To a candid friend who reported to him that his bows were considered to be too stiff, he replied: "Would it not have been better to throw the veil of charity over them, ascribing their stiffness to the effects of age, or to the unskillfulness of my teacher, rather than to pride and dignity of office, which God knows has no charm for me ?" Washington bore with remarkable humility the criticisms of his manners that occasionally reached him.
On Friday evenings Mrs.Washington received, and these affairs were known as her "drawing-rooms." They were over by nine o'clock which was bed-time in the Washington household; for Washington was an early riser, often getting up at four in the morning to start the day's work betimes.

The "drawing-rooms" were more cheery affairs than the levees, as Mrs.
Washington had simple unaffected manners, and the General had made it known that on these occasions he desired to be regarded not as the President but simply as a private gentleman.

This gave him an opportunity such as he did not have at the levees to unbend and to enjoy himself.
Besides these receptions a series of formal dinners was given to diplomatic representatives, high officers of government, and members of Congress.

Senator Maclay of Pennsylvania recorded in the diary he kept during the First Congress that Washington would drink wine with every one in the company, addressing each in turn by name.

Maclay thought it of sufficient interest to record that on one occasion a trifle was served which had been made with rancid cream.