspapers have been very sure that the good lady for once would forego her temperance ideas, the wish perhaps being father to the thought. An admiral present being asked if he missed the wine, replied: "Not a bit. It is a perfect godsend to old fellows like me to spend an evening without wine. To-morrow I'll get up in first-rate condition—no headache, not cross, and blessings on Mrs. Hayes for her good sound sense!" The moral heroism displayed by Mrs. Hayes is without a parellel. Heretofore he was considered a brave man who refused wine at a White House reception. President Polk was considered a remarkable man in this respect—he would not taste of wine at his own board. But he did not dare to brave the influence of custom so far as to refuse it a place at his receptions. The influence of Mrs. Hayes' devotion to principle will extend to every nation which has a Minister in Washington.