Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-17
and is one of the most distinguished and
respected women Of her native city.

respected women Of her native city.
NEW ENGLAND soCIsrY IN I776.
The habits of life, polish of manner
and style of dress were the badges of
eIninence by which the aristocracy of
New Eugland asserted its outward SUM.
rlorlty. If gentleman went abroad. be
appeared in his wig. white stock, white
satin embroidered vest, black satin small
clothes, with white silk stockings. and
fine brosdcloth or velvet coat. If at
home, velvet cap, sometimes with a
line linen one beneath it, took the place
Iof wig. while gown, frequently Of
colored damask, lined with silk, was
substituted for the coat, and the feet were
covered with leather slippers of somc
fancy color. Visitors were received with
hospitality and graceful courtesy. The
custom prevailed which now would shock
the New England scale of propriety, in
gentecl families; a tankard of punch
was prepared every morning, and visitors
during the day were invited to partake
of it. The master Of the house some.
times taking the vessel from the cooler in
which it stood, and after drinking from
it himself handing it In person to the
guests.
There was great deal of social inter.
course in the class we are describing.
The interchange of dinners and suppeTs
was frequent: at the first, the most fash
ionable hour for which was never later
than three, the table groaned under its
weight of provisions, after the last, the
customary evening amusement was cards
The law expressly prohibited dramatic
entertainments, but they had concerts ::
and at these, in Boston, at least, private
gentlemen sometimes were the perform
ers, both vocal and instrumental, simply.
however, for the entertainment of their
friends. Dancing was not among the
things which the Legislature had made
mota prohibita, and consequently there
were assemblies for this recreation: but
they were conducted with such severe at
tentlon to propriety, that nothing short
of the unanimous consent of the gentle
men subscribers would authorize admis-
sion. One of these assemblies would
make an amusing spectacle at this time
The stately minuet, with all its formal
and high bred courtesy, fourisbed in
those days, and was varied only By the
contra dance. Cotillons came in after
wards, with the French refugees from the
West Indies. The style of the dress, too,
for gentlemen, would at this day be
likely to attract notice in the saloon OF
fashion; but coats Cfvelvct or cloth were
literally of all colors, not even ,xciudipg
red, and sometimes the color of the vel
vet or cloth was in studied contrast to
that of the other parts.
JOSIAH QUINCY THE "FIBsr MATCH IN THE
UNITED STATES"
Josiah Quincy, who still survives, one
OF the brightest ornaments Of q departed
age, in the enjoyment Of the reverend
homage Of our own, was also among the
visiters Of this respectable circle. Mrs.
Adams, referring to his arrival in the
city, writes:
This young man is rare instance Of
hereditary eloquence and ingenuity in
the fourth generation. lie comes into
life with every advantage of family, for
tune, and education, and | wish him all
the success which such auguries natu-
rally present him in prospect. 4 yester
day, in the presence of half dozen Sen
atorS, laughingly advised him to 60 to
the President and Mrs. Washington, and
ask their leave to make his addresses
to Nelly Custs, or her sister, at George
town. The young man blushed, and he
may have left his heart in Boston; but
think him the first match in the United
States"
TIE LADIES OF THE REPUBLICAN COURT
NOW LIVING.
Mrs. Bradford was the oniy child ofI
Elias Boudinot, one Of the most respect
able characters of the Revolution, and
she and Mrs. Hamilton and Charles Car.
roll, the younger, | believe, a,e the only
ladies of our Republican Court now liv-
ing. Mrs. Carroll was one of the daugh-
ters OF Benjamin Chew. She was not
mart ed until Washington's final retire
ment to Mount Vernon, but she and her
sister, Mrs. Henry Phillips, were favor
ties with the chief, and were much in his
society as girls. The marriage of an
elder sister to Col. John Eager Howard,
of Baltimore, was attended by him at
Chtw's baronial house in Germantown,
during the sitting Of the Federal Conven-
tion in 1877. Mrs Howard came back |
TO Philadelphia in 1896, when her hus-
band entered Congress as Senator from |
Maryland.
4 MELANCHOLY MEETING
We clip the following sketch from the |